Family Dance Night Fun!

If you missed Sisters Elementary School's/SPTC's Family Dance Night, you missed an epic evening. Several hundred youngsters and their parents came out to have fun Dancing to Reno Holler and Steve and buying chances to win one of a kind baskets created by each grade level. The dollar proceeds are going to Family Access Network (FAN) while the food donations are going to the Kiwanis Food Bank. Check out the action in the slideshow below. Or download pics of your friends having fun from our online album at the link provided.

To see the whole album, click this hyperlink.

Tickets Now On Sale for Green and Gold Gala Auction

Get your tickets for the big event on Nov 6th. This year's Auction is once again at Aspen Lakes, Brand33 restaurant and a scrumptious pasta dinner buffet is included in the cost. Tickets are available at Metamorphosis and from the Secretary at Sisters Elementary School.

Stay tuned to our twitter feed for up to the minute updates of donations and the amazing items we'll have to offer at the auction.

Hope to see you there as we raise money to keep SES the unique educational experience it is.

Happy New Year

We held our first meeting of the new school year today. Although it was a marathon session, we got some excellent work done. We finalized the literacy grants from last spring (increasing the total spent to $8200), approved a request for money to provide supplies to paint Kelso's Wheel on the playground (up to $600), and signed up some new folks to help with the teacher's luncheon on Oct 22nd. We also got the groundwork laid for the upcoming Green and Gold Gala, which will be held Nov 6 at Aspen Lakes. Moving the event from the spring to the fall may cause some initial confusion, and will certainly require that we jump out of the starting gate, but we hope it will decrease the competition (fewer auctions in the fall) and allow us to solicit our donor base coming out of their most lucrative season.

We're thrilled to welcome the new parents who showed up at our meeting, and hope more will decide to become involved. Classroom projects for the Gala will begin in the next few weeks and we can always use more hands and creative ideas!

Sisters Parent Teacher Community Awards $7,400 in Literacy

The Sisters Elementary School library and classrooms have been awarded $7,400 by the Sisters Parent Teacher Community (SPTC) for the acquisition of books and literacy-building resources. This includes grade level classrooms and special classrooms such as Speech, Lifeskills, and Reading.
SPTC facilitator Peyton Griffin says, “We are so thankful for the contributions of families, businesses, staff, and students that resulted in our ability to bring so many new books and reading resources to SES.” SPTC raised the funds for this project through the school’s annual Green and Gold Gala Auction.
SES staff and parents decided that strengthening literacy programs throughout the school was the most important contribution SPTC could make this year. Literacy resources provided by the SPTC grants will be used to support teachers in the implementation of interventions and enrichment opportunities targeted at specific skill development in order to advance student learning.
SPTC Treasurer Winter Lewis said “The SPTC contribution to the elementary school is the culmination of a lot of hard work by parents, staff, and administration. It is a pleasure to work with such a dedicated group.”

Next Gala Meeting, Mar 10th

Our next SPTC meeting is Tuesday, March 10th at 8:15 AM in the Commons at SES.

Hope to see you there--it's time to hear the results of the Gala and congratulate all hands on a successful event!

See ya!

SPTC Now on Twitter

You can find out instantly what is happening with SPTC. Just follow Sisters_SPTC on twitter. You can also find us using our e-mail: sptc@outlawnet.com

Next Meeting

Come get an update on all our projects at 8:15 Tuesday morning, Feb 10th.

Meeting Tomorrow, January 13, 8:15 AM SES Commons

Agenda:

- Welcome/review of old business/minutes

- District Superintendent Elaine Drakulich is visiting to talk about a mission/visioning process

- Sisters School District Mission, Vision, and Goals Process, Elaine Drakulich

- Approve Dec. 9, 2008 Minutes

- Accept Suggestions for Agenda

- Personal Safety Curriculum at SES, Shawn Diez

- Local Option Committee Update

- School Funding Rally in Salem, President’s Day Feb. 16, 2009

- Treasurer’s Report

- Fundraising Activities
-- Gala Auction at Aspen Lakes Fri. March 6, 2009

- Fundraising Goals

- School Grounds
-- Celebrate Oregon’s 150th by “Taking Care of Oregon” Sat. May 16, 2009
-- Piles near greenhouse

- Events for Future Discussion
-- Family Dance Night Fri. April 24
-- Family Culture Assembly unknown date
-- Family Barbeque in June

Hope to see you there!

