McNear PTA Newsletter
March 2, 2018
THANK YOU!!!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Box Top drive! I know it can be trying to keep track of all those little slips of cardboard, but they sure add up! Over the life of the program at McNear, we’ve raised almost $11,000 … and your efforts are a part of that!
FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES
Box Tops
Our Spring Box Top drive is complete, and once again our community stepped up. The total number of Box Tops collected for Spring was 1,917. Ms. Lyon’s class brought in the most at 321. The runner-up was Ms. Garcia with 259.
The total Box Tops collected for the 2017-18 school year was 4,740, which means we earned $470 this year! That’s pretty amazing!
WISH BENEFIT 2018
Welcome to Camp McNear!
Spend an evening under the stars and in front of the campfire with us. This year's Wish Benefit will take place on Saturday, April 21 from 5-10pm at The Block. This is an adults-only evening, so book your sitters!
We Need Your Help!
The Wish Benefit is just 7 weeks away! We still need lots of help to make this event a success. Please stop by and look at the Donations Binder in the office to see or add something you can contribute to the auction. We are also in need of sponsorships and Buy-In Parties (see additional info below).
Buy-In Parties Needed!
Itching for a Moms’ or Dads’ Night Out? Or betting the night away playing poker? Hiking at a special spot around Sonoma with friends and wine or leading a surfing lesson? We need you to help plan and host some fun outings and events as Buy-In Parties! These small fundraisers are "bought into" at the Wish Benefit and are an important part of our fundraising efforts. In addition to raising money, they are a fun way to get to know more McNear families, share a passion or talent, and create community. Specifically, we still need hosts for Moms’ Night Out and the Poker Tournament, and also a few more hosts for whatever party you can dream up! Hosts can be individuals or you can pair up with your friends to make the costs and planning more manageable. If you are interested in hosting, please email Leigh Felix at lfavret@gmail.com by March 15.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Do you or a family member work for or own a company that doesn't provide a product or service that can be donated? Be a sponsor! Check out the sponsor page in the office binder. It's a great marketing opportunity and it's a tax write off for a great cause - our kids! For questions regarding sponsorships please contact Kelly Valera atkeval415@gmail.com
TREASURER’S REPORT
The McNear Art & Science Center (MASC) is busy putting to work your Paddle Pledge from 2017. They recently spent $3,602.33 buying art supplies so that McNear students will have materials to stretch their creativity.
GARDEN UPDATE
Tuesday, March 6: Garden Classes begin
Please contact your child’s teacher if you are interested in volunteering.
March 10, 9am-12pm: Garden Workday
We need your help! Come dig in the dirt, won’t you? We will be preparing our garden for spring’s plantings, garden infrastructures, and classroom adventures. We would love for the McNear Community to represent. Breakfast snacks and beverages will be provided. Please RSVP so that we can prepare accordingly: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E49A9AA2FAB9-lets
April 20, 2pm-5pm: Earth Day
Join us after school for fun Earth-loving activities. Have an idea for an activity or just want to lend a hand? Email Julia Luna at thelunafamily@att.net.
Meet you in the garden!
WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK
PTA Meeting
The March meeting will be on Monday, March 5 at 6:30pm in the Library. Childcare will be provided in the Multipurpose Room.
This meeting will mostly focus on ideas for the Paddle Pledge at the Wish Benefit. (The Paddle Pledge is when families donate cash to some specific project at the school. Last year it helped get the McNear Art and Science Center off the ground. Other years we have funded murals, staff development for our teachers, and campus improvement projects. So if you want to weigh in on the choices presented, this is the meeting you should attend!
Book Fair
The Spring Copperfield Book Fair is coming March 5-9. This is a great opportunity to do some book shopping locally AND support your school. As an added bonus, Ms. Bussey, our Librarian, personally goes through the book list and adds many quality titles to the collection. Sales will be before and after school in the Library. There will be a Dessert Night on Friday March 9 from 6-8pm. If you would like to volunteer for cashier or baking a delicious dessert, please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B44A8AD2FA5FE3-volunteers1.
Homework Club
All students are welcome to join the Homework Club. It’s every Tuesday and Thursday between 3-4pm in Room 18. Snacks are paid for by the PTA, and no sign up is needed!
WHAT'S COMING UP
TB Testing
If you plan on volunteering at school, you need to complete a TB assessment. The next date offered is March 14 from 3-4pm at the District Office (200 Douglas St.). An assessment must be done every 4 years. If you aren’t sure what your current status is, please check in with Loretta in the office.
Walk & Roll to School Day
Ditch the car and walk or roll your way to school on Wednesday, March 7.
Spring Break
Remember that this year’s Spring Break is March 19-23. Enjoy your time off!
Westside Band Festival
Save the Date: Wednesday, April 4, - 7-8pm in the Petaluma High School Gym
This year’s Band Festival will be a fun evening of band music, with all grade levels (4-12) participating in the Grand Finale. If you haven’t already done so, please return the bottom portion of the letter sent home with your child indicating that you and your child will be able to attend.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sandra Kruse, Erin Norris, & Luanne Rice
Petaluma City Schools Elementary Band Teachers
Family Bicycling Workshop
McNear is hosting a Family Bicycling Workshop on Saturday April 7. This workshop is free, but families must pre-register online to be guaranteed a space. The Bike Coalition’s Safe Routes to School Program has developed these workshops (which have taken place all around the county) to teach families how to ride together safely and confidently; they include both skill/safety drills and an instructional ride and take place from 10am-12:30pm. Appropriate for Grade K-8, open to Petaluma families. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.bikesonoma.org/family-bike-workshops/
CONTACT ME!
Please feel free to contact me anytime with questions or comments. To submit an event or announcement to the weekly newsletter, please contact me by Thursday at 12pm.
Korren Farkas
PTA President
mcnearpta@gmail.com