FSUS PTSA

Valentine’s Day came early to FSUS PTSA.

A huge thank you goes out to all of you who donated clothes, household items and electronics for our Goodwill Donation Drive. We were able to secure $1,000 in vouchers for students and families in need. The FSUS community has a very giving heart! Special thanks to Michelle Carruthers for coordinating this event and for standing outside in subfreezing weather to collect everyone’s donations.

PTSA is focused this month on finding our next group of leaders to help guide our organization through the 2010-2011 school year. If you’ve been wondering how you can get more involved in our school and make a positive difference in the lives of our students, teachers and families this is it! Our Nominating Committee is tasked with finding a candidate for each of our elected positions: President, 1st Vice President - Fundraising, 2nd Vice President - Membership, 3rd Vice President - Programs, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer.

 I can tell you that I have found the past two years very rewarding because I’ve had the pleasure of working with a strong team of people - officers, committee chairs and volunteers. These are people with families and jobs and community commitments who found time to give back to our school. If enough people step forward to help then no one person is overwhelmed. Having a strong PTSA sends a message to our kids that their education is important - to themselves, to their families and to our school community.

Elections will be held at our April General Assembly meeting, which is scheduled for April 20, 2010 at 6:30pm in the Cafeteria. If you are interested in any of these positions or would like to learn more about them please contact a member of our Nominating Committee or send me an email and I’ll pass it along. Your Nominating Committee is:

· Precious Boatwright, precious.boatwright@MyFWC.com  

· Katie Broome, kev05@fsu.edu  

· Kristina Birard, kbirard@fsu.edu  

Please also be on the lookout this month for more information about the FSUS Relay for Life. We will need participants as well as volunteers to make this event a success. There will be a brochure and a website soon. In the meantime you can get more information from Megan Brink at mbrink@fsu.edu or Danielle in the Front Office.

Sincerely,

Kasey Chapin

Happy Holidays!

I hope you enjoy these next few weeks of celebration with family and friends. The best part of the holiday season is the spirit of generosity and giving. I really appreciate how hard everyone has been working to make this a great year for FSUS. Dr. Grantham recently sent home a letter to FSUS parents in which he thanked PTSA for our efforts on behalf of the school. Thank you, Dr. G., for your support and recognition.

One of the events he mentioned was “Walking for Trina”. I want to recognize the real heroines of that event - Dottie Meadows, Kate Pulver and Cheryl Simon. These ladies embody the spirit of giving and loving thy neighbor, and I was very happy to volunteer at their event.

I would also like to recognize Julie Lengacher for organizing our third Second Harvest Food Drive. Every year is bigger and better. Julie and her volunteers collected over 2700 pounds of food almost doubling last year’s total, and Mr. Mullings’ class wowed everyone with their impressive donation of 727 items. Mr. Mullings will receive our new “Top Class Can” which goes to the class with the most donations.

Precious Boatwright went to the Florida PTA conference in Orlando last month and accepted the Safety Award on behalf of FSUS PTSA. Bonnie Abellera wrote our award-winning entry detailing the efforts of Heidi Abernethy and Danni Vogt to create a safer environment for our students. Heidi hosted a Cyber Safety program for all our middle and high school students. Danni organized our Bike Rodeo and Health & Wellness Fair. Thanks to all of you for your hard work!

If you would like to give back this month we will have volunteer opportunities with our Holiday Shop, December 7-10 helping students find little gifts for their family and friends. We will also be helping the Tomahawk Café staff with their Dinner Roll Fundraiser, December 14-17. All proceeds will go to the Cafeteria for the purchase of an electronic sign and for staff development and training. Our kids visit the cafeteria at least once a day, and the cafeteria staff was the first school team to have 100% membership in PTSA this year. We are so pleased to help them reach their goals.

Finally, our Administration would like your help with making the Faculty and Staff Holiday Party very special. If you would like to donate a door prize for this event, please contact Dr. Grantham’s office.

Wishing you all the best!

Kasey Chapin
FSUS PTSA President
FSUS PTSA
“All of Us”

Dear FSUS Families,

The first nine weeks of school are over and FSUS PTSA is going strong. I’m going to take this opportunity to give thanks for our many blessings this year.

