The PTO provides for programs designed to enhance each grade’s current curriculum, provides teachers with additional
materials not covered in the school’s budget, and hosts many family-fun and community events.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Highland View PTO:  Happy Thanksgiving! (But read this before eating!)

Hello Highland View Families!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Just a couple quick (but important) announcements and reminders:

1)  If you ordered from the school fundraiser, TUESDAY 11/24 is the pick up day!  All orders will be available in the gym after school until 6:00.  If you can't make it, please give someone written authorization to pick up your order for you.  If there is absolutely, positively, no way for you or anyone you know to get your order on the 24th, call or email me ASAP so we can make arrangements.

If you can stick around (or arrive early) to help out it would be INCREDIBLY appreciated.  Please sign up here, or just email to let me know when you can be there.

2)  Super Thank You to Senorita Bradley!  The All The World event was amazing, once again.  Also thanks to all the parents and kids and relatives that cooked, crafted, and researched cultures from around the world to share with the rest of our Highland View family.  Thank you so much for organizing it again Senorita Bradley!

3)  I almost forgot to congratulate Mr. Rivera and Mrs. Bushman's PM classes for winning their teachers $25 Gift Cards to the learning store by having the highest attendance at the last PTO meeting.  In the tradition of "better late than never:"  Congratulations!  I'll drop the gift cards off tomorrow!

4)  Kid care at conferences. Thanks to everyone who already signed up, but we could use a couple more people to help out.  All you have to do is watch some Kratt's Creatures with the kids for a little bit.  Please sign up here.

5)  Have a happy break!

Aleks Skibicki
President
Highland View PTO
             

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Highland View PTO:  See All the World in One Night!

Hello Highland View Families!

Or should I say dzien dobry?  Or guten tag?  Or ni hao? Friday night, we'll be saying them all, and more!  You're invited to join Highland View students and families as they share experiences from All the World from 6:00-7:30.

Enjoy food, entertainment, and crafts from all corners of the globe.  Highland View students can complete an All the World passport and get a prize.  There's no admission, just show up and have fun.  (And learn something along the way!)

Na razie!

The Highland View PTO

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Highland View PTO:  Greendale School District Needs You (Seriously.)

Hello Highland View Families!

Earlier this evening I attended the first meeting the school district put on to help gather criteria, opinions, and ideas from the school community to narrow down their search for a new superintendent.

There were eight people there.  One was the facilitator.  One was the district secretary, taking notes.  One was a school board member.   Of those last five, one didn't say a word the whole time.

I guess what I'm getting at, is that this is a great opportunity to have your voice heard and help make sure the district chooses a new superintendent who's focused on the issues that are important to you.  (Or even aware of the issues important to you when it comes to giving your student the best possible education.)

There are two more meetings scheduled, and childcare is available at both.  The next two meetings are at Greendale High School:

Wednesday, November 11, at 6:30-7:30 p.m., in the MPR (cafeteria) 
Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30-7:30 p.m., in the library

I hope you'll be able to make it to one or both of these meetings.  You're all parents who are active and have taken steps to make your students' experience and education a priority, and as such, Greendale needs to hear your voices most of all.

Thanks!

Aleks

Monday, November 9, 2015

Highland View PTO:  November?  Around here it's YES-vember!

Hello Highland View Families!

Thanks so much to everyone that came out tonight.  Here are a few important links and notes from the meeting!

1)  The All the World Event is coming up--there's still time to get involved!
I honestly can't say enough great things about Highland View's All the World event.  It's a highlight learning experience for everyone involved--kids and grown ups alike.  If you're new to Highland View, in a nutshell:  families are invited to share something that they are interested in from around the world.  That can be something from their own culture or heritage, or something they just enjoy from abroad.  It can be a display, a food, a performance, a craft, an activity, or anything else you can imagine.  Please please get in touch with Srta. Bradley to see how you can be a part of this experience! jessica.bradley@greendale.k12.wi.us

2)  Fundraiser Item Pickup
From 3:00-6:00 PM Tuesday 11/24 is pick up time for your fundraiser orders.  It turns out that Highland View families are so amazingly amazing that there are way too many orders getting picked up for me to do it alone.  If you have some time that day, super-please sign up here to help out.

3)  Conference Childcare--Who wants to watch movies?
Same bat-day, different bat-channel--while I'm down in the gym sorting fundraiser orders with some super helpers, we need just a couple more folks to help watch kids up in the library while parents confer with teachers.  It's really very important for there to be more than one parent in the room in case one of the kids needs to go to their parents or leave the room for some reason.  Other than that, it's the easiest thing you can ever do to make teacher and parent lives soooooo much easier on conference day.  Sign up here to make a lot of people very happy!

4)  Teacher Wish Lists
An idea came up at the meeting today that sounded great!   A parent mentioned that before winter break, another school creates a "Teacher Wish List" book to give parents ideas for teacher holiday gifts.  Megan Mermal is taking charge of setting this up at Highland View.  Please get in touch with her if you're interested in helping!  mmermal@gmail.com

Thanks for reading this far!  Have a great week!

The Highland View PTO

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Highland View PTO:  Big things, don't miss them!

Hello Highland View Families!

A few quick updates this November:

1)  Did you turn in your blue  "All the World" celebration form?  The Highland View All the World event is a marquee happening that is held in high regard both through our district and beyond.   It's something that makes Highland View special, and helps the kids feel special about who they are too.  Seeing the kids learn about their own heritage, and about the other cultures that make up our Highland View family is AMAZING.  If you have questions, or lost your form, please contact Srta. Bradley at jessica.bradley@greendale.k12.wi.us .  And even if you don't want to do a display--I still HIGHLY recommend going; you will love it!

2)  The November PTO Meeting is coming up Monday 11/9!  I hope you can come.  It'll be short, but worth attending.  PLUS, the teacher with the highest attendance (minimum 3) gets a $25 gift card to the Learning Store.  (If Mom and Dad both come that's 2 right there!)  Child care is available as always.

3)  If we can't get two volunteers to watch kids for conferences from at least 4:00-6:00 on 11/24, we won't be able to have that available for parents and teachers.  Since that's the Fundraiser Pickup day, I'll be unavailable for the child care room for at least those first two hours.  PLEASE sign up here if you can.  Having a place for the kids when parents meet with teachers has made so many parents' and teachers' nights easier, that'd I'd hate to stop doing it!   To make things easier, I broke the sign up time slots down from two-hour blocks to one-hour blocks.  Please?

I think that's about it for now.  If I don't see you before then:  Happy Thanksgiving!

Aleks Skibicki
Highland View PTO