Grand Slam Pizza Fundraiser December 19-22

No time to cook this week? Please remember our Grand Slam Pizza Fundraiser which will run Monday-Thursday, December 19-22. Simply call either the Plum location (724-519-7615) or Monroeville location (412-646-2622) and mention you are supporting Center Elementary PTA in Plum Boro and we will receive a portion of your bill. Thank you and Happy Holidays!!!

Crafty Shack Forms Due Tomorrow!

Just a reminder that Crafty Shack permission forms and money are due no later than tomorrow, Tuesday, December 20! This activity will take place after school from 3:30-4:30 on Wednesday, January 11. Cost is $13.00 per student, check or money order made payable to Center PTA. We cannot accept late registrations due to the fact that The Crafty Shack needs enough lead time over the holidays to order supplies for us. Thank you!!!

THE HOLIDAY SHOP

We want to thank all of you who took time out of your busy schedules to come and volunteer at the Holiday Shop this year.  It is a big event for the students—one that they look forward to each year—and requires many volunteers to make it run smoothly.  Whether you were able to help for a few hours or from set-up to take-down, we are very grateful. The students enjoyed shopping and were so happy to have their gifts wrapped so nicely.  Another thank you to everyone who donated wrapping paper, tape and gift tags! We hope you enjoy the surprises your children carefully selected just for you!  

Thanks so much!

Melissa Yausm and Gina Rose

Crafty Shack Forms Due December 20

The Crafty Shack will be at Center after school on Wednesday, January 11, 2017. All Center students are welcome to stay after school to paint a snowman mug. Mugs will be taken back to the Crafty  Shack to be fired and will be returned to the school at a later date. The cost is $13.00 per student, check or money order made payable to Center PTA. Students who participate in this event must be picked up in the cafeteria at 4:30 pm on January 11.

RSVP forms and money for this event are due back to school on or before Tuesday, December 20. Because The Crafty Shack needs enough time to order enough mugs and supplies for this event, unfortunately we will not be able to accept late registrations!

Updated Reflections Winners

Per our Reflections chairperson, there are a few pieces of artwork that have been moved into different judging categories by PTA Council. The new categories and Center winners are:

Intermediate 3D Visual Arts:

1st Place: Amelia Faust, "My Tree of Happiness"

2nd Place: Eden Drayer, "The Garden of Eden"

Intermediate 2D Visual Arts:

1st Place: Caroline Benton, "Reach for the Sky"

2nd Place: Gianna Babilon, "Tye-Dye Score"

3rd Place: Wade Keresztury, "Canyonlands"

4th Place: Madilyn Paige McKinley, "This is Me"

5th Place: Gianna Babilon, "The Big Game"

Congratulations to ALL our participants on a job well done!

Five Below Fundraiser!

The Five Below Fundraiser will continue through Saturday, December 17! When you shop at Five Below in Monroeville, please take the flier that was sent home from school last week. Turn the flier in when you check out and our school will receive 10% of your purchase. Thank you for your support of this fundraiser!

December Fundraiser Reminders

• Center PTA cookbooks are still available! If you would like any cookbooks, please send a check or money order to school made out to "Center PTA." Cookbooks are $12.00 each. Please include your child's name and homeroom. Cookbooks make great holiday gifts!
• We still have a limited amount of Sky Zone tickets for sale for $16.00 per ticket. Sky Zone tickets also make great holiday gifts!
• The Five Below fundraiser will take place December 10-17. If you are planning to shop at Five Below, please take the flier that was sent home from school so that we can get credit for your purchase. 10% of all purchases made will be donated back to Center Elementary!
• The Schwan's Cares online food sale fundraiser is still going on. We receive 40% of all orders placed through December 16, and 5% of orders placed between December 17 and March 16, 2017.
• SchoolStore program: go to www.schoolstore.com and select Center Elementary. Our school receives a portion of sales when shopping is done through SchoolStore.
• The Crafty Shack event will take place Wednesday, January 11 after school. Information about this event was sent home this week. Crafty Shack forms and payment are due back by December 20.
• As always with any fundraiser, we can only accept checks or money orders made out to Center PTA.

Thank you for your continued support of our school!!!

DC Meeting December 6

The next meeting for the 6th DC trip is Tuesday, December 6, at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria.

