Teacher Appreciation Lunch - next Wednesday!

Laura had the great idea to have a teacher appreciation lunch next Wednesday for LEAP DAY!

When Wednesday Feb 29th.

Sign up to bring something below:

Menu: Sandwiches, Salads and sides!17 teachers
Roast beef: Laura Federico
Turkey: Velrose White
Ham:
Rolls: Natalie Johnson
Cheese, lettuce and tomato:
Condiments:
Pasta Salad: Gretchen Daues
Fruit: Nadien Menke
Chips: Karin Sturgis
Cookies: Nadien Menke, and Karen Zanotto
Drinks:


Thanks! 


ADDITIONAL UPDATE: Natalie Johnson has volunteered to head up the spring rummage sale fundraiser!  Way to go Natalie!  She will keep us posted when she has more information. 

Healthy Children Article

Check out the link below shared  by parent Jasmine Nguyen:


http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/Pages/default.aspx

It's sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The site addresses many important issues, such as nutrition, sleep issues, behavioral concerns, toilet training, etc. Topics that pediatricians simply cannot cover at length in a 20-30 minute well child check.  I particularly like the article about Growing Independence: Tips for Parents of Young Children

Notes from PTO meeting held February 1, 2012

Guest Speaker Melody Bosley, Kindergarten teacher at Southport Elementary School, spoke about Kindergarten readiness. 

• Curriculum taught in this district is "Open Court" for reading and "Math Expressions" for math. 
• For Kindergarten, there is a 20-1 student teacher ratio. 
• Social aspects are so much more important than academic aspects of preparation.  Knowing how to share, to sit quietly for longer periods of time and to not cry when parents drop off are very helpful. 
• Academic preparation - "well-prepared" kids can write their letters, numbers and their names.  Ways to help your child prepare include lots of reading, singing, counting, etc. 
• By the end of the year, students will read a minimum of 34 "site words" and write numbers 1-30. 
• There is some comfusion about birthday cut offs for starting kindergarten.  Check back at the Washington unified school district for more informatio.n: http://www.wusd.k12.ca.us/   As of the meeting, the website showed a Dec. 2nd birthday cut off, but the laws are changing and we think the website may just not be up to date. 
• We discussed after school care options, which vary by school site. 

Other notes/announcements:

• Melinda announced that the outside structure for the toddler room has been ordered and they are just waiting on a delivery date. They also ordered a water table for the preschool and toddler room and some new mats with the money raised from the cookie dough fundraiser.
• February 10^th is parent's night out – sign up at Portside if you want childcare.
• Brad wanted to remind parents of preschoolers to please drop off either before 9am or after 9:30, as to not interrupt “group time.” He is working hard to get the pre-schoolers ready for Kindergarten. Thank you for understanding.
• Hang on to anything you may wish to donate to the spring rummage sale!  All proceeds will benefit the PTO.  Date to be announced. 

Thanks for Laura Federico for arranging our guest speaker this month! 

We will announce our next meeting as soon as we set a date, probably sometime in mid-March.

As always, if you have an idea for an event/activity for the PTO, let us know and we can try to make it happen! 

It is so nice to see parents at the meeting and we would love to have even more parents getting involved!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here is an update on some upcoming events:

The cleanup day that was scheduled for January 21st has been cancelled until further notice.  As soon as Maureen or Melinda announce something, we will spread the word.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 1st at 6:00pm.  A kindergarden teacher from Southport Elementary will be there to talk about kindergarden readiness and we will be discussing spring events.  Let us know if you need childcare.

COOKIE DOUGH IS IN!

COOKIE DOUGH IS IN!!  Please pick yours up today.

If you would like to contribute to the holiday gifts for all of the teachers, please leave $ in the PTO box by tomorrow, 12/13.

Thanks to all the volunteers who have signed up for the teacher appreciation lunch on Thursday. I think it will be a great lunch. If you didn't get a chance to sign up it's not too late!


The Winter concert is Wednesday night at 6:30.  What better way to use up some of the cookie dough that you just picked up!  Please sign up to bring a dessert: cookies, breads, cupcakes....whatever is your specialty. Sign up in the comments section.  Thanks! 

Notes from last week's meeting

Notes from PTO meeting on November 30, 2011

TEACHER LUNCHEON: We are putting on a teacher luncheon on Thursday, December 15^th. We are putting on a teacher appreciation potluck for the teachers at Portside.  Please sign up for what dish you would like to contribute to say thanks for all that our teachers do! I was going to put a link to an evite so people could write what they were going to bring, but I am just going to let people put what they are going to bring in the comment section of the blog.

TEACHER HOLIDAY GIFTS: We are going to put notes in boxes at school giving the option to contribute to a holiday gift for the teachers.

FUNDRAISING: Way to go on the fundraising. We sold over $4,000 worth of cookie dough. The money raised is going to go towards replacing the play structure in the toddler room that was recently destroyed by vandalism.

EVENING PERFORMANCE: There is going to be an evening performance by the students coming up soon. Keep an eye on your boxes for the date!

SONG LISTS: Some parents have requested a list of song lyrics of the songs their kids sing (so that they can sing them at home). Portside is working on this and hopefully will get it to us so we can post it on the blog.

SUPPLIES: Many people have asked whether Portside takes donations of supplies. Their ongoing needs list includes: envelopes, magazines, paper and books.

TEXTING: Some people have said that the texting service is not working – Melinda and Maureen are looking into this.

CLEAN UP DAY: Tentative outside cleanup-day set for Saturday, January 21^st. More details to follow.

NEXT MEETING is tentatively set for Wednesday, February 1^st.

Holiday Gift for Teachers

Portside Parents,

Here is a copy of what you are getting in your boxes this week. 

It is that time of year when we all wonder as parents what are we going to get our child’s teacher for Christmas! I know we all want to make sure that the people who love and care for our children everyday are made to feel special around the holidays.  For the last two years a large group of parents contributed very generously to a group gift. Last year we did gift cards. We discussed the idea at the PTO meeting on November 30th and decided to do it again!!!

How: We (PTO) will take donations for the gifts from now until 6pm on Tuesday December 13th. If you want to contribute please leave your donation in the PTO suggestion box located by the sign in sheets with your name and email and your child’s name and room attached. There is no required donation amount, but as a reference, most families contributed b/w $10-30 per child last year. Although you can donate less or more as your budget allows. Again this year the money will go to gift cards and if we get extra we can add something additional (i.e. ornaments or stockings). There is no obligation so if you don’t want to participate that is okay too.  The PTO has offered to help count the money and wrap the gifts. We will sign all of the cards with the names of those who contributed. If you have a great idea or also want to help put the gifts together please email me. 

When: We will give the gifts during the Holiday party on December 16th so if you want to join in or help let me know. I will also email everyone after we have compiled everything so you know what we got. The PTO is also hosting a teacher’s appreciation pot luck on Thursday December 15th if you would like to participate and bring a dish.

Call or email you have questions please feel free to call me at 916-947-9041 or email me at leschwartz44@hotmail.comLaura Federico

SHHHH SHHHHH Keep it a secret!!!