Cyber Safety for Kids

Lori Getz, a noted Internet Safety Expert featured on the Today show, will be back at our school to address cyber bullying, texting, Internet predators and social networking, from Club Penguin to Facebook. Everything you need to know about your child and the Internet! If you missed her last year, here is your chance to catch this fantastic speaker. If you did see her last year, come and upgrade your cyber awareness to the latest version.  She will be speaking to our parents January 24th from 8:30am-10:00am in the Parent Center. Refreshments and child care will be provided. Then from 10:15am-11:30am she will address the 5th and 6th graders in an assembly. By subscribing to the free newsletter at lorigetz.com, you will receive a bi-monthly newsletter from the Parent Resource Center.

Take the CEC Challenge:

   Did you know there is no such thing as privacy on the net?  Even our e-mails, IMs and text messages aren't truly private and NEVER leave cyberspace.

   Did you know 75% of our kids report being Cyber-bullied and the majority of them said it was by someone they know?

   Did you know that 70% of our kids admitted to being part of a sexting incident (either sending or receiving nude photos via cell phone or other electronic communication) and that sexting between minors is considered child pornography?

   Did you know predators spend years grooming our children; developing relationships built on a sense false trust and loyalty.  Did you know this grooming process starts in places like Club Penguin, X-box Live, and on Social Networking Sites?

Are you talking with your children about these issues?  If not, it's time to start!  CEC brings Internet education to children and parents across the country.  It's mission is simple, to bridge the gap between a young generation of Internet user and their teachers and parents.

CEC has an online Parent Resource Center at lorigetz.com that keeps parents one step ahead with the latest trends in technology and speaks to kids about the "Truth about the Internet" so that they are able to make well-informed decisions about their online use.

By subscribing today you are assisting your school in bringing this Internet education to your entire community!  Make sure to include your school's name when you sign up to credit your school with your participation.

Subscribe to CEC

By subscribing to CEC, you will also receive a bi-monthly newsletter from the Parent Resource Center.  All of this at NO COST to you!  CEC feels strongly about protecting your identity so they will never share your information or use it for advertising purposes.  Thank you for subscribing to CEC today.

Free Family Movie Night: Dec. 17th from 6:00pm-8:00pm

Join us to watch the new animated feature Toy Story 3 with the entire family on the 17th, in the Smith Center (MPR). Get comfy, come in your PJs if you’d like, bring a blanket or camp chair and relax with your kids. Dinner plates, popcorn and snacks will be sold (cash only). Parents, you must accompany your children, no drop-offs please. In the spirit of the holiday season, we ask that each family bring a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to children in need through Spark of Love. Thank you Cecilia Vazquez for coordinating this event.

Americana Night: Dec.11th 6pm-8pm

We have partnered with the Americana once again this year to help raise funds for our children. Join us for a fun night out for the entire family. Barnes and Noble is donating 15% of all of their sales on the weekend of Dec. 11th and 12th as long as you mention Mt.Washington Elementary. On Saturday, Dec.11th, from 6pm-8pm you will be entertained by the Mt.Washington Chorus, story time by our great parent volunteers and several other Mt.Washington student performers at Barnes and Noble. You can enjoy dinner before or after the Barnes and Noble event, due some Holiday shopping, then take all of your receipts to the concierge desk in the parking lot lobby to get 5% of all of your receipts donated back to our school. Also, every Tuesday, Ameci Trattoria is giving 10% back to our school on checks $40 or more. The American Holiday Gift for Schools is ongoing till Dec.24th. Thank you Sharren Harren for coordinating this event.

Fresh & Easy Fundraiser Night: Dec. 8th from 4:00pm-8:00pm

Mt.Washington gets 5% of all sales that night during our time slot.  Save your receipts as well, as on top of the 5% we still get $1 for every $20 spent.  Tell your friends and family and help us spread the word to bring people into the store.  The more money the store makes, the more they are able to donate to our school.  Look for more information on volunteer opportunities from your room rep, and our blog. Thank you Michelle Perez for coordinating this event.

