Please read on for jobs that still need volunteers.

Communications-

A Damascus newsletter will go out as often as we can. You may also check the "PTA Bulletin Board at the 'Parent Pick-up' doors ( Gym entrance) for great fliers on things you and/or your family should think about like: questions to ask at parent / teacher conference; how to love school; easier times with homework; emergency prep for your family and more as well as membership forms and volunteer forms.



ON THE INTERNET: This simple website is available at schoolnotes.co



We would love a larger website where the PTA can do surveys, recieve feedback, members can down load forms and has a calendar-is in the works. We have had a few over the years that are up for awhile and then no one has time to work on it- so we try again in the new school year with someother new one...then it doesnt last.

Any Volunteers to assist in communications?



~The Damascus PTA needs volunteers. We also hope some of you will think about becoming officers, or committee chairs.



THE DAMASCUS PTA NEEDS HELP WITH THE FOLLOWING FOR THE 2008-9 SCHOOL YEAR:



* Sept- October- TEAM of 2-4 volunteers to process the PTA fundraiser.



You will be reviewing the fundraiser orders when they come due. This includes checking all forms along with the money and making phone calls. You will work as a group at the school in the conference room. Can arrange to work during school hours or after school hours.

WE no longer have a Fundraiser Chair ! HELP IS REALLY APPRECIATED and VERY NEEDED this year !


STILL CAN USE SOME BACK UP NAMES> THanks to those who signed up at open house to  help.  Some will call you soon. Fundraisers START SEPT 19th and END OCT 13th ( also Picture day !!  mark those calendars! )


*HELP NEEDED: ( in JAN )

THANK YOU to all the Volunteers how made Goodies for the Fall Red Cross Blood Drive Sept 17th.

WE WILL NEED MORE GOODIES for the Blood Drive in January Plus some volunteers to come HELP out that day....Jan 20th pr 21st.



* HELP NEEDED: can use a back up or two...got a few names to try calling...but no one was sure.

November 5th after lunch -OR- better yet, near the end of the school day for- distributing the Gertrude Hawk fundraiser boxes to Homeroom doorways. The boxes Do Not go home with the students that day. They are Picked up by parents the next day at Parent Conferences.





* HELP NEEDED: Still can use a back up name or two.

The first week of December (TBA ) after lunch

to sort and deliver to the home rooms the Limited Edition catalog sale orders. ( These go home with the students. In the past they have been in well marked bags.)



* HELP NEEDED: DATES for help will be announced soon. May still need help in this area.

The Reflections Committee may need assistance this fall for judging and/or next March for the Reflections awards evening. Mrs. Rutledge and Mrs. Lacey have agreed to co-chair the Reflections program for this year.



The end of October or early November is the local judging- and paper work and preparing pieces that go on to the next level-

Spring is mounting and displaying and student and family recognition night.

Volunteer jobs could include paper work ( filling out or checking forms), phone calls, mounting art work or making up display notebooks. Planning and recruiting any other help needed for the Reflections PTA night. ( Tent Early in March 09 )



Volunteers send in a note to the pta though the office or sign up at Open House Sept 15th 2008.



*THANK YOU FOR all the people who signed up to  help or bake something.  CAN USE a VOLUNTEER TO MAKE ALL THE REMINDER CALLS IN APRIL  and sort of oversee the day...at least on paper so we know what foods will be sent in...etc.

Teacher appreciation day ( always the 1st Wed in May )


To Volunteer send in a note to the PTA through the office or sign up at Open House on Sept. 15th 2008.



* 

Let us know if you can send in a dish of something for the buffet table-

the first wed in May 2009. Someone will call to remind you.





~~PTA FUNDRAISING~

This school year the Damascus PTA committed a "One Time' fundraiser with the two types of catalogs in one big envelope running at one time. In an effort to simplify things we cut out some past options.



Next spring we will go ahead and send out the Flower Bulb sale filers as we can make an average of $500 profit really quick with this one.



Participation in any fundraising is, and always has been

optional.



FYI:

The Damascus SCHOOL will most likely have their own fundraiser as in the past with Damascus School spirit wear t-shirts and candle sales. The school sale is traditionally in the fall and deliveries arrive prior to x-mas holiday.

*HELP NEEDED: GOT a few volunteers with a question mark about the time they have available...not knowing any dates for this job yet...if you can add your name to the list to try..we would welcome it.

VOLUNTEERS to process the School Sale orders ( tally up the paperwork ) and Volunteers to help sort the orders and distribute them to the classrooms when they come in will be MOST APPRECIATED.

