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KOALA TALKDecember 2011 Issue

PTA

Our Featured PTA Member of the Month is, Cristen Austgen!"Hello!    My  name  is  Cristen  Austgen  and  I  am  excited  to  be  your  1st  Vice  President  again  this  year.    My  husband,  ScoA,  and  I  are  blessed  with  two  wonderful  boys.    Avery,  is  currently  in  grade  3  and  we  welcomed  Darren  into  our  lives  January  2011.    We  also  have  a  Vizsla-­‐Terrier  named  Shaggy  and  a  Beta  named  Max.    I  am  currently  the  Assistant  Vice  President,  Banking  Center  Manager  for  MB  Financial  Bank  in  Naperville.

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Important Numbers: Office: (630) 428-6100 Fax: (630) 428-6101 Attendance: (630) 428-6114

Inside this edition:

Treasurers Report! ! 2

Dinner Night Out! ! 3& Holiday Shop ! !

Reflection Ceremony!! 4

The Culture Fair! ! 5! ! ! ! Manna Fundraiser! ! 6

Manna Gift Cards! ! 7

Teacher’s Gift Form! ! 8

As  the  1st  Vice  President,  I  am  responsible  for  distribuSng  PTA  donaSons  to  our  teachers  and  administraSon  staff  to  purchase  special  tools  and  supplies  to  beAer  support  our  students.    AddiSonally,  I  manage  a  PTA  donaSon  each  year  by  grade  level  to  be  uSlized  for  reading  incenSves.    However,  my  favorite  responsibility  is  planning  three  of  the  schools  assemblies  each  year!    I  hope  everyone  enjoyed  the  October  assembly  “Team  Bully  Free”  presented  by  Chris  McBrien,  the  Magic  Storyteller.    You  can  look  forward  to  hearing  about  the  “George  Washington  Follies”  presented  by  Face  to  Face  ProducSons  in  February!

Thank  you  for  your  support  of  the  Cowlishaw  PTA.    Members  and  volunteers  –  we  couldn’t  do  it  without  you!  

Proudly Brought To You By the PTA!

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Treasurers Report.October, was a very busy but financially a very good month for the PTA. We had a number of large events this month.

Apparel, We paid the invoice for the apparel we bought. We brought in $5,177 and the Apparel and photocopying expenses cost $5,223.28, for a net loss of $46.28. The PTA ordered extra Cowlishaw shoelaces and these will be given away as prizes or sold at other events. Thanks to Jill Toole for organizing the Apparel this year.

Fall Fundraiser. Once again the Yankee Candle fundraiser was a large success. We had a total income of $15,885.22 and the expenses were $9,344.99, for a net profit of $6,540.23. We had budgeted for a net profit of $6,000 so this exceeded our estimates by $500. Thank you to Karen Ahern for organizing this very important fundraiser, and a very big THANK YOU to all of you who purchased items.

Manna. The first Manna order was completed in October. The income was $6,580.00, and the expenses for the gift cards, photocopying and fees was $6,313.32, for a net profit of $266.68. The November Manna order income was $3,895 and the expenses were $3,658.95 for a net income of $236.05. Thank you to Jen Phelan for her hard work again this year, and for getting a large order of gift cards from her employer. If you are looking to buy gift cards this holiday season then why not order through the school? You will pay the same amount and we’ll get a percentage of the gift card cost to put towards the education of our children.

Halloween Party. The Party was very well attended and brought in $3,070.89 in ticket and food and drink sales. The costs to date are $999.06, for a net profit of $2,071.83. There is one more check for tickets coming from the school and there may be some more expenses coming in but the net profit should be on the order of $2,000. Thank you Jennifer Gerard for stepping in and organizing a very successful event.

Box Tops. Katy Loo reports that the PTA should be receiving a check on the order of $500 for the box tops. Please help Katy raise money for the school by by clipping box

tops and labels for education. Thanks, Katy!

Restaurant Night. Jen Phelan reported that the first restaurant night was a great success and we are going to receive a check for $400. This would match the best restaurant night we had for all of last year. Thanks to Jen Phelan for taking on the job of restaurant night co-ordinator.

So what are we doing with all this money?

