Central PTA News

Summer break is here with swimming, riding bikes, camps, sunshine, relaxing and fun! I hope your summer is off to a great beginning! My belief is the more informed we are as Central School parents, the better!

I had the opportunity to attend the June 17, 2008 D96 Board of Education meeting and thought I would share some agenda items.

• The District 96 Offices will move their offices this summer to Mater Christi in North Riverside to help clear some space for additional classrooms at Hauser.
• Increasing proof of residency checks being considered.
• A temporary class size change for the D96 08/09 Kindergarten class to 23 students has been approved by the BOE to accommodate the large incoming class.

If you want to continue to be informed, I’d encourage you to attend the next 96 Board of Education Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 7:30pm, Hauser Learning Resource Center.

If you have any questions that you think I may be able to answer, please feel free to email me at marrymelon@sbcglobal.net.

Enjoy your summer!
Mary Ellen Meindl, Central PTA/PTO 08/09 President

Hike and Bike to School: Plan and promote a week of awareness and activities promoting walking or riding bikes to school. (Fall Program) Co-chair/Chair needed.

Birthday Boards: This committee honors all of the student and staff birthdays on the bulletin board in the hallway outside the office. Great opportunity to show off your creativity! Co-Chair needed.

Grant Writer: Are you a writer? Do you have a way with words? Assist with research, writing and editing all grant applications. Co-Chair needed.

Science in a Can: A weekly commitment for 6 weeks beginning in January to check in cans and replenish supplies for the experiments. Usually requires 30 minutes at school during the program. Co-Chair needed.

Central School is in transition from a PTA to a PTO. Our Central PTO will not collect membership dues in 08/09 because all parents and teachers are members of our Central School group. If you have already filled out a membership application, you should have received a $3.25 refund check for PTA dues that will not be paid. Haven’t filled it out yet? Well, you have two options:

1. Complete the current membership application minus the $3.25 for a total of $9.75 and either send it in to Central School or walk it on over before 6/13/08, the date the school closes for summer.
2. Wait until you receive the new PTO signup sheet in August, 2008.

The $9.75 will give you one student directory, one District 96 calendar and one copy of the 08/09 Roadrunner Yearbook. Questions, please contact Melinda Brom, thebroms@sbcglobal.net or Michelle Marconi, michellemarconi@ameritech.net. If you’d like to talk to them, their phone numbers are in the school directory.

Thanks to those of you that have stepped up to make sure our Central PTO 08/09 Programs happen! Volunteers are still need for a few Central PTO Programs!

1. Birthday Boards — Allyn Pilewski and Lisa Marciniak went overboard with the commitment and creativity this past school year and want to make sure all potential volunteers know that they can keep it simple! The birthday boards need to be changed 6 times during the school year. If you are creative and enjoy celebrating birthdays, grab a friend to split it up and this job is for you!
2. Hike and Bike To School Week — A great program that happens one October week that promotes healthy habit in our kids. You’ll put together an easy to manage one week contest to encourage walking or riding bikes (3-5th grade) to school.
3. PR/Media Coordinator — A great writer is needed to find out what is happening around school, prepare a press release and forward to the local newspapers. Letting our community know about the good things that happen at Central School is important!
4. Cultural Arts Program — One person is still needed to work with a new Co-Chair, Sue Pipal, to coordinate the Cultural Arts program. Organize and lead the volunteers that take turns giving monthly presentations about selected artists and pieces of art and supervising a hands-on related art activity. No previous art knowledge needed!
5. Teacher Appreciation Week — Help plan and implement a week long event in May to recognize our teachers and school staff. Currently there is one Co-chair and we are looking for another.

If you are interested or need more information on a specific committee, please contact one of our 1st VP’s. Melinda Brom, thebroms@sbcglobal.net or Michelle Marconi, michellemarconi@ameritech.net. If you’d like to talk to them, their phone numbers are in the school directory.