We’re in need of volunteers for photographers and photos for the 2011-12 Roadrunner Yearbook.

Being mid-way through the 2011-12 school year, we need to focus on the Roadrunner Yearbook and make sure that we have all events/ topics covered with photos.  If you have photos from past events, you may submit them on a CD, a flash drive, or via e-mail.     I’ll return these items back to you once they have been uploaded to our photo site.  If you have photos of any of the events below, or can volunteer to photograph future events, please contact me.  Thanks so much for your help!

School Events

• First Day of School
• Fall Parent Night
• Halloween Festivities
•         - Play
•         - Parade
•         - Class Party
• Veteran’s Day
• Science Fair
• Band/Orchestra/Choir Winter Concert
• K-3rd Grade Holiday Festival
• 5th Grade Hauser Tour
• Multicultural Fair
• Band Concert
• Orchestra Concert
• Spring Open House
• Choir Concert
• 4th/5th Grade Spring Musical
• 5th Grade Awards
• Clap Out
• Last Day of School
• Class Group Shots
• PTO Presidents with their Central Kids

PTO Sponsored Activities

• Family Fun Night
• Hike and Bike Week
• Roller Skating Party
• Flying Carpet Club
• Ice Skating Party
• Book Fair
• Winter Wonderland
• 5th Grade Games Night
• Teacher Appreciation Week
• Staff Appreciation
• Artist in Residence
• Talent Show
• 5th Grade Picnic

Other Events

• Spirit Days
• Extra-curricular activities
•         - sports
•         - scouts
•         - performing arts
• Historical Perspectives Assembly
• Little Symphony
• Kids saying pledge
• Earth week activities
• Screen Free Week activities
• Cultural Arts Presentations
• Birthday Boards
• Lunch Buddies
• Garden Gurus
• Ecology Club
• Marble Parties
• Specials (PE, Art, Music, Library)
• TDPE in Fitness Lab

Volunteers Needed!!

On the heels of a very successful Science Fair, the ever-popular Science in a Can will be returning for 4 weeks in February.  Science in a Can is a science enrichment program that is offered to Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grade students at Central School. Students bring home a weekly age-appropriate science experiment. The science cans will be distributed to students typically on Fridays and must be returned with completed experiment sheets by the following Tuesday. Most of the materials needed to perform the experiment are contained within the can.  We need volunteers to help stuff the cans and deliver them to the classrooms.

Volunteers are needed the first four Wednesdays of February (Feb. 1, 8, 15, and 22)  from 8:30 to 10 AM.

We will need at least 3 volunteers each week, but the more the merrier.

This year’s Roadrunner Yearbook staff is off to a great start, with many students already busy working on their articles and photos. To ensure another memorable yearbook for all Central students, we still need parent volunteers to fill some essential assignments.

Photo Manager

• Work with photo volunteers to make sure we have:
• Photos of events (already compiled in checklist form)
• A variety of photos for stand alone photos/spreads
• Classroom “action” photos from teachers and staff
• Group shots of each class, PTO co-presidents, and the yearbook staff
• Collect photos on CD or flash drive and upload to the yearbook’s photo sharing site

Yearbook pictures are stored online at flickr.com. The photo manager uploads all images to limit the number of people with access to the password-protected site—and pictures of our children. (There is another parent photo editor who culls through the pictures to narrow down options for the book.)

Editor

• Work with student staff to research, write and edit their articles:
• Coach staff on journalism basics
• Be a sounding board for ideas and advise students having difficulties
• Assign stories
• Keep copywriting on schedule
• Edit and proof copy
• Write or help write headlines and photo captions

There is a production schedule outlining deadlines and staff meetings for the year. The editor should plan to attend staff meetings, and is encouraged to schedule additional time with students between deadlines.

Marketing Coordinator

• Manage activities related to promoting and collecting yearbook orders:
• Coordinate with school and PTO to distribute order form via ebackpack and feedblitz
• Work with student staff to promote sales to their peers
• Supervise distribution, including helping to plan Pick-up & Autograph Party

There is already a parent tracking orders and collecting payment.

Photographer

Take photos of events and activities throughout the year, as assigned by photo manager.

Group Photographer

Schedule and take group photos of each class and yearbook staff.

If you are able to help out in any of the following ways, please contact Kim Bolton at kdgbolton@yahoo.com.

