From Marilynn Cunningham, Bluegrass Principal

Dear SCAPA Families:

Happy New Year! Happy new grading period! Happy new start! As a leader in the artist community, I have the wonderful opportunity of watching students improve--learn something, practice the learning, adjust the learning with their artist style and share the learning with a larger audience! Every level of continuous improvement has a new beginning. I love the times for new beginnings. Each day brings a new beginning.

Thinking about our new year, the new day, and the new grading period, it promotes the thought of a new beginning. It becomes a time to have another chance to get it right! It becomes another chance to get it better! It becomes another chance to move from good to great! It becomes another chance to transform, energize, inspire and create!

This all becomes the foundation of opportunity. When I think of opportunities to connect between home and school, I think of your involvement in what your student is learning. You might ask the question, “How do I get involved?” My response is to look closely at your student’s agenda. It contains a guideline for how you can begin great conversations with your student. Every week has a quote at the top of the weekly outline. There is a “what matters most” and this week’s says, “Work on the skills you know you have, but don’t forget to explore new ones too.” In the right column, there is a place for students to write the title and author of a book they are reading. Under the book they are reading is another “what matters most”. This week’s skill that matters most is “good study habits will help you succeed. When and how do you study best?”

Right now, your student’s main use of the agenda is to record their in-class work and their homework assignments. About 80% of our students use their agendas daily for this purpose and our research has found that there is a direct relationship between grades and use of agendas. You can start a conversation by asking about the weekly quote, weekly goal or what matters most.

Have a great new beginning for 2010 and remember that I am always interested in hearing what is on your mind. Marilynn.cunningham@fayette.kyschools.us or 381-3332.

If you need help as a parent, remember, I am an email (marilynn.cunningham@fayette.kyschools.us) or phone call (859) 381-3332 away. Don’t hesitate to contact me. If we work together, it offers a structure within which your student may accomplish great things.

From Vickie Ritchie, LHS Principal

Dear Friends of the Arts
The fall semester ended with some wonderful music concerts. Our students shared joyful music with us at the band, orchestra and chorus performances. Our chamber orchestra played beautifully at the Mid-West Clinic in Chicago. We sometimes take for granted the talent and passion our students exhibit in our arts programs here at Lafayette.

First semester grades will be mailed home on January 7th. If you do not receive your student’s report card by January 14th, please call the guidance office to make sure we have your current household information.

In January, parents should receive information on the Individual Learning Plan. Each family is responsible for reviewing and signing off on the student report. We will mail a letter home detailing how this can be done. We will also have dates available for parents and families to receive help and computer access here at school if needed. This is a good activity to do in conjunction with scheduling for the upcoming fall semester.

This year we are looking forward to many new things at LHS. Our math department recently received a grant to provide for the installation of SMART Boards in all the math classrooms. This will allow teachers and students to interact more easily as they cover concepts and solve problems. We are very appreciative to the Fayette Education Foundation for their financial support.

Another great project in the works is the Lexington Horse Mania project. Our students will be decorating two horses to be displayed next summer for the World Equestrian Games. I can’t wait to see what they come up with!

With warm thoughts,
Vicki Ritchie

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Wishes For A New Year

I guess I have never really understood the hype surrounding the new year. Maybe I’m just a party pooper, but the way I look at it, every day is the beginning of a new year. Every new day offers us the chance to be a better person, better spouse, better parent, better kid. Why wait for some arbitrarily assigned day to start improving ourselves and our circumstances? There’s no better time than the present. In fact, the present is all you can be sure you have.

I should probably have some profound statements or predictions to make about parenting and families in the new decade, but I don’t. What families can be in the year 2010 and beyond won’t be determined by statistics or polls, expert opinion or governmental projections. What families can become will be determined by the choices we make each day in our own homes.

Nevertheless, here is my wish list for families in this the second decade of the new millennium. I wish…

• we would stop raising little boys and girls as if they were opposites and then expect them to know how to get along as spouses.
  
• there would be more energy invested in creating satisfying lifelong relationships than perfect weddings.
  
