JJ Flynn PTO Blog Post 10-19-14

Greetings Flynn Families!  We hope you enjoyed your long weekend and had a chance to meet with your teachers and hear about all the wonderful things going on at Flynn!  Here is some information about what is coming up at Flynn- If you have any questions, please email flynnschoolpto@gmail.com

BOOKFAIR AND PASTA DINNER

A note from Pasta Dinner Organizer, Janet Green:

Greetings Flynn Families!
Thanks to sign-up genius, we have almost filled all the volunteer spots!  There are still a few spots open where we could use your help.  Please check out the sign-up or email me at janetsaragreen@gmail.com and I will sign you up for a specific spot.  “Many hands make light work”  

Please also take a look at the donation requests for your child’s grade.  This week we would appreciate if everyone who is donating pasta, sauce, salad dressings etc. could bring it into the office or to their classrooms.   For 2^nd grade families you will note that we have changed our requests to treats for the bake sale.  After a thorough re-org of the PTO closet by Co-President Sarah Deshaw, a life time supply of paper goods was unearthed.  Sounds like we are set for the year!

I will be in touch in next week’s blog to keep everyone posted about donations we might still need.  Thanks everyone and have a great start to your week!

- Janet 

PRINCIPAL'S COFFEE
Please join our principal Graham Clarke in the Learning Center this Wednesday, October 22 at 8:30 am for an informal gathering.  This is a great opportunity to get to know Mr. Clarke as well as an informal forum to ask questions about things going on at Flynn.  Free coffee provided!  Hope to see you there!

BOTTLE DRIVE
Merola's is once again partnering with us to help raise funds for Flynn.  Save your bottles and cans and return them on Saturday, November 1st from 9am-5pm to Merola's (now called 802 BWS) at their new location in the Ethan Allen Shopping Center (between Aaron's Furniture and Snap Fitness).  Mention Flynn School and we will get an additional 10% of the redemption!  Like them on Facebook!

PICTURE RETAKES
Picture retake day is scheduled for this Wednesday, October 22. If you were absent and have already paid, you do not need to bring in another form.  If you were absent and have NOT paid, please bring your form and check in on the retake day (extra forms can be found in the PTO box in the office).

FEEDBACK
We have received several great suggestions from this tool!  Thank you to those who have submitted feedback through the form- Please keep it coming!

BOXTOPS
Thank you to the Niquette family for the great Boxtops reminder signs out in front of the school!  Keep collecting...the submission date is at the end of October!

UPCOMING DATES
October 22- Picture Retakes
October 22- Principal's Coffee- 8:30 am Learning Center
October 28- Book Fair and Pasta Dinner- 5:00-7:00 pm
October 31- Annual Birchwood Halloween Parade- 1:30 pm
November 1- Bottle drive at 802 BWS
November 6- PTO Meeting in the Learning Center- 6:30 pm

JJ Flynn Blog Post 10-12-14

Greetings Flynn Families!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The PTO will be using the website Sign-Up Genius to organize and coordinate volunteers.  It will hopefully make things easier for both volunteers and those organizing events- please check it out below!

BOOKFAIR & PASTA DINNER

The posters will go up this week around school!  Please mark your calendars and also consider donating a small amount of your time to help make this a great event for our Flynn community!  Be sure to bring your dollars...there will be yummy treats at the bake sale and a fun raffle!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED- CLICK HERE!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED- CLICK HERE!

FACEBOOK

If you haven't already- please like Flynn School PTO on Facebook!

MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ

The cast and chorus have been practicing very hard and there is no doubt this year's play will be Marvelous!  We hope you will come to the performances on November 14th at 7:00pm and November 15th at 4:00pm.

Please consider advertising in the Poster or Playbill- the details are outlined HERE.  The deadline for sponsors to be listed on the poster is October 24th!

Please visit the Very Merry Theatre's website to listen to or download the music from the show!

Please note that because of the early dismissal on Wednesday there will be no chorus practice this week.


