Arroyo Vista Gram
April, 2009
For More Information About PTA Programs, Events, Assemblies, PTA Meetings and Agendas, Budgets and Balances and Volunteer Opportunities, Please Click Here
If you have any questions or comments, or would like a copy of an old AV Gram, please feel free to e-mail Deb McCurdy at mcdez@mac.com or Lori Calvin at calvinsmith123@sbcglobal.net
All-City Track Meet
SAVE THE DATE! The South Pasadena All-City Track Meet will be held on Friday, April 24th. Be on the lookout for future announcements and entry forms coming your way before the end of the month. Volunteers are needed. If you would like to help, please contact Xochitl Zavala at (323) 259-2499 or email jxzavala@sbcglobal.net. You can also contact Dave Wong at (626) 441-3902 or email Dwong0611@aol.com. We are also looking for someone to be our assistant, someone who is interested in taking over chairing this event for next year! It’s fun! It’s exciting! It’s for the kids!!
The Art Fair is Coming!
This fun event will be held April 25 from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Come express your artistic side and create your own masterpieces. Food and drinks will be provided by Continental Burger. We’re also selling cupcakes, and if you’d like to donate some to the Fair, please drop them off in the auditorium the Friday before the Fair, or on Saturday morning. We’re also still looking for volunteers to help that day. Please contact Rebecca Tager at rebeccatager@gmail.com Hope to see you there!
Damn Yankees” at SPMS
Batters up! It’s the Washington Senators versus the New York Yankees, it’s the Devil versus a Do-Gooder. It’s a musical where you gotta have heart and a little bit of brains and a whole lot of talent doesn’t hurt either. On May 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and May 3 at 2:30 p.m., the SPMS auditorium will be home to this classic musical featuring over 50 talented students. See what the Middle School Drama Department has going on! Tickets go on sale April 14. They cost $10 for Drama Patrons and $6 for General Seating. Tickets can be ordered by filling out an order form (available by download at http://spms.spusd.net). Ticket forms must be turned in at the SPMS office to place your order. Don’t miss this fabulous show and a chance to support our schools and children!
Mark Your Calendars for May 8, 6:30 PM for AV Karaoke Night!
Don’t Sing for Your Supper, Sing After Your Supper! Join us for an AV Family Picnic and lots of fun! Dessert will be a cakewalk . . . literally . . .
Hey Wildcats!
Hope you all had a fun Spring break! It’s hard to believe there’s only two months left to the school year -- there’s still so much to squeeze in! As the weather warms up, thoughts turn to outdoor activities. It was great to see all the students participating in Sports Day on April 3. Thank you Amy and Brian Newhall for organizing the jam packed day and for making sure everything ran like clockwork. Thank you too to all of the parents who helped out. The event could not have been the success it was without that enormous degree of cooperation. Now, if only all the energy expended out on the blacktop that day could be harnessed . . . hmmmmmm . . .
And speaking of saving energy -- “Turn Off the T.V. Week” is upon us. – and that means it’s time to give the remote a rest and time for all of us to get moving! Why not take a walk, or ride your bicycle? If you need an excuse to warm up, you can walk or ride to school on Wednesday, April 22 in honor of Earth Day. Also, we have Pajama Story Hour scheduled for Wednesday, April 22. We hope you all come to the courtyard at 7:00 pm and tune in for some real live entertainment! And, in honor of Earth Day, why not bring a recyclable plastic bottle or aluminum can so we can fill our bins that much faster?
Excitement is in the air as The All City Track Meet, scheduled for April 24, approaches. It’s always fun to see the kids cheering for their classmates and pulling out all the stops! Thank you, David Wong and Xochitl Zavala, for running this exhilarating event.
Art Fair is shaping up to be another exceptional opportunity for our wildcats to let their imaginations fly. Please join us on April 25, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, for an afternoon of creativity and spontaneity. Come early and stay late! Lunch will be available for purchase from Continental Burger. Thank you, Rebecca Tager, Debra Echard, Uta Schorlemmer, Joan Swayze and all the volunteers for setting the stage for all kinds of magic to happen.
