Elmwood Newsletter - December 28, 2011

Made possible in part by Community Sustaining Sponsor

Josoffs

4thstreetsale

Working Together for Economic Growth and Enrichment of the Community

The Elmwood Murdock Merchants Association (EMMA) is a group of local merchants in the Elmwood and Murdock area and community members who are interested promoting business and activities in the area. EMMA sponsors the Elmwood Extravaganza every fall and the Murdock 4^th of July celebration. Both events bring many people to the area and provide fun activities. EMMA also sponsors a free pancake feed, a scholarship for E-M students, business district preservations, Economic Development Committee, Good Neighbor awards, Community drawings, county fair promotions, and garage sale days. The events are planned and carried out by the EMMA members and the advertising for some events is paid for in part from a grant from the Cass County Tourism Bureau. EMMA meets every month on the third Monday and they alternate meeting locations from Elmwood to Murdock. All EMMA members are encouraged to attend and participate.

EMMA is offering an additional unique opportunity for its members this year. To promote the communities EMMA is offering two community improvement grants for up to $250 each. The funds provided for this grant are intended to improve and promote the communities of Elmwood and Murdock. Grants can be written for $500 with potential reimbursement of $250. In other words EMMA will match 50% up to $250. One grant will be awarded on February 1^st and one on August 1^st. EMMA members and local non-profit organizations are eligible for the grant. The funds could be used for a new sign, curb appeal improvements, brochures, etc…

This is a good time of year to join EMMA. The committee is setting goals for the 2012 and has just elected the officers for the following year. Benefits for a business to join the merchants include promotions during the Elmwood Extravaganza and 4^th of July events and bulk mailing services. Business membership dues are $25 if paid by the end of January. After that they are $30. Non Business memberships are called Leaders or Students. Leader dues are $10 and Student dues are $5. (it looks good on the kids' resumes, too!)

For more information about EMMA check out their official website, www.elmur.org. Forms for joining EMMA can be found there.

SUNRISE EQUITHERAPY is good for the Soul

Sunrise EquiTherapy, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1998. Their mission is to provide equine assisted therapy and activities in a non-clinical setting for individuals of all ages with cognitive, physical and emotional disabilities. Sunrise is affiliated with the North American for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) who sets their guidelines and standards plus certifies instructors. Originally the facility was located near Eagle. Over the years the location has changed depending on the needs. Currently Sunrise EquiTherapy operates out of the Windhoeck Farms near Lincoln.

Disabilities Served
Sunrise EquiTherapy serves individuals with various diagnosis such as Autism, Aspergers, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual/Hearing Impairments, Mental Retardation, Schizophrenia, Learning Disabilities, ADHD, ADD, Down's Syndrome, Spinal Bifida, Emotional Disabilities, Amputation, Muscular Dystrophy, as well as those considered "At Risk" as well as many other diagnosis

Instructors/Volunteers
The staff includes four instructors certified through NARHA and CHA. Healthcare professionals as well as special education teachers assist as consultants and instructors. Trained volunteers assist the clients as needed. They make up of the team that helps the instructor implement and evaluate the weekly lessons. Volunteers help with scheduling, fundraising, horse training, facility upkeep, newsletters, special events, photography, etc. This is a good opportunity to volunteer if you like horses and people.

How you can help "turn small steps into confident strides!"
Sunrise EquiTherapy, depends on much needed donations, grants and sponsorships to continue their important mission. Riders' fees, Day Camp fees and visits to facilities by Lucky Boy the Delta Certified Miniature Horse are subsidized by sponsors and additional financial support.

Recent Activities

The Sunrise EquiTherapy completed the fall session at Windhoeck Farms, owned by the Matt Kleinschmit family, in grand style with a celebration with families and demonstrations by their special riders.

