Peach Pit
PTSO Newsletter
October 2015
News You Can Use!
Regional Events
Coach Cafe
Weekly Juice
Fundraising From Home
Updated Website
Perks Program
GCA PTSO is now on Twitter!!!
Become a Member TODAY!!
For founding members, if you have not renewed your membership by September 1st, you will be removed as having founding member status.
Click HERE for your membership.
PTSO Regional Rabbits
Duckie's Name Game
Below is your survey to vote on a name for your region rabbit. The names will be released soon. SURVEY
Looking for your GCA Merchandise?
PTSO Committees
Weekly Juice
We would like our GCA students to exercise their journalistic talents! We are adding a page called The Weekly Juice. This is a student web news page. We will be asking students from our schools to submit short articles weekly for the chance to be published in The Weekly Juice on our website. We will have a web news committee read and select five student articles to publish in The Weekly Juice each week. We cannot wait to see what our students come up with!
If you would like for your student to participate in this program, please fill out this survey.
Or for more information, email us at gcaptsodailyjuice@gmail.com
An Update
To bring all interested parties up to speed on where we are with the first published edition of The Weekly Juice, the planning committee has been hard at work since the start of the school year, and we have reached the point where we are accepting student writing submissions. We will be coordinating between our regular staff of writers and editors, the Student Council, the Journalism and Creative Writing faculty/students, and other contributing student groups to produce the content for the publication. Our goal for publication is once per week. Students will be able to submit their writing in the following categories/sections:
International News
National News
Georgia News
School-level news (High School, Middle School, and/or Elementary School specific goings-on)
Sports
Science and Technology
Editorials (Opinion pieces, including cartoons, on “hot topic” issues, such as politics)
Pop Culture (Fads and phenomenon of modern culture, such as social media, food enthusiasm, and fashion news)
Entertainment (movies, music, art, literature, television, etc.)
Students will be able to submit their writing here.
This is a tremendous opportunity for young writers to become published writers as they build a portfolio for collegiate aspirations. We look forward to receiving your writing!
Would you like to volunteer??
Coach Cafe Next Meeting will be October 6th @ 7 PM
Access to the Coach Cafe can be found on our website, or you can go directly to the Coach Cafe by clicking HERE!
You may also register to get updates on dates and times the Cafe will be open by clicking HERE!
If you have at least 2+ years experience as a GCA Learning coach and would like to volunteer to help answer questions, please fill out the survey below.
Volunteer Survey
Perks Program
Click HERE to join the program.
Fuel Up!!
Cookbook Committee
Do you or your student like to cook? The PTSO has just the thing for you. The PTSO has created a cookbook committee this year. This committee will be for GCA students and staff to share their recipes and help our school at the same time. To get involved with the creation of this wonderful cookbook, fill out the form below and we will take it from there. You will have the opportunity to have your students name and picture, if you choose, in the cookbook for your family and friends to see.
Click here to register your recipe, or for more information, email us at ptsocookbookcommittee@gmail.com
State Wide Events and Outings!!
October 9th - Disney On Ice
We have 105 GCA students and family members attending this event.
1 Philips Dr NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
October 15th - Zoo in Atlanta HomeSchool Day
NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED / 50% OFF / SPECIAL OFFERS
Please share with other homeschooling families.
Georgia Homeschooler is partnering with Zoo Atlanta for a unique day for homeschoolers. On Thursday October 15th, homeschoolers will be able to enter the Zoo for only $10.75 per person (includes tax) by mentioning GA Homeschooler at the gate. No pre-registration required!
Zoo Atlanta will have a table set up at the front gate, just like last time, with info about regular Home School offerings and info about the day. Please stop by the table.
FREE animal encounters will be held at Amy’s Tree Theater at various times throughout the afternoon – exact times will be published at a later date.
The following fee-based programs will be offered at Zoo member pricing:
Wild Encounter programs
Hoofstock Barn Tour
Silberman Vet Clinic Tours
Location: Zoo Atlanta, Cherokee Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA, United States
October 28th - 2nd Annual Halloween Picnic at Chickamauga Battlefield
Address: 3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
Register here
Location: 3370 Lafayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, GA, United States
November 2nd - Lego Land
Date of Trip: November 2, 2015 from 10:00 AM - 6:00PM
Please read entire description prior to registering for payment deadline date, and instructions.