• couples would share the intimate details of their lives, their disappointments, dreams, desires and goals with one another rather than with their co-workers or friends.
  
• couples would work as hard to keep each other as they did to get each other.
  
• couples understood that deciding to have a child is not about maintaining a certain lifestyle, it’s about a change in lifestyle.
  
• parents would recognize and accept their parental responsibilities regardless of their gender, age or marital status.
  
• parents would spend as much time celebrating the joys of parenting as they do complaining about the woes.
  
• parents would recognize that parenting is a full-time job whether they are otherwise employed or not.
  
• parents would be just as willing to learn to be better parents as they are to learn to be better at their paying jobs.
  
• parents would be less concerned about embarrassing themselves and their children and more concerned about interrupting unacceptable behavior whenever and wherever it occurs.
  
• parents would be just as adamant about their responsibility to teach their children as they are about the school’s responsibility to do so.
  
• parents spent as much time encouraging their children’s strengths as they do pointing out their flaws.
  
• parents would realize that self-esteem and self-discipline are not mutually exclusive.
  
• parents would learn that punishment and discipline are not the same thing, but that love and discipline go hand in hand.
  
• every child lived with the security of knowing “there’s no place like home.”
  
• kids trusted their parents more than their peers.
  
• kids experienced adults as allies rather than enemies.
  
• kids were more concerned with living up to their potential than living up or down to their peers’ expectations.
  
• family members were as anxious to complement one another as they are to criticize.
  
• family members looked within the family to get more of their social and emotional needs met rather than outside the family.
  
• On a more personal note, I wish that SCAPA had an on-site performance facility so that ALL of our students had a place to share their art form.
  
• Finally, I wish some of the items on this list could be removed before another decade has passed.

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Prior to her role as SCAPA Arts Facilitator, Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman was a Parent/Family Life Educator and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She was the author of The Parents’ Toolbox for The Lexington Family Magazine as well as Pastoral Parenting for the Church of the Resurrection newsletter.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

(Please check the SCAPA Calendar regularly for updates)

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Announcements and Reminders

General

Eighth grade students prepare for high school course selections early January. They will meet with their high school counselor Jan 11. Also on Jan 11, each student will schedule a conference time to meet with Mrs. Erbe between Jan 13 – Jan 25. Parent attendance at conference is optional but encouraged. Parent-signed course selection cards are due at conference. Explore test results will also be discussed. A letter of explanation went home with students Jan 4.

Sixth and seventh grade students will receive their schedule cards with a letter of explanation on Jan 15. Parent and teacher signatures on card due back no later than March 1.

• Major and Minor request forms are available from Mrs. Erbe Jan 15 – Feb 28.
• Procedure is printed on back of form.
• Major changes require an audition.
• Major change request forms are returned to Mrs. Pleasant.
• Minor request forms are returned to Mrs. Barker. Requests for changes may be made only during this request window.

You Are the KEY to Our Success!

In case you haven’t been over to Bluegrass SCAPA lately, you should know there is a large piano keyboard displayed in the lobby. The sign above it reads, “You are the KEY to our success!”, and explains that each of the keys is worth $50.00. The piano department is accepting donations to help pay for a baby grand that has been delivered to the piano room for majors to have access on a daily basis. If you would like to be part of this exciting endeavor, make your checks, in any amount, to Friends of the Arts School and place it in the FOAS box (mark the envelope Attention Tracy Lovan, Piano Donation) in the Bluegrass SCAPA teacher workroom. Thank you so much for your support!

Evening for Parents with George Betts

Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend an "Evening for Parents with George Betts". The evening is presented by the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education (KAGE). Dr. Betts is a nationally recognized expert in the Gifted and Talented field and well known as a fabulous presenter. I hope you'll make plans to attend and feel free to bring friends or neighbors from other schools. This event is completely free and open to the public.

