Are you looking for a great opportunity to help our kids and Central School? If so, we need your help. The following PTO Committee Chair/Co-Chair positions are available and looking for enthusiastic volunteers:

Book Fair – Lead and coordinate the spring fund raiser April 5 – 9, 2010. There are many assistant volunteers to help – we need someone to coordinate their activities in setting up, decorating, scheduling for classrooms, cashiers, and clean-up. This annual event is much loved as it encourages a life-long passion for books and reading.

Central 100% Fund – Promote and monitor participation in the PTO’s most lucrative fund raiser. Please help us lead up this effort to solicit tax-deductible contributions. This funding supports PTO programs and activities. The 100% Fund Chair is a great position for those with availability during non-school hours (you set your schedule!).

Cultural Arts – Classroom – a Co-Chair is needed from October 2009 through May 2010, to ensure the assigned volunteers have their classroom schedules and available materials for the monthly presentations. Please help us facilitate bring the arts into our kids’ classrooms.
(Note – the Cultural Arts Fieldtrip Chair and Co-Chair positions have been filled.)

Halloween Play – Produce our very own PTO Halloween play. A fan favorite! No writing experience needed as we have a playwright, but we lack a producer.

Turn-off-TV Week – let’s “unplug” for a week. We need a Chairperson, or a team of chairpersons, to coordinate this annual event that encourages our kids to turn off the TV, as well as other electronic media (computers, games, music, etc.).

If you are interested in any of these once a year — will not be offered again for a year, opportunities, please e-mail Nancy Hutchings at firstvp-nancy@centralptonews.org or Jennifer Sedivy at
firstvp-jenn@centralptonews.org.

Hope you are enjoying the summer!!

Help wanted for 2009/10, fabulous opportunity for motivated individuals, benefits will come in hugs from our children and your name in the infamous PTO calendar.

We are fast approaching the end of the school year and we still need your time and talent in a few areas next year! We have received lots of your committee and room parent forms (thank you, thank you), but several committees remain un-chaired (say it ain’t so!). The PTO would greatly appreciate your taking the time to read through the following list and consider chairing/co-chairing one of the committees listed. Please send an email to Jennifer Sedivy at firstvp-jenn@centralptonews.org before school lets out, or you might find her knocking on your door, calling your home, disturbing the general peace of your summer months…no one wants that to happen! Thank you very much for your consideration.

• Book Fair: Seeking a DYNAMIC TRIO. Urgent Need! Do you want to be loved and revered by teachers, students and parents alike? We need 3 co-chairs to take over this fantastic event loved by the whole Central School community. This is a wonderful opportunity to run a major event for the school and learn from the current chair, Beverly Aieta, who will run the fair for one more year to train the next co-chair “team” and pass on all of her wonderful knowledge in this area. (The book fair is scheduled for the week of April 5th, 2010, immediately following spring break).
• Cultural Arts: The Cultural Arts Committee needs another co-chair for the classroom presentations. This is a position that is busy in September organizing the presenters for each grade level and classroom. The children love to have mom, dad, caregivers come into the classroom to discuss a work of art. Cultural Arts in the Classroom cannot happen without someone to help organize it. There is an immediate need to fill this position (1-2 people).
• 100% Fund: Promote our tax-deductible fundraiser (generally with flyers). Great for a working parent.
• Birthday Boards: Needs one more co-chair to share the responsibility…can you take every other month and honor student and staff birthdays on the hallway bulletin board?
• Pavers: Promote brick paver dedication program during fall and spring with flyers.
• Roller Skating: Reserve the rink for Central’s October skating event (usually an early-release day).
• School Supplies: Coordinate the online ordering and distribution of pre-packaged school supplies. Many people love this convenient way to obtain school supplies, but we currently have no one to coordinate it.
• Science in a Can (K, 2, 4th Grades): Organize and replenish cans once per week for 10-12 wks in winter (30-45 min.)
• TV Turn-Off Week: Plan/execute this event where children choose to be active, rather than watching tv, playing video games, etc. Folder is available with all of the information from this year’s successful first annual tv turn-off event.
• Programs: Select and schedule 2-3 daytime all-school assemblies for the year.

Thanks for your honest consideration of your time and talents!

If one of these opportunities sound like a heck of a lot of fun, contact Jennifer Sedivy at firstvp-jenn@centralptonews.org and win her unending gratitude.

