At a glance
Vashon PTSA
2010 Back
to School
Drive
To donate cash online,
please use the following
Paypal Link
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The annual Vashon PTSA Back-To-School Drive is on! This year’s we will be accepting donations of pencils, erasers, glue sticks, backpacks, notebooks and more July 30-Aug 22. Collection bins and supply lists will be located at various island businesses.
We need volunteers ASAP to help collect cash donations and school supplies outside of Thriftway for one to two hour shifts. Shifts are on Fridays and Sundays, July 30 through August 22, and Saturday, August 28th.
If you are unable to volunteer for this important cause, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Every bit helps, and goes toward items such as required school supplies and new backpacks, which will be distributed at the Vashon-Maury Community Food Bank at the end of August to families facing financial hardships.
School supply collection bins and cash donation boxes can be found at various Vashon businesses in the month of August. Cash donations to PTSA for the drive will also be accepted via PayPal, at manned donation bins or can be sent to Vashon PTSA, P.O Box 2364, Vashon WA 98070.
For questions or to volunteer for the Back to School Drive contact Coriel Silkett-O’Reilly
at (206) 851-2293, or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Show Your Support for Vashon Island Community PTSA!
If you've never been a member of the PTSA, now is the time to join. If you were a member in years past, now is the time to renew your membership. We've added a new membership category this year; now for $35 every member in your family can become a member of PTSA!
Your membership dollars are key to helping support the continuation of great PTSA programs such as: local and national legislative representation; CES family science nights; the Science Fair; McMurray rec night; Vashon Artists in Schools; and so much more.
Membership forms are available online at the following link or in the CES front office.
If you have questions about membership contact Mary Kay Rauma at 484-8784.
Together we can make 2009-2010 another monumental year!
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A few of you took the time to share concerns about the message in the last issue of Auction News. Thank you for the feedback and the opportunity to clarify just where PTSA Auction proceeds go.
As in past years, the proceeds from the PTSA Auction will fund PTSA programs, Vashon Island School District (VISD) curriculum enhancement, teacher training, and textbooks. The last Auction News made reference to a $750,000 budget shortfall that VISD is facing. This shortfall has depleted any funds that may have been set aside for new textbooks, teacher training, and curriculum enhancement in the 2010-2011 budget.
PTSA Auction proceeds are not being applied to the District’s $750,000 budget shortfall, but our fund raising efforts are critical to the continuing success of the District. Without PTSA Auction monies, VISD would need to make one of two choices: go without needed curriculum improvements (such as replacing 25 year old math textbooks at the high school) OR face a greater budget shortfall so as to fund these items.
As an example, budget shortfalls mean supply shortfalls as teachers try to stock their classrooms to prepare for the onset of a new school year. Fortunately, the Vashon PTSA has been able to provide much needed financial assistance to every teacher in the Vashon Island School District for the 2009-2010 school year. Each teacher received a $50 check to fund classroom supplies. Here is a sampling of how those dollars were spent:
- Esther Morrison (3rd grade) - a cursive writing system, complete with binders and sheet protectors
- Cherry Champagne (1st grade) - supplies for reading and writing
- Meri-Michael Collins (special education) - supplies for organizing thoughts during writer’s workshop
- Kim Davis (7th grade math) - logic puzzles, math learning cards, and school supplies;
- Colleen Sweeney (6th grade humanities) - some favorite books to replace worn-out copies
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Science Programs sponsored by Vashon PTSA |
Here are three great opportunities for Chautauqua students
and families to have fun with Science!
Science Trek
A new year of Science Trek is upon us. This an after-school program is for children in grades K-3. The first session will be "Engineering 101". Click on the link below for more information, dates and registration forms.
PTSA Family Science Night
Families of CES students are invited to participate in four different Family Science Nights that will be offered in the 2009-2010 academic year: Motion Commotion on Oct.7, Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My! on Nov.18, What’s the Matter? on Jan.27, and Invention Convention on March 3. Each Family Science Night participants will delve into a scientific topic by performing experiments, making predictions, gathering data, sharing ideas and having fun!!!
Family Science Nights last from 6:30 to 8:00 pm and are held in the CES cafeteria. The cost, $4.00/child for materials, is paid at the door.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information click below
Science Fair 2010
15th Annual Science Fair 2009
This community wide event welcomed all entries and visitors. In addition to science fair projects on display, we had special guests and lots of fun activities for all ages. The 2009 science fair featured all of the wonderful projects submitted by the 6th and 8th grade McMurray students as well as any other projects from all other grade levels and public and private schools. Present at the fair this year was the bone factory with their wonderful display. Barbara Gustafson led lots of fun hands on activities for all ages. This year's 2010 Science Fair promises to be an exciting way for kids to develop and present their science projects. For information or volunteer opportunities please contact Donna Gagner 463-4225. This event is sponsored by the Vashon PTSA. |
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PTSA Thank You to Teachers a Morale Booster |
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In January every Vashon Island School District teacher received a gift from the PTSA in the form of a check for $50. “The message to our teachers is we appreciate you and we want to say thank you. We are honored to participate.” said Denise Katz, PTSA President. This year’s PTSA Back to School Drive, spearheaded by Bob and Lauri Hennessey, was very successful with funds remaining after students’ school supply needs had been met. It was suggested to Bob Hennessey that the balance go to teachers for classroom supplies. The PTSA Board embraced the idea. In December the Board voted to “top off” the balance with money from the 2007 PTSA Auction budget, allowing for a disbursement of $50 to every teacher.
This year has been a difficult time at the school district in terms of finances. Superintendent Terry Lindquist is leading the district towards fiscal soundness and that includes some necessary belt-tighten along the way. Many teachers have bridged the financial gap by procuring supplies and materials out-of-pocket with no expectation of reimbursement. For some teachers that amounts hundreds of dollars.
So this little windfall discovered in teachers’ in-boxes was a nice surprise and a big morale booster. The $50 was handy, but the message that the Vashon community values our teachers was priceless. One teacher expressed, “I can't tell you how blessed I felt to know that our community understands and appreciates us.” Another comments “Thanks again for your generosity and support of our teachers and students. It really makes a difference.”
Here is a sampling of what teachers from CES, MMS, VHS and Family link have been able to purchase: Lots of books; Shakespeare, reading books, resource books, dictionaries, book club books, Spanish instructional materials, food and supplies for the “Revolutionary Brunch” at MMS, art supplies, classroom prizes for motivators, project boards, markers, crayons, glue sticks, colored construction paper, music, a pencil sharpener, and materials for a class play on Native Americans. Go to the PTSA website www.vashonptsa.org to read teachers’ comments.
The Vashon PTSA will provide opportunity for continued support to our teachers at the 2008 PTSA auction in May, with a special “Raise-the-Paddle” to raise money for teacher training.
For more comments from teachers press read more
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