Eastside Elementary PTA

Tiger Day Pre-Sale Form :

Can’t make it to Tiger Day/Meet & Greet in August?  Want to avoid lines and headaches on the day?  Be smart and pre-pay for all your “back-to-school” items, such as PTA membership, calendars, directories, spiritwear and more!  Fill out the PTA Pre-Sale Form that was sent home in your child’s backpack on May 1st and send it in by May 16th.  If you have any questions, please email Patty Pace at ppace86@bellsouth.net or Irene Barton at irenebarto@gmail.com. 

Summer Reading List Book Sale:

East Side students now have a suggested summer reading list!  East Side has put together a suggested reading list based on AR and Lexile levels to help your child to continue reading over the summer.   East Side PTA is making it easy for you by giving you the chance to order the summer reading list books this spring!  You can also order a comprehensive workbook to go along with the Summer Enrichment Program.  Just download the form by clicking the link, printing the form, and sending it in by May 9th to the PTA box:

http://eastsideelementary.com/folder/62/newSummerreadingorder_form2008(1).xls 

Summer Enrichment Program:

East Side PTA is making it easy for your child to avoid “summer learning loss” with our new and improved Summer Enrichment Program.  The new easy-to-follow format is made even easier when you order the suggested workbook and a few of the books off the summer reading list.  (Click the link above to access the order form - orders due by May 9th.)  To register for the Summer Enrichment Program (program fee - $10), please click the link below for the registration form:

  http://eastsideelementary.com/folder/62/Summer_Enrichment_-_Registration_Form_2008[1].doc

Don’t miss out on these great opportunities.  We hope you all enjoy a wonderful summer break! 

Are you concerned about the dramatic increase in the U.S. of childhood obesity and other health problems related to poor eating and fitness habits among our children?  Are you interested in what your kids are eating when they are at school?  East Side parents have two terrific opportunities to have their say about the kinds of foods offered in the school lunch program, the a la carte line, and ASP.   

I.  Look for a paper survey created by the PTA that will be sent home in your child’s bookbag this week.  Please take a moment to fill it out and send it in to the PTA box in the front hall.  OR, fill the same survey out online by clicking these links:

Part I of the PTA Health & Nutrition survey:

<a href=”http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mO6JZHDxf2lRDry948Yl4g_3d_3d”>Click Here to take survey</a>

Part II of the suvey:

<a href=”http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=3glrWm5g8uWEg3cT1dFzGQ_3d_3d”>Click Here to take survey</a>

Please complete the survey only once.  

 II.  Another way you can get involved, learn more, or have your voice heard is by attending a Town Hall meeting at Sope Creek Elementary.  Learn more about it:

Town Hall Meeting – April 17^th at 7pmInterested and concerned parents from twenty Cobb County schools, Cobb County leaders, and experts on health and nutrition will come together in the Sope Creek Elementary cafeteria for an informative meeting and discussion on the topic: “School Lunch:  Misconceptions, Shortcomings and Nutritional Challenges We Face Daily in the Educational Environment”. Main Speaker:  Diane Harris, Ph.D. in Nutrition, UCLAThis first-ever Town Hall meeting on this subject is a unique opportunity for PTA members and parents to weigh in on the type and quality of the food our children are being served at school… don’t miss it!

For more information, please check out an informational flyer by clicking this link:

http://eastsideelementary.com/folder/62/Town_Hall_Revised_3-6[1].JPG

Dust off your poodle skirts and saddle shoes… the Sock Hop is back at East Side!  The dance will be held on March 8th, with two sessions. 

Session 1 (grades K-2):  5-7:00 p.m.

Session 2 (grades 3-5):  7:30-9:30 p.m.

 Tickets are on sale in advance for $3.50 each (family maximum of $12).  Children under 4 years old are free.  Tickets at the door will be $4 each.  Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

 Click this link for a flyer you can print and send in for tickets:

http://www.eastsideelementary.com/folder/62/sockhop[1].doc

Food, drinks, and souvenirs will be on sale that night, so bring your cash.  Don’t miss this fun night out for all the family!  Volunteers are needed to work shifts during the night.  Please check with your room representative to find out how you can help!

