Get ready for the Grady Spelling Bee!  The Grady Spelling Bee, which is part of the Scripps National Spelling Bee is coming soon!

Letters about the Grady Spelling Bee have gone home to all 3rd through 5th grade students.  Please save the letter because it has an attachment with the official list of spelling words for your students to practice.  Scripps National Spelling Bee prohibits the publication of the spelling words list on any website, so the spelling words are only available in paper format.   Written spellingcompetitions will occur in each classroom on December 10 and the school-wide competition featuring the winner from each class will occur on December 17, at 8:30 am on stage in the cafeteria.  All class winners will receive a certificate of award, and the school-wide first, second and third place winners will receive trophies.  The school champion will proceed to represent Grady at the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee.  We are very excited about the Spelling Bee and we hope you join in our excitement!  For any questions, please email Grady Spelling Bee Committee Chair, Suzan Kumm, at [email protected]. 

Check out the images from the Grady 2014 Storybook parade!

http://gradytigers.org/storybook-parade-2014

Now is the time to sign up to volunteer at the Fall Festival!   There are booths put on by each grade and booths put on by the PTA.  To sign up online, please click here:

Kindergarten Booths:  http://gradytigers.org/kindergarten-booth-volunteers

First Grade Booths: http://www.volunteerspot.com/group/826323290044#!/show 

Second Grade Booths: http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/19781182000

Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Booths:  Email Chely Sierra at [email protected]

PTA Booths: http://gradytigers.org/2014-fall-festival-volunteers

Please consider volunteering for a shift so that the festival runs smoothly and all of our children get to enjoy the maximum number of games and events.  Most kids enjoy seeing their parents involved in school activities.  If you have questions, you can send a return email to me, Ellen Lyons at [email protected].  Please be sure to log your volunteer hours in the front office computer at a time when the office is open. 

If you have not yet submitted a SERVE volunteer information form (sent home the very first day of school), please click here to print the form and return it to the office: http://gradytigers.org/_cache/files/36e1e08f-6673-4de7-9132-286cc54ad7f0/serve-form-2014-15.pdf.

We are looking forward to a wonderful festival!  Please bring cash for the bake sale, grill items, Bucs Cheerleader pictures and to purchase items from vendors.  For a complete list of the booths, bounce houses, guest appearances and vendors please click:  http://gradytigers.org/events?EventInstance_id=2ffad279-f8df-4779-9ef6-083e434b3991.  

Also, please bring your checkbook so that you can dedicate a panel of Grady’s new perimeter fence to your family, students or business.  Each donation of $250 to the new fence gets the donor a 4”x8” plaque that allows you to name your family’s, student’s, or business’s name to the new perimeter fence.  For more information, please click here: http://gradytigers.org/grady-fence.

Game tickets are $1, Food items are $1 and wristbands for unlimited bouncing, rock climbing, games, popcorn and snow cones will be on sale at the event for $25 each.  Children under 2 play for free, but cannot collect prizes as they may be choking hazards.  

Everyone who pre-purchased a wristband should have received an email from VP of Events, Jennifer Narvaes, to confirm the purchase and to let you know to pick up your wristbands at the event.  If you have any questions about wristbands, please email [email protected].

Thanks for your time in helping make this a wonderful event for our Grady Families.

Finally, we have a video suggestion for you.  Grady Elementary Principal, Kristine Dosal, is featured on a Fox 13 News program called Extraordinary Ordinaries.   The program, which focuses on Mrs. Dosal’s lifelong connection to Grady Elementary, aired this morning on Fox 13 News.  It will likely air again this evening and tonight during the late night news.   You can watch the video here:  http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/26854016/extraordinary-ordinaries-principals-special-connection-to-school.  If you enjoy the video, please let us know! 

See you FRIDAY!

Fundraising Merchandise pick up will take place Thursday, October 16 in the morning, afternoon and evening.  Here are the times and places for pick up:

Morning: From 7:30 am until 8:00 am in the school cafeteria

Afternoon: From 1:45 pm until 2:30 pm in the school cafeteria

Evening:  From 5 pm to 6 pm, at the side gate near the cafeteria (where you enter for YMCA pick up)

For any questions about fundraising merchandise pick up, or to schedule a special pick up of a large order, please email VP of Fundraising, Jessica Schentrup, at [email protected].

17 students won a limosuine ride to lunch at PDQ. The Lunch in a Limo event will take place November 4.