Holiday Arts & Crafts: Tuesdays Dec.7th & 14th

All students are invited to join us on Tuesdays Dec.7^th & 14^th  from 1:30pm-2:30pm in the Lunch Pavilion.  Students will have the opportunity to make gifts and wrap them for their family and friends for a nominal fee.  Look for a flyer in your child’s backpack soon to sign them up for this activity.  Volunteer sign ups will be posted shortly, please sign up if this is an event that you would like to help with.  Thank you Holly Shuck and Gina Antestenis for coordinating this event.

Scholastic Book Fair: December 1st -2nd, Family Night on the 2nd

Dec. 1st-2nd. An amazing selection of books is headed our way! Mark your calendar for our Family Night, on Thursday December 2nd from 5:00pm-7:00pm in the Jack & Denny Smith Center (MPR) where the whole family can join in the fun. Join us for a wonderful performance by our amazing Mt.Washington Chorus, view the showcase of all the entries from our Reflection’s Art Contest, and listen to stories read by our talented parent volunteers. We can still use a little extra help, so if you are able to help out during the day, on family night, or with clean up on the 3rd, please sign up by the parent center or at MWPTA.org. Thank you to Anvi Kevany for coordinating this event.

PTA Reflections Arts Contest: November 1 to November 30

2010-2011 "Together We Can"

The National PTA Reflections Program is an arts recognition and achievement program for students. The Reflections Program provides opportunities for students to express themselves creatively and to receive positive recognition for original works of art inspired by a pre-selected theme, while increasing community awareness on the importance of the arts in education.

The Reflections Program was established in 1969 by National PTA board member Mary Lou Anderson. Since that time, more than 10 million students have participated in the program. The program's longevity and participation figures attest to its strength. The excitement and enthusiasm that the program generates for children, parents, schools and communities is unmatched.

Participation and appreciation for the arts is the Reflections Program's goal. Although the Reflections Program follows a "contest" format, winning should not be the emphasis.

Participation in the Reflections Program is a great way for students to explore and learn about various art forms. Creating art is a valuable learning process that challenges students to use their critical thinking skills as well as their creative talents to create art that supports a specific theme.

Students may submit an entry in any of the six arts areas listed below. Only original works of art are accepted. Students may enter more than one work of art. The six arts areas are as follows:

• Literature
• Musical composition
• Photography
• Visual arts
• Dance Choreography
• Film/Video Production
• 
  

Reflections Entry Form Packets will be available for distribution from your child's teacher, the office, Parent Center, or download the forms at capta.org, or mwpta.org.

Direct Appeal: Change for Change

It’s that time of year again, where we come together for our children’s education. With staffing positions cut, district facilities positions cut and programs and resources being slashed, our children's education is in jeopardy. We are asking parents to support our children by donating ANY AMOUNT to the Direct Appeal Campaign.

This year we’re calling it “Change for Change”, because the change in your pocket will make a huge impact when all families contribute something. How much change will you contribute?

$1 a Day? u $1 a Week? u $1 a Month? u $1 a Year?

YOU DECIDE. GIVE WHAT YOU CAN. BUT JUST GIVE

Our goal is 100% participation from each family of our 344 students. Your contribution is 100% Tax Deductible! You can make a single donation or set up a payment plan. Donate on line at mwpta.org or drop your donation off at the office. Please make your checks payable to Mt. Washington PTA.  So far we have raised around $1,800 on the "Change for Change" campaign, which is a great start, but we still have a long way to go if we are to match what we raised last year.  

We thank you for your support. We could not do this without you!

Scholastic Book Fair: December 1st -2nd, Family Night on the 2nd

An amazing selection of books is headed our way!  At the Book Fair you will find the latest and  finest titles for kids, as well as books of  interest to parents. Mark your calendar for our Family Night, on Thursday December 2^nd from 6:00pm-8:00pm in the Jack & Denny Smith Center (MPR) where the whole family can join in the fun.  We will have a performance by our amazing Mt.Washington Chorus, we will also showcase all the entries from our Reflection’s Art Contest, and have book readings. You will also have the opportunity to contribute books to your child's classroom library.  For our Scholastics website click here.  As with everything we do, we could not do it without your help, please be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities by the parent center and from your room rep.  The Book Fair is a great way to get everyone excited about reading. See you there!

