PTA Newsletter

1. PTA Newsletter STAY UP TO DATE ssespta.com NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER 2013 St. Stephen’s School Volume 6 Issue 1 The St. Stephen's PTA 2013-14 year started with a bang! We enjoyed a warm and well-attended Ice Cream Social on September 12th. We promise a bigger BBQ for next year.  September also saw the restoration of the Outdoor Classroom. Thank yous to Chris Feargrieve of Occam Design/Build Inc. for building the new stage and benches, Rona Pierceys Robie Street for the donation of the stain and to the many volunteers who did the staining.     October was a great month as kids and parents enjoyed the always entertaining spooktacular that is the Halloween Sock Hop on October 24th.  We congratulate the winners of our Sock Hop Costume Contest: First Prize -  Julia Fenton (1/2 Delory), Second Prize - Noah Frost (4 Dodge) and Third Prize - Olivia Baiginet (5 Manzer).  Thanks to all our volunteers and the Grade 6 students who helped out in the Haunted House.  We also celebrated with our larger North End community at the Jenny's Halloween Dance on October 26th.  Thank you to Jenny's Pub and Jody Sampson for organizing such a fun and successful event.   Our first three events raised over $4000 for the St. Stephen's PTA!!  We truly appreciate the support of St. Stephen's families and our community.  Please remember that this money goes directly into our school to fund library book purchases, the purchase of technology, classroom funding and field trips as well as countless other items for our children including special performances, Comfy Cozy Day hot chocolate and the annual PTA breakfast.  In fact, refer to our 2013-2014 budget for more details on how our $16,000 budget will be spent this year.  We are fortunate to be able to provide so much to our school and this is thanks to the generous financial support and participation of all of you and your families.  Thank you! Norcard Catalogue The Norcard Catalogue orders are due this Tuesday, November 12th. Note extended due date. Please ask family and co-workers to shop from the catalogue, including the online ordering option.  The top selling student will win a $25 iTunes gift card and the top-selling class will win a pizza party.  We hope to improve on last year's sales of $1,700 so please bring in your orders.  How to Contact UsTo stay updated on PTA events please join our Facebook Group - St. Stephen's School PTA.  We have also changed our email address, you can now reach us at  ststephenspta@yahoo.ca Upcoming Events Nov. 12 - PTA Meeting at 6:30  Everyone Welcome, Babysitting provided. Nov. 22 - Toy Bingo, 6:30 to 8:30        Doors Open at 5:45 Dec. 3 - PTA Meeting at 6:30 Dec. 20 - Comfy Cozy Day Please keep the 2013-14 PTA Calendar of Events (attached) to stay updated regarding all PTA events. Your PTA executive: President – Andrea Lovasi-Wood, alovasi@eastlink.ca or 473-9946 Vice-President – Leah Ray, leah.ray@smu.caSecretary – CathyMacDonald cathyblum@hotmail.com Or 455-4859 Treasurer – TanyaPhillips tanyaphillips9@hotmail.com

2. PTA Newsletter November/ December 2013 NOVEMBER 22 Doors open at 5:45, Bingo starts at 6:30.  Grand Prize is a Google Nexus 7 Tablet (2nd Generation)!!  The Toy Bingo is a success because of the generous donations of our St. Stephen's families.  Please refer to the list below and drop off your donation at the school office. We need volunteers, so please visit our website to sign up directly via the VolunteerSpot link or contact Andrea at alovasi@eastlink.ca or 473-9946.  We need your Campbell’s Soup labels!! The Campbell’s Labels for Education program is a great way to earn FREE merchandise for our school. Cut out the list below of eligible products and place on your Fridge. Grab an envelope and label it “Campbell’s”, keep in a handy location in the kitchen for storing your labels. When you have accumulated 25 labels, send them in to school. • All soups (full label) • HabitantÒ soups (full label) • Chunky soups and chili (full label) • Chunky bowls (lids) • Healthy Request bowls (lids) • Easy Cooking Sauces (upc) • Hearty Noodles (paper lid) • Soup at hand (lid) • Gardennay 500ml box (upc) • V8 soups (upc) • V8 vegetable cocktail (full Label) • V8 V-Fusion beverage (cap) • V8 Splash beverage (cap) • Easy Cooking Sauce (upc) • Ready to Use broth 900ml box (upc) • Prego sauce (lid) • Pace salsa (lid) • Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers (upc) • If it’s a Campbell product, but not listed, it’s still eligible- send in the full label P Clark Family Movie Night BasketSuggestions: Cineplex gift cards, new DVDs, popcorn, packages of candy P/1 Kontak Family Game Night BasketSuggestions: Board games, puzzles, popcorn and other treats 1/2 Delory and Sampson, 2/3 Campbell and Brown, 3 Tucker, 4 Dodge, 5 Manzer, 6 Gillis Toy BasketSuggestions: New toys, board games, video games, art and craft supplies, gift cards (to be used to purchase toys) HOLIDAY DECORATIONS NEEDED To decorate the school for Toy Bingo and the Holiday Concert on December 10th we would appreciate the donation of lightly used or new trees, lights and decorations. Please drop off decorations to school office. Call for volunteers! • Toy Bingo is happening November 22nd and we need some help to make sure the event runs smoothly. There are lots of ways to help at the event. We appreciate parents with young children find it difficult to volunteer at the event. Parents can partner up with a friend to help look after their children while they cover a parent volunteers for a shift. • In advance of Toy Bingo we need to sort toys, set up tables and sell tickets just before the bingo starts. For those that are able to volunteer at the event we need help selling food in the canteen/ snack cart, runners for selling extra tickets and 50/50 tickets , number caller and of course a Vanna for the night to display the numbers. In total we need 15 people to cover shifts 30 to 45 minutes long. Please come and help make the night a wonderful time for the kids! We appreciate all the support of volunteers, no matter how small. If you are interested in helping but have some questions please talk to any of us on the executive. • Thank you in advance for helping! Andrea, Leah, Tanya and Cathy