Contact Information

PTA Membership Information:

Join Today for 2008-09! Click here for a copy of the membership form.

Why join the PTA?
· A major portion of your membership dues directly supports York Elementary.
· The PTA is one of the largest and most effective child advocacy organizations in the country.
· PTA provides funds for the cultural arts programs, computers, playground equipment, library books and for the teachers to use in their classrooms.
· You have a voice and a vote about important decisions that affect your child’s education.
· PTA coordinates school volunteers.
· It’s a great way to become active in your child’s school.
· Your PTA membership makes you eligible for discounts at BarnesandNobles.com, Southwest Airlines and more. Go to www.pta.org/jp_membership_benefits.html for more information.

How to join the PTA?
· Print out the membership form and fill out the completed information.
· Enclose completed form and money/check (payable to “J.W. York PTA”) in envelope marked “PTA” to your child’s teacher.
· Membership cards will be sent to you in your child’s Tuesday folder.

What are the goals of York Elementary PTA?

Encourage parental involvement
· Sponsor fun-filled family events
Fall Family Picnic, Sock Hop, Spring Carnival, Out-to-Eat Nights
· PTA Membership Drive (increase membership by 7%)
· PTA “Three For Me” Program
Encourage parents to donate at least 3 hours a school year

Encourage a positive school environment
· Recognize staff
Sponsor Teacher Appreciation events – i.e. annual car wash for teachers
TAPS – Teacher Appreciation program – monthly appreciation events
· Support our teachers with Classroom Fund awards at the beginning of the year
· Contribute to the technology needs of the school

Promote student enrichment
Sponsor activities that encourage reading
· Muddy Buddy Book Club, Scholastic Book Fair
Sponsor cultural arts programs
Sponsor student art and music productions
· Provide dictionaries to 3rd graders
· Promote the “Reflections” Art program

Promote the health, physical fitness, and safety of the students at York Elementary
· Support project DARE
· Support First in Fitness
· Support Pride Stride – A walk-a-thon fundraiser for the school
· Support physical fitness with funds
· Promote sun safety with the addition of a Shade Structure to the campus

PTA Membership Committee:
The Membership committee sells PTA memberships to families and individuals, and tracks additional donations submitted with membership forms. Memberships are sold at open house, meet the teacher day, and membership forms are sent home with the parents in Tuesday folders. PTA cards are addressed and delivered to the new members. Membership information is entered into an excel spreadsheet, which has to be submitted to the NC PTA.

Questions? Contact Lucinda Sullivan at 786-1968 or lucindasull@aol.com

Lucinda Sullivan
Membership Committee Chair

Click here for the most recent copy of York PTA's Weekly News (approx. 140kb)

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these, (.pdf format). 
Click the Adobe graphic to download a free copy of Acrobat Reader

The PTA Newsletter is a weekly or bi-weekly newsletter with information related to PTA events during the week. Periodically it also contains information from our school counselor and nurse. The newsletter is usually sent home with your child on Tuesdays in their folders. We also translate the newsletter each week for our families who speak Spanish in the home.

We have considered doing a quarterly newsletter as well. This newsletter would contain more information related to school events, would include pictures, interviews with students and/or teachers, etc. In order to accomplish this type of undertaking, we would need a larger newsletter committee in place.

Help is needed with translation and copying of the newsletter each Monday or Tuesday. If you are interested in helping out, learning more about the newsletter, have comments or suggestions, please contact the editor, Celia McCauley at mccauleys@earthlink.net

Thanks!
Celia McCauley
Newsletter Editor
mccauleys@earthlink.net

York PTA Meeting Schedule and Minutes

York PTA meetings are typically held in York's Media Center. Child-care and translation is available. All parent are welcome to attend all meetings.

Executive Board Meetings
October 16, 2008 6:30 p.m.
November 20, 2008 6:30 p.m.