Please respect our neighbors

Let's respect our neighbors’ rights and not park in drive-ways or in the red zones.  The safety Valet program is really wonderful to keep traffic moving in the morning.  Parents who wish to park and wait with their children before school starts, need to park in areas that do not block access.  Thank you so much for your cooperation in this matter.

Morning Running Program: Parents- your children need you!

Our school has received a grant from the Department of Public Health to help our children achieve the minimum fitness level recommended by LAUSD.  Last year many of our students did not meet this minimum Standard.  To help them get there this year, we need your help in implementing a morning walking/running program.  Children can walk/run the track from 7:45am-8:05am every morning with the help of 1-2 parent volunteers each day.  The parent volunteers will help our students in tracking the laps they complete. We so far have 3 volunteers but ideally we would have 10, so if you are able to help, please contact Anvi Kevany (volunteers coordinator) at volunteers@mwpta.org, with your name and the days that you are available to help. We would like to start the program on Monday, November 29th.

Thank You!

To Ariella Roberts and Cecilia Vazquez for providing the continental breakfast to our Pumpkin Festival volunteers last Friday, November 5.; to Jackie Cahill, for coordinating the Family Portrait Night, November 5; to Gina Antestenis for coordinating the Membership Drive; to Kwame Dow for coordinating the Food Drive, November 8 to 18; to Doug Young for coordinating the Halloween Candy Donation Program; to Nina Zippay for coordinating the PTA Reflections Program; to Holly Schuck for coordinating the Box Tops for Education Program; to Michelle Perez for coordinating the Fresh and Easy Shop for Schools Program; to Vicki Vainshtain for coordinating the Cartridge Recycling Program; to David Travis for coordinating the school's sound/PA system; and to Tom Allen for coordinating the T-shirts/Merchandise.

New Mt. Washington Merchandise

The PTA has ordered new merchandise and is now available for sale at the Parent Center.  We have adult and child t-shirts, and unisex t-shirts in different styles and colors, plus we are also selling aprons, and we still have a few calendars left.  So please stop by at the Parent Center between 8 and 10 am, or email Ariella @ waysandmeans@mwpta.org to order your t-shirt.

National PTA Database: Just Between Friends

We would like to thank everyone who recently joined the PTA, and to those who continue to be members every year.  Joining PTA supports local, state and national efforts to improve the education of children and the lives of families. Membership provides the opportunity for individuals to raise their voices with others throughout the state and nation to protect children’s rights. Membership ensures that PTA’s voice is heard on issues affecting young people as well as providing opportunities for parent education, communication and leadership development.  We have joined Just Between Friends, which is the membership database website for the National PTA.  Each member should have received an email requesting that you either update your JBF information, or register in order for you to receive important news and updates from the National PTA.  The group invitation code to join the Mt. Washington PTA group is 6339tok.

PTA Volunteer Scholarship Due November 15

Scholarship funds are available to PTA volunteers who have given 3 years of volunteer service to PTA and who plan to continue providing volunteer services to PTA.  Scholarships are available for continuing education use at an accredited college, university, trade or technical school.  The application must be submitted and received at the California State PTA office by November 15.  For a copy of the application, please go to http://mwpta.org/resources_pta.html and click on Important Documents.

Don't forget to record your monthly volunteers hours.  Remember that any activity that you do for the PTA counts as volunteer hours, including emailing your class parents, buying donation items, helping at the Parent Center, to name a few.  Please go to our website, mwpta.org, and click on Resources, and under Resources, click on PTA, or go to http://mwpta.org/resources_pta.html

Americana Holiday Gift for Schools: November 19th-December 24th

Our school has partnered up again this year with the Americana at Brand.  Last year our school earned over $1,000 through this program.  This is a very easy way to earn money for our school.  If you are shopping at the Americana between Nov. 19th and Dec. 24th, take your receipt to the concierge, located in the lobby of the parking structure (Central Ave. side) and ask them to tally it for Mt.Washington Elementary School.  Pass the word to all of your family and friends about this easy fund raiser.  Our school gets at least 5% of all the receipts shown from any of the vendors at the Americana.  Yes, all the vendors including the food and other kiosks.  Look for the flyer in your child's backpack soon.

