6th Grade Goes to JA Biztown Next Week

   If you are a parent of a 6th grader at Carlisle, heads up! We are going on our JA Biztown field trip next Thursday and/or Friday. Half of the class will go Thursday and half will go Friday. If your child HAS NOT HAD YOU SIGN A PERMISSION SLIP YET, PLEASE EMAIL ME (ben.barry@carlisle.k12.ia.us) as these are past due! Here is a schedule of our field trip day (each day will have the same schedule and material missed from CORE classes due to being gone from the field trip will be taught each day so no child really misses any CORE instruction).

***Note: Students will need a sack lunch on the day they go to JA Biztown, but no drink is needed. JA Biztown asks that students purchase their drink with part of their Biztown paycheck so they can experience the process of sometimes needing to buy your lunch or drink while on the job***

8:10: School day starts, students report to 1st period
8:25: Students going on field trip use restroom and report to Commons to board bus
8:35: Bus departs for JA Biztown (61st and Grand Ave)
2:00: Bus departs for Carlisle Middle School, field trip experience done
2:25: Bus arrives back at Carlisle Middle School
2:25-3:10: Students report to 1 of 4 classrooms to meet with a Biztown teacher volunteer and finish the day doing some reflection and some thank you note writing.
3:10: Students head home for the day.

There will be NO Snack and Study this week due to the JA Biztown trips....Mr. Barry will be wiped out! It should be a great field trip and a great experience. Be sure to quiz your child on how their day went, what they learned, what went well, and talk to them about your job and workday and the biggest difference: when you return from your job at the end of the day, your job as a parent starts! For most of these kids, they will also be tired and wiped out and will find it amazing that you feel the same way, but can't just lay on the couch and wait for dinner like they might choose to do! If nothing else, it should open the students' eyes about what it takes to truly be an adult for a day. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me. Thank you!

Parent Volunteers Needed for JA Biztown Trip!

6th Grade parents, we are in need of about 10 more volunteers for EACH day of our field trip to JA Biztown. This trip is very interactive and a great experience not just for the kids, but for the adults too. I am amazed each year watching the kids work and live like adults for several hours during the day. They really impress me. I would love to include as many parents as possible. Some of you have already jumped at the chance, but like I said, I still need about 20 more total volunteers. Please email me at ben.barry@carlisle.k12.ia.us if you can help us out on our trip. Here are the basic requirements:

*1 training session for 90 minutes around the lunch hour or end of the workday on a day TBD in March.

*Attendance with us on the field trip from 8:30-2:30 on either March 29th or March 30th. You would go the same day as your child.

*Be ready to work a little and have a lot of fun!! :)

It truly is a great experience, one that some parents have even volunteered during years where they don't have a child going on the trip. Out of my current 9 volunteers, 3 of them have been on the trip before, so it must be a good time. Email me if interested. I am trying to get all volunteers in place by March 1st this year so that I can start sending them information about our trip. Thank you!

Middle School Helping the Community in 2 Ways This Week!

Our middle school students are very busy this week trying to help needy families this holiday season. First off, our 7th graders are collecting canned and boxed food items for the local food pantry. All of this food goes directly to our local families, many of who are greatly in need due to both a shortage of food in their homes and in our food pantries. Each STAR group is collecting food and having a contest to see which group can bring the most. Even if you don't have a 7th grade child, feel free to send a couple food items with your child this week to donate to the cause.

Secondly, all students are raising money for the Toys for Tots program. This year, Mrs. Beydler and her students are using all of the money raised to help a couple local Carlisle families have toys and new clothes for Christmas. Our school goal is $1100 as we raised over $1000 last year and think we can beat it this year. One staff member has already pledged to match up to $100 if students can bring $100 this Friday!! Each day, a few students will visit every first period class in search of spare change or even a dollar bill or too. You would be amazed at how the spare change adds up. If each student were to simply drop a quarter in the bucket each day, we would raise over $700 in 6 days! If a student were to drop a dollar bill in one day or maybe a few quarters, our goal would be easy. So, again, a very simple request of our students, but adding it up, it can help so many people here right here in our community.

Please consider these 2 great causes this Holiday season. Also, please talk with your kids about charities and helping others as these are great conversations to have with kids at this age. They should be learning lots about handling and working with money both at school and home and charitable giving is one key piece of that education. Happy Holidays!

FREE Dinner and FREE show at Carlisle Middle School on November 1st. (Did you see it said "FREE"!!)

A great FREE opportunity is coming up. The National Theatre for Children is coming to Carlisle Middle School on November 1st for 2 shows. First, they will perform for our entire 7th grade in the afternoon. Next, they will stick around to put on a show for the entire community after a FREE dinner that night. So, what is their show about? Well, their show is titled "Mad About Money II" and teaches financially literacy to young people. But guess what? Adults can learn from this presentation too and that is why we are hoping the entire family comes to the night dinner and show on November 1st. Lots of information about this event will be posted around the community and sent home with students, so keep an eye out for more information. For now, please see the following information and make sure to RSVP soon!

Who: National Theatre for Children performance for Parents, families, and students

What: A free, fun, family-friendly theatre performance. Dinner provided for everyone thanks to the Iowa Insurance Division

Where: Carlise Middle School

When: Tuesday November 1st at 6:00 p.m.

Why: To teach the importance of financial literacy through a fun experience.

Please RSVP to ben.barry@carlisle.k12.ia.us . Please note how many in your family will be enjoying the free dinner and show. Also, if you are need of child care during the show (show will last 45 minutes MAX), please note that in your RSVP as well. Childcare activities will be provided free of charge as well.

You can also visit the National Theatre for Children website to learn more. Click here!!