General Meetings(6:30pm)
(All parents/guardians are welcome to attend)

Minutes from past PTA meetings:

York PTA Fundraisers: Ongoing

Isn't it nice when you get something for nothing? Well, Harris Teeter and Food Lion will give our school cash each quarter and the amount is based on how many people link their grocery cards to York. It's so easy to do! If you haven't already done so, please give the PTA your VIC (Harris Teeter) and MVP (Food Lion) card numbers. You can link up by contacting the Grocery Card Re-Link Chair, Laura Hudson by one of the following ways: 1) email the information to yorkgrocerycard@gmail.com Please include the last name of the grocery account, whether it is a Harris Teeter or Food Lion card, and ALL of the numbers on the card (even the tiny numbers at the beginning and end); 2) fax the card holder's last name and numbers to 783-1075 attn: Laura Hudson; or 3) call Laura Hudson at 783-2863 and read the card holder's last name and the numbers to her (or leave a message with the information).

Harris Teeter Together in Education Fundraiser

Some of our grocery purchases at Harris Teeter can mean money for York! Two percent of the value of Harris Teeter brand, H.T. Traders brand, More Value brand, Highland Crest brand, Hunter Farms brand, or 'Premier Selection' brand purchases will be awarded to York. Just give the check-out person York's ID number, 2790, or apply on-line. That's all there is to it!

In addition, we are collecting Harris Teeter Milk Caps. Please send in any milk cap that has an "H" on it. This will be the last year that we will collect milk caps.

Food Lion 'Lion Share' Fundraiser

Use the sign up card that comes in your student's Tuesday Folder, stop by the Food Lion Customer Service Desk and ask about Lion's Share or apply on-line. A portion of your total grocery bill is donated to York.

Kroger Plus Card Education Program

York's account has been credited with TOTAL purchase amounts and at the end of the school year we can shop for educational equipment available through their catalog. You have received a bar code in a blue pamphlet your student's Tuesday Folder. Bring this bar code to Krogers the next time you shop and show it to the cashier. Once you’re set up, a percentage of your purchase goes to educational equipment credits for York.

Out to Eat with the Bulldogs!

Out to Eat with the Bulldogs Events are held monthly during the school year at area restaurants. Area restaurants will donate a percentage of sales to York PTA. This is a great way to meet new people and see old friends at these Family Events while earning money for our PTA! Check your Tuesday Folders for dates and times and don’t miss these great events. For more information, contact Donna Phinney at: donna.phinney@duke.edu

Target Education Program

If you already have a Target charge card or are thinking about getting one, you can register your account number and Target will donate 1% of your purchases charged to your card to York. To learn more about this program, click here and follow the link on the left hand side of the page to "Take Charge of Education." Target gave York money last year from its Take Charge of Education fundraising program. Thanks to all of you who participate in this program. The program allows you to designate a school and then Target donates a percentage of your purchase from your Target Visa or Target Guest card back to that school! It is easy to designate a school or learn more. Just call 1-800-316-6142 or visit target.com/tcoe.

York PTA Fundraisers Scheduled for the 2008-09 School Year

General Mills Box Tops

The PTA will be collecting General Mills Box Tops throughout the entire school year. We will be sponsoring class contests for turning in the most Box Tops from August until May. We will be awarding monthly prizes to classes and will award a Grand Prize at the end of the year. Purchase Participating products such as General Mills Big G Cereals (Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Chex, Cookie Crisp, Trix and many more), Betty Crocker products (cereal bars, browine mix, Hamburger Helper, frosting, BC Fruit Snacks, Yoplait Yogurt and Go-Gurt), Ziploc bags and containers, Hefty Plates and Trash Bags, Kleenex, Huggies, Juicy Juice, Pillsbury cookies and biscuits, and many more. So keep clipping and saving those Box Tops! York receives a significant rebate for these items. Send the Box Tops to school with your child's Teacher's name on the bag. Each child who returns a completed Box Tops Collection sheet will receive a prize. Our goal this year is $1,400.00.

