PTA Pipeline 2010-03

I am happy to say that as I am writing this the sun is shining and it is warm – finally!

Thanks to the many families who took part in the Family Sweetheart Dance! It was so much fun to see the kids out there showing off their best moves and even more fun to see the parents on the dance floor showing off theirs! Perhaps most entertaining was watching Mr. Cluff “get down” with the kids. A special thanks to Mr. Cluff for always being such a good sport when it is for the benefit of the kids and PTA! Dunk tanks, dancing the YMCA, scooping ice cream at Brusters, agreeing to host video game pizza parties… we know it never ends and we really appreciate the support of you and Mrs. Yanson!

We hope those of you who attended had an out of this world time at our MOSI Space Night! Students and their parents got an up close view of Saturn, the Orion Nebula constellation and more. Plus, Sand Pine students were able to sign their names on a poster which will be brought up into space on a future space mission!

Brusters night was a success, as always. Thanks to everyone who came out that night!

Our biggest fundraiser of the year, the Spring Walk-A-Thon is coming up on April 1st. The kids are excited about the opportunity to participate and earn some very cool prizes! Thank you so much, in advance, for your participation and support! We look forward to doing great things for the students and the school with the money we raise. Speaking of which, our technology department recently purchased one ELMO document camera for each POD and I am very happy to report that PTA will be providing a second ELMO document camera for

Spring is finally here!

Sand Pine Elementary PTAGinny Yanson, Principal

Todd Cluff, Assistant Principal29040 County Line Rd.

Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 794-1900

Sick Line: (813) 794-1911

PTAPipelineSand Pine Elementary

WHAT’S COMINGApril 2010

1 PTA Walk-a-thon2 Planning Day / No School5-9 Spring Break13 Tijuana Flats Night16 Report Cards & Relay For Life at Wiregrass High

May 20103 Kindergarten Registration3-7 Teacher Appreciation Week7 PTA General Assembly/Bingo Night6 School Play10 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast11 Progress Reports14 Field Day21 PTA Spaghetti Dinner27 Domino’s Night31 Memorial Day — No School

June 20109 Last Day of School

SUMMER VACATION!August 200911 Orientation

16 First day of 2010-2011 School Year!

Volume 12 • Issue 5 • March-April 2010www.sandpinepta.org

District School Board of Pasco County7227 Land O’ Lakes BoulevardLand O’ Lakes, Florida 34638

Heather Fiorentino, SuperintendentAllen Altman District 1Joanne Hurley District 2Cathi Martin District 3Kathryn Starkey District 4Frank Parker District 5

each POD! This technology is sure to enhance the educational experiences of our children. Once again, things like this are only made possible with your continued support.

After returning from Spring break, we are going to have a busy two months as we round out the school year.

Sand Pine PTA supports the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. This will be held at Wiregrass High School on April 16-17. For those of you who have never attended a Relay For Life, you do not know what you are missing. It is a very touching experience for the entire family to be a part of, particularly if you come to walk in memory of a loved one or in honor of a Cancer survivor. Every dollar raised goes to The American Cancer Society. I hope you will join us!

Our last Bingo of the year will be held on Friday, May 7. I look forward to seeing your smiling faces at this family favorite event!

Last but not least, do you love pasta? How about the kids? Well, mark your calendars because PTA will be hosting our very first Spaghetti Dinner on Friday, May 21. We need a few volunteers to help with this event. Please contact me if you can lend a hand.

On behalf of the PTA, thank you so much for your continued support and for taking the time to read this newsletter. We hope you’ll find that it is full of great information.

I wish you all a relaxing and fun Spring break!

—Peggy D’Alessandro, PTA President

The PTA wishes everyone a fun (and safe) Spring Break!

Sand

Pine Elementary PTA

2009-2010

It was great to see many of our “Grandparents” on “GRAND DAY” having lunch with their grandchildren and visiting our Book Fair.

It was a beautiful day and many of us enjoyed lunch out doors on the new picnic tables purchased by our PTA!