If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Kuypers (kuypers5@yahoo.com) or Kim Hunt (kimberlyannhunt@gmail.com)

ROOM PARENTS

Room parents are off and running after last week's orientation.  You should be hearing from yours in the next week!  If you have any questions, please contact our Room Parent Coordinator, Shanta Eastman (shanta_eastman@yahoo.com)

SMOOTHIES & FOOD TRUCKS

You may have heard your kiddos chatting about the delicious (and nutritious!) smoothies- they were compliments of the Burlington School Food Project food truck called Fork in the Road.  The truck was parked out by the playground last Wednesday and handed out delicious smoothies to all Flynn students!

The heart of the food truck program is a culinary job training program that employs students from both Burlington High School and Burlington Technical Center.  The food truck will be integrated into academic classes such as business and culinary arts, and will provide meals that focus on local 
and seasonal ingredients including vegetables, fruit, and honey from the Burlington School Food Project’s network of school gardens.

Like them on Facebook!

Fork in the Road pulling up to Flynn 

PICTURE RETAKES

Pictures should arrive this week.  Picture retake day is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22. If you were absent and have already paid, you do not need to bring in another form.  If you were absent and have NOT paid, please bring your form and check in on the retake day (extra forms can be found in the PTO box in the office).

FEEDBACK

We have received several great suggestions from this tool!  Thank you to those who have submitted feedback- Please keep it coming!

Save The Date… 

October 15- Early Release (11:30 dismissal)

October 16 & 17- No School- Conferences

October 22- Picture Retakes

October 22- Principal's Coffee- 8:30 am Learning Center

October 28- Book Fair and Pasta Dinner- 5:00-7:00 pm

October 31- Annual Birchwood Halloween Parade- 1:30 pm

Other Links:
STEM Blog

Flynn PTO Blog Post 10-5-14

Greetings Flynn Families!

FEEDBACK?

We have a new tool to help PTO gather constructive feedback from families on events and activities.  If you have specific feedback or suggestions, for example, fundraising ideas or ideas for a Flynn Family Night, please take a moment to fill out this quick feedback form. Your input is valuable! 

WALK OR BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY

Our school is participating in Walk or Bike to School day THIS WEDNESDAY October 8, 2014-this is a national initiative to celebrate the benefits of walking and bicycling.  Join the fun!

BOOKFAIR AND PASTA DINNER

Come enjoy a a wonderful Pasta Dinner and browse through a terrific selection of books and top the night off with a yummy treat from the bake sale table!!

When: Tuesday, October 28 5:30-7pm (Bookfair starts at 5:00pm, dinner starts at 5:30pm) 
Where: Multipurpose room at Flynn 
Why: To have a great time and help support your school
Who: Everyone!!!!
Suggested Donation:  $5/person / $15/family
HOW TO HELP??- If you are still interested in donating food, baked goods or time on the day of the event please contact your room parent or e-mail Flynn School at flynnschoolpto@gmail.com  Thanks so much!!!

PICTURE RETAKES

Pictures should arrive this week.  Picture retake day is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22. If you were absent and have already paid, you do not need to bring in another form.  If you were absent and have NOT paid, please bring your form and check in on the retake day (extra forms can be found in the PTO box in the office).

ROOM PARENTS

We are still in need of room parents in Ms. Hodgson’s Kindergarten.  We also need additional room parents in Brown, Cronin, Dee and Lessard.  Please consider helping out!  The role of the room parent is to help organize class events, recruit other volunteers to help in the classroom and to help organize one teacher appreciation event with other grade-level room parents.  Please feel free to come to the orientation even if you have not signed up!  Room Parent Orientation: Thursday, October 9 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm in the Learning Center. Thank you to Shanta Eastman who has volunteered to serve as Room Parent Coordinator!  If you have any questions- email flynnschoolpto@gmail.com

PLAY: Marvelous Land of Oz

Please check out the following link to find out more info on how to support the play though Advertising!

