News from our PTA President

Transcription

1 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2015 Vineyard Ranch PTA Website: News from our PTA President The calendar says it s fall, but at 90 o F it s hard to think about sweaters and long pants. Hopefully we will get some cool autumn air soon. We are starting our second month of school now and your Vineyard Ranch PTA has been very busy! We have lots of events and volunteer opportunities available for you and your family. To start off October, our first General PTA Meeting & Howdy Night will take place on the first Tuesday of the month. Come learn about ways to become involved on campus. (And grab some dinner before hand pizza will be available.) The Spirit Store will also be open. Wednesday, October 7 th is International Walk to School Day. The Environmental Committee of PTA would like to see lots and lots of walkers participating this year. So hit the sidewalk with your happy feet and get on down to the Ranch. Individual school picture day will take place on Thursday, October 8 th. A few volunteers will be needed to help in the gym that day. The Arts in Education Committee is also bringing back the Meet the Masters art education program. Lessons will be led by Mrs. Brzozowski (LINKS teacher) and the first artist to be studied is Piet Mondrian. The PTA chair, Eileen Hart, will be seeking volunteers to help in the classroom when students create their geometric masterpieces. And the National PTA art contest, Reflections, will happen this month also. So get your little artists busy at home, using this year s theme Let Your Imagination Fly. PTA will be assisting during the school fundraiser, the Apex Fun Run. Volunteers will be needed to cheer the students on as well as mark laps as they are completed. Finally, the month of October will conclude with Red Ribbon Week. Stay tuned for a list of the week s activities by checking the PTA website or look for a flyer coming home via backpack mail. We would love for you to become a member of Vineyard Ranch PTA. You can read about the benefits of membership at Dues are $6 per person and can be paid by cash or check to Vineyard Ranch PTA or online at the link above. We need YOU to help Back the Future of our children in Texas There is still ONE Executive Board committee in need of a chairperson: Workrooms 3 rd -5 th grade. For details, go to (bottom of the page) or contact me at address below. I hope to see you around the Ranch! Sara Patterson president@vineyardranchpta.org IMPORTANT DATES: 10/6 - Howdy Night and Shoe Drive Ends General PTA Meeting 10/ Reflections Art 10/7 Walk to School Day Drop Off 10/8 - Life Touch Fall 10/23 - Report Cards Pictures 10/ Red Ribbon 10/9 - Early Dismissal Week 10/12 - Student Holiday 10/29-11/6 - Fall Book Fair 10/16 - Sister School IN THIS ISSUE: 10 Greenback PTA 2 Volunteer Opportunities Fundraiser 3 Sister School 11 PTA Life Membership Information 5 Meet the Masters & Red Ribbon Week 12 PVSA Information 6 PTA Reflections 13 NEISD 2015 Bond 7 Watch DOGS information & Veterans 9 PTA Membership Day

2 PAGE 2 Volunteer Opportunities Lunchroom Shift One: 10:30am 11:45am Shift Two: 11:45am 1:00pm You may sign up for shifts online at: *Special Lunch Hours (Early Dismisal) Oct 9 and Nov 3-4 Shift One: 10:00am 11:00am Shift Two: 11:-00am-12:15pm For questions or information, please lunchroom@vineyardranchpta.org Library Come volunteer in the Library! For questions, to volunteer or for more information about Library opportunities, please Nadia at library@vineyardranchpta.org Picture Day Thursday, October 8th More information to come Red Ribbon Week October For questions or to volunteer, contact Rita at adept@vineyardranchpta.org Watch Dogs Can t volunteer a whole day what about 45 minutes? Watch Dogs needed from 7:00am-7:45am daily to help with the car line and front entrance Sign up at Meet the Masters October For questions or to volunteer, contact Eileen at artsined@vineyardranchpta.org THE BRONCO GAZETTE All volunteers must have DPS clearance.

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5 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 PAGE 5 Meet The Masters Your students will discover the abstract art of Dutch painter, Piet Mondrian. His balanced composition will expose the children to a new style of art in which lines and geometric shapes are used to express mood and feeling. The children will create Mondrian-type balanced composition. Our art lessons will take place on October We welcome all volunteers who have been DPS cleared. Contact Eileen Hart at masters@vineyardranchpta.org with questions or to volunteer. Join us at Howdy Night to learn more: Tuesday, October 6 at 6:30 PM Vineyard Ranch cafeteria

6 PAGE 6 teria or at: Wednesday, October from 7:00 am-7:30 am in the Atrium entering the most entries March 2016 Questions? Contact Jackeline Arce at: artsined@vineyardranchpta.org THE BRONCO GAZETTE

7 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 PAGE 7 Watch D.O.G.S. Dads of Great Students Newsletter #2 How to be a Watchdog Thank you for your interest in Watch D.O.G.S. Requests to be a Watchdog should be made online through the Vineyard Ranch PTA website. Father figures may volunteer upto one day for each student or combine all their students into one day. Please have two optional dates in mind in case there are conflicts with school scheduling. Volunteer Clearance First Things First: Even if you don t have a date in mind right now, I urge you to obtain your volunteeer clearance straight away. It s just horrible to see the sad face of an expectant student when his or her hero is denied access to the campus. Clearance Requests: Status Check: Watch D.O.G.S. Application Apply online: The Top Dog will request your volunteer day with the teacher(s) This date will be "reserved" and you will be notified by The appointment will be "confirmed" with you 1-2 weeks before the date. Watch D.O.G.S. Shirts The online application will ask you for your shirt size so that we can have your shirt ready for you on the day. You are also welcome to re-use a Watch D.O.G.S. shirt if you have one from prior years. However, we do not provide a shirt for the students and you may wish consider buying shirt (s) online at the D.O.G.S Store: Thanks, and we hope to see you at the Ranch this school year! Tim Broughton Top Dog watchdogs@vineyardranchpta.org

