Mars regained the world’s attention this fall, with recent news of the discovery of liquid water on the planet and a new blockbuster film set on Earth’s nearest neighbor, The Martian. This is a timely moment to focus on Red Planet Day, November 28.

Celebrate the fourth planet from our solar system’s sun with our series of blogs discussing general information about Mars, some of the more than 40 space missions humans have launched to study the planet, a section on the future of Mars and plans for manned missions to the planet, and concluding with links to fiction and non-fiction on Mars.

Sometimes in the commercialization of the holidays we forget the sentiments that underlie the season. When all we see are turkeys and tables brimming with food and fall decorations, it can be easy to forget that a thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude. While in the U.S. this holiday commemorates a harvest festival, days of thanksgiving are common all around the world and celebrated in Canada, Liberia, the Netherlands, Saint Lucia, Australia, the United Kingdom, Granada, and there are even holidays with similar meanings in Germany and Japan.

While there are some suggestions that show up on every internet safety list, like instructing your child not to give out personal information or their location via text or social media, the one safety tactic touted across the board is awareness. Parental awareness is the key to online safety.

With fall, the first report cards and parent-teacher conferences of the academic year arrive. Liberty Traditional School, your Phoenix charter school, is no exception to this rule. Information on these one-on-one sessions with your child’s teacher will be going home shortly, making this the perfect time to discuss how to ensure these meetings are successful and useful for all involved. Every year there is more research documenting the connections between academic achievement and parental involvement in schools. Liberty believes firmly that parent engagement in education is vital to the academic success of every student, and encourages parents to be active participants in their student’s academic growth. We all—parents, students, teachers, staff, and administration—play important roles in the achievement of a shared goal: academic and character achievement.

October is Fire Safety month. During the week of October 4-10 the country celebrates Fire Prevention Week.

A Nod to the Past

Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. Woodrow Wilson, in 1920, proclaimed the first Fire Prevention Week. Since 1925, presidents have signed proclamations calling for a national observance every year.

Join us on Tuesday, September 29th, from 5-7 p.m. for Hispanic Heritage Night. There will be a family potluck*, guest speakers, jumping castles, music and more! We will meet in the sanctuary. All parents must sign in to receive a ticket for food. Please note, food tickets will only be available until 5:30 p.m. Don’t miss the fun!

*Please contact Montse, (602) 442-8791, to sign up for the potluck.

Download English/Spanish Flyer

Grandparents

Grandparents bestow upon their grandchildren
The strength and wisdom that time
And experience have given them.

Grandchildren bless their Grandparents
With a youthful vitality and innocence
That help them stay young at heart forever.

Together they create a chain of love
Linking the past with the future.
The chain may lengthen,
But it will never part…

-Unknown

With school in full swing it is almost time for the first progress reports to be making their way home. Even if you started the year off making goals with your child, this is the perfect time to make some new ones or start the goal setting process with them.

Stay in the know this school year. For the start of school, we figured all our Phoenix charter school parents could use a handy reference tool. We’ve put together this list of important items to be aware of for a successful school year.

Take part! All proceeds go towards helping our campus get up-to-date technology and the tools our teachers need to provide the best in education.

• Order forms went home with students on August 11.
• Popcorn orders will be taken August 12-28.
• Just one rule: Money must be collected at the time of the order.
• Popcorn will arrive approximately 2 weeks after the order is placed.