Prairie PressPRAIRIE TRACE WEBSITE: WWW1.CCS.K12.IN.US/PTE/HOME FEBRUARY 19, 2010

14200 N. River Road Carmel, IN 46033 317-571-7925 Attendance 571-7929

Carmel Clay SchoolsExperience Excellence...Explore Opportunities...Realize Potential

2/22 Clay Middle School 5th Grade Instrument Try-Out

2/23 Student Council Meeting 2:30 p.m. PTO General Meeting 7:00 p.m.2/24 5th Grade Parent Coffee Chat 9:00 a.m. at Clay Middle School

2/25 Clay Middle School 5th Grade Instrument Try-Out

2/26 Middle School Course Selection Forms Due

3/1-3 ISTEP Testing for Grades 3-5 3/3 Math Club 2:35 p.m.3/4 Maggie Moo/Cool River Fundraiser All Day

IMPORTANT DATES Spring FlingClass Auction Donations

Head Room Parents are still collecting monetary donations for the class auction items for the upcoming live & silent auction on March 27th. All monies are due by Tuesday, February 23rd (checks should be made out to Prairie Trace PTO). Please contact your Head Room Parent with any questions. All proceeds from this event will be put in our general PTO fund to pay for countless programs and materials to benefit our students. Thank you for your support!

*Reminder*Grades 3-5

Applied Skills ISTEP TestingMonday, March 1Tuesday, March 2  

Wednesday, March 3(Please try to avoid scheduling any doctor appointments during these days and help

to ensure that your student is on time and present during all testing days!)

Test Taking TipsISTEP test taking tips:

1. Sleep well...Testing is much harder when you are tired!

2. Eat a healthy breakfast... Most tests are in the morning, and concentration is best when your body is fed with plenty of healthy protein.

3. This is not a good day to be running late....you want to come to school in a calm, mellow state. Crazy rushing, manic morning mess is not a good start to an important day!

4. Breathe...take a deep breath once you are in the room. You are ready for this!

5. Smile...let the warmth of your smile spread all over your body and into your brain. YOU ARE READY!

Prairie Trace PTO Board of Directors for 2010-2011 School Year

If you are interested in being a Director or Assistant Director for the PTO, there are still open slots for next year's Board.  The sign up form is at the end of this newsletter, and complete position descriptions are posted on the Prairie Trace Website under the PTO Tab.  If you have any questions, please contact Lynette Snell at lynette@snellfamily.com or 814-0967.

Newsletter and Picture SubmissionsSubmit information and/or pictures for the biweekly Prairie Press to deannbaker@mac.com by 12:00 p.m. Tuesday of the week of publication. Next issue: Friday, March 5, 2010.

Box Tops 4 Education Contest!We will draw two students to each win a set of

Japanese Erasers!Also…new for this contest…we will draw one

parent name to win a ticket to the Prairie Trace Spring Fling valued at $15.00!

We are having a contest for the collection of Box Tops! Prairie Trace earns 10 cents for every Box Top that you cut out and send to school with your child. Please watch for those Box Tops on participating products such as Pillsbury, General Mills, Kleenex and many more. Box Tops must be trimmed and grouped in sets of 10. The parent and child will get one entry for each set of 10 Box Tops. Each submission must be clearly marked with your name and your child’s name, teacher and grade.

Turn in your Box Tops by Friday Feb. 26, 2010! We will draw two student names and one adult name on Friday, February 26.

Join Us for the General PTO Meeting.........

The next General PTO Meeting is Tuesday, February 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the LGI room. Please join us for this informative meeting!Dr. Amy Dudley, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum for Carmel Clay Schools and Bruce Calabrese, a School Board Member, will speak about the upcoming Referendum and other issues pertinent to parents of students in the Carmel Clay Schools. The Referendum tagline is “Protect Our Class Size... Protect Our Programs... Protect Our Property Values... Pass the Referendum. For Our Students... For Our Community... For Our Future... Fourth of May".In addition, Seth Hamilton, Prairie Traceʼs Technology Specialist, will speak on how the ITouch is being used as an educational tool in the classroom. Upcoming school and PTO events will also be discussed.