Meeting Tomorrow, Nov 18, 8:15 AM in the Commons

Draft Agenda, SPTC Meeting, Nov. 18, 2008, 8:15 am

Welcome, Introductions, Sign-In

Approve Oct. 14, 2008 Minutes

Accept Suggestions for Agenda

Treasurer’s Report

Teacher’s Lunch Thank Yous

Directory Thank Yous

Positive Feedback about Play Structure

Thank Yous for Pet Clean Up Sign

Thank You to Central Oregon Plumbing Service

Welcome Shawn Diez

Fundraising
Gala Auction at Aspen Lakes Fri. March 6
SES T-Shirts
Vendor Partnerships (Safeway, Harvest, Campbell’s Labels and Box Tops, etc.)
Encourage end-of-year TD contributions to Sisters Schools Foundation
Laura Gentry about income stream opportunity

Discussion Issues
Local Option
School Grounds

Proposal
SES Yearbook

Communication
Staff: Classroom Reps., Staff Meetings?
Families: Newsletter, Web, Encourage family registration on School Loop, Discuss Timing
and Attendance of Back to School Open House and Parent’s Night

Fun Events for Future Discussion
Family Dance Night Fri. April 24
Family Culture Assembly unkown date
Family Barbeque in June

Help Spread the Word -- Local Option Committee Needs Help!

The Local Option provides nearly 10% of Sisters schools' funding. It is absolutely essential to pass if we are going to retain progress on funding classroom technology (Smartboards, Senteo clickers, document readers), smaller class sizes, buying up-to-date textbooks, foreign language and other academic electives, and co-curricular programs.

PLEASE COMMIT TO SPENDING TWO HOURS HELPING TO PASS THE LOCAL OPTION. The campaign committee is looking for people to man a table at Ray's and the post office, to canvass door-to-door, and to participate in morning drive-time Spirit Rallies. Contact Glen Lasken to sign up: glasken@bendbroadband.com or h) 549-0827 cell 410-2602.

Other great ways to support the campaign: wear a Renew Local Option button (I have a supply)...post a sign in your yard, if you have a high-traffic area (let me know if you want one)...talk to your neighbors about why you're voting yes, and how important it is for our community...hand out brochures (request some from Glen) and talk to people at football and other high school sports events.

Below are some key points, so you can talk knowledgeably about the issues. Remember these four biggies:

* The Local Option simply renews the levy already in place, at the same rate.

* The Local Option means better schools and successful students.

* Even in tough economic times, it's a smart investment we need to continue.

* Vote Yes on the Local Option for our schools, our kids, our future.

1. Local Option pays for: class sizes that are five to seven students smaller.up-to-date textbooks, technology and instructional materials.a wider range of language arts, math and science classes.more electives (standout programs in music, arts, drama, shop, etc.).competitive salaries so we get the best teachers.and co-curricular activities.

2. Even in tough economic times, we can't afford not to continue our support for Local Option. Sisters' schools are a key reason that our property values remain strong. Voting it down would save households very little money in the short term while having a long-lasting negative impact on our schools, our kids and our community. Once teachers and programs are cut, it would take a long time to restore them once a new Local Option measure is passed down the road.

3. LO first passed by voters in 2000, and renewed in 2004. It is not a new tax and the tax rate is the same as the last eight years: $0.75 per $1000 of assessed property value.

4. For the average household property assessed at $268,300, the Local Option amounts to about 55 cents per day.

5. LO is a big reason for our schools' successes:

. Sisters has one of the lowest dropout rates in the state.

. Sisters has the highest graduation rate in Central Oregon.

. 82% of Sisters students participate in extracurricular activities, reducing the number of at-risk students.

. Sisters topped all other Central Oregon school districts in the overall percentage of students who "met or exceeded" state assessment standards for writing, reading and math categories.

. Sisters was the only school district in Central Oregon in which all schools met federal assessment standards.

. Sisters has one of the highest percentage of National Merit Scholars of districts in Oregon.

Full details on the website at: www.sisterslocaloption.com

Meeting Reminder

The next General SPTC meeting will be October 14th at 8:15 in the Commons at SES. Hope to see you there!

