Information about PTG events and activities is now available on the Willard PTG website (www.willardptg.org). The current PTG Calendar (through the end of this year), the list of PTG Committee members, and dates of upcoming PTG meetings are already posted. Furthermore, information about upcoming Enrichment Assemblies, METCO Late Bus dates and MCAS testing for the spring are also available.

We are in the process of redesigning the Willard PTG website, and welcome any suggestions or comments. Please forward such information to the Willard Weekly editor (willardweekly@willardptg.org) or the WebMaster (webmaster@willardptg.org)

If you signed up to volunteer in the Willard Library this year, you should have received your schedule via email this week. Please take a moment to review the schedule, mark your calendar, and read the attached guidelines. If you have not done so already, please contact Library Aide Ann Fossett (afossett@colonial.net) to schedule your attendance at a brief library training one morning in the near future.

If you signed up and did not receive an email schedule, it may be that you do not have a current, approved CORI form on file in the Willard Office and must work with Willard Secretary Bev Lucas or Shirley Nazzaro to apply for or renew your CORI. Once you have confirmed that your CORI is up-to-date, please then contact us directly to be added to the volunteer list.

Librarian Erica Chicco and Ann have been updating the Willard Library Web Page so if you haven't checked it out recently, please do. The Willard Library Volunteer Handbook is currently posted there for your reading pleasure, and soon the Volunteer Schedule will be accessible there as well.
-Suzanne Hogan and Kristin Piper

Need to be reimbursed? Please fill out the check request information sheet and attach all receipts. This can be done electronically to kathioneil@gmail.com or by mail to her house, 171 Deacon Haynes Road, or by dropping off your completed form to the Treasurer's Box in the office. Turn around is pretty quick!

Registration forms for Willard School Photo Day were distributed via classroom teachers this week. Each child in a family should have come home with one. Extra copies are available at the front office. We are looking forward to seeing smiling faces on October 6th!
- Co-organizers: Judy Bernard and Jennifer Clarke

Please mark your calendars: Our annual Book Fair, offering educational and fun books to students, teachers, and parents, will be held in the new Willard cafeteria on Monday, October 19th, and Tuesday, October 20th. Proceeds from the Book Fair directly support the Willard School Library and benefit all Willard students in the form of new books that are chosen by the library staff.

The traditional Monday Evening Social is a great time to browse and select books, and to connect with other Willard families. And - although we won't have ice cream on hand in the new school this year - we will be providing supervised games, puzzles, and stories for children in the library on Monday evening from 6:30pm until 8:00pm. If you can't make it to the Social, we encourage you to visit the Book Fair during the school day. A schedule will come home the week before the Fair letting you know when your child's class will attend. More details about the Fair, including information on books written by authors visiting your child's classroom, will appear in future Willard Weeklies - so stay posted!

A final note: the Book Fair is entirely run by volunteers, and we'd greatly appreciate your help. If you have a few hours to volunteer on Monday or Tuesday, please e-mail our Volunteer Coordinator, Laura Klein (laurajaneklein@yahoo.com).

We look forward to seeing you at the Fair.
- Book Fair Committee (Aimee Cupp, Laura Klein, Patti Reilly and Jennifer Waldron)

Once again, Willard is participating in the nationwide Trick or Treat for UNICEF program, and we need a parent volunteer to help collect the little orange boxes and organize the donation. If you are interested in helping, please contact Suzanne Hogan at suzanne.hogan@comcast.net. Thanks.

In case you were not paying attention - here are some reminders from last week:

• Help support The New Willard School! Please stop by the Willard Wear table set up outside the Auditorium at the Back To School Nights. Ready to purchase items include: Reusable Grocery Bags ($.50), T-Shirts ($5.00), Croc School-bus inserts ($.50), and Travel Coffee mugs ($5.00). What a bargain! Willard Car Magnets will be coming soon. And, Order Forms for the New Willard Wear will be coming by email soon. New Items include: Flannel PJ Pants ($25), Hoodie Sweatshirts ($28), Camelback Water bottles ($15) and Sport Bags ($8). Any questions, contact Jean Webster jeanpwebster@comcast.net or Sherin Spofford at sherinspofford@hotmail.com.
• If you would like to participate in the Willard Family Photo Day on Saturday, October 17 (rain 10/18) and Sunday, October 25 (rain 11/8), send your check for $35 payable to the Willard PTG to Madeleine Pooler, 49 Indian Pipe Lane, Concord, MA 01742. Please include your phone number on the check. After your check is received, you will be given instructions for scheduling your sitting with Coffee Pond Photography. Please contact Madeleine Pooler (madeleine@pooler.com) if you have any questions or need additional information.
• The Concord Carlisle Parents Initiative (CCPI) is in need of representatives from the Willard School. Joining the CCPI board can be very informative and fun.CCPI meets once a month, currently scheduled at 9:30 AM on the third Wednesday in the Concord Public Library. For more information, look at our website at www.ccpionline.org and/or contact Kathe Falzer (978) 369-6118 or lkfalzer@comcast.net or Regine Ryder (978) 318-1964 or acupoint.ryder@yahoo.com.