Thursday, March 4, 2010 is Maggie Moo's and Cool River Pizza Fundraiser

Night!

Please join us for dinner and ice cream at Cool River Pizza and Maggie Moo’s, located on the corner of 146th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway. Prairie Trace will receive 20% of all sales on March 4 from Cool River Pizza and Maggie Moo’s!

At Maggie Moo’s it will be a "celebrity scooper" night. Nine teachers, including Mrs. Awe, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Holder, Mrs. Hutt, Mrs. Haughan, Mr. Hamilton, Miss Sulkin and Mrs. Dragash, along with Mr. Hunter and Mrs. Szuhaj will scoop and/or greet you at the ice cream shop during the

hours of 5:30-8:00 p.m.! Further information will go home soon with the times for our “celebrity scoopers”.

Maggie Moo Ice Cream Cake

Voucher Sale!Prairie Trace will be selling vouchers for yummy ice cream cakes from Maggie Moo’s. Prairie trace will make a percentage from the sales and you will have a voucher to be used at a later date for a cake or

cupcakes. A flyer will go home soon in your student’s back pack with the details on how to purchase the vouchers. This was a successful fundraiser for our school last year!

Attention First Grade Parents:

As a reminder, 1st Grade Challenge testing at Prairie Trace Elementary is scheduled for March. The qualification tests are scheduled to be administered to those students registered throughout the week of March 8-12 and on March 15 during the regular school day. Please note that no further registrations are being accepted!

The best way to prepare your child is to be sure that he/she is well rested and has a healthy breakfast each morning before school.

In early April, you will be notified of your child’s progress.

5th to 6th Grade Transition Information 

Friday, February 19, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

Clay Middle School counselors will visit Prairie Trace to speak with 5th grade

students about scheduling courses for 6th grade.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at

9:00 a.m.Clay Middle School Cafeteria

Clay Middle School administrators and guidance counselors will host a time to chat over coffee to answer any questions and to

get to know new Clay parents.

Friday, February 26, 2010Signed course selection forms due to

Prairie Trace Elementary.

Prairie Trace’s Extreme Challenge Evening Featuring Live & Silent Auctions

Please join us for an adult evening of extreme challenges, surprises & lots of laughs, while we raise money for our school!

Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Place: St. Elizabeth Seton Parish Life Center

Cost: $15/person

SNACKS: BYO Food & Drinks (coolers permitted)

RSVP: Complete the registration form on the back of this page and return it to school in an envelope labeled “Extreme Challenge”. Please include payment with checks made out to Prairie Trace PTO.

BONUS: Once again, a prize will be given to the “Most SPIRITED” table, so get a group together, pick a theme and show your spirit!

Note: Registration forms can be filled out for 1-8 participants. If you don’t have a full table established, have no fear! We were able to work with all participants last year to create 21 fun, energetic and cohesive tables.

This fundraiser is a PTO sponsored event, but the evening is open to any friends, family or neighbors who you wish to invite. A good time will definitely be had by all!

INFO: Contact Annette Simmons at 844-2755 or aksimmons@mac.com

Sign up soon – tables will go fast!Please use the registration form on the back of this sheet.

Prairie Trace’s Extreme Challenge EveningFeaturing Live & Silent Auctions

Registration form • Sign up from 1-8 participants below. All participants will be placed together at a

table. • If you are registering less than 8 participants on this form, you will be contacted prior

to the event with the names of the additional participants at your table. • Please include the first & last names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of ALL

participants you are registering on this form. • This fundraiser is a PTO sponsored event, but the evening is open to any friends,

family or neighbors who wish to invite.• The cost is $15/person. Checks should be made out to Prairie Trace PTO.• Please return this registration form & your payment to school in an envelope labeled

“Extreme Challenge Registration”.

