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.

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.

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.

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.

Khalsa Montessori School PTO Meeting, February 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, 2/18, khalsapto.org/sweet-tomatoes/
     • zPizza: Tuesday, 3/3, khalsapto.org/zpizza/
     • Fundraising cards
6. Recap of recent events
   • Fat Man’s Pass Hike: khalsapto.org/events/fat-mans-pass/
7. Baseball Game: A’s/Rockies game on Sunday, March 28 at 1:05pm at Phoenix Municipal Stadium
8. Charter School and Full-Day Kindergarten funding cuts. Notes from parent Keely Varvel Hartsell.
9. First chance to purchase last-chance Khalsa shirts.
10. Carnival Planning
    • Overview and thanks to coordinators
    • Volunteer opportunities
      • Sign up
      • Toddler Games and Booth coordinator
    • Silent Auction: Over 30 items.
      • Please donate items and solicit friends, family, businesses
      • Bid online
    • Raffle: Over 40 items.
      • Sell tickets
      • View prizes online
    • Food
    • Bake sale and cookie contest
    • Fun games
11. Administration Report
12. Directress Presentation: Carie Modeer, Lower Elementary North Directress

Khalsa Montessori School PTO Meeting, January 13, 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/
     • Bashas, Albertson, Osco: khalsapto.org/bashas/, khalsapto.org/albertsons/
     • Target: khalsapto.org/target/
     • Sweet Tomatoes: Thursday, 10/15, khalsapto.org/sweet-tomatoes/
     • zPizza: Tuesday, 10/27, khalsapto.org/zpizza/
     • Fundraising cards
6. Recap of recent events
   • Fresh and Easy: 9/15/09 – 12/31/09, khalsapto.org/fresh-and-easy/
   • Holiday Program
   • Bread Fundraising: $664 income
7. Fat Man’s Pass Hike: Saturday, January 16, 2010. 8:30 am Khalsa Elementary parking lot. khalsapto.org/events/fat-mans-pass/
8. Baseball Game (tentative info): A’s/Rockies game on Sunday, March 28 at 1:05pm at Phoenix Municipal Stadium
9. Carnival Planning
   • Overview
   • Silent Auction: Please donate items
   • Raffle
   • Food
   • Fun games
10. Administration Report: Donna Waters
11. Directress Presentation: Mary Erickson, Lower Elementary South Directress

Thanks to all who contributed great goodies to Khalsa’s annual holiday program. As one could see by how fast they were devoured, the food was delicious!

We also want to thank our volunteers who signed up to set up, clean up, and monitor the tables. Once again, many hands made quick work. And we apologize if we missed anyone. Big thanks to:

• Ed Kennefick
• Theresa Pinto
• Eleanor Terpstra
• Hemi Khanchandani
• Victoria Coe
• Tim Whipple
• Beridiana Leyva
• T. Marie and Farzad Mahootian
• Claudia Rodriguez
• Lisa Callarman
• Mr. Mark
• Jessie Henderson

We got some great photos from Stephanie Carrico, a guest who happened to be a professional photographer. She did a great job given the low-light conditions. She can be contacted at scarrico @ yahoo.com.

Click a photo for a larger view, and use your back button to navigate back to this page.

It’s very appropriate that our first large community-building event of the year involved so many people. Not only was our turnout great, we had a lot of volunteers who made the work easy and fun in the days before the event and the day of. (We were cleaned up and gone in under an hour!)

We also want to thank the Valley Garden Center, who greatly assisted us in every way we asked. We can’t recommend them enough if you have an event that needs a beautiful downtown location.

Here’s a partial list of those who helped, and our apologies to anyone we missed. Please contact us if you’re not on this list, or know someone who should be. Thanks!

Gala Co-Chairs

• Tara Collison & Keely Varvel Hartsell
  These two paid attention to every detail, steered us to a new location and caterer, and organized a brilliant event. Muchas gracias!

Food Sponsors

• Damon & Lily Brasch. The catering was simply amazing. More of their food can be found at green restaurant in Tempe, and That’s a Wrap in Phoenix, just around the corner from Primary.
• Julie Wossak & Mark Weeter of zPizza and Pink Spot Ice Cream. Once again, our kids got some delicious and healthy food.

Financial Sponsors

This is the first year we’ve asked for financial sponsorship of this ever-growing (and more expensive) event. Thank you very much for the help of the following people and businesses:

• Cindie Hastreiter, Arizona Assisted Living Solutions (AZALS.org)
• Tara & John Collison
• James S. Park Law Office
• Angel Jannasch-Pennell & Mike Pennell

Silent Auction

Co-Chairs Amanda Brite and Michael Nattboy did a great job of organizing our auction both online and at the event.

