Monday, October 25, 2010

Thank you to Pam Olsen

If your child has ever picked a kindergarten pumpkin from Pam Olsen or received one of her wonderful photos of your child holding a pumpkin, take the time to stop by The Gardener's Daughter Vegetable stand on Sunnyside. Pam has been providing 10 cent pumpkins for kindergarteners for many years and I personally don't know a better deal in town! Thank you Pam!!

Slow blog updates

If anyone has been wondering if I've fallen off the wagon and stopped blogging, you can't get rid of me that easy! My computer was "in the shop" for 2 weeks, so things got complicated! I promise I'll be on top of things now!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Halloween Carnival

This years Halloween Carnival is Thursday, October 28th from 6-9 p.m.
We are still in need of volunteers and donations. Volunteers are needed to help in the following areas:
Pizza Dinner
Decorating
Clean up
Games
Prizes

We are also accepting donations of:
cans of soda
individual bags of chips
individually wrapped candy
loaner decorations
loaner cash boxes

I'll be posting more on the games and prizes over the weekend, so check back for updates!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Walk to school day success!

Thank you to all of the many parents who walked in from McCowin Park on Wednesday! The kids had a great time and the breakfast was great (thanks to our cafeteria ladies and Guy B.). Parents who pick up kids got free cookies and gentle reminders on where the safest places to park are located. Our biggest surprise, however were the 35 parents who showed up to help! Thank you for helping us make this a safe, fun, anh hopefully annual event!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

PTO Carnival Planning Meeting

6:00 Monday night (October11th) in the auditorium. Make it a point to be there and help make our fall carnival successful!

Monday, October 4, 2010

National Walk To School Day

National Walk to School Day

Wednesday, October 6th

Join us as we walk from McGowan Park to School at 8:10. Free breakfast for students and families after the walk will be held in the cafeteria.

Monday, September 27, 2010

School Store

The school store has been running very smoothly! We could use another 1-2 volunteers to work on Fridays over lunch.
Profit has been holding steady at $80-$100 for the last 2 weeks.

School Carnival Scheduled

Save the Date:

OCTOBER 28, 2010 Fall Carnival

Thursday, September 23, 2010

We've won another grant!!

Thanks to the Idaho Community Foundation, we've received $500 to begin funding take home backpack literacy program. This program is designed to help struggling readers (and their families) help themselves to become better readers.

A typical backpack will contain:

1 - clear backpack with instructions permanently attached
2 - 4 books, depending on reading level and interest
1 - literacy or theme related game
I - stuffed animal "reading buddy"
2 - worksheets thematically and/or reading level related and a sheet of additional activities related to the story (visiting farm, a home craft project and other related books etc).
1 - Parent survey sheet

Here's how it works:

1. A child is identified by his or her teacher as a struggling reader.
2. A permission slip (with program information, and a place for parent contact information to facilitate return).
2. The child will be given a slip of paper to take to the "backpack library".
3. The child will receive a backpack and instructions to take home.
4. The child will take the backpack home, read the books with a family member or if no one is available to read, the "reading buddy". They may use the the games and worksheets to further encourage the idea of fun while reading.
5. The parent will fill out the survey sheet to verify the books were read and provide us with more information on the usefulness of included items.
6. Children who read the books, complete a parent survey and return the backpack on time will receive a free book to build their home libraries.

How to help:

1. A stuffed animal and new book drive will take place over the next few weeks. (More information will be sent home)
2. Clear backpacks need to be purchased at the best price (probably online).
3. Worksheets will need to be copied.
4. Forms, permission slips, instructions etc will need to be created.
5. Additional books and games will need to be purchased. Some through Scholastic Literacy program at very low cost.
6. Backpack assembly party! The PTO will provide snacks, drinks and music. The school will provide the space.
7. A storage area will be set up
8. Children will be identified and permission slips sent home.
9. Backpacks go home!!
10. After a week, backpacks will be returned (or calls made to parents based on their contact information) and restocked with worksheets.
11. Backpacks will be checked monthly for worn, used or missing items (we will have an inventory list to make this easier)


Our goal is 100 backpacks, if we can't reach that number, we will contact local businesses and write grants for matching funds.

If you'd like to help putting the pieces of this great program together (And we WILL need help) contact Amy Gerts at via email or the school office.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Friday School Store

Just a reminder that every Friday the school store is open over lunchtime.
Most items are less than $2.00, with the exception of spirit wear.
Kids can easily bring 25¢and find something to buy!

