Can You Help With Art in the Garden?
Art in the Garden is just around the corner on Friday, October 5!
VOLUNTEERS DESPERATELY NEEDED!
We're still collecting donations and are in desperate need of volunteers. Whether you’re able to help set-up, or even just give one hour at a crafting table, our students need helping hands while exploring their inner creativity.

Who can help?! P arents, grandparents, high school students, neighbors...anyone who wants to enjoy a fun-filled evening in the garden. No creative skills needed! To s ign up for a volunteer shift, click here . Know someone who would be perfect? Share the sign up link with them. This wonderful Prairie tradition can only happen with volunteers to run the various stations. Come join us after school Friday the 5th for crafts, music, food, and fun for the whole family.

Art in the Garden is free for Prairie Families, but make sure to bring cash for food! Earnings support Prairie. Popcorn will be available for free after school! A hot dog meal (hot dog, chips and a drink) will be available for $5 starting around 4pm. If you or your child have any special dietary needs contact Jessica Brown at [email protected].
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Thank you to our generous Prairie Families, Staff, and Sponsors for volunteering at, and participating in, the 2018 Prairie Pride Fun Run and 5K! The event would not have been possible without each and every one of you! Check out www.prairie.run for race results and photos!
Each week we will take a moment to thank some of the many volunteers that make Prairie Elementary a wonderful place for our students:
A special thank you to Mark & Molly Hunter and Joy Maxwell for all of their hard work on this years 5K and Fun Run!
October 1-5
  • Peanut Butter Week in the Village

Monday, October 1
  • Final Day for Stuffed Animal Collection at Prairie

Friday, October 5
  • Art in the Garden - 3:10-6:30 PM
 
Visit the  PTA website  and enter your email address under "follow our blog" on the right side of the page.
 
Read this weekly newsletter, published each Sunday throughout the school year for the most up-to-date info that you need for the week ahead.
Wish You Could Contribute to the Panther Paw Newsletter?
Our first Panther Paw production day which is open to all students who wish to contribute will be Thursday, October 4 after school in the art room from 3:15pm - 4:00pm. This is a fun way for students to be involved at Prairie!

If you have any questions, please contact Christopher Smith at [email protected] .
Join Us for Movie Night Under the Stars!
Save the date for our first movie night of the school year! Bring your blankets and chairs and set up your spot on the back parking lot around 6:45pm. The movie will start at 7:00pm! If we have inclement weather of any kind, we’ll move our movie into the gym.

When:  Thursday, October 11th
Movie:  TBD
Price:  FREE (popcorn and drinks will be provided)
Searching for a graphic designer:

Do you have an eye for artistic design? The Auction committee is looking for a talented individual to help design the graphics for this year’s auction. Interested? Please contact Jennifer Wilson. [email protected]
This week’s grade-level auction parties:

Fourth and Fifth Grade Parents… Get ready to have some fun and raise some money for Prairie this Saturday, October 6th! Please look for your Evite from Betsy and Jose Ordonez (Fourth)
and the Wissel Family (Fifth)

Not sure when your class party is? Check out the full list here . If you aren’t able to attend your grade-level party or you just want to leave the checkbook at home, click here and select your grade level from the drop down box.
Amazingly Successful Auction Parties!
Hold onto your hats Prairie families! We have the fundraising results in for the 6th and 1st grade auction parties, and it’s impressive:

The 6th grade parents raised $2,120, and the 1st grade parents raised $3,150!!!

This is amazing! Thank you to all of these parents for your very generous donations toward our Prairie auction.

Prairie Fund has made fundraising for these parties even easier this year! Now, you can donate online. If you aren’t able to attend your grade-level party or you just want to leave the checkbook at home, click here and select your grade level from the drop down box.
Donate a Jar...or Two!
It’s time for the annual Peanut Butter Week in Prairie Village. Last year we collected over 300 pounds of peanut butter. This peanut butter feeds families in our area who need extra help putting food on the table.

From October 1st - 5th, please donate peanut butter at Prairie! Donating a jar or two is enough to make an impact in our community.
HELP WANTED:
Poinsettia Sale Chair
We need someone to chair this annual PTA fundraiser. For the past several years, we've worked with Family Tree Nursery to sell beautiful poinsettias just in time for the holidays. The sale will begin on November 5 with poinsettia pick up scheduled for November 30th after school. If you are interested in helping, contact Sally Cook at [email protected] .
Audio/Visual DJ
It’s time to release your inner DJ! For quite some time, we have been lucky to have a Prairie parent running any and all Audio Visual and DJ needs at Prairie PTA events and parties. This amazing parent volunteer will be graduating from Prairie after this year so we need someone to take his place soon!
Contact Jessica Brown at [email protected] if you are interested. All equipment is provided!
Reflections Competition Chair
Do you have a passion for the arts? Would you like to help Prairie start something new? This role is for you! Each year, PTA’s across the country encourage students to create and submit original works of art in the medium of their choice, reflecting on a specific theme. This year the theme is “Heroes Around Me.” We are looking for a parent volunteer to work with our awesome Prairie teachers to see if we have any works of art that can be submitted to the Reflections Competition. Please contact Tricia Stephens at [email protected] if you are interested.
6th Grade Stuffed Animal Collection
The 6th Grade Community Outreach Committee is asking for your help. We are collecting new or gently used stuffed animals to distribute to local first responders to comfort children in need or in crisis and help build community relationships.

The grade level who brings in the most stuffed animals gets a POPCORN PARTY! This challenge ends tomorrow (Monday, October 1st). There will be decorated boxes around the school for collection.
We appreciate your support!


To buy a PTA Membership, Volunteer at school, Pre-order a Yearbook, Snag some new Spirit Wear, and many more options:
sign in to the
Prairie Elementary PTA | c/o Prairie Elementary School
6642 Mission Rd • Prairie Village, Kansas 66208
(913) 993- 4400 | http://prairiepta.org/