Therapeutic residential school in Concord is in need of exercise equipment in good working condition. If you have a stationary bike or treadmill that you would like to donate it would be GREATLY appreciated. We will be happy to pick up. Please contact: Sue Kurker at 978-369-1749. Thank you!

Writing for Children. There is no greater reward than writing for children. The stories you craft can fill them with laughter or help them work through problems. You truly can make a difference in how children see themselves and how they view the world. But first, you need to learn to write stories children will love. Then you need to learn to market your writing to children's editors. This practical, hands-on course will teach you the basics of writing for children and then show you how to professionally represent your work to editors. Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 100 books for children. She has written everything from board books for preschoolers to reference books for teens.
The 6-week class meets at CCHS from 7 to 9:30 PM starting September 29, and the fee is $120. To enroll online, visit www.ace.colonial.net, or to enroll by phone please call 318-1540. Concord-Carlisle Adult & Community.

The Barn Cooperative Nursery School announces an Open House for parents interested in enrollment for the 2010-2011 school year. Parents and their children are welcome to stop by Wednesday, September 30, 2009 from 6:00pm-7:30pm at 74 Walden Street, Concord. The Barn offers toddler and preschool programs for ages 2 and up. Please call 978-369-1141 or visit our website at www.barnschoolconcord.com for more information.

The Willard community is collecting school supplies and flip-flop/sandals for Honduras. Last year, Noel Solano-Gomez, a student in Jen Shea's kindergarten was here from Honduras for medical treatment follow-up. We are hoping to provide his community with much needed supplies to help with their educational needs, as well as, prevent illnesses and injuries. There will be a collection box outside the main office from Monday, September 21st through Friday, October 2nd. Thank you for your support.

On Friday, September 25, the CCHS Men's varsity soccer team will be playing Boston Latin @ 7pm at the turf field behind the High School in the Third Annual Lois Wells Memorial "Kicks for Cancer" Soccer Match with all proceeds donated to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This night game is in memory of Concord resident Lois Wells, who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Lois is the mother of Steve Wells, who is the team's assistant coach and a 1998 graduate of CCHS. Tickets will be on sale at CCHS Back to School Night on September 24th and at the event. Raffle Tickets will also be available. We invite you and your family to join us on the evening of the 25th to watch a great soccer match and help support cancer research.

The Milldam Nursery School Open House is this Saturday, September 26, 2009, 10:00 am -12:00 pm at the First Parish Church, 20 Lexington Road (in the back of the church).

Concord Family Network Kids' Stuff Tag Sale. To be held Saturday, October 3, 2009, 8am-12noon (7am set-up), Thoreau Elementary School Cafeteria, $20 buy in fee for sellers (will cover site cost), $1 entry fee per family (will go to First Connections). If interested in selling, please contact CFNtagsale@concordfamilynetwork.org

The Center for Parents and Teachers is offering several Parenting Programs starting in October including the ever-popular "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" and "Raising Your Challenging Child". Pre-register now to hold your place! Check out our new website at www.centerforparentsandteachers.org for ongoing program updates!

Playtime Theatre - Actors from Concord Youth Theatre, a local non-profit organization, will inspire you with their new and improved versions of familiar children's stories, complete with ample opportunities for audience participation. Outgoing audience members may even join the actors on stage to make their debut with a favorite song, joke or unusual trick or talent. So put on your performing hat and come play with us! Appropriate for all ages. Performances are most Saturdays at 10:30am, $5 per ticket. There are no advance sales for these shows. Go to the following link to see the show schedule: http://www.concordyouththeatre.org/HTML/playtime_theatre.htm