We LOVE children!

Dear PTA members,

Children are the heart of PTA work. Please take a minute to send your legislators a valentine thanking them for making kids the heart of decisions down in Olympia.

TAKE ACTION

Some context for legislative advocacy this session:

CONCERN: Nearly 4 out of 10 kids are living in families that struggle to afford food, health care, housing and child care. Between 2007 and 2010, the unemployment rate among parents more than doubled; at last count, 1 in 10 children had at least one unemployed parent.

GOOD NEWS: On time graduation rates in the state have steadily increased over the last 5 years, from 70 percent to 76 percent. The biggest increase was among black students, from 54 percent in 2005-06 to 67 percent in 2009-10. In some counties, the increases were much higher. (Find out how kids are doing statewide and in your area: Kids Count in Washington.)

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? PTA’s hard work to better support K-12 students is paying off, but small ones just coming into the system may face tough obstacles and more of our older students may be in poverty.

Washington State PTA advocates for the well-being and education of all children. That means getting them off to the right start, making sure they are healthy and safe, and – especially – giving them the education they need to live great lives.

Help kids out by sending a valentine on their behalf.

PTA General Meeting -Tuesday, February 7 in the Library at 7:00pm-

There will be 3 guest speakers:
• Ron Thiele, ISD Associate Superintendent, will present the specifics of the upcoming April bond on behalf of the school district.
• Lesley Austin, a former Challenger PTSA president, will speak on behalf of VIS.
• Chelsea Dziedzic, Challenger’s Literary Support Teacher. She will talk about changes Challenger teachers have been making to their reading instruction this year and about the school’s Book Room and its benefits to all the students. There will be a video of the Book Room at Creekside. Please come to learn more about ways you can support Challenger staff and students with literacy.

Please plan to attend!

Golden Acorn Volunteer and Outstanding Educator nominations: deadline is this Friday, Feb 10

Hello Challenger Parents-

It is time to recognize Challenger Volunteers and Challenger Outstanding Educators.
Please take the time to complete the attached 2 forms.
The Golden Acorn Award is a national PTA program designed to recognize dedicated volunteers this school year.
Oustanding Educator is your chance to nominate a staff member that you feel deserves extra recognition.
Information is on the forms. Due date for nomination forms is Feb 10, 2012.
You are welcome to attend a short Golden Acorn ceremony on March 9, 2012 in the MPR at 3pm.
Please return forms to the PTA white lock box, or the office.
Extra forms can be found in the office or printed from these links:
Outstanding Educator Advocate
Golden Acorn Volunteer


Thank you-

Sandi D and Jen G
Challenger 2012 Golden Acorn Chairs

Time to sign up for AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS!!

Registration is now open for the winter session after school programs. Click here to register your student now Classes are VERY popular and space is limited so all classes will be lottery based. Email Wynnie Johnson (wynniej@gmail.com) or Kari Ovena (Kari@ovena.net) if you have any questions!

Festival of Cultures is coming!

On Friday, January 27th, from 6.00-8.30pm, Challenger “will go around the world” and learn about the culture, food, music and traditions of the countries representing the rich diversity of our school. Students will work on their geography skills while sampling food from all around the world.
This free PTA event is run by Challenger families for the whole community, family and friends are welcome to join the journey.
If you would like to join the Festival group and/or would like to perform, please contact:
Bev Sakamoto or Anny Figueroa, Festival of Cultures Chairs, b_kozu@yahoo.com.

Love & logic classes are coming to Challenger

Read the full article for more information!

Dates:
Mondays, 7-9pm
January 23-March 12, 2012 (excluding 2/20)

Location:
Challenger Elementary
School Library
25200 SE Klahanie Blvd, Issaquah

Cost:
$77 per family, including one parent handbook

Amazon.com + Holiday Shopping = More Money for Kids

Planning to stop by Amazon.com for your holiday shopping? Please remember to use the ISF website to get there.
From now through December, Amazon.com will donate up to 15% of your total purchase price to the Foundation.
Here’s how to do it. Visit isfdn.org then click on the Amazon.com box on the top left of the page. You’ll be directed to the Amazon site. Once there shop as usual. Amazon will automatically apply the donation to the Foundation. Better yet, add this link Shop Amazon for ISF to your bookmarks so you’ll remember us all year long. Happy Shopping!

Searching for more great deals? Check out the Foundation’s other business partners for your local shopping. There are great deals on yoga, copy and mail services, massage, storage, real estate and auto purchases.

CLICK IT FOR KIDS!!!