Register here.
Deadline to pay: October 16, 2015, No exceptions to this deadline, no tickets at the door. LegoLand requires payment 11 business days prior to the date of trip November 2, 2015. After registering, pay here.
The cost of the ticket includes the meal you ordered during registration. Please ensure that you register prior to paying to ensure you select your meal choice, and receive email updates prior to the event. LegoLand Discovery Center is located in Phipps Plaza which offers both free and valet parking.
Location: Phipps Plaza, Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA, United States
Regional Events and Outings!!
Things to do!
Region 1 Only event listed is the statewide event at Chickamauga.
Region 2
October 7 & 21st Chick-Fil-A of Gainesville, Meet and Greet/ Q&A 9am-11am
October 14 LC “Time Out For You”, Crochet Class 2:30pm-4:30pm
Blackshear Place Library, Oakwood, GA
October 23 OPEN Planetarium Show
Gustavo's Pizzaria 5pm
Univ. of North Georgia Show starts 7:30pm
RM 234 of the Health & Natural Sciences Building
October 30 Get Out, Northeast GA Entertainment Guide
Choose your event to attend! Let us know if you’d like other Region
families to join you!
Region 3
October 3, 2015 – Time 2:30 – 4:00 – Kidds Dance Project – Performing Arts Tour – 8030 Rockbridge Road, Lithonia, GA 30058 – KDP is a member of our GCA PTSO Perks Program offering 10% off monthly fee for PTSO members- Hosted by Lead Michelle Gilyard
October 9, 2015 – Time Noon – 4:00 – Sparkles of Gwinnett Home School Skate – 1104 Grayson Hwy, Lawrenceville, GA 30045 – $5 admission includes skate rental and playground under 50”, additional cost for other activities - Hosted by Lead Michelle Gilyard
October 15, 2015 – Time 9:30 – 3:00 – Zoo Atlanta Home School Day – 800 Cherokee Ave, Atlanta GA 30315 - $10.75 (Mention GA Homeschooler at the gate) additional cost for other activities – Hosted by Lead Michelle Gilyard
October 16th: Free Basketball Clinic for Homeschool Students Dekalb Educational Alliance and J.A.B. Step
2 pm Beulah Missionary Baptist Church 2340 Clifton Springs Rd, Decatur, Georgia 30034
Hosted by Jennifer Renee
Free Basketball Clinic for Homeschool Students
Dekalb Educational Alliance and J.A.B. Step offering a physical education (P.E.) class for students schooled at home
Decatur, August 5, 2015: Dekalb Educational Alliance (DEA) and J.A.B. STEP will present a basketball clinic on Friday, October 16, 2015 at 2:00pm. The event will be held at the Beulah Baptist Church Family Life Center which is located at 2340 Clifton Springs Rd, Decatur, GA 30034. This event is free and open to traditional or virtual homeschool students, parents, learning coaches, and learning centers/academies. J.A.B. Step will provide a free introductory basketball clinic session to participants. This event is for elementary – high school students with varied basketball skill levels. J.A.B. Step is offering an 8-week basketball skills development clinic for only $75 each to participants that register by October 16th.
Dekalb Educational Alliance is excited to partner with J.A.B. Step for a day of fun and physical activity. Also, participants will have the opportunity to meet new friends, socialize, share resources, and receive homeschool support.
Registration is required for this event. To register, please visit here. For more information, please visit the Region 3 Facebook page or email dekalbed@gmail.com. If you’re a tutor, retired teacher, offer homeschool related services, or interested in learning more about homeschool, please contact Dekalb Educational Alliance.
October 17, 2015 – Time 10:00 – 4:00 – Cabin Life at Pickett’s Mill – 4432 Mount Tabor Church Road, Dallas, GA 30157 – Admission $3.00 - $5.50 depending on the activities you chose
Region 4
Coweta, Fayette, Carroll Back to School Outing- pumpkin patch!
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 | 9:30am - 12:00pm
(Time Zone: US/Eastern)
Location: Uncle Bob's Pumpkin Patch
Category: Region 4-5 In-Person Events
Description
Please complete this survey if you plan to attend! Admission is $10 per person. Children 3 and under are free.
