Week of 12/7

Bake Sale Friday Dec 11

Breakfast with Santa Sat Dec 19 from 7-12. ALL nationals students must help out.

Christmas Party Sunday Dec 20. Bring a white elephant gift and a dish. Time & Location TBA

Doughnut Sale Tues Dec 22. Doughnuts will be at RA for 6:30 AM. This way we can try to sell to businesses.

Upcoming Tournaments:

January 9 - Catholic High

January 16 - Baton Rouge High

January 30 - Brother Martin

Misc

The next nationals payment of 100 dollars will be due in February.

Payments for pants are due ASAP. Late fees will be assessed for students that don't pay before the holidays. We have to pay the invoice and are charged a late fee if we don't pay on time.

The remaining pants and jackets are now done and waiting to be picked up. If anyone can get them this week let me know. They are in Prairieville. I can't get them until later this weekend.

News as of 11/16/09

Pastalaya order forms went home today. We are asking everyone to participate to earn money for regionals.

Breakfast with Santa has been moved to December 19th. We are still waiting on approval but I think we will get it. The cost is 6 for adults and 4 for kids 10 and under. All kids will receive a free 4 x 6 picture and can order nicer packages. I will need help heating up pancakes, cleaning up and creating a photo backdrop.

Students need to bring in their 29 dollars for the pants asap.

The christmas party will be friday evening dec 18th. We will have sign ups for snacks, etc. Students will also need to bring a white elephant gift.

I need suggestions for a date for the doughnut sale over christmas break. We want to do a weekday. I also need someone to pick them up if possible.

News as of 11/11/09

Pastalaya dinner on Monday November 23. Lunches are $6 and can be picked up in the cafeteria or you can deliver them. I also need a few spare drivers for students who will be out of town. The lunch includes pastalaya, corn, bread and dessert. I am also in need of someone to make those yummy lemon cakes and to help my mom with cooking and cleaning.

I have been placed on a sort of restriction due to my high blood pressure with the baby. So I need lots of help with the next few events and fundraisers. I am told I do too much :) I am in need of someone to plan and orchestrate induction. That would entail getting a date set, making the invitations, programs, etc. I will take care of getting a speaker but the planning and pricing part I need help with.

We are thinking about doing a breakfast with Santa. It would be on Sat. Dec 12 or 19. I submitted the fundraiser form and am waiting to hear back. Families could get a pancake breakfast for $6 and kids could take pictures with Santa and order picture packages available the following Monday at school. My mom has volunteered to take the pictures but I am in need of parents to heat up the pancakes, make plates and clean up.

I need opinions on doing a doughnut sale during Christmas week early in the morning for businesses. I want to do either a lunch over the break or the doughnuts. Honestly the doughnuts make more money and are much easier. Any thoughts on how well that would sell?

The Log 1 contest is approaching. We are asking ALL members to buckle down and study for this. There is 3000 dollars up for grabs that we missed by about 20 points last year. We want to win that money this year as we won't have to raise that money. After next Wednesday everyday in Mu Alpha Theta class will be dedicated to learning the material on that test. However, students will still need to study and review at home to ensure we get the highest scores possible.

We have formed pi week and t shirt committees. Any parents willing to design the pi week poster please let me know.

Check lamao.org for tournament updates. We have three tournaments back to back in January so it will be a very busy month.

We are hoping the pants and jackets will be ready on Friday so the kids can wear them on Saturday. Our ladies pants were back ordered and that messed the monogramming dates up.

SpringFest this year conflicts with State. I need parent volunteers to run our booth for most of the weekend. I will be able to pop by for a few hours to help but will have a newborn and will have to be at state also. We will need parents to man the booth all of Friday night and part of Saturday. From there we will need one adult present with the students to help keep track of the money.

Students should be working on their research based powerpoints for MAO class. We will be entering these in a contest to win between 250 dollars to 1000 dollars for those students that worked on the project. They will also get a copy of some very expensive software.

We will have a Sicily's night in December, however, I am still trying to get in touch with the manager at Sicily's.

Also there will be a Christmas party in December date TBA. It depends on the breakfast with Santa date.

News as of October 21

Sorry this is a bit late!

Doughnut orders for nationals are due on Friday. You can still add up until Sat morning but I need a basic count to call with.

