Important Meeting

All Fairview Parents are invited to attend a special meeting that has been set up by Fairview PTA with Dr. Steipleman and Linda Quingley at Fairview Elementary on Monday, May 2, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. At the meeting, the district’s budget will be discussed as it relates to impending changes at Fairview. If you have questions prior to the meeting, please contact PTA President Sheila Chapman at sheila.chapman@mchsi.com.

If you haven’t already heard, the School Board has proposed a number of changes at Fairview next year. Assistant Principal Adrienne Patton will be transferred to Derby Ridge. One fifth grade teaching position will also be cut from Fairview. For next year (2011-2012 school year), this means that each of the three remaining fifth grade classrooms will have almost 30 students. At the meeting on May 2, the Fairview PTA will continue dialogue with Dr. Steipleman and Linda Quingley in an attempt to change this course of action and/or minimize the effect it will have on our children. Please come and show your support and ask questions. The best chance we have for combating these cuts at our school is when we unite together and make our voices heard.

April Announcements

Hope everyone enjoyed Spring Break this year! The signs of spring are beautiful right now, aren't they?
Less than two calendar months left of the school year, so things are getting busy. Here are your updates:

• April 6-16: MAP Testing for 3, 4, and 5th graders. Grades 3 and 4 begin testing at 9:00 a.m. each day, and grade 5 starts at 10:00 a.m. Be sure to send your kiddos out the door with a health breakfast for brain power!
• April 9: Fitness Friday. This will repeat each Friday... between 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., students of all grades are invited to walk on the track. Parents are welcome!
  
• April 20: Donuts with Dads. 7:45 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. in the cafeteria.
• April 21: Administrative Professionals Day. Don't forget to say "thank you" to the school secretaries that help keep the school days organized!
• April 26-30: School Walk for Diabetes. Information has been sent home about walking with your child during his/her PE class for the week. If you did not receive it, contact your child's teacher or the school office.
• April 27: PTA/Choir Concert/School Ice Cream Social. The PTA meeting and choir concert begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the ice cream social from 7-8:30 p.m.

Looking ahead, please note that there has been a change in the school calendar. May 21st was previously set as a collaboration day for teachers for the entire day. It has now been changed to early release day - school will dismiss on May 21 at 1:15 p.m., rather than being out the entire day. The Last Day of School is now Friday, June 4, and school will dismiss that day at 1:15 p.m. as well. This is a change from the previously announced last day (Monday, June 7).

March Announcements

Springing forward into March, here are some announcements about upcoming events at Fairview Elementary!

Tuesday, March 16: Donuts with Dads from 7:45 - 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday, March 17: School Cooks Day - remind your kids to thank the cooks for all they do each day!

Thursday, March 18 and Friday, March 19: Spring Pictures!! Pre-K, 1, 3, and 5 grades will be on Thursday; K, 2 and 4 pictures will be on Friday. According to the materials sent home from the photographer, siblings may arrange for photos to be taken together on Friday morning from 8-9:00.

Thursday, March 18: Multicultural Celebration - 6:30-7:15: meet and greet and enjoy potluck dinner; 7:15-8 p.m.: enjoy music, dancing and crafts.

2009-2010 Updated PTA Officers, Meeting

The following is a list of the 2009-2010 PTA Officers, and their e-mail addresses:

President: Sheila Chapman

sheila.chapman@mchsi.com

Vice President: Susan Hartnagel

shartnagel@hotmail.com

Treasurer: Amy Pescaglia

amynryan@centurytel.net

Secretary: Chris Teddy

christineteddy@centurytel.net

Because of the weather, this month's general PTA meeting has been rescheduled. The meeting will now be held on Tuesday, February 16 at 6:00 p.m. in the gym at Fairview. At the meeting, the Reflections winners will be presented, and Dr. Belcher will be presenting information regarding the upcoming bond issue in April. We hope you will attend!!

Weekly Update

Isn't it a bad sign when you can count the times you have seen the sun in the past 3 weeks on one hand??!! Everyone at our house is ready for Spring, and I'm sure you are too. Here are a few announcements to keep us looking toward the future and plugging along...