Kentucky Association for Gifted Education
30th Annual Conference,
February 8-9, 2010

presents

AN EVENING FOR PARENTS
Monday,
February 8, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Marriot Griffin Gate
This is a session designed to provide parents with information and ideas to use in parenting their gifted children.
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR
RAISING A GIFTED CHILD
Guest Speaker: Dr. George Betts, Ed.D.

Dr. Betts is Professor and Director of the Center for the Education and Study of Gifted, Talented, Creative Learners and the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) at the University of Northern Colorado, internationally acclaimed speaker and consultant who specializes in assisting schools, districts, states, and national organizations implement and refine programs for gifted and talented learners.

One of the major goals in education today is the facilitation of students to become life-long learners. What skills, concepts, and attitudes are necessary for becoming a life-long learner? This presentation will describe the profiles of the gifted and talented and will provide the basic understanding necessary for facilitating our children and youth to travel the path of life-long learning.
Join us for an informative session. THERE IS NO CHARGE. Bring a friend.

Hope to to see there! Melanie Stivers Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher

SCAPA to Offer H1N1 Vaccine Clinic

The H1N1 Flu Vaccine will be available at Bluegrass SCAPA on Wednesday, January 20th from 9am – 2:30pm in Helm Hall. A permission slip was sent home with students on Wednesday, January 6th. If you want your child to receive the vaccination you need to complete and return this form to your child’s homeroom teacher as soon as possible.

SCAPA Social Dance Club Welcomes the Hep Cats

The plans are definite. Mike Richardson, his wife, and another couple from the Hep Cats will be at SCAPA on Tuesday, February 2nd and Tuesday, February 9th at 7:00pm to help us learn dance steps to music of the Big Band Era. I can’t wait! We ask that adults contribute $1.00 and students $.50 in order that we may compensate these dancers for their time. So get out your dancing shoes and join us for the first session of the SCAPA Social Dance Club!

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Don't miss these SCAPA students in Lafayette Drama Department's presentation of the musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying", Beeler Auditorium, January 14-16 at 7pm and January 17 at 2pm. Congratulations!

Forrest Loeffler – Mr. Jenkins
Tevin McPeak – Mr. Peterson
Ema Horvath – Smitty
Miles Conger – Bud Frump
Sydney Steele – Miss Jones
Kenny Demus – Mr. Twimble
Ellie Todd – Heddy LaRue
Emma Centers, Raven Lockwood and Carrie Moscoe – Scrubwomen
Alaina Broderson – Miss Krumholtz
Will Whalen – Mr. Toynbee
Tomer Eres –
Kathryn Dressman – Wickette Girl 1
Michael Roach – Company Policeman
Will Swisher – Wally Womper
Hannah Loeffler – Office Girl 1
Hayli Hart – Waitress 1
Virginia Newsome, Victoria Hale, Cassady Gorrell, Fiona Mowbray and Jennifer Rhodenhiser – Secretarial Pool
Callie Babcock, Glen Krebs, Shelby Nancy and Joseph Waterbury-Tieman – Townskids
Nick Blackburn, Jacob Yates, Meredith Burns and Heeju Son – Pit Orchestra

Synopsis

J. Pierpont Finch is a window washer at the World Wide Wicket Company. But the amtitious, young Finch is not content to remain a window washer forever. He has discovered a life-changing book entitled How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and certain that this particular guide is his ticket to success, he devours it ravenously. Following the book’s instructions, Finch soon lands a job in the mailroom and catches the eye of a pretty young secretary named Rosemary. With the help of his instruction manual, Finch stages a miraculous climb up the corporate ladder – from mailroom to junior executive in Plans and Systems to head of Plans and Systems to Vice President in charge of Advertising, all the while outwitting his enemies, particularly Bud Frump, the jealous nephew of J. B. Biggley, the president of the company. At each step along the way, Finch’s instruction manual seems to predict Frump’s back-stabbing plans before they develop, but when Finch is tricked into backing a disastrous ad campaign, the handy how-to guide suddenly runs out of ideas, and the former window washer will have to rely on his own wits if he wants to salvage his job!

