August 21, 2016


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Carnegie Vanguard High School
Newsletter
eNews from your CVHS PTO

In This Issue
Textbooks/Laptops
Coffee Bar
Open House
Food sales help
School pictures
Math/Science tourney
VIPS
Socials
Corporate giving
Friends and Family
Upcoming dates
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Welcome back to school everyone!

Welcome back! As we begin a new year, I share a couple of the highlights of my summer. First, on the STEM side, a totally cool innovation of the Victorian era. A clock! Shepherd Master Clock, at the Greenwich Observatory was the timekeeper for Britain from 1852-1893.

Accurate clocks were important so people at different places could coordinate with each other for cooperative activities like regular train service. CVHS also is known for its cooperative community.

Second, on the arts side, an accidental discovery walking down a windy London street. A poet's house! At 3 Kensington Court Gardens. In my college home the owner held classes on T.S. Eliot.

Discussions I heard were lively and respectful, though not all the students agreed with the ideas of T.S. Eliot. CVHS also can be an interesting, supportive place to learn challenging topics.

Greetings to all of our new Rhino families! Communicating with the Rhino parents on the CVHS PTO board is easy even if you do not have a directory yet. We have PTO email addresses:

Sarah Bittner, President [email protected]

Mark Levine, VP Fundraising [email protected]

Jacqueline Keus, VP Communications [email protected]

Reva Mohapatra, VP Volunteers [email protected]

Hilda Hendrix, Treasurer [email protected]

Lara Powers, Secretary [email protected]

Joan Khosla, Past President [email protected]

Sonu Keneally, Parliamentarian [email protected]

Also on the PTO board are Jane Schulz, Teacher Representative, and Ramon Moss, Principal, ex-officio.

Our time is just beginning with each other this year. This is a unique place and we hope that you will all enjoy yourselves and get to know others in the community. Every parent/guardian, please plan to come to the Open House, Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the school. You get to follow your student's schedule! And, at that night you will be able to buy Carnegie spiritwear, donate to PTO, and signup to volunteer. Here's to a great year.

Keep Calm and Rhino On!
Sarah Bittner
 
 
Earn money for your club
Carnegie Clubs, the PTO is offering you a great opportunity to earn money to fund your activities.

We are launching a new coffee bar at school which will be operated each week by a different club. Clubs will earn money for operating the bar. Also, by doing so, your club will  gain an advantage if you request additional funds from the PTO for any activities during the year.

Many weeks have already been claimed by various clubs, but there are (as of this writing) 10 weeks during the school year still available, so ACT NOW!

For those of you buying coffee at the coffee bar, please remember to bring either $1 bills or quarters.

For more information and to sign-up, click on the Sign-Up Genius page here.

Open House/PTO meeting Aug. 25

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the first PTO meeting followed by a chance to get to know your Rhino faculty and staff first hand at the CVHS Open House, starting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25.

A brief PTO meeting will be held in the Cafegymnatorium. Following that, you will all be released to follow a highly-compressed version of your student's (or students') schedule, where you will get to meet teachers and learn first-hand why this school is the special place it is.

We hope to see you all there!
 
Food sales volunteers needed

Mary Beth and team are in need of volunteers for the food sales, which will be held in the cafeteria every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday starting Aug. 30th.

There are still plenty of opportunities and because you only need to take one shift per month (or if you have the "every 5th week" shift it's way less) it doesn't take a lot of time out of your schedule.

To sign up, Mary Beth has a great sign up genius page here.
 
School pictures coming up

School pictures will be taken on Monday, Sept. 12th.
Senior boys need to wear a white shirt. Senior girls need to wear something that does not have a collar.

For more information, students need to see Ms. Paget in the library. Make-ups, if needed, will be scheduled for later in the fall.

 
The following message is from math teacher extraordinaire Mr. Cantu:

The Carnegie Vanguard High School Mu Alpha Theta Club will be hosting a Math and Science Tournament on Saturday, October 29, 2016 and we need as many adult volunteers as possible (you will have free access to our snack bar). This is a major fundraising event for our club.

Our most urgent needs are for Proctors and Graders.

A proctor's obligation is from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We will gather in the library at 8:30 for distribution of assignments. Clear instructions will be relayed by the Public Announcement System during the events. The instructions are simple. Basically, you just have to distribute and collect exams from folders handed to you by our responsible students. There will always be students stationed in the hall for you to flag should you need any emergency assistance. This is our most pressing need.

