The Friday DigestNational PTA Logo
Pertinent Points for the Week Ahead
from the Chesterbrook PTA
Vol.2, No.6 October 8, 2010
I hope everyone enjoyed Back to School Night. If you'd like an additional opportunity to talk with Mr. Fuqua and learn more about the school, please come to the first Principal's Coffee of the year on October 12, 1 - 2 pm, location TBD. This is a great opportunity for all parents, new to the school or otherwise, to learn about some new features of our school and meet some other parents. Parents are also welcome to attend the PTA meeting that morning at 8:30 too!

Also, I want to highlight an upcoming PTA-sponsored activity -- Fundraiser Night at Jason's Deli (in the Idylwood Shopping Center, Falls Church, near the Whole Foods on Route 7). On Wednesday, October 13 between 4 and 10 pm, bring the flyer from your Thursday envelope, have a good, and good for you, meal, and proceeds benefit the PTA's new Health, Safety, Wellness, and Nutrition Committee activities. Watch out for all sorts of fun wellness activities during National School Lunch Week starting this Tuesday. (I apologize for any confusion on the flyers--this is a PTA-, not school-sponsored event, which benefits PTA programs, not the school directly.)

Finally, please note that our Directory team is working on our database this week and next, so if you are using the online directory, it might look a little odd at times. Also, because of the downloading and uploading going on to get all the entries correct (THANK YOU to those who did this yourselves!), some addresses may not available at the time this message is sent. Apologies to all, but you can always access the Friday Digest through the archive on our website.

Enjoy the long weekend,
Laurie
 
To Do This Week
Vote on VA PTA Legislation
As each new PTA year begins it is important that PTAs present the Proposed Legislation Program (PLP) to the members and encourage each member to vote. An annual legislation program is developed by the state Legislation Committee and adopted by the membership to represent the 'official' position of the Virginia PTA on a wide variety of issues affecting children and youth. Your local unit votes are important because each and every vote counts.

All Chesterbrook PTA members, including both parents if you have a Family Membership, should vote, but members may only vote once. This year the Northern Virginian District PTA has centralized voting, os it's even easier. Voting takes just a couple minutes. Please complete your ballot here. Voting ends on October 21, 2010.

Register for New Before School Program: Chesterbrook Fitness Warriors
Throught the PTA, PE teacher Jay Levesque is offering two sessions (Tuesday mornings for grades 4-6 and Wednesday mornings for grades 1-3) of a fun program from 7:30 to 8:15 am to:
  • Help our Chipmunks become physically fit and enjoy structured physical fitness activities
  • Continue our journey to build Strong Minds, Strong Bodies, and Strong Character!
Classes begin October 19 and 20.  Registration is open now. See our website for more information.

Enrollment is still open for the FLEX language enrichment program in Spanish and French. Through stories, games, activities and music, the FLEX program introduces children to a foreign language and gives them exposure to other cultures.  The cost for the 20-week course is $185/student, and each class can accommodate 10 to 15 students. The courses to be offered this year are: Spanish for Grades 1-2 on Wednesdays, beginning October 13 and French for Grades 3-6 on Thursdays, beginning October 14. You can register for the courses on the PTA website.  For more information about the FLEX program, visit the county website.
Eat Out and Benefit the PTA
On Wednesday, October 13, to support our healthy eating initiative, the PTA is sponsoring a Family Night Out at Jason's Deli (Idlywood Shopping Center, Route 7, Falls Church, in the back left end of the center). Jason's Deli has a new menu with lots of fresh, additive-free foods! And free ice cream! Come join us!

And watch out next week for another super dining out deal from the PTA...you may never want to cook again!
Wimpy KidOrder Diary of a Wimpy Kid #5, The Ugly Truth

FINAL NOTICE: For those of you with Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans, you'll be happy to hear that the fifth book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid #5: The Ugly Truth, will be releasing on November 9.  But you won't need to race around town to track down a copy.  All you have to do is pre-order your copy now, and it will be hand-delivered to your child at school on November 9.  Proceeds from the sale will provide needed funds to enhance our school library.  If you would like to place a pre-order, please fill out the form and return it with a check made out to Chesterbrook PTA to your child's teacher by October 14, 2010.   

