New Executive Board Elected!

PTA members elected their 2001-2002 Executive Board members at the April 18^th meeting. Congratulations to our new officers!

• President – Debbie Striker
• Vice President – Sally Sweet
• Secretary – Sandy Hughes
• Treasurer – Renee Monroe

The new Board is enthusiastic and full of great ideas for next year. Plans are already under way for a new workroom volunteers committee and the possibility of scheduling some meetings in the afternoons. Your comments and suggestions are vital to the Board’s summer planning process. Please take a minute to complete the Parent Survey on the back page and return it to the school office. Your input is appreciated!

April Meeting Notes

After an update on the success of the Weenie Roast, the Nominations Committee reported that all but a few committee chair positions for next year have been filled. A list of openings was passed around and more people volunteered. The floor was then opened for nominations for next year’s Executive Board. The new officers were elected by unanimous vote.

It was announced that the Outback Steakhouse lunch had to be canceled due to low ticket sales. Dr. Barrett’s visit was announced. Teacher Appreciation Week activities were outlined, but details are being held back to surprise the teachers.

May 16^th PTA Agenda

Please note that the final PTA meeting of the 2000-2001 school year is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16^th (not May 9^th as previously listed in the last newsletter), beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the library.

Agenda items include:

• Voting on preliminary budget for 2001-2002

• Installation of new officers

Following the meeting, Mary Fletcher will give a presentation on the new summer reading program, "Hats Off to Reading."

Keep Collecting

Please send in all the Campbell Soup labels and Big G box tops you have collected this year. We’ll be collating, counting, and submitting them at the end of the school year. BUT, you can continue to save these items over the summer as we’ll start collecting them again once school starts in August. Thanks for your support of the PTA!

The Year in Review

As the school year quickly draws to a close, we’d like to offer some of the highlights of this year’s PTA activities.

• Nearly 1,000 people attend the Ice Cream Social

• We launch a terrific new web site

• Our new informative Parent Handbook goes home to all Paloma families

• We exceed our goal in the catalog fundraiser, winning a terrific student assembly with the Southwest Brass
• New school t-shirts, pencils, and other school supplies are a big hit
• More than 70 parents volunteer to help provide food for Teacher Appreciation Committee dinners during conference weeks
• Special speakers teach parents how to help their kids improve reading and writing skills, how to stay safe outside of school, and some useful tips on discipline
• We provide snacks and prizes for students participating in Turkey Trot and Field Day
• School Board candidates join parents in a lively discussion of Kyrene District issues
• We earn the maximum possible in the Fry’s Cool Ca$h program
• We earn enough at the Rummage Sale to fulfill nearly every item on the teachers’ wish list
• The portable classrooms get cubbies
• We pay salaries for 3 playground supervisors
• The teachers’ lounge gets a face lift with new paint, refrigerator, toaster oven, CD player, and counter top
• One of our Reflections Art Program winners is also a state winner
• Our newest event, Weenie Roast and Silent Auction, is a success

It’s been a great year! The Executive Board wishes to thank the many volunteers who chaired and served on committees this year, as well as those who donated items for and assisted at our many events.

A special round of applause goes out to our standing committee chairs: Becky Bunn (Membership Chair), Heidi Sill (Teacher Appreciation Chair), Martha Garner (Donations Chair), Jane Johnson, (Newsletter Production), and Dianne Sposito (Legislative Liaison). Additional thanks are due to the wonderful staff at Paloma for all their support and assistance, especially Gina Taylor, Patsy Garcia, and Ken McAndrews. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Helping Your Child Learn

(courtesy of Arizona PTA)

Support school efforts to develop and maintain rules for student discipline

Tell your child stories about your family and your culture

Understand what skills your child should be learning at each grade level

Visit the library regularly with your child

Write a note or call a teacher when something goes especially well

eXpect and encourage your child to do his/her best

You are a role model for your child—be sure to set a good example

Zero in on museums, free concerts and other community events to reinforce your child’s learning