PTA generously sponsored a MOSI Night the evening of March 5th. Students and their families enjoyed gazing at planets, the moon, and stars through high-powered telescopes. Many thanks to PTA for bringing such an exciting program to Sand Pine!

Mari Blank, a parent and outstanding volunteer, at Sand Pine was recently honored as being Pasco County’s Outstanding School Volunteer. She was recognized at the School Board Meeting the evening of February 16. We are so fortunate to have such volunteer participation at our school. Mari truly is exemplary in this area! I know her youngest son will be moving on to middle school next year. So, I’ve been teasing her about adopting an elementary-age child so she could stay on as a Sand Pine Elementary parent. She assures me that she will still have time to give us! Wow, she has big energy and a big heart! Congratulations, Mari!

It seems almost impossible to believe that April is here. We have already begun planning for our early Kindergarten registration. It will be held on Monday, May 3. Parents need to bring a birth certificate, a recent health physical, a certificate of immunization, and proof of residency. Parents and students will be given tours of the school.

Along with planning registration for our new Kindergarten students, we are also in the midst of planning for our annual Kindergarten Camp. The camp runs for four half days prior to school starting and allows our new Kindergarteners to become acquainted with the school facility and the schedule of school. They practice cafeteria procedures and have their snack in the cafeteria each day. They enjoy a story in the media center, have a visit from our guidance counselor, and even take a short school bus ride. We have found that attending the camp helps make those first few days of school run smoothly for them as well as for moms and dads! A brochure on our Kindergarten Camp is available in the front office.

The next few months will be especially busy as we get closer to the end of the school year. So, please check your calendars for special events and activities. One of my favorite events, is when we clap out our Fifth Grade Class on the last day of school. It is one if those “bitter-sweet” moments! This will be truly special to me as it will be my last “clap out.” As many of you know, I will be retiring at the end of this year. I’ll give you more details about my departure in the near future.

I wish everyone a safe and relaxing Spring Break!

Sincerely,

Ginny Yanson, Principal

Principala note from the

The Pipeline is published six times a year, and can be found online at the PTA site: www.sandpinepta.org

Principal Ginny Yanson

Assist Principal Todd Cluff

PTA President Kim Clarke

Editor/Designer Dawn Khalil

Next Newsletter deadline:

May 14th

Dear Parents,

2009-2010 PTA Board Members

President Peggy D’Alessandro

Treasurer Kim Clarke

Secretary Darlene Basi

1st VP Christine Simonelli

Vol Coordinator

Website Dawn Khalil

Website-Spanish Carlos Vera

Newsletter Dawn Khalil

Philanthropy Lisa Weinstein

Membership Mary Burstiner

Public Relations Nicole Auman

Reflections Mari Blank

Historian Nicole LaRocca

Photography Katalin Rutherford

Lost-n-found Deb Rottum

Dad’s Club Valerie Ryan-Lanza

Sports Totes Darlene Basi

Legislative Mari Blank

2nd VP Jenn Metz

Hospitality Colleen Moore

Fundraising Jenn Metz

Com Donations Chrissy Hymiak

Spirit/T-Shirts Jenn Metz

Team Party Tiffany Ragsdale

Health & Safety Kem Baker

Bingo Christine Simonelli

Programs

Recognitions Val Ryan-Lanza

Sponsorships Darlene Basi

Staff App Catherine McLain

School Vol. Co Ms. Westbrook

March-April 2010 PTA Pipeline | 3

As we are heading into the final quarter of the school year, I hope you are taking time to reflect with your child about how things have been going and what he or she can focus on to improve.

Each quarter is a fresh start.

This is my 8th year as Guidance Counselor at Sand Pine. I have seen many children start here as Kindergarten students, and grow throughout the elementary years, only to say “so long” as they walk off this campus heading for middle school (ready or not!).

What have I seen that helps students be successful and be ready for that big transition? Here are some ingredients for student success:

• A strong work ethic (the ability to persevere through difficult tasks).

