Khalsa PTO

Give a live high five to Mercury  at the start of Sunday’s game!

First 20 to confirm their attendance participate in the Mercury High Five Fan Tunnel!

2 easy steps to get tickets:

1. Confirm your attendance and fill out this quick form.
   We use this form to determine who gets in the High Five Tunnel. Click here to fill out the form. First confirmed, first high-fived! Questions? Email kmspto@gmail.com or call Brian Flatgard, 602-266-4017.
2. Order your tickets:
   Contact Becky McGlensey at (602) 379-7634 or bmcglensey@suns.com, or fax your completed form to (602) 379-7866. Becky is with Mercury and will arrange to have your tickets at will call at the US Airways box office. Please order before Friday, September 3, 4:00 pm. Download our official flyer and fax form if you’d like to fax your order.

Friends and family outside of Khalsa are more than welcome to participate in this event! Confirm your attendance and order tickets before Friday, Sept. 3, 4 pm.

Round 2 Game 1 @ US Airways Center, Sunday Sept. 5th at 12:00pm

Playoff Package Includes:

• Discounted tickets in the lower level
• FREE Mercury GIFT – a championship bag
• Group block seating together
• First 20 to confirm their attendance get to participate in the Mercury High Five Fan Tunnel!

Don’t miss out on the opportunity for your child to high five the Phoenix Mercury players as they run onto the court for the start of the game!

After an impressive two game sweep of San Antonio,  Mercury are one step away from getting back to the WNBA Finals! The only obstacle in our way is the top seed in the West: the Seattle Storm. We need your support, let’s pack the house! Beat the heat and join the faculty, students, and friends of Khalsa Montessori School as we cheer on the 2009 WNBA Champions in their biggest game of the year!

Visit the Mercury web site for more info.

Welcome to another great year at Khalsa!

We have a lot planned for our community, and invite you to participate in any way you can. Our mission is unchanging: To enhance the delivery of excellence in education while cultivating the community of Khalsa Montessori School.

We’d like to say thanks to to all who helped us last year. We have a very active parent community whose many hands makes our work easy. A special thanks goes to two former PTO officers who have moved on: last year’s vice-president Theresa Sanchez, and treasurer Janet Wilson, who have given years of service to Khalsa.

We have two new officers this year. Anne Elizabeth Hamilton is our vice-president, and Lisa Streu is our treasurer. Victoria Coe continues as secretary, as does Brian Flatgard as president.

First PTO Meeting

Our first meeting is Wednesday, September 8, in the Elementary Multipurpose room (upstairs). We provide the pizza, childcare, and a fun, prompt, one-hour meeting. The meeting runs from 6 pm to 7 pm. The pizzas arrive at 5:45 so you can arrive a bit early and enjoy some food and conversation. Most meetings are the second Wednesday of each month.

We want to stress that it’s not necessary to attend PTO meetings to be involved with PTO. The meetings are where many of our decisions and discussions take place, but we understand it may be difficult for some parents to attend all the meetings.

Communication

We’ll be getting in touch with you through our website at KhalsaPTO.org, our email newsletters, and continue to place flyers in your student’s folders. Check our site regularly at khalsapto.org, and if you’ve not received one of our emails within the month, let us know and we’ll be sure to get you on the list.

Volunteer

Please give a bit of your time to the PTO. We plan to make it as easy and fun as possible. As you know, all parents are required to put in 20 parent participation hours. Not only can we help you easily spend 20 enjoyable hours in the community, PTO meetings count as well.

Visit our website where we have a full list of volunteering opportunities, khalsapto.org/volunteer. If there’s something on the list that interests you, contact us and express your interest.

We want our volunteers to organize around their passions, so if there’s something you have to offer and we’re too foolish to ask for it, please take the initiative and let us know! We’re always open to suggestions for new events and fundraisers.

Fundraising

One of the ways we fulfill the PTO mission is by raising money, which goes directly to your child’s classroom. You’ll be receiving wallet-sized cards which detail most of our ongoing fundraisers that involve shopping or eating: eScrip, Amazon.com, Box Tops for Education, Target, zPizza/Pink Spot, Safeway, Alberton’s and Bashas.

We really, really, really encourage you to sign up with eScrip.com. It is “easy money” as they say, and one of our best fundraisers. While it’s great for any of you who are Safeway shoppers, you can link your credit and debit cards and other store cards as well. Just go to eScrip.com, link up your cards, and choose Khalsa Montessori Schools as the beneficiary. You’ll be fundraising the rest of the year with ease!