In addition, you can earn additional rewards for York by shopping at the BoxTops4Education Marketplace. Just register and then use the Marketplace Gateway to do on-line shopping from many popular participating retail stores (Gap, Hallmark, L.L. Bean, etc.) and those merchants will donate a percentage of your purchase to York. For more information, visit the General Mills Box Top site at http://www.boxtops4education.com/ If you have any questions, please contact Penny Lamm at Plamm@nc.rr.com

Spring Carnival

The Spring Carnival is fun for the entire family! Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 25! Featuring Carnival games and prizes like the Moon Bounce, Cookie Walk, Dunking Booth, Raffle, and Food, this event is FUN FUN FUN! We need lots of volunteers so plan to be a part of this event. Volunteer for your classroom booth and spend the day having fun and raising money for YORK PTA.

Volunteer Coordinators needed in many areas! For more information on how you can help make this year's carnival even better contact Amy Prakke, Spring Carnival Chair, at mprakke@aol.com.

10th Annual York PrideStride

Our annual Pride Stride Walkathon was held on Friday, October 3, 2008. This year, "Go for the Gold" was the Olympic-themed event! Pledge money is now due!

Gold, Silver & Bronze Pizza Lunch for the top 3 classes with the most pledge money earned

Gold Popsicle Party for the top 6 classes with the most laps walked (average) by grade level

Gold, Silver and Bronze surprise for the top 3 classes that show the best spirit!

Book Fair; Fall Session

This Just In…..check out the York Elementary Page for the Book Fair! http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/yorkelementary

York will once again be holding a Scholastic Book Fair this fall. We will be selling great books for children of all ages! All classes will get to browse the fair on either Monday or Tuesday in order to fill out a "wish list" to bring home. Parents can then purchase the books by either stopping by the school during school hours to shop, coming to our Family Night, or by sending in money for their child to purchase the books at school. This is a great event for everyone and a wonderful way to instill a love of reading in your children. It's also a perfect opportunity to do all of your holiday shopping!

Back by popular demand...Movie Night! This year we will once again be showing a movie for the kids in the gym during our Family Night. We will have popcorn and drinks to enjoy while watching the movie. Also at Family Night, we will have participation contests and guessing games. It's sure to once again be a fun night for the whole family!

We need your help! In order to run this successful event, it takes many helping hands. Even if you can only spare an hour or two, we would love your help with the Book Fair. We will need volunteers to help prior to the fair with cutting, assembling, and helping create decorations. If you are interested in helping with any of these items, please contact one of the Book Fair Coordinators.

We look forward to another fun and exciting Book Fair at York this fall. Hope to see you there!

Donna Briggs (dkanna@mindspring.com); Nicole Ahn (niahn@nc.rr.com); or Sandra Owens (sandraowens@nc.rr.com)
Book Fair Coordinators

Carolina Hurricanes Tickets

York Elementary School is partnering with the Carolina Hurricanes and Harris Teeter to bring you a great offer that allows students, teachers, friends and family to enjoy Carolina Hurricanes hockey action while raising money for our school. Information has been sent home in Tuesday folders, but basically, you can purchase Carolina Hurricanes tickets at a reduced price and York will receive a portion of the money. For every ticket sold, York will receive $7 (for upper level seating) or $10 (lower level seating). Tickets are $29/each for upper level seating or $49/each for lower level seating for the following games: January 15th (Toronto Maple Leafs--Bobblehead giveaway); February 17th (Boston Bruins--Glen Wesley Jersey Retirement Night); or March 9th (New York Rangers--Bobblehead giveaway).

There are lots of prizes available--sell just four (4) tickets and receive a special prize bag from the Hurricanes. The top class at York will win a Hurricanes/Goodberry's Party and possibly a visit from Stormy, the Hurricanes' mascot. the top school will win a visit from a Hurricanes player. All forms are due to your child's teacher by November 21. If you have any questions regarding this fundraiser, please contact Kristy Johnson (783-4718 or cjohnson2220@nc.rr.com) or Bonnie Hopkins (581-8870 or bonnie.hopkins@sas.com).

York PTA and School Activities; Upcoming and Ongoing

Upcoming PTA Workshops

Advocates for Health in Actin Presents...Brains and Bodies--How PTA parents can influence the health and academic success of children. In this interactive workshop, attendees will hear about statewide efforts to prevent and reduce childhood obesity while helping children achieve success in school. Learn about the tools and resources that excist in our state and nation to help us achieve our goal of healthy, happy children. Through small group work, parents will find creative and fun ways to incorporate the use of these tools and concepts into the work we do as PTA parents in our schools. Registration is required. Please call 350-7132 to reserve your place.