Last week the PTO earned approximately $60 from this store, sales
should be higher this week as kids have seen the store and gotten
excited.

PTO Board Meeting Postponed

The PTO Board Meeting and Carnival Planning Meeting has been rescheduled for next week.
Several of us have had last minute conflicts, so the new date will be Thursday, September 23, at 6 p.m.

Friday, September 10, 2010

"Got 10 Minutes?"

We've got a new way to volunteer when you are short of time or just want to give a "little" extra.
The old office downstairs now has a corner devoted to small projects that have been left to work on.
Each item should have a note stating what needs to be done to complete the project, when it needs to be done by,
whose project it is, and a contact number or room number in case of questions. Teachers should be able to drop off small
projects that do not need to be completed immediately, a volunteer can help out there by saving both the teacher time and
the volunteer time looking for ways to help out. Some projects may be taken home to be completed, just leave a note mentioning the name and phone number of the volunteer working on the project.
Project Examples:
Cutting out pieces for art projects
Stapling
Making copies
die cutting bulletin board items
assembling first grade reading booklets
etc.

This small contribution of time can really add up to give our teachers more time teaching and less time planning!

Next Steps

This week will be another full one for the PTO.
☞ We'll be having a carnival planning meeting on Thursday at 6:30 at school.
☞New volunteers will begin to be called help out with various projects. If we don't call within this first week, that's actually a good thing. We've got so many volunteers to personally call it will take some time.
☞Volunteer lists will be handed out to faculty, so they have the ability to ask for help as needed.
☞Our "Got 10 minutes?" station downstairs in the old office workroom will be set up, for those of us who need short tasking (more information on this will be posted later this week).
☞Spirit Wear orders will be filled and/or orders placed for delivery within 3 weeks.
☞Friday during lunch, the school store will be open.
☞Setup and organization of the old office as a PTO work area will continue.
☞Faculty Bathrooms will be spruced up.
☞Box Tops information goes home and contests start.
☞Accelerated Reading is starting up. Our Silicone Bracelets for different AR levels will be arriving in about a week. Check out the new bulletin board across from the office in the kindergarten hall.
☞The PTO board will met to discuss specifics of the budget, planning and vote on a few issues. This will take place after the carnival meeting on Thursday, everyone is welcome to attend.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Volunteer Drive

We've made it to 120 volunteers! This week we will be continuing working towards our goal of 150 signups. If we reach 150 signups, Mr. Keller will swim in a pool of jello! Our incentives this week for new signups are as follows:
Tuesday - New signup = Tootsie Pop
Wednesday - Dad signup = Ammon Pen
Thursday - Grandparent, Aunt, Uncle Cousin or other relative = Giant Pixie Stick
Friday - Any New signup = Grab bag for free from the school store!

Friday is our goal day for Mr. Keller to swim in Jello. If we get to 150 signups, not only will we have fun with jello, but we may also make the evening news!
Thank you to all who have pledged at least 2 hours of time to Ammon Elementary this year!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

First Meeting of the 2010-2011 School Year

The first meeting will be held at school at 8:45 a.m. Feel free to bring children, we will have some toys available to entertain them.
Meeting notes will be posted on Tuesday night if you'd like to see what's on the agenda. If you'd like to see something added, email Amy Gerts at ammonpto@gmail.com

We hope to see you there!

Spirit Wear Now For Sale

Kids should have brought home their order forms this weekend. We are now taking orders for: baseball style t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatshirt jackets and polos. Order forms and shirt samples are available in the office.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

**New Bell Schedule**

As a reminder there is a new bell schedule this year:

8:25 a.m. 1st Bell - Kids go to classrooms
2:51 p.m Last Bell - Release

8:25 to 11:15 - A.M. Kindergarten
12:01 to 2:51 - P.M. Kindergarten

Questions?
Contact the secretary at 525-4465

Back to School Night Success!

Some quick notes for those that may be interested in how things went:

Silent Auction over $2,000 profit! Thank you Valyn, Jill and all those who helped with this!

School Store - Made some money, got kids excited about Friday candy and supplies. Parents pleased with prices! Thanks to Natalie W. and Co for holding down the fort!

Spirit Wear - Our order made it just in the nick of time. Made some money, got rid of some older shirts. Thanks to Matt and Janae for last minute pickup and delivery!

