SAVE THE DATE

Please mark your calendars: We

are changing the date of Open

House from Wednesday, April

25th to Wednesday, May 23rd.

We are combining Open House

with our 30-year celebration on

Wednesday, May 23rd! All

alumni students and staff will be

invited to our celebration on this

day, more information to follow

on this special event!

PARENT CONFERENCES

Fall Conferences will be

scheduled for six days:

November 27 through

December 4, 2017.

News From the Principal’s Desk

BELLTOWER

TRA

BU

CO

MESA

ELE

MEN

TAR

Y S

CH

OO

L +

PTA

NEW

S

The

Times

NOVEMBER 17

Trabuco Mesa Elementary

School

21301 Ave. de las Flores

RSM, CA 92688

949-858-3338 Absent Child Report

Press 1

Office Hours

7:30 am—3:30 pm

School Website

PTA Website

HO

ME O

F TH

E BU

LLDO

GS

Caprice Cortinas PTA President

Caryn McGrew Principal

Jaclyn Martin Editor Trabuco Mesa Elementary PTA

Saddleback Valley Council PTA

Fourth District PTA

Students in Grades 1-6 will be on

minimum day schedule, 8:00

a.m. – 12:40 p.m., during this

time. Kindergarten students will

remain on their regular schedule.

For your convenience, we are

continuing to use the on-line

scheduling system. Information

on scheduling conferences was

sent home on Monday, October

30th. If you have any questions

or need assistance after

receiving this information, please

don’t hesitate to ask your child’s

teacher or call our office and

speak with our office manager,

Mrs. Keller.

(Continued on page 2)

IN THIS ISSUE

Membership Update 2

Business Memberships

+ Adopt-a-Book 3

Calendar + Safety 4

6th Grade Update 5

PTA President’s Letter +

Community Survey 6

Jog-a-Thon, Chipotle +

Red Ribbon Week 7

Silent Fundraisers 8

Instructional Assistants 9

volume 17. issue 3

membership—check out

the list on Page 3.

Some of the enrichment

and academic programs

the PTA funds include:

• Brain Pop

• Computer Lab

• Hands on Science Lab

• Meet the Masters

• Team Kids

Membership gives you voting rights on

mentioned agenda items, and more.

Please support the PTA!

Principal’s News

2

THE BELLTOWER TIMES

Qu

est

ion

s? p

resi

de

nt@

tra

bu

co

me

sap

ta.o

rg

HO

ME O

F TH

E BU

LLDO

GS

SCHOOL SPIRIT DAYS

Every Friday is Spirit Day! Show

your Bulldog Pride by wearing

school spirit wear on Fridays!

The first Friday of every month

is a themed Spirit Day. This

month, Friday, Nov 3rd, is

Super Hero Day!

Wear your favorite super hero

t-shirt (Batman, Batwoman,

Superman, Superwoman, Star

Wars, etc.) No hair color,

wigs, masks, or capes please.

PARENT OUTREACH

AND ENGAGEMENT

Western Youth Services will be

providing a free parent

workshop at our upcoming

PTA meeting, Wednesday,

November 8th at 6:30. Please

(Continued from page 1)

To Be, or Not to Be... When it comes to PTA membership…

your $11 membership adds so much

value to your child’s education—a

better question is, why wouldn’t you

join?

We have 443 members so far, just

above 75% for our school.

We’re going for 100%

membership!

If we get to 100%, we’re working on a

super-cool celebration for the kids!

Several local businesses are supporting

the TMPTA with a business

NOVEMBER 17

Hey! Our recent Box

Tops drive brought in

$1,111.50 in funds that go

right to getting classroom

supplies. Way to go

Bulldogs!

Thank you Selena

Marion for a great

turnout.

The next turn-in

is February 23, so

keep clipping and

saving.

Box Tops!

join us for a presentation

focusing on Parenting –

Rewards and Consequences.

This will be a great

opportunity to learn about

effective

parenting tools

and strategies!

Caryn McGrew Principal

Calling All Dads...