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10 PAGE 10 Vineyard Ranch PTA s main fundraiser for is the Greenback Giving Program Greenback Giving: Be the Leader in Your Child s Education. Donate Today. Put your child first. No selling or buying merchandise is required. Just make a donation! 100% of your donation stays at Vineyard Ranch, directly benefiting students with over 25 unique programs. These include but are not limited to: Meet the Masters art program, author visits, Red Ribbon Week, Bike Rodeo, Field Day, National PTA s Reflections art program, and special performances. 100% of your Greenback donation is also tax deductible. For , Vineyard Ranch PTA spent almost $50 per student in delivering enrichment programs and activities not included in the school curriculum budget. Synergize! If we work together, we can do better: Double your Greenback Giving with your corporate Matching Gift Program. Learn the 7 Habits of Greenback Giving on our PTA website. Fill out the Greenback Donation section on the Welcome Back form at Return form with cash/check made to Vineyard Ranch PTA to your child's teacher. Donations may also be made by credit card at Double your Greenback gift with your company's Matching Gift Program! Since Vineyard Ranch Elementary PTA is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, it may be eligible to receive a matching donation from your company! Contact your Human Resources Department for a Matching Gift form and program details. For questions, contact Christy Garber, 2nd VP Ways and Means at waysandmeans@vineyardranchpta.org THE BRONCO GAZETTE

11 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 PAGE 11 Honorary Texas PTA Life Membership Nominations Do you know someone who: Has gone the extra mile for our children? Is a valuable volunteer? Is an exceptional teacher, dedicated to education? Is an outstanding staff member? Is a Community Member who shares his/her resources and expertise for the benefit of all children? The Vineyard Ranch family is made up of many wonderful and dedicated teachers, administrators, staff members, and parents. We are so lucky to have such support within our school! Now is your chance to show your appreciation to those who work so hard for our children. The Vineyard Ranch PTA Life Membership committee is accepting nominations for the Honorary Texas PTA Life Membership award. This prestigious award is presented to a person who continuously demonstrates a dedication to the welfare of children. Please consider nominating an individual for the Texas PTA Honorary Life Membership Award. They could be a parent, faculty, staff, or a community member who has made a worthwhile contribution for the well being of the children and youth of this community. It is not necessary that this person be a member of the Vineyard Ranch PTA. If you know someone who you feel is deserving of such an honor, please complete the information listed below and your nomination to lifemember@vineyardranchpta.org. You may also return your nomination (in an envelope), labeled Life Membership, to the front office. Please submit your nomination by November 6. Awards will be announced and presented at the Vineyard Ranch PTA December General Meeting (Tuesday, December 1 at 6:30 pm in Vineyard Ranch Cafeteria). Thank you so much for taking the time to submit a nomination! Questions? Contact Alissa Hatch at lifemember@vineyardranchpta.org. Nominee: Nominated by: Your Phone Number and/or Reason for nominating this person: (Please include a short paragraph on why you feel this person should receive this award.)

12 PAGE 12 ATTENTION ALL STUDENT VOLUNTEERS! Be among a special few Vineyard Ranch students to receive the Presidential Volunteer Service Award which includes an official Presidential Volunteer Service Award pin, certificate of achievement and a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States! Let all the volunteer and service hours that you have donated to Vineyard Ranch and your community be counted toward this prestigious award. To receive the award you must have volunteered at least 26 hours of service time from May 1, 2015 April 30, 2016 (see eligibility chart below). The deadline to enter your hours is April 30, AWARD ELIGIBILITY: HOURS BY AWARD BRONZE SILVER GOLD KIDS (5-10) HR HR 75+ HR TEENS (11-15) HR HR 100+ HR Examples of student activities for earning service hours: Safety Patrols Peer Mediators Broadcasting Girl/Boy Scouts Keeping scores at games Volunteering at animal shelters or church Helping an elderly neighbor with yard work Babysitting or pet sitting for free School service clubs - Green Team, S.O.S., 4 th for Others Lighthouse Team For details on how to log your PVSA hours, go to: For further information or questions, please Jenny Crider at pvsa@vineyardranchpta.org. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE VINEYARD RANCH PVSA AWARD RECIPIENTS! THE BRONCO GAZETTE

13 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 PAGE 13 Early Voting begins: Friday, October 19 Early Voting ends: Friday, October 30 Election Day: Tuesday, November 3 See you at the polls! The North East ISD Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to hold an election in November for a $ million bond program. The bond package was designed with input from NEISD principals, District staff, parents, students and community members. The 2015 Bond focuses on five categories: Safety and Security, Technology, Operations, Extracurricular, and Facilities. Early voting is October Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. You can learn more about the NEISD Bond 2015 at Register to vote no later than October 5, 2015 at reqvr.shtml We welcome our veterans and their children to join us for a Veteran s Day celebration next month on the morning of November 11th. Bronco students will honor those who have served in the US Armed Forces with a school-wide assembly followed by a breakfast for veterans and their children. Everyone is encouraged to wear their most patriotic gear in red, white, and blue to show their pride. Thank you, veterans, for all of your service!