Volume 1, Issue 1
September 2006
· President:: Tammy Johnson 978-827-3101 tammy@ocj3.net
· Vice President: Kelly Berhinger 978-827-6009 rfberhingercpa@comcast.net
· Vice President: Dan Dubrule 978-827-6302 ldubrule@aol.com
· Secretary: Wendy LeBlanc 978-827– 5484
· Treasurer: Kim Gauvin 978-827-3111 KGX2@comcast.net
* PTO Meeting Sept. 20, 6:30pm Briggs Library
* Briggs School Council Meeting, Sept. 14, 6:00pm Briggs Teachers’ Room
* Briggs Open House, Sept. 27, 6:00 pm, Briggs Elementary School
It seems like every year we are asked, “What is the purpose of the PTO?”. This year in order to answer that question we are publishing the purpose of the PTO according to our By-Laws. Article II of the PTO bylaws states:
“The purposes of the Organization shall be to stimulate, information and encourage the active participation of parents, teachers, and citizens of Ashburnham. The organization shall endeavor to:
1.) bring into close relation the home and the school in order for the parent and educator to create a learning environment that meets the individual needs and abilities of all students;
2.} provide systems of communication for parents and educators which will result in better understanding of the school goals and will enable students to achieve in a positive manner, both academically and personally;
3.) provide enriching opportunities what will develop intellectual curiosity and creativity;
4.) work with the school to provide opportunities for community interaction and community service projects.”
If you have any ideas, suggestions, or feedback on how we work to achieve our purpose, please come to our meetings or contact a board member using the contact information listed in this publication. A copy of the PTO By-Laws will be made available at our meetings.
Box Tops for Education
Box Tops for Education has a great program. As well as clipping box tops from selected items (earning $0.10 for our school per box top) you can register at www.boxtops4education.com and shop through the website at 200+ popular stores, such as JC Penny, Target, Lands End, and more. Our goal this year is to earn $1,000 from clipping box tops for this school year.
Send box tops into school with your child, and they will get to the PTO.
Halloween Goody Bags
Donations are need for candy for this year’s Halloween Goody Bags. We will be accepting candy from now until October 10th. Please send in your bags, marked “PTO” with the children. Anyone interested in helping make the Goody Bags, can come to our October meeting, on October 11th. The Goody Bags will be going home on October 27th.
The PTO utilizes volunteers to host a variety of functions. This year our need for chair people is as follows:
· 2 people are needed for the yearbook
· 2 people for the Bunny Breakfast
· 1 person for the Father/Daughter Dance
· 1 person for the Mother/Son Event
· 1 person for Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day
· At least 5 people for a Fundraising Committee
There are other volunteer opportunities available. Please come to our meetings to see where help is needed.
You can also contact any board member to volunteer. See the listing above for contact information.
As you may have guessed, fundraising time is upon us. This year’s fall fundraiser will be products sold to us through the Katheryn Biech company. Our sale will begin on September 20th and end October 4th. Please remember that for safety reasons, the PTO requests that the children do not sell items door to door.
This year there has been a change made to our fall fundraiser. At the request of the School Committee, the PTO has decided not to offer sales incentives to the children for participating in the sales. This was done to ensure a spirit of fairness within our school community.
The PTO would also like to remind parents that fundraising is voluntary. You do not have to participate. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please contact Kim Gauvin, our treasurer for more details.
Lastly, the PTO Board is looking to put together a Fundraising Committee which would be responsible for researching different fundraisers for us to try. If you are interested, please contact a board member. If you have any ideas for fundraising events, please come to a meeting or contact a board member.
Remember it is through your input and participation that things happen in PTO. Thank you for your support.
The lunch times for the different grade levels are listed below. Please use this information to plan an appropriate snack for your child.
1st Grade: 10:45-11:05
2nd Grade: 11:10-11:30
Kindergarten: 11:35-12:00
5th Grade: 11:55-12:15
4th Grade: 12:20-12:40
3rd Grade: 12:40-1:05
WANTED: HOOD MILK CAPS
Mrs. Lenart, our health teacher, is collecting Hood Milk Caps, to help with the purchase of materials for the Briggs health program. She will collecting the caps until October 23rd. If you wish to participate, please send in your washed milk caps care of the PTO, we will make sure that Mrs. Lenart gets her caps. THANK YOU!
* Anything going home through the schools needs to approved by administration.
* Lunch costs $2.00, and can be pre-paid.
* Milk costs $0.40, and must be bought at lunch.
* The nurse is always looking for donations of new socks, sweatpants, and underwear in all sizes.
* You can bring your children to the PTO meetings. Just be sure to bring an activity for them to work on independently and quietly as is appropriate.
* You can send in a waterbottle for your child to use during the school day. Check with your child’s teacher at Open House about the type of waterbottle to send in.
Last updated 9/20/06 by Tiffany Davis.