Events

Here’s a quick rundown of events we are involved in this year. Trust us, you’ll know all the dates and details as we get them.

• Parent/Teacher Mixer Gala, October 20, Valley Garden Center.
• Fat Man’s Pass Hike, January, MLK weekend, South Mountain Park.
• Family Day at the Ballpark, spring training season.
• Spring Carnival, March 4, Monterey Park.
• School Picnic, usually in June.

We’re looking forward to a great year with your help, and see you at the first meeting!

Yearbook order forms are in all parent folders, and are due Friday, May 14th.

• Click to download the yearbook form in PDF format.

You can also order ads with this form. Thanks!

Khalsa Montessori School PTO Meeting, May 12, 2010. Elementary Campus

Mission: To enhance the delivery of excellence in education and cultivate the community of Khalsa Montessori Schools.

1. Introductions
   • Officers: Brian, Theresa, Janet, Victoria
   • Attendees introduction
2. Solicit for additional agenda items from attendees
3. Secretary’s Report
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. Fundraising
   • Recurring fundraising items:
     • eScrip and Safeway: khalsapto.org/escrip/
     • Amazon: khalsapto.org/amazon/
     • Box Tops for Education: khalsapto.org/boxtops/
     • Albertson, Osco: khalsapto.org/albertsons/
     • Target: khalsapto.org/target/
     • Sweet Tomatoes: Thursday, 5/20, khalsapto.org/sweet-tomatoes/
     • zPizza: Tuesday, 6/2, khalsapto.org/zpizza/
6. Election for next year’s officers
7. Year-end review and next-year planning
8. Yearbook orders due Friday
9. Administration Report
10. Directress Presentation: Lower Elementary East Directress: Susan Ritchey

Khalsa Montessori School PTO Meeting, April 14, 2010. Elementary Campus

Mission: To enhance the delivery of excellence in education and cultivate the community of Khalsa Montessori Schools.

1. Introductions
   • Officers: Brian, Theresa, Janet, Victoria
   • Attendees introduction
2. Solicit for additional agenda items from attendees
3. Secretary’s Report
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. Fundraising
   • Recurring fundraising items:
     • eScrip and Safeway: khalsapto.org/escrip/
     • Amazon: khalsapto.org/amazon/
     • Box Tops for Education: khalsapto.org/boxtops/
     • Albertson, Osco: khalsapto.org/albertsons/
     • Target: khalsapto.org/target/
     • Sweet Tomatoes: Thursday, 4/15, khalsapto.org/sweet-tomatoes/
     • zPizza: Tuesday, 5/5, khalsapto.org/zpizza/
     • Fundraising cards
6. Nominations for next year’s officers
7. Baseball Game
8. Carnival Review
9. Yearbook Photos to kms@khalsamontessori.org
10. Administration Report
11. Directress Presentation: Upper Elementary North Directress Lindsay Caglio

Khalsa Montessori School PTO Meeting, March 10, 2010. Elementary Campus

Mission: To enhance the delivery of excellence in education and cultivate the community of Khalsa Montessori Schools.

1. Introductions
   • Officers: Brian, Theresa, Janet, Victoria
   • Attendees introduction
2. Solicit for additional agenda items from attendees
3. Secretary’s Report
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. Fundraising
   • Recurring fundraising items:
     • eScrip and Safeway: khalsapto.org/escrip/
     • Amazon: khalsapto.org/amazon/
     • Box Tops for Education: khalsapto.org/boxtops/
     • Albertson, Osco: khalsapto.org/albertsons/
     • Target: khalsapto.org/target/
     • Sweet Tomatoes: Thursday, 3/25, khalsapto.org/sweet-tomatoes/
     • zPizza: Tuesday, 4/7, khalsapto.org/zpizza/
     • Fundraising cards
6. Baseball Game: A’s/Rockies game on Sunday, March 28 at 1:05pm at Phoenix Municipal Stadium
7. Carnival Recap
   • Thanks
   • Feedback and next year’s plans
8. Charter School and Full-Day Kindergarten funding cuts.
9. Administration Report
10. Directress Presentation: Transitional Kindergarten Directress Dawn Tapia

The Governor called a special session and it is likely this budget proposal could pass this week. So if you want to contact your legislator, you should do it NOW.