From lft to right, April/vol, Smantha/rider, Haley/rider, Julie/Director, Lillie/rider, Shaamus/therapy horse, Rachel/rider, Mackenzie/UNL vol, Kylie/vol, Guapo/therapy horse, Torin/rider, Marissa/UNL vol, Gail/Board member/vol, Alexa/UNL vol. Not pictured, Jillian/UNL vol. Our riders ranged in age from 7 to 19!!

The exciting news for Sunshine Equitherapy is that they have been invited back for 2012 to the Windhoeck Farms, spring, summer and fall! There will be lessons beginning in the spring.
It will be important to have funding for operating as they will need to pay to use the facility, care for the horses, train volunteers and instructors, renew the curriculum, maintain tack/supplies, continue their membership with PATH International (Professional Assoc. for Therapeutic Horsemanship which used to be NARHA), update the website, etc......

If anyone is interested in donating to their cause a $1 gift could purchase 3 bags of feed Equine Sr., with $2 they could replace 2 sets of rainbow reins, with $3 they could purchase 10 special workbooks for riders entitled "The Horse and I", with $5 they could rent one therapy horse for a month or a "Ridership" (scholarship) would be made available! There are many ways that the funding can be used to support this program.

Any gift, no matter how small will help Sunrise EquiTherapy to continue to make miracles happen through this special program and their equine friends. Please pass the word along! Remember your gift is tax deductable

To read more about Sunrise EquiTherapy check out their website at http://www.sunriseequitherapy.com/Index.cfm

Recycle Jan_2012

2010 State Reading Test ResultsElmwood-Murdock Ranks 4th

On December 8, 2011, Governor Heineman provided a press release which contained comparative statistics regarding results from the 2010 State Reading Assessment. Ranking for schools were established by Nebraska School Activities Association activities classifications. Schools were ranked for overall performance and for improvement. I am proud to report that Elmwood-Murdock finished 4^th in Class C2 in overall performance on the 2010 State Reading Assessment. This is the second year in a row the Elmwood-Murdock Schools have finished in the top ten in Class C2 as Elmwood-Murdock finished 5^th last year. We are very proud of our students and staff and this significant accomplishment. At the same time, we are striving for improvement and looking forward to finishing first in the state in the near future.Dan Novak, Superintendent

Press Release-www.governor.nebraska.gov/columns/2011/12/9_reading.html

=============================================

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Jan. 4 - School resumes – beginning of 2^nd semester.

Jan. 5 – S.O.S. Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 6 - Report Cards go home – School Store is open.

AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE

We have been discussing ending our After School Childcare Program because of the low numbers of students using the program, thus causing financial hardship to the program. We consulted the Board of Education at Wednesday’s Board Meeting and have decided to try and continue the program the rest of the school year. We will need to raise our prices to $5.00 per hour per child beginning January 4, 2012.

Our goal is to try and get through the school year and then end the program in May. However, if our numbers continue to decline we may need to end the program before the school year ends. At this time, we are not planning to offer the program for the next school year. Please contact Principal, Bruce Friedrich, if you have any questions regarding the After School Childcare Program.

FOOD DRIVE

We collected $1,211.31 and 1,004 items of food. Our goal was 2500 and we reached 4,637 counting the food items and 3 items for a dollar. This was fantastic! Thank you so much for your donations to our local food pantry!

CANDY FOR COATS

We received about 130 coats. Students were allowed to exchange a coat. The rest of the coats will be taken to the Peoples City Mission in Lincoln. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DONATIONS OF COATS!

GEOGRAPHY BEE

Our Geography Bee was held on Friday, December 16^th. Congratulations to the winner, Jordan Keene. He will now take a test to qualify for the State Geography Bee. Also, Congratulations to our second place qualifier, Nicole Wenzel. Also, congratulations to the other qualifiers, Quintin Romero, Tess Arent, Thomas Hynes, Nicole Meyer, Andy Meyer, Hayden Ernst, and Jakob Boucher.

Have a Great Holiday!

See You Next Year!