Elizabeth Haddon PTA

Before we head into holiday break, I want to take a moment to thank a few more PTA volunteers.  First, many thanks to Rachel Shim for spearheading our Reflections Program this fall.  We had an impressive turnout, and a lot of success in the competition so far.  For a full rundown of Lizzie award winners, scroll down for the results.   Also, thank you to Cynthia Bonawitz and Natalie Reenock for running our Box Tops and Labels for Education contest.  We turned in more than 8,000 Box Top labels and over 4,000 LFE points!  Hats off to all the label-clippers at Lizzie Haddon for such a great job!

UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2012:   The PTA has a lot in store for Lizzie Haddon families in 2012.  Take a moment to jot these highlights down in your calendar (and where relevant, don’t forget to line up those sitters!):

Winter Social (Saturday, January 28): Reserve your tickets today for the First Annual Winter Social (for parents only!) at Treno Restaurant and Bar in Westmont.  Our Silent Auction will feature a wide range of items and packages to bid on.  Tickets are $45 per person.  For more information, or to RSVP by Jan. 17th, please click on the Winter Social Invitation.

Spaghetti Bingo (Friday, February 10): Save the Date for one of Lizzie Haddon’s favorite family nights.  This year, the festivities last from 6 – 8 p.m.  More details to follow, and tickets will go on sale after the holiday break!

Scholastic Book Fair (Tues, February 28 – Fri. March 2):  Our week-long book fair will feature in-class buying opportunities as well as a Family Night on Wednesday Feb. 29th.  Watch for more details.

Elizabeth Haddon 5K and 1-mile Fun Walk (Saturday, May 19th):  This 5K run around the Lizzie Haddon neighborhood draws runners from far and wide.  Make it your New Year’s resolution to start training for it, and watch for more information in the months to come.

WINTER BREAK IS A GREAT TIME FOR A BOOKWORM 

Our Bookworm on the wall by the APR is ready and waiting to display the dozens of accomplished Lizzie Haddon authors.  There is no time like Winter Break for your child to write a story that gets published and housed in the School Library.  And your child’s picture and bio will be displayed on that wall for all to see. To get started, click on the Bookworm Template and the Bookworm Submission Form. And for more information, contact Laurie Verderame at freeme64@verizon.net, Lauren Walsh at lwalsh@verizon.net or Diana Ellery at dellery@comcast.net.

REFLECTIONS AWARD WINNERS 

Elizabeth Haddon students made quite a showing at the Camden County show at the Markheim last week, and our Award of Excellence winners will now advance onto the NJ State competition.  Many congratulations to our winners and all of our Reflections participants for their beautiful pieces. We are proud of you!!!

Literature:  Ria Khanna, 1st grade (Award of Excellence), Finnian McGarry, 5th grade (Award of Excellence); James Foley, 5th grade (Honorable Mention).

Musical Competition:  Keelyn Shim, 2nd grade (Award of Excellence)

Photography:  Sasha Feinstein, 5th grade (Award of Excellence), Cambel Shim, K (Award of Excellence)

Visual Arts:  Leena Maskery, 2nd grade (Honorable Mention), Danny Nolan, 3rd grade (Honorable Mention)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!  SEE YOU IN 2012!

 

Many thanks to Bridget Mink and her team of “elves” for pulling off another successful Holiday Shop.  They tried something new this year–offering only $1 – $2 items–and it went very well.  We’d love to hear what you think.

ALSO, thank you to Heather Norton, Dawn Campiglia, Carol Edwards, Barb Nobel and Lisa Nolan (as well as all of the cooks and bakers) for a wonderful Teachers Breakfast.  Beth Bass and the Brownies made lovely centerpieces and the thank you notes from teachers and staff have been flooding in.

Stay Tuned: Box Tops and LFE Contest Results

Our contest wrapped last Friday, and if it’s any indication of how well we did, we are still counting labels. Hopefully we will have results posted by the end of the week, and the winning classes can start planning their pizza parties.  Thank you for your participation!!!

Noontime Enrichment Registration Due Tues. 12/20

Noontime Enrichment registration is open, and students in grades 2-5 are signing up for a whole array of classes.  Enrollment is limited.  Please send in your 2011 Noontime Enrichment Registration to the main office asap.  All forms are due Tuesday, December 20th.

3rd Grade Parents: Please note that a new Winter Sports Class (on Tuesdays) has been added to the roster for 3rd graders only!  It is not yet made it onto the list posted in the above link, but if your child is interested, please include it on your form.  If you have already sent in your form, and your child would like to sign up for this class, please contact Michelle Rowe at mrowe@sju.edu and send her your new 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices.

For all questions, don’t hesitate to email Michelle.