Contact Information:

• To find the contact information for your legislator, go to: http://www.azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp
• To find contact information for Governor Brewer, go to: http://www.azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp

Talking/Bullet Points (updated March 8, 2010):

You can use the following “talking points” or “bullets” in a letter, email or phone call to the Governor or your legislators

• Governor Brewer released a budget proposal on January 15 that proposes to cut $10 million from the Charter School budget and eliminate funding for full-day Kindergarten (a $218 million cut) for State Fiscal Year 2011 (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011)
  • http://www.azgovernor.gov/Budget2011.asp
  • See slide 42 of the “media presentation”

• Governor Brewer and the state Legislature will be meeting this week (starting March 8) to pass a state budget proposal – a budget cut to charter schools and full-day Kindergarten are part of the proposed budget being considered

• My child(ren) attend Khalsa Montessori Charter School and these funding cuts would be devastating to our school:
  • Parents of Kindergarten students will have to pay $400 per month in tuition, limiting the ability of some families to send their children to our school; many parents already pay additional tuition for after-school care
  • The $10 million cut in Charter School funding will also impact our school and could result in larger class sizes, less teachers and less funding for important school programs
  • These cuts will come on top of the reduction in Prop 301 teacher funding that our school will have to absorb due to the lower sales tax revenues that fund Prop 301

• Our family chose to send our children to the Khalsa Montessori Charter School because they provide us with a public school setting that meets our family’s needs, specifically, we support Khalsa because (see examples below and elaborate):
  • Academic excellence – Khalsa has outstanding test scores and reputation
  • Unique curriculum that reinforces our family’s values
  • Class size and teacher quality
  • Diversity and multi-culturalism of families that attend
  • Strong community involvement
  • It offers an alternative to a more traditional school setting

• It is important that high-quality charter schools like Khalsa be allowed to have the funds needed to continue to serve families like mine

• Research shows that full-day Kindergarten provides children with the tools needed to obtain stronger academic success long-term

• Failure to fund full-day Kindergarten will mean families will have to find less expensive (and less quality) child-care settings or will have to pay more in tuition at a time when many families are struggling economically

• When considering the budget proposal, please oppose cuts to charter school funding, full-day Kindergarten funding and public school funding in general
• Parent supporters of Khalsa Montessori Charter School actively raise funds and donate money to help support our school; we don’t expect the state to pay for “extras” but we do expect the state to provide our basic funding support

• Arizona’s charter and public schools already receive far less funding than schools in other states and, despite this, public education in Arizona has seen record budget cuts in the past year
  • Between the new cuts proposed and failure to backfill federal stimulus funding that will run out at the end of this year, hundreds of millions of dollars in more cuts to schools are proposed for 2011

• I understand that there is a budget deficit and it is important to get our state back on firm financial footing.  But there are other ways to solve the current budget deficit crisis than balancing it on the backs of schools and children with cuts to public charter and traditional school funding

• An investment in education is needed in good times and in bad – it is important to keep our public charter schools strong and able to educate our children for the jobs of tomorrow

Helpful Hints:

• Act quickly – the budget could be passed and these cuts made final as early as this week

• Keep your letter, email or conversation short and to the point; be polite, thank them for their time

• Only contact the Governor and the Legislators (1 Senator and 2 House members) that represent you personally in the geographic area you live (see below for how to contact your legislators)

• Use the bullet points above but personalize your letter/email so that it doesn’t sound like a “form” letter

• Focus your comments on how this budget proposal would impact you and your family

• Republicans and Democrats have different perspectives on support for charter schools and public education funding. Focus on support for continued “school choice” with Republicans; focus on cuts to charter schools and full-day Kindergarten as part of a “public” education system that is underfunded with Democrats

Follow the news and, if this issue isn’t resolved quickly or to your satisfaction, contact the Governor and your legislators again, even if you are essentially repeating yourself

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is offering two passes for any unrestricted performance in the 2009-2010 season. Expires June 30, 2010.

Value: $80.00
Starting Bid: $10.00
Bid Increments: $3.00
Buy It Now: $72.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Gift basket of body care products from Sedona Spa. Info at Sedona Spa.

Value: 129.00
Starting Bid: $20.00
Bid Increments: $2.00
Buy It Now: $110.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Beautifully painted and framed painting by Bonnie Bellis, grandmother to Madeline Pennell.

