Highland View PTO: STEMfest and Book Fairs and Yearbooks? Oh My!

Hello Highland View Families!

Three bits of sweet sweet PTO action for you all:

1) STEMfest, wow!  I am so excited to see all the awesome STEMfest projects the kids have been registering and announcing these last couple of weeks.  STEMfest is going to be AMAZING!  For the S-T-E-M demonstrations at STEMfest we'll need a few parent helpers.  (Don't worry, you'll have all the materials and instructions and know-how ahead of time!)  

We need

• someone to help make electric circuits with kids using a conductive play-dough, 
• someone to make abacuses (the ancient Egyptian calculator!) with the kids,
• someone to help kids make their own silly putty,
• someone to show kids how to play a coding game using their brains as computers, and
• someone to help demonstrate simple (but fun!) math games for the kids.

Sign up to be a part of STEMfest here!

Also, if your student registered for STEMfest, expect an email today or tomorrow with details about project displays, timelines for the event, space availability, etc.
 

2)  Book Fair!  The Spring Book Fair is coming up March 14-18th, and Cheryl could use help!

Mostly we'll need cashiers during the three selling times:  8:00-8:45 AM, 11:30-12:45 PM, and 3:15-4:00 PM.  It's pretty easy--just zap books and give change.  You may need to help students figure out how much they can afford with the money they were sent with.  You may also choose to gently prompt students to choose books instead of $20 of erasers and toys.  If there are multiple parents at any given shift, it would be great to have a parent circulating to help answer questions and find things for the shoppers.

We'll also need a cashier during STEMfest on the 18th, and hopefully some help cleaning up and tearing down the Book Fair afterwards.

Sign up for the Book Fair here!

3)  Yearbooks!  We're still looking for pictures.  Especially (but not ONLY!) if you have pictures from:

• The first day of school
• First graders having fun,
• Third graders having fun, and
• Family Dinner Night.

Please upload them to the Highland View Yearbook Website here.  

Our Community Image Upload Site Access Code Is: MBHRJL

All pictures are welcome.  Remember, the Yearbook's only as good as the pictures that are in it!

Thanks so much everyone!  (Seriously, thanks a million.  You make all the awesome things at Highland View possible.  )

Aleks Skibicki

Highland View PTO: Two for Tuesday! (Two-sday?)

Hello Highland View Families!

Two quickies:

1)  QDoba tonight (2/23) !  Tonight's our second 2015-2016 Dine Out for Highland View night!  Have dinner at QDoba on 76th Street (across from Southridge) any time between 5:00-9:00 PM, and if you show them the orange flyer that your student brought home, they'll donate 10% of your bill to Highland View.  That money goes to events like STEMfest,  Dance Night, Read Me a Story Night, RIF Books, the Highland View T-Shirts, and on and on.

If you can't find the orange flyer, you should be able to show this on your smartphone instead!

2)  Cheers for Education!  It's almost the last chance to get tickets for this year's premier Greendale Education Foundation social event and fundraiser.   This Friday (2/26) join the Greendale Education Foundation and members of our community for an evening of wine tastings and food pairings, all the while supporting the schools, staff, and students of Greendale schools.  Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online here.

Thanks a million, and see you tonight!

Aleks Skibicki
Highland View PTO

Highland View PTO: You won't believe what happens next!

Hello Highland View Families!

What did they do next?  Probably one of these AWESOME things!

1)  Read Me a Story Night!
Friday 2/19 is Read Me a Story Night at Highland View.  From 6:00-7:30 come to Highland View with your favorite blanket and stuffed animal friend to listen to your favorite stories told by your favorite people.  Also write your own story in your own book or create your own bookmarks.  Enjoy milk and cookies to top off the night!

2)  QDoba Dine Out for Highland View Night
Next Tuesday, 2/23, from 5:00-9:00 PM, join other Highland View families at QDoba across from Southridge (5075 S. 76th St.) when QDoba will donate 10% of your bill to Highland View!  Make sure you bring the orange flyer that's coming home in Friday Folders this weekend.  (The one that says: "Bring This Flyer!") Or, if you can't find it, you can show this on your smartphone!

3)  STEMfest in March!
Make sure to turn in your STEMfest registration form!  I'm so excited about some of the STEM projects I've already heard about.  Did you know penguins have crazy tongues?  I didn't--until some of our 5K friends told me about  their exciting Science (S) based STEMfest project.  There'll be terrariums, robots, awesome science, technology, engineering, and math projects and demonstrations to do too!

4)  Greendale Health Department's Revamped Step Up To Better Health Committee 
Next week Wednesday, 2/24, the Greendale Health Department is looking for community members to join in the Step Up to Better Health Committee to keep Greendale Healthy, Energized, and Alive!  The Step Up To Better Health Fun Run is a huge fundraiser for our school each year (Over $3,000 last year--thanks everyone who participated!) and if we want that event to stick around and help pay for field trips, PBIS shirts, assemblies, classroom equipment, etc. it's important that we help where we can.

Thanks so much for reading this far!

Aleks Skibicki
President
Highland View PTO

 

Still time to buy a 2015-16 Highland View Yearbook!

Worried about missing the yearbook order deadline this Friday?  Worry no longer!  You can order online through 2/19 at:

http://ybpay.lifetouch.com 

Yearbook ID: 8547516 .

Highland View PTO: 10 secrets THEY don't want you to know! (From our meeting tonight.)