Parents … today is a Click for Kids day! The Issaquah Schools Foundation encourages those who have not yet made their All in for Kids Annual Fund contribution to visit www.isfdn.org and make a donation today. Whether you can give $60 (just $5 a month) or $600—our schools need you. Your donation will make a difference to every child, in every classroom, every day.

Issaquah Schools Foundation "Calling for Kids" campaign starts NOW

Are you in …
...to the All in for Kids Annual Fund Campaign? We know that state funding alone can’t provide the comprehensive education our kids deserve and the marketplace demands. All in for Kids is our opportunity, as parents, to make sure our children have access to the resources they need to succeed. Our gifts will fund investments as diverse as the VOICE Mentoring Program for struggling students to the Financial Literacy Program, Robotics Clubs and Computer Science and Web Design classes that prepare our students for the challenges of college and beyond.

Give what you can with the knowledge that your gift will make a difference to every student in every classroom, every year. Go to www.isfdn.org to make your All in for Kids Annual Fund Campaign gift. Our kids are counting on you.

Reflections 2011-2012 "Diversity Means . . ."

Reflections is a national PTA student cultural art competition. Students can reflect on the theme and create a work of art from 6 different categories- visual art, photography, musical composition, dance/choreography, literature, film/video. Entry forms, rules and guidelines information can be found on the wall across from the future new office doors. Deadline is Oct 21, 3pm. There is a Reflections Box on the table across from the office. A Reflections Chair is needed for the 2012-13 school year. This is a rewarding program to chair- you don’t need art experience! You can share this position with a friend and shadow Sandi this year to learn how easy it is. Please contact sandi.dong@comcast.net to offer your time and enthusiasm so Reflections can continue at Challenger next year.

Smith Brothers Farms Back to School Special

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SPECIAL
Starting September 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011, for every five people from your school community who sign up for our service, we will pay your PTA $250!
So if 10 families from your school sign up for service, we will write a check to Challenger PTA for $500! Additionally, we’ll give YOU a $20 credit for your first delivery!
Just follow these steps:
1. Visit www.smithbrothersfarms.com and click on “Home Delivery.”
2. Click on “sign up for service” and enter “PTA” for the Promo Code.
3. A customer service representative will follow up with you to get the name of your school, so that we can give you and Challenger PTA credit! It’s that easy!
1-877-MILKMAN | SMITHBROTHERSFARMS.COM
WE D E L I V ER DA I RY L I C I OU S T O YO UR D OO R
ENTER PROMO CODE: PTA

Challenger Apparel is now on sale!!

Click here to see our new apparel and order. Orders will be taken at this web site only! Click here to order your Challenger apparel

Walk-A-Thon Information

Walk-A-Thont-shirts will be handed out Thursday. Student raffle tickets will be given to the students Friday during lunch. The drawing for the Wii & ipod will be during the Walk-A-Thon.

Students wear Walk-A-Thon Shirts, Challenger apparel, or yellow & blue Friday.

We have some AMAZING Raffle & Silent Auction Prizes that will be available during the Walk-A-Thon. Raffle Tickets will be available at the Walk-A-Thon. Pre-purchased raffle tickets can be picked up at "Will Call". Just $4 per ticket! MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN YOUR PRIZE!! Online sells end Wed.

Contact Jennifer at jennifergood@comcast.net to offer your support.

Safeway shopping for Challenger!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS –
Between August 10 and September 13, 2011
Purchase any of the select thousands of items marked with the school bus tags. Our group will receive 10% of the purchase price.
Look for a message that prints on your receipt between September 19 and October 9, if it has a redemption code on it please turn it into the school/group.
Only one receipt needs to be turned in. If you have already linked your Safeway Club Card to our school, we will receive your monies automatically and no further action is needed.

Book Fair

Volunteers needed for the June 1-3 event, contact Marilou Dacey & Deneall Owens, Scholastic Book Fair Co-chairs

School Supplies

Pre-ordered school supplies are delivered to your student's classroom on Meet the Teacher day, August 29. For a complete list of supplies by grade, go to the Challenger website (link on the left navigation bar within the "school" icon) and refer to the "About Our School" section.

Welcome to your new website!

Your brand new website has lots of amazing capabilities! Feel free to begin by exploring the menu system, adding an announcement, or adding an event to the calendar. Most aspects of the website are completely customizable. You can organize the menu system (blue bar to the left) however you want. You can upload your own banner photo, and even change the background imagery to reflect your school's unique spirit. Make sure you click the Admin button at the top of the page to get access to all of the settings and configuration tools.

We have given you a head start by adding some example events, announcements, articles, programs, products, volunteer positions, and packets to your website. You can use these examples to help you get familiar with the features. But feel free to delete them whenever you are ready!.