For an art afternoon! Wednesday, November 29th from

12:45—1:45 the kids will be working on an art entry for the

art contest through the RSM Bell Tower.

Schools with the most entries receive a donation toward

their arts program!

Business Memberships

3

THE BELLTOWER TIMES

Qu

est

ion

s? p

resi

de

nt@

tra

bu

co

me

sap

ta.o

rg

HO

ME O

F TH

E BU

LLDO

GS

The TMPTA website is updated

regularly with important links, new info,

and a calendar of events.

Join Remind for text or app-based

notes and information. We’re @TMPT

NOTE: it’s TMPT—there’s no A

Also, you can like and follow TMPTA

on Facebook for updates and news.

Several local businesses have joined TMPTA to support

our kids and our community school.

If you know a business owner who’s passionate about

education, send them to the webstore where they

can support the PTA with a $25 business membership!

✓ Bionerds, LLC

✓ Coast Airbrush, LLC

✓ Jen Perez Photography

✓ MCNAFA

✓ Michelle Costa - Independent

Consultant Rodan + Fields

✓ Plan A Real Estate - Juanita Inzunza

✓ Plan A Real Estate - Ryan Argue

✓ Ragi Riad, CPA

✓ Ron Evans - Orange County Realtor

✓ Sarah Gough at Scentsy.us

✓ Second 2 None

✓ Select Web Solutions

✓ South County Plumbing

✓ The Finder Group

Check it Out

NOVEMBER 17

Adopt-a-Book Thanks to all the families who have adopted for the library this

year! 120 new books have been donated to the library.

Visit the recognition board in the library.

IMPORTANT DATES!

HO

ME O

F TH

E BU

LLDO

GS

November December

1 No School—Staff Development

Domino’s Dine Out 6 Domino’s Dine Out

3

Flag Ceremony—Super Hero Day

Vision + Hearing Screening

BINGO Night! 6:00 pm

8 Flag Ceremony

8

Jog-a-Thon!

PTA Meeting 6:30 pm +

Parenting Workshop

11-13 Book Fair

10 No School—Veterans’ Day

15 Chipotle Dine Out

17 Jog-a-Thon $ Due

20 - 24 No School—Thanksgiving Recess

29 Art Afternoon 12:45—1:45

27- 4 Minimum Days—Parent

Conference Week

6

THE BELLTOWER TIMES

Qu

est

ion

s? p

resi

de

nt@

tra

bu

co

me

sap

ta.o

rg

NOVEMBER 17

There have been several

incidents recently involving

rushed drivers and children

in harms way around the

school.

Adults and children have

nearly been struck by cars,

particularly on the crosswalk

with flashing signs.

Please drive safe around

the school at morning drop

off and afternoon pick up.

Limit your speed, avoid

distraction, and look for the

flashing crosswalk lights.

Please watch for children

crossing the road—in or out

of the crosswalk—and follow

all traffic rules. Being late

and safe is so much better

than being sorry.

Safe > Sorry

Supplies! Ms. Wenzel needs cereal

boxes! Please bring in

any empty cereal boxes

and leave them in the

bin outside the office.

4

THE BELLTOWER TIMES

Qu

est

ion

s? p

resi

de

nt@

tra

bu

co

me

sap

ta.o

rg

HO

ME O

F TH

E BU

LLDO

GS

NOVEMBER 17

News from the Classroom: Sixth Grade

Yoga Balls! Paying taxes! Egg helmets! It’s a

whole new world here in 6th Grade! The 6th

grade classrooms have been transformed to

embrace flexible seating. Out are the old

desks and chairs, and in their place you can

find yoga balls,

stability discs, stools

and standing tables.

The choice is theirs

as the 6th graders

begin to identify their

individual learning

environments. Rather

than sitting in the

same old chair for

hours, they are free

to change their seats

throughout the day!

This has been so beneficial for

the focus of the students who

need to get out their excess

energy, or stretch their legs a

little.

Developing the students’

independence and

responsibility continues into our

economy classroom system. Each student

completes a job application and works

throughout the month to earn their salary.

