Challenger PTA News – February 2016 - Page 1 of 5

Challenger PTA News February2016–ChallengerPTAChapter2.6.6 challengerpta.org

Your 2015-2016 Challenger PTA Officers are: President Co-VPs Treasurer Co-

Secretaries

Membership

Jennifer Laramore

Betsy Kheriaty Kendra

Campbell

Katie Beery

Shannon DeHart Wendy

Pacifici

Amy Hammingh

Presidents Message HellofamiliesandhappyFebruary!Itishardtobelievethatwearealreadyapproachingthe100thdayofschoolandanotherbreak.Beforebreak,pleasetakeaminutetonominateoneofChallenger’swonderfulvolunteersand/oreducatorsforaGoldenAcornaward.FormsareavailableonthePTAwebsiteorintheoffice,andareduetothePTAlockboxbyFriday,February12th.

DuringbreakwouldbeagreattimetocleanoutbooksyounolongerreadandbringthemtoChallengertoswapthemfornew-to-youbooksatourBookSwapandSale.Youwillbeabletobringbooksbeforeandafterschoolonthe25thand26th,andtheswap/salewillbetheeveningofthe26th.CheckthePTAwebsiteformoredetails.MarchwillbringourEagerReaderprogram,ScienceFairandGoldenAcornreception.TofindoutmoreabouttheseeventsandotherPTAnews,attendourPTAmeetingonMarch9th.Everyoneiswelcometoattendandwehopeyouwilljoinus!

AttheJanuaryPTAmeetingweelectedour2016-2017nominatingcommittee,andtheywillbeworkingonfillingnextyear’sPTAboard.Wewillberecruitingfortherolesofpresident(s)andtreasurer(s),aswellasmanycommitteeandeventchairs.Ifyouhaveinterestinservingontheboardorwouldlikemoreinformationaboutwhatthedutiesentail,pleaseletmeknow.NoneofoureventsorprogramscanhappenwithoutPTAvolunteersandIamsoappreciativeofeveryonewhohasvolunteeredthisyear.PleaseconsidertakingpartinPTA,welovetoseenewfaces!Haveafunandrestfulbreak.

PTAPresident

Jennifer Laramore laramore96@hotmail.com

Key Dates: February: 2/15-2/19 – 2nd Winter Break 2/26 - Box Tops 2/26 – PTA Book Swap March: 3/1: Eager Reader Begins 3/4: Golden Acorn Reception 3/4: Popcorn Friday 3/25: PTA Science Fair In this Issue: • Presidents Message • Book Swap • Science Fair • Eager Reader • PTA needs YOU

WELCOME TO OUR PTA

NEWSLETTER! Future newsletters are sent via EMAIL at the beginning of each month, so be sure to check your

INBOX! Yearbook Pictures Needed! Students love to see their pictures in the yearbook. We’re looking for vacation, spirit day or doing school project pictures in particular. Please send them to Heather Matthews: heather.matthews@comcast.net

Challenger PTA News – February 2016 - Page 2 of 5

Challenger Book Swap & Sale – February 25th-26th It's time to clean out your home libraries and restock them with some exciting (new to you) books! Challenger PTA brings you the annual Book Swap & Sale to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday and kickstart Eager Reader! Details about when to donate books, buy/swap books, and volunteer sign up can be found on the Challenger PTA website: http://challengerpta.org/Page/Programs/Book%20Swap

The PTA Needs your HELP!

The PTA Nominating Committee is currently working on filling positing for the PTA Board for next school year. The PTA’s mission is to provide enrichment activities and programs for the students at Challenger. This requires a lot of volunteers! If you are interested or know of someone who would be great on the PTA board - please let us know! We have several open positions next year. Heather Matthews

(heather.matthews@comcast.net).

Get the scoop!

On Campus After-school Enrichment Programs

If you are looking for after school enrichment opportunities for your child, the following activities are offered right here on campus:

REGISTRATION IS OPEN for Eastside Enrichment afterschool classes at Challenger. Classes start the first week of February and run through end of March. The following classes are being offered: Art (Tuesdays), Karate (Wednesdays), and Dance (Thursdays). For more details or to sign your child up, please click here or visit: http://eastsideenrichment.org/index.php/events-archive/challenger-elementary/view-location

REGISTRATION IS OPEN for Small Hands on Art afterschool performing arts/theater classes at Challenger. Classes are Mondays from 3:00 – 4:30 and will run February 22 - March 21 (recital on 3/21). For more details or to sign your child up: http://smallhandsonart.com/challenger/

Chess4Life continues to offer after-school classes at Challenger. Classes are in session, for more information or to register: chess4life.com, call 425-283-0549, or email kids@chess4life.com

Note: after-school programs are NOT PTA sponsored events. They are included here to provide helpful information on school happenings.

Challenger PTA News – February 2016 - Page 3 of 5

laramore96@hotmail.com

Calling All Bakers!

The Challenger Book Swap is coming up on Friday, February 26th from 6pm-8pm and we are having a Dr. Seuss themed Bake Sale. Please consider baking one or two dozen individually wrapped preferably nut free (or labeled clearly if it contains nuts) goodies or volunteer to help sell during one of the half hour shifts at this event. Baked goods can be dropped off anytime during the day in the office on February 26th and do not have to be Dr. Seuss

related unless you are feeling creative. The Bake Sale volunteer sign up is listed on the PTA website. Log on to the PTA website and click on volunteer and sign up under the Dr. Seuss Bake Sale. There is an option to bring baked goods or an option to sign up for one of the half hour shifts to work at the bake sale table during the event. If you have any questions please email Jennifer McCommon at tjpmccommon@msn.com.

Hope to see you at the Book Swap!

