September 10, 2008 Champlain PTO Weekly Update: PTO Meeting, Parent's Open House, Applefest
LATEST NEWS
1) Please help Tammy Charbonneau become Vermont elementary PE teacher of the year! Ms. Charbonneau has been nominated for the past three years, but never applied for this accolade due to the rigorous application process. However, for personal reasons, Ms. Charbonneau has decided this is her year...so let's help her! If you are coming to the PTO meeting on Wed night, please sign the letter. If not, please take a few moments to write your own letter of recommendation made out to the Vermont PE Teacher of the Year Committee. All letters need to be to Ms. Charbonneau (or can be dropped in the office) by Thursday am. Thank you!
2) This month's PTO MEETING will be held (TONIGHT!) Wednesday, September 10th at 6pm in the Learning Center. All are welcome. Amy Werbel, one of our School Board representatives, will attend to provide an introduction to the Board's proposed bond issue coming before voters in November. We also will work on Applefest, the PTO annual budget and some new ideas for fundraising. Childcare and dinner provided; Please rsvp to Barbara Leopold so we have accurate numbers for childcare.
UPCOMING EVENTS
1) MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Parent's Night Open House, an evening when our children's teachers present their programs and curricula, is scheduled for Thursday, September 25th.
2) APPLEFEST IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER on Friday, October 3rd. We will need volunteers to run the games and activities. And with Applefest comes our annual SILENT AUCTION, one of our most important fundraisers. Please start thinking about items you might be able to donate. Goods (nothing used, please) and services, talents you have to teach or share, vacation homes, airplane rides, chocolate cakes or sailing lessons. Own a business? Are you able to donate professional goods and services? Frequent a neighborhood business? Ask them if they will donate something. Children can get involved, too. In years past, groups of Champlain students have donated leaf raking, babysitting, cookie baking, hand-made jewelry or crafts . . . . Use your imagination: contact Renee Allen (renee.g.allen@verizon.net) with your donation. 100% of the money raised goes to support the programs that support our kids.
CHAMPLAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DIRECTORY
If you haven't returned your directory form, it isn't too late. The PTO directory is the only place you'll find contact information for most of the Champlain community. But you'll only be in it if you return that form! Check out the new and improved PTO website at www.champlainpto.org. Do you wish you were receiving the weekly PTO updates by email? Contact champlainpto@gmail.com
SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE -TWO MOTIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION
1) Motion 1, Magnet Schools. "Motion to direct the administration to form Vermont's first two magnet schools at the Lawrence Barnes and H.O. Wheeler Buildings, with the goal to pilot these K-5 programs beginning in the Fall of 2009. The theme of the Barnes magnet school shall be Sustainability, and it will be named 'Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes.' The theme of the Wheeler magnet school shall be Integrated Arts and it shall be named the 'Integrated Arts Academy at H.O. Wheeler.' The Board directs the administration to formulate and implement staff and student assignment policies that ensure excellence, equity, and balanced demographics at every school in the District."
2) Motion 2, School Bonds to upgrade school facilities, establish magnet schools, etc. Please visit the today's September 10, 2008 Burlington Free Press article at www.burlingtonfreepress.com
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Champlain Elementary PTO
