Eagle News - Grandview Hills Elementary...
8
Letter from the President Our Parents and our Programs Are Out of this World! In the first months of school, we were just beginning to take off. With most of our fundraising behind us, we have officially blasted off. Our Un-Fundraiser, Box Tops, Charleston Wrap, Original Works, and Scholastic Book Fair fundraisers helped us earn over $10,000 for our school! Though a tiresome task, Maureen Connors, Abbie Williams, Jennifer Jones, Jennifer Jackson, Amy Munson, and Missy Peoples made our fundraisers fun and educational too! Give these wonderful ladies a big ―Thank You‖ for making it all possible! Our ―Out of this World‖ Scholastic Book Fair was a tremendous success, raising almost $3,000 for our school and helping bring lots of new books and excitement about reading to our campus. Special thanks goes out to our fall book fair chair, Amy Munson, who did an extra-ordinarily wonderful job, as well as to our VP of Fundraising, Maureen Connors, our tireless treasurer, Virginia Deeny, and to our fantastic librarian, Dee Porter, who was so accommodating during all the excitement. Thanks also goes to all of the volunteers and junior crew who started early, worked late, and made the book fair so much fun for our kids and their families. The best part of fundraising, of course, is that it allows us to bring really special programs to our school. We began this year with some new ideas and concepts, including our new Parent Seminar. Our first program, ―Bullying 101‖ on October 26, explored ways to prevent bullying on our campus and provided tools to keep our own kids from bullying or being bullied. Our next seminar, ―The STAAR Test: What do Expect‖ takes place on January 29, 2012 from 8-9 a.m. We hope you‘ll mark your calendar and plan to join us for this upcoming session, as well as another seminar focused on parenting, called ―Love and Logic‖ in the spring. Our Science Night blasted us off into new heights. Who would have thought that we would have the Austin Mobile Planetarium, the UT physics Circus, Mad SCIENCE and real, authentic NASA exhibits in one night? But we did and the overwhelming success of the event is thanks to Suzanne Verde, who coordinated the night, Erin Kolecki, our VP of IB Events, and Susan Rebtoy, who worked so hard to make the NASA experience possible for our families. Our amazing principal, Brenda Cruz, allowed us to make the night so special and donned the Apollo space suit all night for the kids. This first-time event was such a sensation that we will plan for a bigger crowd next year! We also adopted a new tradition this fall with the ―Ribbon of Thanks‖ project, modeled after Tanabata, the Japanese custom of adorning bamboo trees with message filled ribbons. Demonstrating their ―IB‖ attitudes, our students reflected on their own lives and talked about what they are thankful for as we enter the holiday season. Each student wrote ‗notes of thanks‘ on colorful ribbons that are being shared with our community on display along the fence our campus entrance. We extend a heartfelt thanks to Stacia Kveton for sharing this idea and bringing it to fruition at our campus. Join us on December 8 at our Annual Holidays Around the World event this year as we celebrate the rich cultures and traditions of our GVHE families and enjoy the talents of our talented GVHE choir. With all of that, I wish you the very happiest of holiday seasons! Karin Crump Samman 2011-2012 PTA President ([email protected] ) Eagle News November 2011 Volume 4, Issue 3 A Grandview Hills Elementary PTA Publication What’s Inside Wild About Volunteers 2 Hill Country Educ. Foundation 2 Holidays Around the World 3 Book Fair News 3 Original Works 3 Teacher/Staff Birthdays 3 Box Tops News 3 Un-Fundraiser Update 3 Lego Robotics News 4 STAAR Info Session 4 Culture of Kindness Team 4 Yearbooks On Sale 4 What‘s Been Happening at GVHE 5-6 PTA Board/Committees 7 PTA Membership Form 8 Important Dates 12/2-12/16 Angels Tree Charity 12/6 Staff Appreciation/Cookie Exchange 12/8 Holidays Around the World w/Choir Performance 12/12 PTA Board Meeting 12/16 LISD Classroom Holiday Parties 12/19-12/30 Holiday Break 1/7/12 Clothes Closet Volunteer Day 1/9/12 PTA Board Meeting 1/20/12 “Breakfast with Dads” in Courtyard 1/29/12 STAAR Seminar Eagle News is available on the GVHE PTA Website: http://grandview.my-pta.org/ Eagle News Editor: Sherri Cole McCue Comments or suggestions, email Sherri McCue at: [email protected]
Transcript of Eagle News - Grandview Hills Elementary...
