March 30, 2011 - Weekly News Flash

 

Table of Contents: 

  1. Make Time for College Gardens Next Week 
  2. Cultural Heritage Night a Success! 
  3. PTA Nominating Committee NEEDS YOU! 
  4. Spring Book Fair 
  5. Order your 2011 Yearbook Now! 
  6. Save the Date: Community Dinners  
  7. Science Expo Volunteers Needed 
  8. Volunteers Needed for Kindergarten Orientation 
  9. No Flyers Next Week 
  10. Lost and Found 
  11. Past PTA Meeting Minutes 
  12. COLLEGE GARDENS IS HAVING A CLOTHING (and stuff) DRIVE AND SALE!!! 
  13. RM Cluster - Budget Advocacy Needed! 

 

Make Time for College Gardens Next Week 

 

Next week is a HUGE week for College Gardens. The Book Fair is running throughout the week. Dave Leeger, the Book Fair Chairperson, looks forward to helping each and every CGES student at the Book Fair. Remember, the PTA gives $50 worth of books to every teacher, plus extra to the Media Center. Please support the Book Fair and volunteer if you can.

 

The April PTA meeting is Tuesday, April 5th at 7:00 in the Media Center. The Nominating Committee will present their report of the slate of candidates for 2011/2012. We will also discuss the critical MCPS budget issues, and activities for the rest of the year, including the Science Fair and Spring Picnic. Mr. Ewald will give an update on math at College Gardens and the IB PYP review. The Book Fair will be open.

 

The PTA Art Fair is Wednesday, April 6th at 7:00. Lots of our student’s art work will be on display and there will be fun activities, too! The Book Fair will be open.

 

Thursday there are two meetings relevant to College Gardens. At 4:00, there will be a feasibility study meeting for RM #5. Getting this school designed, funded and built is critical to relieving the elementary school over crowding in our cluster, including here at CGES. At these meetings, the architect is presenting plans and each person has the opportunity to give input on the physical planning for the school.

 

At 7:00, the RM Cluster reps. will be giving budget testimony at to the County Council. We need everyone to turn out in school colors to show the County Council that funding a Maintenance of Effort budget is important to our families. If the County Council votes to fund MCPS below the MOE, student impacting budget cuts will result.

 

We look forward to seeing you several times next week!

 

Cultural Heritage Night a Success! 

 

Thanks to Veronica Foley, Bruce and Tina Morgan, Bola, Carla Vale, Alpana Barua, Diana Marmelstein, Natalie Vankos, Shiowwen Su, Alison Yao, Jennifer Halper, Ani Gibson, Pankaj Oberoi, Dave Leeger, CGES PTA and CGES Staff. Also a big thanks to all the table hosts for putting together a great showcase of the world! And the talented CGES children for the spectacular performances!

Thank you for the contributions to the Lemon-Aid stand and the Nail Art Corner. The money raised was sent to the American Red Cross to aid those affected from Japan’s earthquake and tsunami.

Thank you all,
Jyoti Mehta and Seema Shankar

 

 

PTA Nominating Committee NEEDS YOU! 

 

The PTA Nominating Committee is actively recruiting candidates for next year's PTA Officer positions. We are seeking individuals who are interested in serving as:

  • President
  • VP of Communications
  • VP of Membership
  • VP of Fundraising
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • MCCPTA representatives

If you're interested in learning more about these opportunities, or if you already know that you would like to volunteer, please get in touch with a member of the Nominating Committee:

 

 

Spring Book Fair 

 

Hello College Gardens Elementary School Community

 

The Spring Book Fair is coming up and we need your help. We need volunteers to set up, work, and pack up the book fair.

 

We would also like to invite everyone to come out and support the school and the PTA at the book fair. The book fair set up is Friday, April 1st during the day and we will open for business that evening and will wrap up the following Friday evening. It’s a lot of fun! And the kids really like it.

 

Every book fair the PTA purchases and delivers books for each classroom so our children have new and interesting books to read plus we provide a significant part of the PTA’s budget for activities both during and after school. If you would like to volunteer please email me at daveleeger@hotmail.com or call 1-301-542-3300 (cell).

 

We look forward to another Great Book Fair. Click here for the flyer and click here for the class schedule.

 

Dave Leeger

 

 

Order your 2011 Yearbook Now! 

 

Don't miss out on the memories! Order your yearbook now. The cost is $25. You MUST preorder this year to ensure your child receives a yearbook. Orders are due April 13th. Click here for the order form.

 

Have Pictures from CG Events?? 

 

* Valentine’s Day * Cultural Arts * Clubs * Fun * Classroom Celebrations * Friends * Math Night * Recess * Back to School * Halloween * Field Trips * Friends * Teachers * Family Fun Night *

 

Email up to 5 pictures to rsnavarro@comcast.net. Have more? Put them on a CD labeled “Yearbook” and send them into school. Please be sure to indicate what grade and teacher the pictured students are in. Deadline for pictures is Monday, March 28th.

