Highland View PTO: We need you! (Really especially much!)

Highland View Families,

We need you.

In two weeks, on Friday November 14th from 6:00-8:00, Highland View is hosting its third annual All the World Festival showcasing the diverse heritage and cultures that make up our school family.  This is an event that's unique to our school, and has been praised by members of the entire Greendale School District--from the school board, to district administration, to the principals of our other schools.

But without your help, it just can't happen.  So far only six families have signed up to help Senorita Bradley and the PTO at the event.

No matter where your family came from, or where you are now, our Highland View students would love to learn more about it.  Does your family participate in any traditions, or events that you could show off to our students?  Would your student like to teach everyone else a little about their heritage?  You can participate to any level you feel comfortable.

Students have made table displays or brought in family crafts and foods.  Families have created displays both simple and elaborate, and some families have even shared dances and songs from around the world with our students.  No matter what you can share, and no matter how you would like to share it, please help show off the rich tapestry we all are a part of at this year's All the World Festival.

For details or questions on how you can help please (PLEASE) contact  Senorita Bradley at jessica.bradley@greendale.k12.wi.us

Even if you don't want to make a display, volunteers are needed in the craft room and several other places through the evening.

Highland View PTO: Box Tops, Conferences, and Order Forms

Hello Highland View Families!

Just four quick updates:

1)  Remember, your fundraiser order forms are due on Friday.  Please include payment with the order.  This fundraiser will provide the foundation for everything the PTO does this year, from events, to grants, to assemblies, to books, to PBIS shirts.  Thanks so much to everyone who is participating!

2)  There are a few chances to win thousands of Box Tops for our school at the Box Tops for Education website here.  It would be amazing to win, so we appreciate everyone who plays for Highland View.

3)  Don't forget to use your Target Red Card when you shop at Target, and make sure you've chosen Highland View as your "Take Charge of Education" fundraising partner.  Not only will Target give you a 5% discount, but they'll also send 1% to Highland View--last year that added up to $2000!  You can connect your card to Highland View here.

4)  Finally, we still need people to watch movies with students during conference times.  Parents really appreciated not having to find a sitter for the time it took to have a conference, and teachers really appreciated being able to have private conferences with parents.  This is your chance to make it happen again.  Please sign up for a shift or two here.  

Thanks!  And keep on learning!

Aleks Skibicki

Highland View PTO: Thanks And Congratulations!

1)  Thanks to all the families that participated in the Step Up To Better health Fun Run this year!  We had a beautiful day, and Highland View set a school record for participation with 166 walkers and runners!  Woohoo!  Congratulations to our school race winners:  Connor Polenske who won first place for Highland View runners, and Jada Tharp who came in second for Highland View runners.  Great job!

2)  We could use a couple more faces on our "Fun Fair Freshener" committee.  Please sign up here  if you're interested in putting together ways to make our fun fair extra-funner!

3)  Clothing take 1!  Our Safe-Respectful-Responsible shirts are officially in the capable hands of the printers.  So, hopefully we'll see them in our own hands soon.  (Some of you have been asking, so I figured I'd pass on the update.)

4)  Clothing take 2!  Missing orders from the fall spiritwear order are also at the printer, so if you contacted the PTO about any missing items, we're just waiting for things to get made!

5)  Family Dinner Night!  Family Dinner Night was alot of fun again this year--So let's make sure to give a huge thank-you to Mary Braun our event coordinator (and intrepid PTO Secretary.)   Also thanks to everyone who donated food or time to help make it a fun time for all the families and kids who came.

6)  The fundraiser is almost due!  Remember, your fundraiser order forms are due this Friday.  Also if you've sold 3 or more items, make sure to send in the slip from the bottom of your fundraiser instruction page ASAP so your student is entered in the daily poster drawing!   This really is the big one for us, and drives everything from the Safe-Respectful-Responsible shirts, to RIF books, to teacher appreciation, to classroom grants, to events like the All The World Festival coming up in November.

Thanks again, and see you at school!

Highland View PTO: Meeting Links and Jobs

Thanks again to everyone who braved the weather to come out to the meeting tonight.  Here are some of the links we talked about--but you can sign up whether you were at the meeting or not!

1) Here's a link to a signup list to meet to start working on how to put some of the ideas to freshen the Fun Fair into action:  http://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0A4FA5AD22A13-funfair

2)  Here's the link to sign up for a shift watching movies and keeping an eye on the kids at the PTO Movie Room during teacher conferences:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FA5AD22A13-conference

3)  Here's the link to sign up for the last remaining spot to help with the teacher dinner during conferences:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090e4eaaad2da64-teacher

4)  Here's the link to sign up for the remaining Family Dinner Night needs:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0449adaa2ca20-family2  

5)  Finally, here's a link to the Fun Run registration form for this Sunday.  It's too late for T-Shirts, but every participant still gets a ticket to win the Highland View Spirit Basket, and a ticket to win one of the other raffle pries available at the run (autographed Packer footballs, sports tickets, and more!) You'll also get to see the Chik-Fil-A Cow race the Greendale Panther, and if the Panther wins, the Chik-Fil-A cow will give out 300 coupons for free sandwiches!  Just bring your registration form with you to the run, or turn it in to school before Friday!
http://www.edlinesites.net/files/_4LLsE_/e69c77e2e2e503103745a49013852ec4/Walk-Run_registration_2014.pdf  

I hope that's enough links to find one that's just perfect for you!  See you at school,

Aleks

Highland View PTO: SO much going on!

