The Paloma Partner

Volume II, Issue 1
Partners in Education

August 2001


Dear Paloma Families,
Welcome! We have a fantastic year planned. If I could impress upon every person that holds this newsletter, what an impact their five fingers could make on increasing student achievement, providing classroom support, meeting students' needs and providing curriculum support, wouldn't everyone want to jump at the chance to make such positive changes! This is part of our vision, our goal! Jump in and get your hands "dirty!" Just as Stephen Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, says to "Begin with the end in mind," we hope you will join us in visualizing how you will impact Paloma. This means to start the year with a clear understanding of what you want to accomplish, what kind of impact you wish to make, and how you will measure your goals along the way. By becoming involved in our HELPING HANDS PROGRAM, you can clearly make a commitment that would fit your interests, time constraints and personal goals.

"PALOMA HELPING HANDS PROGRAM"

Classroom Support/Workroom Reading Lab Assistants PTA After School Clubs
Make copies
Laminate
Cut, Staple
Book Binding
Library, Office help
Prepare Classroom Materials
Listen to individual readers
Keep simple records
Short Training Session
Chess Club
Arts and Crafts Club
What could you lead?
BE CREATIVE!

This program was developed by a committee of administrators, teachers and parents.

Research has proven many times over that when parents are involved at school student's achieve more, exhibit positive behaviors, are better problem solvers and value education. It would not take much time on your part; 30 minutes here, one hour there, during lunch, after school, once a month or once a week, what ever slice of time you could donate. We are "Partners In Education" (PIE), give a slice of your time and invest in the future, our children.

I look forward to working with you this year! I know that together we will make great things happen. Fill out an information form in your child's class on Meet the Teacher Night or stop by the PTA table for more information.

Sincerely,
Deb Striker
Paloma PTA President

THANK YOU TO LAST YEARS PTA BOARD!
What a fabulous job Jill Johnson, Melinda Brown, Dusti Carroll, and Beth Doney did making Paloma a great place for our children to attend. Many successful events were held, the teachers lounge was refurbished, cubbies were installed in the portables, a terrific web site was established and all items on the teachers' wish list were granted! Your dedication, time, and commitment to Paloma's staff, students, and parents is greatly appreciated!

Paloma's 2001-2002 PTA Board Members
President
Debbie Striker
940-0649
president@palomapta.org

Vice President
Sally Sweet
940-1250
vicepresident@palomapta.org

Secretary
Sandy Hughes
961-7830
secretary@palomapta.org

Treasurer
Renee Monroe
961-7330
treasurer@palomapta.org

PTA Web Site
www.palomapta.org

PTA Meetings

Our first meeting will be at 3:00 PM on Thursday, September 13

PTA Money Up-Date
We did our first fund raiser off campus in May at the West Chandler Aquatics Center. We set up a concession stand for four days and made $1,100! Thank you to the following donors:

Water and Ice on Ray and Rural
Water and Ice on Kyrene and Ray
Basha's on Chandler and Kyrene
K-Bar Construction for donating the Snow Cone Machine
And thank you to all our parent volunteers that helped run the stand on those hot days!

PTA EVENTS CALENDAR

Meet the Teacher Night; Thursday, August 16 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM:
Come visit our PTA table in the library! Buy a tee shirt, update your membership, or check out what's new.

First Day Back Parent Reception; Monday, Aug. 20:
The first day of school is exciting for everyone, even Mom and Dad. So, after the children go into their classrooms at 7:45 AM parents (and younger siblings) are invited into the library for coffee, juice and snacks!

3:00 PM General PTA Meeting; Thursday, Sept. 13:
Let's discuss what goals we want to set for the year, how much money is in the bank and find out how the PTA will be supporting teachers and students this year. If you are a Parent, Teacher or Community Member and care about education then you won't want to miss this meeting! 3:00 PM

Fundraiser Kick-Off; Friday, Sept. 14:
We make 50% of all orders from our catalog sales: candy, gift wrap and fun holiday items! We appreciate your support.