It’s the “Must See” event of the year… the East Side Retro Review Variety Show, where what’s old is new again!  Come listen to music from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and enjoy show-stopping talent.  Donnie and Marie will be there to MC the evening, and the kids are ready to strut their stuff!  Be sure to get your tickets at the front desk from 7:30 - 8:00 a.m. through Friday, February 22nd.  The show is Saturday night at 6:30.  Don’t miss it!

East Side’s Teacher Appreciation Week is in full swing!  Thank you so much to all the students who sent in flowers on Monday, and to the Room Representatives who made beautiful bouquets for all our teachers.  Thursday, look out for a special Teacher Appreciation edition of the Tiger Times!  Friday is our Teacher’s Luncheon in the Media Center, complete with loads of gifts and fun for our teachers.  Be sure your child’s classroom has a parent volunteer to cover the class while your teacher is enjoying this special hour.  Ask your Room Rep if you’re not sure! 

 We hope all our teachers know how much the parents and students at East Side appreciate all they do!  

It looks like many East Side parents made the New Year’s resolution to learn more about raising their children!  Weeknights in January have been busy with parent education opportunities offered by the PTA.  Fourth and fifth grade parents and their children are joining Timber Ridge Elementary families in the “Growing Together” and “Wising Up” workshops, where they are learning how to discuss sensitive topics about growing up with their children. 

 On January 15th, parents and students attended former East Side teacher Brian Wilson’s popular Study Skills workshop in the Media Center.  Mr. Wilson gave students valuable strategies for studying for tests and remembering facts.  Students were able to take these tips back to class immediately, and they will also help prepare them for middle school.

 January 31st, parents can attend a presentation on ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) by two school psychologists, who will present up-to-date, research-based information on the identification and management of children and adolescents with ADHD.   If you’d like more information on this presentation, check out this link:  http://www.eastsideelementary.com/folder/62/ADHDflyer.doc

Be on the lookout for more parental education opportunities this spring!

Over six hundred East Side runners are lacing up their shoes for the second Jingle Jog 1-mile Fun Run beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 1st.  Are you looking for a way to work off that leftover turkey?  It’s not too late to register… you can sign up at 8:30 a.m. the day of the event.  Don’t be left behind!  

100% of the proceeds go to benefit East Side’s P.E. Department.  The P.E. “Dream Team” is planning to buy new equipment to help our children get and stay fit!  Come ring in your support for this great cause and do something good for yourself at the same time.

Get out your scarves & mittens!

The East Side Book Fair “BLIZZARD” is on its way!  See your Media Center transformed into a Winter Wonderland of books!!  There will be exciting raffles during the week where kids can enter to win ‘FREE BOOK MONEY’ coupons!  The kids will be able to enter the raffle on the day they “chill out” as they visit the Book Fair with their teacher.  More “frosty” activities are also planned for Family Night (11/15) including ‘BOOK MONEY’ raffles, several mystery guest readers & a photo op with a POLAR BEAR!  Families must be present @ Family Night to enter & win the raffles.  East Side families are welcomed to visit the book fair during all hours it is open:

MONDAY 11/12:  8a- 2p, TUESDAY 11/13:  7:30a- 6:30p, WEDNESDAY 11/14:  7:30a- 6:30p, THURSDAY 11/15:  7:30a- 3p & FAMILY NIGHT 6:30p- 8:30p, FRIDAY 11/16: 7:30a- 1p.  So, don’t forget to “snow plow” over to the Book Fair! 

The Book Fair needs volunteers for many shifts still open.  If you can help, please contact Amy Carroll at amyinatl@bellsouth.net. 

If you have any decorations that you can loan us for the Book Fair Blizzard we ask that you bring those in on Wednesday, November 7. Watch for another announcement for the exact location and time. Make sure that you label anything you want to loan us with your child’s name and their teacher’s name so that we can return the items to you. We are still looking for winter stuffed animals like penguins, huskies and polar bears (white bears). Thanks for all your help. Questions? Contact Jill Herring at jjherring321@yahoo.com.

East Side Elementary will be celebrating the coming of fall in royal style at our Renaissance-themed Fall Festival, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, October 6th.   There is fun for the whole family!  Come enjoy the fun and games, eat some great food, and bid on teachers and art auction items!  Be sure to buy your wristbands before Friday, October 5th to save $3 per person.   Wristbands are $13 at the door on Saturday.   See you there!