Reflections Awards Update

Congratulations to all students who submitted Reflections projects! We received many wonderful, creative projects. Congratulations to the following students whose Reflections projects placed at Center Elementary and are moving on to compete at the Plum Council level:

3D VISUAL ARTS

1st  Parvathy Warrier    “Love For Dance”

1st  Meenakshi Warrier    “Myself”

2nd Danielle Getlak  “The Dog and The Sun”

3rd  Parvathy Warrier   “What I Love”

2D VISUAL ARTS PRIMARY - K TO 2ND GRADE

1st____Reese Dryburgh        “Reese’s Story”

2nd       Kenley Babilon              “Kenley’s Story”

3rd       Meenakshi Warrier       “Clover Family”    

4th     Meenakshi Warrier    “Playing Outside”

5th     Shannon Ahrens     “This is My Story”      

2D VISUAL ARTS Intermediate   3RD TO 5TH

1st    Amelia Faust     “My Tree of Happiness”

2nd   Caroline Benton      “Reach For The Sky”

3rd  Eden Drayer     “The Garden of Eden”

4th  Gianna Babilon    “Tye-Dye Score”

5th Wade Keresztury     “Canyonlands”

2D VISUAL ARTS MIDDLE SCHOOL 6TH GRADE

1st  Meredith Benton “The Place of All Places”

2nd  Meredith Benton    “Colorful Composition”

MUSIC

1st     Damien Collier        “Great Grandma’s Story”

2nd  Meredith Ahrens              “Another World”

PHOTOGRAPHY - PRIMARY - K TO 2ND GRADE

1st    Shannon Ahrens      “The Arts of Baking”

 2nd      Parvathy Warrier          “Colorful Life”

PHOTOGRAPHY- INTERMEDIATE- 3RD TO 5TH GRADE

1st   Meredith Ahrens         “Nature’sWonders”

2nd   Meredith Ahrens    “Metamorphasis”

3rd    Meredith Ahrens   _”Wild Wings”

3rd Charlotte Faust     “Peace, Love, and Ladybugs”

LITERATURE Primary

 1st             Parvathy Warrier          “My Family”

LITERATURE Intermediate  

1st      Bella DiFrancesca         “My Story”

2nd   Gianna Babilon            “My South African Life”

Outstanding job! Thank you to everyone who participated!

Community Holiday Tree Lighting Festival

Regional HOPE Summit--November 29

The Plum Borough School District cordially invites you to listen, learn and ask questions related to the Opioid Epidemic that plagues our Region, our State and our Nation. 

The Summit will take place on Tuesday, November 29, from 6:00-8:00pm in the Plum High School auditorium.

More information can be found here: Regional HOPE Summit

Plum Spirit Wear Sale--Now Through December 2

Spirit wear orders will be accepted at school through December 2. Order forms and price lists will be coming home with students this week. Please make checks or money orders payable to "Center PTA." Thank you!

John Anthony's Restaurant Night November 10

Looking for a place to take the family to dinner? Why not visit John Anthony's Italian Restaurant?

When: Thursday, November 10

Time: 12:00pm-8:00pm

Take they flyer that was distributed at school with you, and a portion of your check will be donated by John Anthony's to our PTA, so we can continue to support our school with assemblies, field trips, book fairs and other exciting activities.

Thank you!!!

The Holiday Shop at Center Elementary

The holiday season will be here before you know it!  It’s time to start thinking about our Holiday Shop~ when students will have an opportunity to shop for friends and loved ones!  This year’s shop will take place December 7th and 8th.  If you would like to volunteer to help our younger students shop, wrap gifts or even with set-up and take-down, please contact Melissa Yausm @ yausm23@verizon.net or Gina Rose @ daroses0407@yahoo.com.  We will also be collecting donations of gift wrap, tags and tape.  Please drop any donations off at the office marked “Holiday Shop” anytime from December 1st through December 7th.

Thank you!

Gina Rose and Melissa Yausm

Attention Parents: Hugs & Kisses Sale November 8

Attention parents attending conferences on Tuesday, November 8: Student Government will be selling (Little) Hugs and Kisses that you can send to your children! Hugs and Kisses cost $1.00 and will be delivered to the classrooms on November 9. Student Government is also selling raffle tickets for toys and other items pictured below. Raffle tickets are $.50 each. All proceeds benefit Make-a-Wish Foundation. Thank you for your support!

PTA Meeting and Chorus Concert November 9

The next PTA meeting will be Wednesday, November 9 at 7pm in the cafeteria. The chorus will perform first, followed by a short PTA meeting. We hope to see you all there!

Battle of the Books Results Are In!

The Battle of the Books took place at Plum High School on November 2, 2016. Center had three teams place in the top five! Congratulations to everyone who participated! It was a fun and exciting event for all!