Take a hayride around the farm, Get lost in our tricky "Corn Maze", Play with our friends in the "Petting Zoo", Visit our "Chicken House" , Enjoy a "Pottery Demonstration", Mosey on over to the "Mushroom Education Station", Get wild and wacky at the "Worm Factory", Take a hike on a nature trail , Explore our 80' long "Vine Tunnel" , Hang out in our "Honeybee Barn" , Check out the "Bat Theater" , Enjoy "Spinning, Dyeing, and Felting" demonstrations, Sit and relax for "Story Time" , Get ready to laugh a little at the "Puppet Show", Stroll through our beautiful Vegetable, Herb, Water, and Sun Dial gardens, Peruse our "Felt Doll & Gourd Display", and Enjoy a picnic on one of our many tables around the farm
Contact: Joy Knight, Joanna Schornhorst, Cassidy Longmeier
More Info: visit Uncle Bob's Pumpkin Patch
Location Details: Uncle Bob's Pumpkin Patch 3781 Happy Valley Circle Newnan GA 30263
***October 7th (Wed.) Spinnerz Homeschool Skate Day
11 am - 2 pm
117 N Hwy 113
Carrollton, GA 30117
$3 admission includes rental
Meal ticket available for $3 with your choice of pizza, hot dog, corn dog, or nachos and a drink.
***October 15th (Thurs.) Zoo Atlanta Homeschool Day
9:30 am - 1:30 pm
800 Cherokee Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30315
50% Discount - Pay $10.75 per person (includes tax)
***Oct. 24th (Sat.) Griffin Stream Clean Up Day
Call Misti @ 404-422-5446 or email lunsford@hotmail.com for more information
***Oct. 31st (Sat.) Halloween
I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!
***Nov. 4th (Wed.) Carlton Farms Homeschool Day
10:00 - ?
1276 Cartersville Hwy
Rockmart, GA 30153
$7 per student, $5 per parent/teacher
Region 5
October 10th: Family Campfire and Astronomy Observation
7 pm-12AM
Charlie Elliott WMA Monticello, GA
Public Event: Family Campfire at Charlie Elliott Visitor Center Classroom Join the staff at Charlie Elliott for some campfire fun! This family program will include a storyteller, games, S’mores and a chance to see some nocturnal wildlife. It will be a hoot! Please bring a flashlight, camping chairs and be dressed for the outdoors. All ages welcome.
Also feel free to join the Astronomy club afterwards in Observing on Jon Wood Astronomy Field observing event
Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center
Elliott Trail
Visitor Center main line 770-784-3059. Use this number to register or request more information about any of our programs.
October 12th: Homeschool Day at Washington Farms
9 am-5 pm
5671 Hog Mountain Road (Hwy.53) Bogart, GA 30622
General Admission Price: $10 (+tax) /person (ages 2 and up)
Educational Talk: At 10am and 11am, Mrs. Donna will gather all the children around and teach them about how we grow our pumpkins, photosynthesis, pollination, and more!
*You will not need to sign up in advance or pre-pay for Homeschool Day!
The Corn Maze will NOT be open on Homeschool Day.
Activities Available: Jumping Pillow, Petting Zoo, Cow Train, Corn Cannon, Pumpkin Slingshot, Giant Slides, Pig Races (Times TBA), Ball Toss, Vortex Tunnel, Giant Pirate Ship, Cow Bounce House, Kiddie Playground, Corn Box, and Hay Bale Jump
Held at the Watkinsville site of Washington Farms.
Region 6
October 22nd: Fire Prevention 2 pm
Community House on Highway 42 South in Crawford County. There is a limit of 30 at a time. It will include Fire Prevention Education and a Red Cross Pillowcase Project. If you have never done this it's a great cause for the Red Cross. Contact Trina Johnson on the Region 6 Facebook page to reserve your spot!
Region 7
October 19, 2015, at 1:15 p.m. for check in with me and then the tour will start promptly at 1:45 p.m. for an hour tour. NBC Channel 12 News 1336 Augusta West Parkway, Augusta, GA 30909.
This is a great studio tour in which students will learn from a meteorologist about the StormTracker Weather. Educational tour for Science class! Please fill out the form below. There is a limit of 25 students/parents. If we go over that limit we can either split the group and or set another date later in the month or in November. If you need to cancel, please let me know via email: ptsoregion7@gmail.com
I do need to provide number of students/adults attending to the studio. Please complete this survey.
