About Committee Leadership...

Our vision for this year is this:

• Teamwork
• Organization
• Delegation
• Commitment
• Volunteers
• Accountability

After much thought over the summer, we felt that by putting Committees together, and having a Committee Chair, this would help drive these visions to fruition. We also felt this would allow parents to volunteer their talents where they could, WHEN they could. So often, when the PTA reaches out and asks for time, parents shy away, because they see it being such a huge commitment of time and energy. And let's face it - we are ALL parents, many if not all of us work full time - we get it! We want to do both - but the last thing we want to do is fail and let anyone down! We want to make this work for everyone!

We think that the way we are organizing our committees will help everyone succeed and in the end help the end goal - support our children and our school with success! After all - that is why you joined the PTA in the first place right? We all need to be reminded of that! :)

Here is how a committee will work:

• There are five committees
• Within those committees are many activities, events and initiatives that we support throughout the year
• It is the Chair's responsibility to delegate and recruit additional volunteers to help run, organize, plan each of those ancillary events, activities, or initiatives.
• It is not the Chair's responsibility to single-handedly run each event, activity, or initiative
• The committee is a TEAM
• The Chair is responsible for being accountable to the PTA Board
• The Chair should be comfortable with delegation, but should also be VERY open to ideas, suggestions, and constructive criticism
• We want to break down the "army of one" persona and GROW the PTA - so the Chairs should also constantly be working to encourage more volunteer efforts for projects as needed!

If this is something you think you would be interested in, please continue to watch the blog, where we will be breaking down the individual Committees and descriptions and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, September 18th at 4:00pm!!!

Are YOU a Leader?



Ask yourself these questions:

• Are you organized?
• Can you delegate?
• Can you be accountable to the Executive Board?
• Do you have forward thinking ideas?
• Are you not afraid to push the envelope?
• Are you enthusiastic?
• Are you dynamic?
• Are you thoughtful?

If any or all of these things are YOU? We need YOU! We are looking for a total of Five Committee Leaders to chair five different committees this year for the PTA. We are taking a new approach as to how we organize our events and activities throughout the year.

Let me tease you just a bit...the names of the Committees are:

• The Ways and Means Team
• The Green Team
• Health and Safety
• The Social Planners
• The Hospitality Team

Want to know details? You want to know what these committees will be responsible for? I bet you do! I've got you curious now, don't I? To learn more you can check the blog regularly. OR....

...More importantly, you should attend the FIRST PTA MEETING OF THE YEAR - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18th @ 4:00PM IN THE PONDEROSA LIBRARY! Looking forward to seeing you all there!

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ponderosa Boosterthon Fun Run is Coming to Town!!!

Ponderosa Elementary School

Fall Fundraiser

We’re raising funds for things like IXL, Type to Learn, Battle of the Books,

Family Fun Nights – just to name a few!!!                              

The Boosterthon Fun Run program is a healthy alternative to traditional product sales that raises much-needed funds for our school and many others across America. The Boosterthon Program also promotes three specific values during the fun-filled experience:  Fitness, Leadership, and Character.

This year’s character theme is “HIGHWAY USA,” and it’s all about CHOICES! Our students will be building character by learning five important choices to make.

Boosterthon Fun Run Basics

The event will kick off with a 30-minute school-wide Pep Rally on September 21^st  and conclude on October 19^th with the Boosterthon Fun Run event.

Students will be getting pledges towards the number of laps they will run at the  Boosterthon Fun Run. Students will run between 25-35 laps. 35 is the lap cap.

Every student participates in the Fun Run, regardless of pledges raised, and receives a “Boosterthon All-Star” t-shirt.

Students will enter pledges online!  Each student will receive his/her own safe and secure Boosterthon Fun Run webpage to log in pledges and watch character videos.  Sponsors will also have the ability to pay their pledges online.  All pledges are tax-deductible! More info will be coming home soon! BE ON THE LOOKOUT!

·        Connect your child to sponsors – friends & family – who can give a pledge!

·        Come and cheer on your child at the Boosterthon Fun Run on October 19^th!

·        Go to www.boosterthon.com to learn more about the Boosterthon Fun Run or connect at www.facebook.com/boosterthon

The Boosterthon Fun Run Team spends 250-300 hours organizing the event, freeing up our teachers and administrators to focus on education!!!

How Can You Support Ponderosa Elementary?

More information will come home with your child prior to the event. Thanks in advance for supporting Ponderosa Elementary!!!

 



Welcome Back!!!

A Note From the Ponderosa Staff:

We are looking forward to the first day of school and want you to be aware of a few details:

• The first day of school is Wednesday, September 5th!  The first bell rings at 8:55 and school starts at 9:00.  We will have supervision after 8:30, so please do not drop off your children before then.  School ends at 3:30.

• There will be no office staff in the building on Tuesday, September 4th. 

• Starting on September 12, there will be an early dismissal time of 2:00 pm on Wednesdays. 
• Kindergarten staggers their start date; half of the students arrive on Wednesday and half on Thursday.  Friday, September 7th, will be the first full day for all kindergartners.  Wednesday dismissals after September 12th, will be at 11:00 for the morning kindergarten and at 2:00 PM for the afternoon session.

• If you are driving your child to school, or picking them up afterward, please do not park in the bike lane on Purcell.  You may park on the West side of Purcell, but please walk your child to the crosswalks located on Purcell if you are crossing the street to get to the school.  Be aware that the intersection of Empire and 18th will remain closed through October, which means there will be extra traffic on Purcell in front of the school.