Letter from the President Our Parents and our Programs Are Out of this World!
In the first months of school, we were just beginning to take off. With most of our fundraising behind us, we have officially blasted off. Our Un-Fundraiser, Box Tops, Charleston Wrap, Original Works, and Scholastic Book Fair fundraisers helped us earn over $10,000 for our school! Though a tiresome task, Maureen Connors, Abbie Williams, Jennifer Jones, Jennifer Jackson, Amy Munson, and Missy Peoples made our fundraisers fun and educational too! Give these wonderful ladies a big ―Thank You‖ for making it all possible!
Our ―Out of this World‖ Scholastic Book Fair was a tremendous success, raising almost $3,000 for our school and helping bring lots of new books and excitement about reading to our campus. Special thanks goes out to our fall book fair chair, Amy Munson, who did an extra-ordinarily wonderful job, as well as to our VP of Fundraising, Maureen Connors, our tireless treasurer, Virginia Deeny, and to our fantastic librarian, Dee Porter, who was so accommodating during all the excitement. Thanks also goes to all of the volunteers and junior crew who started early, worked late, and made the book fair so much fun for our kids and their families.
The best part of fundraising, of course, is that it allows us to bring really special programs to our school. We began this year with some new ideas and concepts, including our new Parent Seminar. Our first program, ―Bullying 101‖ on October 26, explored ways to prevent bullying on our campus and provided tools to keep our own kids from bullying or being bullied. Our next seminar, ―The STAAR Test: What do Expect‖ takes place on January 29, 2012 from 8-9 a.m. We hope you‘ll mark your calendar and plan to join us for this upcoming session, as well as another seminar focused on parenting, called ―Love and Logic‖ in the spring.
Our Science Night blasted us off into new heights. Who would have thought that we would have the Austin Mobile Planetarium, the UT physics Circus, Mad SCIENCE and real, authentic NASA exhibits in one night? But we did and the overwhelming success of the event is thanks to Suzanne Verde, who coordinated the night, Erin Kolecki, our VP of IB Events, and Susan Rebtoy, who worked so hard to make the NASA experience possible for our families. Our amazing principal, Brenda Cruz, allowed us to make the night so special and donned the Apollo space suit all night for the kids. This first-time event was such a sensation that we will plan for a bigger crowd next year!
We also adopted a new tradition this fall with the ―Ribbon of Thanks‖ project, modeled after Tanabata, the Japanese custom of adorning bamboo trees with message filled ribbons. Demonstrating their ―IB‖ attitudes, our students reflected on their own lives and talked about what they are thankful for as we enter the holiday season. Each student wrote ‗notes of thanks‘ on colorful ribbons that are being shared with our community on display along the fence our campus entrance. We extend a heartfelt thanks to Stacia Kveton for sharing this idea and bringing it to fruition at our campus.
Join us on December 8 at our Annual Holidays Around the World event this year as we celebrate the rich cultures and traditions of our GVHE families and enjoy the talents of our talented GVHE choir.
With all of that, I wish you the very happiest of holiday seasons!
Karin Crump Samman 2011-2012 PTA President ([email protected])
Eagle News November 2011 Volume 4, Issue 3
A Grandview Hills Elementary PTA Publication
What’s Inside
Wild About Volunteers 2
Hill Country Educ. Foundation 2
Holidays Around the World 3
Book Fair News 3
Original Works 3
Teacher/Staff Birthdays 3
Box Tops News 3
Un-Fundraiser Update 3
Lego Robotics News 4
STAAR Info Session 4
Culture of Kindness Team 4
Yearbooks On Sale 4
What‘s Been Happening
at GVHE 5-6
PTA Board/Committees 7
PTA Membership Form 8
Important Dates
12/2-12/16 Angels Tree Charity 12/6 Staff Appreciation/Cookie
Exchange 12/8 Holidays Around the
World w/Choir Performance
12/12 PTA Board Meeting 12/16 LISD Classroom Holiday
Parties 12/19-12/30 Holiday Break
1/7/12 Clothes Closet Volunteer Day
1/9/12 PTA Board Meeting 1/20/12 “Breakfast with Dads” in
Courtyard 1/29/12 STAAR Seminar
Eagle News is available on the GVHE PTA Website:
http://grandview.my-pta.org/ Eagle News Editor: Sherri Cole McCue
Comments or suggestions, email Sherri
McCue at:
Page | 2 Eagle News
WILD about Our GVHE Volunteers!