Educational Enrichment. Grade level requests are continuing to be submitted, and we have paid $1,761.83 so far this year, including $500 for smart board software for the five kindergarten classes. This money is used by classroom teachers to buy extra materials for their classroom, and we also donate to other important programs in the school, like the music, art, PE, reading improvement, and nurse. The PTAs money provides the small extra items that the district budget doesn’t cover.

Health and Safety. We paid $404.36 for red ribbon week expenses. This was less than the $410 we had budgeted. Thank you Cristen Austgen for organizing the red ribbon week.

PTA Operations. We paid $60 for our annual IPPC dues, and donated $100 to the IPPC scholarship fund. We also paid $9 for PTA insurance to cover the period between September 20th and October 1st. Our insurance renewal date was moved to match the other Illinois States PTAs.

Hospitality. The PTA provided a fall luncheon to the teachers for a cost of $268.83. Thank you to Jennifer Mantia for organizing the luncheon and for coming way under budget.

The balance of the Cowlishaw PTA Oxford Bank Account is $11,359.67 as of 11/7/2011. We started the year with $5,362.66 on the first of July.

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Proudly Brought To You By the

PTA!

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COWLISHAW

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

BENEFIT NIGHT

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

All Day (10 am – 10 pm)at

CULVER’S OF AURORARt. 59 & 75th Street

(across from Home Depot)

Your Culver’s team and Cowlishaw PTA are excited to invite you to come to a benefit day for Cowlishaw School. The PTA will receive 20% of all the sales (drive-thru, carryout and lobby) that we bring into Culver’s on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. There will be a balloon artist creating designs between4 – 8 pm. We would appreciate your support to help us raise funds for our students. Please join many teachers, staff and other Cowlishaw families in this day of fun and community.

Bring this flyer to Culver’s or, if you forget, be sure to tell your register person that you are there for Cowlishaw and they will register your purchase for our school.

PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE PTA!!!!

H o l i d a y S h o p

December 9th

6:30-8pm

Kids, Shop for your family and friends in a

safe environment.

Lots of fun and exciting gifts to choose from.

Come enjoy an evening of fun!                                                                                                

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The Reflections Recognition Ceremony

The 'Reflections' recognition ceremony was held on Nov.15 @ 6.30 pm in the multi-purpose room. The children's entries were on display and we had over 30 families who attended the function. Ms.Walton handed out certificates to all the participants. All children whose entries advanced to the IPPC level will receive a commemorative magnet which will be sent home through backpack mail.

The 'National PTA Reflections' program is a wonderful way for children to express their creativity and we are glad that it has been a success at our school. Sincerely, Usha Iyengar

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                                               THE CULTURE FAIR

Is back this year!

“Families Of The World at Cowlishaw”

This  year  the  PTA  is  bringing  back  an  exci3ng  event  to  Cowlishaw  Elementary,  The  Culture  Fair.  A  celebra3on  of  the  diversity  of  our  student  body,  and  an  opportunity  for  our  families  to  showcase  what  is  special  about  their  culture.    The  Culture  Fair  will  be  held  Friday,  February  17th  between  6:30  -­‐8:30  p.m.  Please  sign  up  now  if  you  are  interested  in  seHng  up  a  display.  The  displays  will  be  a  collabora3ve  affair,  as  each  culture  represented  will  have  one  stall.  This  could  also  be  a  wonderful  opportunity  to  research  a  culture  you  are  not  familiar  with  and  represent  it  at  the  fair.

 

Contact  Zainab  Imran  for  more  informa3on

 z-­‐imran@hotmail.com  or  (630)346  2973.

Proudly Brought To You By the PTA!

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Manna FundraiserDecember’s Manna order is due Friday the 2nd. This is your last chance to get gift cards before the holidays. Pay for your holiday dinner with gift cards from Jewel or Dominick’s at no extra cost to you. You get a gift card for face value and the PTA makes a profit. Pay for your holiday shopping with cards for Toys R Us, Kohl’s, Game Stop, iTunes, and Build-A-Bear and many more. For fun family time over the holidays treat them to a movie with a Regal or AMC card, or go bowling with a card from the Brunswick Zone. Don’t forget that along with the holidays you can fill up with gas with a gas station card from our list. And lastly, remember cold and flu season comes too and we’ve got Walgreen’s cards available.