Volunteer Table - Ember and Mrs.Meng made everyone feel welcome while asking for (and receiving commitments) for help!

Box Tops - New Parent (to Ammon at least) Michelle, jumped right in and became a valuable volunteer!

I got to trash talk a auditorium full of families and remind them we are under new management, anyone can make a difference!

On a squishy note, I also got to tell Mr Keller, our principal to get ready to swim in a pool of jello - we WILL make our volunteer goal! I promise no more hazing after this!!
-Amy

Friday, August 27, 2010

First PTO Newsletter

Ammon Elementary PTO Newsletter
August 27, 2010

UPCOMING EVENTS

FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL: T-SHIRT, WATER BOTTLE, MUG AND PENS ORDER FORMS GO HOME. SCHOOL SHIRTS WILL BE WORN ON FRIDAY’S FOR SPIRIT DAY. WATER BOTTLES ARE ALLOWED IN MANY CLASSROOMS, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT AND KEEP HYDRATED IN A BUILDING THAT HAS NO A/C. SILENT AUCTION PICKUP. VOLUNTEER DRIVE ONGOING. WILL MR. KELLER SWIM IN JELLO?
IF YOU CAN NOT MAKE IT NOTES FROM THE MEETING WILL BE POSTED AT THE PTO BLOGSITE AND ALSO AVAILABLE IN OFFICE.

SECOND WEEK OF SCHOOL: FIRST FUNDRAISER. WATER BOTTLES, PENS, MUGS DELIVERED. IF WE REACH OUR GOAL OF 150 VOLUNTEER SIGNUPS, MR KELLER WILL SWIM IN JELLO ON FRIDAY, TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED. PARENTS INVITED TO ATTEND. CARNIVAL DATE ANNOUNCEMENT. FIRST PTO MEETING.


FIRST PTO MEETING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH AT 8:45 AM. RSVP IF YOU’LL BE ATTENDING TO AMMONPTO@GMAIL.COM SO WE HAVE AN IDEA ON HOW MANY REFRESHEMENTS TO PREPARE. MEETING WILL BE TENTATIVLEY HELD ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH, DATES WILL BE POSTED ONLINE AND AT SCHOOL. MEETINGS WILL ALTERNATE AM AND PM.
SEPTEMBER 8:45 AM
OCTOBER 7:00 PM
AMMON PTO IS FREE, WE DO NOT COLLECT DUES!

NEED MORE INFORMATION OR WANT TO HELP OUT?
AMMONPTO@GMAIL.COM
AMMONPTO.BLOGSPOT.COM
525-4465



AMY GERTS-PRESIDENT
JANAE LOWDER-VICE-PRESIDENT
AUDRA HUNSAKER-SECRETARY
JILL AND BRYCE BRONSON-TREASURERS

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Back To School Night Activities August 27th

Lots of new activities have been planned for back to school night. Here's a sneak peak...

Ammon Eagles free Face Painting *courtesy of Evolution Chiropractic

Friday School Store preview in the old office. Basic school supplies, playground toys and small treats. Most items cost 25-50¢, nothings costs more than $2.00.

Spirit Wear - a small run of Ammon Eagles t-shirts will be available to purchase or size for later ordering. Water Bottles (sports bottles), mugs, magnets, pens and pencils...all things Ammon. Show your school pride in style!

A special note on each child's desk welcoming them back to school.

Volunteer signup table- look for something different this year!!

Something mysterious involving LOTS of JELLO!

Silent Auction Sponsors

The Ammon PTO Silent Auction will be held on Back to School Night August 27. Bidding starts at 4:00pm and runs until 8:00pm.
Thank you to the many members of our community that have given generously to support education at Ammon Elementary!