Thanksgiving may be over, but the GVHE PTA wants you to know what we are most thankful for—ALL of our volunteers!
Charleston Wrap raised more than $4,000 for our school (the students sold over $12,000 in merchanidise)! Jennifer Jones, Maureen Connors and Virginia Deeny, along with the help of several other volunteers, were instrumental in pulling this fundraiser off.
Amy Munson and Missy Peoples put on an OUT OF THIS WORLD book fair with the help of so many wonderful parents and grandparents including, Ruthie Black, Gretchen Langston, Maureen Connors, Abbie Williams, Genevieve Lawrence, Bettye Kochendorfer, Devanshi Patel, Kim Brown, Heather Reeves, Amy Benefiel, Rebecca Huang, Rebecca McMahon, Tanja Saiidi, Tanya Warpula, Jo Ann Taunton, Cherilyn Gurrola, Dee Dee Nutt, Mary Beth Becker, Keri LeBlanc, Julie Beach, Stephanie Haug, Amanda Lim, Veronica Harper, Jamyee Pleasant, and Lisa Dow.
The Original Works fundraiser was successful and special thanks goes to Jennifer Jackson, who headed up this fundraiser, and our art teacher, Ms. Henderson, for helping us inspire art and raise funds for our school
Science Night was a huge success! Thanks to Suzanne Verde and her team (Andrea Wardrop, Stacy Harrington, Jamyee Pleasant, Betty Korchendorfer, Gary Phillips, Chuck Zon, Genevieve Lawrence, and Dee Dee and Jason Nutt) for planning and executing a fun-filled and educational night for all of the GVHE families!
The Thanksgiving lunch was a bountiful and fun event. The entire cafeteria staff would like to join us in thanking all of the volunteers who helped to serve lunch and to clean up after the hundreds of people who came through
the cafeteria. Thanks to Erica Freer, Chuck Zon, Amy Benefiel, Tanya Warpula, Cherilyn Gurrola, Veronica Harper, Jo Ann Taunton, Kerri McHugh, Erin Kolecki, Susan Rebtoy, Stephanie Haug and Genevieve Lawrence!I‘d like to give a special thanks to Suzanne Marshall for her creativity, thoughtfulness and organization of the annual Staff Appreciation Harvest Luncheon. Also, thanks to all of you who provided the food for our incredible staff!
Finally, HUGE thanks to the 22 dads who have been on campus as Watch DOGS so far this year: Chuck Zon, Ray Freer, Robert Grimmer, John Britt, Michael Jewell, Rick Von Schnier, Brent Cardwell, Joshua Lewis, Yuen Yung, Cameron McDonald, Brian Kerns, Mike McKelvy, Matt O‘Neil, Kevin Black, Mark Deeny, Peter Fontana, Zaidan Kazour, Michael Fahy, Paul Henry, Ruben Osorio, Curtiss Lewis and Hall Butler. If you would like to get involved with Watch DOGS please visit the volunteer website to learn more http://grandview.my-pta.org/Content.asp?PageID=2
Coming up in December:
Holidays Around the World – Thursday, December 8
Classroom holiday parties –Thursday (12/15) and Friday (12/16)
Please be sure to visit often to learn how YOU can get involved. http://grandview.my-pta.org/Content.asp?PageID=2
Happy Belated Thanksgiving- Yvette Yung GVHE Volunteer Coordinator, 2011-12
Hill Country Education FoundationThe Hill Country Education Foundation is raising funds for programs and teachers at our area schools— Vandegrift High School and all elementary and middle schools that feed into it.