FUNDRAISING

Correction:  While the Meadowfarm fundraiser brought in over $3,000 total-this is not what Flynn school earned. We will know our percentage soon! Thank you Happy Vail and Missy Hellyer for organizing! Didn’t buy wrapping paper? Don’t worry...there is still an opportunity to support Flynn with the Pay It Forward fundraiser. Write a check (to Flynn School PTO) and send it in to the office! We are almost to $800! Help us reach our goal of over a $1000!

LOST AND FOUND

Have you been to the Lost and Found already this year?  A good indication that your child's clothes need labels!  Help reduce the pile of Lost & Found items at Flynn School!  Order all kinds of labels through Mabel's Labels and a portion of each sale will go directly to Flynn School PTO!

https://www.mabelsfundraising.com/f/33919

OCTOBER PTO MEETING

Thank you to all who attended the PTO meeting last week.  Remember, YOU are the P. in PTO!  You are your child’s first teacher, strongest advocate and life-long cheerleader.  Your presence and participation at Flynn School sends a strong message to your child that you value school and academic achievement. Educational research has found that family participation in school strengthens students’ academic success.  Minutes from the meeting will be sent in the next blog post. Thank you to Tammy Kuypers for bringing a pasta dinner to share with everyone!  

Thank you to all the volunteers who have offered to take on a leadership position:

Co-Presidents: Heather Simmons and Sarah DeShaw

Vice President: Jessica Hook

Treasurer: Betsy Ward

Secretary: Christine Leithead

Shanta Eastman will serve as Room Parent Coordinator

Please take a moment to review the: MINUTES & BUDGET

Save The Date… 

October 8- Walk or Bike to School Day
October 15- Early Release (11:30 dismissal)
October 16 & 17- No School- Conferences
October 22- Picture Retakes
October 22- Principal's Coffee- 8:30 am Learning Center
October 28- Book Fair and Pasta Dinner- 5:00-7:00 pm
October 31- Annual Birchwood Halloween Parade- 1:30 pm

Other Links:
STEM Blog

Flynn PTO Blog Post 9-28-14

Greetings Flynn Families!

UPCOMING DATES 

October 2- PTO meeting- 6:30-8:00 pm Learning Center- Free childcare and pasta dinner!
October 8- Walk or Bike to School Day
October 15- Early Release (11:30 dismissal)
October 16 & 17- No School- Conferences
October 22- Principal's Coffee- 8:30 am Learning Center
October 28- Book Fair and Pasta Dinner- 5:00-7:00 pm
October 31- Annual Birchwood Halloween Parade- 1:30 pm

We Need Your Feedback!
We have a new tool to help PTO gather constructive feedback from families on events and activities.  If you have specific feedback or suggestions, for example, on Open House or another event you attended, please take a moment to fill out this quick feedback form. Your input is valuable!  

PTO Meeting
The second PTO meeting of the year will be held this Thursday, October 2 from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Learning Center.  Free childcare and pasta dinner are provided!  Everyone welcome!  Click HERE to view the Agenda

Pictures
Picture retakes will be scheduled soon- please stand by!  If you were absent and have already paid, you do not need to bring in another form.  If you were absent and have NOT paid, please bring your form and check in on the retake day (extra forms can be found in the office)  

Walk or Bike to School Day
Our school is participating in Walk or Bike to School day on October 8, 2014- this is a national initiative to celebrate the benefits of walking and bicycling.  Join the fun! If interested in volunteering please contact Heather A Simmons at heathers@lundvt.org or 324-0939

Room Parents
We are still in need of room parents in the following classes:  Hodgson, Cronin, Lessard, Brown and D'Agostino.  If you have friends with children in those classes, please urge them to step up and volunteer! If you signed up at Open House, we will be contacting you soon! If interested, please email Sarah DeShaw or Heather Simmons to be notified about the Room Parent Orientation Meeting (to be scheduled soon!)

Fundraising
This just in....The Meadowfarm fundraiser brought in over $3,000!  Thanks to all who participated!  Didn’t buy wrapping paper?  Don’t want to have to sell anything? Don’t worry!  There is still an opportunity to support Flynn with the Pay It Forward fundraiser- write a check (to Flynn School PTO) and send it in to the office! We are almost to $750! Help us reach our goal of over a $1000!