Annual Mt.Washington Food Drive: November 8th-18th

2,010 in 2,010 is our motto for our food drive this year.  We are aiming to collect 2,010 items to donate to families in need so that they too can celebrate the holidays and not have to worry about what to put on the table.  A collection bag will be placed in each classroom, please only send non-perishable items in non breakable containers.  Canned foods, boxed items, dried pasta etc... you know what to do.  The classroom with the most donations will win a pizza party from the PTA.  Thank you for your support!

Middle School Fair: Tuesday, November 16th, 6:00pm-7:30pm

Where will your child go from here? Come explore the options at our Middle School Fair on Tuesday, November 16th from 6:00pm-7:30pm in the Jac & Denny Smith Center (MPR).  Our fair will feature representatives from a wide range of public, magnet, charter and independent schools.  Refreshments and childcare will be provided.

Direct Appeal 2010 - 2011

It’s that time of year again, where we come together for our children’s education.  With staffing positions cut, district facilities positions cut and programs and resources being slashed, our children's education is in jeopardy.  We are asking parents to support our children by donating ANY AMOUNT to the Direct Appeal Campaign. 

This year we’re calling it “Change for Change”, because the change in your pocket will make a huge impact when all families contribute something.  How much change will you contribute?

$1 a Day?    u     $1 a Week?     u    $1 a Month?     u     $1 a Year?

YOU DECIDE.  GIVE WHAT YOU CAN.  BUT JUST GIVE.

Our goal is 100% participation from each family of our 344 students.  Your contribution is 100% Tax Deductible!  You can make a single donation or set up a payment plan.
Donate on line http://www.mwpta.org or drop your donation off at the office.  Please make your checks payable to Mt. Washington PTA. 


We thank you for your support.  We could not do this without you!

Family Portrait Night

Just in time for holiday cards! The PTA will host a Family Portrait Night Fundraiser on November 5th from 5 – 8 p.m in the Smith Center (MPR).  Sitting fee is $30 and includes one 10X13, 8x10, 2 each of 5x7s, 4 each of 3 1/2x5 or 8 each of wallet photos.  50% of the fee comes back to our school! All you have to do is go online to www.familyportraitfun.com ; click on FIND YOUR EVENT, locate our school name and schedule your sitting time. You can pay the fee online and then show up to the school during your time. This is a great chance to get your family photo taken for holiday cards and mailings! PLUS, earn some money for our school! You can order photo cards and other photo packages too – 15% of package sales will come back to our school! It’s THAT easy! Portraits are shot on a white background so you choose your theme by your dress or props! You’ll get proofs within 2 days and photo packages are mailed to your home within 3-4 weeks. Here’s a chance to make a lasting family memory! Sorry, no pets allowed. Contact Chairperson Jackie Cahill at: katiescarlettmom@aol.com for more info.

Costume Swap, Friday October 15th, 2:30pm, Parent Center

Come Swap your children's clean, gently used Halloween costumes and accessories on Friday, October 15th from 2:30pm-4:00pm outside the Parent Center.  We will be collecting costumes and accessories every morning this week  (Oct.11-Oct.15) from 8:15am-9:15am .  Earn a ticket for each costume/accessory you bring, which can be exchanged for another costume or for a free raffle ticket at the 2010 Pumpkin Festival.  Claim back your un-swapped items the following Monday-Wednesday 8:15am-9:15am from the Parent Center or they will be donated to charity.

The Safety Valet Parent Volunteers need your help.

Lately there have been daily traffic jams in front of the school. Here’s what you can do to help keep
our children safe:

• Come 5 -10 minutes earlier than you usually do which will help to alleviate the bottleneck we are having with traffic. The playground and Safety Valet are open at 7:45 am.
• Avoid making 3 – Point turns in the middle of the street. It is dangerous and completely backs up traffic.
• Use the crosswalk for the safety of yourself and others. When people jaywalk in front of the Safety Valet Zone not only is it dangerous, it stops the traffic flow.

Thank you for your support.
The Safety Valet Team

Membership Drive Contest

The PTA is holding a contest between all the classrooms to see which classrooms will achieve 100% participation by November 1st.  The first class to achieve 100% participation will receive an ice cream party + your teacher will get a $100 gift card to Lakeshore Learning Store.  The 2nd classroom to reach 100% participation, your teacher will also get a $100 gift card to Laekshore Learning Store.  The 3rd and 4th classrooms to reach 100% participation, your teachers will receive a $50 gift card to Lakeshore Learning Store.  100% participation means every child must have at least 1 parent or other relative join the PTA by November 1st, we are keeping a tally in the Rotunda so you can see who is in the lead.  We would like to thank a very generous parent for this wonderful gift and opportunity.

