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Beagle Bugle
Newsletter
September 4, 2023
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Message from the PTA
Co-Presidents
Dear Rockwell Families,
The PTA (Parent Teacher Association) is excited to WELCOME new and returning families to a new school year! We are fortunate at Rockwell to have a very vibrant PTA because of the tireless support of our parents, teachers, and staff. Our goal is to make Rockwell a better place for our students, parents, and staff by bridging the gap between what the school district provides and the enriched academic and social opportunities we want for our community.
Did you know that the biggest way for you to support our entire school community (students, teachers, staff, and parents) is channeling your support through the PTA? Every year Rockwell PTA puts well over $50,000 back into Rockwell through grants, enrichment programs, events and so much more. Right now, our Board and Chairs are buzzing with activity, getting events and programs ready for the school year.
Please take the following steps this September to ensure our school is fully supported:
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Pay your Annual Rockwell Student Development Fee by September 29th! In order to run the 30+ events and programs this school year, we are asking that ALL Rockwell families pay a fee of $175 for families with 1 student OR $300 for families with 2+ students at Rockwell by September 29, 2023.
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Corporate Matching: Your annual fee and volunteer hours may be matched by your employer. Check with your employer to see how to easily provide extra funds to our PTA.
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Become a PTA Member for just $18. No time is required. PTA Members have to renew their membership each year so now's the time! Our goal is always to have 100% parent participation and representation in our PTA via membership. Plus, you get some great discounts.
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Volunteer with the PTA We are always looking for helpers with events and programs. Some roles are as quick as 30 minutes of your time, and some roles require a few hours a month of ongoing help throughout the year. Volunteers and Members are not the same thing. Becoming a PTA member doesn't obligate you to volunteer, and volunteering doesn't enroll you as a PTA member. Read about our urgent volunteer needs in the Bugle newsletter each Monday or on our PTA homepage and find a role that works for your schedule.
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Attend an event: Our first series of PTA events are the Back to School Coffee on Tuesday, September 12th at 9:20 am at the flagpole and the Back to School Picnic and Food Truck Event on Thursday, September 14th 6-8 pm. More fun events are being planned, so check the Bugle Newsletter weekly for upcoming events.
We are looking forward to a fabulous start to the school year. If you didn't already know it, Rockwell Elementary is a pretty magical place! We are so fortunate to be in community with all of you! If you have any questions about PTA or any of the membership, fundraising or volunteering topics above, please reach out to us at president@normanrockwellpta.org.
Warmest welcome,
Stephanie Wagner and Lani Lum
Rockwell PTA Co-Presidents '23-'24
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One important way to support our school through Rockwell PTA is to volunteer your time. No experience is needed. Make sure that you are ready to volunteer before school starts by filling out a LWSD Volunteer Application here. Your volunteer status will expire after 2 years, at which time you will receive an email notice from the Raptor System to renew.
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URGENT NEED ASAP Helping Hands Volunteers: Parents are needed for 30-minute time slots in the morning and at dismissal of the first few days of school to help kids get off buses and get to the right classroom, and at dismissal get back on the right bus. School will provide volunteers with lists and a system to get the kids to the right place. Sign Up Here Time Commitment: 15 to 30-minute shifts across the first 5 days of school.
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Helpers at the Back to School Picnic: Parents are needed to set up and clean up throughout the event. Sign Up Here Time Commitment: short shifts on the evening of 9/14.
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Yearbook Photographers: Help capture photos for the yearbook! You don't need a fancy camera - a smartphone camera will do just fine. This is super flexible - you can sign up to cover as few or as many events as you wish. Email yearbook@normanrockwellpta.org if you can help. Time Commitment: Flexible. Dependent on event sign up.
Other short-term volunteer opportunities for roles like Recess Wranglers and Lunch Room Helpers will be posted after the start of school. If you can fill one of the roles above, please email volunteering@normanrockwellpta.org.
Thank you for helping!
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Join us on the PTA Board!
PTA has two key Board Positions Open
Executive Vice President & Co-Treasurer
We are looking for two awesome parent volunteers to fill key leadership positions on the Board. If you are interested or have questions, please contact president@normanrockwellpta.org. All nominated board members will be elected to office at the next General Membership Meeting on October 26th and must be PTA members. Here is more information about these two roles:
The Executive Vice President is one of the leaders in the PTA and learns from the Co-Presidents. In addition to being a point person for parents and staff at Rockwell, they will be responsible for the following:
- Preside at PTA meetings when one of the co-presidents is unavailable
- Find speakers for Membership meetings
- Work on any special projects as needed
- Monitor and provide assistance to various committees and other Vice Presidents
- Attend monthly Board Meetings and General Membership Meetings
- Help evaluate the annual budget
- No Board experience is necessary
- Time commitment is flexible but generally 3-5 hours per week.
The Co-Treasurer shares the responsibility for the financial operations of the PTA, including:
- Receive and disperse funds, bank deposits, and reconciliations
- Prepare treasurer reports monthly
- Maintains the cash boxes at events
- Helps to prepare the annual budget and guides the Financial Review Committees
- Time commitment is approximately 3-5 hours per week.
