Spring Plant Sale

April showers bring May Flowers.

Order you Spring Plants by Monday April 4th and they will be delivered on Friday May 13th.

This is a fantastic way to brighten up your spring garden and help out the PTA at the same time. What could be better.

Tired of your plants lying down on the job? Try a hanging basket! Your plants will love you for it and it will add a bright splash of color to any landscape.

Download the flier here. Return to the PTA mailbox with your payment. The mailbox will be collected Monday afternoon.

NO LATE ORDERS ACCEPTED.

Questions, contact Lisa Kenworthy (ajkenwo@earthlink.net) or Cheryl Thompson (cheryl@tasty-treats.com)

Hanawalt Staff Wish List

This year the PTA is not coordinating a classroom gift. Please never feel obligated to get your child’s teacher a gift, but if you want to buy one, here is a list of items the teacher needs.

Kindergarten
Mrs. Genzen, Ms. Heemstra and Mrs. Revell

• Colorful dry erase markers


• Brightly colored card stock


• Gift certificate to Office Max, Office Depot, Target, Learning Post and bookstores


• Indoor games

1st Grade
Mrs. Wade

• Gift certificate to Target, WalMart and Learning Post


• Stickers


• Dry erase markers in neat colors

Mrs. Nordmeyer

• Gift certificate to bookstores & Learning Post

2nd Grade
Mrs. Von Arb

• Indoor recess games


• Gift certificate to the Learning Post, WalMart, Target or Scholastic


• Expo dry erase markers

Mrs. Olivetta

• Pencils


• Glue sticks


• Gift certificate to bookstores and Learning Post


• White copy paper

3rd grade
Mr. Tutt

• Retail gift certificate where books and supplies are sold


• Flash cards—addition, subtraction and multiplication

Mrs. Carpenter

• Chapter books


• CD player and headphones


• Carpenter cash items


• Gift certificate to Walgreens and Shutterfly to develop photos.

Mrs. Esch

• Chapter books


• Gift certificates to Learning Post


• Sharpie markers—all colors


• Post-It Notes


• Bookmarks (paper ones)


• Educational math games for 4th and 5th grade from Learning Post


• Large calculators


• 6 sided/8 sided dice


• Deck of cards


• Double and triple dice


• Decks of cards


• Magnetic clips


• Indoor recess games

4th grade
Mr. Lovell and Mrs. Thomas

• #2 pencils


• Computer paper


• Red pens


• Note cards


• Board and card games for indoor recess


• Sticky notes


• Gift certificate to Learning Post, Office Max, Borders and Target

Mrs. Yeager

• Bright copy paper


• Wide-clear tape


• #2 pencils


• Gift certificates to any bookstore, office supply store or Target

5th grade
Mr. Gillaspey

• Printing paper in bright colors


• Indoor recess games that can be played in 15 minutes (cards, Connect Four, Battleship, etc.)


• Gift certificate to Borders, Office Max and Target

Mr. Garvey

• Crayola markers


• Dry erase markers


• Gift certificate to Learning Post, Borders, Barnes & Noble and Best Buy (for computer speakers)

Mrs. Hesse

• Sharpies


• Colored bright copy paper and/or card stock


• Pilot ink pens (blue, purple, pink, green)


• #2 pencils


• Zip-lock bags (all sizes)


• Dry erase markers


• Gift certificate to WalMart, Target and Barnes & Noble


• Indoor recess games

Administration
Mr. Burg and Mrs. Hutton

• Tissues — for all to use


• Pens — blue, black and red


• #2 pencils for ITBS tests


• Post-It Notes — small and medium


• AA batteries


• Manila file folders and assorted file folders


• Yellow highlighters


• Copy paper


• Permanent black Sharpie markers

Custodians

• Pliers and screwdrivers


• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponges

Nurse

• XS sweat pants

P.E./ Mr. Baker

• Gift certificate for sports items


• Grass seed for field


• Kleenex

Music/ Mrs. Looney

• Colorful copy paper


• Crayons


• Gift certificate to bookstore

Art/Mrs. McKenzie

• Gallon of glue


• Black permanent Sharpie markers


• Solid colors of cotton fabric for weaving (1-2 yards per color)


• Masking tape


• Paper plates—small and large


• Ziploc bags, quart and gallon


• Pipe cleaners


• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponges


• Neon colored paper


• Gift certificate to Borders, Michaels, Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, Lowes