Help make this year’s Roadrunner a special keepsake our children will treasure.

The Roadrunner, Central School’s yearbook, is published in the spring. It reports on a range of memorable and noteworthy events that happen during the school year, in words and pictures. The Roadrunner also features a Snapshots section for each grade, group photos of every class, and Fifth Grade Memories.

Fifth grade reporters and photojournalists “staff” the yearbook, with adult guidance.

Parent volunteers develop story ideas, take photos, and manage production of the book.

see the attached flyer for more information

Central Yearbook 2011 volunteer

The kids are ready for recess but the playground stencils aren’t.
They need retouching.

Paints and brushes will be provided…we just need you!
The more volunteers we can get the faster the process will go.

Please mark your calendar. We still need more volunteers!

Join us on Saturday, September 10 at 1pm.

(Weather permitting)

We will take any amount of time that you can give.
Children are welcome to come but they will not be able to participate in the paint process
so just bring something to keep them busy.

Please RSVP so that we know how many volunteers to expect
and ensure that we have enough brushes and supplies to keep everyone busy.

RSVP to Amy Jacksic, amy.jacksic@gmail.com or Greg Nessinger, gness99@yahoo.com

The kids are ready for recess but the playground stencils aren’t.
They need retouching.

Paints and brushes will be provided…we just need you!
The more volunteers we can get the faster the process will go.

Please mark your calendar.

Join us on Saturday, September 10 at 1pm.

(Weather permitting)

We will take any amount of time that you can give.
Children are welcome to come but they will not be able to participate in the paint process
so just bring something to keep them busy.

Please RSVP so that we know how many volunteers to expect
and ensure that we have enough brushes and supplies to keep everyone busy.

RSVP to Amy Jacksic, amy.jacksic@gmail.com or Greg Nessinger, gness99@yahoo.com

Central School PTO

Greetings Central Parents,

As another memorable school year comes to a close, we’re already are making our plans for what promises to be an exciting 2011-2012 year at Central. The 2011-2012 PTO forms are available for download as follows:

• Committee Application (PDF or DOC) – lists and describes each of our PTO committees;
• Room Parent Letter (PDF or DOC) – describes how you can help in your child’s classroom (Print out and return completed Committee Application and Room Parent forms to the PTO mailbox by Wednesday, May 13);
• District 96 Calendar Order Form (PDF or DOC) – (Print out and return completed form with payment to the PTO mailbox, by Wednesday, May 13); and
• Fundraising programs flyer (PDF or DOC) – lists and describes Fundraisers sponsored by the PTO.

If we had any words of wisdom for you, Parent-to-Parent, it would be these:

Get Connected, Stay Informed, and Get Involved!

All communications from the school and the PTO are via electronic mail, and information is disseminated in two major ways. The first is through E-Backpack sent from Principal Dr. Limperis every Wednesday. To receive weekly E-Backpack e-mails, you must subscribe by going to www.district96.org/central, where there is a sign up option located on the right hand column. Second, if you would like to keep apprised of upcoming PTO events and programs, subscribe to weekly “feedblitz” announcements at www.centralptonews.org.

Central is more than a just a school; it is our community of dedicated teachers, staff and families. The excellent education that our children receive is strengthened by our efforts as parents. Countless studies show that children perform better in the classroom when parents actively participate in the school.

Our PTO offers many opportunities to participate in our children’s education. We invite you to browse through our list of committees and room parent opportunities and hope that some of these pique your interest. There are opportunities for you even if your time is limited. Volunteering is a great way to meet people in our community, enhance our children’s learning environment, and have fun in the process. It will be a rewarding experience for you and our children!

Last, but very important, are our Fundraisers. The money we raise from our Fundraisers allows us to sponsor many educational, cultural and recreational programs including Artist-in-Residence, Cultural Arts presentations, Ecology Club, Family Fun Nights, Field Trips, Junior Great Books (“Flying Carpet”) Club, Science-in-a Can, Winter Wonderland, and much, much more. We have attached a “sneak preview” of next year‘s fundraisers for your reference.

It will be our pleasure to serve next year as your PTO Co-Presidents and we welcome your input. In the meantime, browse through the above forms, and have a wonderful summer!

Warmly,
Amy Jacksic (Pres-amy@centralptonews.org)
Jeannine Glavas (Pres-jeann@centralptonews.org)
Incoming Co-Presidents, Central PTO, 2011-2012.