Thanks to these people who contributed items to the Silent Auction: Eric Baim · Mona Fontes · Asit Goel · Rick Hamilton · Keely Varvel Hartsell  (items made by Jacque John and Susan Turner) · Julie Kossak · Keri Mosier · Katosha Nakai · Michael & Paris Nattboy · Natalie Newell · Tim Parsels · Trudy Pekala (items made by Dina Pekala) · Pennell Family · Sami Rank · Leita Reyna · Linda Valenzuela · Verisecha Williams · Melissa Wilson · Barbara Worhle.

Even more volunteers & contributors

• Paris Nattboy (centerpieces)
• Trish Galindo (table runners)
• Lisa Callarman (slideshow)
• Robin & Becky Vining (sound system)
• Julie Ram Das Kaur (poi dancing for the children)
• Ron Johnson & Andrea Bakus (lighting)
• Stephanie Carrico (photography)

The following people worked on event day with set-up, clean-up, silent auction, serving food, working the welcome table, and helped with our centerpieces.

• Ernesto Amaro
• Jennifer Hunter
• Paris Nattboy
• Kathryn Leonard
• Eleanor Tepstra
• T-Marie and Farzad Mahootian and their children
• Sarah Nix
• Janet Wilson
• Victoria Coe
• Lieta Reyna
• Linda Valenzuela
• John Collison

Quite a list! Thank you all!

We received 40 responses to our feedback forms on the night of the gala, and are happy to report mostly positive feedback. We’ll go through all the feedback at the meeting, but here’s a sampling of the good stuff.

On a scale of 1 to 5, with five being good and one being bad, we had quite a few 5′s, and many added plus symbols or the number 6 to “food” and “event location,” which tilted those averages quite high. Below are the averages of our scores.

• Communication/Notice About the Event: 4.725
• Event Day/Time: 4.875
• Event Location: 5
• Parking: 4.3
• Format/Program: 4.55
• Food: 5
• Silent Auction: 4.25
• Child Care Convenience: 4.875
• Child Care Cost: 4.9
• Overall: 4.925

In our comments section, we received notes such as this:

Best ever! Best food ever!

Table displays and decorating were awesome! Food was fantastic!

Could not hear announcements – needed more volume for mix. YAY for Green – food was great. Like the location – everything looks really nice.

So excited about Damon’s food. Didn’t love Coronado Cafe. Appreciated vegetarian food.

Fun time!

The location is great! The food is excellent! (more wings!)

Wonderful event!

Excellent! Thanks for everything!

Great Event

The garden center is a great place. I had no idea it even existed, even though I’ve driven by it hundreds of times. Thanks for the great event!

Love the new location.

It’s a great night. Love it. Thank you.

Good job guys, had a great time, thank you

Great time, thank you

dr. pepper, squirt, :-)

A wonderful venue, a wonderful atmosphere, a great way to meet – able to move around easily but can still see the food etc.

All good!

The place is great and the candlelight was beautiful!! I like the appetizer and gala-ing time in the beginning.

Excellent job Keely & company! Everything was superb! Centerpieces and trees were awesome!

nice lighting

low light at silent auction

thank you! :-)

More lights/signs in parking lot.

Excellent event!

EXCELLENT

Perfect! Excellent food. We need recipes. Thanks. Have a good evening.

Maybe some meat or deli w/ cheese

Yummy hors d’oeuvres and food! Thanks

Khalsa Montessori School PTO Meeting, November 12, 2009. 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
   • Butter Braid Bread Sales. khalsapto.org/butter-braid-bread/
   • Recurring fundraising items:
     • eScrip and Safeway: khalsapto.org/escrip/
     • Amazon: khalsapto.org/amazon/
     • Box Tops for Education: khalsapto.org/boxtops/
     • Bashas, Albertson, Osco: khalsapto.org/bashas/, khalsapto.org/albertsons/
     • Fresh and Easy: 9/15/09 – 12/31/09, khalsapto.org/fresh-and-easy/
     • Target: khalsapto.org/target/
     • Sweet Tomatoes: Thursday, 10/15, khalsapto.org/sweet-tomatoes/
     • zPizza: Tuesday, 10/27, khalsapto.org/zpizza/
     • Fundraising cards
6. Recap of recent events
   • Candle sales: $1,777.14 raised.
   • Yard Sale: $744 raised.
   • Parent/Teacher mixer and gala. Photos online: khalsapto.org/mixer/
   • Heart and Hand Silent Auction: Approx $1400 raised.
7. Carnival Planning
8. Administration Report
9. Directress Presentation

Minutes PTO Meeting October 14th

Started at 6pm. Brian states PTO mission statement: To enhance the delivery of excellence in education and cultivate the community of Khalsa Montessori Schools.