• Most classes are planning for Valentine Parties, coming up on Friday, February 12. Many classes will be holding parties from 2:45 - 3:15 that day; check with your child's teacher or room parent for specific details.
  
• Donuts for Dads will be on Tuesday, February 23 from 7:45-8:20 a.m. This is a nice opportunity for kids to have some special morning time with Dad.
  
• Also on Tuesday, February 23 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. - treat yourself to dinner at Culver's!! 10% of the sales are donated to Fairview Elementary. The Culver's mascot, Scoopie, will be making an appearance, too!
• Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up at the end of the month: Thursday, February 25 and Friday, February 26. Sign up forms will be coming home this week. There will be a Book Fair during the conferences as well: from 4:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, and 8:30-10:00 a.m. on Friday.
  
• Don't forget these upcoming dates when school will not be in session: Monday, February 15 (President's Day), Friday, February 19 (Teacher Work Day), and Friday, February 26 (Parent Teacher Conferences).

Announcements, Announcements, Announcements!!

• Don't forget to eat at Subway tonight!! Go to the Forum Shopping Center Location today, Wednesday, January 27 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. and 15% of the proceeds from your purchase are donated back to Fairview Elementary. Make sure to tell them you are there for the fundraiser!
• Yearbook order forms will be coming home starting this Friday, January 29. Orders must be returned to the office by Tuesday, February 16. Books cost $11, payable by cash or check to Fairview PTA. The yearbooks will arrive in May.
  
• Another fundraiser is coming up... with another good reason to take a break from cooking at home! Mark your calendar for Tuesday, February 23 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. to eat at Culver's!! 10% of the sales are donated to Fairview Elementary. The Culver's mascot, Scoopie, will be making an appearance, too!
• Don't forget these upcoming dates when school will not be in session: Monday, February 15 (President's Day), Friday, February 19 (Teacher Work Day), and Friday, February 26 (Parent Teacher Conferences).
  

Holiday countdown - already???

One of my daughters was staring intently at a calendar this week. I noticed, asked her what she was doing, and she looked up at me and proclaimed proudly, "Only 51 days until Christmas!!" I don't know if she was right - it scared me too bad to check. Where does time go??!!

This week's reminders...

• The PTA Board is meeting on November 9 at 11:30.
  
• Passport Coupon Books are for sale until November 10. The books sell for $25.00 and are filled with coupons to use in the community and surrounding areas (Boonville, Moberly, Fulton, Mexico, and Jefferson City). A portion of the sales are donated to the Columbia Public Schools Foundation, and another portion comes back to Fairview Elementary.
• EDITED 11/10: NEW DATE!!!!! Donuts for Dads is rescheduled for November 18, from 7:45 a.m. to 8:20 a.m.
• Parent/Teacher Conferences are Thursday, November 12 from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m., and Friday, November 13 from 8:00 a.m. - noon. Contact your child's teacher for your specific time.
• During Parent/Teacher Conferences, the Fairview PTA will be sponsoring a Scholastic Book Sale from 4:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday the 12th, and 8:30 -10:30 a.m. on Friday the 13th, in the school gymnasium.
• NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13th!!

Enjoy the weekend!

Reminders...

I hope everyone has had a chance to enjoy the brief reprieve from the rain and nastiness. How nice it has been to get outside and enjoy the fall colors! This week's reminders:

• TONIGHT, October 21, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., when you purchase food at Subway's Forum location, a percentage of the proceeds come back to Fairview Elementary PTA. Come on out!
• Tomorrow, October 22, is an early-release day. Fairview Elementary releases at 1:15 p.m.
• Coming right up are Halloween Room Parties, set for each classroom on Friday, October 30. Most parties are from 2:45 - 3:15, but check with your child's teacher and/or room parent for specifics!

Enjoy the rest of the week!

Where did fall go??

It's feeling more like winter than it should in October!! Hope everyone is staying warm and dry. I didn't realize that my kiddos would need warm coats quite this quickly!

A few reminders for the upcoming week, including a yummy PTA fundraiser...

• Friday, October 16 - Fairview Fever Day! Don't forget to dress your student in school colors!

