Outreach Activities Announcement 2017

Dear Families,

Monday, Dec. 4 marks the official start of our annual Outreach activities. During the week we strive to foster a spirit of generosity and compassion toward others amongst our students. We do this by spreading goodwill in our local community by providing various opportunities for students to share Krishna consciousness with song, prasadam treats, and books in a safe and supportive way. As best as possible we try to involve all our students. This year we have the following activities planned:

Food and Necessities Collection Drive: Monday, Dec. 4 - Friday, Dec. 15 - A collection box will be at the entrance of the school for students to place items for local people in need.

Suggested items are:

• Gift cards for gasoline or grocery stores (Ward's,Publix,etc.)

• Canned foods,like no sugar fruits (pineapple,applesauce,etc.)

• Personal care items (toothbrushes,toothpaste,deodorant,etc.)

• Unseasoned canned beans (chickpeas,blackbeans,etc.)

• Whole grains (brownrice,barley,etc.)

• Seeds (sunflower,sesame,etc.)

• Oatmeal

• Mung beans

• Nuts

• Spices

• Ghee or olive oil

Please do not deposit expired food, used items, or any food item which contains garlic and onions. We are asking each family to contribute at least 1 item. At the end of our collection these items will be distributed via a local support organization.

Store-to-Store Book Distribution: Monday, Dec. 11 - Friday, Dec. 15 - Students in Audarya Bhavan (grade 3), Madhurya Bhavan, and Krishna Sharanam will go in small groups on book distribution led by Mother Sukhada Elsey, class teachers, and/or parent volunteers.

Home and Senior Center Visits: Monday, Dec. 11 - Friday, Dec. 15 - Students in Audarya Bhavan and Madhurya Bhavan will be brightening the spirits of some senior citizens and/or homebound individuals by singing songs and distributing treats. In addition, our choir will be visiting residents of The Atrium at Gainesville to sing a selection of beautiful songs with a spiritual message.

As with any field trip, teachers will accompany the students on activities scheduled during the school day. Everyone will return prior to their class lunch time. A link to an online permission slip has been sent out. Please complete it by Monday, December 4.

Please make sure your child comes to school during these outing days with a water bottle and weather appropriate clothing.

We are looking forward to an fun and exciting Outreach Week!

Yours in service,

Visvambhara Das

Head of School

Important Dates for December

Sat., Dec. 2	Krishna Sharanam: Annie Performance Field Trip @ 2 p.m.
Tue., Dec. 5	Temple Tuesday (Audarya Bhavan Guru Puja and Kirtan) @ 7:20 a.m.*
Sat., Dec. 9	Holiday Fundraising Cookie & Fudge Production Day @ 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 11	Bookmobile From Alachua County Library District
Mon., Dec. 11 - 15	Outreach Week
Tue., Dec. 12	Temple Tuesday @ 7:20 a.m.*
Wed., Dec. 13	School Choir Performance @ TBA
Mon., Dec. 18 - Jan. 1	Winter Holidays (School Resumes Tuesday, Jan., 2)

*Students in Audarya Bhavan (1st - 3rd grade), Madhurya Bhavan (4th - 6th grade), and Krishna Sharanam (7th - 9th grade) meet every Tuesday at the New Raman Reti temple at 7:20 a.m. Teachers will be on duty at the temple to accept students at this time.

SAVE THE DATE

January 8 – Bike Week 

Important Dates for November

Fri., Nov. 3	Pupil Holiday - Teacher Professional Development Day
Sun., Nov. 5	Daylight Savings Ends
Tue., Nov. 7	Temple Tuesday @ 7:20 a.m.*
Wed. Nov 8	Krishna Sharanam – Cade Museum Field Trip (Grade 7/8)
Thu., Nov. 9	Audarya Bhavan – Star Gazing Sleepover @ 6:30 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 10	Holiday – Veterans Day
Mon., Nov. 13	Library Bookmobile @ 10:30 a.m.
Tue., Nov. 14	Temple Tuesday @ 7:20 a.m.*
Fri., Nov. 17	Thanksgiving Potluck
Mon., Nov. 20 - 24	Thanksgiving Holidays
Tue., Nov. 28	Temple Tuesday @ 7:20 a.m.* Audarya Bhavan – Nutcracker Field Trip

*Students in Audarya Bhavan (1st - 3rd grade), Madhurya Bhavan (4th - 6th grade), and Krishna Sharanam (7th - 9th grade) meet every Tuesday at the New Raman Reti temple at 7:20 a.m. Teachers will be on duty at the temple to accept students at this time.

SAVE THE DATE

Holiday Fudge and Cookie Production Day - Saturday, December 9

Hurricane Irma Recovery School Update (2017-09-15)

Dear Families,

As of today, September 15 at 5:00 p.m., here is our status:

• Power to school continues to be disrupted due to the downed power line. 
• Although a generator power feed to the school will be completed today, Alachua County officials will not allow resumption of school until the broken power line is removed. 
• Best estimate I have personally received from Clay Electric is restoration of power on Tuesday. We are aware of the online post stating Sunday, but neither of these are guarantees, only broad estimates.
• Our teaching team is prepared to accept students Monday on a normal schedule if the power issue is resolved on Sunday. 

Based on the latest power restoration estimate, we will re-open sometime next week. I am hopeful it is Monday. If not, it will be the day following resumption of electrical service. Hopefully, no later than Wednesday. Notice will go out as soon as we have confirmation of a definite repair date and/or power is restored. 

I am very sorry for the disruption to school this power outage has caused. I have tried every means possible to get prioritization of repair without success. We all miss our students and families and are looking forward to getting back to normal very soon. Makeup days will be announced after school has resumed. 

Thank you to Govinda Syer and Jaya Govardhana Leslie. They both have provided a lot of support, ideas, and contacts in our effort to get power restored. We have also received help and advice from our friends at the School Board Alachua County and Early Learning Coalition. I am very grateful.

Yours in service, 

Visvambhara Dasa 
Head of School

Hurricane Irma Recovery School Update (2017-09-13)

Dear Families,

As of today, September 13 at 4:30 p.m., here is our status:

• Power to the school continues to be disrupted by a downed power line. The New Raman Reti Temple also remains without electricity.

• The phone lines that our fire alarm system uses to communicate are also out of service.

• Some staff continue deal with personal power/water outages and damage to property.

Due to these conditions and to give time to investigate and implement remedies to the issues that continue to impact our school, we will remain closed throughout this week.

We are making every endeavor to re-open as soon as possible. We are working with the Department of Children and Families, the Early Learning Coalition, and Alachua County Fire to determine what we are allowed to do to provide a safe environment for students to return.

We will continue to keep you updated as we have new information to share. Your patience and support through a very difficult time for many has been greatly appreciated.

Yours in service,

Visvambhara Dasa