Barton Hills Elementary PTA » Front Page News

Volunteer for Carnival!

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:10:59 +0000

Our biggest school fundraiser, the “All Around Austin” Carnival is on Friday, October 29th!

Help us celebrate our great city in a big way by volunteering for one of many thrilling and exciting openings on the wonderful new e-sign up at www.mysignup.com/BHECarnival. You may also contact our Carnival Chair, Shannon Noble with any questions.

There’s something for everyone – from selling tickets to getting food donations from local eateries, to games and decorations with local flavor. Help make this year’s Carnival a success and swing by a planning meeting to put in your 2 cents! (See “Upcoming Events” at right for meeting times.)

Calling all Community Heroes!

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:36:53 +0000

We need your help. We are looking for parent/community volunteers to talk with classrooms about careers. Throughout the month of the November, guidance lessons will focus on community helpers/heroes and careers. If you know someone who would be interested in talking with a class about how s/he is a hero in our community, please email our counselor, Sheila Wessels with contact information.

In addition to career lessons, the library will also be having its book fair, “Here’s to our Heroes: Reading Saves the Day” that focuses on community helpers as heroes. If you are interested in reading to groups of students in the library, please email Jenny Day. Please be a part of this wonderful event! Career Day will be on Monday, November 22, 2010 running from 7:45 to 9:00am. Reading to students in the library will during the week of November 15th. Thank you to all of our Community Heroes!!!

PTA Needs You!

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:44:57 +0000

We have so many wonderful programs at BHE! Here are a few important roles to fill:

Copier: copy fliers to go home in students’ Thursday folders. Work is done each Tuesday/Wednesday and is great if you have a baby/toddler in tow.
Courtesy: organize gestures honoring special occasions for BHE teachers and staff (birthdays, births, etc). This is a fun and appreciated position and great for a working parent.
Partners in Education: The Partners in Education Chair sources businesses willing to partner with BHE and recognizes them with thank you notes, links on our website and PTA newsletter mentions. Great for a working parent as work is done off campus.
Spanish Exploratory Committee Co-chair: lead efforts to gather information about the feasibility of implementing Spanish classes at BHE

Contact Jade Greene, our Volunteer Coordinator with any questions and also visit her online sign ups to get involved.
www.mysignup.com/BHEVolunteer
www.mysignup.com/BHECarnival
www.mysignup.com/BHERoom

Annual Fund

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:35:55 +0000

Isn’t it exciting to see your child learn to read, or improve his/her reading skills! Don’t you just love to see their heads buried in a book or bringing home a new book they checked out at the BHE library. *Studies show that learning to read is not a natural process that spontaneously happens on its own. The BHE PTA is committed to providing programs that will enrich and enhance your child’s learning experience. Your Annual Fund Dollars help to fund Library books, author visits and the Book Buddies Program among other things. Help us to continue providing these resources each year for your child. Donate to the Annual Fund today. Go to www.BHEPTA.com and click on Fundraising, then Annual Fund. Or simply drop a check in the PTA mailbox. It is that easy. Thanks for your support!

*Source: — The Public Library Association.

Veggie Garden Volunteers Needed

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:14:22 +0000

Did you know that Barton Hills Elementary has a vegetable garden? It was started last year and is located between the gym and the portables. It’s time to start planning our fall garden, so we are looking for student and parent volunteers from every grade. We will need volunteers to lead planting, watering and weeding, as well as “garden mentors” for each grade. Prior gardening experience is not required. There will be a short information meeting for interested parents on Sept. 15 at 7:45 in the library. Contact Beatriz Mejia if interested. Please also let Beatriz know if you are interested in helping, but are unable to attend the meeting.
Hope to see you soon!
~Beatriz Mejia (mom to Gabriel, 3rd and Lucas, 5th)
~Amy Bluntzer (mom to Tyler, K and Tanner, 2nd)

Lunch Money Accounts

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:46:17 +0000

Students may pay cash for lunch, however parents are encouraged to use an online account. Information will come home with students the first week of school with instructions for how to set one up. For those of you who already have an account, visit https://www.mylunchmoney.com/index.aspx before school starts to make sure you are up to date! More instructions available at http://www.austinisd.org/schools/menus/prepay.phtml.

Spanish Forum Report

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:55:03 +0000

On Thursday, June 10th, 19 parents and 3 BHE teachers attended the Spanish Forum held in the library. Principal Kati Achtermann discussed considerations for hiring and fully funding a teacher and recounted BHE’s experience with PTA funding Spanish in the past (prior to 2002). PTA President Kelly Tagle gave an overview of current PTA fundraising and budget expenditures. Many ideas for implementation of Spanish Instruction were discussed. The main concern raised by the staff is the loss of core curriculum instruction time. Several parents volunteered to contact schools who already have established language instruction to ask how their programs operate.

Time and date of our next meeting is Monday, Sept. 20th from 5:45-6:45 in the BHE library. Current chair is Nicole Austin and we are currently seeking a Co-Chair! Anyone is welcome to join the committee, and you don’t have to come to meetings to be emailed with updates.

Spanish Forum Info (pdf)

Spanish Forum Meeting Notes June 10 2010 (pdf)

Spanish Program Questions (pdf)