First, thank you, our members, for joining and volunteering to help our school be the best it can be.  Our goal every year is to increase our membership.  Why?  We don’t just want the dues.  It is our goal because we want our kids to go to the kind of school where the parents, teachers and students make a commitment to service, education and community.  Gandhi said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”.  Thank you for joining PTSA and by doing so indicating that supporting FSUS and working together is important to you.

Thanks to the Administration, Faculty and Staff for working with us to make our events a success and for being responsive to any questions or concerns we bring forward.

Thanks to all of our committee chairs and volunteers.  We have already had a successful Fall fundraiser and General Assembly meeting, fed our families at Open House, hosted our first FSUS Dads’ event with “Donuts for Dads”, started our elementary school vegetable gardens, hosted a bike rodeo, enjoyed two Family Fun Nights at Chick-Fil-A and Skate World, kicked off the Principal’s A/R Reading Challenge, granted Teacher Mini-Grants for travel to educational conferences, and started a Room Parent Program.

This month we look forward to being of service to others in need as we collect food for the Second Harvest Fall Food Drive.  This is also the month we will be accepting entries for our Reflections Arts Program, launching Teacher MiniGrants for Hospitality events, and hosting a Bake Sale at the SouthWood Harvest Gathering.  Check out all of our upcoming events below and in our new Google calendar of events!

It truly takes “All of Us” to get things done.  Thank you all so much for being part of it. 

Kasey Chapin
FSUS PTSA President

Hello FSUS Families!

 ”O” is for October and, lately, it is for Online.  Both Florida State University Schools News and FSUS PTSA now have Facebook Pages.  Become a “Fan” and get all the latest info on what is happening at our school and with PTSA.  PTSA has also updated our website and offers an online events calendar powered by Google that you can automatically download to your online calendar.  It is very easy and very convenient!  Special thanks to Tamara McElroy for all her hard work improving our communication.

“O” is also for Outside as PTSA begins our Elementary School Garden program this Friday and our Bike Rodeo later this month.  Read Robin’s update to find out how to participate in these great programs.  We are especially proud of the FSUS Varsity Track Team for volunteering their time to help organize and supervise this event!

Speaking of student volunteers, I’d also like to thank high schoolers Olivia H., Reika G., and Anthony M. for babysitting during our first General Assembly meeting.  We all learned a lot about Swine Flu from Debbie Tolsma of the Leon County Health Department.  If you missed her presentation the latest news on the flu is available at http://www.myflusafety.com/.

Thank you for being a member of FSUS PTSA.  I look forward to seeing you at Skate World for Family Fun Night or any of our other events this month.

Sincerely,

Kasey Chapin
FSUS PTSA President

Dear FSUS Families,
March Madness!  Some of you may think of college basketball, but for many of us it means the flurry of school activities before we take our much-deserved Spring Break.  Your FSUS PTSA has several activities and lots of behind-the-scenes planning going on in March.
FCAT Testing takes place on specific dates March 10-19.  PTSA volunteers will be distributing snacks to all students taking FCAT tests.  Please provide your student with bottled water during his or her testing dates.
Planning is already underway for the Teacher Staff Appreciation Week, May 4-8.  If you have any questions or would like to volunteer your time please contact Susan Brodbeck at 877-4230.
PTSA is also hosting a Health & Safety Fair during school hours on the Thursday before Spring Break, March 26.  Volunteers are needed that day to help both exhibitors and students navigate the event.  Click here to volunteer.
The PTSA Nominating Committee is seeking interested PTSA members for elected office for the 2009-2010 school year.  Please contact Heidi Abernethy to learn more.
Finally, we are encouraging our elementary students to read as much as possible for the Principal’s Reading Challenge so that Mr. Trafford will transform into Captain Underpants at the May Fun Friday.  Seriously, kids, you do not want to let that opportunity pass you by!  You will find extra reading logs by clicking here.
Take care and enjoy your Spring Break!
Kasey Chapin
FSUS PTSA President

Dear FSUS Families,

It was great to see so many of you at this week’s General Assembly.  I’d like to thank our guest speakers, Principal Trafford and Dr. Wicker, for providing us with a lot of information about issues that are on everyone’s mind right now.

