Khalsa Montessori School PTO

Our Mission: To enhance the delivery of excellence in education while cultivating the community of Khalsa Montessori.

Introductions: Officers present: President Brian Flatgard, Secretary Victoria Avella.

Attendees: Great parent turn out. There were about 32 parents in attendence.

Secretary’s report: Victoria Avella. available online.

Treasurer’s Report: Lisa Callarman. Read by Brian. All seems to be in order. We are maintaining a profit. Any questions do not hesitate to contact one of the officers.

Recaps:

Fresh and Easy receipts: Kathryn Leonard. As of the meeting $475 had been collected. All receipts are in and we should have a grand total at the next meeting.

Butter Braid and Laughing Giraffe Organic Treats: very successful. Collected about $800.

Holiday Programme and DVD orders. The DVD will be ready soon. The editing is very good. Thanks to Kelly Loucks and Amy Mc Pherson.

Recurring findraising:

Grocery shopping: Safeway, Albertsons, Osco, Fry’s. All accessable on the website: KhalsaPTO.org

eScrip and Amazon. Also found on the website under fundraising.

Box Tops for Education. Keep collecting. Collection boxes are at both the Primary and Elementary campuses. So far raised $300.

Do not forget about the Jamba Juice cards.

Upcoming Events:

Fat Man’s Pass Hike: January 14th. Brian reported that there was a great turn out. About 100!….

Spring Carnival: Saturday, March 3, 2012.

Yearbooks: May

Year-end 40th Anniversary extravaganza picnic: June. This year will be special due to the 40th Anniversary.

Administration Report: Donna Waters. Congratulated the khlasa community for a great Holiday Programme. As teachers and parents we are always so proud of all the children. They themselves should also be very proud.

The tax credit was a great success. The school will receive around $20,000. Thank you so much. This will be able to be used in the classrooms.

Lead Teacher Presentation: Lori Lasota

Lori talks about the importance of self awareness amongst the children, that they are aware of what they are capable of.

Lori, likes to ask the students: ” Did you do the best work?”. It is important to help the children understand that everyday it is important to do the best work they can. It is not the amount of work but the quality of the work that is important. It is also important for them to challenge themsleves and hold themselves accountable for the work. As parents we can look at their work record. Ask them questions. As parents, it is important that we go into the classroom to observe. This will show them that we are interested in what they are doing, check in with them, show them that we care.

Contact us: kmspto@gmail.com or Brian 602-266-4017

Communications and emails. Please make sure that you are signed up: khalsapto.org/contact/

Next meeting: Wednesday, February 8th 2012.

Celebrate Khalsa Montessori School’s 40th year with a commemorative DVD of the 2011 holiday program.

Please submit your order and payment  before winter break, although we will take orders through Friday, January 6, 2012.

DVDs are $10 each, and order forms are being placed in your folders today.

• You can also download an order form here.

Make checks payable to Khalsa PTO.  Thanks!

A big thanks to Kelly Loucks and Amy McPherson for their help and support in making our DVD dreams a reality.

For those of you who ordered Butter Braid Bread and Laughing Giraffe Organics, your orders will be available after school on Tuesday, 12/13. We plan on getting these to you at drive-thru, or you can make it a bit easier on all of us and park to get your treats.

Interested in getting a DVD of the holiday program?

• Click here to express your interest in ordering a $10 DVD.

We received a quote from Phoenix College, and we’re polling parents to see if we will receive enough orders to make it financially feasible. The DVDs would cost $10.

Please let us know if you are interested, and how many copies of the DVD you would order. We expect that all those who express interest in a DVD will actually purchase a DVD of our wonderful Khalsa holiday program.

The DVDs will be shot with two professional HD cameras and house sound, and includes high quality printed label and case.

If you would like a DVD, please let us know by filling out this easy online form.

We’ll let you know if we have enough interest to go forward with this great program. Thanks!

It’s not too late for scrumpdilly-iciousness—but it will be soon!

We’ve extended the order turn-in date for fabulous Holiday Treats from Laughing Giraffe and Braided Butter Bread Fundraiser.

