STARGAZING NIGHT – FRIDAY, FEB. 3RD, 5:30-8:30PM IN THE MAIN YARD

Join Bob Noss from Astronomical Journeys and see the stars, planets, lunar craters, and many other deep space objects through a giant telescope that is 4 times more powerful than the telescope at the Griffith Observatory. In addition to the amazing sights you’ll be able to see, there will also be baked goods, coffee, tacos from the La Estrella Taco Truck and some other fun stuff for sale. Admission is free and open to the community so grab your family and neighbors and come join us for a fun-filled starry night!

BAKED GOODS NEEDED ON FRIDAY, FEB. 3rd (FOR STARGAZING NIGHT’S BAKE SALE)

The PTA is seeking donations of home baked or store bought treats for the bake sale at Stargazing Night. Brownies, cookies, cupcakes, cakes, and doughnuts are always popular. Home baked breads, coffeecakes, muffins, etc. would also make great treats. Donated items can be dropped off in the parent’s center throughout the day on Friday, Feb. 3rd.

SAFETY VALET TEAM MEETING – MONDAY, JAN. 30TH, IN THE PARENT’S CENTER FOLLOWING THE MORNING ASSEMBLY

Calling all Safety Valet Team members! Mrs. Valentino will be leading a Safety Valet Team meeting in the Parent's Center immediately following the morning assembly on Monday, January 30th.

SUCCESSFUL SCIENCE NIGHT

Thank you to Mrs. Valentino and our hard working teachers for putting on a wonderful event. Families were able to enjoy a warm meal courtesy of PTA and an evening full of fun-filled science activities. The kids really loved being able to participate in some really cool science stuff like "Private Eyes", "Bubble Festival", "Think Like a Scientist" and several investigation stations. WOW! Science Is Cool At Mt. Washington Elementary School!

SAVE THE DATE: VALENTINE'S DAY FAMILY DANCE, FRIDAY FEB. 10TH, 6-8:30PM IN THE MPR

Come as a family, show us your best moves and get down with your kids and boogie. Our 4th Annual Valentine's Day Dance is great fun for the entire family. We'll have a DJ spinning some great tunes, yummy food, awesome decorations, fun stuff to buy, but best of all, you can spend a great evening with your kids. There will be activities throughout the week, so look for a flyer coming home this week for more info.

$10 Donors Choose Gift Cards at Starbuck FREE with your purchase

Please consider buying something at a Starbucks this Monday so you can get a $10 DonorsChoose gift card.  You can use these gift cards for your child's classroom! Thanks to the Wasserman Foundation, starting January 23rd, select Starbucks stores in the city of Los Angeles will distribute $10 DonorsChoose.org  gift cards with purchase, while supplies last.  These gift cards can be used to support any Los Angeles public school classroom project on DonorsChooseLA.org.  These gift cards will expire on March 16, 2012.  The length of time cards are available in stores will vary depending on the store.  For the best chance of receiving a card, DonorsChoose suggests you visit a local Starbucks early on the 23rd. DonorsChoose estimates that these gift cards will be available somewhere between 2-6 days.

Donors who have already redeemed a Wasserman Foundation gift card distributed by LAUSD last year, will be able to redeem an additional gift card obtained at a local Starbucks.  Gift cards cannot be redeemed on behalf of others, and are limited to one per person in order to reach as many Los Angeles residents as possible.  A maximum of 75 cards can be applied to projects from one teacher.
Here is a list of local Starbucks locations for free DonorsChoose $10 Gift Cards:  For a complete list of participating Starbucks in Los Angeles, please click on the link:  List of Stores

EAGLE ROCK & YORK, EAGLE ROCK
4430 YORK BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90041

VONS 2655 @ LOS ANGELES
7311 N FIGUEROA ST
LOS ANGELES, CA 90041

COLORADO & EAGLE ROCK
2218 W. COLORADO BLVD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90041

TARGET
2626 COLORADO BLVD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90041

PTA ASSOCIATION MEETING AND WORKSHOP WITH SHIRLEY OYA, MONDAY JAN. 23RD 8:15-10:30AM IN THE LIBRARY

Join us for our 3^rd membership meeting of the year.  Agenda topics will include: voting in the nominating committee (they will create a slate of candidates for next year’s PTA Board), a budget update, and upcoming events.

After the meeting stay for Los Angeles based Life Coach, Shirley Oya, for a fun and engaging workshop to help you get 2012 off to a great start!  In this 90 minute presentation you will have an opportunity to get clear about one important thing that you want for yourself and your family this year.  We will work together and learn from one another, and you will leave with clarity about what you want, plus action steps to make it happen!  Come with an open mind, heart, and be prepared to have fun!

Important:  Bring a small notebook or journal and pen for the exercises.

FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25TH, 5:30-7:30PM

Science is cool at Mt. Washington School.  Join us for an evening hosted by several of our teaching staff, where you will learn about scientific concepts through fun activities, for the entire family, in a workshop setting.  The evening will start off in the MPR, then you will have the opportunity to do 2 workshops with your child.  Students who attend will receive a homework pass for the night at the end of the second session.  The event is FREE; PTA will sell dinner at a nominal price starting at 5:00pm. All students must be accompanied by an adult.