Hello Highland View Families!
We have so much going on in the next few weeks, here's what to be ready for:

1)  Reading Buddies needs help!  One of Highland View and Greendale's marquee educational, literacy, and community outreach programs is in desperate need of help.  Reading Buddies is a program where retirees and older family members with available time visit Highland View on Thursday mornings and read with our younger students.  If you are someone, or know someone who fits the bill, please let us know and we'll connect you to the program organizers.  ( Reach us at:  hv.ptorg@yahoo.com )

2)  The next PTO meeting is Monday 10/13.  The agenda for the meeting is available here:  http://highlandviewptorg.blogspot.com/2014/10/pto-agenda-10132014.html .  In addition to reviewing the Grant Committee report and recommendations, we'll be discussing the upcoming Family Dinner Night, and Around the World Festival, the PTO's new tradition of providing a child care room during parent teacher conferences, and we'll hear a report on how we can implement a Carpool Connection for Highland View families.  Remember, the teacher whose classroom has the highest attendance gets a $25 learning store gift card!

3)  The PTO Fundraiser Due Date is October 24th!  This is the main fundraiser that lets the PTO do the projects and events that it does through the year--everything from buying RIF books for every student at Highland View, to buying the PBIS Shirts for every student, the prizes for events like Battle of the Books, our Panther Fitness Challenge last year, and so much more!

4)  The Family Dinner Night needs your help too!  The Highland View  Family Dinner Night is coming up this Friday, so be sure to turn in your registration form before the preregistration date on Wednesday to save $2 per ticket!  (Tickets also available at the door.)  In addition to good food, and Highland View friends, there'll be a fantastic magic show as dinner winds down.  If you can help out by donating something for the dinner that would be welcome too.  You can find out what's still needed here:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0449adaa2ca20-family2    

5)  Don't forget the Bruce Paprocki Distinguished Volunteer Award--we already have our first nomination for the year!  Each year, in memory of one of the Highland View family's most dedicated members, one distinguished volunteer has their name added to a plaque displayed at the school.  To nominate someone you know, simply send a letter to the PTO, or to Mrs. Flater, with your name, the name of the person you are nominating, and why you think they are so fantastic.  The award committee will choose from nominees in April and May,  Speaking of nominees, we have our first one:

"Jason Patzfahl was an amazing 2014 Highland View volunteer even before the school year started.  While Village Days fun and food were entertaining the village, Jason was hard at work, spending what seemed like 72 hours straight running the Highland View games booth in the family area.  But he's not just a games barker!  He's been a tireless advocate for our students, both in the classroom, and in the community, and definitely deserves this recognition."

Congratulations Jason!  And Thanks!

6)  The Highland View Phone Book is back from the printer!  So if you ordered one when you joined the PTO (or sent money along with a "missing information" form) expect to see that book coming home this week!

7)  The Book Fair is here again!  The Book Fair will be open at Highland View all week before school, during lunch (for students) and for 30 minutes after school.  It will also be open during Family Dinner Night on Friday, and the Monday PTO meeting.  Reading is AWESOME, and books make reading so much easier!

Whew!  I think that's everything.  If you've read this far--you're amazing!

See you on Monday,
Aleks Skibicki

PTO Agenda 10/13/2014

1) Welcome

2) Review Minutes, September 22, 2014  (2 Minutes)

3) Treasurer’s Report (3 Minutes)

4) New Business (25 Minutes )
Grant Committee Report and recommendations
Budget Approval
Volunteers for Conferences
Bruce Paprocki Volunteer Award
Carpool Connection Research Results

5) Upcoming Events  (5 Minutes)
Family Dinner Night
Walk/Run to Better Health
All the World Fest

7)  Principal’s Time (5 Minutes)

Highland View PTO: Minutes and Days!

Hello Highland View Families!

First: BONUS DAY! If you missed the October 1st deadline to turn in your Fun Run/Walk registration (available here) then you're in luck--there's a special bonus registration day tomorrow (October 2nd) just for you! Remember, every participating student will get a panther paw track around the gym, and every participant registering in time will get the coveted Fun Run/Walk 2014 T-Shirt!

(You can participate and register for the Fun Run on the day of the event--October 19th--but only people registered before October 2 will get T-shirts.)

Second: The draft for the 9/22 PTO meeting minutes is up on the PTO Website. Check it over to see what we were up to, and, if you were at the meeting, check to make sure everything is accurate. You can find the minutes here.

See you at school!

Aleks