Chatter Subscription sign up
Charger Chatter May 5, 2020
Banner
Calendar
Take Action!
Answer PTSA funding priorities survey
Send staff appreciation notes
Create a staff appreciation video!
Auction News
We'll have more details about the auction results next week, but there's one more thing you can do to support your school: double your donations with corporate gift matching!
Support Cherry Crest PTSA With Corporate Matching
Your donation can turn into 2x with little effort thanks to your employer's corporate gift matching program.

Microsoft, Google, T-Mobile, Salesforce, Facebook, and many other employers match dollars their employees donate!

For instance, Microsoft will donate $100 to our PTSA if an employee reports a donation of $100 and/or donate $100 for every 4 hours the employee volunteered!
Read more on the PTSA website!
PTSA News
School buildings may be closed, but Cherry Crest parents, teachers, and administrators will keep our students learning and community engaged. The Chatter newsletter will continue arriving weekly.

Do you need help using Teams and other school technology platforms? Do you need assistance with food supplies or childcare? Are you looking for ways to help others at the school or take action for our students? Find links to these and other resources on the PTSA website !
This Week is National Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week
The PTSA, in partnership with Principal Steere, has special plans for all Cherry Crest Teachers and Staff this week! Teachers and staff will compete in a daily online game earning points by completing challenges, winning prizes and feeling the love from our Comm(Unity)!

How can you help?

Wear Red: Students can show their #ChargerPride by wearing red to any Teams meetings this week. Wear red t-shirts, hats, headbands, anything you’ve got!

Write a Thank You: Students and parents are encouraged to contribute notes of gratitude though SignUp Genius. Check your email for a "Staff Appreciation Week" message (contact staffappreciation@cherry-crest.ptsa.org if you didn't receive one.) Write about a specific teacher/staff member or write a general note of thanks by end of day today (May 5th) . We'll compile the messages and distribute to teachers and staff during their Friday Staff lunch.

Create a Video Message: Students and parents can create short videos thanking teachers or sharing why Cherry Crest is an awesome place to learn by end of day today (May 5th) . Go to Flipgrid .  Select "Login in with Microsoft" and have your student enter their BSD e-mail and password. The PTSA will review and compile your videos to share with Cherry Crest teachers and staff.

Contribute a Prize: Parents can e-mail $5 or $10 e-gift cards to be used as prizes in the game. E-mail contributions to staffappreciation@cherrycrest-ptsa.org by end of day today (May 5th)

On Friday, May 8 the PTSA will sponsor a special lunch for teachers via DoorDash while they meet in Microsoft Teams for the Grand Prize Winner reveal.

Thank you in advance for your participation. Together we strengthen our community!
Yearbook Distribution Plans
The yearbook team is hard at work on the 2019-2020 yearbook! We are working on the distribution plan and expect to have yearbooks labelled, sorted and available through the school office during the week of June 15th.

Note: pre-ordering through Lifetouch is now closed, but we'll offer an alternate order process through May 29 . Please watch the Chatter next week for ordering details. There will be no additional copies available for purchase this school year (although a few may be available in the fall at a higher price).
Got Feedback? Sent It to the PTSA Presidents!
Your PTSA presidents are here to help!

We want to hear your concerns and the challenges you are facing. From remote learning to connecting with others to tips and ideas to make remote learning more fun and engaging, give us your input!

Leave your email in the form if you’d like us to contact you, or just leave an anonymous comment or question. We'll use our experience and connections to advocate for you!
PTSA General Meeting on May 12
Please join us at our next Cherry Crest PTSA general meeting on Tuesday, May 12th in via Microsoft Teams.

Join remotely - Microsoft Teams Link
6:45-7:00pm - Get connected to meeting/socialize
7:00pm - General meeting starts

We will be voting on our 2020-21 Executive Committee and the 2020-21 Budget at this meeting. We will also give updates on how things are changing for the PTSA due to Covid-19. Please join to welcome in next year's team and participate in the budget process for next year.

The following list of officers have been nominated for next year:
Co-President: Deepa Panchapakesan
Treasurer: Dave Fandel
Assistant Treasurer - Mrudani Chidre
Secretary: Ksenia Tshahhirov
Vice President: Sarit Egozi
Vice President: Alison Payne
Vice President Communications: Neha Bhuta

Returning Committee Members:
Co-President: Britt Heath
Vice President Curriculum Enhancement: Erin Miller
Vice President: Peggy Yu

If you need tech help to attend the meeting please email techbuddies@cherrycrest-ptsa.org . We do not have a way to dial in for a voice only connection.

Questions? Contact your PTSA Co-Presidents at president@cherrycrest-ptsa.org
Seeking Your Input: Survey on PTSA 2020-21 Spending Priorities
We need your help to plan our fundraising goals and decide how best to allocate PTSA funds in the coming, very different, 2020-21 school year.

Please answer the survey questions with two specific scenarios in mind:

  • Our PTSA will likely raise less money next school year than in the past
  • We may be unable to have activities (fundraising and other events) where large groups of people gather.

Thank you very much for your participation in building our Comm(Unity).
School and District News
Charger Weekly Challenge: Boredom Busting!
We miss each of our students! We'd love to see your faces smiling and having fun in this non-academic challenge. Are you in a rut? Get creative! Here are just a few ideas for kids to shake things up:

  • Create a game to play with your family
  • Try some "Minute to Win It" family challenges
  • Create a play to perform
  • Call a friend
  • Make a card and send it to someone to say “Hello!”

Participate in any way you see fit! Weekly themes are intended to inspire fun activities you can do on your own, with a family member, or virtually with peers. To show us how you participate each week, feel free to submit a photo or short video (under 30 seconds) from your BSD account to showcase what you’ve done.

Read more about our challenges on our school website .
BSD Families Forum Recording Available from May 1st
Did you miss the BSD Families Forum? Watch the recording online ! During this session, district staff answered questions around the learning plan, grading, returning in the fall, and other topics of community interest.
Other Cherry Crest Information
📣 Spirit Gear Store Currently Closed
About this newsletter
The Cherry Crest Charger Chatter is emailed to families and staff on Tuesday mornings. The deadline for submissions to the Chatter is the preceding Wednesday by 7pm. Read our submission guidelines .
Information contained in directories, Newsletters or membership lists published by Cherry Crest Elementary PTSA may not be used for purposes of solicitation either commercial, political or ideological or any other purpose not consistent with the Washington Congress of Parents and Teachers By-Laws.