SOLDIER'S ANGELS CANDY DRIVE, TUESDAY 11-1 to Friday 11-4

Happy Halloween!!!  After all the tricking and treating is done, remember to put some aside for our Soldier's Angels Candy Drive.  MWPTA is partnered up again this year with the Soldier's Angels organization, to put your excess candy to good use as a reminder of home for our troops far away, and as something they can give out as a symbol of America's generosity. Look for a Soldier’s Angels box in the parent room starting on November 1st.  Please don't send any chocolate as it won't do well in hot temperatures.

REFLECTIONS ARTS CONTEST – DEADLINE IS THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH

Entries for this year’s Reflections Arts Contest must be submitted by this Friday, November 4th. The theme this year is “Diversity is…” Students may enter original entries from the six categories: Literature, Photography, Film, Visual Arts, Dance and Music. Please click on the link to obtain the complete description of the rules, and copies of the entry forms: bit.ly/2011reflections. For more information, email Anvi Kevany at reflections@mwpta.org.

COOKING 101 WITH DONNA CULLEN – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3 (8:15-10:15) IN THE MPR

Donna Cullen , local cooking instructor, will be presenting a Cooking 101 Course which will include meal planning, cooking basics, help with school lunch and lots more great tips and tricks on Thursday, November 3. Please join us at 8:15am in the MPR. Childcare will be provided.

FRESH AND EASY WEEKLY UPDATE

Thank you so much for your continued support. Our tally for the week is $609.00. We have the potential to earn an additional $5,000 for the school if we are the top school in California, so please keep bringing in those receipts. Remember, a great way for the school to earn double sales is by purchasing a $25 or $50 gift card and then do your shopping with the gift card.


Make sure to mark your calendar: Wednesday, November 9th is our Fresh & Easy Shop Night. Our school earns 5% of all sales between 4pm to 8pm. So make sure and save your grocery list for that day and stock up on everything you’ll need.


We are need of volunteers to help on Shop Night so please sign up at the Parent Center or click on the following link: http://www.mwpta.org/volunteer.html to volunteer.

CARNIVAL OF THE HOWLING WOLVES WAS A SUCCESS

Thank you Mt. Washington Community for making the Carnival of the Howling Wolves a howling success! Thank you to everyone who volunteered as well as everyone who attended. The event was a hit and the kids really enjoyed it.

GREAT TIPS FROM FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT

Thank you to Mrs. Valentino and our hard working teachers for putting on a wonderful event. Families were treated to workshops where they participated in fun-filled activities based on literacy concepts. Here are a few “literacy” websites that you and your child can access to play educational games:

http://treasures.macmillanmh.com/california/students

www.starfall.com

www.storylineonline.net

CARNIVAL OF THE HOWLING WOLVES, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29TH, 1-5PM

Please join us for our annual Pumpkin Festival, this Saturday the 29^th, from 1-5pm on the main yard.  This ultra fun event is sure to please the entire family, with lots of game booths, food booths, entertainers, bands and a spooktacular Haunted House.  Admission is free, the game and food booths will require tickets.  You can avoid the long lines at the festival and get your booth tickets early.  They will be on sale every morning this week, starting on Monday by the Parent Center.  This is an extremely volunteer intensive event, and it can only be a success with your help.  Please sign up for your class booth with your room rep, and look out for emails from your rep regarding items needed for your class booth.

PTA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

Our membership contest is down to the last week.  Rm. 5, Mrs. Mori’s class won first place, but 2^nd and 3^rd place are still up for grabs.  The second place winner will receive a $75 gift card to Lakeshore for their teacher, and third place will receive $50.  Please look for your room rep’s email to see how your class is doing.

REFLECTIONS ARTS CONTEST – DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 4TH

This is the last week to work on those wonderful Reflections entries. The deadline for the Arts Contest is November 4th. This year’s theme is “Diversity is…”  Students may enter original entries from the six categories: Literature, Photography, Film, Visual Arts, Dance and Music.  Please click on the link to obtain the complete description of the rules, and copies of the entry forms: bit.ly/2011reflections. For more information, email Anvi Kevany at reflections@mwpta.org. 