• Wednesday, October 21 - Subway Eat Fresh! PTA Fundraiser. Come get a sandwich, chips, or soup at the Forum Subway between the hours of 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will be donated back to the Fairview PTA!
  

• Also Wednesday, October 21 - Donuts with Dads, 7:45 a.m. - 8:20 a.m.

• Thursday, October 22, EARLY DISMISSAL starting at 1:15 p.m.
  

Enjoy the upcoming weekend... hopefully some more 'friendly' fall weather is on the way!

Catch the FEVER!!! (The good kind...)

Friday night is the Fairview Fever Festival!! Be sure to support the PTA's major fundraiser of the year. The money raised improves the educational experience for all of our children.

Festival Details:
Games, Food, and Fun begin at 4:00 p.m. and last until dusk. The activities are set up on the playground. Should we be hit with inclement weather, the fun will still go on but will be inside the school. Food and drinks are available for purchase. Games include: Football Throw, Hoop Shoot, Baseball Throw, Cake Walk, Candy Bar Walk, Soda Toss, Sandy Candy, Hair Salon, Dunking Booth, and more!! Tickets or wristbands are available for purchase at the festival, if you did not pre-pay. Don't forget the silent auction and raffles, as well.

Other Announcements:
October 7 is another busy day of celebration at Fairview: International Walk to School Day, Track Dedication, and School Custodian's Day, too!

• International Walk to School Day gives children, parents, teachers and community leaders an opportunity to be part of a global event and celebrate the many benefits of walking! Fairview students (and parents!) will meet on Wednesday, October 7 at either: Fairview United Methodist Church (3200 Chapel Hill Road) or Fairview Road Church of Christ (201 S. Fairview Road) to walk. Continental breakfast is provided, but you should RSVP to the Fairview Office by Monday, October 5 so they can plan appropriately for breakfast.
• Fairview Track Dedication Ceremony will also be the morning of the 7th at 9:00 a.m. All Fairview students will attend with their teacher, but parents are welcome to attend as well. Mayor Hindman will be our guest speaker. The PTA received a grant of $20,000.00 from the city through the City Park Sales Tax to build the new track, which is used daily by our children.
• School Custodian's Day will also be celebrated on the 7th. Be sure to take time to thank the men and women who keep Fairview such an aesthetically pleasing place for our kids to learn!

Don't forget the Festival... See you soon!

It's Official: Fall is here and we've survived the first 30 days!

Greetings, Fairview Parents! I hope everyone is having a great start to the school year. It's hard to believe that our kids have already been in school for a month!

The Fairview PTA is hoping to make regular announcements on this blog. Please check back regularly; new information will typically be posted on Wednesdays.

Today's PTA announcements:

• You should have received information on our big fundraiser - the Fairview Fever Festival, coming up on Friday, October 2, 2009 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. There will be food available for purchase, games with prizes for the kids (carnival games, cake walk, and hair studio are some of the highlights!), a raffle, and a silent auction. You can find a full list of silent auction items, print more raffle tickets, and see other information on the Fairview Elementary website.

Other reminders and information:

• This year's first "Donuts with Dads" was this morning. The next breakfast is Wednesday, October 21st, from 7:45 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. This program is sponsored by All Pro Dad.
• Wondering what your child is having for school lunch? You can find the answer on the Columbia Public Schools website, here.
  

Enjoy the cooler weather. Hope to see you at the Fairview Fever Festival next Friday!

May Reminders

The end of a school year is a bitter sweet time for me. I am happy to see my children more and am proud of them for learning so much, yet I'll miss the teachers and have to accept they have one more year of school behind them.

There are a few more items the PTA will need to take care of before the year is over.

• Teachers Appreciation week. The activities are a bit different this year. Don't forget to send an item with your child for your teachers basket. Also, ask your child what they might write on the teachers door.
• The last PTA board meeting will be Monday, May 11, 7:00 pm.
• The Ice Cream Social is May 12, 7:00-8:30 following the General PTA meeting and Choir concert.
• Please remember to turn in your volunteer forms for next year's committees.
• New AngleFood Menus are available through the Links portion of the blog.

Hopefully this blog is helpful to some. I expect as new parents come to Fairview, it will be a great tool for them and become used more often for a resource.