Principal Trafford previewed this year’s FCAT testing.  He stressed that the best way to prepare our children for these tests is with a good night’s sleep, a good breakfast and prompt arrival at school.  He also encouraged everyone to read the FCAT Guides that came home in the backpack mail.  Principal Trafford’s also updated everyone on the campus construction projects.  Our students and teachers can look forward to much-needed classroom space in the fall.

Dr. Wicker outlined the technological, educational and budgetary challenges that face our school.  These are uncertain times, and FSUS and all of our K-12 schools are in serious budgetary crisis.  Dr. Wicker encouraged everyone to visit her link on the school website, www.fsus.fsu.edu to keep up with the latest news.  Look out for notices from our Legislative Chair, Precious Boatwright, for upcoming opportunities through Florida PTA to make our voices heard to our legislators.

Our meeting was also a time of celebration as we congratulated the winners of our PTA Reflections student art competition.  This year’s theme was “Wow,” and we are so proud of the middle and high school students who submitted entries.  A huge thank you also goes to the teachers who supported this program and encouraged their students to participate.  Read more about our Reflections winners further down in this newsletter.

FSUS PTSA has a full Spring calendar.  We will be working on school-wide recycling, planting a Spring garden, raising funds with a motivating “Fun Run” Spring Fundraiser, providing FCAT snacks and senior scholarships, hosting more family fun nights, The Elementary Reading Challenge, The Bike Rodeo, The Health and Safety Fair, our Teacher Staff Appreciation Week and more.  We will offer plenty of volunteer opportunities so please jump in and give your time wherever you can.

We will get through these tough times together.  I have been proud to witness our FSUS community support each other in good times and in bad, and I have faith that our school will emerge stronger than ever.

Kasey Chapin
FSUS PTSA President

Dear FSUS Families,

It’s hard to believe it is already December.  Your FSUS PTSA has given $6,000 in teacher mini-grants, reimbursed student activity fees to three FSUS families, matched three teacher mini-grants, and volunteered hundreds of service hours.  Thank you so much for your support of these activities.  Anytime we have asked for help you have generously given their time and support.

Thank you to our Fall Carnival volunteers who helped sell sugar-free Sandy Candy: Precious Boatright, Tracina Bush, Kasey Chapin, Michele Dobrin, Judith Mankunis, Betty Morales, Quartil Robinson and Richard Stresing. We raised a little over $100 for our general fund.

We also appreciate our Thanksgiving Luncheon volunteers who braved the chilly morning to sell tickets and issue passes:  Mary Annette, Kasey Chapin, Alicia Cherry, Rhonda Hicks, PK Jameson, Trish Kill, Julie Lengacher, Julann Long, Chiquita Mordica, Ashley Scruggs, Lora Signs and Marissa Walker.

We will be back hard at work in January.  We need two volunteers to lead our Teacher Staff Appreciation Week activities in May. If you and a friend would like to lead this event, please contact me. TSAW is one of the most important events that FSUS PTSA hosts during the school year and early planning is an important key to its success.

We will also be meeting for our second General Assembly on Tuesday, January 20 at 6:30pm in the Tomahawk Cafe.  At this meeting we will be electing a Nominating Committee who will nominate a slate of candidates for the April election of the 2009-2010 PTSA Officers.  We will also enjoy a performance by the Elementary ORFFestra.  The Key Club will provide child care and light refreshments will be provided.

Other events to look forward to are more Family Fun Nights, FCAT snacks for our students, a rescheduled Bike Rodeo, the Health & Wellness Fair and much more.

Happy Holidays!

Kasey Chapin
PTSA President

Dear FSUS Families,

Since November is the traditional time to appreciate our blessings, let me take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has joined FSUS PTSA this year and who has given their time to support our activities.

A huge thank you goes to our faculty!  This is a record year for teacher memberships.  Another huge thank you to our FSUS families!  We had more participation from middle and high school families for our fall fundraiser than ever before.  A huge thank you to our Executive Board for all their time, effort and planning!  A huge thank you to our hard-working Committee Chairs!

New committees like Family Fun Nights have held Spirit Nights at Beef O’Brady’s and Chick-Fil-A and are planning some great new events.  Our Recycling Committee has distributed new containers on campus and is working with existing recycling efforts to make our campus more environmentally aware and responsible.  Our Reading Programs Committee is back and working on a new Reading Challenge for the elementary kids.  Our Health & Safety Committee is working hard on the school gardens and on rescheduling the Bike Rodeo.  We are also looking forward to our developing Room Parents program.

