Spooky to Be Hungry canned good collection and upcoming Blood Drive

Butler High School is collecting canned goods for the Spooky to Be Hungry program. There are other collection points throughout the CSRA.

This organization is run by volunteers. Check out their website at http://www.spookytobehungry.org/faq.htm

There are Spooky food drives in Richmond County, Columbia County (Evans, Martinez, Grovetown, and Harlem), Aiken, Burke, Edgefield, Lincoln, McDuffie, and Warren Counties.

Another event at Butler High School this week: Blood Drive, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Please come support this event.

Notice to All Teen Drivers and their Parents in Georgia

Are you familiar with Joshua’s Law? It is a bill that changes the requirements that teen drivers must meet in order to obtain a Class D driver’s license starting on January 1, 2007.
To get a Class D driver’s license at age sixteen (16):You must have completed a driver education course approved by the Department of Driver Services and complete a cumulative total of at least forty (40) hours of other supervised driving experience, including at least six (6) hours at night.

If you have not completed an approved driver’s education course, you cannot get your Class D driver’s license until you reach age seventeen (17). Remember, forty (40) hour of driving experience, including six (6) hours of driving at night, is always required for a Class D driver’s license.

For more information and to take an online version of the practice test check out the GA Department of Driver Services: http://www.dds.ga.gov/teens/index.aspx

The Art of Lorenzo Williams

Lorenzo Williams - Former Director of the Jessye Norman School of the Arts and Butler High School's Teacher of the Year in 2004, tells his story through visual art.

An eclectic mix of paintings, ceramic masks, and detailed drawings by one of the CSRA's rising stars will be on display through November 29, 2006 at Lucy Craft Laney Museum. Opening reception is Sunday, October 22, 2006, 3-5 PM.

Check out the Lucy Craft Laney museum link for more information: http://www.lucycraftlaneymuseum.com/specialprograms.htm

Come out and support one of Butler's own!

Thanks to everyone for starting the BHS PTSA

A heartfelt "Thank you" to all of the concerned parents, teachers, students, alumni, and other concerned adults who came out to support our first official PTSA meeting. We are off to a great start with the support and the many events we are doing to support our students.

The senior class representatives briefed us on their proposal ideas for the senior events. We have made a connection and there are parents who have some creative ideas to share with the senior class in order to provide assistance and sponsorship for their goals for the year.

Thanks to RCCPTA representatives for coming out to make the BHS PTSA official and install our officers. Your support is appreciated in bringing the Butler PTSA back into good standing.

We look forward to seeing more people at the next meeting scheduled for November 16, 2006. Until then...pay it forward...practice random acts of kindness.

Progress Report Night Oct 16

Progress Report Night - 6:00 PM

PTSA Meeting October 19, 2006 6:30PM

Please donate your empty Inkjet and Laser Cartridges to the Media Center! Parent and Community support is welcome in the recycling of Inkjet/Laser Cartridges and cell phones.

Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005

Parents and students, time to start working on the FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) worksheet. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005

"Changes that may affect your student aid are listed below. These changes are the result of a new federal law that goes into effect on July 1, 2006; read further to see if any changes may affect your student aid.

New student aid grant program
The law also created a new student aid grant program called the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG). Congress has provided funding and the grants are available for the 2006-2007 award year. First-year undergraduate students will be eligible to receive up to $750. Second-year undergraduate students will be eligible to receive up to $1,300.

To be eligible for an ACG each academic year, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be Federal Pell Grant eligible
• Be enrolled full-time in a degree program
• Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his or her program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution
• Have completed a rigorous high school program of study (after January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second year student)
• If a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program; and
• If a second-year student, have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year.

If you have not filed a FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA, at the time that you complete your application, FAFSA on the Web will predetermine if you are eligible to answer the ACG questions".

National Essay Contest

When an Apple a Day Isn't Enough" National Essay Contest

September 5 - October 31, 2006

Do you think all children should have access to health care? If so, tell us why! (online or by mail)

http://www.childrenshealthcampaign.org/events/national-essay-contest/

In this contest, children and young adults ages 9-18 are asked to explain how the ability to obtain the health services they need affects their lives and the lives of those around them. The essay contest starts on September 5, 2006, and ends at 11:59 pm EST on October 31, 2006.

Winners of the contest will be selected from two age groups in each state—9 through 13 and 14 through 18. State winners will receive $250 in cash, and winning essays will be published in a Campaign booklet.

The Grand Prize winners will receive $2,500 and and an overnight trip to Washington, D.C. (along with his or her parent or legal guardian) for a special awards ceremony in February 2007. One teacher or program facilitator for each Grand Prize winner will also receive an overnight trip to Washington, D.C. and will be recognized with his or her student at the awards ceremony. Finally, the school or organization that submits the most entries will receive a $2,000 cash award for school supplies.

Does your kid have a cause or concern?

From the DoSomething site: http://www.dosomething.org/oldpeople/parents.html

Talk, Talk, Talk
Do you sit down and share dinner as a family? Or, do you drive your kids to practice, school games, or church? These are great times to chat with your kids about how service can be cool and fun. Start by finding out what causes concern them.

