I want to take this time to thank all the volunteers who came out on September 29th to participate in the Families Reading Together Day. FSUS students enjoyed listening to parents, grandparents and other family members read books in elementary classrooms throughout the day and a great time was had by all.

In October, our focus on reading continues with our first Book Fair of the year. Toward the end of the month, the focus changes and health and safety takes the spotlight with a PTSA-sponsored Bike Rodeo.

On October 24 at 5:30pm, we will gather in the Cafeteria for our PTSA General Assembly Meeting. This is your chance to participate by voting to approve our teachers' minigrant requests, listening to committee updates, volunteering for the events and committees that interest you, and meeting other Florida High parents. We are also planning a special candidate forum and you will be receiving more information about that later in the month.

We look forward to all PTSA members coming out to enjoy these events and hope to have others join PTSA and help in our efforts to support Florida High.

Heidi Abernethy
PTSA President

We have had a wonderful start to our 2006-2007 school year. Thank you to all who were able to participate in our Families Reading Together program. Kudos to Carole Fletcher, Media Specialist, Kate Pulver, PTSA Reading Programs Chair, and Margie Gibbons, Elementary Reading Teacher, for all of their planning and hard work. Our Reading Day was a huge success.

Playground Update
You may have noticed that the wooden structure that was on our playground has been removed. As there had been some safety issues raised about the wooden structure, we thought that our best plan of action was to go ahead and remove it. The school and the PTSA are working hard to enhance our playground. Through our continued fundraising (Pennies for Playtime) and other contributions, we hope to have a new playground structure in its place in the future. Thank you for your continued support of this worthy cause.

Car Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Our car drop-off and pick-up has really gone smoothly so far. There are a couple of things that we all can do to help make it even better. In the morning, please pull all the way forward to drop off your children. Once you are stopped next to the cones, your students can get out and walk up the sidewalk to the cafeteria (before 7:50 a.m.) or to their classroom (after 7:50 a.m.). Please do not park along the area at the end of the cones, as this creates a hazard to others continuing on out the driveway. In the afternoon, please remember that all students left at 3:30 p.m. will be sent to the afterschool program, and a fee will be charged. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to helping our students be as safe as possible.

PTSA
Our PTSA is doing a great job supporting our students and staff. If you have not done so, would you please join them today? They have a number of great programs planned for all of our students, and your support is always appreciated. For those of you who have already joined, thank you.

Lost and Found
As the weather turns cooler, we will see an increase in the number of lost and found items. Please take a minute and write your child’s name (first and last) on the inside of their jackets, sweaters, and other clothing. This will help us return the clothing to the correct person.

Have an Awesome October!

T. Neal Trafford
Elementary Principal

Bike Rodeo
The Florida High Bike Rodeo will take place after school on Wednesday, October 25 from 3:00PM to 5:00PM near the outdoor basketball courts between the gym and the football stadium. Several bicycle events will be featured, and the kids will have fun while learning about bicycle safety. Free bicycle helmets and other prizes will be distributed. The event is co-sponsored by the FSU Police Department. In case of bad weather, the event will be moved to October 26. So tell your kids to get their bikes ready.

Sun Protection
Students are allowed to wear hats for sun protection during PE, recess, and other outdoor campus activities. The administration recently clarified the fact that hats for sun protection are permitted under the dress code.

School Gardens Update
The FSUS Administration approved our plans for a vegetable and a science garden for elementary school, and a vegetable/herb garden for middle/high school. Nancy Magnuson and Beti Gregory are faculty sponsors for the elementary garden, and Barbara Davis and Debi Barrett-Hays are faculty sponsors for the high school. The tentative location for the gardens is inside the fence on the west side of campus between the elementary school playground and the gazebo. After final approval, we hope to start planting before the New Year.

SNAP Update
Volunteers are needed to help analyze the survey results of our nutritional analysis of campus foods and compile a list of healthy alternatives to be served on campus to our children.

Please contact me if you have any questions or comments of if you wish to volunteer to help on any of these projects.

Danni Vogt
Health and Safety Committee Chair

We are eagerly awaiting your arrival at our Reading Rain Forest, October 9-16. Come in and see the wonderful new authors, titles, resource materials and newest paperbacks. Our book fair is for all grades at Florida High. Shop in the Rain Forest (the Library) between 7:30AM and 4:00PM. We need volunteers to staff our book fair, and to help with decorating, set up and break down.

Our Family Night event is October 10 and starts at 5:30PM. Tickets for Itza Pizza Individual Pizzas are $5 each and are on sale now in the front office and in the library. Please make checks payable to FSUS-PTSA. The Art Department will sell beverages. Family Night promises to be a night of outstanding entertainment with performances by our FSUS Elementary ORFFestra and Chorus. Señor Guastella will sell autographed copies of his books. Lisa Ebener will have delicious cakes by the slice for sale. Dine under the stars in the courtyard. Volunteers are also needed at this event.

Congratulations to our Elementary Students of the Month for September: Ammar Abdullah, Helen Abernethy, Coty Cherry, Ethan DeSearcy, Olivia Eto, Mte Evans, Madison Fitzpatrick, Aaron Ford, Matthew Geddie, Lydia Gonzalez, Clayton Harley, Ronnie Harrison, Mario Hernandez, Alexa Hoover, Jonathan Ibarra, Anders Johnson, Creed King, Nicholas Leon, Kelly McCarthy, Emily McClellan, James Monroe, Susana Pelayo, Kamal Pressley, Chloe Pulver, Jared Runyon, Tristen Runyon, Chason Scruggs, Bailey Smith, Madeline Snow, Sydney Spicer, Gabbi Spillias, Kristina Terry, Bethany Zamarron, Christian Thompson, Austin Whitmire.

Kate Pulver
Reading Programs Chair

Parents, Students, Grandparents, Friends,
One way our FSUS families can support our school is by joining the Florida High Parent Teacher Student Association. We hope this newsletter shows you all the great programs that we sponsor. Consider this your personal invitation to join our organization. If you are already a member, please share this newsletter with families who may not yet be members. Encourage them to attend our next General Meeting, October 24.

Teachers,
The Scholastic book fair is next week. Have your wish lists filled as members of the PTSA. Let's get the Award for 100% Teacher Involvement. Those teachers who join by the end of October will be eligible for a wonderful Teacher Appreciation Basket drawing in May.

There will be activities throughout the month of October to thank those teachers, parents, grandparents and students who become members of the FSUS PTSA. Membership levels include:

• Student ($3)
• Garnet ($5 for Basic Adult Membership)
• Silver ($15 for BAM + T-Shirt)
• Gold ($25 for BAM + Sweatshirt)