• Taking responsibility for one’s actions. Successful students don’t make excuses or blame others, instead realizing that no matter what someone else does, we have a choice and a responsibility about how we react.

• The strength to follow what’s right, even when others don’t. This is so important to learn, in order to resist the pressure of the too often insecure middle and high school years.

• Successful students have parents who hold the child accountable, and who support educators in teaching their child responsibility. Don’t assume that when your child comes home saying a mark is unfair, that they are telling you the whole story.

• Theyhaveparentsthatspeak with them, not at them, and that teach and teach and teach, knowing that their children are fundamentally good. They have parents that ask questions, not always give directions.

• Thesestudentshaveawareness of time management and organization, something that will have an increasing focus in middle and high school.

• They have developed coping skills, by having limits and not being sheltered from disappointment, so that they are ready to deal with life’s challenges.

• They have skills of independence and at the same time are respectful of authority.

Our Sand Pine students move on to John Long Middle with the excellent reputation that comes with a Sand Pine education. Our teachers go above and beyond to prepare students for that transition. Each year builds on the skills of the previous years. Along with parents, we are a team in helping children grow academically, emotionally, and socially. It is so evident to me in teaching children as they grow that they are so fortunate to be here at Sand Pine and to have the wonderful parent support that is so fundamental to student success.

Thank you for working with us — it is a bitter sweet thing to see this next class move on… They are dear to my heart…

Guidance

Looking for ways to help?…

We Need YOU!Spring is upon us, and with that, we are on the home stretch—leaving just a handful of events and opportunities for volunteers this school year! Please consider volunteering at our last PTA Bingo Night on May 7 and our first-ever Spaghetti Dinner on Friday, May 21. Please contact Christine Simonelli ([email protected]) to get involved! Thank you so much to all of our wonderful volunteers that have helped make this school year a success! A special Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast is scheduled for May 10. This breakfast is served in honor of all of the volunteers who have given their time, donations and energy to help support Sand Pine throughout the year. We hope you will make plans to attend. Keep an eye out for your invitation!

PTA Board for ‘10-’11 School Year We are looking for parents interested in serving on the PTA Board next year. There are a variety of positions and each requires a different level of commitment. However, it is all of us working together that help enrich the academic experience of our children. Many of this year’s PTA Board members will be leaving Sand Pine as their children move on to John Long Middle School which means that we will be forming a whole new board! We are looking for the next generation of parents to take the reins. Many people think PTA board members have to attend many meetings and bake lots of cookies. While it is true that most of us love to eat cookies, I can assure you that Sand Pine PTA board is much different than the PTA’s of our parents’ generation. Our board currently consists of men and women, both working parents and stay at home parents. The board meets for two hours once a month. Rest assured, there is a place for EVERYONE and ALL are welcome. So grab a friend and join us! If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Peggy D’Alessandro ([email protected]) for more information.Linda Matthews, MEd

Guidance Counselor | 794-1917 | [email protected]

4 | March-April 2010 PTA Pipeline

Mrs. Erin Simmons joined our team about a month ago as our new Instructional Technology Specialist. Mrs. Simmons came from Dr. John Long Middle School so she knows the technology skills our students need to take with them to JLMS. We welcome her enthusiasm and expertise.

Thanks so much for supporting our Book Fair Diner! We hope your children are “devouring” some great books purchased there. We saw many smiles and hugs at our “Invite Someone Grand” event where grandparents or other “grand” people in the lives of our students joined them for lunch and book fair shopping.

Thanks to you, we went over our goal of $10,000 in total sales. This means our media, technology, and reading programs at SPES will receive about $2,325 in cash and about $935 worth of books.