Files links in this post:

Central School Library 2010-11
Reader/Helper Informational Sheet

Dear Parents,

Are you interested in reading to your child’s class?  It’s probably the most popular volunteer job at school!   You need no prior experience, and it’s fun to do.  You also can keep up with the latest books!  Grandparents, relatives and friends are all welcome to volunteer.  See below for detailed job descriptions.

Classrooms will have Library Checkout on Tuesdays or Thursdays. * During Library Checkout, 1 parent volunteer (Reader) reads a story to the children (grades K-3 only).  Helpers may assist students in locating books and using the computer, or assist with light shelving.  Each Lead Room Parent coordinates the schedule of Readers/Helpers during the classroom’s Library Checkout time.

Readers/Helpers will begin on Tuesday, September 28 through Thursday, May 5, 2011.  There may be certain days on which there is no Library Checkout; your Lead Room Parent will be provided with that list, and coordinate the schedule accordingly. Also, please note that during Library Checkout time, the library cannot accommodate preschool children.

If you are interested in volunteering as a Reader/Helper during your child’s Library Checkout time, please contact your classroom Lead Room Parent.  If you do not know who that is, or if  you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Library Committee Chairs, Michelle Marconi @ marconim@centralptonews.org or Jennifer Pollock at pollockj@centralptonews.org.

*Mrs. Teune’s Library Checkout time is on Wednesdays.

Readers (grades K – 3)
This job requires a firm time commitment, as it corresponds with your child’s scheduled library checkout time. ** Please choose books from the list of Monarch nominees, which is located at the desk.  Please come 5 minutes early to introduce yourself to Mrs. Ellen Nolan and/or Mrs. Bieschke, and to choose your book.  Reading takes place during the first 10-15 minutes of Library Checkout time.  The remainder of the time should be spent helping the children find books or using the OPAC system.  Please record (at the desk) the title and author of each book read aloud, along with the date, to avoid duplication of stories.  Set aside any books needing repair, with a note to that effect.

Helpers (grades K-5)
Library Helpers are needed during Library Checkout time to assist students in locating books and/or using the OPAC system.  In addition, you may be asked to help with light shelving. You also may be asked to perform other library jobs at the direction of Mrs. Bieschke, Mrs. Nolan, or the Teacher.

* *Please find a substitute if you are unable to come in at your designated time.  If you are taking off work, please confirm with the Library beforehand whether Library has been rescheduled or cancelled.

Helpful Information:
Mrs. Gail Bieschke – Librarian, and Mrs. Ellen Nolan – Library Aide.
Dads, Moms, Grandparents, relatives and friends are all welcome to volunteer.
OPAC (1-5) = the online card catalog system.  OPAC is the on-line version of the old card catalogues in drawers.  Students can use this tool to search for a book by title, author, or subject.  Instructional cards will be available at each library computer.  Training also will be provided.

Central School Family Fun Night!
Friday, September 24th
5:30-7:30 PM*

Music!

Games and Prizes!

Jumpee!

Ice Cream and Popcorn for purchase!

To print out the Pizza  and Soda order form – click here – Family Fun Night Flyer Order Form

Free dance lessons at 6:30 from Principle Dance!

Family Fun Night will take place at the Central/Hauser school parking lot (or in the Hauser gyms in the event of rain.) Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Questions or if you are interested in volunteering at this event —please contact Tracy Sloan at sloant@centralptonews.org.

This is a Central PTO sponsored event.

*Note – In the event of rain, please join us in the Hauser gyms from 6:30-8:30PM

For centuries, Central School parents/

grandparents/ guardians

have given their all to entertain.

The Central Halloween play is performed by Central parents

and enjoyed by the Central children, staff and parents.

Are you feeling the call of the Theater?

What’s involved:
AM rehearsals (8:30-11) for 2 weeks in October
Opening and closing matinee performance at 1 PM on October 29th

Children roar with amusement (if we get it right)
Children leave for the costume parade and room party (with joy in their hearts)
Interested yet reluctant to get on the stage? We are currently casting for talkie parts as well as back stage help.
No commitment is too small, or too big, for that matter!

If this is something you are remotely interested in, we’ll consider it.
Your child will never forget, nor forgive, you for participating.

Please contact Angie Cary at carya@centralptonews.org if you would like to volunteer for the time of your life!!