2nd Place: The Golden Snitches 

Amelia Faust, Arjun Chopra, Stephen Thompson, Meredith Ahrens, Elena Bartolomeo, Kendall Regan, Sponsor: Mrs. Ramsey

3rd Place: Reading Ninjas

Sierra Bodnar, Ashley Smith, Dannika Susko, Kate Kelly, Waverley Dulaney, Ella Vargesko

Sponsor: Mrs. Bodnar

4th Place: Racing Readers

Lexi Spears, Ryan Regan, Noah Hudson, Maura Jodkin, Matthew Glasspool, Kalynn Berringer

Sponsor: Mrs. Karkowsky

The Book Bubbles

Katie Kelly, Ally Pastor, Carena Dapra, Maria Hunter, Madison Johnson, Cassie Novotny

 Sponsor: Mrs. Austin

Gladiators of Genre

Kiarrah Horne, D'Angelo Palermo, Joey Frank, Zack Mauro, Brooke Hudac, Charlie Campbell

Sponsor: Mrs. Belak

Fun Pasta Pickup Wednesday, November 2!

Just a reminder that the Fun Pasta pickup is Wednesday, November 2 from 4:00-5:30 in the cafeteria! Thank you for your support of this fundraiser!

Red Ribbon Week Door Decorating Contest Winners!

Congratulations to Mrs. Piper's, Mrs. Shanbacher's, and Mrs. McIntyre's classes, who were the winners of the Red Ribbon Week door decorating contest! Great job everyone!

Here are some of the other fabulous classroom doors:

Thank you to all who participated and a big thank you to Erin Dunne and Lisa McTiernan for coordinating the Red Ribbon week activities!

Fun Pasta Pickup November 2

The pickup for the Fun Pasta Fundraiser will be Wednesday, November 2 from 4:00-5:30 pm in the school cafeteria. If you cannot pick up your order on this date, please contact Susan Griffin at: suzieqgrif@verizon.net as soon as possible to make other arrangements for pickup. 

Thank you for your generous support of this fundraiser!

Five Guys Fundraiser Tonight!

Just a reminder that our Restaurant Night Fundraiser is tonight from 5:00pm-8:00pm at Five Guys in Monroeville. Please be sure to take the flier that was sent home from school. Thank you for your support!

Red Ribbon Week October 24-28

Monday, October 24: Wear red to support Red Ribbon Week

Tuesday, October 25: Hat day--Hats off to being drug and bully free!

Wednesday, October 26: Pajama day (no slippers please)--Follow your dreams, not drugs!

Thursday, October 27: Come with me and be drug free! Show an act of kindness and receive a sticker for acts of kindness.

Friday, October 28: Center is drug and bully free! Wear purple and gold to show your school spirit.

Box Tops Deadline Monday, October 24!

Please send in your Box Tops to school Monday, October 24! We will do a second Box Tops collection later in the school year. Thanks for your support!

Spirit Wear Sale Delayed

The fall spirit wear sale has been delayed. New sale dates will be announced soon!

Reminders for this week:

• Sky Zone tickets are still available! Tickets are $16 each. Send a check or money order made out to Center PTA in an envelope marked "PTA Sky Zone Tickets."
• A delivery date for the Fun Pasta orders will be announced soon. Thank you to all who supported this fundraiser!
• Please continue to send in Box Tops! The current collection due date is October 24!

Reflections Deadline Approaching!

It's not too late to tell us your story! Reflections Projects are due Thursday, November 3 to the front office. Please make sure the entry form is completed and signed by both the student and the parent. 

Thank you and don't hesitate to email Jamie DiFrancesca with any questions: Dihome2@gmaillcom

Fun Pasta Fundraiser Due October 17!

All orders for the Fun Pasta fundraiser need to be turned in by Monday, October 17. Orders should include a check or money order made out to Center PTA--we cannot accept cash. Once the entire school order is submitted, we will announce a pickup date for the pasta orders. Thank you for your support! Fun Pasta makes great holiday gifts!

Classroom Holiday Parties

Please remember that if you are interested in volunteering at any of the classroom parties this year, please email your homeroom chair ASAP. Remember all party volunteers MUST be PTA members. Thank you!

NED Show Yo-Yo Sale

Just a reminder that our NED SHOW YO-YO's will be on sale until next Thursday, October 13. The order form originally said Oct 6-Oct 12th, but Monday there is no school. Please be sure to fill out your order form and send it to school with a CHECK or MONEY ORDER made payable to CENTER PTA. Any cash received, will be returned and your order will be held until we receive the check or money order. This is a new policy that we started this year. Thank you!