 

 

Save the Date: April Community Dinner  

 

Save the dates for the upcoming community dinner:

 

  • Tuesday, April 12 from 5 pm to 9 pm at Red Hot & Blue (intersection of Crabbs Branch Way and Shady Grove Rd). Click here for the flyer.

 

 

Science Expo Volunteers Needed 

 

We are looking for adults willing to volunteer their time and/or services to support science inquiry. The Science Expo will take place this year on Saturday, May 14th from 3 – 6:00 pm. If you might be interested in helping in any of the following ways, please return this form to Mrs. Jennifer Harris (1st Grade) at CGES or email Kris Georgius (georgius@us.ibm.com). Please click here for more information.

 

 

Volunteers Needed for Kindergarten Orientation 

 

The PTA is looking for parent volunteers to assist with this year's Kindergarten Orientation, to be held May 26 and 27 (Thursday and Friday). Volunteers are needed to photograph the children, distribute name tags, upload photos and affix to nametags, and provide refreshments. If you're able to help out one or both days, or even just for a couple of hours, please contact Andrea Hall, PTA Volunteer Coordinator, at andreainrockville@yahoo.com.

 

 

No Flyers Next Week 

 

Due to the Book Fair next week, there will be no Wednesday Packets. All volunteers will be working to help making your Book Fair a HUGE success. Please look for your flyers the following week on April 13th.

 

 

Lost and Found 

 

Has your child lost a coat? A hat? Their eye glasses? Currently in the front office, there are 5 eye glasses that have lost their owner. If you child has misplaced their glasses, please be sure to check in the front office. Also, there are lots of coats, hats, sweatshirts, and gloves in the lost and found located in the APR. Please be sure to have your child come in and claim their lost item or come in a take a look for yourself. All items will be donated after Spring Break.

 

 

Past PTA Meeting Draft Minutes 

 

Below you will find links to past PTA Meeting Minutes. Please review the draft minutes and submit any changes to: info@cgespta.org. Each of these draft meeting minutes will be voted on at the April PTA Meeting.

Approved PTA Minutes:

 

 

COLLEGE GARDENS IS HAVING A CLOTHING (and stuff) DRIVE AND SALE!!! 

 

Are you looking for someone who needs those clothes that don't fit your kids any more?

Are you looking for inexpensive clothes, toys and games for your children?

Do you want to help improve your child's school?

 

Here is the answer!!! The COLLEGE GARDENS CLOTHING (and stuff) DRIVE AND SALE

 

Toys, Games, Clothes and anything else a k-5 parent could use can be dropped of at the school starting Monday 3/7/2010. There will be a collection cart in the main hall. Donations can be anything, you bring it in, we sell it, the school gets money. The SALE will be in May AT COLLEGE GARDENS. Please mark all donations with your child(ren)'s name so they can receive their prizes. Any student who brings in three items or more will receive a prize from one of our sponsors.

TOY KINGDOM is giving a 20% off coupon to anyone who donates at least three items. Ben & Jerry's and Robeks are also donating coupons to be used as prizes for the kids who bring in donations.

Contact CGESCD@YAHOO.COM for more information. Click here for the flyer. Volunteers needed. Thank you.

 

 

RM Cluster - Budget Advocacy Needed! 

 

Parents:

 

Montgomery County Executive, Isiah Leggett, has released his proposed Operating Budget for fiscal year 2012, recommending $82 million in cuts for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The Montgomery County Council will hold hearings on the budget in April and a final vote will be taken in May. To date, MCPS Superintendent Dr. Weast has outlined up to $45 million in potential cuts (see http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/budget/ ). If the Montgomery County Council were to pass a budget with nearly DOUBLE these cuts, the impact on our schools would be profound. Class sizes will go up, support staff will be cut and other programs could be cut or dramatically scaled back. PLEASE ACT NOW TO OPPOSE THESE CUTS BY SENDING A LETTER TO COUNCILMEMBERS. A sample letter, and the corresponding email addresses are provided. Please write a subject line for your email, and provide your name and address - it is very important for each message to be unique, even if only in the subject line.

 

PLEASE ACT TODAY.

 

Email addresses:

-------------------------------------------------Sample Letter----------------------------------------

 

Dear President Ervin, Vice President Berliner and Distinguished Councilmembers,

 

I am writing to oppose the $82 million in cuts proposed for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) by the County Executive. These cuts, if approved by the Council, would significantly diminish the quality of education for every child in our County. Our schools are facing unprecedented challenges. Enrollment has increased by more than 6,300 students in the last three years, with 10,000 more students projected by 2016. We have seen a sharp increase in the number of students living at or near poverty level, with significant educational needs. These are difficult budget times, and each of you - as elected officials - must make clear your priorities. Cuts of this magnitude would be an injustice to our children and would significantly diminish the quality of MCPS, something our County can ill afford as we strive to recover from this economic downturn. I support the principle of Maintenance of Effort funding (to provide at least the same level of funding per pupil as the year before) and I urge you to make education funding a real priority, even in these difficult budget times.

 

Sincerely,

 

Name
Address