Workshop Dates: Thursday, October 9 10:00-11:30 a.m. (WakeMed Cary Hospital) Wednesday, October 15 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Lake Wheeler Park).

The J.W. York School Store, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:45-9:15 AM

Go Bulldogs!
The Bulldog School Store provides our York Elementary 4^th graders with the opportunity to work and work hard they do. Two student volunteers along with one adult volunteer run the school store each Tuesday and Thursday from 8:45-9:15. The school store provides our 4^th grade students an opportunity to serve their school community, deal with sales transactions, the counting and changing out of money, and interacting with other students, parents, and teachers. The Bulldog School Store is located in the lobby just as you enter the front doors to the building. We sell many items, with very little markup, at the store that students need in the classroom. We sell pens, pencils, pencil grips, erasers, folders, bulldog stickers, and a few fun items as well. The school store also provides the school and teachers with a way to reward positive behavior. Teachers are given Bulldog Bucks, which are small wooden tokens worth .25 cents, to give to students in their classrooms who have exhibited good behavior. The students are then able cash in the token for an item of their choosing.

To see the list of items at the store and their prices, click here.

Also, we are in need of a School Store Coordinator! If you think this might be of interest to you or you would like to serve as the Coordinator, or as a volunteer, please contact Amy Prakke-mprakke@aol.com or Bonnie Hopkins bonnie.hopkins@sas.com.

Clothes Closet

The PTA maintains a Clothes Closet with all sizes of clothes and new underwear in the event a child has a need for a change of clothes during the school day. If you would like to donate clothes or need other information, please contact Kristy Johnson at cjohnson2220@nc.rr.com

  Cultural Arts Presentations

Five exciting programs are planned for York students this year with the first performance already having taken place during the first week of September.  "Almost Recess," a group that performed two years ago, visited York once again. To learn more about "Almost Recess" go to www.almostrecess.com

York PTA and School Activities Scheduled for the 2008-2009 School Year

The Annual York Sock Hop (details TBD)

Have you ever seen a gym full of K-5 kids and many of their parents do the 'Electric Slide'? When was the last time you even thought about limbo-ing under a 12" bar? Creative argyles and Thorloughs made this an event to remember. 

Teacher Appreciation Week (TAPS)

TAPS is our year long teacher appreciation program that provides treats and special activities to show our staff how much we love them! Activities include sweet treats in the mailbox and staff rooms, along with cards and other projects. The committee consists of parent volunteers who sign up individually or as a team to coordinate one event per year.

If you would like to be a part of the TAPS program in the future or have any questions, please feel free to contact [to be announced].

Fall Picnic

Our first all-school get together of the year was held on Tuesday, September 9, 2008. Though cut short by threatening skies, many students and parents enjoyed a picnic supper and mingling with teachers and staff. Thank you to Laney Lewis for organizing this event.

Kid's Voting October 31, 2008

Watch for more information!

 For more information, contact Kids Voting at 833-1282 or www.kidsvotingwake.org 

Reflections (National PTA Competition)

Reflections is a 30 year old National PTA program that encourages students to express themselves through artistic efforts.  Each year students are given the opportunity to create art in support of a specific theme.  Students may submit work to the PTA in the following categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Musical Composition, Photography and Visual Arts.  Art work will be organized by school grade level.  Entries are first judged at the local level.  Selected entries will represent the PTA at the subsequent levels of district, state and national.  Three awards of Excellence and five awards of Merit are selected in each grade division for each of the four art areas at the National level.

This year's theme is "Wow!" and entries are due by Wednesday, October 15. Complete rules may be found at http://www.ncpta.org/Files/Programs/Reflections.htm 

Encourage your child to explore their artistic talent and represent J.W. York Elementary today!  

Kristy Johnson johns121@mc.duke.edu
Reflections Coordinator

Family Math Night, (details TBD)

Test your applied geometry skills as you and your student build the tallest tower...using toothpicks and mini-marshmallows! Learn the ancient and secret game of Nim! Station after station of amusing, thought provoking and downright FUN math games, puzzles and facts. See the link to all the pictures at York's Home Page.  