Have you been to the Lost and Found already this year?  A good indication that your child's clothes need labels!  Help reduce the pile of Lost & Found items at Flynn School!  Order all kinds of labels through Mabel's Labels and a portion of each sale will go directly to Flynn School PTO: 

https://www.mabelsfundraising.com/f/33919

STEM
STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math.   Students will meet with Courtney Asaro, STEM teacher at JJ Flynn, once a week for 45 minutes.  Please take a moment to check out her STEM blog to see what students have been up to!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There was lots of activity at the volunteer sign-up clipboards at Open House. These will be up through October conferences- in the meantime- here are some of the important upcoming events that need volunteers.  PLEASE HELP!  

Book Fair

The Library staff is looking for volunteers:

Tuesday night, Oct 28th

4:00-5:00 p.m. setup

5:00-7:00 p.m. running the fair

7:00-7:30 p.m. pack up

http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=jjflynn

Email Corey Wallace at cwallace@bsdvt.org or Cara Clopton at cclopton@bsdvt.org if you can help!

Pasta Dinner (@ the Book Fair)
A few volunteers are still needed for the following spots:

Tuesday night, Oct 28th

Before the event: Pasta Cookers (cook the pasta at your home and bring it to the event)
4:00-5:00 p.m. setup
5:00-6:00 p.m. dinner help (shift 1)
6:00-7:00 p.m. dinner help (shift 2)
6:30-7:30 p.m. clean-up

Email Janet Green at Janetsaragreen@gmail.com if you can help!  (If you signed up at Open House someone will be contacting you soon!)

Flynn PTO Blog Post - 9-21-14

Greetings!

 

There is some repeated information in this week's post due to the fact I sent out the previous week's link in our notification email last week.  It's all still relevant and includes info regarding fund-raising, kids' sporting opportunities and upcoming events.  Take a look and see if anything interests you. - Thanks!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Box Tops for Education

This year, our school will again be participating in the Box Tops for Education™ program. Clipping Box Tops is an easy way for you to help our school buy what it needs. Box Tops are each worth 10¢ and they quickly add up to real cash for our school.

To help our school, just look for pink Box Tops on products, clip them, and send them to school. For more information on the Box Tops for Education program, including a list of participating products and our school’s progress, visit www.BTFE.com. Be sure to become a member by signing up/logging in to receive exclusive coupons and recipes and learn about extra ways for our school to earn.

We will also participate in Labels for Education.   Information can be found about participating products on LabelsforEducation.com ~basically, the campbells' soup labels and pepperidge farm goldfish are the most popular items that carry them, but many other products carry labels for education.  They are UPC labels that you can send in and then in turn exchange for supplies for the school.  We currently have around 5,000 points so we are trying to increase that amount.

Hannaford Helps Schools is a program where if you buy a certain number of products you earn a coupon worth cash for our school.  Our school is enrolled at the North Avenue Hannaford and you can drop your slips into the tower in the front of the store near the exit. 

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at denihaggerty@yahoo.com

Thanks,

Denise Haggerty

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other fund-raising news...

Mabel's Labels Fund-raiser:  Help reduce the pile of Lost & Found items at Flynn School!  Order all kinds of labels for your child's clothing and a portion of each sale will go directly to Flynn School PTO.  Our goal is to raise $400 from now until Halloween.  Check it out...

https://www.mabelsfundraising.com/f/33919

Thanks for your support and don't forget to share the campaign with all of your friends and family!