Gray Wolf Inn-West Yellowstone
Jamba Juice
Olive Garden
Dixie's Diner
Jimmy Johns
Jiffy Lube
Wally's Automotive
Soapy's Car Wash
Candlewood Suites
Guest House Inn & Suites
Staker Chiropractic
World Cast Anglers Inn-Is. Park
Johnny Carinos
Lava Hot Springs Pools
Black Swan Inn
Lion's Gate Manor Inn-Lava Hot Sprgs
Retreat Day Spa
Great Harvest
Idaho Elite Gymnastics
Scentsy by Angelene Heileson
Mrs. Powell's
Jakers Bar & Grill
Pinecrest Golf Course
Garcias
Baker's Dozen
Cheeseburger Factory
City of Idaho Falls Golf Courses
Subzero
Phase 4
Foster Farms
Holdin' Dragonflies by Andrea Furrows
Simply Fun
Playmill- West Yellowstone
Dempsey Ridge Golf Course- Lava Hot Sprgs
TGI Friday's
Heise Hot Springs
Deseret Book
Craigo's
The Post Register
Museum of Idaho
Barnes and Noble
Wild West Pizzeria-West Yellowstone
Brownstone
The Spider's Web
Down to Earth Floral
Hong Kong
Ferrell's Clothing Store
Sweet Life Bakery
Motel West/Hometown Cooking
Farr's Candy Co.
The Quilting Bug
You're so VAIN
Play and Trade
Sunnyside Gardens
Anytime Fitness
Dance Tech
Piano Gallery Superstore
Sandcreek Dental
Evolutions Chiropractic
Paramount Theater
Grand Targhee Resort
Sunnyside Automotive
Ammon Dental
Riverwalk Thai -Lava Hot Sprgs
KVO Cabinets
IHOP
Applebees
Porters
Leo's Place
The Quilting Bug LLC.
Bethia's Beauty Boutique
White Water Grill
Lords Chiropractic
Sunnyside Automotive
Ammon Dental
City Floral
Alpine Jewelers
It's a Cinch
Creative Memories
and MORE!!

* If you would still like to donate, we will accept donations up until the 27th. Email ammonpto@gmail.com
* Special thanks to VaLyn Hulse for working tirelessly ALL summer to organize the auction! She gave up many many hours while the rest of us were off having fun to support Ammon. She has the true heart of a volunteer! THANK YOU!!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Meeting Change

The location of the meeting has changed...it is now at school...same time 10:00 Thursday. The gym will be open for kids to play during the meting.
Email with questions or call Amy

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Summer PTO School Supplies and Movie Tickets

We will still be selling Paramount movie tickets (12 movies for $8) and school supplies over the summer. Ticket sales will be all summer long. School supply sales will end June 30th. Either drop off your order at school (call to see if anyone is there) or email ammonpto@gmail.com for my address to mail orders to. I can mail out your movie tickets, drop them off at school for pickup or meet you somewhere.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Next Meeting Date

Thursday, June 3 at 10:00 at Amy's House - call or email ammonpto@gmail.com for directions. Janae will be providing the snacks for everyone. Feel free to bring the kids, they can play on the playground in our backyard. This will be a very informal planning/brainstorming meeting, we will also get started on planning the PTO calendar for 2010/2011. PTO meetings have been growing in attendance and from the sounds of things this one will have quite a few people attending. Take a moment to RSVP in the comments sections at the bottom of this posting. I'll start with the commitments I already have.

Things to ponder before this meeting:

A. School supplies fundraiser
1. can you help with the buying or assembly over the summer?
B. Back To School Night
1. Take a look at spirit wear items we might be ordering
2. Car magnets
3. Volunteer Signups - active vs passive
4. Selling extra school supply kits
5. Silent Auction - getting donations NOW!
6. What else should we be doing?
C. Calendar for upcoming year
1. Start filling in tentative dates
D. First major Fundraiser
1. What should the date be?
2. Ideas?
E. Family night at a local restaurant
1. Once per month
F. Volunteers
1. Back to first priorities
2. What we can do over the summer - a good time to engage
G. Halloween carnival
1. Why we do the carnival?
2. What are our objectives? Theme?
3. What we won't be doing
4. Idea log
5. Best or worst advertisement for PTO for the school year
H. Committee Heads
1. Who leads
2. Who gets the work done
I. Due out's

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Rachel's Challenge Rally

Thank you to Mrs. Michael for working so hard on Ammon's chain of kindness.
The kids have been adding links daily since the beginning of the year, the result
is a very long chain that reaches around the school. Thanks to The Idaho Dairymen's
Association for donating some very tasty ice-cream to the entire school for the rally!

Lunch with Parents and Voting

Lunch with parents went well! Those cafeteria ladies work hard to fill our children's tummies.
Voting is today from 8-8 in the hallway outside of the office. Be sure to take the time, every vote counts!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

5th grade Field Day 1-2 volunteers to help run a game station for approximately 2 hours after lunch on Tuesday, May 25.

