Surf, Sun, and Run Design Contest Extended

The 2010 Seal Beach Kid's 1K Fun Run shirt design contest has been extended to January 8th!

If you have the next great artist living under your roof, check out the attached document for instructions (disregard the deadline date) and entry information or go to www.sealbeachrun.com

H.U.G.S. for Everyone

Attached or available online at the School-to-Home Fliers link, the H.U.G.S. Newsletter contains information for and about McGaugh's Special Needs students and program.

The Gift of Baked Goods

Come support Room 35's

Bake Sale

Thursday, December 17^th

1:15 at the flagpole

and

2:15 at flagpole and west gate

All items are just 50¢!

In keeping with the season's spirit of giving, Mrs. Scott's 4^th grade class will hold a bake sale to raise money for Heifer International, a charity dedicated to ending hunger around the world.  For 60 years, Heifer International has been giving "living gifts" of animals to needy families to help move them out of poverty and toward a path of self-reliance. 

The students of Room 35 will be using all the proceeds from the bake sale to make their own donation of a "living gift" through Heifer. 

*This event is sponsored by McGaugh PTA and no items containing trans-fats will be sold per LAUSD policy.

                     

What was Lost can be Found

Parents - Please come check the 

Lost & Found for your child's missing 

jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters, backpacks, lunch boxes, etc.

The Lost & Found room is located next to the lunch tables. 

Give for Free this Holiday Season

           

Make your Holiday Shopping Mean More!

Support McGaugh's No Cost Fundraising Programs

Online purchases that start at OneCause earn contributions

for our school at no extra cost to you.

Install the Onecause toolbar and never miss a donation!

www.onecause.com

Pavilions & Macy's contribute a percentage of your purchases to our school

when you use your Club card or Macy's card.

www.escrip.com

Shop, Swipe Your Card & Earn money for McGaugh School;

Register your Club Rewards card today!

www.ralphs.com

Questions: email Jamie Kaminski at projectseekinc@gmail.com

Project SEEK is a non-profit fund-raising group that raises money to support McGaugh Elementary School enrichment

programs. They donated $100,611 for the 2008-09 school year to help support credentialed teachers in the media center,

art lab, and also $9,000 in grants, enabling each grade level to participate in a field trip.

Pennies for Peace

Dear Parents of J.H. McGaugh,

 We are delighted to share with you that our students will once again participate in a Pennies for Peace campaign from now until June 1^st (last year McGaugh students raised $1,565.87).  Pennies for Peace is a service-learning program designed to broaden our students' cultural horizons while teaching them about their capacities as philanthropists – one penny at a time.

 Pennies for Peace is a program of Central Asia Institute (CAI), founded by Greg Mortenson – author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Three Cups of Tea. CAI is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes and provides community-based education and literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Central Asia. Founded in 1996, CAI has built, to date, nearly 100 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which serve more than 28,000 students – over 14,000 of whom are girls.

 How can a penny bring peace? It doesn't buy much in our community. However, in the villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan, a penny can buy a pencil, start an education, and transform a life. In a region where terrorist organizations recruit uneducated, illiterate children, that pencil can empower a child to read, write, and learn. The Pennies for Peace program goal is to encourage our students, who are ultimately our future leaders, to learn the value of philanthropy by collecting pennies for global peace.

 Our students will join tens of thousands of students around the world who are participating in the Pennies for Peace program and who are working together to become members of a global family dedicated to peace.

 Every student that visits the Media Center from Monday, December 14^th – Friday, January 8th, will view a video by the CAI, which introduces Greg Mortensen and the children of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and even presents the very first school built.  Many students will also hear the book entitled Listen to the Wind, a child friendly picture book version of Three Cups of Tea.  Containers to hold the Pennies for Peace (or Change for Change if the children would like to bring in silver coins!) will be placed in many classrooms, and a large container is located in the Media Center.

 If you have any questions about our Pennies for Peace campaign, please feel free to contact Karen Ferretti at KFerretti@losal.org. Our students are eagerly looking forward to this new adventure!

Teacher for the Day is looking for some Teacher's Aides

A few helpers and donations are needed for PTA's

Teacher For A Day

Breakfast on  

December 15, 2009

 

Please call or email Janice Vititow at janicevititow@yahoo.com or (562) 598-5361 if you can help with any of these items.

 

Set up - 7:15 a.m. Tuesday 12/15 in Teachers Lounge at McGaugh

 

Donate one of the following items:

 

Fresh Fruit

1 dozen hard boiled eggs

Orange juice

Apple juice

Strawberry Jelly (1 jar)

Napkins

 Plastic Forks/Spoons

 

If you have already signed up to help, THANK YOU SO MUCH.  I will contact you separately.