Please remember to check out our “Little Windows” fundraiser. Fran Valera, an AV mom, has really made it incredibly easy for AV to benefit while creating some beautiful and lasting pieces of photo jewelry. You can go directly to the website at https://www.little-windows.com/ or pick up an order form in the main office. Check out the display case in the courtyard, just outside the main office if you’re looking for some ideas. This fundraiser will hopefully bring us closer to our overall goal for the year, so please do what you can to help make it a huge success!
And, as if we need to be reminded, the state budget picture for education has not improved since our last newsletter. But we don’t have to sit round and do nothing while waiting for Sacramento to figure it all out. AV PTA voted unanimously to support Measure S, our local parcel tax to preserve South Pasadena Schools, and there is much to be done to support the campaign. Endorsement forms and volunteer forms are in the main office. Please contact our AV Parcel Tax point person, Sheila Rossi at sheilarossi@gmail.com if you can spare a couple of hours for the cause by making phone calls, hosting a coffee or prepping mailers.
Measure S, Parcel Tax Update
At our meeting on April 15, our AV PTA membership voted to allocate $2,500 to the Measure S campaign in a show of additional support for our schools. So . . . we are counting on everyone’s enthusiastic participation in our last few fundraisers for the year! You can also write a check to AV PTA and direct it towards supporting Measure S. Your donations will help us reach our $2,500 goal. As you can imagine, the downturn in the economy, the state budget cuts and the resulting efforts to raise local revenue were unknown at the time we prepared this year’s PTA budget. We are counting on a community effort in order to be able to lend financial support to the campaign. Thank you, to everyone who has volunteered their time and energy to this effort. I can’t think of a better use of these resources!
The Yes On S Committee has set up a website, www.SforSchools.org, to keep everyone in the loop. You can also get text updates of events as well as volunteer needs for the campaign. Please read the below blurb regarding texting for Measure S.
Thank you, AV Community, for making our school such a dynamic place to be.
Deb McCurdy
Dear AV Parents,
I hope everyone had a great Spring Break filled with fun and relaxation. We enjoyed visiting Shamu and the Dodgers vs. Padres game in San Diego. STAR testing is coming up during the first two weeks in May for 2nd through 5th graders. Please help your child by making sure they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast before they come to school, and arrive at school on time. Thank you! Please see this week's Weekly Wire for a letter from me.
Thank you,
Rebecca Speh
Principal
Sports Day Success Story
Sports Day was once again a tremendous success! Our kids had fun, learned skills, and got exercise. This success is due to the wonderful parent volunteers and exceptional teachers who dedicate their time and energy to this event. Sports Day could not happen without this help. Special thanks go out to Mrs. Speh for her help during this event, to Desiree Bonk for directing the Kinder sports day, and to Mike Chaidez for running the jump rope station year after year long after his own children have graduated from AV. Thanks to all of the volunteers for their great work!
Amy Marcus-Newhall and Brian Newhall
AV Students Strike Gold at
Carnegie Hall!
AV students Jenna Pascale, Grace Aldrich, Noga Shaham, Emily Schwab, performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 1st. Their concert was part of a festival sponsored by World Projects International. Although it was an all-High School festival, the South Pasadena Children's Orchestra was invited to perform and won the highest rating GOLD, for their outstanding job. Way to go, Wildcats!
From Our PTA President
Student Council Lucky Charms Fundraiser!
Wish your child good luck on their California State testing AND support Student Council. Lucky Charms will be sold at Pajama Story Hour on Wednesday April 22 and at our Assembly on Friday April 24. Charms will be available for purchase after school on Friday as well. Look for a lucky flyer in the lucky Weekly Wire.
AV PTA Supports Measure S, the SPUSD Parcel Tax Resolution
Click here to read the SPUSD Board Parcel Tax Resolution
Click here to print out a Parcel Tax Endorsement and Volunteer Form
If you would just like to help out on the Parcel Tax, but are not sure what you want to do, please e-mail Laura Kieffer at laurakieffer@att.net. Every little bit helps!
Rebecca Speh
Are You Ready for Turn Off The TV and All Electronic Games Week?