Volunteer at Book Fair
Chesterbrook's Annual Book Fair is coming up October 25 through November 2 and we need your help! The Book Fair is a fun event to volunteer with because you can preview the books, meet other parents, and see lots of kids! Volunteer shifts include set-up and take-down, helping younger students prepare wish lists, selling books, and helping with the costume and pajama party evening events. Adults can sign up here! We also can use a few middle school students who can get volunteer service hours. Student volunteers can sign up here. For additional information, contact Marsha Camp.
Donate to Local Students and Families
Please help us collect items needed by the students of Carlin Springs Elementary and by needy students in our own school pyramid.  Your donations can make a world of difference to kids without warm clothing and out-of-work parents who are struggling to feed their families.
  • Grocery gift cards in any denomination
  • New or gently used pants, coats, mittens and hats for boys and girls, sizes 4-16
  • New boys and girls underpants, size 4-16
  • Small gifts, toys and treat to fill grab bags for Carlin Springs' Fall Festival
Please place items in the bin marked School Outreach outside the Media Center by Friday, October 22. Contact Shawna Saaty  or Emily Ludwikowski at  with any questions or if you and your child would like to volunteer. 
Work on Reflections EntryReflections logo
A flyer went out several weeks ago about the PTA Reflections Program, a student competition in the areas of photography, literature, visual arts, musical composition, dance choreography and film/video production. All Chesterbrook ES students who submit a Reflections Program entry will receive recognition for their work. For more information, contact Kristin Cabral. Thanks Kristin for organizing our Reflections program this year! Please contact Kristin if you would like to help once entries are submitted.

NOTE: If your child is planning to submit an entry, please email [email protected] with the child's name, grade, and category of entry. This is just to help us plan for processing and judging and does not commit your child to an entry, nor does it prohibit last minute entries without notifying us.
 
Volunteers are still needed to help with this program!!  No art background necessary.  Please email [email protected] if you are interested in helping with the Reflections Program (judging, displaying entries, help with Reflections Reception, etc.).
Sell Great American!
You can still order items online through our Great American sale and credit the school. As a reminder, our school code is 1874999; online orders over $60 are shipped for free.  Get a jump on holiday shopping! Any questions, call/contact Judy Williams at 703.442.3984 or email Judy Williams.
Register for Website Account and Join PTA
Please log-in to our and update your account with any contact information changes and your new teachers. If you do not have an account yet, visit the PTA website to create one. Profile information forms the basis of the paper directory as well, and having it accurate now means the directory can be produced and distributed even earlier!

Then go to Chipmunk Avenue on the PTA website to pay your dues (you can do this in the same order as when you buy school supply kits). Why? Members get a free Family Directory (nonmember price is $8) and are already supporting our many enrichment programs the PTA delivers! Last year we achieved 100% percent membership -- let's try to match it.

(Re)Designate Grocery Cards
We must associate grocery loyalty rewards cards annually. These programs give money directly to Chesterbrook -- without going through the PTA --  based on the amount of revenue generated from customers who have redesignated their rewards card to Chesterbrook ES. There are a number of September bonuses for early sign-ups, so follow the link to redesignate your Giant, Safeway, and Harris Teeter cards HERE.

