PTO Newsletter
September 2011
September Meetings
Welcome to a new school year! The McKelvey Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) helps our students by raising money for student programs, planning fun activities and providing volunteers for school events. We have two meetings in September that cover the same content. We would love to have you join us in helping our school. There are many volunteer opportunities, like helping out on Popcorn Day, or providing a dessert for the teachers during conferences. Come to a meeting and hear other ways to volunteer and help the school in addition to hearing updates on what is going on in the school. There is a principal’s report each time as well.
There will be a flyer coming home for you to fill out and send back that lists opportunities for volunteering. All of the PTO meetings are held in the school’s library. Desserts will be provided for the September 6th evening meeting, and salads will be provided for the daytime meeting on September 15th. We try to keep all meetings to one hour. We look forward to seeing you there!
Additional PTO meetings are:
October 11 - 7:00 p.m.
December 1 - 12:30 p.m.
January 10 - 7:00 p.m.
February 16 - 12:30 p.m.
April 10 - 7:00 p.m.
May 3 - 12:30 p.m.
Buzz Book Coming Soon!!
The Buzz Book price will increase slightly to $5 a copy. The Buzz Book provides you with all the information you need about McKelvey including staff phone directory; listing of student names, addresses & phone numbers; classroom rosters & schedules; school activities & events. Watch for order forms to come home this month and the book will be ready to go home in October.
August Treasurers’ Report
Income
We had deposits of $738.00 from the sale of McKelvey T-shirts at Meet the Teacher Day and a deposit of $120.80 from the yellow box for clothing donations.
Expenses
We paid $1682.00 to Casual Tee's for the purchase of McKelvey apparel which will be sold throughout the year. We purchased gift cards for $1840.00 which were distributed to all staff as a first day gift and five that will be used for our Entertainment book prizes. We also gave out pencils to all classroom teachers and apples to all staff. These items cost $101.25. Lastly, we made our semi-annual tank rental payment from HICO balloons for $30.00.
McKelvey Money Matters
Writing Checks
When you write a check to McKelvey School PTO, please fill in the memo line to indicate what the check is for. Please note that our bank charges us for bounced checks. If you write a check with insufficient funds, you will be asked to pay this fee.
Requesting Checks
Check Request Forms (with receipts attached) are required from anyone requesting a check from the McKelvey PTO. You may pickup a form in the McKelvey school office or download a copy from the school website. Expenses previously approved (in the budget, by the PTO board or at a PTO meeting) will be reimbursed promptly. Please remember to attach your receipts.
Innisbrook Fundraiser
The Innisbrook catalog fundraiser will kick off on September 15th and end on September 29th. This is the largest fundraiser that McKelvey does each year to support the school and we want it to be a great year. If you are interested in helping please contact either Lorie Pennington at 878-8848, Heather Bolling at 453-9542, or Misty Simino at 713-8677.
Schnucks eScrip Fundraiser
You can support the McKelvey PTO by getting a Community eScrip card. This card can be picked up at any Schnucks and costs nothing. You can register the card by phone or online at www.escrip.com. When paying for your purchases at Schnucks, just hand the card to the cashier and a portion of your purchase will benefit the PTO. Any questions please contact Sarah Epstein at 691-3707.
McKelvey Skate Night
Our 1st Skate Night Party is Friday, September16th at Coachlite Skate Center from 5:45-7:45 p.m. $5.00 includes admission and regular skates. In-line skates cost extra. The snack bar is fully loaded with hotdogs, pizza, nachos, pretzels, sodas and much more. There is always good music, and plenty of games to enjoy. Once again, we will have a drawing for some super prizes. However, McKelvey PTO wants to encouragesafetyduring the event, sobeginning this yearYOU MUST WEAR A HELMET to be able to enter the drawing!!! McKelvey School earns $1.00 for each child/parent that skates, so please show your support and school spiritandhave FUNat Skate Night and be sure towear your helmet!The next Skate Night is on Friday, October 15th. This is a great place for room parents to meet and plan classroom parties.
Popcorn & Spirit Day
On Wednesday, September 14th, the PTO is celebrating McKelvey Spirit Day and the first Popcorn Day of the year! Show your McKelvey Spirit and wear your McKelvey apparel or McKelvey Blue. Popcorn is 50 cents. It is also a great opportunity to volunteer. If you are interested, contact Heather Bolling at 453-9542 or Allison Gill at 542-9311. Upcoming Popcorn Day is October 12th.