First & Last Name Phone Number E-mail Address

1. _________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________

4. _________________________________________________________

5. _________________________________________________________

6. _________________________________________________________

7. _________________________________________________________

8. _________________________________________________________

Dear Carmel Clay Schools Parents,

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has required additional immunizations for the 2010-2011 school year.

They are listed as followed:

Students entering preschool or kindergarten must now have 2 appropriately documented varicella (chicken pox) vaccines, or physician documentation of disease history, or laboratory evidence of immunity.

Students entering grades 6-12 must have appropriate documentation of the following vaccinations: Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap); meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4-Menactra); and a second varicella vaccination, or documentation of disease history, or laboratory evidence of immunity.

Adequate documentation is as follows:• A physician’s written documentation• An immunization record from another school corporation• An immunization record in the Indiana Immunization Registry (CHIRP)• A printed record from another state registry

This documentation must include the month, day, and year each dose of vaccine was administered.

The new requirements for immunizations from the ISDH can be viewed on the nurse page of the Carmel Clay Schools website on the Student Health Guidelines.

These immunizations may be obtained at the office of your family physician, at the Hamilton County Health Department in Noblesville (776-8500), the Marion County Health Department (221-2000), or the Primary Care Center associated with St. Vincent Hospital (338-7532) which holds “Super Shot Clinic” once a month.

The above mentioned vaccines may be obtained at anytime but must be complete with adequate documentation and received no later than August 1, 2010 in order for the school nurse to update your child’s medical file.

More information on these additional immunization requirements may be found on the ISDH website http://www.in.gov/isdh/17094.htm

Prairie Trace PTOKroger Gift Card Order Form

Parent Name _____________________________________

Student Name_____________________________________

Grade_________ Teacher________________

Number of Kroger Gift Cards_____ x $25 = $________

Please include a check payable to Prairie Trace PTO for the above amount.

Your gift card(s) will be delivered to the student listed above in 7-10 days. If you would prefer to pick up your gift card(s) in the office at Prairie Trace, please check here_______.

If you have any questions regarding your order, please contact LeAnne Collins at 810-9110 or lc@indy.rr.com.

Thank you!

Additional order forms are available on the Prairie Trace website under the PTO tab. http://www1.ccs.k12.in.us/pte

2009-2010 Prairie Trace Elementary

PTO Board Volunteer Form

Continued on Next Page

Please send in your completed form to the attention of

Lynette Snell no later than Friday, February 5, 2010

Name:____________________________________________

Home #:________________ Mobile#:__________________

Address:_________________________________________

Email:___________________________________________

Child's name(s) & grade(s) in 2010-2011:

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Executive Board PositionsPresident: Presides over PTO meetings; acts as liaison between school

administration/staff and school board; serves as advisor on all committees;

advances to Past President.

Vice President: Assists President as needed; Acts as Chairman of Nominating

Committee; acts as liaison with school and school board; advances to President.

This position is a 3-year commitment

Secretary: Keeps records of all general and executive meetings; posts minutes of

those meetings; prepares Prairie Press; handles any necessary correspondence.

Ways and Means: Oversees and advises all fundraising directors and their

activities; presents new fundraising ideas to Executive Board.

Treasurer: Maintains accurate financial records for PTO, assists in budget

preparation; works with Assistant Treasurer to collect monies at fundraising

events; files all necessary annual reports and tax returns with help of CPA;

reports on financial condition of PTO at all meetings. Accounting/ Bookkeeping

experience is very helpful. See website for more detailed information.

Assistant Treasurer: Responsible for money collection; assists with budget

preparation, assists Treasurer as necessary; advances to Treasurer. This is a 2-

year position. See website for more detailed information.

Past President/Advisor: Serves as Advisor to Executive Board; serves on

Nominating Committee.

These are abbreviated descriptions of each position. For more complete information on each

position, please visit the Prairie Trace-PTO website and choose "Director Descriptions":

http://myccs.ccs.k12.in.us/pte/pto/Leadership

Amy Rapala

Jackie Wolfe

Please print your name and order of preference in the appropriate boxes. 1=first

choice, 2=2nd choice, 3=3rd choice.

