Fireside Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

Back to School Packet 2008-2009

 

Dear Parents:

Welcome to all our new Fireside families, and to those returning for another year! For those that don’t know, the Fireside PTO is an organization of parents and teachers that aims to promote our incredible Fireside community spirit by organizing lots of fun events throughout the year, such as the “Back to School Ice Cream Social” last week. This year we are planning several community events, so please mark your calendars as the dates become available. There are two main events in September: Labor Day Parade in downtown Louisville: Mon. Sept.  1st and Fireside Grill ‘n’ Bid: Fri. Sept. 12th.  Look for additional information in the Friday Folders and posted around the school.

You will notice several forms in this packet. Please help us by returning the forms to school by the due dates listed. In particular, the School Directory will be published in September. Many parents find this to be an invaluable resource for contacting classmates and friends. It also contains useful information, such as the school calendar and class lists. So please send back the directory form as soon as possible in order to have your information included. Thank you!

The rest of this packet contains more information about how you can help your child’s school, including fundraisers that don’t cost any money! But for those that do require a check, please include a separate check with each form, payable to Fireside PTO – it really helps out with our bookkeeping!

On the subject of money – we’re often asked where the money goes. In general, much of the money raised is given directly to individual teachers to spend in the classrooms. In addition, about a third of the money provides for grade- or school-wide activities such as field trips, assemblies, science fair, First Lego League and the library. The PTO also funds special projects throughout the year and approves these at monthly meetings. Finally, some of the money is used to treat our wonderful staff and teachers during conferences and teacher appreciation week.  If you would like more details, please check out the PTO bulletin board in the lobby – updated budgets will be posted throughout the school year.

Finally, please join us for PTO meetings, which are held every 2nd Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the school library. The next one will be on September 9th. This is a great way to find out what’s going on and have a say in your school!

Sincerely, Fireside PTO Committee

Co-Chairs:       Tam Dalle Molle        dallemolle@comcast.net              303-604-6497

Margretta Risi         jmmj.risi@comcast.net        303-604-0170

 

For more information, check out the PTO Web Site at www.firesidepto.org.

Help Fireside With the Money You Already Spend – It’s Amazing How It All Adds Up!

Magic Money: The Mysterious Grocery/Kohl’s Fundraising Program

If you spend $100 at King Soopers, Safeway, Vitamin Cottage, Sunflower Farmers Market or Kohl’s, the store will give Fireside $5! That’s FREE money for Fireside! You just have to use the gift cards/certificates that the PTO has already purchased.

There are 3 easy ways to get these gift cards/certificates:

1.  Use the attached form for a one-time or monthly order –then collect from the Main Office.

or    2.  Buy on an “as needed” basis directly from the Main Office.

or    3.  Contact Lori Commander at 303-665-0806

The gift cards/certificates come in the following increments:

King Soopers/Safeway /Vitamin Cottage/Sunflower Farmers Market Gift Cards: $50, 100 or $200

Kohl’s Cares for Kids Gift Cards: $10, $25, $50 or $100 values

FAQ:
Can I buy the gift cards/certificates with my credit card so I can still earn miles etc.?

Yes – just fill out the attached form. Fireside will earn $2.50 on each $100 you spend.

Can I buy gas, discount ski tickets and other special event tickets from the store with these cards?

Absolutely! That’s a great way to have fun and earn money for the school!

Can I still shop at Kohl’s with my Kohl’s card to earn the special discounts?

Yes. The Kohl’s gift card from the PTO is special: you can use it to pay off your Kohl’s charge bill.

Can I shop at Albertson’s and earn money for the school?

Yes. Albertson’s has a new Community Partners Program that gives money to Fireside when the cashier scans your card. You can pick up a card (it’s free) from the school office or the store.

Pizza Pals

Old Chicago Pizza Pals are just $11 each and can be exchanged for a large pizza worth up to $22. That’s a great deal for you and for Fireside, which earns $5 per certificate. They make great gifts too! Order with the attached form or get directly from the office or Lori Commander (303-665-0806).

Target Visa

Remember to link Fireside to your Target Visa Card. Target donates a portion of sales directly to Fireside. What’s in it for you? Earn points for a 10% discount card to use at Target.

Box Tops and Labels for Education

Clip Box Tops off General Mills Cereal/Betty Crocker/Kleenex/GoGurt/Juicy Juice products etc, worth 10¢ each. Clip Labels for Education off Campbells and Pepperidge Farm products, worth points towards school materials. Just drop them into the containers outside the front office.

This is a great one for younger children to be involved in - practice cutting on the lines and “mailing” in the box!

Ink Cartridge and Cell Phone Recycling

Drop off in the boxes outside the school office. It’s good for the environment and Fireside earns money for each one recycled through various programs.