 

 

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

Accelerated Readers Ahead

Dear Parents,

 

As you may well know, Accelerated Reader is coming to McGaugh!  We are excited about this, yet much needs to be done to get our Media Center books ready for student check out.  This Friday, December 11, from 8:30 to approximately 2PM, we will begin the process of applying reading level dots to the books in the media center that have an Accelerated Reader (AR) quiz.  It may eventually take more than one day, but our goal is to get this process started before our winter break, so students and staff can get trained when we return, and then get started using the program.  More information WILL be sent out to parents about the program, but this is one of the early steps in the process of getting ourselves ready.

 

If you have the time (an hour or two – or even three) and are willing to come help, please get in contact with Karen Ferretti, Media Center teacher, atKferretti@losal.org with a time period that works for you.  Having just the right amount of helpers will actually be better than having too many.

 

If you can't make it this time (I know this is a difficult time of year), we just might call on help once again.  If we get too many – we may ask that you wait for the second round.  Either way, we appreciate any and all help that comes our way.

 

Thanks for helping to make McGaugh the wonderful, special place that it is…..

 

Karen Ferretti

TOSA - McGaugh Media Center

1698 Bolsa Ave.

Seal Beach, CA 90740

562.799.4560

Ready for Round 2

Organic Produce for the New Year

Produce delivered by J'lilly Farms, a local company that does your weekly or twice monthly Farmers Market shopping for you!

Support PTA by picking up your organic produce on Wednesdays at 1:00- by the Main Office.

$3.50 - $4.00 per box goes directly to PTA.

Check out the attached document for details, order forms, and frequently asked questions.

Order forms for January produce are due by December 16th.

Middle School Parent Information Night

Parent Information Night

Monday, January 11, 2010

Performing Art Center

Los Alamitos High School

6:30 to 8:00

 

This information meeting will present information regarding the Honors Curriculum offered for students at the middle schools.

This will be of particular interest for fifth grade parents, however all parents are invited. This presentation is not designed for students and therefore we ask that students DO NOT ATTEND

Artwork for Education Catalog is Available

McGaugh's 2009 Artwork for Education catalog is now up on the Web.  If you forgot to order or want to reorder your child's artwork on beautiful greeting cards, you'll receive them just in time for the winter holidays.

See www.ArtworkForEducation.com and the attachment for further details.

Surf, Sun, and Run Design Contest

The 2010 Seal Beach Kid's 1K Fun Run is just around the bend, and they need your help designing this year's great shirt!

If you have the next great artist living under your roof, check out the attached document for instructions and entry information or go to www.sealbeachrun.com

Anyone Need a Tree?

The Los Alamitos Youth Center will be selling fresh, fragrant, affordable trees once more and donating $5 of each tree back to the school. Sales will begin Saturday, November 28th, and delivery options will be available. Check the attached flier for more details.

So, if you buy a tree, where are you going to get yours?

5 Years of Celebration

McGaugh Families,

 

Your PTA is holding a fundraiser in conjunction with Z Pizza on Main Street in Seal Beach.  Alan Grant of Z Pizza is celebrating 5 years of working with us and has graciously offered to donate 20% of the proceeds we generate on the 18^th and 19^th of November (proof of being from McGaugh will be the attached flyer.)  We've only split the last names into 2 nights to keep from mobbing Alan with a crowd that cannot be expeditiously handled.  Thus, the last name thing is a guideline only!  If someone can only participate on one night because of other commitments, and that night does not coincide with their last name, I want them to participate on the "wrong" night rather than miss out on the whole thing!

5-Year Anniversary Celebration!

McGAUGH INVITES ALL STUDENTS

FOR A NIGHT AT    

148-B Main Street (In Old Town Seal Beach)

(562) 596-9300

 

What's the deal?

 

M^cGaugh PTA & Z Pizza-Main Street Seal Beach are celebrating 5 years of support and cooperation!  Z Pizza will donate 20% of sales generated by M^cGaugh (when you present the flyer!!) to our PTA, funding more technology for M^cGaugh Elementary.

 

What to do:

Wednesday, November 18^th last names A-L

 Thursday, November 19^th last names M-Z

Present the attached flyer between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM

Name/night restrictions advisory only, if you can only participate 1 night please feel free to do so! 

 

Details:

You have a choice to call and pick up, stop by and take out, delivery (after 5:00 PM), or Dine in at the restaurant.  Present this flyer with your remittance and Z Pizza will donate 20% of your purchase to the school.  Coupons or discounts will not be honored in conjunction with this fundraiser.  Thanks for your participation!

