Newsletter

Farmington Elementary PTA
September 2008 Newsletter

We're Going for the Gold!

September 2008

In This Issue

Be a part of the PTA!

PTA President's Welcome

Teachers of the Month

Have you joined the PTA?

Even though the 2008 Summer Olympics are over, we're still "Going for the Gold" at Farmington with our PTA Membership Drive. We're racing to reach 100% participation in each classroom. Our race track around the corner from the cafeteria displays each class's progress. We already have a few classrooms who have reached the finish line to receive their gold medal! Outside each classroom you can see how many families have joined. Each poster has a large gold medal that is filling up with gold medal stickers as each family in that classroom joins. The class at each grade level that reaches 100% membership first receives an extra recess time along with an ice cream party. All other classrooms that reach 100% get to have a red, white and blue popsicle treat. Thank you all for showing your support for Farmington Elementary and helping us "Go for the Gold" with PTA!

Susan White
PTA Membership Chair
susanandbill@comcast.net Barb Suchomel
Co-chair
adelma1@comcast.net

Adopt-A-Book
and help the FES Library!

The adopt-a-book program is a wonderful way to increase the FES Library collection and is a permanent gift from your child to our library! It's a great way to celebrate a birthday, honor someone special like a grandparent or teacher, proclaim a new baby, memorialize a loved one or remember other special occasions like Mother's Day.

Last year we added 228 books to the library through this program, and this year we'd like to do even more - our goal is to add 250 books. With your help, we can reach this goal!

The cost to Adopt-a-Book is $12 (cash or check made payable to Farmington PTA). Contact Paula Johnson at ppjnsn@comcast.net today!

Quick Links

Farmington PTA

Farmington Elementary School

Box Tops For Education

Save those Box Tops!

Don't forget to look for Box Tops on the groceries in your pantry and on other household items - they mean extra money for our school! Check it out at boxtops4education.com today!

Events

Reflections Contest 2008 - Theme: "WOW!"

(Contest Participants are encouraged to use their imagination - this year's theme is open to a lot of interpretation!)

Categories Include: Photography, Dance, Literature, Visual Arts, Musical Composition, and Film

Entry Deadline is Monday, October 6th

Official Contest Rules and Entry Forms were sent home in Tuesday Folders on 8/26; see school office if additional copies are needed.

For questions or more information, please contact Leigh Sistrunk, Classroom Volunteers and Reflections Contest - PTA Chair at 759.0902.

IMPORTANT CHANGE:

FES will be using Dominos for our Pizza Nights this year. Our first Pizza Nights are September 9, 10, & 11. Don't forget to use the FES form so the school receives credit!

PTA Meeting

Tuesday, September 16 at 6:00pm - speaker will be Dr. Richard Hathcock, topic is ADHD. Make plans to attend!

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School pictures will be made September 17th - Please follow FES dress code! Don't forget to mark your calendar!

Don't forget Back Yard Burger Night 4-8 PM, Sept. 23 at the Germantown location.

September 26 is Spirit Day - Wear your FES spirit wear to school!

Calendar at a Glance

September 9, 10, 11 - Domino's Pizza Nights

September 16 - PTA meeting, 6:00p.m. in the cafeteria

September 17 - school pictures will be made

September 23 - Back Yard Burger Night, 4p.m. - 8p.m., Germantown location

September 26 - Spirit Day - wear spirit items to school!

Pizza Nights this Week!
See calendar for details!

Dear Farmington Parents & Friends,

Welcome to the first online edition of the FES PTA newsletter! It is our goal to bring you the latest information, reminders, and news in an easy-to-read format, right to your inbox. If you do not wish to be on our list, simply e-mail Terri Kelly by clicking here to be removed.  Thanks for your help in this matter and enjoy your newsletter!

News

From the Principal's Desk

By now you have received the most important feedback on the way the school year is going...your child's! I sincerely hope that his or her perspective has been positive. If there are some bumps in the road, please talk to a teacher, Ms. True or an administrator. We are here to help.

The teachers and staff of F.E.S. are so excited about the opportunities that we have before us. Twenty sets of classroom clickers are already on order due to your support of the school and PTA. On behalf of the children and teachers, thank you! We have another celebration planned due to your support. We will hold a ribbon cutting for our new learning lab on September 16 at the PTA General meeting. I hope you will join us as we show off our newest instructional space.

This year is full of opportunities to be involved in your child's education. I hope you will read the newsletter carefully and check the school website for additional information. It will take the F.E.S. community working together to meet our students' needs. I invite you to take part as your time and talents allow.

Thank you for your continued support of our school.