Any extra volunteers may be placed in the grading room (library). There will be plenty of kind adults there to explain the grading system for all events. These are objectively scored events. Number Sense and Calculator applications require the scoring of numbers. Math and Science are multiple choice test.

Less urgently, we could use a couple of parents to help with check-in and money collection in the morning. Also, volunteers can attend any fraction of the day to simply monitor the cafeteria.

Please indicate your interest in volunteering to help the Mu Alpha Theta Club by sending an email to Mr. Saul Cantu at [email protected] or calling Mr. Cantu at 281-748-4779.

The Mu Alpha Theta Club would like to express its gratitude and appreciation for your help.
 
Volunteers in the Public Schools

At this point, most of you have had children in Houston ISD for some time, and know the VIPS drill. However, just in case you need a refresher, here we go:

Everyone who wishes to volunteer on a Houston ISD campus MUST register at the Volunteers In the Public Schools website here. All registrants must pass a standard criminal history background check.

Following that, you will be able to join in the on-campus Carnegie community and/or volunteer on any Houston ISD campus.

If you've already followed all of these steps, congratulations! Click here to volunteer at CVHS.

 
Parent and Family Socials



In addition to our Friends and Family Campaign (more on that here), the CVHS PTO hosts three social fundraisers each school year. These FUN- and fundraising events enable the PTO to support our great school while socializing with other school supporters.

BBQ Social with Officer Fyles at Karbach: $25/Person (Adults). Please join us in early November (most likely Thursday, Nov. 3) at Karbach Brewery. Our own Officer Fyles will prepare his delicious barbeque as we enjoy Karbach's beer garden. Price includes BBQ, beer glass and a few beer tokens. You do not have to be a CVHS parent to attend, but must be over 21.

Wine and Dine Party: $65/Person (Adults). Good times and conversation at the Levine household with plenty of food and great wine. Expected date is the end of January 2017.

BINGO Night: $1/Bingo cards (Family-friendly). We will host our second annual BINGONight in April 2017. Exact date to be announced in the fall. Join us for the family fun.

For more information, or to purchase tickets for these events, click here.
 
PTO Corporate Giving Campaign

The PTO is establishing a committee to develop and implement a strategy for Carnegie's future through a corporate giving campaign. 

We invite anyone interested in participating to contact Mark Levine, PTO VP of Fundraising, at [email protected]

Friends and Family Campaign

The CVHS PTO Friends and Family Campaign is an important part of our overall PTO fundraising program. Funds raised by the PTO are used for ongoing campus maintenance and improvements, student clubs and activities support, special educational programs, school-wide social events, faculty supplies and support, and much more.

Please consider supporting these endeavors by making a tax deductible donation to the Carnegie Vanguard PTO. In the 2016-2017 school year, the PTO plans to dedicate a substantial portion of the Friends and Family Campaign to the construction of a Pavilion in the courtyard.

Our giving levels are:
  • Carnegie Champions, $2,500+
  • Principal's Circle, $1,000-$2,499
  • Courtyard Cadre, $500-999
  • Balcony Bunch, $250-499
  • Green Roof Gang, $100-249

However, we are of course happy to accept donations of any amount. All donations at or above $100 are recognized on the PTO website and directory (if received by Sept. 10). All donations qualify as charitable tax deductions.

For more, or to donate, click here.
 
Upcoming Events

Aug. 22
First day of school

Aug. 25
CVHS PTO Meeting and Open House, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 5
Labor Day holiday

Sept. 9
Carnegie vs. Bellaire volleyball, Butler Fieldhouse, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 14
Carnegie vs. Westside volleyball, Butler Fieldhouse, 5:45 p.m.

Sept. 16
Carnegie vs. Chavez volleyball, Barnett Fieldhouse, 5:45 p.m.

Sept. 21
Early dismissal, 1:30 p.m.
Carnegie vs. Lamar volleyball, Butler Fieldhouse, 5:45 p.m.

Sept. 23
Carnegie vs. Heights volleyball, Barnett Fieldhouse, 7:45 p.m.

Sept. 27
Carnegie vs. Sam Houston volleyball, Barnett Fieldhouse, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 30
Carnegie vs. Westbury volleyball, Barnett Fieldhouse, 4:30 p.m.