Value: $175.00
Starting Bid: $20.00
Bid Increments: $5.00
Buy It Now: $160.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

US Airways Center, from 4/1/10 to 4/4/10. Pass to be exchanged for one Reserved Seat Ticket at the Box Office. Info at Disney on Ice. Donated by Regina Sanchez.

Value: $??.00
Starting Bid: $5.00
Bid Increments: $2.00
Buy It Now: $n/a

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

10 adult admissions to the Deer Farm in Williams. At the Deer Farm you don’t just look at the deer, you walk among them, you touch them, you let them eat right from your hand. Info at: Grand Canyon Deer Farm & Petting Zoo.

Value: $82.00
Starting Bid: $5.00
Bid Increments: $2.00
Buy It Now: $70.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Plate is 14″ round and has a hook in case one wants to hang it up.

Made and donated by Don Ridley of D. Ridley Pottery;  480-241-4447

Value: $175.00
Starting Bid: $20.00
Bid Increments: $5.00
Buy It Now: $24.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

One month family membership to AZ on the Rocks, Arizona’s largest indoor climbing gym.

Value: $105.00
Starting Bid: $10.00
Bid Increments: $4.00
Buy It Now: $95.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Earrings with Clear Square Stones from The Willows Home and Garden.

Value: $29.00
Starting Bid: $3.00
Bid Increments: $1.00
Buy It Now: $24.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Earrings with Dark Blue Square Stones from The Willows Home and Garden. (Apologies for the poor quality photo. Earring are darker and bluer than they appear.)

Value: $29.00
Starting Bid: $3.00
Bid Increments: $1.00
Buy It Now: $24.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Earrings with Light Blue Square Stones from The Willows Home and Garden. (Apologies for the poor quality photo.)

Value: $29.00
Starting Bid: $3.00
Bid Increments: $1.00
Buy It Now: $24.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Earrings with Square Purple Stones from The Willows Home and Garden.

Value: $29.00
Starting Bid: $3.00
Bid Increments: $1.00
Buy It Now: $24.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Round Earrings with Pink Stones from The Willows Home and Garden.

Value: $40.00
Starting Bid: $4.00
Bid Increments: $1.00
Buy It Now: $35.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Round Earrings with Pink Stones from The Willows Home and Garden.

Value: $40.00
Starting Bid: $4.00
Bid Increments: $1.00
Buy It Now: $35.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

A thermal home energy scan from Tim the Tool Man.

Value: $299.00
Starting Bid: $30.00
Bid Increments: $10.00
Buy It Now: $275.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Gift certificate for 4 free family jump time passes, or 4 PIP admissions (for kids ages 1 (34″) to 6. Don’t forget to bring your socks! Info at Pump It Up.

Value: $32.00
Starting Bid: $5.00
Bid Increments: $2.00
Buy It Now: $28.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

4 ticket vouchers for bleachers seating area to any one (1) regular season 2010 AZ Diamondbacks home game, excluding Opening Day and New York Yankees (June 21, 22 and 23).

Value: $60-80.00

Starting Bid: $5.00
Bid Increments: $2.00
Buy It Now: $60.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Reiki Healing with Reiki Master Lou Ryan (Liv Nam).

Value: $65.00
Starting Bid: $10.00
Bid Increments: $2.00
Buy It Now: $58.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Fused-glass artist Sue Messmer bonds together layers of glass pieces, often adding dichroic glass, which is made with a metal-oxide coating that creates a spectrum of sparkling colors. The finished piece is then fired in a kiln at nearly 1,500 degrees and slowly cooled, bonding the glass into a unique piece of special artwork. Info at GlasuJewelry.com.

Value: $25.00
Starting Bid: $5.00
Bid Increments: $2.00
Buy It Now: $22.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Four Adult admissions to the 22nd annual Arizona Renaissance Festival. Eight festive weekends, February 6th-March 28th. Donated by Regina Sanchez.

Value: $80.00
Starting Bid: $10.00
Bid Increments: $5.00
Buy It Now: $70.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

A $100 gift certificate toward labor for home repair and maintenance from Tim the Tool Man.

Value: $100.00
Starting Bid: $10.00
Bid Increments: $4.00
Buy It Now: $90.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Two tickets to Classic Innovations at Orpheum Theatre from Ballet Arizona. Tickets valid for Friday March 26 at 8:00 pm, Saturday March 27 at 2:00 pm or 8:00 pm, or Sunday March 28 at 2:00 pm.