Using online banking, the students keep track

of their deposits and transactions, before

paying rent on the first of the month. With tax

paying, home ownership, bonuses and

fines, the 6th grade classrooms have

become their own mini societies.

It’s full S.T.E.A.M. ahead as the 6th graders

are discovering their inner biomechanical

engineers. In science lab, while learning

about the human brain and the effects of

concussions, the students were challenged

to redesign and build a football helmet to

withstand collisions. If their egg

“brain” was damaged, the

students had to identify which

part of the brain was injured and

what the effects would be. They

also constructed Egyptian death

masks based on the famous

pharaohs. Their next

stop on the S.T.E.A.M.

train is bridge building.

Whose bridge will

survive the weight?

Domino’s Pizza donates $1 from

EVERY pizza sold to the TMPTA.

Carry-out, delivery, online, phone

or in-person. Tell your family &

friends!

First Wednesday Every Month

Dominos.com

Domino’s Dine Out

PLEASE NOTE: The mention of any business or service in this

publication does not imply an endorsement by the PTA.

888-8555

31961 Dove Canyon Dr.

Trabuco Canyon,

CA 92679

Domino’s Dine-Outs:

November 1

December 6

WELCOME TO NOVEMBER, THE MONTH OF THANKS.

As a wife, mom, business owner, and PTA volunteer, life can be a little

crazy. Actually, it’s very crazy! But I decided to be thankful for the

crazy, and have challenged myself that each time I feel overwhelmed

with deadlines, planned events not going as planned, or the upcoming

holidays this month, I would focus on being THANKFUL.

In the spirit of giving thanks, here’s to the students from the Trabuco

Hills High School Docents and Careers in Education ROP Class who

volunteered to judge our Reflections entries. Here’s to Selena Marion

for doubling our BoxTop Revenue—in one month we doubled what we

made all last year! GREAT JOB! Here’s to Autumn Van De Kreeke for an

excellent 1st year as the Red Ribbon Week Chairman, as well as Amy,

Brianna, Paula, Raina, Jessica, Ti, Jackie, Esther, Shiri, Chantelle,

Brandy, Nicole, David. Thanks to Caryn McLain for returning to Trabuco

Mesa to help us when needed it. The list actually goes on and on.

I am thankful that I have been allowed this year to see what goes on

behind the scenes in so many different programs, with so many

different families, and the Trabuco Mesa Staff. THANKS to everyone

who gives. Remember, no matter what happens, you can be fired from

a 9-5 job, but you can’t be fired from your volunteer gig. Volunteer and

you will always have important, satisfying work.

Hope to see all of you Wednesday, November 8th, at the Jog-a-thon

and the 6:30 pm PTA meeting.

In every moment, be THANKFUL!

Caprice Cortinas TMPTA President/Volunteer

Trabuco Mesa PTA Officers & Chairs

HO

ME O

F TH

E BU

LLDO

GS

Caprice Cortinas

PTA President

Amy Bosco

Executive VP

Jaclyn Martin

VP Communications

Raina Monnig

VP Ways and Means

Shiri Staveley

Secretary

Ti Albrecht

Treasurer

Paula Alves

Financial Secretary

Amy Meier

Auditor

Esther Chen

Historian

Chantelle Ball

Parliamentarian

Caryn McGrew

Advisor

David Lowenthall +

Nicole Krochmalny

Arts Advocacy

PTA President's Message

7

THE BELLTOWER TIMES

Qu

est

ion

s? p

resi

de

nt@

tra

bu

co

me

sap

ta.o

rg

Saddleback Valley Unified School District recognizes that when it

comes to educating our children, facilities matter. Our facilities master

planning process, currently underway, will identify improvements

needed to provide students with the best education possible.

However, we can’t do it without your help.

Your participation is crucial to delivering a Facilities Master Plan that

reflects the needs in our schools. Please take a few minutes to watch

an introduction video and provide your input by taking

the survey—both are available through the link below:

https://www.svusd.org/departments/business-services/

facilities-maintenance-operations-construction/facilities-

master-plan

Facilities Master Plan 2018 Community Survey

PTA Meeting Wednesday, November 8th

6:30 pm in the MPR

NOVEMBER 17

Wednesday the 15th join us for a dine-out at

Chipotle from 4—8 pm.