FRESH AND EASY WEEKLY UPDATE

Our tally for the week is $488.00.  Thanks for the support.  We can earn double sales by purchasing a $25 or $50 gift card and then do your shopping with the gift card.  Make sure and turn in both receipts.

SOLDIER’S ANGELS CANDY DRIVE, NOV.1ST-4TH

Have lots of fun Trick or Treating next Monday, then save some of your candy and send it over seas to our soldiers.  This is a great way for our children to share their abundance with those far away for a little reminder of home, and something for our troops to share with children who have so little, as a sign of goodwill.  Look for a Soldier’s Angels box in the parent room starting on November 4^th.  Please don't send any chocolate as it won't do well in hot temperatures.

PTA ASSOCIATION MEETING MOVED TO FRIDAY 10/21, AT 8:15am

Please join us for our first association meeting of the year, this Friday at 8:15am in the Parent Center.  Come and enjoy a cup of coffee and some pastries while you find out all that we have planned for this year.  Meet our Board, ask questions and share your ideas.  All members are encouraged to attend, we would love to meet you.

CARNIVAL OF THE HOWLING WOLVES: SATURDAY 10/29 1-5pm

Our Pumpkin Festival committee has been busy planning this sure to please event for several weeks now. If you would like to find out what they have been brewing and get involved in the planning of it all, our next committee meeting will be on Wednesday the 19th at 8:20am in the Parent Center. This year's festival will take place on Saturday the 29th, from 1-5pm. All the classrooms will host their own booth, your room rep will have all the information along with supply and volunteer needs this coming week. Tickets will go on sale the week of the festival, starting Monday the 24th. The Haunted House is back by popular demand; the plans have been drawn, now we just need a few good, handy men and women to help us bring it to life. If you are able to help, please contact Nancy De Leon at ndmeeker@sbcglobal.net . Looking forward to a great event!

ORGANIC GARDENING, TUESDAY 10/18, 8:15-10:15AM IN THE MPR

The Garden Committee invites you To "Organic Gardening 101" with Master Gardener Jenn Su on Tuesday Oct.18th at 8:15 - 10:15 a.m. in the MPR.  Learn everything you need to grow an edible garden in your own backyard, and bring this enhanced knowledge to our very own school gardens.
We invite you to join us this year as we work in the garden, and we hope that through this workshop you will be encouraged to join your class room Garden Representative as we plant, tend, harvest and learn. A flyer with more information will follow and child care will be provided. To RSVP for childcare or for more information contact nicolethomas101@earthlink.net

LITERACY NIGHT MOVED TO WEDNESDAY, 10/26 5-7pm

Please join Mrs.Valentino and several of our teachers for this great, FREE event for the entire family.  Learn about literacy concepts through fun activities in a workshop setting, enjoyable for all.  The evening will start off in the MPR where you will get to choose your workshops and with an introduction from Mrs.Valentino, then you will move into the classrooms for fun and games in the workshops of your choice.  Food will be available from your caring PTA in the MPR, starting at 4:30pm.  Look for a flyer coming home in your child's backpack this week.  Please return the rsvp portion to the office or your child's teacher prior to 10/26.  Hope you can make this great event!

KINDERGARTEN BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT IS ON WEDNESDAY 10/19 AT 4:30pm

Kindergarten Back to School Night and literacy activities will be held Wednesday, October 19th,  beginning at 4:30pm in the MPR, moving into smaller classroom sessions at 5:00pm.  Come and find out what your child will be learning this year then participate in some fun games with your child, deigned especially for Kindergarten.  Child care will be available on the main yard while parents are attending the Back to School Night portion of the evening, prior to all the Literacy fun.

PTA MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Even though we have a 1st place winner, 2nd and 3rd place are still up for grabs. Hurry and sign up, because our membership drive ends on October 31st. The 2nd place classroom will win a $75 gift card to Lakeshore Learning for their teacher, and 3rd place will win $50.

