Black History Month Trivia February 5th!

Hello again!

Here's today's trivia question for those of you playing along at home:

The Grammys are music's highest awards.  They were first given out in 1958 and this African American woman won two that very first year!  Was her name:

A)  Janet Jackson

B)  Beyonce

C)  Ella Fitzgerald

Your student can turn in his or her correct answer before school starts tomorrow in the box at the office.  Two lucky correct answers will be drawn and those students will receive family passes to the Milwaukee Art Museum!

ANSWER:  Ella Fitzgerald

Black History Month Trivia February 4th!

Hello again!

Here's today's trivia question for those of you playing along at home:

The The first African-American quarterback to play in the National Football League during the modern (post-World War II) era must have had a great arm, was it:
A)   Willie Thrower, 
B)  Tommy Runner, or
C)  John Catcher?

Your student can turn in his or her correct answer before school starts tomorrow in the box at the office.  Two lucky correct answers will be drawn and those students will receive family passes to the Milwaukee Art Museum!

ANSWER:  Willie Thrower (Chicago Bears)

Black History Month Trivia February 3rd

Hello again!

Here's today's trivia question for those of you playing along at home:

George Washington Carver was known for  promoting alternative crops for farmers.  His most famous publication included how many recipes including peanuts?

A)  25

B)  105

C)  1005

Your student can turn in his or her correct answer before school starts tomorrow in the box at the office.  Two lucky correct answers will be drawn and those students will receive family passes to the Milwaukee Art Museum!

ANSWER:  105 peanut recipes!

Black History Month Trivia February 2nd!

We'll start you off easy!

Today's trivia question was:

Name the famous speech Martin Luther King Jr. gave at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963.

Your student can turn in his or her correct answer before school starts tomorrow in the box at the office.  Two lucky correct answers will be drawn and those students will receive family passes to the Milwaukee Art Museum!

ANSWER:  "I Have A Dream"

Highland View PTO: A Very Big February!

Hello Highland View Families!

Welcome to February.  As the subject says, we have a lot going on this month, so here we go:

1)  We have to start with a THANK YOU!  Thanks to all the parents and teachers that worked so hard to make Neon Dance Night a great time.  The kids all looked like they were having fun, and this is an event designed just for that.  Thanks again!
1a)  If you're interested in helping out next year, or have ideas you'd like to help put into action next year, let me know.  We'll never turn down extra helping hands!
1b)  If you're missing a chili crock pot, let me know too.  Someone left theirs behind, so I cleaned it out and I know it misses its home.

2)    Our next meeting is Monday February 9th.  REMEMBER, after finishing up the PTO business, the candidates for Greendale School Board will be be present to introduce themselves, tell why they're running, and answer questions.  Refreshments will be provided.

3)  Once again, the PTO will be sponsoring a movie room during teacher conferences so parents don't need to get sitters just to go to a 15 minute conference.  If you can spend some time in the library keeping an eye on the kids there during conferences at night on the 18th, or during the day on the 19th, let me know.  We really super appreciate it!

4)  Read Me a Story Night is coming up February 13th!  Join us in your jammies at Highland View as teachers, parents, and administrators read us our favorite bedtime stories, and we enjoy a bedtime snack.

5)  In February, Highland View is celebrating Black History Month.  In addition to classroom projects, during announcements we'll be asking trivia questions, and students can submit their correct answers for a chance to win a great prize the next day--Family Passes to the Milwaukee Art Museum.  I'll post the questions each day on our PTO website  here.  If you want to help your student research the answer it would be a great opportunity to talk with your student about the role of African Americans throughout American history.

6) Finally, the Greendale Education Foundation has supported Highland View throughout the year in the form of grants for RIF, a portion of our "Safe, Respectful, Responsible" T-Shirts, and grants for continuing education and training for our teachers.  This February 27th, they're hosting a beer and wine tasting and food pairing event  at the Community Learning Center in downtown Greendale.  Tickets are $35 per person, and the proceeds go right back to our learning community.  I hope you can come!  You can get tickets at the GHS Office, the School District Office, the Park and Rec Office, or you can ask me!

Thanks for all you do, and for taking an interest in your student's education!

Aleks Skibicki
President
Highland View PTO

Highland View PTO: Happy New Years News and More!

Hello Highland View Families!

I hope everyone had a great break, and is staying warm!

Just a few quick updates for January:

1)  Our meeting is in the Highland View library Monday January 12th 6:00 PM.   It's not a big agenda, but it should be a fun one.

2)  Crossing Guard Appreciation week is next week (1/12-1/16) and we could use your ideas for ways to show our crossing guards that we appreciate their work.  (We'll talk about it at the meeting, but if you want to email your ideas in that's OK too!)

3)  The PTO is putting on the Neon Dance Night (formerly known as the Not-Really-A-Sock-Hop)  January 30th; save the date!

4)  The PTO is also looking for ideas and ways to celebrate Black History Month in February, so if you have ideas, or want to be involved, let me know.

5)  The minutes for our December meeting are now available and online at our website here:
http://highlandviewptorg.blogspot.com/2015/01/pto-minutes-december-8th-2014.html

That's about all, stay warm, and see you on Monday,

Aleks Skibicki

PTO Minutes December 8th, 2014

PTO meeting Dec. 8th 2014

1)  Meeting called to order with 9 members present at 6:09PM

2)  Minutes from previous meeting approved.

3)  Treasurer’s report approved; Art to Remember profit $1,391.75.

4)  Sock Hop dance discussion:
     sign up genius up
     DJ booked
     Decision made by the group to change name to Neon Dance Night.
     Mrs. Flater asked whether or not there was a way to track which families attended.
     Suggestions offered offered for food including walking taco.
5)  RIF book giveaway
- discussion about filling in spots for volunteering
6)  Flashing Stop Sign Request to the Village approved for:
     a. 51st St. & Ramsey
     b. 51st St. & Eastway
7)  Winter Concert
     Discussion about concert being split into 2 parts for the different age groups.
     New idea implemented: 8 students playing piano in between concerts.
     Survey distributed at the concerts since it had been 8 years since the previous survey.
8)  Past events
     All Around the World
          31 families presented; huge success
          Suggestion made to spread out the event throughout the building to alleviate congestion.
     Fundraiser
i. no bounced checks!
ii. $6,000+ profit
iii. 20% participation considered a success
     Art to Remember
          delivered
9)  Principal’s time
     Kayla’s Krew event: designing a new playground
          each grade level brainstormed about designing a playground with kids with disabilities in mind
          Students articulated helpful ideas
     Winter concert & rehearsal discussed
     Veterans presentation for 5th graders discussed
     Colonial Fair presented by the 5th graders discussed
     Mr. Griffin presented an hour of programming to 3rd-5th graders
     Students are voting Dec. 19 in Spanish class on 3 choices for a special earned:
     Neon day
     Pajama day
     Super hero day
     Latin dance begins for 4th & 5th grade
     Florentine Opera coming in
     Paper polar bears Special Olympics fundraiser announced
          i. Goal is $1000
          ii. Teachers will take the pledge for each level of fundraising
     Read to Succeed for Great America/Six Flags announced
          need new volunteer coordinator

10)  Cheryl Kelly offered idea of PTO $ being used for field trips since last year’s 2nd graders' only trip was to Scout Lake
     Mrs. Flater reminded the group that all field trips must relate to the curriculum