DANCE SCAPA REHEARSAL - Elementary and Middle School BALLET MAJORS

MONDAYS: January 4 - February 15

4:00-5:00 ALL
5:00-6:00 Middle School ONLY

Snow-less Snowman Fest 2010

• Start building them now and bring them in January 4th - January 31st
• February 1st starts the judging!
• Winners announced on February 20th

Categories:

• Kids Individual (17 - under)
• Kids Group (17 - under)
• Adult Individual (18 & up)
• Adult Group (18 & up)
• Online Forms
  

Friends of the Arts School (FOAS) Meetings

Mark you calendars for the meeting dates in 2008-09

• Tuesday, Jan.19th @4pm
  
• Tuesday Feb. 16th @ 6pm
  
• Tuesday March 16th @ 4pm
  
• Tuesday April 20th @ 6pm
  
• Tuesday May 18th @ 4pm

Meeting Minutes

• December 2009
• November 2009
• October 2009
• September 2009
• August 2009
• June 2009
• May 2009
• April 2009

SBDM Meeting Minutes

• September 2009

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Recent Events

Lafayette SCAPA Seniors Treat NSAL Members to Arts Smorgasbord

The Kentucky Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters met in the multipurpose room at Bluegrass SCAPA on Sunday, December 13th. They were treated to a smorgasbord of artistic presentations and performances by the Lafayette SCAPA students listed below. What a privilege to invite people to witness the talent and enthusiasm demonstrated by these young people. I was so proud and want to once again thank you.

Colleen Wagoner – Band, Madison Martin – Creative Writing, Pooja Patil – Piano, Savannah Heltzel – Ballet, Emily Collier – Visual Art, Elaina Henderson – Drama, David Takahashi – Strings, Wood Van Meter – Voice, Jordyn Rhorer – Creative Writing, Raisa Tickhtman – Contemporary Dance, Ashlea McIllwain – Visual Art, Blake Sugarman – Drama, Gabrielle Barker - Voice

CATS Celebration

Beeler Auditorium was the place to be on the morning of Friday, December 4th as we celebrated the Bluegrass SCAPA students’ performances on the 2009 CATS tests. There was definitely a festive atmosphere when the test scores were unveiled to a fanfare performed by Brandon Duncan, Julien Thibault, Andy Edwards, Will Lovan, Nathan Gillespie, Danny Alford, Ashley Whaley, and Kate Cox under the direction of Ms. Robin Barker. We were all treated to a performance by Miss Gabrielle Barker, a Lafayette SCAPA senior vocal major. The guest speaker was Dr. Everett McCorvey, Director of the UK Opera Theatre program. His address was deeply moving and highly inspiring. The audience was clearly touched by his words. Dr. McCorvey’s presentation can be viewed and heard in its entirety at SCAPA’s News Archives site by clicking the link below. Please take the time to listen to the powerful message he shared with your children. You will be glad you did.

Dr. McCorvey's motivational address to SCAPA Bluegrass students

Kentucky Christmas Chorus

Our SCAPA 5th graders and Middle School Vocal majors and minors, under the direction of Mrs. Millie Fields, were the featured chorus in the Kentucky Christmas Chorus event on Tuesday, December 15th at Rupp Arena. They performed the theme song from A Charlie Brown Christmas as well as verses from “Silent Night” (in German) and were accompanied by the Lexington Philharmonic under the direction of Scott Terrell. The performance was televised live that evening and again on Christmas Day. A group of parents, students and staff from SCAPA participated by sitting in the bleachers, holding up the SCAPA banner and singing along. What a great way to get ready for the holidays! Be sure to join us next year.

Musical Gift

During lunch on Wednesday, Dec. 16th the BG Middle School Band majors and minors presented a musical gift to their fellow Bluegrass SCAPA students. This has become a SCAPA tradition and a highlight of the holiday season. Thank you to Ms. Barker and Dr. Akel as well as all the band students for this delightful opportunity to celebrate together!