We really appreciate all the efforts by our book fair volunteers: Janet Payne, Gale Moore, Jennie Sunna, Lee Ling Ong, Renee Glassman, Mari Blank,

Media, Reading, & TechnologyMedia-bookfair:Instructional Media Specialist, Mrs. Belinda Pope Instructional Technology Specialist, Mrs. Erin Simmons K-12 Literacy Coach, Ms. Angie WestbrookMedia/Technology Assistant, Mrs. Dyan Chitty ESOL Instructional Assistant, Mrs. Coraliz Fontanez

Sunny Besterfield, Camille Lovelace, Darleen Pascullo, Michelle Hunter, Yarelis Fontanez, Jeanne Lufkin and Brittany Shea. We also owe a HUGE thanks to our cafeteria manager, Mrs. Becky Schaffer, for volunteering her time to host our hot dog dinner on our family night! Volunteers who helped her were: Chelsea Chitty, Taylor Bland, Alejandra Vera, Maria Vera and Meghan Ryan.

Sand Pine Sunshine State Election News

Third through fifth graders who had read 3 or more of this year’s Sunshine State books voted for their favorite book in an online election offered through the Pasco County Elections Office. The convincing winner was the book called Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Mrs. Pope had the opportunity to meet Mrs. Haddix at a conference earlier this year (pictured below) She was so friendly and outgoing! Be sure to read her sequel to Found called Sent.

Our Kindergarten, first, and second graders will vote April 12th for their favorite book from the Florida Reading Association (FRA) list of books. The statewide winner for this election receives the “Children’s Book Award.” To see this year’s list, visit www.flreads.org, and click on “Children’s Book Award.”

Sand Pine’s Book Battle Team has been meeting once a week to practice for the May 3rd Book Battle against Seven Oaks, Double Branch, and New River. The battle will be held at Dr. John Long Middle School. The winning team will go on to the district battle on May 12th. Our team members are: Lauren Payne, Madison Besterfield, Emily Snider, Viviana Padilla-Estrada, Elizabeth Ames, and Isabella Forcino.

Mrs. Pope and Mrs. Simmons are continuing to plan collaborative lessons with classroom teachers that are rich in information literacy and technology skills and that support their curricular content needs. Some of those lessons include research and inquiry projects from their Treasures Reading Texts.

Digital Literacy NewsMrs. Pope applied for and was awarded

a $300 creative teaching grant by the Pasco Education Foundation to provide an iPod Digital Literacy Center for use in the classrooms. Grade level specific content such as audio books and folklore/fairy tale content was loaded on the iPods. Students are shown using their iPod in a teacher led literature circle and in an independent listening center. We would like to add to our iPod collection so more of these centers could be put to use.


Box top NewsWe have been doing a great

job collecting our box tops! Our school has collected over $4,000 this year! During our last collection we collected just over $500! The class that won the collection was Mrs. Staney’s class! They won a computer lab party with Mrs. Simmons, where they learned to use Photo booth and Comic Life to create some neat artwork!

With our Box Top money we have purchased some wonderful items for the school. We were able to purchase $1,000 worth of new books for the media.

We also bought document cameras for every team! Teachers will be able to use them in their classes for all subjects as a new way to integrate technology into our students every day lives!

Also with the box top money we have bought some new flip cameras. We were able to get 4 of these hand held cameras for our teachers and students to use.

We are doing one more collection this year and we are looking to make it a big one. Students will be getting a sheet to collect their box tops on. If they fill out the 25-count sheet and turn it in they will be entered in a drawing for either a $10 Target gift card or a $10 Toys-R-Us gift card. Look for those sheets soon! The drawing will be held at the end of May so you have time to fill up your sheet… maybe even two!

Market Day Success!Thanks to all who support our monthly Market

Day program! By purchasing these restaurant quality frozen foods, you have helped our Media, Reading, and Technology team raise a total of $1,268 so far! We use these funds to support our reading motivation programs and to purchase new books, technology and other instructional materials. Our next order due date is mid-April with pickup in the media center on April 22nd. To order online or register for pickup at Sand Pine, go to www.marketday.com. You may also call our Market Day Chairperson: Mrs. Dyan Chitty at 794-1920.