Pumpkin Festival Committee Meeting!

Please consider joining the PTA Pumpkin Festival Committee.  A MEETING WILL BE HELD THIS FRIDAY, OCT. 8th from 8:15 – 9:15 a.m. in the Parent Center.
Can’t make it, but want to help?  Email: waysandmeans@mwpta.org
Specific areas of need: donate a cake, donate raffle prizes, sponsor a booth (financially), sponsor an inflatable (financially), work a booth shift, buy prizes

Pumpkin Festival October 29th

This annual event is our BIGGEST children-focused event of the year! MWE Parents will transform the outdoor playground and pavilion into a spooky, fun-filled carnival! The festival will be held on Friday, October 29th from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. (directly following the school sponsored costume parade at 1:15 p.m.)
The festival will feature games, arts & crafts, music, entertainment and AMAZING food! Plus, we’re bringing back the old school classic CAKE WALK! Tickets for the booth activities will be sold for a nominal fee.
The event/campus is open to EVERYONE! Tell your family, friends and neighbors!

Look for more info in the coming weeks from your Room Rep on ways to get involved and volunteer. Each classroom will host a booth and lots of help is needed!

"Building Good Homework Habits" presentation: Monday, 10/18, 8:15am

Is the nightly homework grind driving you & your child crazy? Help is here! Veteran educator, school administrator and consultant Joan McClintic will offer practical advice on establishing strong study habits, understanding appropriate parental roles, and preventing & addressing common problems. Don't miss this one! Head to the MPR immediately following Monday morning assembly for bagels, coffee, and tips to make your family's weeknights more peaceful and productive. Childcare will be provided.

PTA SCHOOL CALENDARS

A limited supply of school calendars are available for purchase in the Parent Center for $20.  The calendars feature beautiful artwork from our talented contest winning students. For your convenience, all district, school and PTA dates of importance are pre-printed in these custom calendars.  Please help support this school fundraiser and get your calendar today!

Introducing 'ASK THE PTA'

Do you have a question for the Mt.Washington PTA?  Is there information you need or policy you'd like clarified?  In the next issue of the Mt.Washington PTA eBlast, we will add a feature designed to answer all of your burning questions.  We'll post the questions and answers anonymously, without releasing any identifying information to protect your privacy.  Responses will be published in the next month's issue.  There are 3 ways to submit a question: 

1. go to: www.mwpta.org/askthepta    

2. email: eblast@mwpta.org (email addresses will be kept strictly confidential)   

3.complete the form from your PTA welcome packet and drop it into the PTA Question Box located in the parent center. 

Go ahead and send us your questions and we will get busy finding you the answers! 

www.mwpta.org

In an effort to reduce printing costs and paper waste, more and more of our communication will take place online this year.  Please bookmark the PTA website now:  www.mwpta.org .  Our website will be updated regularly with notices, news of events, photos, download-able forms, our calendar etc. This year we would like to introduce a weekly blog that will update you and give you a heads up for events and activities for the week. To sign up for the blog just follow your room rep's instruction on back to school night.

Fundraising: Help Wanted

Be on the look out for PTA communication that details ways in which you can help out!  There are a variety of volunteer opportunities tailored to fit your interests and schedule.  Our Ways & Means Committee is scouting volunteers for some very important fundraising projects.  If you are interested in any of the below areas, please contact our VP of Ways & Means, Ariella Roberts, at waysandmeans@mwpta.org,  to let her know what you can help with. Or, if you are passionate about a fundraising project not on our list, please send us your thoughts!

Open Positions: Assistant VP W&M, Pumpkin Festival, Catalog Sales, Book Fairs, Restaurant Nights/Liaison, Americana Night Out/Liaison, Dance Chair, Movie Night, Bowling Night, International Festival, Auction Event(s), End of Year Picnic/Luau

Join the PTA

JOIN US TODAY!  For approximately 1 1/2 cents a day, you can become a PTA member, joining nearly 6 million other people who share your interest in issues affecting children. Everyone – parents, educators, students and others active in our school and community – are invited to join our not-for-profit organization.  You can join by signing up at www.mwpta.org or by returning the membership envelope sent home with your child to the office or the parent center.