Remember Our School Partners When You Do Your Holiday Shopping….

Just one last reminder that Elizabeth Haddon has partnered with several retailers that donate a percentage of every purchase back to the school.  When you enter through this website, Amazon.com automatically contributes 6% of every sale.  If you have a Target Visa Card, you can name Elizabeth Haddon as your school recipient, and they will donate a percentage of every sale to the school.  And now through January, FiVe BeLoW is also sending a percentage of every sale back to the school if you bring in this Five Below Form when you shop.

 

A very big thank you to Lisa Nolan for spearheading the Barnes and Noble fundraiser last Saturday!  Lizzie families turned out in droves, and there were plenty of in-store activities to keep the kids busy while parents shopped.  It was a great way to kick off the holiday season!

Noontime Enrichment Class Registration Due December 20th

January recess just got a little more interesting.  All students in grades 2-5 can enroll in a weekly lunchtime workshop that provides an alternative to indoor recess as the temperature gets really cold.  Led by a great group of parent and grandparent volunteers, the workshops in this 5-week program range from comic-book writing, to board games, to sewing and robot-building. Sign-up is first-come, first-served.  Please print out the 2011 Noontime Enrichment Registration form (which includes a list of available classes) and send it in (with any required dues payments) through backpacks in an envelope marked PTA Noontime Enrichment.  REGISTRATION IS DUE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20TH.

BoxTops and LFE Contest Wraps up on Friday, 12/9

There are still a couple more days to send in your labels before our contest wraps up!  In the meantime, after week 3, here is where things stand:

BOXTOPS

1st Place: Mrs. McGroarty (1,115 labels)

2nd Place: Ms. Cooper (554 labels)

3rd Place: Mr. DelDuca (498 labels)

LFEs

1st Place: Ms. Grillo (418 points)

2nd Place: Mrs. McGroarty (361 points)

3rd Place: Ms. Salazar (216 points)

We’ll announce the Pizza Party winners next week!!!

Remember Our School Partners When You Do Your Holiday Shopping….

Just another reminder that Elizabeth Haddon has partnered with several retailers that donate a percentage of every purchase back to the school.  When you enter through the link on this website, Amazon.com automatically contributes 6% of every sale.  If you have a Target Visa Card, you can name Elizabeth Haddon as your school recipient, and they will donate a percentage of every sale to the school.  And now through January, FiVe BeLoW is also sending a percentage of every sale back to the school if you bring in this Five Below Form when you shop.

Have a great week!

 

 

BoxTops and LFE Contest Update (Week Two Results)

With the November break and Thanksgiving, the first two weeks of our BoxTop and LFE contest had an extra day or two thrown into the mix, but we are officially more than halfway through our contest.

Now for the current standings:

Labels for Education:

1st Place:  Ms. Grillo (368 points)

2nd Place: Ms. Salazar (216 points)

3rd Place: Mrs. McGroarty (170 points)

BoxTops

1st Place: Mrs. McGroarty (716 labels)

2nd Place: Ms. Cooper (554 labels)

3rd Place: Mr. DelDuca (494 labels)

Our contest ends on Friday December 9th so please send your labels into school in clearly labeled baggies (Teacher’s name, # of labels).  They can come in via backpacks.

 

Elizabeth Haddon Day at Barnes and Noble this Saturday, December 3rd

Don’t forget to swing by Barnes and Noble this Saturday between 10 a.m.  – 3 p.m. and check this stop off your holiday to-do list!  A percentage of all purchases will benefit the PTA, and we’ve planned a whole range of fun activities for the kids.  Look for vouchers and a program schedule in this Thursday’s backpack.  We also have a copy on our website.  Click here: Barnes and Noble Day. We hope to see you there!

 

Holiday Shop Opens December 6 -8

We are less than a week away from opening the doors to Lizzie Haddon’s Holiday Shop for students, which will be open December 6th-8th. The kids love to purchase little trinkets for the members of their families.  This year, we are offering an assortment of items priced for $1 and $2, and soft pretzels will be on sale after school for $0.50. Please note that this is a “fun-” not “fund-”raiser!  The younger grades (1-2) visit during the school day, and kindergarten and older grades (3-5) have scheduled times to stop by after school. For more information on when your student is scheduled to shop, please check the Holiday Sale Flyer and look for a packet with money envelope in Thursday’s backpacks.

We also still need a few more volunteers to help supervise all the shopping, so if you’re interested please contact Bridget Mink at 609-504-1379.

 

Teacher Holiday Breakfast on Friday December 9th

Our Hospitality Committee is in the midst of heavy-duty planning for the Teacher Breakfast on Friday December 9th.  They are organizing the food contributions like they did last year, with requests of specific items for each class.  Watch for an email with more info from your room parent.