Stephanie Haug is the foundation‘s GVHE campus representative and is very excited to be part of this "academic booster club." HCEF has already made a number of accomplishments in their short history. They‘ve raised $32,000 at their first Gala fundraiser in May 2011; distributed nearly $10,000 to
area robotics clubs; pledged $50,000 for the next five years to LISD for Naviance Succeed (a college readiness software); and will soon allocate $25,000 to our schools and community through their Impact Grant program.
Please join Stephanie in becoming a member of HCEF today. If we can get just 10% of our families to join, we could raise $70,000 in membership alone! Just imagine what the Foundation can do to help our students with that kind of money!
If you have any questions, don‘t hesitate to contact Stephanie.
In her own words:
―I truly believe in the mission of this organization. In my first meeting, I learned that they want to help make VHS a top 100 high school in the nation. We can do this!‖
www.hillcountryedfountdation.org
Stephanie Haug
266-3534 293-0831
Eagle News Page | 3
Holidays Around the World Join us on Thursday, December 8 for the GVHE PTA's annual ―Holidays Around the World‖ event!! Our own GVHE families will come together to depict their home country's most beloved holidays with decorations, food, crafts, music and dance. There will even be a special appearance by the jolly man himself, so bring your cameras.
Fall Book Fair: HUGE SUCCESS!!!! Thanks to your generous purchases and contributions, the Grandview Hills Elementary school library will be able to purchase much-needed reference materials and books for our outstanding school!
A huge ―Thank You!‖ to Ms. Porter, our wonderful librarian, for all of her help, as well as to all of our amazing volunteers and Junior Crew volunteers for your important contribution of time and energy! We could not have had an "Out of This World" book fair without you!
Signing off! Your Fall Book Fair Staff Co-chairs, Amy Munson & Missy Peoples Fundraising VP, Maureen Connors
“Original Works" Fundraiser Thank you parents for memorializing your student's art work in our Original Works fundraiser this year. Your support not only provided you with great gifts for family and friends, but raised funds for the PTA to assist our school programs, including art classes. Special thanks to GVHE art teacher Ms. Henderson for her support in helping the students create great art for this project.
Teacher/Staff Birthday Shout Out!
November 4: Carry Chilek – 5
th
9: Kerry Zamzow – Dyslexia 14: Brenda Edwards – Receptionist 27: Jenny Wyman – SPED/CMC
December 2: Jennifer Martinez – 2
nd
3: Suzy Rails – Secretary 7: Kim Castles – Kindergarten 27: Cory Carter –IA 27: Deb Hardway – Nurse
Box Tops for Education The GVHE PTA wants to send a big thank you to each of you for turning in all your box tops over the last two weeks. You helped the school raise $852 worth of Box Tops! There are a few classrooms that did an especially great job saving box tops, and these are the winners of the special prizes:
1st Place Pizza Party: Ms. Fitz‘s 2nd Grade Class
with 861 box tops collected.
2nd
Place Ice Cream Sundae Party: Ms. Jacobson‘s 4th Grade Class with 655 box tops collected.
3rd
Place Pajama Day: TIE – both Ms Betz's 4th
Grade Class and Ms. Box's 1st Grade class collected
569 box tops each.
We are also very proud of Ms. Overton's Kindergarten class, which collected 501 Box Tops and won the Kindergarten contest for an ice cream party.
Special thanks to our Box Top Chair, Abbie Williams. Her dedication to this successful Box Top fundraiser and enthusiasm about educating us on the simplicity of just clipping to raise money will continue through 2012! FUNdraising is what she is all about!
Please continue to save all your BOX TOPS, TYSON LABELS and LABELS FOR EDUCATION. Please make sure your child's name, grade level and teacher's name are on the baggie. We will have a Spring Contest and an along with a class prize we will also have individual prizes. Thank you for clipping and saving.
Un-Fundraiser Update Thank you, GVHE families and friends! During our Un-Fundraising Campaign, we raised $1,829.75 to help pay for some of our extra special events this fall, including our amazing NASA and planetarium exhibits at Science Night and Lucas Miller, the Singing Zoologist! Special thanks go out to the following generous families who made this possible:
Alamgari, Barksdale, Cardwell, Chen, Connors, Deeny, Dholakia, Diefenthaler, Duggan, Firnhab, Griesbach, Heard, Hundley, Kelly, Kind, Kochendorfer, Kolecki, Lawrence, LeBlanc, Lugo, Ly, McCue, Page, Rawlings, Roth, Russell, Saiidi, Samman, Tallieu, and Wardrop families!