Gift cards also make great holiday gifts for employees. If your company gives out gift cards, ask them if they could buy them through us. I did, and I got an order of over $3200 of gift cards! Holiday cards will be back Friday December 16.

Need smaller dollar amounts of gift cards for the holidays? There are $5 cards for Dunkin Donuts, Great American Bagel, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Mrs. Field’s Cookies, Starbucks, Barnes & Noble & Walmart. Just note it on your order form.

Gift cards will be returned on the following Friday in backpack mail when you mark the box on the form. If you prefer, they can be picked up at Jen Phelan’s house on Thursday from 5:15 pm - 7:00 pm or by special arrangement.

The Manna Schedule for the YearReturn completed orders by 3:30 pm on this date to school with your payment

Pick up gift cards at Jen & Howard Phelan’s home, 816 Livingston Ct, on this dateFrom 5:15 pm – 7:00 pm

Friday, December 2 Thursday, December 15Thursday, January 12 Thursday, January 26Friday, February 10 Thursday, February 23Friday, March 9 Thursday, March 22Friday, April 13 Thursday, April 26Friday, May 11 Thursday, May 24

Manna order forms will be at the end of each Koala Talk for you to print. You can also obtain additional order forms at any time on the Cowlishaw website. From the Cowlishaw home page click on “PTA” on the left side of the screen. Then click on “Documents”. There you will find a current 2011-12 Manna order form.

For specific company information on gift cards, click on “Vendor Guidelines” on the Manna website at http://www.mannagroup.net/index.htm.

Direct questions to: Jen Phelan,  home 630-548-2518 phelanjh@wideopenwest.com

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Manna Gift Cards Order FormPhone #: Email:

* Please send checks, no cash.

TEACHER NAME: PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE:

QTY GROCERIES % AMT QTY RESTAURANTS % AMT QTY RETAIL % AMTDominicks $25 5% $25 Panera $10 10% $10 Kohl's $100 5% $100Dominicks $100 5% $100 Papa John's Pizza $10 9% $10 Lands End $25 15% $25Jewel Foods $25 5% $25 Pizza Hut $10 9% $10 Lowes Home Impr $25 5% $25Jewel Foods $100 5% $100 Qdoba Mexican Grill $25 8% $25 Lowes Home Impr $100 5% $100Meijer $25 4% $25 Red Robin $10 10% $10 Macy's $25 10% $25Meijer $100 4% $100 Red Robin $25 10% $25 Macy's $100 10% $100Target $25 3% $25 Restaurant.com $10 30% $10 Menards $25 4% $25Target $100 3% $100 Rockbottom $25 7% $25 Menards $100 4% $100Walgreens $25 7% $25 Starbucks $10 8% $10 Once Upon A Child $25 9% $25Walmart / Sam's Club $25 3% $25 Starbucks $25 8% $25 Payless $10 14% $10Walmart / Sam's Club $50 3% $50 Steak & Shake $10 9% $10 Pier 1 Imports $25 10% $25