A Meeting with an Italian Flair

McGaugh PTA Meeting and Holiday Lunch

Please join us

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Finbars Italian Kitchen

620 Pacific Coast Highway, Seal Beach

10:30am meeting & 11:30am lunch

Cost: $18.00 per person

Includes food, drinks, tax, and gratuity

See the attached PDF flier for menu and RSVP Information

Additional fliers will be available in the main office

H1N1 Flu Vaccination Clinics

 Dear McGaugh Parents,
 
                This flyer came from the Los Alamitos School District Nurse.  It arrived too late for timely dissemination prior to the 31 Oct clinics – but there are additional flu vaccination clinics to be held on 07 November 2009.
 
                There are a couple caveats to this.  Although you are receiving this information through PTA channels, realize that the McGaugh Elementary PTA neither advocates nor discourages participation in this clinic.  Also note that these clinics are NOT using the vaccination SHOT, as indicated by the flyer, but rather the nasal spray.
 
                The influenza nasal spray is a bit different (e.g. live virus rather than completely dead found in the shot) than the shot version and has a couple more restrictions.  These restrictions include that your child should be healthy and cannot have asthma.
 
                Further questions can be directed to the website from the flyer or the District Nurse.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Rick Gordon
PTA President 2008-2010
J.H. McGaugh Elementary

Dessert Fundraiser

 McGaugh Parents / Families :

    This e-mail is a reminder that the Project SEEK dessert fundraiser is happening right now. Don't forget to stock-up on these tasty treats for the holidays. Your student will need to turn in completed order forms no later than November 9th. Please make all checks payable to "Project SEEK".

 

Thank you for your particpation.

Meeting Tomorrow

PTA Meeting Tomorrow!!
 
Date:                 05 November 2009
Location:            J.H. McGaugh Elementary; Room 24 (note: this is a different room than before!!)
Time:                 8:15 a.m.
Special Guest:   Vhenus Belisle, M.A., Ed.S – School Psychologist
 
     Please join us for our McGaugh Elementary PTA meeting tomorrow.  Remember, we welcome members and non-members alike -- and there is still time to become a member and join the team!
 
     We have on the agenda Vhenus Belisle, School Psychologist, talking about her role and the fact that Nov 9th – 13th is School Psych Awareness week.  Also we'll have Carnival wrap-up, Silent Auction wrap-up, construction update, information on the new JLilly produce fundraiser, Z-Pizza fundraiser, and more!

 

     We will also be displaying any Silent Auction Baskets that are still available.
 
                Hope to see you there!
 
Sincerely,
 
Rick Gordon
PTA President 2008-2010
J.H. McGaugh Elementary

Artwork for Education catalogs are here!

Artwork for Education

OSBC (Outdoor Science Booster Club)

The catalogs are here!

Hello parents,

If your child is participating in the notecard fundraiser for OSBC, a catalog and order form was sent home with your child today. Please check your child's backpack for these important items.

New this year: In addition to great quality notecards, we are proud to offer your child's art printed on canvas tote bags. Two sizes are available! These make wonderful reusable bags for grocery shopping.

Make checks payable to OSBC and return checks and order forms to your child's teacher or the front office no later than: Friday, Nov. 13th.

Extra order forms are available in the front office along with an office copy of the catalog. Please do not remove the office copy from the front office, but you may use it as a reference to look up your child's artwork and card order number.

Thank you for supporting this important fundraiser!

Questions?    Cindy G. Duncan

Pick a Box, Any Box

McGaugh PTA is offering

ORGANIC PRODUCE! 

Produce delivered by J'lilly Farms, a local company that does your weekly or twice monthly Farmers Market shopping for you!

Support PTA by picking up your ORGANIC PRODUCE on Wednesdays at 1:00- by the Main Office.

$3.50 - $4.00 per box goes directly to PTA.

Check out the attached document for details, order forms, and frequently asked questions.

Fundraising That Won't Cost You A Dime

Do you shop for groceries at Ralphs or Vons/Pavilions?  Ever buy anything online from Amazon, eBay, or hundreds of other internet merchants?  Project SEEK has an easy way for you to donate a percentage of each purchase automatically, without increasing your totals.   Just by registering your market rewards cards or shopping online through the OneCause website, you can help our school.  All donations are made by the companies you buy through, so there is no cost to you.

The attached document with more information about signing up for these programs is in the PDF format and requires a PDF viewer, such as the Adode Acrobat or FoxIt Reader.  You can also go to http://www.losal.org/McGaugh and click on "Fund Raising Projects That Won't Cost You a Dime!" for further details.

