Curriculum Night – Pierce Downer’s Curriculum Night is tonight starting at 5:30pm (check the school web site for your grade’s specific time slot). Each classroom’s PTA Room Representative will speak briefly about their role and how you can sign up online for classroom parties and art awareness. The sign-up will be released tomorrow at noon via PTA email.
Gifts & Goods Fundraiser – Thanks to all who have participated in our Gifts and Goods fundraiser! If you have not yet participated, keep in mind 50% of all wrapping paper sales and 40% of all kitchen and home items will go directly to Pierce Downer PTA! You can order online or with an order form. Additional packets are available in the school office. Please contact Lora Dominow with any questions ldominow@yahoo.com.
Destination Imagination – Considering participating in Destination Imagination (DI) this year? DI is an educational program where students work in teams to tackle challenges in the fields of STEM, fine arts, and service learning. Whether your child is new to DI or a DI veteran, please plan to attend an informational meeting, with your child, on September 21st at 7:00 pm in the gym. Student members of past teams and former parent managers will give an overview of this terrific program and answer your questions. For more information on DI click on Destination Imagination Flyer. If your child is interested in participating in DI, but can’t make the meeting, please email Allison Heverin,theheverins@gmail.com.
Panther Pacers Volunteers Needed– The bi-weekly Panther Pacers program begins later this month, but we need your help. Panther Pacers is a program designed to keep kids moving during their lunch recess. Twice a week (Tuesday’s and Fridays) during the Fall and Spring months, students can walk/run/skip around a “track” to earn tokens. Volunteer duties include setting up cones, writing down who participates, and recording the laps completed. If you are interested in helping out on Tuesdays or Fridays, or have question, please contact Ziba Irvin at zibascott@sbcglobal.net.
Waste-Free Wednesdays – The PTA’s Healthy Kids Committee invites you to pack a lunch in reusable containers, cloth napkins, and reusable silverware every Wednesday. Not only will you be helping the environment, but on random Wednesdays, students who pack an all waste-free lunch will be entered into a raffle for an Earth-friendly prize. Need to stock up on supplies, such as lunch gear, water bottles, and reusable sandwich bags? Our committee recommends www.mightynest.com, which gives 15% of your purchase back to our school. Simply designate “Pierce Downer Elementary” when placing your order.
Fun Lunch – Online ordering for Fun Lunch is open at www.orderlunches.com. If you did not receive ordering information by email, full instructions can be found here. The deadline to submit your food orders is THIS Thursday, September 15th. If you have questions regarding Fun Lunch please contact Trisha Campbell at trish24campbell@gmail.com.
Junior Great books – Junior Great Books is a voluntary reading program in which students in grades 1-6 are grouped by grade level to discuss stories during their lunch time. For more information, click on 2016-2017 Junior Great Books Program. Deadline to register is 9/30. If you have any questions, please email lesliebmurphy@gmail.com.
PTA Budget – Monday at the PTA board meeting, the board made some minor changes in the allotment of money in the budget in order to balance our expenses with our proposed fundraising. The bottom line of what we need to fund raise has been slightly decreased. We have a sizable unallocated line item to accommodate unanticipated expenses and provide for teacher and school requests that come in over the course of the year. You can view the updated budget here. If you have any questions, please feel free to email pdptapresident@gmail.com.
Save the Dates-
9/15- Fun Lunch orders due
9/21- Destination Imagination Meeting, 7pm in PD Gym
9/22- Half Day
9/29- First Fun Lunch
For more information on school or PTA activities please visit the school web site or PTA web site. For even more information on community events and activities please check out the District’s e-fliers page at District e-fliers.