More Scoop! The PTA Science Fair is coming March 25th!

We have super fun assembly for the students provided by Pacific Science Center on March 9th to get the kids excited about science. The Science

Fair will be Friday, March 25th during the day and Family Night will be

Friday March 25th from 6:30-8:00pm. Remember the Science Fair is for everyone-kinder students included. This is a great opportunity for kids

(not parents:)) to do some experimenting and share it by writing or drawing about it. There will be judges present to give feedback on every

student's project but the "judging" is really just an adult to listen and provide some commentary. This is a very low stress but fun way to get your

child interested in science.

Volunteers Needed!! A large event like this would not be possible without a diverse set of volunteers. Please pitch in and make this a fun event for

the entire community. Please sign up at http://challengerpta.org/packet/volunteer.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Linda Mori

(lmoriwa@gmail.com) or Piyush Gupta (piyush@sdf.lonestar.org).

Science Rules!

Challenger PTA News – February 2016 - Page 4 of 5

LeapIntoReading!

EagerReaderiscominginMarch!ThisyearitwillrunfromMarch1-April30.EagerReaderisavoluntaryreadingprogramsponsoredbythePTAdesignedtoencouragestudentstoreadfortheirenjoymentoutsideofschool.Bygivingafewprizesalongtheway,studentshaveafunincentivetoparticipate.Toearnprizesstudentsmustreachtheirgoalbytheendofthemonth.Prizesincludefreebooks,anentryintoaraffletowinafrozenyogurtfortheirwholeclassandanentryintothegrandprizedrawingforaKindleFire.Newthisyear,allreadingminutesmustberecordedonlineandapprovedbyparentsinorderfortheminutestocount.Therewillalsobemid-monthincentivessenthomeforallstudentswithapprovedminutesintheirreadinglogthefirstweekofMarch&April.IncentivesincludeaDr.Seusspencil,acouponforafreeKrispyKremedonutandfreepopcornonpopcornFridaycoupons.MoreinformationaboutEagerReader,alongwithinstructionsonhowtosetupyourstudent'sonlinereadinglog,willbesenthomesoon.Asanaddedbonustherewillbeamonthlygameintheglassdisplaycaseintheschoolsatrium.Everyoneisinvitedtoplaysobesuretostopbyforchancestowinadditionalprizes.HappyReading!

QuestionsabouttheUpcomingEagerReaderProgram?PleasecontactJenniferMcCommonattjpmccommon@msn.comorMelissaYoonat

m21bruin@yahoo.com

LastCallforGoldenAcornNominations

TheGoldenAcornAward:isawardedtoPTAvolunteerswhogoaboveandbeyondintheirservicetoaschoolcommunity.

TheOutstandingEducatorAward:isawardedtoateacherorstaffmemberwhomakessignificantcontributionsthatenhancetheeducationofstudents.

Nominationformsareavailableintheofficeoronlineatwww.challengerPTA.org

**Pleasenotethatpreviousrecipientsarenoteligiblefornomination,checktheplaquesintheatriumfornamesofpriorrecipients**

PleasereturntheformstothePTAlockboxnolaterthanFriday,February12th

RecipientswillbeannouncedattheshortceremonyonFriday,March4that3pmintheMPR.Pleasejoinusincelebratingourfabulousvolunteersandeducators.

Challenger PTA News – February 2016 - Page 5 of 5

OurnextboxtopdeadlineisFebruary26thTheclassthatturnsinthemostboxtopsbyourdeadlinegetsfreepopcorncoupons

Sofarwehaveraisedatotalof$763.90ofour$1,000goalBlankBoxTopformscanbefoundonthePTABulletinBoardintheSchoolsAtrium

Tocheckourprogresspleasegoto:www.boxtops4education.comIfyouhaveanyquestionspleaseemail

JenniferMcCommonattjpmccommon@msn.comThankyouforyourcontinuedsupport!

Thank you for supporting the 5th Grade

Collection Drive!

Thankstoallofyouthatsokindlydonateditemsforthe5thgradefundraiser.Withyourhelpweraised$806.90bycollecting5,146poundsofdonations!SpecialthanksIshitaPathaniaforhelpingtomakesignsfortheeventandtothewonderfulvolunteersthatbakedgoodiesfor

thebakesale.Also,specialthankstothefollowingparentvolunteersthatstoodoutintherainandhelpedacceptdonations:SharonSausville,SusanHuff,AartiPathania,MelissaWatson(andyourdaughter),DayaNarayanan,DJHaapala,Mr.McCulloch&hiswife&Ms.Saikiformakingaspecialtriptotheschooltodropoffdonationsfromvariousdonors!Thankyoutothefollowing5thgradersthathelped

collectdonations:JojoSausville(Hewastherefrom9am-3pm),TomHuff(Hewastherefrom9am-3pm),IshitaPathania,MatthewHaapala,AriaVashisht,

CameronMa,VidhyaNarayananandPrestonMcCommon!Thiswouldn’thavebeenasuccesswithoutyou!

Warmly,JenniferMcCommon

Upcoming Popcorn Fridays: 3/4, 4/1, 5/6, 6/3

Popcorn is 25 cents or 3 Box Tops If you have questions or want to volunteer to help contact:

Jennifer McCommon at tjpmccommon@msn.com

Like us on Facebook at Challenger Elementary PTA, and visit our website, www.challengerpta.org

Reflections Update…

HOORAY!!! Challenger elementary has multiple district level winning entries this year. Three entrees won at district level and are being nominated at State level Reflections

competition. Lets cheer for Anika Kolagotla (Visual Art), Vidhya Narayanan(Visual Art) and Joanna

Turner(Dance choreography) and wish them good luck!