You can add your name to this list by making a donation to the Un-Fundraiser today or at your earliest convenience. You can find additional forms in the front office and send them back in your child's Wednesday folder or place your donations in the Un-fundraiser box also in the office.
Page | 4 Eagle News
Lego Robotics
Our Grandview Hills Robotics team "Lego Nuts" participated on November 3 at the First Lego League scrimmage held at Four Points Middle School. This scrimmage was in preparation for the qualifiers that is scheduled for December 9.
Top row: Gerold Chan (coach), William Fontana, Andy Hernandez, Greyson Ratcliff, Trenton Van Orden, Carlos Bonilla (coach), Bottom row: Nicholas Chan, Connor Hathaway, Stefano Bonilla, Gabriel Diaz
Get Your STAAR Information Here
The GVHE PTA invites you to attend a free parent seminar on January 29, 2012, from 8:00 -9:00 a.m. Our guest speaker will be Debbie Sommer, LISD Director of Assessment and Accountability, who will provide an overview of the test and what to expect.
Go to the following webpage for more information about the STAAR test:
http://www.leanderisd.org/default.aspx?name=acct.assess.STAAR
Creating a Culture of
Kindness at GVHE
On October 26, more than 40 parents attended ―Bullying 101,‖ during which Mary Ann Kluga, Leander ISD‘s drug and alcohol prevention coordinator, helped parents recognize the signs and symptoms of bullying. As a result of the great feedback we received from the program, we will be implementing a ―Culture of Kindness‖ Team at Grandview Hills and would love your help in coordinating the effort.
Thanks to all of the parents who participated and brought breakfast treats.
Here is Ms. Kluga's list of ways that we, as parents, can support a Culture of Kindness:
Teach the difference between tattling and telling.
Teach kindness and caring. Make kindness and caring parts of your everyday vocabulary.
Invite kids to make choices.
Promote random acts of kindness.
Teach empathy and compassion.
Be kind.
Be consistent with rules and consequences.
Talk about values/ethical principles.
Use teachable moments – relate everything to kindness and caring.
Role model positive, respectful, and caring behavior. Watch own reactions and words.
Promote diversity.
Make sure we (adults) are warm, caring and having a positive influence with the children. Give compliments. Be grateful!
If you (or your 4th or 5th grade student) are interested in being part of the Culture of Kindness Team, please contact PTA President Karin Samman at [email protected]
Volunteers Needed!
Staff Appreciation/Cookie Exchange, Holidays Around the World Event, Angel Tree Charity.
Be sure to visit the GVHE PTA website often to learn how YOU can get involved: http://grandview.my-pta.org.
Eagle News Page | 5
What’s Been Happening at GVHE
Students line up to preview the Austin Planetarium's Mobile exhibit on November 9
A record crowd turned out for GVHE's First Ever Science Night on November 9
Bullying 101
GVHE parents listen to Mary Ann Kluga discuss Bullying 101 on October 26
Out of This World Book Fair
GVHE was transformed into outer space for the ―Out of this World Scholastic Book Fair‖ on November 4
YEARBOOKS On Sale Now!
Be sure to order your child‘s yearbook at our lowest sale price, $22. The price increases to $25 on December 9. Our yearbooks sold out last year, so don‘t delay! For more information, see the order form that was sent home in the Wednesday folder (on November 30).
You can also check the PTA website for more information.
PTA President Karin Crump Samman and Principal Brenda Cruz display authentic Apollo NASA spacesuit and helmet on Science Night
Science Night!
