PTA Feb Newsletter

FEBRUARY PTA NEWS

CALMER, EASIER, HAPPIER PARENTING

Is this what you are searching for? Friday Morning, February 27th from 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM, Noel Janis-Norton, a learning and behavior specialist with more than 25 years experience will present “Introduction to Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting,” in the Third Street School Auditorium. Admission is $10.00. This is a great opportunity to sharpen your parenting skills. For more information about this speaker, go to www.calmerparenting.com

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KITS

Emergency preparedness kits for home, office, and automobile are still available to order. A portion of the purchase price will be returned to Third Street to continue our updating of school emergency supplies. Order forms are available in the school office. GET PREPARED NOW!

PTA ELECTIONS TO BE HELD MARCH 6th

Have you thought you would like to participate in PTA by being a board member? Our Nominating Committee is currently working on the 2008-2009 slate. Please contact Adam Gower, PTA parliamentarian (323-665-2000 / adamla@earthlink.net) to place your name in nomination. If you are interested in heading a committee, we’d like to hear from you, too. Please contact this year’s current officers or chairpersons to learn about their positions. Elections will be held at the March 6th PTA/FOT meeting.

PTA FOUNDERS DAY

On February 17th, National PTA will celebrate the 102nd anniversary of its founding. PTA works for all children to improve their health, education and well-being. By joining PTA you not only help Third Street to be great, but you also support the children of California and our Nation. If you haven’t yet joined PTA, our membership campaign is on-going. Membership is only ten dollars and includes National and State PTA membership benefits such as on-line parenting resources, e-newsletters, leadership training, and sponsor offers from companies including Barnes & Noble, T-mobile, Southwest Airlines Vacations, Liberty Mutual, Kidz-IDz, Medic Alert, and Sharp Electronics. Go to the Members Only site at www.pta.org for details.

TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO SCHOOL WEEK

Annually, National PTA celebrates Take your Family to School Week. This year, this important reminder that parent participation greatly enhances our children’s’ learning, takes place February 8-14th. We are fortunate to have many parents, grandparents, and other family members volunteer and participate in classroom activities at Third Street. While we haven’t scheduled a special event, Third Street offers many opportunities for family involvement. Come to school!

2009 NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

PTA will hold its annual National Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, March 11-12. This is open to any PTA member who wants to get involved. Go www.pta.org for more information and registration.

FEBRUARY IS DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

Dental health professionals recommend that children and adults have a dental examination and teeth cleaning twice a year. Poor dental health can lead to serious medical conditions and poor school performance. Make your dental appointments today! If your family is unable to pay for dental care for your children, ask our school nurse for a referral to the Tenth District PTA dental program. PTA also offers vision care and health examinations for families in need.

REFLECTIONS ART

We had 157 entries to this year’s Reflections program. We have many talented students at Third Street! The judging at Third Street was completed by volunteer community experts, and selected works were forwarded to the PTA Tenth District for additional judging. The Tenth District Reflections Exhibit will be held on Sunday, March 1st from 1:00PM to 4:00PM at the Tenth District office, 1000 Venice Blvd. We are planning to have a display at Third Street in March.

FAMILY NIGHT / BOOK FAIR / WINTER CONCERT

This year’s Scholastic Book Fair was a wonderful success. Thank you to the numerous volunteers headed by Dorie Chamberlain and under the direction of our librarian Carole Koneff who worked tirelessly during the week. Thanks to Melanie Snodgrass, parent in Room 7 who organized the In N Out Burger Family Night event. Thanks also go Janet Hawkins, parent in Room 17 and Nancy Iland, parent in Room 13. We sold a lot of burgers! For every burger sold, we earned money for to purchase new books and supplies for our library. We are excited to report, the library received six hundred dollars. Lastly, thanks to Kevin Mason, orchestra director, and to all the students who performed in the wonderful Winter Concert

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Good Shepherd and Alexandria House, local shelters for battered and homeless women and children and Gramercy Place, a shelter for homeless families were very thankful for our donations of toys from our very successful toy drive headed by parent Wendy Hopkins, parent in Room 24.

The unclaimed Lost & Found clothing was donated to Good Shepherd. During this cool weather season, the shelter was especially thankful for our generous donation.

We are continuing to collect gently used clothing and toys for the children and families at Salvin Special Education Center. Please place your donations in the yellow collection box near the school office.

LOST & FOUND

The Lost & Found, located in the cafeteria area, is again filling with clothing, lunch boxes and other belongings left about campus. Please claim your child’s lost items. Glasses, keys and other valuables are kept in the school office. Items not claimed by Spring Vacation will be donated to charity.

Our next PTA/FOT meeting will be held, Friday, February 6th at 8:15 AM in the Auditorium. Come enjoy a cup of coffee, meet with other parents and learn about what’s happening at our school.

Donna Kishibay, Third Street PTA President

323-549-0408 / 310-487-9420 / deteson@ucla.edu

PTA – every child. one voice