PTA Meeting Rescheduled!!!!

The PTA meeting originally scheduled for Wednesday, October 5 has been cancelled. New date and time are Wednesday, October 12 at 2:15pm in the cafeteria! Sorry for the late notice! Hope to see you on the 12th!

October 5: Morning PTA Meeting

The next PTA meeting is Wednesday, October 5 at 9:15am in the cafeteria. Hope to see you there!

Early Bird Membership Deadline is October 3!

If you haven't joined the PTA yet, Monday, October 3 is the deadline for the early bird membership price of $8.00 per person! After October 3, the price increases to $10.00 per person. Make checks payable to Center PTA and mark your envelope "PTA Membership." Be sure to include your child's name and homeroom. 

Sky Zone Ticket Fundraiser

Just a reminder that our Sky Zone Ticket Fundraiser is still going on! You can purchase Sky Zone tickets through Center PTA for $16.00 per ticket, and our school earns a portion of the ticket sales. Tickets are valid for a full year and may be used at Sky Zone's Monroeville location. To purchase, send a check to school made out to Center PTA and mark your envelope "PTA Sky Zone Tickets."

PTA Meeting Wednesday, October 5

Please join us in the cafeteria at 9:15am Wednesday, October 5 for the next PTA meeting! Hope to see you there!

Red Ribbon Week

Center Elementary will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week (Drug Awareness

Week) October 22nd-26th. We encourage teachers and parents to discuss this important topic. We will use slogans and different attire to call attention to “being bully and drug free.”  We are asking K-2nd graders to participate in a coloring contest and 3rd - 6th graders to write an essay on why it’s important to be bully and drug free.  The essay will be due on Thursday October 27th.  There will be a drawing for prizes.

Our schedule will be as follows:

Monday Oct. 24th – Wear red to support Red Ribbon Week and take the pledge to be Drug Free.

Tuesday Oct. 25th – Hats off to being a drug free and bully free school!  Wear a favorite or crazy hat!

Wednesday Oct. 26th – Follow your dreams not drugs- Not Drugs.  Wear pajamas (no slippers).

Thursday Oct. 27th – Come with me and be drug free.  Show an act of kindness. Receive a sticker for acts of kindness.  (Essay drawing will take place).                                                                                                                                                                                           

Friday Oct. 28th –Center is Drug and Bully Free!! Show your school spirit and wear purple and gold. (Door Decorating Winners Announced).

Looking forward to an exciting week celebrating a Bully & Drug Free School!

Early Bird Membership Deadline is Monday!

Just a reminder that the early bird deadline to join the PTA is Monday, October 3. Membership is $8.00 per person until October 3. After this date, membership is $10.00 per person. Anyone who wishes to help with holiday parties or other class events MUST be a PTA member, so join the PTA today!

Walk-A-Thon Wednesday!

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow, Wednesday, September 28th is our annual Walk-a-thon! Please have your child wear appropriate shoes and show their school spirit by wearing any Mustang attire or purple and yellow! We are hoping to have decent weather to hold the event outside, but in case of rain, we will have it in the gym. Please remember to send in your child's donation, with one CHECK
made payable to Center PTA, no cash please. All money raised from this event will go towards assemblies, field trips, classroom parties, etc for the students and teachers. Thank you!

STEM Studio: Donations of Recyclable Materials Requested

This year in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Studio, students will work to research, problem solve, create and design in order to build their critical thinking skills. Students will work cooperatively with hands-on problem-based learning. A separate letter will be sent home explaining the types of projects students in each grade level will be working on. The STEM teachers are requesting that families donate any of the following items they may have at home for students to use in their projects:

-paper towel rolls

-toilet paper rolls

-empty tissue boxes

-cereal boxes

-straws

-newspaper

-mint Lifesavers (not fruit)

-boxes of toothpicks

-empty/cleaned plastic water bottles, quart jugs, and 2 liter bottles

-any craft items or old wooden blocks you may not be using or have left over

-shoe boxes with lids

-checkers

-clean cardboard

Donated items may be sent to school with students.

Thank you for your contributions! They are greatly appreciated!

REMINDER FOR SIXTH GRADE DC TRIP PARTICIPANTS:  
Please have your pink Permission Slip and Commitment Page filled out and turned in no later than Friday, September 23.  In order to secure reservations for tours and other activities, we need to provide a total attendance to our travel rep.  We appreciate your cooperation.  