Room 1 71%
Room 2 74%
Room 3 77%
Room 4 70%
Room 5 100%
Room 6 55%
Room 8 54%
Room 9 35%
Room 10 47%
Room 11 55%
Room 12 37%
Room 13 56%
Room 15 62%
Room 17 58%


Thank you to everyone who has joined our PTA. Our first association meeting will be this Friday, the 21st in the Parent Center at 8:15am.

FRESH AND EASY UPDATE

As of 10/14/2011, we are up to $364 earned. Keep up the good work and keep shopping. In order to double our earnings, it may not be a bad idea to purchase a $25 or $50 gift card at Fresh & Easy prior to doing your normal shopping. Do your shopping and use your Fresh & Easy gift card (you just purchased) to pay for your items. Then you have two receipts to turn in at school. No current Fresh & Easy coupons, but as soon as we get them, we'll make sure and have copies in the Main Office and Parent Center.

Make sure and save the date: Wednesday, November 9th is our Fresh & Easy Shop Night. Our school earns 5% of all sales between 4pm to 8pm. So make sure and save your grocery list for that day and stock up on everything. We also get to collect receipts for that day for additional earnings.

FREE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL

Box Tops for Education:
Keep clipping those Box Tops. We just turned in $53.00 worth of Box Tops. We can also earn eBox-Tops-for-Education for our school. Just visit: www.btfe.com/marketplace you can do all your on-line shopping and Holiday shopping and our school gets $$$. eBox-Tops-for-Education has some great vendors: JC Penney, Walmart, Target, Best Buy and several others. We have a drop off box in the Parent Center.

Labels for Education:
Keep clipping the UPCs Labels for Education. Our school just turned in 1,200 points worth of labels. These points can be used for a $100 field trip credit, classroom supplies, art supplies, science supplies or yard play equipment. The following products qualify: Campbell's Soups, Dannon Yogurts, Pace products, Pepperidge Farm, V8 beverages, SpaghettiOs, Swanson, Post Cereal & Treats, Franco-American, Prego brands & BIC writing instruments. Check http://www.labelsforeducation.com/ if you need more details. Remember, we need the UPC from the above mentioned products. The UPC labels can be turned in at the Parent Center or Main Office.

GREEN (TEAM) THE NEIGHBORHOOD

We are happy to report that our recycling program has made another $54 for our children.  To meet our goal of $5,000 for the year, we need to make over $100 each week.  Ask your neighbors to help us out by telling them about our recycling program and offering to pick up their recyclables for our Monday drop off.  Please click here for a downloadable flyer to give to your neighbors.  Help the environment by helping our school!

REFLECTIONS ARTS CONTEST

Reflections Arts Contest 2011, "Diversity Means...": The deadline for the Arts Contest is November 4th. Students may enter original entries from the six categories: Literature, Photography, Film, Visual Arts, Dance and Music, and each entry must be based on this year's theme, "Diversity Means..." Please click on the link to obtain the complete description of the rules, and copies of the entry forms: bit.ly/2011reflections. For more information, email Anvi Kevany at reflections@mwpta.org.

Reflections Theme Search Contest 2013-2014: National PTA is looking for a theme for the 2013–2014 Reflections Program year. The student who submits the winning entry will receive $100, and his or her theme will be presented at the 2012 National PTA Convention. The submission form has been sent to all students on Friday, October 14th, through the backpack mail. Please review the past themes listed on the back page. Repeat themes will not be considered. Only signed original forms will be considered. Click on the link for a copy of the form: bit.ly/2011themesearch. Forms must be mailed directly to the California State PTA, Attention: Reflections Coordinator, 2327 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95816, by November 1, 2011.

Good Luck to all of our students. Can't wait to see your wonderful entries for this year.

WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP CONTEST WINNER

Congratulations to Rm.5 and Mrs. Mori for being the first class to reach 100% participation for our membership drive. Second and third place are still up for grabs, so you still have a chance to win a $75 and a $50 gift card to Lakeshore Learning for your teacher. Here is how everyone is doing:

Room 1      67%
Room 2      65%
Room 3      73%
Room 4      65%
Room 5    100%
Room 6      35%
Room 8      42%
Room 9      35%
Room 10    41%
Room 11    52%
Room 12    37%
Room 13    56%
Room 15    57%
Room 17    52%

Thank you to everyone who has joined the MWPTA.