If you haven’t already turned in your order form and sum due, please do so by Friday, December 2 to the Primary or Elementary office.

These tantalizing treats make fantastic surprise gifts for neighbors, friends, family and coworkers. But don’t forget some extra for yourself!

Please Pick Up Your Candles!

The candles arrived at all schools today, so please pick up your candles and help unclutter the school.

Thanks to all who participated. We raised over $2,000 with this fundraiser, and all that money goes right into your child’s classroom.

Thanks to former Khalsa parents Colleen and Rick Reeker for their help, and to Victoria Avella for coordinating this fundraiser for the school.

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011.

Officers present:  President Brian Flatgard, Secretary Victoria Avella and Treasurer Lisa Callarman.

Our mission: To enhance the delivery of excellence in education while cultivating the community of Khalsa Montessori.

Introductions. Good parent turn out.

Secretary’s Report: Victoria Avella. Available online.

Treasurer’s Report: Lisa Callarman. From the report it is noted that we broke  even from the mixer. Working capital is good.

Recaps:

Candle sales: All forms have been handed in. Updates will follow once the orders are ready for pick up.

Parent Teacher mixer was a great success. Special thanks go to Justin and Dawn Baumgartner and the wonderful boxes of fresh produce.  Special thanks also go to the financial sponsers whose total donations came to about $800.00. Thank you from the teachers!.

Recurring fundraising:

Grocery shopping: Safeway, Albertsons, Osco and Fry’s.

eScrip: considering a common phone number for all the parents to use.

Also please remember Amazon, Box Tops for Education and Target. All links are available on the website. Any questions do not hesitate to contact one of the officers.

More Jamba Juice cards are also available.

Upcoming events:

Fresh and Easy shopping: September 15th-December 31st, 2011. Kathyrn Leonard, chair. Please keep all receipts over $20.00 as a dollar will be donated Khalsa!.

Shopping night at Fresh and Easy on 7th Ave/ Indian School. December 12th. All reciepts collected will go to Khalsa. a great opportunity to help or for an hour or two. Children are welcome to help out and collect as many receipts as possible.

Butter Braid Bread fundrasing: orders due November 30th, delivery December 12th.

Laughing Giraffe Organic Treats: Justin Baumgartner. Orders due November 30th, delivery December 12th.

Holiday Program: December 14th. Discussed the possibility of doing a DVD.

Fat Man’s Pass Hike: January. Great time to get together and enjoy some hot chocolate and treats.

Spring Carnival: Saturday, March 3rd, 2011.  Co ordinators Brian Flatgard and Anne Elizabeth Hamilton.

Year books: May. Photos are welcome.

Year-end 40th Anniversary extravaganza picnic: June.

Administration Report: Keerat Giordano and Donna Waters.

All parents please remember the tax credit available to everyone. Donate $200.00 to the school. It is a win win situation for all. The form is available on line. Ask family, friends.

November 23rd. Primary and Primary 3rd Street will be having their Thankgiving Celebration. At Primary there is a lessing for the Earth followed by a wonderful feast that the children have created. Release will be at 12:30.

Elementary will also be having a communal meal for all to enjoy. Please call for more information.

Lead Teacher Presentation: Treasure Howie, Primary Upstairs Lead Teacher.

Treasure presents a sheet with some lovely quotes from Maria Montessori.

” All our handling of the child will bear fruit, not only at the moment, but in the adult they are destined to become.”

Treasure explains that the Montessori way of teaching allows children to learn at their own pace, allowing them to utilize what they have inside of them. They have the freedom to make their own choices be it in math work, snack or activity in the classroom.

Treasure emphasizes the importance of encouraging the children to walk into school alone, holding thier own lunch boxes. Allow the children to be independent. Send them to school with clothes and shoes that they are able to tie and untie by themselves. Freedom of movement is very important.

Contact us: Khalsapto.org, kmspto@gmail.com. Also sign up for he newsletter: Khalsapto.org/contact/

Next meeting wednesday, January 11th, 2012.

Have a wonderful and peaceful Thanksgiving.

Just a reminder that this is the week to return your candle order forms. Thanks for your participation!