Walkathon Raises Over $4,000

View Album

Get your own

Wow what a walkathon! The kids walked, ran and just had a plain good time collecting Run Across America beads and toe tokens. Checkout the slideshow to the right for pics of the kids walking the walk! And a great side effect of physical fitness--the children raised over $4,000 through the generosity of community donors who pledged their hard earned dollars.

Here are the final numbers from the Walk-A-Thon (I'm sure more $ will trickle in next week):

Totals Pledges: $4,347.55 (As of Friday, 5:00pm)

Winner of the high $ of pledges (Principal for the Day):
Kade Owen - $210.00

Class with the highest $ of pledges:
1st Place: Mr. Warburton - $486.50

2nd Place: Mrs. Richie - $452.50 (Way to go kindergarteners!)

Thank you everyone for talking up the Walk-A-Thon, volunteering and sponsoring your children!

Ribbon Cut for Updated Staff Bathroom

Principal Jan Silberman cut the ribbon to the greatly updated staff bathroom Tuesday.

The staff bathroom at Sisters Elementary School (SES), which dated back to 1977, received a much needed facelift this August thanks to area families and businesses. It took substitute teacher Janice Harrer’s fresh eyes to show SPTC how a few changes and a lot of voluntary effort could make the staff bathroom more welcoming and demonstrate how much we appreciate all the staff does to make SES an outstanding place to learn and grow. Janice Harrer says, “From working in various schools around Central Oregon, I saw that SES’s staff bathroom sure was dreary in comparison. The bathroom project was just one way to give back to the wonderful teachers we have here in Sisters…they deserve it!”

Janice Harrer coordinated the project and worked with Sisters School District Facilities Manager Leland Bliss to remove an old cabinet, sink, room partition, and urinal. She enlisted the help of SES parent Carol Ezell to remodel the bathroom and give it a new look. A new cabinet unit was purchased and another SES parent, Doug Hull, volunteered to hang the new cabinet. Solid Rock Granite in Sisters Park Court donated and installed a slab granite countertop and backsplash as well as a new sink. Trevor Williams also donated his time toward the project. Carol painted the walls, and both the Harrers and Ezells contributed items toward the remodel and new décor of the room. In addition, Janice and her husband Thom Harrer made a donation to match SPTC’s contribution for the project. All these voluntary efforts meant that actual out of pocket expenses were kept to a minimum.

First Grade Teacher Pam Cole told us, “I heard a staff member coming into the staff room yesterday saying, ‘Happy place, happy place!’ I think this is how you can describe our staff room now. We all appreciate the work families did for us, but most of all it was knowing how much they appreciate and care for us that matters. It’s like a pat on the back!”

Secretary Sally Bones says, “The new bathroom is such an improvement. The granite counter top makes you feel like you are in a high class hotel.”

See more pictures by clicking on the album icon below:

Restroom Ribbon Cutting

Supplies for Walkathon Needed

Parents, Community Members and Staff,

As the Walk-A-Thon is closely approaching, I am still in need of a few items:

6 - Water Coolers (5 gal.) filled with water!!
2 - Buffet sized, folding tables
4 - Apple wedges/corers

If you have any of these items and would be willing to let us borrow them during the event, we'd gladly appreciate it. I also extend the invitation to run, jog or walk with us on Friday, bring a friend! Thank you again for all your support for our school!

Melanie

Growing Healthy Bodies and Minds

Exercise for Education Walkathon
Fri. Oct. 3, 2008, 1:45 pm

On Friday, October 3rd, the 345 students in Grades K-4 at Sisters Elementary School (SES), along with teachers, staff, and parents, will walk, jog, or run laps around the school walking path to help raise funds in support of their school. The proceeds raised from this event will be used to fund classroom enhancements, teacher grants, school equipment and curriculum materials purchases, as well as support educational assemblies like OMSI programs; all of which are not covered under the school district's budget. We anticipate this first SES “Exercise for Education” walkathon to be a huge success! Each student or family has been asked to secure $35 or more in pledges. The goal is for children to be part of the effort to improve their school through fundraising and to encourage them to make healthy lifestyle choices.