Attention 4th & 5th Grade Parents:   On Thursday, April 2, Author Peter Lerangis will be giving a presentation to 4th and 5th grade students, at 1:30 p.m. in the Hauser Auditorium, in conjunction with our Book Fair.   Mr. Lerangis is the author of Book 3 in the 39 Clues series, entitled The Sword Thief. We have ordered enough copies of his book for all 4th and 5th grade students. The cost of the hardcover book (including sales tax) is $14.29.   Please send a check or money to school with your student if he/she would like to purchase the book. Mr. Lerangis will be available after the presentation to sign books.

Mr. Lerangis is the author of over 150 books, for early readers through teens, which have sold nearly 3 million copies, including the Spy X series, the Watchers series, the Drama Club series, and the historical novel, Smiler’s Bones.

The 39 Clues books are very popular with 9 to 12-year-old readers, and are some of the hottest books at Central’s Book Fair.

Parents are also welcome to attend the presentation.

Bargain Books and More to take place this weekend.

Blythe Park PTA will hold its annual used book sale, Bargain Books and More on Friday, April 3rd from 4:00-7:00pm and on Saturday, April 4th from 9:00am-1:00pm. Great deals on used children’s and adult books, cds, dvds and education material. The sale will be held at the Blythe Park School gym located at 735 Leesley Road in Riverside. Any questions, contact Carol Barlow barlowc@centralptonews.org or Lisa Gaynor gaynorl@centralptonews.org.

Come join Central School families and friends for the PTO-Sponsored Ice Cream Social. The social event is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2009 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Hauser Cafeteria. Enjoy your sundae before or after you browse the Book Fair located in the Hauser Auditorium.

Thank you to everyone who has already volunteered to take a shift or two for the Central School book fair. We are still in need of volunteers to cover some shifts, most notably:

• Wednesday, 9:45 – 12:00
• Wednesday, 1:00 – 3:00
• Thursday, 8:30 – 10:30
• Thursday, 10:30 – 12:30
• Friday, 8:30 – 10:30
• Friday, 10:30 – 12:30
• Friday, 1:00 – 3:00

If you would like to pick up another shift, or if you have not yet emailed to volunteer, please send me an email and I will put you on the schedule. Please email Sarah Berstein at or see student directory for additional contact information.

Thanks again for all of your help. We can’t do it without you! Have an enjoyable Spring Break.

—Sarah Bernstein

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the PTO sponsored Central School Ice Cream Social. The social event is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2009 from 7:00 — 8:00 p.m. in the Hauser Cafeteria. Enjoy your sundae before or after you browse the Book Fair located in the Hauser Auditorium. Have a wonderful Spring Break everyone!

Attention 4th & 5th Grade Parents: Author Peter Lerangis will be giving a presentation to 4th and 5th grade students on Thursday, April 2, at 1:30 p.m. in the Hauser Auditorium, in conjunction with our Book Fair. Lerangis is the author of Book 3 in the 39 Clues series, entitled The Sword Thief.

Mr. Lerangis is the author of over 150 books, for early readers through teens, which have sold nearly 3 million copies, including the Spy X series, the Watchers series, the Drama Club series, and the historical novel, Smiler’s Bones.

The 39 Clues books are very popular with 9-12 year-old readers, and will be some of the featured books at Central’s Book Fair. Due to the large volume of books we anticipate selling during the Book Fair, we want to ensure that all students who wish to buy this book will have one available for the author to sign. To reserve a book in your child’s name, please return this form to your child’s teacher by Monday, March 31. No money is needed at this time; payment can be made during the Book Fair. The cost of this hardcover book is $12.99.

Mark your calendars for Central’s annual Book Fair. Join Clifford, the Big Red Dog, and Book Fair Chair, Beverly Aieta, for Central’s annual Book Fair to be held the week of March 30 through April 3. The Book Fair kicks off with a preview for the teachers after school on March 30. Students in all grades and classes will be visiting the Book Fair during the week. Parents and other family members are invited to visit the Book Fair anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The Book Fair will also be open during Central’s Family Ice Cream Social on Thursday evening, April 2. Many volunteers are needed to make the Book Fair a success. Please let us know via email if you can volunteer. See you at the Book Fair!

One of Central PTO’s most popular events—the Book Fair—will be held the week after Spring Break, from March 31 through April 3. The Book Fair requires many volunteers to make it a success, and we need your help! If you are able to give even an hour’s time, please contact Sarah Bernstein via email at bookfair@centralptonews.org to volunteer (see Pavlokovic in the student directory for additional contact information.)

Thank you.