BE A PART OF MASON-RICE SOCIAL ACTION!   The efforts will include kids-driven projects (Kids-Take- Action or KTA), as well as family-oriented projects.  Check the Online School Calendar with events marked with a "heart."    For KTA,  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions.

Kids Take Action (KTA) is a meaningful leadership opportunity for your child and family. The KTA team provides an opportunity for students in Grades 1-5 to get involved and see how they can help make a positive difference in the world. Together, KTA participants learn about major global and social issues and decide what they care about and what concerns them the most. Then they develop service projects to respond to those issues.

In past years, projects have included coin drives to raise money for children in poverty, responding to the crisis in Haiti, volunteering at Cradles-To-Crayons, and promoting environmental awareness. KTA participants experience first-hand the amazing difference young people can make by putting their creativity and leadership to the task.

Registration Required for KTA due to limited space.  If your son or daughter is interested in joining KTA, please fill out the registration form and drop it in the "Kids Take Action" mailbox in the lobby by Friday, October 7. 

Meeting Schedule.  Typically, KTA will meet on Wednesdays 3-4:30PM (see below for schedule) in Ms. Reggiannini's classroom.

Current schedule of KTA meetings.  Check Mason-Rice School Calendar for up-to-date dates.  Current scheduled meetings are:  Oct. 19, Nov. 2 & 16, Dec. 7 & 21, Jan. 11 & 25, Feb. 8, March 7 & 28, April 11, May 2 & 16.

2011- 2012 KTA PROJECTS

ENDANGERED SPECIES - World Wildlife Fund Coin Drive (Dec - first week of January)
The Kids Take Action (KTA) is a group of kids that want to make the world a better place. Right now we are trying to help endangered species. So, to raise money, we will have a coin drive. The funds will go to WWF that stands for the World Wildlife Foundation, a nonprofit. We will adopt and help 4 species, the snowy owl, panda bear, snow leopard, and last but not least the blue whale.

The coin drive will be in the upstairs lobby and by the back entrance of the school. It starts Monday December 11 and ends the first week in January. Please Donate!  Read more here about the animals that KTA has adopted.

CATALOG CANCELLING CHALLENGE - Save a Tree (month of January)
Did you know that each year 19 BILLION catalogs are mailed in the USA?  53 million trees and 53 billion gallons of water are used making these catalogs.   Producing these trillions of pounds of catalog paper requires the same amount of energy as 1.2 million homes a ye ar and creates the same amount of CO2 global warming pollution as 2 million cars annually.   Read more about the Challenge being done at schools across the country.

You and your children can make a big difference and help protect the environment and animal habitats by joining Kids Take Action and the Green Team in a 30-day catalog canceling challenge (the month of Jan).  The steps are super easy:

1. During vacation start a pile of catalogs that you want to cancel with your kids. These catalogs are also online, there is a new app just for your favorite catalog (http:/catalogspree.com) - so don't worry about giving them up, just do it!
2. You and your child can cancel the catalog by calling the 1-800 number on the back of the catalog, or even easier is to use the website www.catalogchoice.org
3. Collect the catalogs you cancel and bring them to the collection bins at school (by the upstairs and downstairs doors) after break!

or have your child call and cancel the catalogs you don't want at Catalog Choice at https://www.catalogchoice.org/. Have them bring the catalogs to the school lobby so we can see the progress of our efforts in saving a tree. Best of all, this activity empowers children to know they can make a difference. For more KTA projects, contact Maggi Alexander or Steve Sheldon if you have any questions.

We will keep track of the total impact and report back what difference these efforts made.