"Parent Partners" at Toy Town; Tuesday, Sept. 18:
If you are a parent that would like to be involved at school, but can't get away because you have young children that need cared for, we are starting a babysitting network. We will all meet at Toy Town to find a partner/friend that would be willing to trade babysitting so that you could work in the classroom, help in the work- room, read with children in the reading lab or help in other areas. Bring your children to play while you get to meet new friends! 9:00 - 10:00 AM

Ice Cream Social; Friday, Sept. 21:
Everyone is welcome; invent your favorite sundae, make a root beer float, win a door prize, enjoy music, socialize with other parents, staff and teachers or enjoy a delicious dessert. Plus, enter your favorite teacher in a special drawing! 6:30 - 8:30 PM

More Fun to Come! Health Fair and Bikes & Blades, Picnic Under the Stars, Kids Craft & Holiday Fun Day, Parent Academy Conference, Carnival, Pizza and Game Night, and more!
Hope you are willing to give a slice of your time to help with one or more of these fun events! Sign-up at the PTA table or call Debbie Striker @ 940-0649.

PTA MEMBERSHIP
We invite every parent, guardian, teacher, administrator, community member and business partner to join the Paloma Parent, Teacher Association. We are an advocacy group for children at the local, state and national government, working to influence legislative policy and are a network of volunteers that deal with child education and health and welfare issues. Membership dues are $5.00 per person. The Arizona PTA receives $3.25, the National PTA is sent $1.25 and the remainder goes to the Paloma PTA. Your membership makes a difference in our school.

Stop by the PTA table to pick up a membership form and receive you membership card, coupon book, gift and other information during Meet the Teacher Night, The First Day Back Parent Reception, Curriculum Night, or at any of our General PTA Meetings. Call Jane Johnson at 557-18323 or Diane Astorino940-1308 for more information.

Don't Miss Meet the Teacher Night!
WE WILL BE SET UP IN THE LIBRARY.

Paloma Store
Shirts $10.00 children
$12.00 adults
Paloma Pencils $0.30
Water Bottles $3.00
Zippy Packs $5.00

No Cost Fundraisers!

  1. Save General Mills Box tops
  2. Save Campbell Soup Labels
  3. When you shop at Target, use your Target Guest Card. We receive 1% of each sale. Just designate Paloma as your gift school.
  4. Sign-up and shop on-line at www.schoolpop.com.
  5. Enroll at K-Mart for your School Spirit Cards (new!)

Best Deals Deck
(food and fun coupon book)
Available at Meet to the Teacher Night
$20.00

Robinsons May at the new Chandler Fashion Center Mall is having a special Preview Shopping Day. A $5.00 donation to Paloma PTA will get you in the door, enjoy clowns, balloons, 25% of merchandise, a chance at a $1,000 shop! Paloma PTA earns 100% of all sales! So come pick up your ticket booklet.

Where is all the tax money from Prop. 301 going?

52% will go to teachers' compensation
23% will be used for class reduction
25% will be used as school funds

Keeping in touch with our Kyrene School Board:

President: Rae Waters (480) 893-0198 or raej@uswest.net
Rich Zawtocki (480) 491-4073 or rzawtocki@1800theeagle.com
Trudy Armstead (480) 831-8112 or ptpconsulting@aol.com
Edward "Slade" Mead (480) 460-3817 or elibear@aol.com
Robert Briscoe (480) 839-2084 no e-mail available

New Interim Superintendent Appointed by Governing Board

Donald Enz was appointed as interim superintendent on June 12, 2001 to replace Brad Barrett, who began in July as the new superintendent of the Gilbert Unified School District. Enz has over 29 years experience as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and interim superintendent in Arizona. Enz received his doctorate in curriculum and instruction from ASU in 1998, where he also obtained a masters and bachelors in secondary education. The contract with Enz began on July 1, 2001, and will terminate on June 30, 2002. The Governing Board will begin the process of hiring a permanent superintendent in the next few months.

What Happens When Parents Volunteer?

Parent involvement equals student success! The more extensive the parental involvement is, the higher the student achievement is as well. When parents are involved in their children's education, those children have higher grades and test scores, better attendance, and more consistently completed homework. These children also have higher graduation rates, and greater enrollment rates in post-secondary education. Students with active parents exhibit more positive attitudes and motivation toward school, and have a more positive self-concept. The school in turn has a program that dramatically outperforms identical school programs without parent/family involvement. It's a "win-win" situation for all parties involved, so we encourage you...Our Paloma Families, to Get Involved this Year!

Source: National PTA/Jennifer Pope