Khalsa PTO

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

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!

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…

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.