The Fun Starts Tomorrow

Silent Auction starts Friday at 12:30 in the Gym!  

Come shop before or after picking up your children – we have lots of great merchandise and gift ideas for sale!   Disneyland tickets, American Girl dolls, lots of great toys, sports tickets to see the Angels, Dodgers, Kings, Lakers, and Clippers, and wonderful treats for you – massages, facials, and loads of restaurant gift cards!

Don't forget that all merchandise will have a Buy-It-Now price, so come early and shop before your dream item is gone!

We will be open Friday from 12:30 to 3pm as well as Saturday during Carnival.  See you at the Silent Auction!

And remember, the Carnival Cakewalk and Sweet Shop can still use your treat donations!  Cupcakes, cookies, cakes, rice crispy treats, and any other sweet treat you can dream up can be dropped off Friday morning in the ball room adjacent to the gym.  Treats can also be brought Saturday morning by 8am.  Please contact Emily Ledterman or Renee Schwartz if you have any questions.

Urgent Need for Carnival Volunteers

Ladies and Gentlemen of McGaugh Elementary,

     This is an urgent plea for help at YOUR Carnival this weekend!  Your PTA volunteers have tallied all the volunteer sheets and we are quite thin on staffing for much of the Carnival – especially the 2nd shift (11:30am – 1pm) and the 3rd shift (1pm – 2:30pm).

     This Carnival & Silent Auction is put on for the benefit of your children and the school they attend.  Many people have put countless hours into the planning and preparation for this event – I would think most people would be able to give an hour and a half (one shift) as their contribution toward a great day!  If you have not already done so, please contact your Room Parent immediately to help fill the shifts for your classroom booth.  If they are full, there are many other positions needing to be filled – contact Lina Ayale or me to find other opportunities.

     So many people ask, "What can I do to help?"  This is your chance and your kids will love you for it – help make a great Carnival experience for all!!

     Whether or not you volunteer, don't miss your chance to get free Carnival tickets tomorrow and Friday before and after school.  Presale tickets will be sold at the Flag Pole, the Pool Parking Lot, and the West Gate for a special pre-carnival price of only $20 for $25 worth of tickets.  That an amazing 25% more free!  This deal will only be available during the presale and will not be offered during the Carnival.

Thank You in Advance,

Rick Gordon

PTA President 2008-2010

J.H. McGaugh Elementary

Paper Paper Everywhere

As we are becoming a paperless society, it is our goal to reduce the numbers of papers that go home with students by making School-to-Home fliers that are made available to us in a digital version, available to our parents.  This way you can view and print it ONLY if you need it, and we save a few trees.  Please bookmark the below link and refer to it often. 

There will still be fliers coming home with students on Thursdays, but eventually we hope to lessen that load!

Thanks for your cooperation.

 

School-to-Home Fliers Link

 

Karen Ferretti

Media Center Specialists

McGaugh Elementary School

1698 Bolsa Ave.

Seal Beach, CA 90740

562.799.4560 x79158 x79154 

Error in November's Calendar

Parents, 

The original calendar for this school year showed Nov. 6^th as a Student Free Day, this was incorrect. The next Student Free Staff Development Day is scheduled for January 4^th.

 

Daryle A. Palmer

Principal, McGaugh Elementary School

Get 'Em While They're Hot

Here's your opportunity to save a bit of time!   Purchase Teacher Donation Raffle Tickets Now!

Every year, the PTA holds a "teacher donation raffle" during Carnival.  Check out our cool selections – Principal for the Day!  Ice Cream Trips! Surfing or Music Lessons! Take a look and see what creative adventure McGaugh's teachers have donated!

Attached are the Raffle Rules, Teacher Donation Summary and Raffle Ticket Order Form for your paperless review! Parents need only print out the attached Raffle Ticket Order Form, fill it out and return to their teacher or the PTA box in the main office, along with their check made payable to "McGaugh PTA"! 

Pre-Carnival Tickets must be purchased no later Wednesday, October 21st.  But don't worry if you miss the pre-carnival sale – come by and check out our display of teacher pictures on each raffle box and buy your tickets in the gym during the Silent Auction on October 23rd and 24th!

If you should have any questions, feel free to email Sue Dunbar.

Coming to a Backpack Near You

Look for the Silent Auction sales catalog this week in your child's backpack!  You can also view the catalog on-line at www.losal.org/mcgaugh.

The Silent Auction starts Friday, October 23rd at 12:30 and continues on Saturday, October 24th during Carnival.  Visit us in the gym to shop for toys, spa treatments, restaurant gift cards, tickets to amusement parks and sporting events, and a whole lot more!