RESTAURANTS Subway $10 4% $10 Pottery Barn / Wm Sonoma $25 9% $25Applebee's $10 9% $10 Sweet Tomatoes $25 9% $25 Sears $25 5% $25Arby's $10 9% $10 Texas Roadhouse $25 9% $25 Shoe Carnival $25 5% $25Baskin Robbins $2 10% $2 TGIFridays $25 9% $25 Shutterfly $25 10% $25Boston Market $10 14% $10 Wendys $10 5% $10 Sports Authority $25 9% $25Buffalo Wild Wings $25 8% $25 RETAIL Staples $25 6% $25Buona Beef $10 9% $10 Ace Hardware $25 5% $25 Talbots $25 10% $25Burger King $10 5% $10 Amazon.com $25 5% $25 The Childrens Place $25 14% $25Caribou Coffee $10 9% $10 American Eagle $25 10% $25 TJMaxx/Marshalls/HomeGoods $25 8% $25Carrabba's Italian Grill $25 9% $25 Barnes & Noble $10 10% $10 Toys R Us / Babies R Us $20 2% $20Chili's / On The Border $25 12% $25 Bath & Body Works $10 14% $10 Ulta Cosmetics $25 4% $25Chipotle Mexican Grill $10 12% $10 Bath & Body Works $25 14% $25 SPECIALTYChuck E Cheese $10 9% $10 Bed Bath & Beyond $25 7% $25 AMC $25 9% $25Cold Stone Creamery $10 10% $10 Best Buy $25 3% $25 Brunswick Zone $10 9% $10Cracker Barrel $10 10% $10 Best Buy $100 3% $100 Fandango $10 10% $10Dairy Queen $10 5% $10 Build A Bear Workshop $25 9% $25 Mario Tricoci $25 9% $25Dave & Buster's $25 15% $25 Burlington Coat Factory $25 9% $25 Regal Entertainment $25 10% $25Denny's $10 8% $10 Carson Pirie Scott $25 10% $25 Visa $25 3% $25Domino's Pizza $10 9% $10 Claire's Boutique $10 10% $10 Visa $50 3% $50Dunkin Donuts $10 5% $10 Crate & Barrel $25 7% $25 TRAVELEgg Harbor $15 4% $15 DSW $25 10% $25 American Airlines $100 5% $100Home Run Inn $25 20% $25 Dick's Sporting Goods $25 7% $25 Choice/Clarion/Comfort Hotels 5% $100IHOP Intl House of Pancakes $25 9% $25 Eddie Bauer $25 10% $25 Disney Hotels $100 3% $100Lettuce Entertain You $25 14% $25 Fannie May $20 25% $20 Hyatt Hotels $100 9% $100Lettuce Entertain You $100 14% $100 Game Stop $25 4% $25 Marriott Hotels $100 9% $100Lou Malnati's Pizza $25 8% $25 Gap / Old Navy $25 15% $25 GASOLINEMacaroni Grill / Maggiano's $25 12% $25 Gordman's $25 10% $25 BP Amoco $50 3% $50Mimi's Café $25 10% $25 Gymboree $25 14% $25 Delta Sonic Car Wash $16 20% $16Mrs. Field's Cookies $5 19% $5 Home Depot $25 5% $25 Marathon $25 4% $25Noodles & Company $10 7% $10 Home Depot $100 5% $100 Marathon $100 4% $100Noodles & Company $25 7% $25 iTunes $25 4% $25 Mobil Exxon $50 3% $50Oberweis $10 10% $10 JCPenney $25 5% $25 Shell $50 3% $50Olive Garden / Red Lobster $25 10% $25 JCPenney $100 5% $100 Speedway $25 5% $25Outback $25 9% $25 Kohl's $25 5% $25 Speedway $100 5% $100

Child's Name:

Marked box on left indicates Manna purchased cards & certificates should be sent home by BACKPACK Mail. I take full responsibility. I will not hold Cowlishaw School or the Cowlishaw PTA accountable or liable for lost/stolen gift cards/certs.

Check Amount payable to Cowlishaw PTA: $ Coordinator : Jen Phelan phelanjh@wideopenwest.com

# of Certificates Ordered:

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Teacher’s Holiday Gift Form Need a holiday gift idea for your favorite Cowlishaw staff members? Contribute to a Group Gift Card! Just complete the

information below and have your child color and/or write a short note to the gift recipient on the picture of the present

below. During the winter party, staff members will  receive  the  children’s  holiday  notes  and a gift certificate for the total

amount of money contributed. They will then be able to spend the money on Manna gift cards of their choosing by May

2012.

Please fill out the following information and thank you note. Return the entire completed form (information and card

from child) with your check to the office no later than 3:30 pm on Friday December 2, 2011. Please staple your check

payable to “Cowlishaw PTA” to this form. We will cut the thank you note off for you and prepare a nice booklet for the

staff. Use one form for each staff member desired. Feel free to make additional copies or pick up extra forms in the

office. Example: if you are gifting 4 staff members $5 each, please return 4 information forms with the attached thank

you notes and one check for $20. Please call Jen Phelan with any questions (630)548-2518. Please print clearly.

Gift  Recipient’s  Name:  ________________________________________________________________________

Child’s  First & Last Name: ______________________________________________________________________

Parent’s phone number: _______________________________________________________________________

Gift Amount: ________________________________________________________________________________