Volunteer NewsMark your calendars! April 18th – April 24th

is National Volunteer Week, “Celebrating People in Action.” On Monday, May 10th we will be honoring all of our volunteers at our Annual Volunteer Appreciation breakfast. We hope ALL volunteers will plan on joining us at 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria. This is the time when we recognize the many specials contributions that have been made by our wonderful volunteers. Be looking for more information to come in the mail.

Mari Blank was selected to receive the “Outstanding School Volunteer Award” for the adult category for Pasco County! She was recognized at the School Board meeting on February 16.

Tropicana SpeechesOur 3rd, 4th and 5th

grade students have been working on their Tropicana Speeches in their classrooms. Fourth and fifth grade finalists from each pod will be selected to participate in a school-wide competition on April 19th. The 1st place winner will go on to compete at the District Competition on May 5th and will be accompanied by their classroom teacher.

The 4-H/Tropicana Public Speaking Program was developed and promoted by Tropicana to teach students effective public speaking skills, including the preparation and delivery of a speech.

Sand Pine Business Partner NewsWe appreciate our community partners and our school families who supported our past Tijuana Flats and Domino Pizza Nights. We raised enough money to purchase four flip cameras with this money. Our February pizza party winner was Mrs. Carter’s class.

Upcoming partner nights to put on your calendar:

Tijuana Flats Night: Tuesday, April 13th 5-8pm

Domino’s Nights: April 29th, May 27th

Cosi Café Night: Tuesday, May 4th 4-8 pm

We really appreciate donations of gift cards and products from Starbucks, Tijuana Flats, Cosi Café, and Horace Mann Insurance for faculty recognitions, SPES Relay for Life Team, and volunteer recognition.

For information on partnering

with Sand Pine, contact

Mrs. Pope at 794-1920


Box Tops— www.boxtops4education.com

Earn Cash for our School

1. Clip Box Tops.2. Send Box Tops to School.3. Our School Earns Cash!!

Tyson Project A+ www.tyson.com/projectaplus/

Tyson’s program is simple…

1. Clip and save Tyson Project A+ labels.2. Turn in the labels at your school.3. Your school redeems them for cash.Each label is worth 24¢.

Campbell’s Labels For Education™ Program— www.labelsforeducation.com

This program awards schools free educational merchandise! Attention Parents: Remember to include the UPC code off of the packages. They will no longer accept the front labels off products. Please continue to help out our school by sending in your UPC codes! Visit www.labels-foreducation.com for a complete list of eligible products.

Recycling Program

What do Ink Cartridges, Cell Phones, Batteries and Newspapers have in common? Recycling these items at Sand Pine benefits our school! Don’t clutter our landfills with spent ink cartridges, cell phones, and bat-teries (AAA, AA, C, D & 9-volt), bring them to Sand Pine. Drop off your newspapers in the dumpsters at (a) Meadow Pointe 1 or 2 clubhouse, or (b) Sand Pine parking lot. Together we can keep our environment healthy while earning much needed cash for our school!

Market Day— order online at www.marketday.com

Don’t forget Market Day! If you haven’t tried it before you should, as everything bought helps us earn money for our school’s technology needs.

PTA Sports Totes

Your PTA has donated sports totes for every pod. These totes include sports balls, jump ropes and sidewalk chalk. The PTA would like to ask all families to help replenish these packs throughout the year. Donations of any new or gently used sports equipment would be greatly appreciated! These items can be turned in to the front office, or sent in with your child for their pod.

Spirit Day

Don’t forget to show your Sand Pine Spirit by wearing your Sand Pine Elementary T-shirt on Fridays and you could win a treat in the cafeteria (up to 75 cents) from the PTA! Order your shirts. Send the form (down-load from the PTA website) with your check (payable to SPES PTA) to school.

www.goodsearch.com

Do you search the Internet? Why not raise money for Sand Pine while you surf online! Just go to www.good-search.com, enter “Sand Pine” for your charity, and search

like a normal. Each search will produce one penny for SPES! Be sure that SPES gets credit for the searches, make sure that is always says Sand Pine Elementary School under “Who do you GoodSearch for?”