Thanks, 
Your DC Trip Committee

Meeting Reminder: 6th Grade DC Trip

Attention 6th grade parents: There is a mandatory meeting at 6:30pm Tuesday, September 20 in the cafeteria for those interested in the DC trip!

Upcoming Events: Week of September 12

Tuesday, September 13: Picture Day! Order forms were sent home with students the first day of school. You can also order online at: www.inter-state.com/order  Use order code: 08747CA

Wednesday, September 14 and Friday, September 16: Scholastic Book Fair. Student shopping times were sent home last week.

Thursday, September 15: Open house, 6-8pm. Parents may also shop at the book fair during open house.

Online Scholastic Book Fair

Reading is the most important skill you can teach a child. Of all the skills kids learn, it is the one you can influence the most.

You are invited to shop our Scholastic Online Book Fair, where we know you'll find great books, at great prices, without leaving your home!

The ONLINE fair is available now through September 20th. So if you can't make it to the fair at school, we look forward to having you participate in our online fair. Remember, all online orders benefit our school and ship for FREE!

Please visit our homepage at http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/centerelementaryschool20

**Please note: Students will have the opportunity to shop at school on September 14 and 16, and parents may shop at the school during open house September 15. Information on the fall book fair was sent home with students this week.

PTA Early Bird Membership Deadline and Volunteer Clearances

If you have not yet sent in your PTA membership form, please remember that the early bird deadline for PTA membership is October 3, 2016. PTA membership is $8.00 per person. Checks or money orders should be made out to "Center PTA"-- remember we can no longer accept cash! After October 3, the price of membership will increase to $10.00 per person, so join the PTA today!

All parents who wish to volunteer during holiday parties or other events at the school MUST be members of the PTA. Joining the PTA before October 3 gives you a better chance of being contacted to help with class parties for your child, as homeroom chairs will be selected and will be contacting their homeroom parents within the next few weeks.

Any parent who may wish to chaperone their child's field trip in the spring must also submit volunteer clearances to the main office by January 6, 2017. Clearances are good for three years, so those who obtained and submitted clearances last year do not need to do so again this year. Please note, submitting your clearances does not guarantee that you will be selected as a chaperone. The number of chaperones needed for field trips varies by grade level, and not all volunteers may be needed; but all field trip volunteers MUST have clearances on file.

Information on obtaining volunteer clearances can be found on the school district web site: http://www.pbsd.k12.pa.us//volunteerclearance.aspx

PTA Meeting Reminder!

Please join us in the cafeteria at 7pm on Wednesday, September 7 for the year's first PTA meeting! This is a great chance to get information on school events and become involved!

Save the Date--First PTA Meeting is September 7!

Center parents are invited to join us at the year's first PTA meeting Wednesday, September 7  at 7:00pm in the cafeteria. This is a great opportunity to find out about upcoming events and become involved in your child's school.

In the meantime, please remember to send in your PTA membership forms and volunteer forms that were included in your child's first-day folder.

We hope to see you on the 7th!

Letter from the Principal

Dear Family Members,

Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year!  I hope your summer has been restful and relaxing!  We are looking forward to another positive year here at Center Elementary School.

The custodial staff and maintenance staff have been working all summer to ready the school for staff and students.  They are to be applauded for their efforts in preparing the school for the first day.  

I encourage you to check the website, which has an updated look.  On the district website you will be able to find bus stop information for your child, along with other valuable information throughout the school year.  On the Center website, we have grade level list for student materials needed to start the school year.  Please continue to check the website during the school year for announcements and information.  

We will be continuing our many fine programs this year at Center.  This includes our “Booksburgh” reading program and our “Be a Star on Center Stage” positive behavior program.  Be looking for information coming home about these and our other programs at Center Elementary.

As always, if there are any questions, please do not hesitate to call the school.  Enjoy your last weeks of summer and we will see on August 29th!

Important Dates:

August 29 - First Day of School and Kindergarten Orientation

August 30 - First Day for Kindergarten students

September 5 - No school - Labor Day

September 15 - Elementary Open House

Sincerely,

Jason Knisely

Welcome back! Introducing the 2016-2017 PTA Executive Board:

President: Susan Griffin
Vice President: Samantha Pastor
2nd Vice President: Mrs. Austin
Treasurer: Christine Stewart
Recording Secretary: Danielle Babilon
Corresponding Secretary: Sara Ahrens

Questions or feedback about this blog may be directed to: centerpta15239@gmail.com.

Welcome to Center Elementary PTA's online newsletter! Please check back often for updates and announcements!