Dear Stevenson families,

In the next couple of weeks you will be receiving our Families For Stevenson annual donation drive request. This kicks off our fundraising efforts for the 2009-2010 school year – yes, it’s time to start raising money to fund NEXT year’s dance and arts instruction programs. We’ve all been hearing the news about state budget cuts and none of the news is good. While we still are not sure how these cuts will impact our school, we do know that they will. That is why it so important that we raise as much money as we can NOW — so that we can not only meet our goals of providing arts and dance education but that we can also pitch in and help supplement wherever the budget may fall short.

So when it arrives, I urge you to take a moment to read the letter and consider making a donation to Families for Stevenson. If you are not able to make a financial donation at this time, then I urge you to get involved and support our fundraising efforts by volunteering time and/or resources. The question isn’t how you can help, the real question is will you ?

~Carrie Brown, FFS President (818-556-6291)

It’s hard to believe that 200 years have passed since our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, was born in a simple log cabin in Kentucky. In honor of President Lincoln, the Time Travelers Committee is pleased to present the text of his most famous speech, The Gettysburg Address. We encourage all students and parents to read it carefully and consider the significance of his words as our Nation inaugurate its first African American President. If you would like to learn more about the man called “Honest Abe,” there are some great biographies in our Stevenson library or check out the impressive selection of presidential biographies at Buena Vista Library.

Abraham Lincoln
The Gettysburg Address

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

(Paul Bond reporting for the Time Travel network)

By Jennifer Jesperson

It is easy being green!

Over the holiday break, my family and I took a day trip up to Mt. Baldy for some fun in the snow. I was absolutely appalled by the amount of trash in the parking lots and on the road sides. We’re lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful areas in the country, and yet, some people don’t take care of it. It’s really not that hard! So, I’ve decided to try to write a monthly column. We have this fantastic new web site, so why not?

There are only three people in our house. We keep a trash receptacle near the door. OK, right now it’s a paper bag – which is kind of wrong. When I forget to bring my reusable shopping bags into the store, I ask for paper bags and then we reuse and recycle them. I need to get a small trash can, but at least it’s something! Anyway, we use that paper bag for recycling. On the weekends, I can run that bag out to the recycling bin three times a day! It amazes me that the three of us can generate that much! Just think if we didn’t recycle it?

Every so often when I see CFL light bulbs on sale, I’ll pick some up. That way, when an old-fashioned energy-sucker bulb burns out, I’ve got a new one ready to go!

We don’t water our lawn every day. It’s actually better for the lawn and flowers and plants if they don’t get watered every day. Turn your sprinklers off on the weekends. It will save money and water!

We’ve also lowered our water temperature. Your water may be hotter than necessary too. Most water heaters are automatically set at 140 degrees F. That used to be the standard temperature mostly because of dishwashers. Now, pretty much all dishwashers have a “booster heater.” Turn the temperature down to 120 degrees F (the medium setting on a gas heater dial) and you’ll cut your water heating costs by 6 to 10% and you won’t have to add as much cold water to your shower. And if your water heater is outside, buy a blanket for it. You can get them at any hardware store for about $20.00. That will help with your energy costs as well.

A standard shower head sprays you with up to eight gallons of water per minute. Replacing it with a high quality, low-flow shower head will allow you to use only one or two gallons of water and you’ll hardly notice a difference – except on your bill! You can get these at the Department of Water And Power on Magnolia – FOR FREE!

Try using cold water in your washing machine. You can get laundry detergents that are specially made for cold water. One load of hot water can cost you an extra $.40 per load! That adds up after a year. And always wash full loads. I keep a clothes line up all year around. Your clothes smell good, it saves energy and money!

All forced air furnaces (which is what most of us have) use filters that keep dust and dirt from blowing in your house. Cleaning or replacing the dirty filters once a month can greatly improve the heating ability of your furnace. A clogged filter wastes money.

If you don’t have to print out an email or directions or a recipe, then don’t.

If I see litter, I pick it up. We have to start helping each other. L.A. county citizens throw out enough waste to fill Dodger Stadium every two weeks! Cigarette butts are among the most common form of litter nation wide. The L.A. County Department of Public Works estimates that local smokers drop 600,000 butts on the ground every month! That’s more than 7,000,000 a year! I have friends who take pokers and trash bags up to Angeles Crest when they go on hikes and they pick up trash along the way. That way, they’re outside enjoying the fresh air, getting some exercise and helping the planet!

So, for now, I’ll step off my recycled soap box. Start small, make one change, then another. You’ll find out that it’s really not hard being green.

As the lunchtime football program comes to an end for another year, the Wellness Committee is preparing to re-introduce the highly successful lunchtime softball game. As with all Wellness committee activities, this is an open game for senior students (grades 3 through 6) that emphasizes learning, fun and sportsmanship. We are particularly excited to have Jason Burks on board as a coach for the lunchtime softball program. Many of you may know Jason from his years of service as a coach for the Burbank Parks & Rec girls’ softball program. We are also thrilled to have pitcher extraordinaire Jena Van Loo back on the mound. Rounding out the parent coaching staff will be Rick Wilson, Earl Brown and yours truly.

For any of you who have read my newsletter articles in the past, you know that I am committed to keeping kids interested in our national pastime. Research continues to suggest that interest is waning in youth baseball due to the slower pace of the game when compared to other recreational activities. Many kids would rather play a simulated baseball game on Play Station or the Wii than don their cleats and head down to their local Sandlot. At a time when technology is rapidly speeding up every aspect of our lives, I feel it is especially important to preserve the tradition of wiling away a few hours at the ballpark, either as a player or spectator.

As a youngster, I spent many summers at my uncle’s farm during the haying season. As busy as it got, we never failed to play an hour of softball on the back lawn after lunch before returning to the tractors and hay wagons. It is with this spirit that we invite the students to take a brief respite from their studies and join us on the back field every Thursday after lunch for a spirited game of work-ups. If you join us on the right day, you just might catch Principal Ginnetti on the mound or stepping up to the plate! On that note, we encourage all teachers and staff members to jump into the rotation as well.

Paul Bond
Chairman