Director

Lynette Snell

Open

2009-2010 Prairie Trace Elementary

PTO Board Volunteer Form

Continued on Next Page

PTO Board of Directors Positions Director AssistantAppreciation-Faculty & Staff: Handles various appreciation events for faculty and

staff throughout school year.

Appreciation-Students & Families: Provides refreshments for various gatherings

throughout year; responsible for organizing & advertising Back-to-School

Gathering, Kindergarten Orientation, Grand Person's Breakfast and other similar

events.

Book Fair (November): Acts as liaison between school and Scholastic to plan

dates & location; organizes volunteers and informs students & families about the

book fair.

Business Incentives: Coordinates collection and tabulation of Box Tops,

Campbell's labels and other similar programs; helps promote shopping at Kroger,

Target, and other retailers to help school receive percentage of sales.

Cafeteria Volunteers: Coordinates scheduling of volunteers who assist staff

during lunch hours.

Carnival (November): Works closely with several assistants to organize & plan all

aspects of the carnival. See website for more detailed information.

Chat-N-Chew (Jan-Mar): Coordinates and organizes student "book clubs" for all

grade levels. See website for more detailed information.

Computer & Technology: Maintains volunteer database; collects volunteer forms

and distributes lists to respective PTO Directors.

Fall Fundraiser: Promotes fundraiser, coordinates kick-off and recruits volunteers

as needed. Handles distribution of product and prizes as needed.

Fifth Grade Special Events/Grade Level Coordinator: Plans and organizes

committees for 5th grade events including Biz Town, End of Year Recognition, and

other events throughout the year.

Fourth Grade Special Events/Grade Level Coordinator: Plans & organizes

Medieval Fest and other special 4th grade events.

Media Center: Organizes work schedule for parent volunteers who assist in the

Media Center. Holds training sessions as needed and acts as liaison between

Media Specialist and volunteers.

Movie Night: Organizes & prepares the Friday Night events, including obtaining

movies, scheduling volunteers, coordinating concessions & tabulating monies

received.

Office Volunteers: Schedules parent volunteers to assist the office staff for

special projects as needed; also coordinates volunteers for issuing book-rental

receipts, bookstore, school picture days, bus greeters, Kindergarten registration,

and other events.

Office Volunteers Assistant: Assist Office Volunteers Director as needed;

coordinate volunteers for assembling family packets; act as liaison with school

supply kit company and coordinate all aspects of order form distribution, etc.

Also coordinates ordering, tracking and distributing of supplemental school

supplies (ie, art bags, recorders, assignment notebooks, etc.).

Parent Center: Maintains schedule of volunteers to complete projects submitted

by teachers throughout school year; provides training session on equipment used;

restocks supplies and checks on status of project completions.

Room Parents: Works with assistants to assign Room Parent & Grade Level

Coordinator positions. Works with principal & Executive Board to establish

guidelines for class parties and other events. For a greater description of this

position, please visit the website.

2009-2010 Prairie Trace Elementary

PTO Board Volunteer Form

Continued on Next Page

PTO Board of Directors Positions Director AssistantSpirit Wear: In Late May/Early June, selects Spirit Wear vendor and selects items

to be offered the following school year. Organizes orders, collects monies and

distributes products to students. May also order Field Day t-shirts, if applicable.Spring Fling (March): Coordinates all aspects of spring fundraising event

(entertainment, food, donations, bidding/checkout, location of event, etc.); works

with Assistants to solicit donations for silent auction items; works with Head Room

Parents to organize and create class silent auction baskets. See website for more

detailed information.

Student Directory: Gathers data from families and compiles student directory.

Sells advertising space in directory; responsible for sending to printer and

subsequently distributing to current PTO members. Familiarity with Excel is

helpful.

Yearbook: Gathers photographs taken during the year to use in compiling the

yearbook. Using an online system, will create a photo page for grade and create

final product. Also responsible for order taking, money collection and distribution

of yearbook.