PTA President Karin Crump Samman and Principal Brenda Cruz show authentic Apollo NASA spacesuit and helmet on Science Night
Page | 6 Eagle News
What’s Been Happening at GVHE
2nd and 3rd Graders Honor Our Veterans
The Singing Zoologist Rocked the School (photos by Cindy Hathaway)
1. Second Graders show their patriotic spirit during their performance of ―You‘re a Grand Ole Flag‖
2. Third Grader Spencer Haug answers the question, ―What is a Veteran?‖
1. A veteran gives thanks
2. Third Graders Cailey Chilek and Dani Kennedy lead the audience in the National Anthem
Photos by William Collinson
Eagle News Page | 7
Grandview Hills Elementary School PTA
Board Positions Name Number Email President Karin Samman 773-9361 [email protected]
1st V.P. Stephanie Wilson 977-9410 [email protected]
2nd V.P. Maureen Connors 656-5929 [email protected]
3rd V.P. Erin Kolecki 419-8653 [email protected]
Secretary N'Yoka Coleman 745-1422 [email protected]
Treasurer Virginia Deeny 751-6425 [email protected]
Parliamentarian Ashley King 687-4100 [email protected]
Historian Cindy Foreman 632-9881 [email protected]
Volunteer Coordinator Yvette Yung 350-4792 [email protected]
Legislative Action Committee Stephanie Haug 293-0831 [email protected]
Chair Positions
Book Fair Missy Peoples 791-2441 [email protected]
Amy Munson 619-6877 [email protected]
Box Top/Charleston Wrap Fundraisers
Abbie Williams 578-8187 [email protected]
Jen Jones 626-4111 [email protected]
Clothes Closet Jennifer Rawlings 401-2801 [email protected]
Destination Imagination Stacia Kveton 992-8846 [email protected]
Garden Club Stephanie Haug 293-0831 [email protected]
Local Charities Mike Hundley 554-5056 [email protected]
Global Charities Stacia Kveton 992-8846 [email protected]
IB/Special Events Suzanne Verde 914-7748 [email protected]
Lego Care for Education Jennifer Jackson 470-0042 [email protected]
Membership Julie Sweeten 217-4164 [email protected]
Newsletter Sherri McCue 584-5712 [email protected]
Recycling Cheryl Bonfils-Rasmussen 470-4197 [email protected]
Reflections Birjis Rashed 619-3200 [email protected]
Room Rep Coordinator Stephanie Wilson 977-9410 [email protected]
Running Club Mary Jo Garrison 249-0216 [email protected]
Spirit Gear Susana Diaz 401-2801 [email protected]
Spring Fling Ashley King 687-4100 [email protected]
Staff Appreciation Suzanne Marshall 919-4549 [email protected]
Student Directory N'Yoka Coleman Sherri McCue
745-1422 350-2933
[email protected] [email protected]
Website Jennifer Rawlings 250-9039 [email protected]
Watch D.O.G.S. Chuck Zon 331-8468 [email protected]
Wednesday Folders Cheryl Bonfils-Rasmussen 470-4197 [email protected]
Yearbook Kim Brown 585-9995 [email protected]
Page | 8 Eagle News
Grandview Hills Elementary PTA Membership Form
Complete the required information and submit with membership dues of $10.00 per member for a one year membership. If writing a check please included driver’s license # and make payable to GVHE PTA. Thank you. To submit by mail:
Grandview Hills Elementary ATTN: PTA
12024 Vista Parke Drive
Austin, Texas 78726
1st
Member’s Info:
Last Name: First Name:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
E-mail: Phone:
We need your involvement and support! Please circle areas that interest you!
School Garden
Clothes Closet
Student Directory
Wednesday Folders
Box Tops for Education
School Spirit
Membership Book Fair Fundraising Spring Fling Recycling Yearbook
IB/Family Nights
Watch DOGS Charitable Events
Staff Appreciation
Running Club Photographer
2nd Member’s Info:
Last Name: First Name:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
E-mail: Phone:
School Garden
Clothes Closet
Student Directory
Wednesday Folders
Box Tops for Education
School Spirit
Membership Book Fair Fundraising Spring Fling Recycling Yearbook
IB/Family Nights
Watch DOGS Charitable Events
Staff Appreciation
Running Club Photographer
Yes, I am happy to lead a team! _______ Yes, I am happy to be on a team! ______
I have the following skills and/or resources that can benefit GVHE and/or I speak another language:
In addition, I would like to contribute: _________________
I understand that my voluntary gift will remain in GVHE to help support PTA programs and future projects.
Date Received: Method of Payment: Cash: Check: $ Amount:
FOR PTA USE ONLY