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SCAPA in the Community

SCAPA Spotlights

This section is reserved for recognizing accomplishments by SCAPA students, parents, faculty and staff. Please send arts accomplishments to Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman (carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us). Space limitations will determine how many we can include in any given month.

God’s Pantry Food Drive The results are in for our annual God’s Pantry food drive. Jessie Clark came in first and SCAPA came in second. SCAPA received a check for $ 300.00. I would like to thank Cindy, Holly and Hope Bennett for representing SCAPA at the awards ceremony on Wednesday morning, December 9th. The girls received the check (donated by Toyota), said nice things about our school and then they gave the check to God’s Pantry to help with stocking all the food pantries. I would like to thank the Bennett’s for giving of their time, the SCAPA staff for all their giving and efforts and of course the children for bringing in so many items. TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS! Thank you for your continued support, Karen PTA Reflections Congratulations to the following Lafayette SCAPA students for their accomplishments in the annual PTA sponsored Reflections program: Musical Composition – Clay Gonzalez, 1st place Literature – Shatila Zamen, 3rd place State Solo and Ensemble Festival The following Lafayette SCAPA students participated in an assessment for string instruments on November 21st at Paul Laurence Dunbar HS. They have been selected to perform on May 15th at the state Solo and Ensemble Festival. Congratulations to: Jacob Yates, David Takahashi, Heeju Son, Jonathan Karp, Emily Farrer, Alex DeMoll and Geoff Britton Lafayette HS Chamber Orchestra Check out this wonderful article about the Lafayette HS Chamber Orchestra and their upcoming trip to Chicago! An honor, indeed! Congratulations to Ms. Grice and these talented students: Nicholas Blackburn Geoffrey Britton Darcy Cassidy Alex Demoll Pragchat Fakto Maja Fus Michael Goffinet Benjamin Healy You Hong Jeoung Jonathan Karp Julia Mead Hee Ju Son Ole Wendroth Jacob Yates KMEA Convention Congratulations to the following students for being selected to represent SCAPA at the 2010 KMEA Convention in Louisville. Kate Heinonen Adrienne Omelchenko Margaret Kelly Jenine Tackett Caroline Pelligrino Shelby Burgess Hunter England Melissa Finley Madeline Lillich Holly Bennett Adam Brown Kentucky Children’s Chorus Congratulations to the following students for being selected as members of the 2010 Kentucky Children’s Chorus! They will perform on February 4th at the Kentucky Music Educators Conference in Louisville. Taylor Ballenger Herman Bratcher Kurtis Brown Constance Brown Julia Crandel Bennett Creech Victoria Hall Hannah Hetzel-Ebben Jordan Luciano Katelyn Mofield Quentin Pruitt Elizabeth Robbins Maggie Thomas Chapree Weathers Clara Woods All State Jazz Band Please congratulate Colleen Wagoner and Nicholas Blackburn on their acceptance to the 2009-10 All State Jazz Band. Colleen will play lead Tenor Saxophone and Nicholas will play Bass Guitar. All-State Choir Congratulations to the following students who will represent Lafayette at the 2010 All-State Choir. We are proud of you all! Gabby Barker, Taylor Begley, Katherine Bennett, Jimmy Betts, Alaina Broderson, Elizabeth Critchfield, Tomer Eres, Luke Hansen, Jami Hart, Amie Huesman, Emma Jackson, Hannah Johnson, Andrew Miller, Micah Miller, Ellie Osborne, Sydney Steele, Ellie Todd, Wood VanMeter Outstanding Character Congratulations to the following students for demonstrating outstanding character! 4th - Luke Leiter 5th - Ella Cunningham 6th - Maya Jundi 7th - Jakob Roney 8th - Jenine Tackett

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Academic News

Ms. Randolph

Check out our classroom website that lists the weekly spelling words. This might come in handy if the book or pretest is accidentally left at home the night before the test.

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Arts News

BG Band

• Band News

BG Strings

On October 22, a group of middle school strings majors performed for Friendship International. They received the following letter from Betty Miller, coordinator of the luncheon event:

Dear Nancy and students,

What a wonderful program you presented to us at Friendship! From all the comments I heard and overheard, it was a big hit.