Orders Due Pick Up Date (2:30-4:00)Flyer Web

Apr 7 Apr 13 Apr 22

May 4 May 11 May 20

PTA Walk-A-ThonThursday, April 1, we will hold our PTA Walk-A-Thon during school hours. Thank you for your support and participation at this fundraiser!

Spring BreakApril 2-9 is spring break. We hope you all have a fun and safe time away from school!

Field DayWednesday, April 14 is Field Day! We are still looking for volunteers, so come enjoy the activities and help our PE teachers!

Relay For LifeApril 16 is Relay for Life. Come support our team at Wiregrass Ranch High School while supporting the American Cancer Society.

Toys-R-Alive PlayThursday, May 6, our talented students will perform Toys-R-Alive for parents and friends at 7 p.m in the cafeteria. The kids have been rehearsing since February!

PTA Bingo NightFriday, May 7, we will hold our last PTA General Assembly and Bingo night. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and refreshments will be available before the games start at 7 p.m. Come test your luck, win some cool prizes, and meet next year’s PTA Board!

Volunteer AppreciationVolunteers will be honored at the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Monday, May 10th at 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria. Thank you to all our volunteers!

PTA Spaghetti DinnerThe PTA will be hosting the first ever Family Spaghetti Dinner on Friday, May 21st. Mark your calendar, and watch for more information on this family event!

www.sandpinepta.org

This month and around the corner…


This month and around the corner…

Odds-n-Ends…

May 3-7 is Teacher Appreciation Week—

Hooray for our Teachers!

BINGO May 7th

Don’t miss it!

This year’s walk is in St. Pete on May 1st. For more information, visit www.walknowforautismspeaks.org

Lost & FoundThe Lost & Found Rack can be found Mondays in the cafe all day, T-Th in the teacher’s mail room, and Fridays OUTSIDE at the school entrance. We check the playground & cafe daily, and we find things every day! Items not claimed in two weeks are donated to charity.

Volunteers, don’t forget to submit your volunteer hours form to Ms. Westbrook!

Relay for Life is April 16!Relay for Life will take place on Friday, April 16th at Wiregrass High School. For the 8th consecutive year, Sand Pine will have a

team represent us at this incredible event. Relay for Life is a community event where we celebrate survivors, remember those we have lost, and fight back against cancer. Teams will join together to set up a campsite for the 18-hour Relay Walk. The funds contributed to the American Cancer Society through this lifesaving event will be used for research, public and medical education, and patient services in our local community.

Our team’s participants will spend 18 hours at Wiregrass High School walking relay-style. The last 3 years, our team raised over $10,000 – our goal this year is to raise that same amount or more.

If you would like to be a part of this amazing event, give a donation, or would like to attend the survivor’s dinner, please contact Sand Pine’s Relay Team Captain, Mari Blank at [email protected].

Congratulations Nahla White

for being the top seller for our

fall fundraiser. Also, congrats to

Carley Ragsdale, the second

place seller. Ms Dilworths class

had the highest participation

and will be receiving a Popsicle

party! Great job everyone!

2009

2007

2008Thank you!A huge thanks to Bruster’s, the many Sand Pine families that came out to Sand Pine’s Bruster’s Night, and to Mr. Cluff for scooping our treats! Congratulations to our ice cream party winner— Bradarich/Marzulo’s class of Kindergarteners for the most Sand Pine Bruster’s form entries!


cluff’s corner

Time Out!When I was growing up most families

in the neighborhood had only one phone in their homes. Although there were the exceptions, some of the more privileged households were the envy of the neighborhood with a second line designated just for the kids. Back then if someone wanted to call you they would hope you were home. If not, they would try again at another time. The phone was simply a tool in our lives at certain times. Most things could wait. Before the answering machine was invented, we never even knew someone had tried to call. We survived the silence.