Tick-tock. Teens have a ton of opinions, right? Ask your kids what they care about the most -- but make it fun. For example, say "If you had one minute with the Mayor (or person of your choice), what would you say?" Pretend you are that person and actually give your child 1 minute to talk to you.

Shoot for the Stars! Find out who (in sports/music/entertainment) is giving back to the community. For example, Leonardo DiCaprio is dedicated to environmental causes and even drives an electric car. Princess Diana spent a lot of time with AIDS babies, showing the world that they need love and affection. Lance Armstrong works hard to promote understanding of cancer survivors as strong, able-bodied people. Does your child admire someone? Who? Why?

Extra, Extra! Read all about it. Give everyone at the dinner table an article or a section from the day's newspaper. Before anyone gets dessert, each person must talk about one issue from the day and what he/she thinks about it.

If I Had a Million Dollars...Imagine a distant relative dies and leaves your kid 1 million dollars. But the will says, "You have to use it to make the world a better place." Ask how they would spend it.

Blast from the Past. Tell your kids about what you did when you were growing up. Chat about all of the issues that concerned you and your friends. This will help them get a handle on past problems vs. present problems.

The College Crunch! Tell your kids that 'doing good' might give them that extra nudge to get into a specific college. Helping others can also mean helping themselves in the long run. Check out the other kids on the DoSomething site.

Picture This! A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Sometimes you need to see it to believe it. Have a "World Photo of the Week" that you post on the fridge. Talk to your kids about how the photo makes them feel.

PTA Urges Parents to Ask Questions

PTA Urges Parents to Ask Questions, Take Action to Help Prevent Violence in Schools

From the National PTA website: http://www.pta.org/ne_press_release_detail_1159972062062.html

"All parents, students, school staff, and members of the community need to be a part of creating safe school environments for children. Many PTAs are working to identify the problems and causes of school violence and possible solutions for violence prevention.
Questions parents can ask about the safety of their school community include:

• What is your child’s school procedure for getting information to parents during a crisis (website, phone tree, email, etc.)?
• Does every teacher have a copy of emergency procedure clearly posted in the classroom? Is it reviewed with children?
• Does your school practice emergency procedures with children? (much like a fire drill)
• Does your child’s school review safety policy year-to-year? Does this review process involve parents?
• How can I find out about community-wide violence prevention programs?
  Are there conflict management and peer mediation programs offered in school?

Additional resources on school safety and what parents can do to help children cope are available at PTA.org/schoolsafety."

See you at the Stop the Violence, Spread the Peace Youth Rally tomorrow at Butler High School.

Saturday School starts October 14, 2006

Butler High School will offer Saturday School for students. This program is open to any Butler High School student, but an application must be on file before the student can attend.

http://butler.rcboe.org/home.aspx

Transportation will be available. Hours of operation are 8:00 – 12:30 each Saturday, beginning October 14th. Applications are available in the front office of the school, and each student will be given one to bring home. Applications should be returned by Wednesday, October 11th. Please take advantage of this extension of our school day – this free service is a wonderful opportunity to get your child “back on track”. If you have questions, you may call the school.

Violence Prevention Rally at Butler High School

Stop the Violence Increase the Peace

Free food, prizes, and incentives will be given to attendees!
Saturday, October 7, 2006 Butler High School Gymnasium
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Speakers

Danny Craig Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney

Eric Taylor Westside High School Assistant Principal

Tess Alexander Brunson Richmond County Police Department Investigator

Raymond Bing Department of Juvenile Justice

Performers

Prisoners of God

New Exodus

TRIBE

Step Show

Hosted by the Youth Development Task Force, Augusta Richmond County Community Partnership for Children and Families, Inc. Drug Free Communities Coalition and the Children's Week Committee

Another reason to join the BHS PTSA

The National PTA offers online training to individual members. Once you join, access to the E-Learning courses can be accessed with your membership login and password.

The courses offered are:
Conflict Management
Effective Advocacy for your Child
Grant Writing
Parliamentary Procedure
Planning and Goal Setting
Planning your PTA Year
PTA Basics
Running a Successful Program
Writing and Proposing PTA Resolutions

See you at the meeting at BHS on October 19, 2006.
Bring your print cartridges!

Do Something.org

Check out their link: http://www.dosomething.org/

What Do We Do
You have a lot of ideas about how you'd like to change the world or at least you have a lot of questions and concerns and you're looking for specific things you can do. We're giving you a place to connect, a place to be inspired, be supported, be celebrated. The only question is, "What's your something?"

The Mission
We believe young people have the power to make a difference. It is our aim to inspire, support and celebrate a generation of do-ers: people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action.
Our website is a community where young people learn, listen, speak, vote, volunteer, ask, and take action to make the world a better place. Currently, only 23% of this generation actively volunteers. Our hope is to create a do something generation: a world where more than 51% of young people are involved with community action.