CARNIVAL OF THE HOWLING WOLVES: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29th

The Carnival of the Howling Wolves is screaming upon us!  Saturday, October 29th, 2011 SAVE THE DATE!  Join us for MWE's Annual Pumpkin Festival - an event you definitely don't want to miss!  Volunteers are still needed in all areas!  Please join us for our weekly Wednesday meeting in the Parent Center immediately after morning drop-off/assembly at 8:15am!  We need you - see you there!

Be on the look out for emails from your room rep describing your booth for your class.  Please help out by signing up for a shift and helping to make this great event for our kids possible. 

DIRECT APPEAL CAMPAIGN

Please stop by Monday morning at our "Thank You for your contribution and/or pledge table" in front of the school.  Enjoy a cup of coffee with a sweet treat...and if you haven't contributed or pledged yet to support Mt. Washington Elementary School's "It Takes A Mountain...Our Mountain!" campaign you can do so then.  We look forward to shaking your hand in support and personally thanking each and every parent for their donation as well as taking the opportunity to answer any questions parents may have regarding contributions and/or participation opportunities available.  Thank you to all the families who have made contributions so far.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS STARTING THIS WEEK

If you have enrolled your child in Plein Air Painting (Monday at 3pm) or Yoga (Tuesday at 1:45pm), please remember both these classes begin this week, and will be meeting outside of the MPR.
Chorus meets on Thursdays and Lea Hayes and Mary Gaillard will still happily take in all Chorusters who wish to join. Chess Club is on going every Friday and it’s early enough in the school year that your child can still join if they wish to do so.

THE GREEN TEAM IS ON A GREEN ROLL

The grand total for The Green Team to date is $98.54 in just about two weeks. 38 families remembered last Monday, up from 7 the previous week. Grade 4 is in the lead as the most prolific collectors of recycled cans and bottles! We are aiming for $125 each week to hit our target of $5,000 for the school year. It can be done with a little more effort, so please remember to put that bag of cans and bottles next to the back pack on Sunday night. Each big bag of cans is worth about $5 - it's amazing how it adds up.
Interested volunteers can reach Libby Morris at waysandmeans1@mwpta.org

HELP WANTED!

We need specific volunteers to help us out! If you have website programming skills in html and can spare a few hours for our web efforts please contact Susanne at communications@mwpta.org Our current website chair will work with you to catch you up to speed in hopes of turning the management of our website over to you next year.
Still accepting donations of ground coffee, creamer and hot cups in the Parent Center. The Center is open to ALL parents Mon-Fri from am to 10am.

ORGANIC GARDENING: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18th

The Garden Committee invites you to save the date for "Organic Gardening 101" with Master Gardener Jenn Su on Tuesday Oct. 18th at 8:15 - 10:15 a.m. in the MPR.
Learn everything you need know to grow an edible garden in your own backyard, and bring this enhanced knowledge to our very own school gardens.
We invite you to join us this year as we work in the garden, and we hope that through this workshop you will be encouraged to join your class room Garden Representative as we plant, tend, harvest and learn. A flyer with more information will follow and child care will be provided. To RSVP for childcare or for more information contact nicolethomas101@earthlink.net

REFLECTIONS ARTS CONTEST BEGINS MONDAY, OCTOBER 3RD

PTA believes all children deserve a quality arts education and encourages students to pursue artistic expression through participation in its annual arts Reflections Program. The program offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition. This year’s theme is “Diversity Means…” All of our students are encouraged to create and submit works of art in any of these six areas:

dance choreography * film production * literature * musical composition * photography * and the visual arts (which includes art forms such as drawing, painting, print making, and collage).

For more than 40 years, the program has encouraged millions of students across the nation and in American schools overseas to create works of art. Look for the rules and an entry form to come home in your child’s backpack this week, you can also download it by clicking here. All entries must be in by Friday, November 4th.