Introductions: Officers: Brian, Theresa, Janet and Victoria.

Treasurer’s Report: September 2009. This is all available for viewing on the PTO website. Janet mentions Escrip and Safeway.

Secretary’s Report: available on the PTO website.

Brian reiterates the importance of the PTO website to keep one informed of everything that is going on and to get involved.  If  one is not getting the E-mails to please let us know.

Brian mentions new and exciting items that are going on. Working on a t-shirt design that may be available for sale at the Parent- Teacher Mixer and Gala on November 5th.

There is also some interest in a CPR event. Stay posted for more information.

Fundraising:

• Candle Sales. Everyone should have received the packets. The deadline is October 20th.
• Remember Escrip/ Safeway and Amazon are other easy ways to give money to the PTO>
• Boxtops For Education. Deadline for dropping off your boxtops October 26th.
• Fresh and Easy. Keep your receipts. For every $20 you spend that is a dollar for the PTO.
• Sweet Tomatoes. You do need the flyer which can be printed from the PTO website.
• ZPizza: Tuesday October 27th. All 3 locations and the Pink Spot.

Yard Sale: October 24th. Still need volunteers. All items that are not sold are donated. There will be E-mail reminders . There will be no pre-buying.

17th Annual Parent- Teacher mixer and Gala

• Co-chairs: Tara Collison and Keely Varvel Hartsell.
• This year there is a new location: Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Ave.
• There will be childcare at both Primary and Elementary locations. $5.00 a family.
• Keely  is in charge of the fundraising and is seeking sponsors from individual families to Corporate Companies. This is tax deductible.
• New idea this year for the Mixer will be table runners. These are to be decorated by families, teachers and the children. In fact anyone that wants to do one!. They are all prepped and ready to go. These will then be auctioned off at the Mixer.
• Again volunteers are needed for before/ during and after the mixer.
• Please contact Tara or Keely to volunteer.
• RSVP to the Mixer via the website.

Hand and Silent Auction: we need donated items.

There will be bidding online. Also the BUY IT NOW  option.

Administration Report: Satwant Singh Khalsa. Mentions parking lot just north of St. Mary’s as available for evening events.

Talks about the questionnaire that was handed out at the end of last year and how the PTO rated. The PTO involvement: 8/10.

This year the website is really important to keep in the know. One does not have to attend every meeting to know what is going on.

Brian reinstates better communication.

Directress Presentation: Keerat Giordano, Upper Elementary South directress.

• October: Observe your child.
• Keerat talks about the importance of  observation. This is a great opportunity to see the classroom in progress and understand how the classroom runs.
• Come with pen and paper. This can serve as an ongoing log. The teacher may not be readily available to talk so it is important to make any notes that can be discussed later.
• Be prepared to spend at least _ a day observing to get a good feel for the classroom.
• All cell phones should be turned off.
• Please try to observe more than once a year.
• Primary also has the Open House and at Elementary one can enter the classroom with their child after school.

PTO Meeting ends 12 minutes early.

Khalsa Montessori School PTO Meeting, October 14, 2009. 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
2. Solicit for additional agenda items from attendees
3. Secretary’s Report
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. Fundraising
   • Gold Canyon Candle Sales, orders due Tuesday, October 20th. Dropoff help needed. khalsapto.org/candles/
   • Recurring fundraising items:
     • eScrip and Safeway: khalsapto.org/escrip/
     • Amazon: khalsapto.org/amazon/
     • Box Tops for Education: Turn in by Monday, 10/26 please, khalsapto.org/boxtops/
     • Bashas, Albertson, Osco: khalsapto.org/bashas/, khalsapto.org/albertsons/
     • Fresh and Easy: 9/15/09 – 12/31/09, khalsapto.org/fresh-and-easy/
     • Target: khalsapto.org/target/
     • Sweet Tomatoes: Thursday, 10/15, khalsapto.org/sweet-tomatoes/
     • zPizza: Tuesday, 10/27, khalsapto.org/zpizza/
     • Fundraising cards
6. Yard Sale: khalsapto.org/yard-sale/
   • Drop off items and sort on Friday, October 23
   • Yard Sale on Saturday, October 24, 7 am – 1 pm
7. Parent/Teacher mixer and gala: khalsapto.org/mixer/
   • Thursday, November 5, 2009 | Valley Garden Center
8. Heart and Hand Silent Auction: khalsapto.org/silent-auction/
   • Auction is open. Submit and bid online
9. Administration Report: Satwant Singh Khalsa
10. Directress Presentation: Keerat Giordano, Upper Elementary South Directress

Free workshops provide a glimpse into the lives of the Valley’s most secretive residents

• Friday, Sept. 18 at 6:15 p.m.

