OPT September 2020 Newsletter
Welcome back to school! ... a bit late!
A new year, new experiences
Welcome back to school! While OPT has been working hard behind the scenes, we do apologize for our late kick off to the year. We're all still trying to figure out how best to traverse this new world we're living in, but we're trying to make the best of it, and we'd love for you to help us!
All families belong to the parent led OPT, so welcome! Participating in the OPT is a great (fun!) way to meet and connect with others in our community, learn more about our unique school culture, and find ways to contribute through volunteerism. Please see the attached Welcome Back letter that was included in the first Smore from Mrs. Morey from the beginning of the year, for a full welcome!
Kicking Off The Year
First OPT Meeting (on Zoom!)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82241834596?pwd=Yk1vQWlzcUM1M0hic1NMOWt1dGNUdz09 (password: eaopt)
Thursday, Oct 8, 2020, 06:00 PM
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Social Justice Committee
For the 2020 school year, a joint team of OPT parents and teachers created the social justice committee to better support the Evergreen community in our awareness and handling of diversity, race, and social justice issues.
In our first few meetings we have discussed options including expanding the curriculum, inviting guest speakers, and providing teacher training. As the first step, OPT has voted to provide $200 for each classroom teacher to expand their classroom library to include more diverse and inclusive literature. Having a diverse library readily available in the classroom can support all students in finding titles that they can read and connect with on some level while affirming their own cultural identities and hopefully developing important positive insights about others.
We are still in the very early stages of this committee but are looking forward to working together. We would love to have you join us! If you're interested please email Beth at bvyost@gmail.com for information regarding our next zoom meeting.
Book Fair
Halloween
Halloween Spooky Story Time event
We are looking for volunteers to help plan the event and/or be Storyteller , to allow our students to celebrate Halloween in a socially distanced way. Initial ideas include a possible Drive By Parade where teachers will hand out candy bags, and kids can show off costumes. Followed later by Zoom meetings hosted per grade level where the kids can interact and a volunteer will read 2-3 Halloween Stories. While we are in the initial phase, we need to move quickly to get this event ready for October, if you are interested in either helping plan and/or being a Storyteller please contact Doug Mangini (dougmangini@hotmail.com.)
Trick or Treat
Donations of Candy & Stickers need for the Halloween Spooky Story Time event.
OPT is planning to create and distribute Halloween bags to each student and would like donations of “Bags of Individually Wrapped Candy” treats and Halloween Stickers. Reminder: Due to allergies please NO candies containing nuts.
These can be dropped off at the school while picking up assignments for your class. A Halloween Drop Off bin will be outside the main office. Masks and gloves will be used when assembling bags, as a precaution.
We need donations by October 16th to allow enough time to create and distribute the bags.
Fundraising
OPT - A non-profit organization
During a normal year, we do fundraising like a spring auction, holiday concert auction, holiday concert flower sales, and box top collections. We also have a uniform store of gently used uniform pieces, ranging in price from $2 to $5.
Supplemental Academic Fee
Now you can pay your Academic Support Fee online! As we were unable to have our spring fundraiser last year, and we'll be unable to do our usual fundraising in the winter, this supplemental academic fee is crucial for OPT.
When paying through Square, there is a 2.75% processing fee, for a total of $51.38 for the first child, and $25.69 for each additional child. If paying this way, please email evergreenopt@outlook.com the Academic Support Fee form found below.
Payments can also be made by check, to avoid the processing fee.
Thank you for your contribution and don’t forget we are a registered 501c3 and many companies are generous enough match your donation. It’s an easy and awesome way to double your donation!
Academic Support Fee:
https://checkout.square.site/buy/BHPNZR4YAF2CQUWQCFC6WO5I
Additional children:
Amazon Smile
Employer Matching
Financial Report
OPT 2020-2021 Budget Report
Due to Covid 19 there was and will be a significant drop in fundraising, however it will not significantly impact the projects OPT will support in comparison to previous years. OPT will still be able to provide Teacher Support and Enrichment projects. Because the Playset Fund was not utilized last year, it left OPT with ~$30,000 reserve which we plan to partially utilized to support the projects this year while maintaining ~15,000 in reserve for emergencies and/or future OPT boards. There is also the possibility that we can resume fundraising activities later in the year such as the Silent Auction, which could increase the income and allow us to maintain a larger reserve for future boards.
Who We Are
Melinda Kong, President
I am a single mom to Marcus, a second grader doing Online Academy, and we spend most of our spare time making new Lego creations, playing and making video and board games, and playing with circuit boards, when we're not trying to get him through his school work, of course!
Julia Kyluk, Vice President
Doug Mangini, Treasurer
Husband to a beautiful wife for 29 years and Sabrina's Dad for 6 years, both events occurred on Sept 12th.
Worked for Microsoft as Software Developer in Test (SDET) for 26.5 years.
Joined Google 3 years ago and loving it..
Current and Past Wilshire Homeowners Association Treasurer for past 5+ years.
Became an Evergreen Academy parent last year and loving it.
In my spare time (when I ever have any ) I like to work with my hands.
Recent construction projects include :
- Latest project: 800sf two story shed
- Previous project: 4,700sf three story home.
- Next project: 1,300sf pole barn to cover swimming pool.