McGaugh Newsette - October 2009

Click Here for Online Viewing
Click Here to Download the PDF

In this issue…

Aloha from Daryle Palmer

It’s Here – Carnival Days!

Teacher-For-A-Day

PTA President Message

Red Ribbon Week

Rock ‘N Road (RRW)

Media Center News

Wave of Technology

School Concert Videos

We’re on the Web!

Project Seek

Winter Clothing Drive

Red T-Shirt Fridays

McGaugh Carnival and Silent Auction

Silent Auction - Friday, October 23 & 24

Carnival - Saturday, October 24

Don’t forget to buy your pumpkins at our very own McGaugh Carnival Pumpkin Patch!

Red T-Shirt Fridays – Show Your School Spirit!!

Wear your red t-shirt every Friday!

Red Ribbon Week  - October 26^th through October 30^th

See page 4

Limiting Schoolwide Notifications

Dear Parents, 

There has been a tremendous increase in the request for phone messages for various causes. This is causing a number of parents to request that their phone numbers be removed from our phone system. This could compromise our phone message system if too many parents opt out. Therefore, in the future I am going to have to restrict phone messages to school related information. We are trying to update our email delivery system and once that is in place I am comfortable sending out more emails with information since emails are not as intrusive. 

Daryle Palmer

Carnival Cake Walk and Sweet Shop

Cake Walk and Sweet Shop

The McGaugh Carnival is Saturday, October 24^th and the cake walk and Sweet Shop needs your help!  We need lots and lots of cakes, pies, cookies, and any other baked treat so we can have lots and lots of winners!  PLEASE wrap the treats individually for sale and distribution and mark any baked good that has nuts in consideration of allergies.  We need both homemade and store-bought contributions for the Carnival.

WHEN DO WE NEED YOUR BAKED GOODS?

Please drop off your goodies in the gym on Friday, October 23 between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm and Saturday, October 24, by 8:00 am.

Thanks so much, your sweet treats are appreciated!

Contacts:

Emily Ledterman                                               Renee Schwartz

Join us for a Parade

HALLOWEEN

IS COMING TO MC GAUGH

 

The ghosts and goblins of McGaugh School will parade their finery for Halloween.  The community is invited to view this fun, exciting, and spectacular event.

(If you prefer your student not participate, please send a note to the teacher)

 

 

To participate in the parade, students need to follow these simple rules.

1.     Students should wear their costumes to school with clothes underneath.

2.    Each child should bring a clearly labeled bag in which to place his/her costume after the parade for the remainder of the day.

3.    Costumes should be simple and easy to put on and take off.

4.    No make-up is to be worn, this includes coloring put in hair.  Students may not bring inappropriate "props" (i.e. toy guns, swords, Dracula's blood, etc.) to school.

 

SHARE YOUR TREATS!

As you know, Halloween is always a big day for elementary students.  Many children collect more candy and treats than they can eat, so we are hoping students will "share their treats."  We are collecting portions of candy from our students to donate to the Rossmoor Woman's Club project for the Indian children.  "Share Your Treats Week" is scheduled for Monday, November 2^ndthrough Friday, November 6^th.   Students should bring their wrapped candy contributions and other wrapped treats in a bag; there will be a container in the office.  Thank you very much for sharing.

No School Tomorrow

A Reminder from the Front Office

 

There will be no school tomorrow, October 9th, 2009, for Staff Development.

 

Thank you.

 

J.H. McGaugh Elementary School

Pumpkins Ahoy

At the McGaugh Carnival on Sat. October 24, we will be having our own pumpkin patch. So please don't buy your pumpkin too early and have a smooshy pumpkin by Halloween. You can get a farm-fresh pumpkin and help your school at the same time. We will have more pumpkins than last year so there should be plenty for all. Come early and select one and we can put it aside to be picked up later.

Silent Auction Deadline is Friday!

The Silent Auction donation deadline is fast approaching!  Bring your donations to the front office by Friday, October 9th!

** Show off your craftiness with homemade creations! **
** Donate a gift card to a local business! **
** New, purchased products are welcome – popular toys, electronics, surf items! **

Donation forms are in the front office.  Contact Michelle Gillespie or Liz Dubin with questions.

Thank you for your support!

Everyone's a Winner

Have any new toys laying around taking up space?  Spare emergency gifts or even unopened Happy Meal toys?  The Prize Booth is looking for greater diversity this year and everything is useful.  Please bring any new, unused toys to the PTA Resource Room (at the back of the Media Center) before or after school so as not to interrupt any classes or studying that may be going on.