As usual, here's the links, lists, and lowdown that accompany what we talked about today. (The agenda is here. If you have questions about an agenda item, let me know!) 

1)  Here's a description of the bass bow we approved the grant for, in case you were wondering:  http://www.sharmusic.com/Bows/Bass/Beginning-0--300/Schmidt-Workshop-Double-Bass-Bow.axd#sthash.g4orUXnE.NWLtDNir.dpbs

2)  The conference childcare room volunteer sign up is here:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-conference1 It's fantastic to be able to go to conferences and not have to find a babysitter for the 15 minute block.  Please help us continue to offer this service to our teachers and families.

3)  Read Me a Story Night is approaching.  Join in the fun Friday 2/19 6:00-7:30.  Cuddle up with a favorite stuffed animal, blanket and pillow, and hear some great stories told by great people.  This year there'll also be crafts to make and as always, cookies and milk at the end of the night.  Speaking of milk and cookies, Christie mentioned there's still room on the Sign Up Genius to bring more.  Click here to see what's still needed! 

4)  QDoba Night Out for Highland View is also on its way!  On 2/23, skip cooking and have dinner at QDoba on 76th St. (across from Southridge) from 5-9:00 PM and 10% of your bill will go right back to Highland View.  Keep an eye on your students' take home folders for another orange flyer and be sure to take it with you!  (Or print/show the electronic version here. )

5)  The Greendale Education Foundation's "Cheers to Education" wine and food pairing event is coming up February 26th 6:00-8:30PM in the Greendale Learning Center (Library).  It really is one of the best grown-up events I've attended.  (Don't get me wrong, I L-O-V-E Neon Dance Night--but sometimes it's nice to be around adults!)  There'll be many different types of wine and beer for tasting and food served by local restaurants and students in the award-winning culinary arts program at Greendale High School.  Bring some friends, and make it a night out.  You'll have an excellent time, and you'll help support an organization that's helped Highland View for years.  You can buy tickets at https://search.seatyourself.biz/webstore/webstore.html?domain=greendalefoundation&date=2016-2-26&event=.

6)  The Bruce Paprocki Distinguished Volunteer Award.  Bruce was an amazing volunteer at Highland View who unexpectedly passed away several years ago.  His contributions to Highland View and our community were amazing and the PTO chose to honor him by creating an award in his memory.   Each year, the PTO recognizes one volunteer who served our school above and beyond expectations and has that volunteer's name added to a plaque displayed in the office.  You can find more information about the award, and how to nominate someone here.  

7)  The Greendale Health Department is restructuring the Step Up To Better Health Committee.  That's a big deal to us, because that's the group that organizes the fun run which is a major fundraiser for our PTO.  They are absolutely begging for more community involvement.  Please take a look at the flyer here and join in if you can!

8) Don't forget to order your Yearbook!  You can do it online here, or turn in the form that went home in your student's take home folder Friday or today.

9)  You can be a part of that Yearbook by picking a page from the list here that you're interested in designing.  Once you've picked a page,  we'll get you an account in Lifetouch (our Yearbook company) and you'll be all ready to become a published (Year)book author.  Never done it before?  Don't worry--there are lots of experienced Yearbook volunteers at Highland View all ready to help you out.

10)  Know any cool science tricks or demonstrations?  In addition to showing off students' projects, there'll also be fun science demonstrations and crafts at Highland View's STEMfest in March.  We're looking for ideas, so let us know what you know!  Want project ideas?  We've put together a list right here!

WOW!  I think that's about all the supplemental information needed to fill in any blanks from tonight's meeting.  Thanks again to everyone who was here in person, or in spirit.  See you at school!

Aleks

Highland View STEMfest

This'll be going home soon, but if you're paying attention, or plan your calendar more than a month in advance, here's the info on Highland View's STEMfest! (Click it to enlarge.)

Bruce Paprocki Distinguished Volunteer Award

Hello again!

For those wondering, here's some more information about the Bruce Paprocki Distinguished Volunteer Award.

Bruce was an amazing volunteer at Highland View who unexpectedly passed away several years ago.  His contributions to Highland View and our community were amazing and the PTO chose to honor him by creating this award in his memory.

Each year, the PTO recognizes one volunteer who served our school above and beyond expectations and has that volunteer's name added to a plaque displayed in the office.

Eligibility:
Any person who volunteered at Highland View since the previous year's award was given is eligible to win.

Nomination Process:
Any PTO or school staff member can nominate an eligible volunteer by submitting a typed letter to a member of the PTO executive committee or the school principal stating:
1)  The name of the person being nominated
2)  The name of the person making the nomination
3)  A description of the nominee's volunteer work
4)  A short statement describing why the nominee should be the award recipient
The nominations must be received by the school principal or PTO executive committee by April 30th.

Selection Process:
A committee comprised of the executive committee of the PTO, the Highland View school principal, and up to 2 interested staff members and 2 interested at-large PTO members will consider the candidates and can choose a winner prior to the first PTO meeting after April 30th.  Selection of staff committee members is at the discretion of the school principal.  At-large PTO committee members will be elected at the last PTO meeting before April 30th by the attending members.

If the committee cannot or does not choose an award winner, the question will be added to the agenda of the first PTO meeting after April 30th.  The PTO may choose not to give the award in any given year.

The Award:
The award will be presented each year at the first PTO meeting after a winner has been selected.   The winner's name each year will be added to a plaque to be purchased by the PTO and displayed prominently at Highland View.