Contact - Paxtonia Elementary PTA

Contact Newsletter March 2
A big THANK YOU to everyone who
helped to make International Days—
IRELAND a success! From decorating the
school to sampling traditional Irish food,
students were exposed to everything Irish.
Scoil Thomias, a school in Castleknock,
DUBLIN even helped answer Question
Banners. These banners allowed our 3 rd ,
4 th , and 5 th grade students the opportunity
to ask Irish students about life in Ireland.
Pen pal letters were also sent. Music,
dance, stories, and a fun-filled game show
rounded out the events and activities.
Roller Skating Party
Don’t miss the fun at the Paxtonia PTA Roller
Skating Party on Sunday, March 16th. The
Roller Skating Party will be held at Olympic
Skating Rink in Enola from 4:30 – 6:30 pm.
Admission is free. Skate rental is $1.00 and
rollerblade rental is $3.00. For information
about directions go to
www.olympicskatingcenter.com or call 732-
9168.
Karen Bloom and Julie Marolf
Irish Stew Recipe
3 lbs of beef cubes
1 lb carrots (chopped)
½ c pearl barley
4 oxo cubes (or beef bullion cubes)
2 tsp sea salt
4 tsp thyme
4 tsp of parsley
2 tsp rosemary
2 small potatoes (sliced)
Cover ingredients with water and let
simmer in crock pot.
Special thanks go to Michelle Plouse for
coordinating the decorating effort. Student
and parent reactions confirmed the
success of hard work from the volunteers
who helped! Monica Straub put her exceptional
organization and communication
skills to work and coordinated the Taste of
Ireland. Each student was served Irish Beef
Stew (see the recipe listed below), potatoes,
Irish soda bread, biscuits (cookies),
and currant juice. Thanks to Monica and
each volunteer who helped by making
stew and potatoes, baking bread, serving
food, or a combination of these tasks.
Robyn Watson showed how much fun
learning about another country can be
with the Luck O’ the Irish game. Contestants
representing each class rolled the dice
to see how much his or her answer was
worth. Robyn’s game, with the help of
volunteers, had students answering questions
about Ireland, dancing, and having
fun!
The International Days Committee
would also like to recognize Paxtonia
teachers and staff members for the continued
support shown to this event. We
could not do it without you!
What country will Paxtonia students
choose for next years International Days?
Stay tuned. . . .
INTERNATIONAL DAYS COMMITTEE
Michelle Plouse and Ellen Haist
Co-Chairs
MAYFAIR HELP NEEDED
May Fair is in need of some assistance
from parents - - only two volunteers
were received from PTA meeting signup
sheet. The May Fair Committee is
looking for volunteers to donate their
time to contact local business for donations
for the May Fair raffle. Maybe you
know a parent that owns a business and
would like to donate something.
Please contact Amy Lingle if you are
able to help out 315-9039.
How would you like to help Paxtonia Elementary School
while relaxing, exercising and burning a calorie or two?
Yes, it is possible! When you collect Box Tops for Education
found on many products we all use, such as Kleenex
tissues and Zip loc baggies, you will help the PTA by cutting
them out neatly along the dotted line. You can relax
and burn calories by sitting using scissors to clip those little
labels out. The key to earning the credits from the BoxTops
redemption company is to have the labels cut out neatly on
the dotted lines. Remember that the BoxTops label credits
earn money for the school. By cutting and sending in the
Box Tops to school (please place them in the good looking
green box on the table in the lobby), you will be helping the
school raise money. The school has earned $ 1,198.60 so far
this year!
So yes, it is true, you CAN relax, exercise, and burn a calorie
or two, all at the same time by saving and cutting Box
Tops. Thanks!
I walked into school the other day to see a Mom in the showcase in the lobby! No, she was not
pretending she was a goldfish in a fish bowl. She was changing the beautiful artwork in the
showcase so we could appreciate the talent of our children. She is a parent volunteer for the
Art Teacher, Mrs. Bedard.
One of the many volunteer opportunities available for your volunteering pleasure at Paxtonia
Elementary School is being a parent volunteer for a teacher. It is not hard to do and is
very rewarding. Some of the things you may get to do include writing out spelling lists, making
things to put on the wall, taking down and hanging projects in the hall, making copies, filling
folders, organizing things for the teacher, and helping students practice reading. By doing
these things for our children’s teachers, it opens up more time for our teachers to teach and our
children to learn. As a volunteer you are able to work out a time with a host teacher (it is generally
NOT your child’s teacher) that suits your schedule and the teacher’s schedule. It can be
one hour a week or more or less.
Some perks include getting to know the Paxtonia teachers, (maybe, if you are lucky and
happen to be in the right place at the right time) catching a glimpse of your child during the day
and having the children in your host teacher’s room being excited to see you every week. This
is a rewarding and fun volunteer opportunity for you! Please join in the volunteering fun!
Gayle Staub