Thank you so much for taking time from your classes and transporting all your gear to perform for us. Thanks, also, to the mothers who helped with the transportation, and also to the students who spoke.

It was a delightful mini-concert enjoyed by all, and we appreciate all of you sharing your talents with us.

BG Vocal

LHS Band

• Lafayette Band News
  

LHS Vocal

• More information

LHS Ballet

LHS Creative Writing

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Club and Team News

Bluegrass

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Arts Roundtable

The Arts Roundtable is a place where we can share valuable information about the essential role of the arts in our lives and the lives of our children. (Please submit items to Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman, carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us, by the 20th of each month.)

Submit information to Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman (carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us)

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Arts Bookbag

The Arts Bookbag is a place where we can recommend books about the arts that we have found to be informative and inspiring. (Please submit titles to Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman, carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us, by the 20th of each month.)

Recommended by Melanie Stivers

• The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life. Twyla Tharp. Simon & Schuster, 2005.

Recommended by Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman

• The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
• Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius by Michael Michalko
• A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future. Daniel H. Pink. (2005, 2006). Riverhead Books, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.
• The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. Ken Robinson. (2009). Viking, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.
• Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative, Ken Robinson, Capstone, 2001
  
• 5 Minds for the Future, Howard Gardner, Harvard Business School Press, 2009
  
• Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcolm Gladwell, Back Bay Books, 2007
  
• Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell, Little, Brown & Company, 2008

Alumni News

Alumni! We Want To Know What You Are Doing!

We would like to make plaques to hang outside each of the arts rooms with the names of graduates and what they are doing professionally. Mr. Love has one on the wall just outside his door. Every year he takes his new 4th graders out in the hall, reads the names of past students and what they are doing, and tells the current students that if they dedicate themselves to their work, someday their name will be on the plaque. This is a great motivator! We want every arts teacher to have the opportunity to do the same thing. Please send me your name, year you graduated, major and what you are doing professionally so that we can expand and maintain this tradition. My address is carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us. We are looking forward to hearing from you and celebrating your success.

Arts Facilitator Seeking Alumni Liaison

The first fourth grade SCAPA class was established at Harrison Elementary School in 1987 which means (if my math is correct) that the first SCAPA class graduated in 1996. Therefore, we have fourteen years worth of SCAPA alumni families. This is an essential group that needs representation. I would like to invite any SCAPA alumni student or parent to serve as our alumni liaison. If you are interested in volunteering in this capacity, please contact me, carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us, so we can begin exploring how we can better stay connected to and serve this population. This could be one person or a committee, so do not fail to volunteer because you figure someone else already has. I look forward to hearing from you.

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SCAPA FUNdraising Opportunities

Box Tops For Education

General Mills Corporation, sponsor of the Box Tops For Education program, has been involved in giving to educational programs since 1996. Over the past 13 years, participating schools have earned over $300 million dollars in funding. The Box Tops program is a simple way for our school to receive money without having to write grants, sell products, work hours, or buy things we don’t want or need. As a parent, relative, or friend of SCAPA, all you have to do is clip the “Official Box Top Coupon” off of the products you already buy and use. A complete list of these products can be found at boxtops4education.com. After clipping, send the box tops to school with your student. Each homeroom teacher has a container in their classroom for collection. Each month, the box tops are collected and counted, with the top collecting homeroom earning a prize. Come on SCAPA Penguins, keep clipping and collecting those box tops. Let’s make this an awesome box tops year.

Volunteer Opportunities

Please download a copy for each of the FCPS approved volunteers in your family. Completed forms may be turned in to Ms. Barbara Talbert at the front office of Bluegrass SCAPA. Thank you so much for your commitment to making SCAPA great!

• Bluegrass Volunteer Form
• LHS Volunteer Form

Please be aware that a records check is required in order to participate in volunteer activities in the Fayette County School system.

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FOAS Board Officers and Representatives

• Officers and Representatives

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