Chesterbrook PTA Friday Digest

The Friday Digest National PTA Logo

Pertinent Points for the Week Ahead
from the Chesterbrook PTA

Vol.2, No.7

October 15, 2010

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Jason's Deli event Wednesday night. Aside from it being freezing in there, I think everyone had a great time, a good dinner, and free ice cream! We don't have the earnings figures yet, but I'll pass them along when we do. We'll definitely schedule another night out!

In the past couple weeks, we have had about 60 email addresses get automatically "unsubscribed" from our Constant Contact account, and we are unable to resubscribe them ourselves. If you are receiving this, your email is fine. But if you know someone who didn't, please direct them to our website to resubscribe. We don't want anyone to be left off any important emails!

Have a great 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, so 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!

These programs are at risk of cancellation unless we get more kids enrolled!
Classes begin October 19 and 20. Registration is open now. See our website for more information.

Join PTA to Get Free Family Directory

The Family Directory will be distributed in the next few weeks. If you have not joined the PTA or paid the nonmember directory fee, you will not receive one! PTA membership is $20 for families, $10 for individuals. Nonmembers pay $8 for a directory. The directory is indispensable for arranging playdates, finding someone who understands the homework, and planning class events! You may pay for PTA memberships or the directory online.

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

We have had fantastic participation in our outreach activity so far! Please help us collect additional items this last week. The students of Carlin Springs Elementary and students in our own school pyramid are truly in need this year. 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.

Pick Up Great American Items

Great American items ordered for pickup will be available at school on November 1 and 2, during teacher conferences. Please retrieve your items then, so your children don't have to carry them home.

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.

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?

Watermelon

Did you know that in September the Corn Refiners Association petitioned to the US Food and Drug Administration to start labeling the embattled ingredient high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as "corn sugar"? Here are a few facts about HFCS:

High fructose corn syrup is in all kinds of foods - it is used as a sugar substitute in processed foods and beverages, including breads, cereals, breakfast bars, lunch meats, yogurts, soups and condiments.
US corn subsidies make this a very cost effective sugar substitute
HFCS has gotten a lot of bad publicity and scientific review regarding its potential negative health effects and cause of weight gain (thus the reason for the name change)
Some products now have labeling on the front saying it does NOT have HFCS
Chocolate milk was removed from the Fairfax County menu this year because the chocolate milk had HFCS (by the way, chocolate milk with HFCS has 11 grams of additional sugar than regular milk).

The PTA encourages parents to encourage their children who buy school lunches to drink milk or water at lunchtime (and not throw it away).

Here are a few news links around the HFCS debate:

Looking Ahead

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 November 1-2	Teacher Workdays, Student Holidays Great American items ready for pick-up
November 8-12	Salvation Army canned food drive
November 9, 7:30 pm	PTA General membership meeting (program topic TBA)
November 10	Picture make-up day
November 11	Thanksgiving Luncheon

In This Issue

VA PTA Legislation

After School Programs

Website Accounts

Book Fair

School Outreach

Article Headline

Used School Supplies

Did You Know?

Upcoming Dates

Quick Links

Newsletter Archive