Our volunteers are the best and whether they are distributing fundraising products or tending to our school garden they are worth their weight in gold!  I know many of you are hoping for an opportunity to volunteer.  November will provide many chances from helping collect food for the Second Harvest to working at the Thanksgiving Luncheon.

Please know that you are an important member of the FSUS PTSA team supporting our students, teachers, staff and administrators.

We’re all in this together!.

Kasey Chapin
PTSA President

Dear Kasey,

Dear FSUS Families,

We are almost at the end of our first nine weeks of school.  Over 450 members have joined FSUS PTSA and working together we have met our school-wide fundraising goal for our Fall Fundraiser.  Thank you all for supporting PTSA, Florida High, our teachers and our students.  We’re all in this together!
Our first General Assembly meeting on September 23rd was well attended.   Members approved the budget, heard from our officers and committee chairs about current and future projects and events, recognized teachers who have been approved for Teacher Mini-grants, enjoyed an update from Principal Trafford about the current and possible future building projects on the FSUS campus, and shared a lovely dessert.  Thanks to Madison Fitzpatrick, the newly elected president of K-Kids, for leading us in our Pledge of Allegiance, to Key Club for providing babysitting during the meeting and to Mrs. Searight and the cafeteria staff for providing beverages.

We have many volunteer opportunities coming up in October and over the course of the school year.  If you have a specific committee you are interested in working with, please click here to sign up.

To volunteer to help out with upcoming PTSA events,  see the section below entitled “Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities.  Electronic sign-ups are available.

Remember that anyone who becomes a FSUS PTSA member by October 31st is eligible for our drawing to win back your student’s school activity fee.  Also, teachers who are PTSA members and submit a mini-grant request by October 31 are eligible for a drawing to win a matching mini-grant.  Both drawings will take place on November 1.  Please contact Marie Aguirre at maguirre@tnc.org with any questions about the drawings.  You will find both membership forms and mini-grant applications on our webpage.

Thanks again for all your support of FSUS PTSA!

Kasey Chapin
PTSA President

Dear Kasey,

Welcome Back FSUS Families!

PTSA is off to a great start this year. I really enjoyed talking to so many of you during our orientation week and back-to-school events.  Everyone seems very excited about this school year and many of you have asked how you can be involved.  You can be involved in a lot of different ways:

1. Join or renew your membership with PTSA.  We will send you this newsletter and other notices filled with information about volunteer opportunities at the school and all the great plans we have to support our faculty, students and their families.
2. Join the FSUS Listserv.  This is the most immediate way to get important school news.  A perfect example of the value of timely information was the unexpected closing of FSUS in anticipation of Tropical Storm Fay.
3. Join our Room Parent program.  PTSA is organizing “Room Parents” to take the lead in gathering and sharing contact information for a class or area.  These parents will keep in touch with the families of your student’s classmates and receive updates of what volunteer opportunities exist in the classrooms.
4. Support our ongoing fall product fundraiser.  This is our main fundraiser for the year and it allows PTSA to provide great programs for the students such as recycling, cyber safety and media literacy, and safe routes to school.  We also hope to increase the number of teacher mini-grants available to the teachers and offer Family Fun Nights.  This is just a small sample of the programs PTSA can do this year if we reach our fundraising goal.
5. Clip and save your Box Tops, Campbell’s Labels, Tyson Panels and Community Coffee Labels for our ongoing Collections Fundraiser.  Your efforts translate into real money and credit for needed supplies for our school.

I strongly encourage you to get involved in your PTSA. Remember you don’t have to make a huge time commitment; an hour of your time can make a difference.

Finally, please join me on Tuesday, September 16 at 6:30PM in the Tomahawk Café for PTSA’s first General Assembly.  We will outline our plans for the year and offer a proposed budget for the membership’s consideration and approval.

Please contact me if you have any questions about PTSA, or if you’d like to join or volunteer.  We have a couple of chair and co-chair positions available for Awards, Teacher-Staff Appreciation, and Health & Safety.  We also need help with website development.  Remember, we’re all in this together and by working together we will have a great year!

Kasey Chapin
FSUS PTSA President