Flynn School Fundraising Team

The Meadow Farms fundraiser is ending this MONDAY!  Please make sure to get your orders in to the office- this is an important fundraiser for our school!  If you have any questions, please contact Happy Vail (whvail@comcast.net)

The PTO Pay It Forward fund-raiser has already raised $476!  Our goal is to raise over $1000.  There is a donation collection box on the table in the office- remember it’s not WHAT you give, its THAT you give!  Every little amounts helps!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Open House

It was great to see so many wonderful families filling the halls at school!  Hopefully everyone had a chance to check out the PTO bulletin boards showing all the fun things that Flynn does and the clipboards with volunteer sign-ups.  In case you missed them, they are located next to the office in the 3/4/5 wing and in the hallway leading towards the Learning Center.  These will be up for the next few weeks so please take a moment to look at them and consider donating a little of your time to help make our school even more special for Flynn students!  Stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved!  Thanks so much for those of you who have already signed up to help!

Pictures

Everyone looked lovely on Wednesday for our picture day!  Thank you to Tammy Kuypers, Happy Vail and Sarah DeShaw for volunteering to help out with Picture Day.  You have until Monday to send in your order forms and checks.  Retake day has not yet been scheduled so stay tuned!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the Burlington School District...

Burlington Girls Mini Metro Basketball *Tryouts*

Grades 5th and 6th
Sept. 30 & Oct. 2
7 pm – 9 pm

Grades 7th / 8th
Sept. 23 & Sept. 25
7 pm – 9 pm

@ Burlington High School

For more information contact Coach Chris Johnson / 233-6967

Visit our website: www.vermontbreeze.com/minimetro

Each player is encouraged to bring their own basketball.

Mini-Metro is a competitive basketball league with teams from high school districts including Burlington, CVU,

Colchester, St. Albans, Milton, Essex, Mount Mansfield, Missisquoi Valley, Montpelier, Lamoille, and S. Burlington.

The dissemination of this material is intended to be of community service. Burlington School District does not endorse or sponsor this organization.

Burlington Amateur Hockey!Visit us at: www.bahabobcats.com for more information

OPEN HOUSE & REGISTRATION

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

10:00am – 12:00pm

LEDDY PARK ARENA

Kids 3+ and their parents are invited to skate with or just talk to current players, coaches & parents as well as BAHA alum from CHS, BHS, and RICE MEMORIAL. Meet members of the UVM club team and the VT Lumberjacks too!

Learn all about BAHA’s youth hockey programs and how rewarding youth hockey can be for players and parents alike!!!


FIRST TIME INITIATION SKATERS AGE 8 AND

PAY ONLY $75 FOR THE SEASON!!!

**REGISTER AT THE OPEN HOUSE FOR THIS UNDER SPECIAL RATE**

The dissemination of this material is intended to be of community service. BSD, CSD, and WSD do not endorse or sponsor this organization.

------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming dates:

October 2      PTO meeting: 6:30-8:00 pm Learning Center- Free dinner and  
                      childcare

October 8      Walk or Bike to School Day

October 28    Book Fair and Pasta Dinner

Please check the school website for updates and other school information - http://flynn.bsd.schoolfusion.us/ 

Flynn PTO Blog Post - 9-15-14

Hello parents/guardians,

This year, our school will again be participating in the Box Tops for Education™ program. Clipping Box Tops is an easy way for you to help our school buy what it needs. Box Tops are each worth 10¢ and they quickly add up to real cash for our school.

To help our school, just look for pink Box Tops on products, clip them, and send them to school. For more information on the Box Tops for Education program, including a list of participating products and our school’s progress, visit www.BTFE.com. Be sure to become a member by signing up/logging in to receive exclusive coupons and recipes and learn about extra ways for our school to earn.

We will also participate in Labels for Education.   Information can be found about participating products on LabelsforEducation.com ~basically, the campbells' soup labels and pepperidge farm goldfish are the most popular items that carry them, but many other products carry labels for education.  They are UPC labels that you can send in and then in turn exchange for supplies for the school.  We currently have around 5,000 points so we are trying to increase that amount.

Hannaford Helps Schools is a program where if you buy a certain number of products you earn a coupon worth cash for our school.  Our school is enrolled at the North Avenue Hannaford and you can drop your slips into the tower in the front of the store near the exit.  

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at denihaggerty@yahoo.com

Thanks,

Denise Haggerty

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other news...