This event is sponsored by the Sisters Parent Teacher Community (SPTC), a group of parents, staff, and community members working together to enrich the lives of students and foster a sense of community at SES. Over the years, SPTC has raised funds that have been used to provide many programs and types of essential equipment, including: classroom curriculum materials, Art Literacy and Artist in Residence Programs, PE and playground equipment, special assemblies, sensor faucets in all bathrooms, library furniture and refurbishments, AV equipment, and a sound system.
For more information about the walkathon and SES, contact Jan Silberman, Principal at SES (541-549-8981) or Melanie Petterson, SPTC Steering Committee member (541-549-4499).

Exercise for Education Walkathon

The walkathon is almost here--don't forget. Friday, October 3rd from 1:45 'til 2:30 the kids will be doing laps on the walking path behind the school. We hope you can drop by to watch, or better yet, walk with your child.

Please also remember, laps for the walkathon also count for our School's Walk Across America initiative.

Hope to see you there!

Local Option Committee Needs Help!

Please visit the Local Option web site at: http//:www.sisterslocaloption.com to learn more about what we'll lose if this important measure does not pass. Local Option needs your support--Thanks!

SPTC News

Join a great group of parents, teachers, and community members who are working together to enrich the lives of our students and encourage a sense of community at our school. SPTC has raised funds that have been used for: special assemblies like OMSI, classroom curriculum materials, Art Literacy and Artist in Residence Programs, PE and playground equipment, sensor faucets in all bathrooms, library furniture and refurbishments, AV equipment, and a sound system. We also coordinate fun events like Family Dance Night and Family Barbeque.
Our next meeting is on Tues. Oct. 14, at 8:15 am in the Commons. We welcome all levels of involvement and there are no membership dues.
You don’t have to attend meetings to participate. We have many roles for volunteers around the school and at home.
Contact Peyton Griffin for more information, or to be placed on our email list: 388-0083 or sptc@outlawnet.com. Keep your eyes out for current SPTC news on http://sptc-sisters.blogspot.com.

Exercise for Education Walkathon, Fri. Oct. 3, 2008, 1:45-2:30 pm
Instead of our traditional fall product sale, SPTC is sponsoring a walkathon to encourage healthy habits and raise money to support funding for classroom materials, special assemblies, and technology needs. We’re asking kids and families to try and raise $35 in sponsorships. A letter and sponsorship form was sent home with your child.
Come walk with your child or volunteer at water and lap stations. Mr. Lamont will be counting laps toward the school’s Run Across America initiative. The class that brings in the most sponsorship money will earn a pizza party and the student that brings in the most sponsorship money will get to be principal for a day.
Contact Melanie Petterson at 549-4499 for more information or to volunteer.

SES Directory
Get your Directory information and ads in before it’s too late! Don't miss your chance to be listed and connect with friends and families from our school. Ad sales cover printing costs.
Contact Peyton Griffin for more information: 388-0083 or sptc@outlawnet.com.

Help SES and Earn a Chance to Win $20 in Credit at Harvest Basket
Put a minimum of $25.00 on account at Harvest Basket and 5% will be donated back to Sisters Elementary School.
During the month of Oct. you can also earn a chance to win $20 in credit from Harvest Basket.
Contact Peyton Griffin for more information: 388-0083 or sptc@outlawnet.com.

Bring in your Box Tops and Soup Labels to Benefit SES
You can help SES every time you purchase cereals, snack foods, and household essentials that are part of the Box Tops for Education initiative. Participating brands include: Betty Crocker, Cheerios, Chex, Cascadian Farm, Cottonelle, Fiber One, Fruit Roll-Ups, Green Giant, Hefty, Huggies, Kleenex, Kotex, Nature Valley, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Raisin Nut Bran, Saran, Scott, Total, Trix, Viva, Yoplait Kids and Go-GURT, Ziploc. SES gets cash for box tops collected.
You can also help SES by bringing in the PUC code portion of Campbell's Soup labels. SES gets school supplies for all soup labels collected.
Drop box tops and labels off in the containers outside the school office.

Next Meeting Oct 14 at 8:15 AM in Commons

Thanks for the great turnout at our first meeting!

Next Meeting Sept 16, SES Commons

SPTC and School Year Calendars are now online at the Links to the right. Combine them into one (and add your own personal calendar) thru Google Calendars and have one goto place to see what's next in your busy life.