Resource teachers
Mr. Carter

• Pencils


• Pocket folders


• Printer paper


• Flash cards—colors, numbers, letters, shapes


• Gift certificate to Learning Post, Office Max, Office Depot

Mrs. Kerr

• Tissues


• Paper plates, small and large


• Dry erase markers


• Box of 24 crayons


• Post-It notes, small


• Flash cards, alpha, shapes, number


• Heat seal laminating paper


• Gift certificate to office supply store or Learning Post

Ms. Dean

• Glue sticks


• Crayola markers


• Educational computer games


• Stickie notes


• Gallon size baggies


• Books for class library


• Gift certificate to Learning Post or book stores

Ms. Caskey

• Lysol wipes


• Pocket folders


• Tissues


• Wide-lined loose-leaf paper


• Printer paper


• Gift certificate to Office Max, or Learning Post

PTA Board Meetings

The PTA Board meets the first Wednesday of the month at high Noon in the community room. These meetings are open to everyone. However, if you cannot attend these meetings, please feel free to contact Lisa Russell at lisa@scubacreative.com or Martha Miller Johnson at marthamillerjohnson@gmail.com with any questions.

Field Trips

One of the most important things the PTA does is support field trips. As you know, many classes have gone on field trips since school started. Students have been to the Civic Center, Living History Farms and other places off campus to enhance their learning. Your generous donations help pay for tickets and/or transportation for all Hanawalt students.

Web Site - One of the Best

Hanawalt has been recognized as one of the best PTA sites in our region! Many thanks to parents Cheryl Thompson, Travis Thompson, and Julie Brandt for the efforts with the website and newsletter.

You can see other great blogs in our region here at: www.teachersalaryinfo.com/top-teacher-blogs/top-pta-ptsa-midwest/

Final Week to Order Holiday Plants

The grower who supplies our spring flowers has presented us the opportunity to also offer their Poinsettias and Christmas Cactus plants to our Hanawalt Community. Every year in the spring we always have people who wished they had ordered their spring and summer flowers-they are that beautiful!!

Don’t miss your chance to add some color and holiday spirit to your home.
There are several sizes and colors available, all pots are wrapped in assorted colored foil. These would also make awesome hostess gifts for the holidays!
All orders are due next Tuesday 11-09-10

Sorry no late orders can be processed. Downlaod a copy of the order form here and return the form to the PTA mailbox. The PTA mailbox will be checked after school on the 9th at 3 pm and we will submit those orders to the greenhouse.

Thank You! In past month, we’ve thrown a lot at Hanawalt parents and you have responded beyond our wildest expectations! Make no mistake, parents are a key ingredient to making our school great and you are doing your part.

Block Party
On October 1, we hosted the first annual Hanawalt Block Party. It was a twist on the traditional Hanawalk but with less fundraiser and more fun. We had more than 50 parent and teacher volunteers, which truly demonstrates that many hands make light work. Thanks so much to all of you, particularly Kristen Hall who committed many hours alongside our presidents-elect Mary Mouw and Rose Green to make this an amazing event.

Some quick numbers. . .

• $900.00 was raised for our technology fund at the dunk tank. Thanks to teachers Mr. Garvey, Mrs. Hesse, Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. Olivetta and Mr. Tutt who braved the beautiful, but cool fall night.
• $160.00 was raised in free will donations. This money will be deposited into the general fund and used for things such as field trips, Helping Hands, classroom supplies and Day in the Arts.
• $2,100.00 was raised in the book fair. Proceeds will be used to purchase new books for the library.

Sally Foster
On Wednesday, September 29, the Sally Foster Fundraiser came home with students. Students have been selling Sally Foster gift wrap with great success for several years. The program changed a bit this year, but it still offers the same quality gift wrap as always.

While the gift cards are a great idea for you to purchase and give to others so they may buy online, you do not have to buy a gift card to place an order. Simply go to www.sallyfoster.com to do that. You’ll need to use your debit or credit card to complete the transaction. You will be promoted to give a school code — 242651. Even if you forget our number, you can look up Hanawalt online. Either way, we will receive 40% of the proceeds from your order. So don’t forget to credit the school!

The idea behind the gift cards is to lessen load for students — no more schlepping heavy boxes home to deliver. All orders, except the cookie dough, will be shipped directly to the person placing the order. Cookie dough orders will be available for pick up on Nov. 12. We’ll need some help that day to hand out cookie dough. If you can help out, please contact Kay Smith at kayfentonsmith@msn.com

Upcoming events and clubs
New programs start in October. They include:

• Junior Great Books for grades 2-5
• Chess Club at 7:30 a.m. every Friday for all grades
• Literacy Army. Volunteers are still needed. Contact Jodie Yon at 249-4116 or Sue Hetherington at 255-1540 for more information.

Directories
If you ordered a school directory on Meet the Teacher night, we anticipate they will be ready for distribution in mid-October. If you did not place an order, but still would like to, please drop $5 with your student’s name and homeroom in the PTA box no later than Friday, October 8.