We are looking forward to seeing all of the talent our children have, on display at our Reflections Showcase, scheduled for Thursday, November 17th.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM DEADLINES

It is the last week to sign up for Painting Class (Mondays from 3:00-5:00 p.m. beginning Oct. 10th) and for After School Yoga (Tuesdays from 1:45-2:30 p.m. beginning Oct. 11th).  Chess Club begins Friday October 7th at 2:30 in the lunch pavilion.  Please contact Dianne Jackson at diannecarrolle@aol.com for further chess related information.

Chorus starts this Thursday (October 6^th).  You can either pre register or have your child bring their application form with them to the first Chorus meeting. Led by Lea Hayes and Mary Gaillard, the Mt. Washington Elementary School Children’s Chorus is amongst the best. The children learn proper singing techniques, and gain valuable performance skills and experience.  The chorus has several performances throughout the school year, including at Barnes and Noble at the Americana, and at SRF.  Chorus meets every Thursday from 2:30-3:45 pm in the MPR, and is open to 1^st to 6^th grade.  Kindergarteners are invited to join as well, but there must be a parent or other adult to help supervise and assist them. 

After school program applications were sent home with your child, they are also available for download by clicking here, or you can contact Nicole Thomas at programs@mwpta.org for more information.

PICTURE DAY IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7th

Dress sharp this Friday and smile for the camera, it’s picture day.  Children will pose for individual portraits as well as with their class.  Please send the order form with your child on Friday, filled out and with your payment enclosed.  Order forms were sent home in backpacks last week.  If your child misses picture day, there will be a make up day scheduled in the near future.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE UPDATE:

We are getting closer to a winning classroom. Here is how our contest is shaping up:

Rm.   1 – 69% 

Rm.   2 -  62%

Rm.   3 –
Rm.   4 – 61%
Rm.   5 – 74%
Rm.   6 – 10%
Rm.   8 – 38%
Rm.   9 – 35%
Rm. 10 – 38%
Rm. 11 – 52%*
Rm. 12 – 37%
Rm. 13 – 56%
Rm. 15 – 57%
Rm. 17 – 45%*

*Error in reporting last week, due to mistake in calculating total number of students in the class.

OUR GREEN TEAM IS OFF TO A GREAT START

Last Monday The Green Team started the Mt Washington Elementary recycling program. Every Monday we will be collecting bottles and cans at the front of the school, so please look out for the big green bins.  Gather your recyclables and put them by the door on Sunday night so you won’t forget to grab them Monday morning.  Last week only 7 families remembered and we still made $30; let’s see how much we make if 70 people remember this week!  Each can or bottle means a minimum of 5 cents for the school, every little bit helps, just watch it all add up!!

We can still use lots of volunteers to make sure we are able to keep this program going.  Please contact Libby Morris at waysandmeans1@mwpta.org to join the Green Team.

DIRECT APPEAL CAMPAIGN

Thank you parents for joining us at Back To School Night and participating in our "It Takes A Mountain...Our Mountain!" Direct Appeal Campaign.  Our school, our teachers, our children and our community are very fortunate to have your support, your generosity and your participation.  Mt. Washington Elementary parents make This Mountain!   Please drop off your Direct Appeal tear-off with your payment in The Parent Center, or go on-line to www.mwpta.org and click the donate button on the right hand side.  Please contact Sharen Steele Herran at waysandmeans@mwpta.org with any questions.  Thank you very much for your support!

PANCAKE BREAKFAST THANK YOUS!

The MWPTA wishes to thank Kelly & Fernando Orozco for chairing this wonderful event, the Franklin High School Cheerleaders for helping to serve, our Girl Scouts for face painting, and our Cub Scouts for helping where needed. Thank you also to Tony White & Liam & Joe Kevany for the most fantastic ambiance music ever, and for the many, many parent volunteers that made this year's Pancake Breakfast the success that it was.  We raised over $ 2,000 for our kids with this event.

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY OCTOBER 29th

The Carnival of the Howling Wolves is coming on Saturday, October 29^th!  Our children look forward to this fun event with great anticipation every year.  Please contact Nancy Meeker, Chair, at ndmeeker@sbcglobal.net to help plan the festivities.  Next Pumpkin Festival Committee Meeting is Wednesday, October 5th @ 8:20am in The Parent Center.