November 1 the pools are due for nationals kids.

November 6 - Bake Sale

November 7 - De La Salle Tournament. We will be leaving RA at 7 and should be back for around 2:00.

November 14 - Ben Franklin Tournament

November 21 - ACT workshop.

November 23 - Pastalaya lunch for nationals students.

** We will be having a Sicily's night soon to raise money for regionals. **

I need nationals contracts in by Nov. 1. I have to book the charter bus and let the tour groups in DC know our plans. I am in need of 4 additional thetas!!

Students got their t-shirts to deliver to the sponsors of our elementary tournament. They should have delivered those by this time.

Thanks to everyone that helped with the elementary tournament! It went very smoothly!

News as of October 5

There is not much news this week. Please see previous posts for important dates. We are ordering Jackets and need you to measure your child and tell us what size they need. Also matching track pants are available for $29 with REBELS embroidered down the leg. Students will be allowed to wear these to tournaments but no other windpant/trackpants. Below is the sizing chart. Please send a note with your child's size to the school in an enveloped marked Jacket. Also if you want track pants include the size for those. They do not need to be paid for until they come in.

Adult Unisex	XXS	XS	S	M	L	XL	2X	3X	4X	5X	6X
Chest	28/29	30/32	34/36	38/40	42/44	46/48	50/52	54/56	58/60	62/64	66/68
Waist	22/23	24/26	28/30	32/34	36/38	40/42	44/46	48/50
Inseam (2493, 9021)	28	29	30	31	32	33	33.5	34
Inseam (9014, 9041, 9054, 9056, 9061, 9071, 9081, 9087, 9095, 9096, 9150, 9089)	27	28	29	30	31	32	32.5	33
Inseam(2807)		32	32.5	33	33	33	33	33
Ladies		XS	S	M	L	XL	2X
Size		0/2	4/6	8/10	12/14	16/18	20/22
Chest		30/32	32/34	34/36	36/38	38/40	40/42
Waist		25/26	27/28	29/30	31/32	33/34	35/36
Inseam (9381)		28	28.5	29	29.5	30	30.5
Inseam (2373, 9341, 9397)		28	29.5	30.5	31.5	32.5	33
Inseam (9385)		30.5	31	31.5	32	32	32.5

Saturday's Social Event

Saturday's get together will be at my parent's house (Mrs Turnbull). Her address is 157 Belle Grove. If your child needs a ride we can arrange that. They will be cooking hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner. If you would like to donate chips, drinks (cans) or a few dollars please send it by Friday to school. We would appreciate it!

Announcements September 28

Fundraisers:

We are asking students to sell 6 squares each for the LSU game. So far the majority have been able to sell them easily and we would rather do 2 pools and cut out a smaller fundraiser. If you are a parent of two students and you are going to have trouble selling the 12 let me know. I can see if some of the students with larger family members can sell a few extra to help. I know its hard with two kids involved in multiple things

Oct 16th - Elementary Tournament. I need help at 3:15 PM setting up and then proctoring tests, putting them in order and deciding on winners. Students should bring a change of clothes to school and plan on staying right after school.

Oct 17th- ACT math workshop. MAO students are welcome to come but this is a fundraiser/opportunity to raise ACT scores. They do not have to come. However, we ask that they spread the word to their friends and even other schools.

October 9th there will be a bake sale

October 25 there will be a doughnut sale benefiting nationals students. Order forms will go home later this week.

We are sending out order forms for calculator covers this week. As I get orders I will start passing them along with a prototype to those who volunteered to sew.

Nationals

Please get students' contracts in as soon as possible. Even if you are lacking the deposit I need to start making arrangements. To clarify: the summer practices are planned around student's schedules. If they are involved in sports and other activities we work around that. There are three of us leading practices so we have a lot of flexibility. We are greatly in need of younger students to go. We need Geometry and Algebra II level students at this point in time.

Tournaments

Permission slips went out for Lafayette today. Please return them by Thursday October 1.

There will be another get together after Lafayette location TBA. Depending on the number of people attending it will either be at my house or my mom's house. It is STRONGLY encouraged that students attend our social events. We have to get to know one another to work as a team.