More Fundraising News
Thanks to all who participated in the Non-Fundraising Fundraiser. If you haven’t dropped off your donations, it’s not too late. Just put it in the PTA mailbox. We raised more than $2,500 to be used towards Day in the Arts, field trips, classroom supplies and much more!

Along with Sally Foster, these represent our fall fundraisers. We have two opportunities left — the Spelling Challenge following winter break and the spring flower sale.

Please remember that the Hanawalt PTA is a 501(c)(3), which means your contribution may be tax deductable. We also have the capability of completing matching funds forms from your employer. If you need a receipt or more information, please contact Lisa Russell at lisa@scubacreative.com or Martha Miller Johnson at marthamillerjohnson@gmail.com.

PTA Membership

Didn’t have a chance to run by the PTA table on Meet the Teacher night? You still have a chance to join PTA for $10. Your membership is not a commitment to volunteer (unless you’d like to). The membership dues are used to offset the costs of the many student-centric activities we sponsor such as field trips, Day in the Art, technology, Helping Hands and much, much more. If you’d like to join, drop a check or cash into envelope with your name into the PTA mailbox.

Soup Lables, Box Tops and Corporate Matching, Oh My...

The PTA continues to be aware of how often we ask you to open your wallets to support the many activities we sponsor. While we appreciate EVERY dollar you generously donate, there are other ways to help. This includes cutting out Box Tops on specially marked General Mills products, as well as Campbell Soup labels. All you have to do is collect the box tops and soup labels, slip them into an envelope and drop them into the PTA mailbox any Friday during the school year. Our school coordinator then takes care of submitting them periodically throughout the year to the appropriate programs for cash to be used for technology, field trips, Day in the Arts and special school assemblies.

In addition, because the PTA is a 501(c)(3), we typically qualify for Corporate Matching Programs. Be sure to maximize your donation if your company has such a program. Documentation can be provided upon request. For more information, contact Lisa Russell at lisa@scubacreative.com

Plant Sale

We will be holding our annual plant sale again this spring-look for information to come home the end of March/first of April. The plants will be delivered around Mother’s day in May. These are healthy, vibrant plants. There are several different types to choose from-bedding plants to hanging baskets, great for adding that pop of color to your yard. The plants were all great last year and the hanging baskets were nice and full. The PTA makes a commission off of all sales and monies will go into the general fund for next year’s programs and field trips. Be sure to watch for the flyer to come home.

2011 School Budget Information

As parents, you are understandably concerned about how the district's 2011 budget cuts will affect your children. To help you understand the financial situation that currently faces the district, here are some facts:

• Decisions regarding the budget will be made with an effort to preserve student progress toward the district graduate ends, and also to raise or maintain student achievement in core subject areas.

• The situation we find ourselves in is shared by all districts across the state. To be prepared, the district developed a worst-case scenario that estimates a $33 million cut. That $33 million amount is based on the fact the district is expected to sustain the two previous across-the-board cuts from fiscal years 2009 ($3.3 million) and 2010 ($17.5 million), and also will not receive any more federal stimulus money ($14 million in 2010).

• The district is still waiting to find out how much money it will receive from the state. The governor asked the Iowa Legislature to fund an increase of 2 percent allowable growth and restore $100 million to schools from the state's cash reserve funds, which will help alleviate some cuts, but not all.

• More than 84 percent of the DMPS budget goes to compensation packages (wages and benefits) for all staff. There's no way the district can cut $33 million from the little more than 15 percent that is left in the budget pie.

• We also have funding "silos" that cannot be touched (as stipulated by the organizations or government entities that provide those funds). What will be affected by state funding reductions primarily are programs, services and positions funded by state foundation aid (general fund money).

• Worst-case scenario staffing allocations (which classes, teachers and services will be affected) are being developed for each school, including ours, but how our school and others will ultimately be affected won't really be clear until about late March or early April, when DMPS is notified about the amount of funding it will receive from the state.

We ask for your patience as we work to piece together next year's financial puzzle. Please be assured all of us are dedicated more than ever to providing a quality education for your children. For information updates about next year's budget, visit the district Web site (www.dmps.k12.ia.us), and tune into local media or cable Channel 12. - Leigh R. McGivern, APR, Director of Board & Community Relations & Legislative Liaison -
Des Moines Public Schools

School Directories

Finally they are done! If you ordered a directory please look for it in your child’s backpack today. It will have a purple cover. They are at the printer and should be back in time for Wednesday’s distribution. I sincerely apologized for how late these are getting out this year.