I hope that you will consider joining our PTA Board. We are an open, welcoming, and fun bunch of parents who work well as a team.
Thank you for considering these roles!
Stephanie Wagner and Lani Lum
Rockwell PTA Co-Presidents '23-'24
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Coming Soon...
Fall 2023 Enrichment Classes
before and after school times available!
Before and after school enrichment classes for Norman Rockwell students are organized through the PTA. All enrichment vendors take registrations directly through their websites. Classes are offered in the portables behind the school.
All classes must have a chaperone, who will be on-site throughout the entire session, signing students in/out and contacting the office/family if a child is absent.
If you chaperone a full session, you will receive one waived registration for your child for that class! Please contact enrichment@normanrockwellpta.org if interested. Chaperones must be PTA members and LWSD-approved volunteers.
There are no classes on non-school days/holidays.
Registration is not available yet, but here's a sneak peek of the classes that will be offered. We will let you know when registration goes live!
- Tuesdays, 8:10 - 9:10am
- October 3 - December 5
- Tuesdays, 4 - 5PM
- October 3 - December 5
- Tuesdays, 4 - 5PM
- October 10 - December 12
- Wednesdays, 2:30 - 3:30PM
- October 4 - December 13, located on the school field
- Wednesdays, 2:30 - 3:30PM
- September 20 - November 15
- Thursdays, 4 - 5:30PM
- October 5 - December 7
- Thursdays, 4 - 5PM
- October 5 - December 14
- Monsters & Myths: Mondays, 8:10 - 9:10am
- World Tour Island: Fridays, 8:10 - 9:10am or Mondays, 4 - 5PM
- Disaster Island: Thursdays, 4 - 5PM
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From the Office...
Community resources for after school enrichment and care
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As the new school year quickly approaches, we want to provide some community resources you may want to research for after school programs. We have no partnership with these vendors (other than LWSD extended day) and the links are for general informational purposes only. Please explore your options and we hope you find a good fit for your family needs.
Rockwell PTA will be providing information on their before/after school enrichment opportunities during the year. We appreciate their due diligence in selecting programs/vendors for all grade levels.
After school Programs
Tutoring
Clubs/Activities
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First Week of School Notes
9:20-3:50pm
2:20pm Wed early release
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Tuesday, Sep 5
- First day of school for grades 1-5 (no kindergarten students)
- School starts at 9:20am
- Early dismissal at 12:20 (no lunch served)
- Family connection conferences in the afternoon
Wednesday, Sep 6
- Half day school for grades 1-5 (no kindergarten students)
- School starts at 9:20am
- Early dismissal at 12:20 (no lunch served)
- Family connection conferences in the afternoon
Thursday, Sep 7
- Half day school for grades 1-5 (no kindergarten students)
- School starts at 9:20am
- Early dismissal at 12:20 (no lunch served)
- Family connection conferences in the afternoon
Friday, Sep 8
- First FULL day of school for Grades 1-5
- First day of school for kindergarten group A only
- School hours: 9:20am-3:50pm
Monday, Sep 11
- Full day of school for grades 1-5
- First day of school for kindergarten group B only
- School hours: 9:20-3:50pm
Tuesday, Sep 12
- First FULL day of school for ALL students
- School hours: 9:20-3:50pm
- Welcome back coffee for parents: 9:20-9:50am by the flagpole
Wednesday, Sep 13
- First early release day of the school year
- School starts at 9:20
- Early release pickup is at 2:20pm
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Back to School Coffee
Tuesday, Sep 12, 2023
9:20-9:50
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Come join us on the first full day of school by the flagpole for donuts and coffee and a chance to socialize and meet your PTA Board! |
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Back to School Picnic &
Food Truck Event
Thursday, Sep 14, 2023
6-8 pm rain or shine
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Please join us for our PTA sponsored back to school picnic & food truck event. In addition to delicious food, we will enjoy performances from two of our after school enrichment vendors, Bach to Rock and Challenge Island, as well as a visit from our very own mayor, Angela Birney. This is a great opportunity to meet your child’s new classmates, teachers, and families and enjoy the last bits of summer weather!
Where: Back lawn area and blacktop along the fifth grade classrooms. Bring lawn chairs or blankets with you and a picnic dinner unless you would like to purchase from our food truck vendors. Due to liability issues, all children need to be supervised by a parent or family member over the age of 18.
Food trucks will be in the south staff parking lot. Tickets for popcorn and cotton candy can be purchased at the PTA information table under the covered area near the gym (cotton candy $3, popcorn $2). Both cash and CC will be accepted.
We need volunteers to help us set up and run this event. If you are available to help, please sign up here!
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Terri Edgar & Lori Bartholomew
co-Chairs of Events
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Calling all Social Media Butterflies!
Are you social media saavy?
Do you or your kids love creating Tik Tok videos?
No experience with either, but the camera loves you?
Then we need you! Your Rockwell Elementary PTA would like to modernize our communications to reach more parents and students and we would love your help. Click on the link below to send us a message and let us know if you'd like to participate in helping us creating Tik Tok videos for our school.
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STAY INFORMED
You might find the following additional resources useful:
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