Value: $190.00
Starting Bid: $19.00
Bid Increments: $6.00
Buy It Now: $171.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

From the Purple Lizard Boutique:

• Hand-dyed silk scarf ($42)
• Artist embellished hat ($75)
• Travel bag ($42)

Value: $159.00
Starting Bid: $15.00
Bid Increments: $5.00
Buy It Now: $140.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Gift Baskets from Arizona Sunrays. Includes:

• Tshirt
• Open Gym or Kindergym certificate ($10 max value)
• Free Kids night out (Pizza dinner, moon bounce, crafts, gymnastics, movie games) $25 value
• $30 towards Sunrays Birthday Party package
• 1 month free gymnastics or dance class (max value $80)

Value: $145.00
Starting Bid: $15.00
Bid Increments: $5.00
Buy It Now: $150.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Gift certificate for one registration and one weeks fees, a cookbook, backpack, and coupon from Weight Watchers of Arizona.

Value: $65.00
Starting Bid: $7.00
Bid Increments: $2.00
Buy It Now: $57.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

30 day Toujour Club MiE Girl Membership and a red water bottle from Express MiE.

Value: $110.00
Starting Bid: $10.00
Bid Increments: $4.00
Buy It Now: $99.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

A three bedroom condo in San Carlos for 7 days and six nights.  The winner is on the hook for the daily electricity/utilities, which are minimal.  The rest is free.

San Carlos, directly south of us approximately 6-7 hours. Clear water and amazing views, and a refreshingly low rate of tourists.

Need to use it sometime other than major holidays, but otherwise it is an anytime available thing.  Reservation instructions will be given to the winner.

A big thanks to parents Mark and Natalie Heldenbrand, who say, “It’s lots of fun down there!”

Value: N/A
Starting Bid: $300.00
Bid Increments: $20.00
Buy It Now: N/A

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

One free skating party for up to 20 children including admission and skate rentals from Arcadia Ice Arena.

Value: $140.00
Starting Bid: $14.00
Bid Increments: $6.00
Buy It Now: $126.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

A choice of 8 Week Series of Learn to Skate or 1 Week of Day Skate Camp from Arcadia Ice Arena.

Value: $165.00
Starting Bid: $16.00
Bid Increments: $6.00
Buy It Now: $150.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

One free 8 week series of Learn to Skate or Play Hockey group classes from Arcadia Ice Arena.

Value: $125.00
Starting Bid: $12.00
Bid Increments: $4.00
Buy It Now: $113.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

The lucky winners will have an opportunity to participate in a behind-the-scenes tour of the Valley’s member supported public radio stations KJZZ 91.5 FM and KBAQ 89.5 FM at Rio Salado College in Tempe. The guided tour will include a walk through the broadcast studios; a brief on the stations’ history, equipment and operations; an introduction to some of the on-air hosts and staff, a chance to watch a KJZZ or KBAQ host during a live cut away in master control and digital photos of your visit.

The winning bidder must schedule the tour with station contact, which will be provided. The tour will last approximately one hour. Tour group limited to no more than six individuals.

Starting Bid: $20.00
Bid Increments: $5.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Three months of unlimited yoga classes from Yoga Den.

Nestled in the heart of downtown Phoenix, AZ Yoga Dens first aim is to support the culture of the community. By providing the neighboring communities with powerful, integral, and inspirational instructors, our mission is to support individuals through life’s changes and empower each student to trust the wisdom within. The Den is a cozy urban sanctuary wherein classes are designed to accommodate the local businesses, students and residents.

Value: $207.00
Starting Bid: $20.00
Bid Increments: $6.00
Buy It Now: $187.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

One hour therapeutic massage from Yoga Den.

Nestled in the heart of downtown Phoenix, AZ Yoga Dens first aim is to support the culture of the community. By providing the neighboring communities with powerful, integral, and inspirational instructors, our mission is to support individuals through life’s changes and empower each student to trust the wisdom within. The Den is a cozy urban sanctuary wherein classes are designed to accommodate the local businesses, students and residents.

Value: $60.00
Starting Bid: $6.00
Bid Increments: $2.00
Buy It Now: $55.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.

Men’s large screen printed American Apparel t-shirt, donated by Mary O’Brien.

Value: $20.00
Starting Bid: $3.00
Bid Increments: $1.00
Buy It Now: $27.00

To bid on this item, click the comments link and leave your bid or the buy-it-now price.