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Back to School Letter

Dear Parents and Students,

You are going to be amazed at what your tax dollars have accomplished at Mabry! The enormous renovation and construction projects should all but be completed by the first day of school, Wednesday, August 10, 2005. Already the building, which is now substantially different, is beginning to shape up nicely for the school year. I am eager for everyone to see all of the exciting changes. In preparation for the new school year, I have some very important information to share with you.

MabryOnline.org
Out with the old, and in with the new. We have a completely new website which has taken off with an overwhelming response, over 310,000 hits from all over the world since I first put it up just a few weeks ago. You will want to visit our new site as it contains a great deal of important information. If you navigate to our old site, you will be directed to go to this new address: http://mabryonline.org

Secured Information
Additionally, we have also created a secured site to provide access to important information that I do not want to go beyond our immediate school community. I am providing you with this access information and am requesting several things of you:

• Save this information in a safe place.
• Please do not call the school to request this information as we will not give it out over the phone to anyone, at any time, for any reason.
• If you stop by the school to pick this information up, you will need to be prepared to provide picture ID to demonstrate you have a child currently enrolled at Mabry.
• Please do not share this access information with anyone, at any time, for any reason.

As you know, I take safety and security very seriously. [INFORMATION DELETED FROM THIS ONLINE POST]

Charger Day
Charger Day, your convenient one-stop shopping experience for most of your back to school needs, is scheduled for Monday, August 8, 2005, from 11:00AM to 1:00PM. You will have the opportunity to conveniently take care of all of these back to school purchases:

• Join PTSA ($3.50 each)
• Donate to PTSA (Your $40.00 family donation sustains their not doing fundraising!)
• PTSA Membership Directory ($5.00)
• Selected School Store items (at significant savings!)
• School Pictures (Package prices vary. Have your student come with you dressed appropriately for school pictures!)
• School Agenda ($5.00)
• School Lunches
• School Yearbook ($25.00 now; $30.00 on January 1st; $35.00 on May 1st if available)
• Performing Arts donations

Additionally, we will:

• Post pod and homeroom assignments for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
• Post bus routes
• Allow all students to quickly find their homeroom so they will know exactly where to go on the first day of school. The building is significantly different than it was last year, so 7th and 8th graders will need to locate their homerooms as well. Teachers will not be prepared to visit with parents or students as they will be extremely busy getting their classes ready for the first day of school. They have not had access to the building at all this summer! Therefore, we are asking that everyone end their Charger Day by quickly locating their new homeroom and then exiting the building.

Please keep in mind:

• Last year, for those who came at the very beginning of Charger Day, this was a very congested and busy event that at times had long lines at different stations. Those who came later had significantly less or even no wait time at all.
• We are "closing up shop" promptly at 1:00PM.
• All of our volunteers will be wearing red. If you don't want people to think you have the answer to the meaning of life, don't wear red on Charger Day!
• Parking will be an issue, so please carpool.
• Students must be accompanied by their parent. No students are to be dropped off.
• Enter from the back of the school in the bus parking lot off of Steinhauer Road. The main entrance will be for registration only.
• You may enter the building from any of the 3 double doors under the back covered walkway in the bus parking lot. These doors will not open until 11:00AM.
• Read the important information related to Charger Day posted at MabryOnline.org.
• Download, print, and bring with you the color-coded Charger Day Checklist and the color-coded Charger Day Map [use the information you received]. We can only provide you with black and white copies at the doors. The color-coded maps will correspond with the color of the balloons located at each of the different stations. These two items will help minimize confusion and facilitate your getting in and out quickly.
• We do not take plastic (yet), only checks. We will not be prepared to provide change for cash.
• You will need to write several checks as money goes to different organizations as indicated on the Charger Day Checklist.
• When possible, having your checks already made out before you arrive will help speed up this process. The information you need to accomplish this is located on the Charger Day Checklist.

While a bit hectic, we hope that Charger Day will be a convenience for our school community, providing you with the opportunity to get most of the major school year purchases taken care of at one time while learning your team assignments and homeroom location.

Take the time to introduce yourself to me. I will have 500 MabryOnline.org magnets, suitable for hanging (on your refrigerator) which I will be giving out as I walk around. I hope you join me in looking forward to a wonderful year full of academic success.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tim Tyson
Principal,
Mabry Middle School

Posted by Dr. Tyson