Schoolyard

We need your help to build Irving’s shed!

 
2013-10-09 shed sketchThings are moving along with constructing Irving’s new garden shed, but we really need a few more people, especially this weekend and next weekend. Can you spare some time to help out? You don’t need to be able to wield a power saw, but comfort with a hammer and a drill is helpful. Sunday afternoon we also need people to just hold up walls. Please feel free to share this info with anyone who may be interested, even those who are not Irving parents.

Our new garden shed is going to be really amazing. It’s made from donated, recycled and reusable materials and will have a wall made from straw bales. See the attached drawing, by Tom Bassett-Dilley. Our garden tools are going to have the best house in town! This will also serve as a base for outdoor classroom experiences.

Here’s the plan:

This Saturday, 10/12, starting at 9am: We’re going to construct the 3rd wall, which involves nailing plywood to 2×4’s. This will probably be it due to weather and schedules.

This Sunday, 10/13, from 9:00-2:00: We need a bunch of people to help hold up the 3 walls and secure them to the foundation. We’re hoping to install the door track and staple building paper to the walls. Any time you can spare Sunday would be a huge help.

Next Saturday, 10/19, after 1:00: We’ll put together the straw bale wall and secure it with wood on the top and bottom. This part promises to be really, really cool – no question. Bring the kids to help.

Next Sunday, 10/20, time TBD: We’ll need a large group of people to help put plaster on the straw bale wall. This means 3 coats of plaster inside and out. Kids should be able to help with this. It’s going to be messy and fun. We’re also planning to do the roof next weekend, which means we’ll need ladders and people on them to work with corrugated metal.

Please let Laura know if you’re available at all this weekend or next. We really need your help putting this all together. Feel free to contact Laura (lauracrawford47@gmail.com) or Tom Bassett-Dilley with any questions.

Thank you!!

“Good-bye Blacktop” Lyrics

Day1Dozer

Goodbye isn’t always such a bad thing
Losing something never felt this good
I don’t mean to be mean, but I’m happy to see you leave,
So I’m saying peace, you belong in the street.

Goodbye black top, hello green,
No more pavement to skin my knees
I’ll have things to climb and swing
No more snow hills and bull dozing
So I’m saying peace, you belong in the street.

Hello playground, good-bye pavement
We play in a car lot that is vacant
If I fall and land head first
Now I won’t have to go to the nurse.
So I’m saying peace, you belong in the street.

Now it’s cool and safe to play at school
And we owe everything to the Irving Schoolyard team.

Goodbye isn’t always such a bad thing.
Losing something never felt this good.
I don’t mean to be mean, but I’m happy to see you leave,
So I’m saying peace, you belong in the street.

-lyrics by Mr. Williams, music by Ms. Hiolski, assistance from Irving students.

PTO Meeting May 23, 2013

We hope you can join us for the May PTO meeting, which is this week on Thursday, May 23 at 6:30 in the Library/Media Center on the second floor. As always, free child care is provided. This  meeting will assess the past year in order to prepare well for next school year.

We hope to see you there. If you are unable to attend and would like to discuss anything on the agenda, please contact Laura Crawford at lauracrawford47@gmail.com, Jodie Ackerman at jodiepto@yahoo.com, or any of the other PTO board members (click here for contact info).

Irving School PTO
Agenda for Monthly Meeting
May 23, 2013
6:30PM
Irving Media Center Library

  1. Welcome
  2. Transition of PTO board positions: Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer (5 minutes)
  3. Principal’s Report (30 minutes)
  4. Treasurer’s Report (10 minutes)
  5. Schoolyard Project update (5 minutes)
    1. Construction briefing
    2. Blacktop party: Friday, 5/24
  6. Committee Reports: (20 minutes)
    1. Event evaluation: Sleepover
    2. Event evaluation: Ethnic Parade
    3. Event evaluation: Staff Appreciation
    4. Event evaluation: Art Fest/Poetry Slam
    5. Event evaluation: Family Math Night
    6. End of Year party: Friday, 5/31
    7. Other committee reports
  7. Eagle Extras Update: (5 minutes)
  8. Summer Planning (10 minutes)
    1. Fun Run
    2. Suggestions for next year’s PTO budget development
  9. Reflections on past year with suggestions for improvement. (10 minutes)
  10. Approve minutes from 5/2/13
  11. All other business

Bye Bye Blacktop Party! May 24, 4-8pm

Say goodbye to the blacktop, Irving style!
You won’t miss the blacktop! Don’t miss the party!

Friday, May 24, 4-8pm

See the awesome flyer here!

Outside activities from 4-6:

  • Dunk tank for teachers (stay tuned for those details)
  • Blacktop t-shirts available ($10 for adults; FREE for students)
  • Music! Baggo! Extra 4-square courts! Color the chalk mural!
  • Sing the new Goodbye Blacktop song (music and lyrics written by Ms. Hiolski and Mr.  Williams)

Parent/Staff softball game from 6-8:

  • Bring your lawn chairs or
  • Wear a white shirt to play on the parents’ team

Food truck provided by Robinson’s Ribs. Buy dinner and drinks (soda, water) from them, or just bring your own picnic. (We will not have grills this year.)

Good Humor ice cream truck will be there!

After-party at the Side Bar on Roosevelt for staff and parents to hang out after the kids are in bed.

Contact Jassen Strokosch (jassens@gmail.com) to be on the parent softball team. The game even has it’s own Facebook page.

Contact Laura Crawford (lauracrawford47@gmail.com) with questions about the party.