Region 8
Pumpkin Patch (pick and purchase separately)
Small Animal Corral, Large Farm Animal Tractor Hay Ride, 4 Acre Corn Maze or Children’s Corn Maze, Cotton, Peanut and Sunflower Patch, Picnic Area (Bring a picnic or purchase snacks there), And more!
Where: Oakhurst Fall Daze 19888 Georgia 219 West Point GA 31833
When: October 28 10 am-1 pm
Cost: $8 pay at the door.
Region 9
None Listed
Region 10
None Listed
Region 11
October 3rd: Hahira HoneyBee Festival Hahira, GA
Home Depot Kids’ Build Clinic 9 am-12 FREE Event
Every Friday and Saturday night in October is Terror in the Wild at Wild Adventures, while Saturday and Sunday afternoons are Kid-O-Ween. Please visit the Wild Adventures website for more information.
October 10th: Lowe’s Build and Grow 10-11 am FREE Event
October 16th: Raisin’Cane 9:30 am-12 Join us in exploring a REAL working farm at Raisin’ Cane in Lake Park. The tour starts AT 9:30, so you will need to be early. Afterwards, we will meet at Chick-Fil-A in Lake Park for crafts and lunch.
October 24th: VSU Science Saturday 9 am-12
Hands-on-activities and demonstrations for students K-12. Teachers and families are welcomed. Event is FREE, lab coats and safety glasses are provided to the first 100 participants.
Our theme for this year is Chemistry Colors our World. Activities will include the chemistry of food dyes, highlighters, fireworks, and indicators.
We will celebrate National Chemistry Week, Mole Day, and the International Year of Light 2015.
- Explore the colors of fireworks and food dyes
- Make your own paint
- Measure the speed of light
- Investigate many colorful reactions
Region 12
October 10th: Oglethorpe Speedway Racing 5:30 pm Oglethorpe Speedway Park
200 Jesup Rd, Pooler, Georgia 31322
Web link here.
Days events by times:
12pm Pit passes and Tickets Available at the OSP Offices
4:30pm Pit Gates Open
5:30pm Grandstands Open
6:20pm Hot Laps - 2 rounds each time permitting
7:05pm Mandatory Drivers Meeting for ALL race Drivers
7:30pm Racing Action Begins
Kid friendly post party race after all features
Pit passes: $30 Adult/$10 Child
Grandstand: $18 Adult/$15 Military/Senior/$5 Child
5 and under are free
Theresa Mobley will be hosting. If we get enough people interested in attending she can get us a group discounted rate.
Please Let me know in the comments or by clicking going that you will be attending so we can see what discount we will qualify for. Discounts must be prepaid and a prepay site can be set up through PTSO.
Thank you!
Fundraising from Home!!
Are you a Box Tops member? Sign up here to stay updated on our school’s earnings and find a full list of hundreds of participating products. Members also receive exclusive coupon offers and recipes and can learn about extra ways for our school to earn more cash.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me Shirley Lester at gcafundraiser@gmail.com or call at (678) 806-6001 I’m here to make our school’s Box Tops for Education program a huge success this year. Thanks for your help!
Shirley Lester
2387 Rodgers Dr. SE
Conyers, Ga. 30094
More ways to earn! Collection Sheets: Print Rally Collection and attach Box Tops by tape or glue to sheets of 10, 25 or 50. Do not attach Box Tops with staples. You can print sheets here.
Box Top Codes: If you have a 14-digit eBoxTops code you can redeem it here; your designated school will automatically be credited with this bonus In-StoreBonus Offers:
PTSO Executive Board
President - Jill Smith
Phone # 762-338-1285
president@gcaptso.org
Vice President - Michelle Gilyard
Phone # 404-480-3506
vpresident@gcaptso.org
Secretary - Tracy Kennedy
Phone # 470-269-3643
secretary@gcaptso.org
Vice Secretary - Shirley Lester
Phone # 770-765-3320
vc.secretary@gcaptso.org
Treasurer - Angel Gilstrap
Phone # 762-338-1092
treasurer@gcaptso.org
Vice Treasurer - Tiffani Stacy
Phone #
vc.treasurer@gcaptso.org
Region Chair- Alyce Avary
Phone # 912-495-8618
gcaptsoregchair@gmail.com