Parents Lunch in the Cafeteria 1-2 parents to help things run smoothly over lunchtime, working with the cafeteria ladies. Tuesday, May 18th for approximately 2 hours.

School Supplies Fundraiser-need 3-4 volunteers to help price supplies for next year-easy task for someone with small kids.
Also take and record orders later in the month.

Grant Writing-anyone else interested in learning how to find and write grants, contact Amy Gerts at ammonpto@gmail.com

Sol Rio Night-Date to be announced. 2-3 volunteers over dinner time to remind guests entering Sol Rio to mention Ammon night.

There are always ways to help, just ask!

Thursday May 6th Meeting

This meeting was a general recap of our April meeting/Election with a few added deals.

Name Tags-If you need one, drop a note in the PTO box.
Bylaws-A lawyer has agreed to work on this pro boon.
Volunteer-Still need a volunteer coordinator-the priority of this PTO member will be finding and contacting volunteers as
needed.
Fundraising-Movie Tickets-ongoing.
Sol Rio Night-This restaurant will offer us 50% profit, plus 99¢ kids meals. We need to set a night for May then advertise.
School Supplies-We have lists for the upcoming year to collate, then draft a parent letter and send out.
Grants
Miss Dall won a $2,000 INL stem grant-PTo
PTO wrote this grant
We can do this! Needs a person(s) willing to look for grants and learn how to write parts. Great job for someone who loves
to surf the internet.
Teacher Appreciation Week-Audra Hunsaker showed us how to do this right!! Thanks Audra for all of your work, and thanks to
the many volunteers who showed their teachers how much they care last week!
Finances-Jill and Bryce are hard at work figuring things out. They are looking into changing banks for better terms.
Upcoming Events-5th grade Field Day (needs 1-2 volunteers), Parents lunch in the cafeteria (needs 1-2 volunteers)
Next meeting will be informal planning meeting at Amy Gert's home. If you'd like to attend, ask for directions.

Mrs. Puckett TEACHER OF THE YEAR!

Our very own second grade teacher Mrs. Puckett was chosen a Southeast Idaho Teacher of the Year!
We are so lucky to know such a wonderful person who also happens to be a fantastic teacher. From the
students in her class to the parent walking down the hall, we
all shine a little brighter under Mrs. Puckett's care! She deserves every little bit of this award!


The Winning Essay...

My Favorite teacher is Mrs. Puckett, my second grade teacher, from Ammon Elementary, District 93.

1. She is a good helper.
2. She speaks kind words.
3. She shares a lot of information.
4. She does not turn away from other people.
5. She teaches us sign language.

My story of Mrs. Puckett

One time Mrs. Puckett gave me a part in a play. I was the lion. But when I got up to show the class my ROAR, they made fun of me. Then I started to cry. And when I looked upMrs. Puckett was there. She said my ROAR was great and I was the best lion she had ever heard. Now I know that I have a great ROAR and I am a great lion.

I think that Mrs. Puckett should be 2010 Teacher of the Year because she is always there for her students.

M.V.O.
Ammon Elementary third grade student.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Accelerated Reading aka AR

Seeking input for a new AR theme, prizes,etc.

What works?
What doesn't?

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Congratulations to Miss Dall

Congratulations to Miss Dall, winner of a $2,000 Idaho National Laboratory STEM mini-grant!
Grant money will be used to purchase resources for 5th grade science experiments. Fifth grade is the first grade that students take ISAT's for science, having necessary teaching materials will help all of our kids!

Monday, May 3, 2010

Paramount Theater Tickets $8

Paramount tickets are available for $8 each. Our PTO keeps $4 profit for every ticket sold. That's 12 movies for $8, plus discounted candy, popcorn and soda prices on movie days. Consider purchasing an extra ticket for a needy child. Donated tickets will be given to Mrs. Michael to distribute. Every child deserves the chance to have a fun summer!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Fundraiser Ideas

Silent Auction

Fall Carnival

Raffle

Ammon Spirit Wear

Video Yearbook

Any more ideas ??

Bylaws

Until May 3rd, we will be asking for input on bylaws. What is important to you as a PTO board member, teacher or PTO volunteer? Some thoughts to get things going:

Finances? How should they be handled?
Annual Date for Elections.
How do we elect new board members? Nominations, sign ups etc.
Roles and responsibilities of board members...i.e. job description.
What committees should we always have? Fame, Box Tops, Carnival etc.

We are happy to have any and all input.