Join the AV Community in taking the Turn Off Week Challenge during the week of April 20 - 26. You will be joining kids from all over South Pasadena when you choose to spend your week unplugged from your TV and any electronic or computer games. When the week is over, bring your signed certificate stating you’ve completed a week without TV or electronics and take it to Mrs. Moore in the library to receive a surprise. To download the certificate and for more information on the Turn Off the TV and All Electronic Games Week click here!
Join Us For AV Pajama Story Hour!
This fun annual event held Wednesday, April 22, form 7 - 8:00 pm in the AV Courtyard. Wear your PJS ... or not .. and get ready for an hour of terrific stories. (Humans Only, Sorry No Pets!)
There are 2 keywords to text: text YesonS to 37398, to stay up to date on the campaign, text WinS to 37398, to receive volunteer need alerts. And speaking of volunteering . . . helping hands (and voices) are needed to man the phone banks: April 21, 23, 28, 30 and May 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 (June will be scheduled soon). Time is from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Please contact Sheila Rossi at sheilarossi@gmail.com
Texting for “Yes On S”
AV’s NEW Spring Fundraiser
“Little Windows-- Photo Jewelry.”
Click on This Link https://www.little-windows.com/. Brochures and Order Forms have also been sent home in the Weekly Wire!
If Ordering On-Line, Be Sure to Include the
Code for Arroyo Vista: AVS2009
Fran Valera of “Little Windows” will be at AV on Thursday, April 30, After School to answer questions, take your orders and sell her do it yourself kits.
Join TEAM AV in the Relay For Life on Saturday, April 18th!
Looking for something fun and meaningful for your family to do that will make a difference in this world? You can join other South Pas families on Saturday, April 18th, in the walk against cancer at South Pasadena High School. Arroyo Vista will be taking turns walking around the high school track during the Relay for Life. Your family can sign up to walk for one (or more) of the 24 hours of the Relay for Life to raise money and awareness to battle cancer. Participants must sign up in advance and kids must be accompanied by an adult. Interested? Contact Karin Primuth: kprimuth@pobox.com.
South Pasadena Council PTA 5 School Yard Sale, Saturday April 18th
(8 am - 2 pm)
South Pasadena Unified School District Office Parking Lot, 1020 El Centro Street.
Please, Keep Crackin’ for Fun Fair!
AV PTA’s Honorary Service Awards are Set for June 12
Mark your calendar for June 12, 4 - 6 pm, when AV parents, teachers, and staff will celebrate at the War Memorial Building and honor some of our hard-working AV parents and staff. Everyone is invited, and we hope to see you there! Look for an invitation in the Tuesday Weekly Wire. Want to help? Please contact Alison Rainey at abell61655@aol.com.
It’s a Win/Win!
Help Save the Environment & Help South Pasadena Middle School!
Fun Fair Update
The clock is ticking! It is already mid-April and planning is well under way for our annual Fun Fair, which will be held Saturday & Sunday, May 16 & 17. We are still needing a little help, however:
The Arts & Crafts Committee is looking for the following donations:
Empty toilet paper towels
Empty paper towel rolls
Aluminum foil
Glue sticks
Pipe cleaners
Fabric ribbon
Stickers
Your household items will be recycled into fantastic rock & roll-themed crafts at the Arts & Crafts Booth at the Fun Fair. Please deliver your items to the Fun Fair Arts & Crafts box in the office by May 8, 2009.
We are also looking for donations to the Book Nook. There is a box in the office if you have any books you'd like to pass along.
There are still many other ways to help out, so if you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Cindi Knight (cindi.knight@att.net), Jane Washburn (jane@behavestyle.com) or Jackie Howorth (jhoworth@earthlink.net) for more information.
Go Bananas with the AV/ Jamba Juice WEEK LONG Fundraiser!
Jamba Juice of South Pasadena is partnering with all SPUSD Schools. Arroyo Vista will receive 20% of any purchase made the week of May 10 - 17, as long as you bring in the flyer (which will be coming home in the backpack mail) or if you simply say that you would like a percentage of your sale to go to AV. This offer runs through the weekend of Fun Fair, so be sure to head over to Jamba Juice after the hot time we’ll be having out on the district office parking lot!