If you submitted an order late and do not receive one today please email or call me. cheryl@tasty-treats.com or 971-7787. I will have a few extras which I will hold for one week to make sure that all the late orders were covered and then they will be released to the school office, so if you didn’t order and still want a directory you can purchase from Ms. Hutton for $3. Thanks again for your patience in the turnaround time this year. –Cheryl Thompson

Silent Auction - April 9th

Planning is underway for the 2010 SILENT AUCTION! If you have items that you would like to donate, please let us know. OR: ask your favorite business, restaurant, or entertainment spot if they would be willing to make a donation. We greatly appreciate your contributions and ideas. Most donations are 100% tax deductible, and all of the proceeds go to Hanawalt PTA. Donors will be highlighted in our catalog and PTA Newsletter. We will collect items now through the end of March. Please contact: Kay Smith (kayfentonsmith@msn.com) or Jodie Yon (jodiesevier@mchsi.com) for more information. Thank you for your support of the PTA Silent Auction!

Financial Update

As we start the New Year, I wanted to give you an update on how your generous donations are being utilized by the PTA.

Field Trips and Busing $1,695.25
Helping Hands $252.23
Library Book Supplement $1,500.00
Student Enrichment $1,090.84
T-Shirts $1,929.95
Teacher Appreciation $409.00

Hanawalt has numerous upcoming activities sponsored by the PTA that include Day in the Arts, more field trips and RIF week. Thank you for your ongoing support! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at kristiandjeff@aol.com or 255-7940.

Kristi Kiefer - PTA Treasurer

New Drop Off Procedures

Hanawalk

All pledge forms are due including the amount pledged. Please drop in the PTA mailbox outside the music room at your earliest convenience. Please insure that all monies are in a sealed envelope, any matching fund forms enclosed and the student name/teacher are also on the envelope. Remember 100% of all donations go straight back into student enrichment!! Thank you kindly for your donations!

Book Fair Thank You!

To All Those Who Helped at the Hanawalt Book Fair: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! You guys all outdid yourselves. It was my first time being in charge and you helped to make it a smooth and positive experience for all involved. I also enjoyed getting to know all the volunteers and I want you to know how much I personally appreciate your "get it done" attitude. The students at Hanawalt are the Winners whenever parents get together and support the school activities! Thanks for helping to make the Book Fair a Winner! -Dianna Thompson

Parent Patrol / Drop Off Update

It cannot be said enough how much we appreciate the parent cooperation during drop-off in the morning. We know it has taken some getting used to and there are a few kinks to work out, but in all, it is going smoothly.

One of the questions I am often asked is why we are doing this. Last year, I hit a side mirror, had my car rear-ended, and on two different occasions almost hit a child I didn't see weaving through the cars. I started almost every day mad because there was such chaos. I wasn't alone. There were several other parents who expressed concern and discussed the various ways they avoided the whole thing. So, when Principal Burton put together this committee, I was compelled to volunteer.

This is very simply about the safety of our children. We have a neighborhood school that is tucked into a neighborhood. It doesn't give us too many options, and we're still fine tuning the process. Your concerns and feedback are appreciated and welcome, so please feel free to contact me, Lisa Russell, at lisa@scubacreative.com or 277-1368.

A few updates:

• You can drop your children off on 56th Street and have them walk down to the crossing guard. This allows you to turn right on SW 58th Drive and get back to Grand Avenue easily.
• Please do not park in the staff parking lot. Each slot is assigned to a teacher and there are currently no extra slots. It also significantly slows down drop-off if you need to back out.
• We will be closing the parking lot to drop-off at the first snow or in January after the winter break, whichever comes first. It simply gets too icy and becomes worse the more cars drive on it. Unfortunately, Robertson also becomes interesting, so we are working on ways to make the process as convenient as possible. We will send home additional information in mid-October about the winter drop-off procedures, but wanted to make everyone aware more changes are coming.
• We could use four more volunteers. This is a 30-minute commitment once a week. Please consider helping.

October Dates To Remeber

120-minute early dismissal
120-minute early dismissal - Conferences
NO SCHOOL - CONFERENCES
PTA Q/A Session – Evening – 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
RE-TAKE – School Pictures – morning
120-minute early dismissal
PTA Q/A Session – Morning – 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
120-minute early dismissal
Classroom Fall Parties (Keep costumes at home)

7

14

16/17

20

22

28

30

Directories

Thank you to everyone who filled out the orange directory sheets at Meet the Teacher Night-we have a great start on the directory. Currently we are going through and updating all the changes that were requested. Within a couple of weeks we will send home a self sealing envelope with what is currently in our database. It will be the final chance for each family to check and edit this year’s directory submission. On the envelope it will also tell you the cost per directory and give you the chance to order…if you would like to order the directory simply note how many copies you would like, seal your money in the envelope and drop in the PTA mailbox outside the music room. Please make sure to seal the envelope - there is no way to know what money belongs with which order if it is just dropped loose in the mailbox!!