LAST WEEK TO TURN IN FRESH AND EASY RECEIPTS

Our Fresh & Easy fundraising is up to $3,900.  If you have any receipts in the amount of $20 or more, dated between September 15^th and December 31^st, 2011, please turn them into the office or the parent center by the end of this week.  Thank you very much for your help and support!

GREEN TEAM RECYLING

Please remember to bring in your recycling this week - we are almost up to $1,000 of free money.  Lets hit that mark with the proceeds from this week!  

SAVE THE DATE: FRIDAY, FEB. 3RD-STARGAZING NIGHT, MAIN YARD

Join Bob Noss, from Astronomical Journeys for an event that is sure to be out of this world.  Admission is FREE and open to the community.  We will have a Taco Truck, baked goods and some fun stuff for sale starting at 5:30pm, followed by a slide show and Stargazing starting at 6:30pm.  Look for a flyer coming your way this week.

SAVE THE DATE: FRIDAY, FEB. 10TH – VALENTINE'S DAY FAMILY DANCE MPR

Put on your dancing shoes and come boogie with the coolest kids in town.  Stay tuned for more information coming your way soon.  Please be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities in the coming weeks.

THANK YOU

Thank you to Pamila Lew, 5th Grade parent, who spurred on the Bureau of Street Services, to put a barricade up on that nasty bit of a cliff edge on San Rafael Ave.  Thank you Pamila for looking out for all of our safety!

FRESH & EASY

Please turn in all receipts dated September 15, 2011 to December 31, 2011.  We only have one more week to organize and calculate our total fundraising for Fresh & Easy.  Thank you for your enduring efforts in support of this fundraiser.

GREEN TEAM RECYCLING

A big thank you to Kathleen Ferguson for helping out last Monday with the early shift of collecting recycling. Thankfully we were able to keep going and collected approximately $900 in total to date.  We will skip this week’s collection as Monday is Martin Luther King Day, but please keep all your recycling to bring in the following Monday - January 23rd. Let's make that one a bumper day and try for the $1000 mark. Yes that is ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS for nothing but cans and bottles that would have been thrown in the trash!!!!!   Not bad.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

New session of after school Yoga will start this Tuesday at 1:45 in the MPR.  A flyer went home in backpacks last week, but if you missed it you can download  the flyer and sign up form by clicking here.  The 10 week session will only cost you $70, and it’s right here on our campus.  All ages are welcome to join, we do ask that kindergartners be accompanied by an adult. 

After School Knitting Club will start Monday 23rd in room 16.  Look for the information flyer coming home this week.

Chorus, Science and Chess Club resumed last week.

SAVE THE DATE FOR SHIRLEY OYA AND GENEREAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING ON MONDAY, JANUARY 23RD AT 8:30AM

Join Los Angeles based life coach, Shirley Oya for a fun and engaging workshop to help you get 2012 off to a great start.  PTA Genereal Membership meeting will precede the workshop.  Stay tuned for more information coming your way next week.

ASTRONOMY ASSEMBLY THANK YOU

Thank you to Gina Antestenis, our Star Gazing Chair, and to Sheran Herran for bringing Astronomical Journeys to our school.  Thank you to FOMWS for sponsoring it and to all the parents who support our fundraising efforts, which allows us to be able to enrich our children’s education.  Stay tuned for more Science fun on Family Science Night, January 25^th and for Stargazing on February 3^rd.

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL

Happy New Year!  Hope all of you enjoyed the holidays, had a restful break and are feeling rejuvenated to tackle the rest of the school year.   We have lots of great activities planned for the rest of the year so please keep reading our Blog and your room rep’s emails to make sure that you stay in the know. 

Welcome back, we look forward to seeing you at our events and to working with you to help ensure our children get the quality education that they deserve.

GREEN TEAM RECYCLING

Please remember to bring in your bags of recycling you have collected over winter break and put them in the green bins on your way down to the yard. 

The Green Team could still use volunteers to help set up, collect and sort on Mondays (from 7:45am to 8:45am) and to take the recyclables to the recycling center on Tuesdays.  It does not need to be a weekly commitment you can sign up to be on a rotating schedule for once or twice a month.  To keep this wonderful program going we need more help!!!!  So far we raised over $800 (that’s almost 3 field trip buses).  If you are able to help, please contact Anvi Kevany – VP of Volunteers at volunteers@mwpta.org or Libby Morris our Green Team Chair at waysandmeans1@mwpta.org . Thank you very much for your support.

FRESH AND EASY UPDATE

Please turn in all your receipts over $20, dated from September 15th through December 31st.  We must submit all receipts to Fresh & Easy by the end of January 2012.  Our fundraising is up to $3,269. GREAT JOB!!! This total does not include any receipts collected over the Winter Break.  Thanks again for your continued support of our wonderful school.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Chorus will resume this Thursday – if you would like your child to join chorus please fill out the sign up form and make sure your child comes to one of the first 2 rehearsals in January.  Chorus meets every Thursday in the MPR right after school. Rehearsals are about 1 hour long.

All other after school programs will resume next week or the week after with brand new sessions.  Please be on the lookout for the sign up flyers coming home in backpacks.

  

Classes will include:

Painting on Monday

Yoga on Tuesday

High Touch High Tech Science on Wednesday

Chorus on Thursday

Drill Team on Thursday

Chess Club on Friday