There was a time when the only way to get a written message to someone was to actually write a letter, put it in a stamped envelope, and send it off via the Postal Service to arrive days later. Waiting was common. Correspondence would take weeks between replies and answers. Yet it was all we knew at the time. And we were thrilled that for mere cents we could send messages clear across the county. And, again, we survived the silence.

Technology has drastically changed how we communicate. Our children are growing up in a world of immediate gratification. We used to have to go to the library, use the telephone book, or read a newspaper to get the information we needed. Now we can get even the most trivial thing answered within seconds with a few clicks of a keypad. There is no need to have to wait for most things. With the Internet we can instantly access music, videos, information, and a wealth of other things all from the comfort of home or our cell phones. There is rarely any silence.

Our children are growing up in a world where everyone is accessible at all times. The silence has become scary to many of us.

We will turn around to get a forgotten cell phones even if we are simply going to the grocery store. With caller ID, voice messaging, and text messaging, there is never any silence. We correspond instantly and expect the same from others.

Communication with the schools and teachers has drastically changed. Sand Pine’s new phone system can send out messages in a matter of minutes to all households of our school. Email, blogs, and phone calls encourage immediate and regular communication. When an email or phone message is not returned quickly, the silence can cause alarm.

With all this new technology it can be difficult to remember that we all need occasional “silence” from the outside world. We also need to teach our kids to enjoy the quiet moments in life. As we race to take our kids to practices, rehearsals, religious studies, and other things that consume our leisure time, let’s all remember to take time and turn off the technology and just enjoy each other’s company.

Let me encourage you to spend time with your child…simply play a board game, read a book, play charades, color with crayons, go fishing, or take a walk together. Enjoy each other in the silence from the outside world. Those are the things technology can never replace. These are the little things that make us all human again.

One last thing…it might be important to know that if you get the phone and it’s the school calling you with a recorded message, my technology shows me who hangs up before they listened to the whole message. I’m not going to name names right now, but just know that I know!


Toys-R-Alive What happens to the dolls in a

toystore after store hours? They come alive in a world filled

with comedy and adventure!

Don’t miss this year’s play:

Premiering May 5 during school, and a special performance for parents Thursday, May 6, 7PM

Toys-for-Tots Toy DriveIn honor of this year’s play, we are having a toy drive for the month of April for Toys-4-Tots.

Drop off locations will be out at car riders in the morning and afternoon, or students can bring new wrapped toys to Mrs. Bidgood’s classroom.

Watch for ticket sales as we get closer to the performance date.


Florida PTA Reflections

As I previously reported, 19 of our Sand Pine Students advanced to the County Level where they competed with other Pasco County Schools. Out of those 19, three advanced to the State Level. I am so excited to report that the following students’ talented work was forwarded to the PTA’s State office in Orlando to compete with other schools around Florida:

Jason Duncan – Intermediate Film Production

Lauren Payne – Intermediate Literature

Taylor Forgas – Intermediate Dance Choreography

Out of hundreds of entries around the entire State of Florida, 24 Awards of Excellence were awarded. These entries will now compete in the National Level. In addition, 104 Awards of Merit were awarded. I am very proud to announce that our very own Taylor Forgas was awarded an Award of Merit. Congratulations TAYLOR! We are so very proud of you.

I would also like to congratulate all of our 63 Sand Pine students who entered this year’s Reflections Program. All the entries were truly masterpieces. It has been a pleasure serving you as your Reflections Chair once again this year.

Next year’s theme is “Together We Can.” I hope next year’s theme will inspire all our students to continue to create masterpieces.

Panthers at MOSI

“Beauty Is…”

—Mari C. Blank, Reflections Chair

I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be a

good night…

It was Friday, March 19th, and my first social! Because I’m on the Student Council, I was able to work at it, which was a lot of fun. There were lots of people there. I worked a couple shifts at the games, then got to hang out with my friends. It’s important to have an event like a social because friends can meet up, and in school, you can’t always do that when your friends are in different pods. I know the kids had fun with the games like Corn hole and Plinko, then there was face painting and dancing. A lot of kids went home covered with tatoos. The night sure went fast and before I knew it, Mom was back to pick me up. Just wait till next year’s social!