• If you drive into the school parking lot to pick up your child, please do not park your car and leave it unattended along the curb in front of the school.  Park in the designated parking spots if you are coming into the building.  Do not stop to drop off or pick up your child in the crosswalk area directly in front of the school.  This area must remain open for pedestrian traffic. Vehicles can get very backed up in this loop, so it is imperative that everyone follows these simple guidelines.
It’s going to be a great year, thank you for all your support and encouragement as we work together to help our children reach their full potential!

Sincerely,
The Staff of Ponderosa

Ponderosa Art Walk

WOW! Did you get a chance to wander the halls at Ponderosa today? My heart soared and I walked up and down the halls, and wandered into the wings to see the kind of artful magic that took place at Ponderosa last week!

The PTA wants to thank Sahnya Greenfield and Angela Miller for making this event happen! An event like this takes planning, coordination, and effort to make sure we get the best resources for our dollar and in turn, we were able to support another local non-profit - Arts Central!

More to come on this event and what it meant to the children at Ponderosa!

Because afterall, if there is no ART on the EARTH, it's just EH... right? ;)

Welcome our New PTA Officers!

We would like to welcome our new PTA Officers for the 2012 - 2014 Term:

• President - Shelley May
• Vice President - Christal Frick
• Treasurer - Angela Miller
• Secretary - Jenn Daub

If you've met these ladies, you know they are full of energy and excited for their new term! Congrats, ladies!

Mother's Day Lunch!

On May 8th, Ponderosa Elementary will celebrate Mother's Day by offering free school lunch to mothers, plus a surprise gift for Mom to take home! The student must be eating the school lunch that day and the lunch price for any visiting siblings is $2.25. One free adult lunch, per student, please!

Students have received a Mother's  Day themed coloring sheet with the May menus, and it included an RSVP for the mothers and siblings. The completed sheet and RSVP is due back to school no later than WEDNESDAY, MAY 2nd. The coloring sheet will also be available to print from the Bend La-Pine Schools Nutrition Services Web Site.

Our special of the day will be Gourmet Chicken Noodle Soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwich made with freshly baked whole wheat bread, and fresh baked Apple Crisp for dessert; milk, juice, and a generous variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Please join us and celebrate our Moms of Ponderosa!

Support the Third Grade @ Ponderosa!

Save the Date!

BIKE, WALK, SCOOTER, OR SKATE TO SCHOOL!

Friday, May 18th!!!

Students are invited to meet at the neighborhood pool on the corner of Desert Sage and Rock Park (which is approximately two blocks off Purcell across from Ponderosa) at 8:15am. Students will then walk, bike, scoot, or skate to Pine Nursery Park with volunteers for a snack compliments of Travis Bryan State Farm and then report to Ponderosa by 8:30am.

Ponderosa has received a $3,000 Safe Routes to School mini grant which the Site Council is using for Safe Routes to School education. Come jon the fun! Parent Volunteers are Welcome!!!

Auction Items Still Available...

Ponderosa Parents,

 Thank you for your support of this fundraiser. It was a huge success. The PTA is very proud to announce that

WE RAISED OVER $12,300!

Thank you to all the parents and teachers that procured, donated items, and helped volunteer during the auction time. We could not have done this without each one of you!

Our goals were accomplished thanks to you. 

YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE!!

There are some items still up for sale.

Each item has a value, but it doesn’t mean we won’t take less. Make us an offer!  Prices are negotiable.  Please contact Molly Matteson to discuss further if you are interested. mollym@bendbroadband.com 541.633.9862

Northwest Potter’s Supply, LLC donated one on site electric pottery kiln inspection/diagnosis.  Limited to Bend, OR area only. Exp. 12/31/12.   Value $65

Farmers World Design donated a box of 100 attachable ear plugs.  They are reusable and made to fit any safety glasses to eliminate lost ear plugs.   Value $189

Dr. Adam Derr, D.C. donated a chiropractic consultation, orthopedic and neurological exam, x-rays if needed, followed by treatment.  Exp. 6 mon. from purchase. For  person. Value $350

Smith Martial Arts donated a women’s only kickboxing lessons for 2 people, ages 13 and up. 1 month. Classes held T, W, TH from 5:30-6:15PM.  Exp. 10/31/12 .  Value $140

Language Institute donated one month’s tuition in any foreign language immersion pre schools, up to 3 days per week (max $435). Choose from Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, or French.  Preschools programs are for student’s age 3 through Kindergarten.  Value $435

The Wonder Years Preschool donated 2 weeks of before and after school care

(1^st-5^th) and/or 2 weeks of preschool/childcare (3yrs-12yrs) up to 10 hours/day.  Value $370

REI donated a weekend of camping equipment use.  Pick up items Friday and return on Monday night.  Includes; 1 6 person tent, 5 sleeping bags, 5 Trekker pads, 5 back packs, 1 Coleman stove.  Exp. 12/31/12   Value $370

State Farm/Travis Bryan & 541 Media. This package is great for someone with a small business. It includes advertising from 541 Media Group, publishers of the Bend Rental Guide, Mature Living Choices, and the Real Estate Book in Central Oregon. Also included is a computer bag, US road atlas, and a Business Insurance and Financial Review from Travis J Bryan State Farm Insurance. It could be just want your business need for a little extra boost this Spring. Value $355

Tax Connection/Monique McCleary donated 1 hour of consultation and tax review.  Value $100

ALL MONIES GO DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL 100%. Check/cash only.