BoxTops for Education
It’s time to start thinking about school again—and that means helping your school earn the cash it needs. Find out about all the easy ways you can earn cash for your school at the Box Tops website, btfe.com, and feel good about doing your part to help your child’s school!
If you don’t already get Box Tops emails which bring great Box Tops recipes, ideas, promotions and more, sign up now at btfe.com.
A dime might not seem like much to some people, but you know as we do, that with Box Tops for Education, they can add up to real change!
We are collecting only the box tops, no other labels, so please cut them down to size. This will greatly help with counting and shipping. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact Karen Cassara,at 469-0628.
Entertainment Books
PTO is selling the Entertainment Books again this year!! The Entertainment Book is $30 and can save your family hundreds of dollars on fast food, movies, shopping, fine dining, travel, sporting events and much more.If you are interested in purchasing a book please send cash or check payable to McKelvey PTO in the Entertainment Book order envelope and complete the appropriate order information. We will send the book(s) back promptly with your child. You can also purchase the books at the September PTO meetings. If you purchase at least 1 book your child will get a prize(s) and be entered in a McKelvey raffle to win 1 of 4 $20 Target gift cards. The top seller will also get a $20 Target gift card. As an added bonus, students selling 3+ books will get an adorable stuffed monkey. All profits from this fundraiser will go directly back to McKelvey.Please call Ilene Mueller at (314) 878-9171 if you have any questions.
McKelvey Spirit Wear on Sale!
McKelvey has a new line of spirit wear. We are offering short-sleeve shirts for $10, long-sleeved shirts for $12, and hoodies for $20. We will have them displayed for sale at both open houses and conference night also. The clothing can be bought at any time throughout the year on a cash only basis.
For information, questions, or for placing an order please contact Karen Cassara @ m-k.cassara@ att.net.
McKelvey looks forward to a great year with our McKelvey spirit wear and we hope to see you proudly wearing one!
ABC's of PTO Collections
Aluminum Can tabs are collected for the Ronald McDonald House by the McKelvey Library.
Box Tops for Education support our Arts in Education activities. See www.boxtops4education.com for additional information.
Clothing, linens & shoes can be donated by placing clean items in plastic bags and putting them in the yellow collection box on the back parking lot. Request a tax donation letter by calling 416-8282.
Donate old toner and ink cartridges in the box across from the library.
Everyone can help the environment by donating paper (including newspaper, office papers, and magazines, but not phone books) in the large green & yellow bin on the lower parking lot.
Congrats to Angela Gruszka on the birth of her baby boy!!!
Room Parent Information
Let’s Party!!!
Each year we have three parties in the classrooms, Halloween, Winter & Valentine’s Day. We need room parents to help run these parties. There will be an envelope sent home in the next week asking for $5 to cover the costs of the parties and a form to fill out with ways you would like to volunteer. We are having a room parent meeting on September 15th at noon preceding the PTO meeting. Please come to form your committees for each class. It is a great way to get to know other parents and be a part of planning the fun your kids have! The students really look forward to these parties!!!!
PTO Executive Board
Co-Presidents
Tracy Stemler 469-6818
Amy Volk 275-9771
Co-Vice-Presidents
Heather Bolling 453-9542
Sarah Epstein 691-3707
Co-Treasurers
Rea Atwood 878-7241
Lorie Pennington 878-8848
Advisor to PTO Board
Connie Hertzler 878-5051
Teacher’s Representative
Glenda Petrofsky 469-7841
Recording Secretary
Allison Gill 542-9311
Corresponding Secretary
Ilene Mueller 878-9171
Newsletter submissions can be sent to Ilene Mueller at
Mark Your Calendar
Popcorn and School Spirit Day
September 14
PTO meeting
September 6 - 7 p.m.
Room Parent Meeting
September 15 - 12:00 p.m.
PTO meeting
September 15 - 12:30 p.m.
Skate Night
September 16 - 5:45-7:45 p.m.
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Volunteer Help Needed!!!
Yearbook
The Yearbook committee is looking for people! We are in need of the
following positions:
Kindergarten - 2 Photographers
1st Grade – 1 Photographer
2nd Grade – 1 Photographer
3rd Grade – 1 Photographer
4th Grade – 1 Photographer
Copy Writer
If you are interested in any of these positions or have questions, please contact Amy Volk at 275-9771.
Carnival
The Carnival committee needs help in the following areas:
Co-Chair Trainee
Raffle Coordinator
Set Up/Tear Down Coordinator
If you are interested please contact Jayma Proctor at 275-7825 or ,