—Danny K, Student council VP

The Student Council Social

MOSI NightIt was a special evening under the stars looking through powerful telescopes during MOSI Night. Everyone had a chance to sign the poster that will accompany the space shuttle into space!


The PTA’s Sweetheart Family Dance was a wonderful experience for all who attended. The Cha Cha Slide, YMCA, Macarana, and Limbo, were just a few of the many dances that kept everyone on the dance floor. Thanks to the talents of our DJ, Jay Sheridan, family members of all ages enjoyed the music. The formal family pictures will be a treasure to remember this extra special evening for years to come.

Special thanks to Christine Simonelli, Peggy D’Alessandro, and all the volunteers for their efforts to make this a memorable evening for us all.

Sweetheart Family Dance


Send a message in this year’s last PTA Newsletter!

PTA Action Alert! NO on Senate Bill 6

Wouldn’t you like to send a message to a special teacher,

friend, or wish your child a great summer? In our last PTA Pipeline Newsletter in May, we will print all messages up to 6 lines. Send this form with $5 (checks payable to SPES PTA) for each message in an envelop to your child’s teacher by May 7th and make someone feel extra special.

Example:

T h a n k s f o r t h e m e m o r i e s !Please print clearly!

SarahWe are so proud of you! Keep up the good work! We love you. —Mom & Dad

Dear teacher,

You are the best! Thank you

for being my teacher!

—Robby

To the Manatees,Thank you for being so much FUN!—Susan Smith

Tony,Have a safe and great summer!You didn’t give up!Love, Grandpa

Sand Pine,

Thank you for a great 6 years, I’m

ready for John Long Middle now!

Makela,Have a great summer—your secret friend

Mark,

You’re off to 1st grade now!

We are so proud of you!

—Mommy & Daddy

PTA supports higher standards, accountability and systemic reform efforts for both teachers and students. PTA continues to support efforts to upgrade the quality of public school teachers, thereby improving the image and stature of the profession and encourage the appropriate funding authorities to establish salaries commensurate with the professional preparation and dedication necessary for effective teaching.

PTA does not have a specific position on how teacher salaries are determined. However, SB 6, which passed a senate vote on Tuesday, has moved very quickly through the senate without giving the public enough time to comment and work with the legislature to achieve real reform. Parents, teachers and administrators should be at the table and be full participants and contributors to this effort. The House will vote on it this week!

Moreover, the bill seems to be placing more control at the state level and levying additional financial penalties for non compliance on superintendents and school districts. The bill may very well have the effect of turning quality teachers away from our public schools. There is no House companion to this bill as yet.

Please contact your representatives and ask them to vote no on SB 6 and work with parents and educators to draft a bill that would bring real reform and excellence in teaching to our public schools.

FL Rep: Will Weatherford (813) 558-5115

FL Senator: Victor Crist (813) 975-6658


3 4Thank YouSand Pine PTA Business Partners

The Sand Pine PTA would like to thank the businesses listed on these pages for their generous support. When you visit these businesses, please thank them for their support.

If you’d like to become a PTA Superstar and see your business listed here and on our website,

contacting Darlene Basi at [email protected].

PTA Platinum Superstars

Silver SuperstarsMcllwain Family Dentistry 3

Life Source Chiropractic 3

PTA Gold Superstars


PTA Gold Superstars

Come and celebrate the joy of movement with us!

813.979.2222 | www.jansendance.com

NOW ENROLLING for 2009-10 Season and Summer Camps!

Children: Classical Ballet | Jazz | Hip-Hop | ModernTap | Acrobatics | Musical Theater

Adults: Dance | Pilates | Ballroom | Fitness

5330 Primrose Lake Circle | Tampa, FL 33647 | [email protected]

Documents

PTA Pipeline 2010-03