Back to School Night - September 30th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Back to School Night will be on Thursday the 30th, from 6:00pm-7:30pm.  This is your chance to meet your child's/children's teacher(s) and find out what our kids will be learning and doing this school year.  It will be a minimum day, when our children will get out of school at 12:50pm.  Parents will be asked to meet in the Smith Center (MPR) at 6:00pm, prior to going to the classrooms.  The PTA will be hosting a bake sale from 5:30pm-6:00pm, again please be on the lookout for ways you can help.

Snack Shack Opens - September 28th

Snack Shack will start up again on Tuesday September 28th.  It will be open for 1/2 hour after school Tuesday through Thursday.  LAUSD approved snacks such as granola bars, fruit snacks, fruit, and pretzels are sold from 25 cents to $1.00.  In order to keep Snack Shack open for our children all 3 days, we need volunteer help on Wednesdays especially.  If you are able to volunteer to work with our 5th and 6th graders, please contact Gill Correa at snackshack@mwpta.org  to let him know you are available.

25th Annual Pancake Breakfast-September 25th, 8:00am - 11:00am

Our first event of the school year is our annual Pancake Breakfast.  This year the griddle will sizzle on Saturday the 25th from 8:00am-11:00am, in the parking lot and the kindergarten yard.  We would like to thank Kelly and Fernando Orozco for chairing this event, and we would like to ask and encourage all of you to help us make this event a huge success.  We invite you to come out for some pancakes, meet and greet our incoming kindergarten families, mingle with all of our returning families, listen to up-beat music and spend your Saturday morning doing all the fun things that have traditionally been the Pancake Breakfast.  Look for volunteer opportunities, and other ways you can help, coming your way soon.  Thank you to all the parents who volunteered to donate items off the star sticky board.  Please bring your item(s) to the parent center by Thursday the 23rd, except for ice, please bring that by 7:30am the morning of the event on the 25th.  For questions and further information, please contact Kelly Orozco at pancakes@mwpta.org.

School Art Calendar for sale beginning September 24th

The 2010-2011 school calendar, featuring artwork by our very talented student contest winners, will be available beginning September 24th. The 12-month traditional calendar includes important PTA event dates and school/district dates. Calendars will be for sale for $20 each and can be purchased at the Parent Center. Supplies are limited, so get yours early! These are truly a stunning works of art!

School Site Council Meeting & Orientation, Thursday, Sept. 23rd, 2:45 p.m. Library

Next Thursday the MWES School Site Council will meet and an orientation will be held to introduce the roles and responsibilities of the School Site Council.  Elections will be held Thursday October 7th.  One of the main responsibilities of the SSC is to develop, monitor, and evaluate a single plan to improve student achievement.  For more information, please contact the principal or Nina Zippay, current SSC Chair (nzippay@earthlink.net)

Fresh and Easy "Shop for Schools" September 15th - December 31st

The Fresh and Easy "Shop for Schools" fundraiser is back.  Please save your receipts of $20 or more starting September 15th, and turn them into the front office.  We receive $1 for every $20 spent.  Last year our school received several thousand dollars! The fundraiser ends December 31st, so we have over 3 months to do it again.

Principal Selection Committee

Mrs. Arakaki will be helping us with the selection process for our new permanent Principal and will be forming a committee shortly. The selection committee will include Ms.Diekman (District 4 Elementary Schools Director), 3 teachers, 3 parents (1 from the PTA Board, 1 from the School Site Council, and 1 from the general parent body) and 1 Classified Representative. If you would like to volunteer to be part of the selection committee, please submit a written request to the front office by September 24th. Please include your name, your child's name and your contact information on your request.

Welcome to another exciting year!

Another school year is upon us and so are new opportunities for our children!  We are excited about all the great events and programs scheduled for this year and encourage everyone to participate.

Also, please join us in warmly welcoming our interim Principal, Ms. Arakaki.  She brings years of experience to our great little school and will be invaluable during this time of transition.

* Click here to download the 2010 Welcome Packet *