 

A Birthday in December? Or Looking for One More Gift for the Holidays? Consider the Celebrations Book Club.

This year, consider making a gift of  a book for our school library in honor of your Lizzie Haddon student.  It’s a great alternative to one more wrapped present under the tree (or menorah…or birthday cake!).  Through the Celebrations Book Club, our School Librarian Mrs. Babcock can help your child select a favorite book (priced reasonably between $10-$20).  A nameplate featuring your child’s name will go in the front of the book, which will be placed in the school’s permanent collection.  For more information, read over the Celebrations Book Club flyer or contact Mrs. Babcock in the School Library.

Before we leave for the long weekend, there are quite a few things to keep in mind for the coming month:

We Need Volunteer Instructors for Noontime Enrichment!

It’s time to gear up for Noontime Enrichment in January.  Open to all children in grades 2-5, this 4-week program offers students a weekly alternative to indoor lunchtime recess during the coldest month of the year. Michelle Rowe is working on a course schedule, and is looking for parent volunteers to lead classes.  The time commitment is once a week, and you can pick the day you work.  We can work around your schedule.  For more information, please see the  Noontime Enrichment Volunteers Flyer. And if you are interested, please contact Michelle at mrowe@sju.edu BY MONDAY NOVEMBER 28TH.

Box Tops and LFE Contest Update: Week 2 Results

We will bring you updated contest results after Thanksgiving.  Stay tuned….

Thanksgiving Weekend is a Great Time to Write a Bookworm!

Just a quick reminder that the long weekend might be the perfect opportunity to sit down with your child and complete a story for our Bookworm Program.  All the forms you need are right here on the website: Bookworm Template and Bookworm Submission Form.

Please Save the Date for the Winter Social

If you missed our Save the Date last week, mark your calendars for Saturday January 28th at 7:30 p.m. for the First Annual Elizabeth Haddon Winter Social and Auction at Treno Restaurant and Bar.  For more information, check out Winter Social Save The Date and watch for your invitation!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES

The Holiday Sale Is Coming on December 6 – 8!

The EHS PTA Holiday Sale for students is almost here.  It’s a great chance for your children to pick out gifts for the family…and maybe even keep them a secret until it’s unwrapping time! This year, there will be an assortment of gifts for $1.00 and $2.00, and soft pretzels after school for $0.50. (Please note, this is a “fun” event, not a fundraiser!) The younger grades (1-2) visit during the school day, and both Kindergarten and older grades (3-5) visit the sale after school.

Volunteers are needed!  Please check the schedule on the Holiday Sale Flyer and let us know when you may be available.  To help, or for more information, contact Bridget Mink at 609-504-1379.

Spiritwear Sales Schedule (Weather Permitting)

We cancelled Monday’s Spiritwear sale due to rain, and apologize for the inconvenience. Still we hope you agree that our new school t-shirts, sweatshirts and bags will look great in your stack of holiday gifts.  Please look for us outside on Redman Ave every Wednesday (weather permitting), starting next week:

Wednesday November 30th, before school (8 – 8:45 a.m)

Wednesday December 7th, after  school (2:45 – 3:30 p.m.)

Wednesday December 14th, before school (8 – 8:45 a.m.)

And of course, the order form lives right here on the website (2011 Spirit Wear Order Form). You can always send in an order through backpacks.

Time Change: The Barnes and Noble BookFair/Fundraiser 

The 2nd Annual Lizzie Haddon Bookfair and Fundraiser at Barnes & Noble (behind Wegmans) is less than 2 weeks away–on Saturday December 3rd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Please note the time change, which was amended to accommodate all the wonderful children’s activities we’ve planned for the day. Look for your coupon in backpacks next week, and use it  at checkout.  (Family and friends from out of town can participate in our sale at their local Barnes and Noble stores, too!). We still need volunteers to help us!  If you can spare an hour, please contact Lisa Nolan at  lnolan323@verizon.net.

Shopping at FiVE BELoW for the Holidays? Or Maybe Just for Fun?

Well, you can help Lizzie Haddon too!  FiVE BELoW will give back 10% on all purchases made now through mid-January to our school.  All you need to do is a bring a copy of the FiVE BELoW form Five Below Form or just be sure to mention our school when you check out. That’s it!  Thanks!!

And Don’t Forget Amazon.com and Your Target Visa…

Just a quick reminder to use the Amazon.com portal on our ehspta.org when ordering your holiday gifts–once again, Lizzie Haddon benefits when you do this.  Likewise, if you’ve named Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School as your “school” of choice on your Target Visa Card, a percentage of your purchases will come back as a donation to our PTA.  All of these little things add up, and help ease the burden of event fundraising for us.  We hope you’ll take advantage of them.