November 7th we have a tournament at De La Salle

November 14th we have a tournament at Ben Franklin

Miscellaneous

We are looking for candy/gift card donations for incentives for individual placements. A king size candy bar or a $5 to $10 dollar gift card will be great.

Please remind your child to look over their material for a tournament. We do as well as each person so it is important to review before competing. Also students need to be sure they bring their pencils and graphing calculators to every tournament.

St. Paul's Placements

Congratulations!

4th Place Geometry- Zach Sparcella

5th Place Potpourri - Alex Tir

1st Place Potpourri - Sarah Robert

4th Place Adv Math - John de St. Germain

3rd Place Potpourri Team Test - Ricky Johnson, Alex Tir, Sarah Robert and Ryne Trosclair.

New as of September 21

Fundraisers:

Students will get their information for the LSU vs Florida pools today. They have to sell three $10 squares and we also need 7 additional squares sold. If anyone works somewhere or has family that likes to participate in football pools please let me know. This is a fundraiser for regional competition fees.

There will be a bake sale on Friday, October 9.

Our 5th - 8th tournament is on Friday, October 16. We need all students and parents that can work to work the tournament.

On Saturday October 17 me, stephen and jordan will be running a math ACT prep workshop. The cost is $20 and it is from 9 - 12:30. Students will take a practice ACT and will then be broken into small groups to go over the test and some testing strategies. The money raised goes toward the club. We will create flyers and publicize this and anyone can take the workshop.

I have requested Sunday, October 25. As soon as it approved I will post here. Students make 4 - 4.50 per dozen depending on tax and how many free dozens we get. This will be for those attending nationals.

Please get t-shirt sponsors in no later than Weds. We have to get our artwork in to the printer.

The Monday of Thanksgiving week we will have a pastalaya dinner in order to raise money for nationals.

Tournaments

Permission slips have gone out for St. Paul's this Saturday. This year we have different procedures and forms that have to be filled out through the school. They are due by Weds. It is imperative they are in on time as the administration needs to see them. I also need a copy of their insurance card front and back. Following St. Paul's we will have a team get together at Mrs. Carrie's house. Any parents interesting in providing snacks or drinks please let me know. I strongly encourage all team members to attend our team functions. We have to get to know each other in order to work like a team therefore these are important events. We also have a lot of fun hanging out and playing games.

October 3rd is our next tournament. We will be leaving very early as it is in Lafayette.

Incentives

We are looking for a few donations of incentive items for our tournament placers. Items include baking brownies for the whole class one day during the following week, pizza, any food that can be shared with the whole class, $5 gift cards to fast food chains or blockbuster, large candy bars and or bags of candy. Please let me know if you can donate any of these items. We have set up the current incentive system.

Placement Goals:

2 individual placements

2 top ciphering team placements

Interschool Placement

Sweepstakes Placement

All individual placers will get a food item or gift card. If we place in Interschool the whole class gets a treat such as brownies, pizza or whatever is donated. If we get sweepstakes we will draw several team members to receive additional items and they will get a day to play a game in class.

Nationals

Nationals information and contracts were given out in class today. Please contact me with any questions. We have changed the contract this year so please be sure that both you and your child have read and understand the requirements. We will be chartering the bus through Hotard as they have given us the best quote.

If you have any fundraising suggestions please let me know. We will be doing several fundraisers a month in order to help raise funds quickly and easily.

Miscellaneous

We are still in need of a bus driver. Please let me know if you are available to get a CDL. The school will pay for you to get the CDL and we have nine saturday tournaments that we need transportation to. You don't have to work the tournaments and could simply bring a book or some work to do.

This Thursday September 24 is our first mail in tournament. Any thetas that can stay after school to take the test are encouraged to let me know. I will only stay if there are enough students to take the test.

News Sept. 17

Students can still turn in T-shirt sponsors. Some suggestions: Italian Pie, Bill Hubbard's office, Nicki Monica's office, River Parish Physical Therapy, Dr. Favalora, Dr. Danos, Dr. Accuri, Sicily's, Gregg's, Curves, Latter and Blum, First American, etc. The absolute last day for the sponsors is Weds. Take advantage as this money goes straight into their accounts.

Football pools for the LSU v Florida will be on sale starting next week. Each student must sell 3 $10 squares.