Here’s a fun non-PTO event that the community may enjoy.

Those attending a workshop should park at the commercial building located at 2400 E. Arizona Biltmore Circle. The building is on the northeast corner of 24th Street and Arizona Biltmore Circle, just south of Lincoln Dr. The workshop will be held on the southwest corner of that intersection at the Maricopa County Flood Control District Tunnel, next to the Squaw Peak Police Precinct. It will be marked with signage. The public is encouraged to arrive on time: The bats leave at sunset and won’t wait!

Read more…

Thanks to all who attended our first meeting!

We had around 50 people at our packed first meeting, and ate up all 25 of the delicious zPizzas (must’ve been the kids who ate that much).

For those who couldn’t make it, don’t worry. We’re very aware it’s not easy to make these meetings and making sure everybody’s working together. You can still get involved, and we’ll be posting the minutes and treasurer’s reports on the site. We’ve already got the agenda up on the site.

More thanks:

Thanks to Donna Waters, Primary Director, for taking time on her birthday to give us the administration report.

Sylbia Garza gave our first directress presentation, appropriately about letting go of our children. “We are the archer and they are the arrow,” she said, quoting The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran. As promised, here’s a link to the whole section, “On Children.” A big thanks to Miss Sylbia.

Julie Kossak made sure our big zPizza order came through hot and fresh and faultless.

Lastly, we thank Cory Lee, who was the last parent to leave as she helped us make the community room cleaner than we found it.

We’d also like to recognize Ben Toczek and his crew for their great work in keeping our children safe and amused in an environment that’s in keeping with their daily Montessori environment — no small feat.

More official and detailed minutes on the way…

Started at 6pm.

Brian, President of the PTO thanks every one for coming. He is ready to throw out lots of ideas.

The PTO will also be using name tags for all those that come to the PTO meetings so we can get to know each other.

What to expect at this meeting: Organizing around the community. More details to follow.

What will be going on over the year and fundraising.

The newsletter and upcoming meetings.

The Mission this year: To enhance the delivery of excellence in education while cultivating the community of Khalsa Montessori Schools.

Brian introduces all the officers: Theresa Vice-President, Janet Treasurer and Victoria secretary.

Should some parents not be able to make it to the meetings all the information will be on line.

Treasurers Report: Not much happens in the summer. Should you have any questions regarding how the money is distributed in the classroom please contact Janet directly.

All this information is online and available through the PTO Website.

Read more…

Khalsa Montessori School PTO Meeting, September 9, 2009. Elementary Campus

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

Read more…

If you’re a Safeway shopper, you can earn an extra 10% on products with the 10% school bus logo.

If you’re actively enrolled in eScrip, you’re purchases happen automagically. Or you can bring your receipt tape to any school office after 9/17 and we’ll redeem it for you.

This lasts through September 15th. Visit our eScrip page under Fundraising to sign up.

More info on this program at the 10% Back to Schools website: http://backtoschools.escrip.com/

Our first meeting is Wednesday, September 9, at the elementary community room (upstairs).

The meeting runs from 6 pm to 7 pm, and this year we are making sure the pizzas arrive at 5:45 so you can arrive a bit early and enjoy some food and conversation. As always, the hot and delicious food is from zpizza, and we provide the childcare.

One of our big goals this year is to improve our communication. We’ve redesigned our website, implemented a new email newsletter system, have some phone tree plans, and will 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.

Another big PTO goal is to go as green as we can, and to utilize our local resources and businesses.

We’ll be using 100% recycled paper for our fliers, and minimize the amount and size of fliers by bundling our announcements on one piece of paper. We’ll use recycled and easy-on-the-earth products for our events and recycle everything.

In our local focus, we’ll try to use local and Arizona-based vendors, rather than nationally-based chains. Economic studies show that local businesses tend to give more to their communities, and money spent locally recirculates via wages and taxes, rather than leave the state.

This is a new thing for us, and we welcome any ideas, suggestions, and boots on the ground work.

We’re updating the Khalsa PTO site and making it better than ever.

Hold tight while we continue to add more information and prepare for the upcoming school year. Thanks.

A big thank you to all who helped us last year, and a special thanks to last year’s PTO board for growing our active membership: president Mike March, vice-president Theresa Sanchez, treasurer Jerry Geering, and secretary David Burton.

Elementary Campus, November 12th, 2008

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