Chipotle gives 50% back to the school—so

round up your friends, family,

acquaintances, everyone you know and

get on down to Chipotle!

When you visit, tell Chipotle

you’re supporting Trabuco

Mesa & the TMPTA!

22245 El Paseo

949.459.1035

4

THE BELLTOWER TIMES

Qu

est

ion

s? p

resi

de

nt@

tra

bu

co

me

sap

ta.o

rg

HO

ME O

F TH

E BU

LLDO

GS

NOVEMBER 17

Jog-a-Thon

Red Ribbon week was a great success.

Thank you Autumn Van De Kreeke and her

army of volunteers for

wrapping Trabuco Mesa

in Red Ribbon

awesomeness!

We’re Geared Up & Ready to Go!

The annual PTA fundraiser Jog-a-Thon is

days away—Wednesday, November 8!

Like last year, generous

sponsors have

stepped up to fund

our Jog-a-Thon

t-shirts—check

out our list of

sponsors on the

TMPT webpage.

We still need some volunteers to help set

up, work, and clean up the Jog-a-

Thon—if you can pitch in for all or part of

the day, please let us know.

All Jog-a-Thon donation funds are due

by Friday, November 17.

PLEASE NOTE: The mention of any business or

service in this publication does not imply an endorsement by the PTA.

Chipotle Dine Out

Red Ribbon Week

Turn in your Chipotle receipt

to your teacher the following

day—with your name and

your teacher’s on the

receipt—for a chance to win

a Spirit Store prize. One

winner from the lower and

one from the upper grades!

AMAZON SMILE

Save this link!

Bookmark this link on

your phone or

computer—all eligible shopping using this

link benefits Trabuco Mesa. When you use

Amazon Smile a percentage of each

purchase comes back to our school (works

with Prime)!

SHOPAROO

Shoparoo is a free app from the

Apple or Google Play. Select our

school as your chosen cause. All

you need to do is take pictures of your grocery

receipts with the Shoparoo app.

It doesn't matter where you shop or what you

buy—Every receipt submitted results in a

donation to our school! There is no limit to

how much money we can raise with Shoparoo,

be sure to invite your friends and neighbors to

join in—every receipt counts!

COMMUNITIES FOR A CAUSE

Download the free app from the Apple App

Store or Google Play. Select our school to

support and

start earning

money back

for our school!

RALPH’S REWARD PROGRAM

Trabuco Mesa PTA participates in

the Ralph’s Rewards Community

Donations Program— every quarter

we receive money back when Trabuco Mesa

families shop using their Ralph’s Rewards card.

Ralph’s requires Rewards account holders to

select which school they would like to receive

their contributions every school year. If you shop

at Ralph’s, please take a moment to re-enroll

Trabuco Mesa PTA with your Rewards Account!

1. Go to www.ralphs.com

2. Register your Ralph’s card or sign in to your

account

3. Click on My Account

4. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page

to “Community Rewards” and click Enroll

5. Search for Trabuco Mesa Elementary &

enroll!

It’s that simple! With every purchase you make

at Ralph’s, or at Shell gas stations, up to 4% of

your total receipts to Trabuco Mesa Elementary

PTA.

Trabuco Mesa Silent Fundraisers

HO

ME O

F TH

E BU

LLDO

GS

Help raise money for our school by

doing your usual family shopping!

Join Today + Start Earning Money for our

School!

5

THE BELLTOWER TIMES

Qu

est

ion

s? p

resi

de

nt@

tra

bu

co

me

sap

ta.o

rg

NOVEMBER 17

4

THE BELLTOWER TIMES

Qu

est

ion

s? p

resi

de

nt@

tra

bu

co

me

sap

ta.o

rg

HO

ME O

F TH

E BU

LLDO

GS

We Need Substitute

Instructional Assistants!

NOVEMBER 17