Volunteer Opportunities

Fireside PTO relies on the generous time and talents that our parents contribute to the school. This year’s events and programs are listed below. Any time you can devote to these projects will be greatly appreciated! Sign-up sheets are available in the school lobby at the start of the school year, or you can contact the PTO volunteer coordinator directly (julanna@comcast.net).

Fundraisers:  We have only 2 major fundraising events this year:

Grill ‘n’ Bid - Help with ticket sales, set up, clean up, decorations, bring desserts etc. (Fri. Sept. 12th)

Math- or Read-A-Thon - Help with this major spring Fundraiser.

Social and Special Events:

Labor Day Parade – Join us in the Louisville Labor Day Parade, Monday September 1st, 2008

Winter Spirit Event - To be decided.  New ideas welcomed. (Jan 2009)

Spring Spirit Event – Celebrate World Cultures! (May 2009)

Science Fair- Help run this annual event, provide refreshments, or be a judge (April 21st 2009)

National Turn off the TV week – Help with this national program to turn off the tube (April 20 - 26)

Art Show- Help hang artwork for the Spring Art show.

Staff Appreciation Week- Help with a PTO sponsored Staff Appreciation week in May.

Walk to School Day – October 8th 2008

Conference Treats – Help by bringing in nourishing treats for staff and teachers during parent/teacher conferences

Ongoing:

Green Team – New this year! Help make Fireside a more environmentally friendly place!

Crossing Guards – Safety first!! Please consider volunteering for this important job: Help kids at cross walks before (7:50-8:05 a.m.), or after (2:25-2:40 p.m.) school.

Library- Shelve & label books; or cover books at home.

Lunch room/Lunch recess- Help monitor the lunchroom and play ground.

ESL- Help our second language learners. Note that you do not need to speak a second language!

Special Education - Various opportunities to help students in this program.

Health Room- Assist with record keeping, paperwork, as well as minor injuries and illnesses.

Computer Maintenance - Minor repairs, load software.

PTO Communications – Help promote Fireside as a media liaison

Student Newspaper – Help with editing, layout and printing.

PTO as needed - Miscellaneous PTO “jobs” include providing food and beverages, sign making etc

Yearbook – take photos, and help with the organization and layout of the school yearbook

Pictures- Help with student photos.

Back to School Brunch- A brunch to welcome teachers and staff back to school.  (Sept. 2009)

School Improvement Team – SIT is not run by the PTO, but is a great way to hear about school-wide issues, such as educational achievement and school safety.  Meetings are held in the school library on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. (First meeting: August 20th).

Grocery Store/Kohl’s Gift Card Order Form (Submit Any Time)

Spend $100 and the store gives the PTO $5! Questions? Contact Lori Commander at 303-665-0806

Name          _____________________________________________

Address       _________________________________________________________________

Phone         ____________________       E-mail ____________________________________

Please Circle:        Each month I would like:                      This is a one-time order and I would like:

$________       King Soopers                     $________     Vitamin Cottage           

$________       Safeway                             $________       Sunflower Farmers Market

$________       Kohls                           # ______       Pizza Pals ($11 each)

Your order will be packaged in an envelope and will be available for pick up at the school office. Monthly orders will be available after the 1st of each month.  You can cancel at any time.

Method of Payment: (circle one)

Cash            Check (Payable to Fireside PTO)              Visa                      MasterCard        Discover

If you do not have a preference, please choose cash/check because Fireside pays a fee for each credit card transaction, so we lose about HALF the money we make.

Card Name:       _____________________________    Signature: ____________________________

Card Number:       _______________________________   Vcode: __________   Exp. Date _________

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Fireside Bracelet Order Form (Submit Any Time)

We have “Lance Armstrong” style rubber bracelets engraved with “Fireside Rocks!” in a lime green/purple/white tie-dye swirl. The cost is $3 each. 7 inch and 8 inch bracelets are available for wrists                                                                                                                  and ankles for kids and adults.

Child’s Name ____________________________  Child’s Grade/Teacher  _______________________________

E-mail or Phone # ________________________________________________________

______  7 inch              ______ 8 inch              ______   Total # Bracelets @ $3 each

I enclose a check/cash for $ ______________  (Please make checks payable to Fireside PTO and enclose payment for the bracelets at time of order). Questions? Contact Lori Commander at 303-665-08-06

Fireside Directory Art Contest: Please Return by Friday September 5th

Draw a school-themed picture on the paper below using a black felt tip marker. Our principal, Ms. Heinz-Pribyl, will choose the winning illustration to be featured on the front cover of the Fireside Directory. Other illustrations from each grade will decorate the directory inside. Please use a separate piece of white paper for each student, and remember to include the student’s name and grade!

Name: _________________________________________        Grade: __________________