Sincerely,
Lee-Ann Kight

Letter from your Farmington Elementary PTA President

Welcome to a brand new school year full of opportunities to get involved in your child's education and overall school experience through the PTA.   We encourage you to join us as we work together with our fantastic administrators, teachers and staff at Farmington to provide the best possible learning environment for our children.   More than 30 years of research has proven that children do better when their parents are involved both at home and at school.   Grades are higher.   Test scores rise.   Self-esteem grows.   Schools improve.   FES and your PTA have many opportunities planned for you and your children to participate in this year.   Some of those are:

-Back to School Bash - we had a lot of fun, we thank you for coming, there was a great turn out and we appreciate your participation!



-Family Contributions - Campaign going on now!   Please help us meet our goals!   Whether you contribute $10 or $1,000 - every dollar goes directly to purchase the latest in equipment and technology for our children and to support engaging programs they will enjoy and benefit from.

-NEW Farmington Spirit wear and items for sale! Thank you for your support of our new Farmington spirit items and the FES store. There will be a second window of opportunity 11/3 - 12/2 and items will be on sale at the Open House on November 18th.

-PTA General Meeting - Tuesday, 9/16, 6:00 - ADHD presentation by Dr. Richard Hathcock

-Reflections Contest, Citizenship Contest, Safety Contest

-After School Clubs

-Adopt a Book, Accelerated Reader program and Library Services

-Open House - Basket Raffles, Cake walk, Silent auction and more!

-American Education Week and Teacher Appreciation Week

-Book Fair

-Snow Flake Ball

-Holiday Treat Shop for teachers and other Hospitality contributions

-NEW - Game Night with Grandparents

-Family Breakfasts

-Memphis in May

-Field Days

-Mother Son Olympics

-Spirit Nights

-School Beautification

-Room Parent Volunteers

-Special Programs - Chorus, Arts, and More!

Wow!   What a list!   If you haven't heard - We're going for the Gold with the Farmington PTA!    We hope to see you often - 2009 - it's going to be FINE!    Please call on me any time.

Daphne Large, PTA President - 337-7622 (cell)
DaphneL@datafacts.com

Germantown Education Commission Awards
Vote for your favorite teacher today!

It's time again for the Germantown Education Commission to begin meeting and awarding Teacher of the Month Awards to Germantown's fine teachers! Teacher nominees may live outside of Germantown but must teach in a Germantown school. The form for nominations can be found on the FES website - go ahead and give your favorite FES teacher a vote!

If you have any questions, please contact Stacey Ewell at 751-7559.

FarmingtonPTA.org

Visit our website to:
· Make a contribution to the FES PTA Contribution Drive
· Check out PTA events, after school programs, things planned for the year
· Check your schedule for working in the library or health room
· See what is happening and how you can be involved.
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FES PTA CONTRIBUTION DRIVE UPDATE (9/8/08)
Our goal is $28,000

We have collected $21,000
Pre-K ~ 20% Kindergarten ~ 54%
1st Grade ~ 58% 2nd Grade ~ 55%
3rd Grade ~ 57% 4th Grade ~ 49% 5th Grade ~ 52%
School ~ 54%
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Examples of Local Private Schools yearly Tuition for 2008-2009
Briarcest $8595
ECS $8685
OLPH $4700
St. George's $13,982
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What did the PTA purchase for FES last year with my contribution?
A Web-Based Accelerated Reader Program
New Laptops
PLUS
We helped fund Farmington's Learning Lab.
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Where will my FES PTA Contribution go for the 2008-2009 school year?
We will continue to provide PTA sponsored programs and events.
Also, we would like to help our school purchase some new exciting learning tools.
"CLICKERS"
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Why should you make your contribution?
First, ask yourself these questions:
Has your child ever gone to the Health Room at Farmington?
Did your child ever look up a friend's name and phone number in the Student Directory?
Did your child enjoy ice cream or play on the inflatables at the Back to School Bash?

The PTA relies on you, the families of our students, to fund these programs and events.

We are asking for $50 per child.
We understand times are tough, so we have given you many ways to make your contribution to our PTA:
Write a check payable to FES PTA.
Make a pledge and then make payments through the next couple of months.
Send a payment through PayPal to julie@farmingtonpta.org
Have your child fill out the "extended family" letter for us to mail to their grandparents or aunts and uncles.
If you have any questions, need a contribution form, or would like additional "extended family" letters to have your child fill out, please contact me at cjhagan@mindspring.com. Thank you for your support. Julie Hagan

THANK YOU for coming out to support our TCBY night! Dr. Hart, Mr. Shumaker and Dr. Kight had scoops of fun making cones, cups, and shivers. The tips weren't too bad either! It was a great way to kick off the weekend.

Farmington Elementary PTA | 2085 Cordes Road | Germantown | TN | 38139