Wednesday, December 8, 2010 PTA meeting/Winter Program

by grades 3-5 at Goochland High School:7pm (K-2 will have a program in the Spring this year)

Thursday, Nov. 11 PTA Meeting Agenda

6-7 GES Media Center's Scholastic Book Fair extended hours. Please come out and support GES Media Center and pick out some books for your child and check out the teachers' wish lists.

7-7:10 PTA business meeting - The PTA Board members will also ask for a vote to approve the revised budget and bylaws.

7:10-7:25 Dr. Underwood, superintendent of Goochland County Public Schools, will be the feature speaker for the meeting.  She will lead a discussion on the upcoming budget process.  The session will include the opportunities to ask specific questions regarding the challenges that may be involved with the creation of the fiscal year 2010-11 school system budget. If additional time is needed for Q&A, this group will relocate to another room in the school.

7:30-8:15 We also have a family friendly and entertaining program READING IS MAGIC by Magician Rob Westcott!

Our Community Outreach Committee will have a collection box for the GFCFS Food Pantry and ask that you please consider bringing a donation if you can. Many items are needed. A full list can be found a their website: HERE. There is a special need right now for Breakfast Items like Boxed cereal and Drink Items.

Greetings from your PTA President!

We are so excited about what the 2010-11 school year is going to bring! People are asking "WHY should I join the PTA if I already volunteer in my child's classroom?" Good Question. . .

What the PTA allows is the opportunity for the adults in the community to show their commitment to ALL children who attend GES. We are an association that is an advocate for all children. Our focus is to promote a positive relationship between students, parents and school staff.  When we all work together, it will then provide the best educational experience for all. Then how do we do that?

YES that means we do have to sponsor fundraising events.  When we are successful with our fundraising events that allows us as an association to support our school and community in so many different ways.  One way we use our funds is to provide school staff the opportunity to purchase educational materials to use in the classroom. Another way is to help teachers have the opportunity to attend educational conferences.  It is our goal to provide teachers different ways to develop professionally which in turns strengthens student achievement. In addition, we us PTA funds to sponsor educational performances in our school.  That way school budget money is not used to transport students to the venue.  We also use funds to provide fun-filled events for families to attend together.

But the BEST WAY to really know what the PTA means is for people to join, get involved and on the way have the opportunity to get to know the adults and children that are in your child's school and community. We have a great school and we need to support it in anyway possible!

If you have joined already--THANK YOU!! If you haven't, MAKE YOUR MARK and join! Put your handprint on a child's future today!!!

Thanks,
Leah Hopkins
GES PTA President

GES Teachers and Parents -- Made Their Mark!

WOW! What a fantastic Back to School Night! 

It was so exciting to see so many GES families out supporting their school. We started the PTA meeting out by recognizing that 100% of the GES staff joined the PTA. What a challenge for our parents to meet! Many families followed the staff's lead and joined. The numbers were so good that we haven't had a chance to get a final total but will get it out as soon as possible.

Thank you again for your support and hope everyone enjoyed their time in their children's classrooms!   We need to thank our Short Pump Town Center's Chick-Fil-A for the very generous donation of a chicken platter that helped provide an appreciation meal our teachers before the meeting.

Hope to see many of you at the volunteer training next Friday at 9am in the GES cafeteria!

Congratulations to the Street Family who were the winners of the iPod shuffle raffle held for all families who had signed up for a PTA membership to date.

Also, we had a separate raffle for GES teachers who joined the PTA and our winner was...
Mrs. Andrea Cachina!

We are overwhelmed with the teacher response this year We have 100% membership from the GES teachers. Incredible! Thank-you!

Come on families, let's match that! 

Many Volunteer Opportunities at the school and with the PTA

An informal Volunteer Training was held today at Goochland elementary where volunteer opportunities within the school as well as PTA committee volunteer opportunities were presented and discussed.

If you were unable to attend but are interested in volunteering for the school please contact Linda Davidson, guidance counselor at GES.  Many volunteer opportunities exist with the PTA,  please contact any PTA board member through the general PTA mailbox gesptavoice@aol.com. If you haven't yet signed up for the PTA, please do so and you can select your committee interest there as well. Forms can be found HERE.

Thanks for being a part of Goochland’s PTA- We appreciate your support!

2010 PTA Membership Form

If you haven't had the chance to send in your membership form and dues, please take a moment to do it now.  Send in the following information and check made payable to GES PTA to the school so we can get you signed up right away!

MEMBERSHIP FORM

New this year! Flat rate membership fee of $5 (cash or check payable to GES PTA). Parent support is vital to our success! Please help us reach our goal of 100% parent participation and return your form today!
NAME:_______________________________________________________

CHILD(REN) & GRADE (S):_______________________________________

EMAIL:_______________________________________________________

PHONE:______________________________________________________

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES(Please check any/all you would like to help with. See attachment for details.)

Standing Committees (Ongoing throughout school year.)

__Cafeteria Volunteering Committee           __Hospitality Committee
__Landscape/Beautification Committee        __Community Outreach
__Fundraising Committee                          __Audit Committee
__Box Top for Education Committee           __PTA Membership Committee
__General Committee

Event Committees (Volunteer to work on one-time events.)
__Valentines Dance
__PTA Reflections Program- happening this fall
__Spaghetti Dinner Night & Silent Auction
__Field Day
__Trunk or Treat

Other School Events and Ongoing Activities (Some activities may require a Volunteer Background check.)
__Picture Day                         __Book fair, Fall & Spring
__Curriculum Activities            __Tutor/Mentor
__Fifth Grade Graduation         __Clinic Support
__Office Support
__Check here if you are unable to commit to any of the above activities,
but would like to be contacted for volunteering opportunities.

Thanks for being a part of Goochland’s PTA- We appreciate your support!