Sign up to help with the school sale by sending in a note to the office or at the sign up table at Open House on Sept 15th 2008.



* HELP NEEDED: CO-Chair/TEAM 1-3 people to plan FUN PTA Meeting Nights.
Have a small group that started at open house with ONE idea they will try....How about another small team comming up with second idea - and lets try it!


We need to fill a MIN of 4 nights during the school year with either guest/classroom presentations or activities that will help draw people to the PTA night. We have had good membership. But very ( VERY) low meeting attendance!





~~ 2008-2009  letter ( Plea ) from the PTA President Sept 08~~

-PTA believes parents are more than fundraisers-





First let me ....

**THANK YOU FOR GENEROUS SUPPORT in last years fundraising!** The Damascus PTA supports numerous programs that EVERY STUDENT at DAMASCUS SCHOOL benefits from.



The Damascus PTA has been able to contribute nearly $5,000 a year directly to the Damascus School to support many great activities and extras for all the students to enjoy.

Here are some examples of the great things the PTA fundraisers do for the students at Damascus School: The Damascus PTA has purchased: TVs and VCRs for the classrooms & cabled the building to start a TV production studio; purchased- playground & gym extras, subscriptions for classroom, computer software for classrooms, art /bulletin board supplies, numerous first aid kits placed around the school , a new emergency wheelchair, assisted in field trip funding, purchased RIF Books, hired assembly events. The PTA annually funds the Walter Markowski Golf Day- and other positive rewards trips. The Damascus PTA financially supports programs for Student Council, 8th grade class year end, Reflections, Red Ribbon Week, Teacher Appreciation & Retirement acknowledgments, and the Saturday AM basketball program. We have hosted PTA information nights, game nights, poetry nights, craft nights, guest authors and produce informative send home fliers.



Again **THANK YOU ** without the success of our fundraisers these things would not be happening at Damascus School for your children !!!



Now lets go back to my opening sentence.

PTA believes parents are more than fundraisers.



Did you do more for your school or PTA than buy something in last years fundraiser?



There are many reasons people do not come to PTA nights...today families are busier than ever. I respect the distance the school is for some families...it makes a late night and now with gas so high it will be even more of a challenge to 'go out again' for a PTA or School nights. I do understand.......



It is not mandatory to come to a PTA meeting if you join the PTA.... You do not have to volunteer.....



HOWEVER...the Damascus PTA will not last much longer without

new interest and involvement.



- Things have to change

- Change is opportunity 

- Change can be good

YOU can be part of what happens !

The Damascus PTA needs new people, new ideas and more help.

When more people participate- there is less for each to do.



The Damascus PTA is not -Only- interested in fundraising !



(Of course without the money the PTA would not be able to support the programs it does..so maybe it wouldn't need to exsist....Membership is good, fundraising is good, showing up.....well that is another story.

Just a quick footnote here:

Western Wayne PTA disbanded and does not exsist this year due to lack of interest.

Look at the list of some of the things our PTA does for our students. How would you or your child feel to not have some or all of these extras because the PTA ( adults) didnt care anymore? )



* I think it is great for our children to know that the people in this community support them and what they do at school- by purchasing through the PTA fundraisers. We have been very lucky with the support you as parents and the community around us have shown over the years...with hard earned dollars.



* I think it is just as important for our children to see we (adults) support THEM.

Showing your child support with your TIME- shows that your child's school day, their education, their teachers, the community, the other children and families at Damascus are important to you too-



* I believe this is as important as the money we spent on them.



This may be a tring year with fuel costs. Free PTA sponsored fun events may be a great way to offer fun for our kids and for us to reconnect as families and neighbors in the Damascus School community.

We need new ideas and new energy to do these things. This could turn out to be the best year ever.

With new people we will have new ideas...and new opportunities to start fun activities at the school.



Lets drop the - D- in FUNDRAISING and have FUN RAISING our kids with Damascus PTA instead of just being a fundraising group.



I will gladly oversee and assist in teaching the traditions of the Damascus PTA and help make the transition for new officers and volunteers easier.



Dont let the great things the PTA has done in the past disappear for the next classes.



TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH !

SIGN UPS @ OPEN HOUSE

SEPTEMBER 15th 6pm--



Thank you,



Mrs. LoCicero

10+ year member with the Damascus PTA /president 5yrs+



I really care about the children at Damascus School, however mine is long past Damascus now.



It really is time for new PTA people to get involved. I have fun. You can have fun. Really- PTA can be fun!

Please consider what you can offer.

This can be a great year- you can make it what you'd like- or- you can make it nothing like Western Wayne PTA did.