Hospitality Committee

The hospitality committee exists to support our wonderful staff at YOrk. We host a variety of events throughout the year such as the holiday staff luncheon held in December and the end of the year celebration usually held in May. We also sponsor Sweet treat Fridays once a month and several other smaller things during the year to spoil our staff! This is a FUN committee to be a member of. We need volunteers throughout the year to furnish food and to staff the luncheons. Please contact Lisa Chappell (lchappell2@nc.rr.com) or Johnna Elstob (jelstob@nc.rr.com).

House and Grounds

The House and Grounds Committee has already been hard at work making York look great outside this year! Already we have had parents and children donate their time by spreading mulch, planting flowers, picking up trash, pulling weeds, painting picnic tables and other items. Thank you for your dedication to our efforts! In addition, we are planning some special projects this year to improve our ball field, soccer field, and track. If you would like to help or have any ideas please let me know!

Chris Lannom
House and Grounds Chair
clannom@honmagolf.com
788-0875

Parent Education Committee

This committee will create ways to educate our York parents. Education topics can be anything from nutrition to autism. I 'm hoping to have a speaker come at least twice this year (in conjunction with a PTA meeting) to speak to our parents and educate them.

The first Parent Education Night was held Tuesday, October 7 at 7:00 p.m. Megan McReynolds, a fitness specialist & ACE certified personal trainer, spoke on "The Importance of Phsical Activity in School Age Children." She provided advice on healthy exercise habits for children, statistics on the increasing percentage of childhood obesity and ideas of how to exercise at home for free.

Meredith Huffman (merehuff@bellsouth.net)
Parent Education Committee Chair
784-9493

Room Parent Coordinator

Each year, room parents bravely volunteer to assist teachers with class activities throughout the year. Each room parent is provided with a packet of information to assist them in their efforts. By sharing past practices, activity information, letters, checklists, contact numbers and ideas, room parents will have a foundation to build upon for a successful school year. 

Ask your room parent what you can do to help! 

Suzanne Scott
Room Parent Coordinator
suzscott@nc.rr.com

Student Directory

A student directory is provided for all York families during the first quarter of the school year. The Student Directory Committee responsibilities include: developing flyer and directory form to distribute to all students; arranging for typists and proofreaders; arranging for business ad formatting/collecting monies incurred; obtaining PTA letter, committee contact list and other information as deemed appropriate for directory; arranging for printing of directory; distributing one copy per York family, teachers and staff; reserve extra copies for new students.

Please take the time to fill out the student directory form!

Georgia Handy
Student Directory Chair
viladelray@aol.com

Summer Reading Program

Read with the Bulldogs!  York Elementary PTA is sponsoring a summer reading program for all students.  Just write down the title, author and page numbers of all the books you read this summer.  Turn in your reading logs by September 12^th and receive your prizes! Follow these links to the Instructions and a Reading Log.

Yearbook

The York Yearbook is a lasting keepsake of your child’s time at York and this year’s Yearbook can be our best, and most cost effective yet! To capture all the wonderful events of the year, we need your photos - so get them in early!
Email your JPEG formatted photos to me (Georgia Handy) at Year book coordinator viladelray@aol.com and if you have any questions, please feel free to call!
PLEASE write YORK in the subject line of your email so it doesn’t hit my spam folder.
Also, please let me know if you have photo-ops coming up in your classroom or on the campus. I will run over with my camera! Remember: when submitting pictures or emailing PLEASE write YORK on the Subject line, otherwise they will be deleted.

Thanks for all that you do!

Georgia Handy
Year book Coordinator
viladelray@aol.com

Welcome Back Teachers Breakfast

The PTA hosted a Welcome Back Breakfast for our teachers and staff the week before students returned to school. Volunteers came together and transformed our media center into a virtual breakfast buffet. Some people set up and decorated, some people cooked or sent in baked goods and some even stayed to greet and fellowship with the staff. Thanks to Lisa Chappell and Johnna Elstob for coordinating this hospitality event.

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