In addition, Chesterbrook recently received a check from Target for over $500 due to just 18 families' use of Target cards. Thanks to those familes! Since its inception we've received nearly $5000! Click here to learn more about Target's program and to sign up for a Visa or check card with Target.
lunch sticker
Re-Load MyLunchMoney.com
Have you ever seen this sticker? When your child comes home with one, it means his or her lunch account is running low. You can avoid this by signing up with mylunchmoney.com and setting an automatic reload point. For a small fee, they will reload the lunch account in any amount. Through the website, you can also review what your child has purchased in the past week. You can sign up even if you have already paid in the cafeteria--it will just get added to your child's account. Note: if a student forgets a lunch and has no money in his or her account, the cafeteria staff put the lunch on the PTA account and the family is notified to reimburse the PTA.
Donate Gently Used School Supplies for the Needy
And since you've bought new school supplies, perhaps you have some gently used (or even new) supplies you don't need. Once again, Ann-Marie Turnage is collecting supplies to be sent to needy families in Nicaragua through the Peaceworks Foundation. Please tear out any used notebook pages and place school all supplies in the marked box outside the library. Contact Ann-Marie with questions.
Did You Know?
Did you know that the FCPS Parent Resource Center offers a number of programs on topics such as bullying and free consultations with school psychologist or special education specialists? Late Night at the PRC will be held on Wednesday, October 13, from 5 - 8:30 p.m. at Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services.  This is a collaboration between the Department of Special Services and the Parent Resource Center (PRC).  Visit the PRC's website for more information on their events and programs.
Did You Know?
Did you know that next week is National School Nutrition Week?  There are a lot of ways that we can encourage our kids to eat nutritious food and make healthy life choices.  Next week, Chesterbrook will be hanging pictures in the cafeteria to promote healthy eating, host morning announcements that instead lead our children in 1 minute of physical exercise, encourage healthy snack alternatives, and more.

9-5-2-1-0 for Health

Chesterbrook joins Fairfax County and the Northern Virginia Healthy Kids Coalition to encourage kids to live healthy lifestyles. 

Five daily habits can help kids live healthier lives.

9 - Get at least nine hours of sleep

5 - Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables

Watermelon2 - Limit screen time to 2 hours or less

1 - Get at least 1 hour of physical activity

0 - Eliminate sugary drinks

Looking Ahead

October  10 - 15

National School Lunch Week and

 

Custodian Appreciation Week

October 11

Columbus Day Holiday-No School

October 12, 8:30 am

PTA Meeting

October 12, 1 - 2 pm 

Principal's Coffee

October 13, 9 am

AAP Parent Information Session

October 14, 7 pm

AAP Parent Information Session

October 14

Wimpy Kid orders due

October 15

Reflections submissions due

October 22     

School Outreach donations due

October 25 - November 1

Book Fair

October 25 - 29

National Red Ribbon Week

October 26, 8:50 and 9:40

Magic Show morning assemblies (PM-K invited)

October 26

Third grade performs at Sylvestry

October 27, 9 am

Third grade Choral Performance in cafeteria

October 29

School Spirit Day -- Wacky Hair Day

                                     November 1-2                         Teacher Workdays, Student Holidays
In This Issue
VA PTA Legislation
After School Programs
Family Night Out
Wimpy Kid #5
Book Fair
School Outreach
Reflections
Website Accounts
Grocery Store Cards
Lunch Money
Used School Supplies
Quick Links
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School and PTA Partners
ATK:  A Premier Aerospace Company

Corporate Visions, Inc., The Creative Ideas Company

Amazon.com

The Chesterbrook PTA Executive Committee offers our sincere thanks to our school and PTA partners.
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The Chesterbrook PTA Newsletter (Chronicle or Friday Digest) may contain external links to non-Chesterbrook ES PTA websites and access to certain third-party services, which may include, without limitation, social bookmarking services. These external links and services are provided as a convenience, and the Chesterbrook ES PTA is not responsible for the content of any linked website or use of any third-service service. Any external link to a non-Chesterbrook ES PTA website or service accessed from the Chesterbrook PTA  Newsletter is independent from the Chesterbrook ES PTA, and the Chesterbrook ES PTA has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy policy, terms of use and practices of such website or service.  Any such website or service has terms of use and a privacy policy different from the Chesterbrook ES PTA's privacy policy.  In addition, an external link to any non-Chesterbrook ES PTA website or access to a third-party service does not imply that the Chesterbrook ES PTA endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content or use of such website or service.  By using any such website or service, you expressly release the Chesterbrook ES PTA from any liability arising from your use of such third-party website and service and any related content.