We are in need of a parent who has a CDL or who is willing to get a CDL to drive our club. The school will begin charging us 16/ hour for a bus driver plus a 50 dollar bus fee. We really can't afford this increase in the spending budget for our club as we have 9 tournaments and this adds considerably to the cost of competing.

It appears that we will be chartering a bus to nationals as the price to travel with such a large group for airfare is around 500 dollars plus baggage fees and a taxi to get us to the hotel. I hope to have everything written up by Monday for prices. We will charter the bus and share with different schools to decrease the cost as much as possible.

Please talk to any teachers at schools with 5 - 8th grade. We need a good showing at our tournament to make money for nationals.

We will have a bake sale on Oct 9.

We are looking for several students that will commit to staying after school one day a week to work on the Log 1 tournament. We missed out on over 3000 last year by 50 points or so. We really want to win that money as it will be very helpful for nationals.

August 31st Announcements

We will be collecting t-shirt sponsors for our 5th - 8th grade tournament through the 14th of September. Students need at least two but are welcome to get as many as possible as all of this money goes into their accounts. I can email additional forms to parents if needed.

Our first tournament is at St. Paul's on the northshore on September 26th . Students need to sign up ASAP.

Our second tournament is at Lafayette High on October 3rd.

Our 5th - 8th tournament will be on October 16 from 3:30 - 6:30. Those involved in extracurriculars for the game will be excused at the appropriate times. This tournament is a fundraiser and an opportunity for students to earn a scholarship for their freshman year ranging between 25 - 100 dollars. We are currently contacting school principals to encourage participation. If you have any contacts at other schools please let me know. Our high school tournament generates about 5,000 dollars in revenue and we are hoping that over the next few years we can approach that number with both tournaments. I will also need parent volunteers to help with this tournament. Please contact me if you can help.

Seniors- Scholarship information will begin being circulated including scholarships that require a project. Also top placing students at state will receive scholarships to nationals. This is something that is achievable but requires work.

Any student interested in attending a summer program related to math/science out of state needs to talk with me about grants available through Mu Alpha Theta to pay all expenses for these programs. This includes programs at Standford, Princeton, University of Texas, Texas A & M, etc. These programs do not conflict with nationals and range from a week to a month.

If students haven't paid their $30 dues that needs to be done ASAP.

Dates for tournaments can be found at www.lamao.org

The nationals price has finally been released and I will be contacting the airlines this week to finalize prices. This means I should know the total cost including transportation by next Monday. Due to the difficulty in scheduling events in Washington money will be due much earlier this year as everything MUST be finalized by December including activities on free days. This means that a student should not sign up if they do not intend to follow through. Once deposits are given students will be responsible for the full balance even if they can not go. I have to plan and book VERY far in advance this year and there isn't any room for students to back out and it isn't fair for the other students going to have to pick up their cost. If your student is interested information will be going home next Monday. We are looking to bring between 20 - 25 students. It is necessary to bring at least 18 to maintain our national ranking as multiple events are going on at the same time and we must have entries in all of them.

Anyone who works at a plant or company that could potentially make a sizable donation please contact me. We have to have a parent working at a plant to get a donation. In previous years we have gotten between 3 and 5 thousand from the plants. Last year we didn't get anything. I can send out letters but it will help if a parent gets in contact with the office. I do have a donation letter ready for those entities. Please contact me for a letter as this is a huge help in fundraising.

We are currently selling formula notecards to students to raise money for regional tournaments.

I am in need of people who can sew. Texas Instruments does not make a cover that will work for the TI Nspire. MAO will be selling one that is a sewn drawstring bag for 15 dollars. This will make a minimum of 10 dollars per bag. It is also the same price the TI-84 covers cost. Students really need to cover their calculators to protect from dust and moisture on the faceplate. We are anticipating selling around 200 of these to the student body and potentially more in the community. Nancy Tir has been kind enough to make a prototype and pattern for us. The orders will not be all at once as it is a pre-order situation. However, I will need several people helping with this. Please let me know if you can help.

Welcome!

Parents this is the place where I will update Mu Alpha Theta news. It will be updated every Monday. Please check late Monday night or early Tuesday morning for updates.