Mabel's Labels Fund-raiser:  Help reduce the pile of Lost & Found items at Flynn School!  Order all kinds of labels for your child's clothing and a portion of each sale will go directly to Flynn School PTO.  Our goal is to raise $400 from now until Halloween.  Check it out...

https://www.mabelsfundraising.com/f/33919

Thanks for your support and don't forget to share the campaign with all of your friends and family!

Flynn School Fundraising Team

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

From the Burlington School District...

Burlington Girls Mini Metro Basketball *Tryouts*

Grades 5th and 6th
Sept. 30 & Oct. 2
7 pm – 9 pm

Grades 7th / 8th
Sept. 23 & Sept. 25
7 pm – 9 pm

@ Burlington High School

For more information contact Coach Chris Johnson / 233-6967

Visit our website: www.vermontbreeze.com/minimetro

Each player is encouraged to bring their own basketball.

Mini-Metro is a competitive basketball league with teams from high school districts including Burlington, CVU,

Colchester, St. Albans, Milton, Essex, Mount Mansfield, Missisquoi Valley, Montpelier, Lamoille, and S. Burlington.

The dissemination of this material is intended to be of community service. Burlington School District does not endorse or sponsor this organization.


------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Upcoming dates:

Wednesday, Sept. 17th - Picture Day AND the Flynn School Open House will be hosted from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday, October 2nd - Flynn PTO Meeting at 6:30 in the library.

Please check the school website for updates and other school information - http://flynn.bsd.schoolfusion.us/ 

Flynn PTO Blog Post 9-7-14

Greetings Flynn PTO Members!

A final reminder for the initial school play meeting on
Tuesday Sept. 9:

If you have a child in 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade interested in the play come Tuesday, September 9 at 7pm in the library to the Parent Play Informational Meeting!  Flynn School, in collaboration with Very Merry Theatre, is once again putting on another wonderful play performance! We will be doing The Marvelous Land of Oz! this year, different from past years, the performance is happening in the fall, in November. So join us, your co-production managers, Kim Hunt and Tammy Kuypers, and director, Don Wright, to learn more about Marvelous.  Look forward to seeing you there.

Last Thursday we had our first PTO meeting of the year.  Meetings are held throughout the year on the first Thursday of every month.  Please join us - we need more volunteers and greater involvement.

Minutes from the last meeting can be found here.  The current adopted budget can be found here. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other news...

Mabel's Labels Fund-raiser:  Help reduce the pile of Lost & Found items at Flynn School!  Order all kinds of labels for your child's clothing and a portion of each sale will go directly to Flynn School PTO.  Our goal is to raise $400 from now until Halloween.  Check it out...

https://www.mabelsfundraising.com/f/33919

Thanks for your support and don't forget to share the campaign with all of your friends and family!

Flynn School Fundraising Team

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, this announcement was forwarded to the PTO ...

 

CITY OF BURLINGTON LAUNCHES OPEN STREETS BTV

First annual event to take place in the Old North End neighborhood this fall

The City of Burlington announces a new initiative called Open Streets BTV, presented by Vanasse, Hangen, Brustlin (VHB), Inc., in partnership with Local Motion, the Vermont Department of Health, and the Burlington Walk/Bike Council. Open Streets BTV is a celebration of one of the city’s largest public spaces ­­ our streets!

Open Streets BTV will kick off with its first event on September 21, 2014 between 9:00 AM and 2:00PM. Come and celebrate the vibrant and eclectic Old North End, a neighborhood with community spirit, artists, remodeled parks, tree­lined streets, and successful magnet schools. Organizers hope to hold events in different neighborhoods throughout the city on an annual basis.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming dates:

Thursday, Sept. 11 - Principal's Coffee will be hosted from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 17th - Picture Day AND the Flynn School Open House will be hosted from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday, October 2nd - Flynn PTO Meeting at 6:30 in the library.

Please check the school website for updates and other school information - http://flynn.bsd.schoolfusion.us/