August 2015

To Parents of Children in Nut Free Classrooms

August 26, 2015 crespto

Dear Fellow Parent,

I understand your child is in a nut free classroom and will have to forgo snacks that include nuts at school snack time and parties in order to protect children with food allergies like mine. I realize this accommodation may seem extreme to you. Though I am sympathetic, I would like the opportunity to explain why the school has adopted this rule.

Peanut Butter ALTERNATIVE and Jelly Sandwich In 2007, it was estimated that over 3 million children aged 18 years and under had some kind of food allergy¹ and that number has been rising. Though there are many theories as to why this is, no one knows for sure. What we do know is that allergic reactions can range anywhere from mild – with symptoms like redness and itchiness – to anaphylaxis, a life threatening reaction that can include vomiting, difficulty breathing, and in extreme cases, death. To complicate matters, no one can predict with 100% certainty which children are at risk for anaphylaxis, and worse, a child doesn’t need to eat a food they are allergic to to have an anaphylactic reaction; contact with another child or an item that has been exposed to the allergen can sometimes be enough to trigger onset. Because of this our school has epinephrine injectors on-hand, the treatment of choice if the unthinkable should happen, and why foods containing peanuts are prohibited from our children’s classroom.

Some think that children with food allergies should go to private school or be home schooled so as not to inconvenience the parents of “normal” children, but this is discriminatory thinking of days gone by. Thanks to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, my child has the right to be accommodated any place that receives federal assistance, and that includes our school.²

Let me say thanks in advance for your understanding and compliance with the nut free classroom as I fully understand that your family is making an accommodation to ensure the safety of mine. If you need suggestions for nut free snacks for snack time and class parties, the list linked below is extremely useful. If being in a nut free classroom is really overwhelming for you, please feel free to discuss your concerns with Dr. Garrett.

Thanks again and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Concerned Parent

P.S.: SnackSafely.com has a list of commonly available snacks that are free of peanuts, tree nuts and eggs – perfect for the next classroom party.

Grey Ghost 5K

August 25, 2015August 25, 2015 crespto

Dear Parents,

We would like to invite you and your student to participate in the Grey Ghost 5K this year on October 3, 2015 at the Oaklawn Plantation. This race is sponsored by the Rotary Club and they give a donation to our school based on student participation. It is also a great opportunity for you and your student to be active together! There will be a Kids’ Zone immediately following the race with inflatables, good bags, and games with prizes.

For each student that participates we automatically get $3 back of the $10 registration fee. If we have 25% of our school participate, we get the ENTIRE $10 back!!! This also applies to any students who choose to do the 5K (we would get the entire $25 back)!

Race packets and t-shirt will be delivered to CRES and sent home if your student is registered before September 16!

You can register online at www.greyghost5k.com or by returning the registration form sent home with your child with cash or a check.

5K is $25 (before 09/05) for adults and students and begins at 8 a.m.
1K is for 5 years old and up and is $10 and begins at 9:30 a.m.
1/2K is for 3 and 4 year olds and is $10 and begins after the 1K.

We can’t wait to run with you! Please let us know if you have any questions!

Sincerely,

PTO

Box Tops for Education & Labels for Education

August 19, 2015 crespto

Welcome back to school Cheetah parents –

Did you know that each Box Top collected is $0.10 cash for the school? Since CRES started collecting Box Tops, they’ve earned over $20,000 that goes directly back into the school. This money is used for things like as PE equipment, classroom supplies, and technology. You can find Box Tops on General Mills cereal, Green Giant vegetables, Scoot and Kleenex paper products, Ziploc baggies, Hefty products, frozen entrees and boxed meals/sides. When you see a Box Top, clip it along the lines, check the expiration date, and collect them at home until you are ready to turn them into the school. You can turn in Box Tops into the mailbox inside the front entrance of the school between both sets of double doors. The Box Tops are then collected by the school coordinator, sorted, counted and sent in twice a year for CASH. You can log on to the CRES Box Top site anytime and check our balance. We raise about $1200 each year, but would love to see that amount double. This is free money that goes directly back into your child’s education!

http://www.boxtops4education.com/

In addition to Box Tops, we also collect Labels for Education. These can be found on Campbell’s soup wrappers, BIC products, V8 drinks, Pepperidge Farm cookies and Prego sauces. Each label is worth points that get redeemed for art, athletic, and academic materials. Clip these labels along lines, making sure to include the UPC. You can turn these in to the school in the same mailbox located at the entrance of the school between the sets of double doors. You can visit our website and view our balances at any time.

https://www.labelsforeducation.com/My-School

Let’s make this our best year yet!

Frequently Asked Questions about PTO Membership

August 6, 2015August 6, 2015 crespto

We had so much fun meeting so many of you at the Back to School Bash on Monday. We got several questions about PTO membership, so we thought it might be a good idea to put a list of FAQ’s together in case others had the same questions.

Q: Where does the money go? A: We are going to do a longer blog post in the future, but in short, it goes into the general PTO fund that supports the school, teachers and children in many different ways. You can read a list of these ways on our home page.
Q: If I sign up for membership, do I have to do anything? I work full time and don’t have much time to commit, but don’t mind supporting our school with the membership fee. A: You absolutely do not have to do anything. While we love our volunteers, we understand not everyone has the time. We would love for you to join anyway.
Q: I really want to be involved in the PTO, but just don’t have this in my budget right now. A: You may pay the membership fee at any time. Also, while we do encourage everyone who can to pay the membership fee, we do understand that not everyone is able to do so. The fee is not at all required to volunteer. Please fill out one of our forms anyway and mark all areas where you are interested in volunteering.
Q: I forgot my checkbook. Can I send money to school with my kid? A: Yes. Also, we take credit cards. And paypal (to chapmansretreatpto@gmail.com). We are fancy like that. Also, we will be at both Parent Orientation nights on August 10 (K-2nd) and August 13 (3rd-5th).
Q: I work full time so I’m not around during the day. Are there ways I can help? A: Absolutely. On our membership form, you will see options for volunteering at after school at events like Cheetahfest, and also for sending in supply items as needed. Both of these options are great for working parents.
Q: Can I get a window cling without joining the PTO? A: No, the window clings are for paid PTO members only.
Q: If I check these volunteer boxes on the form, am I going to end up in charge of something? A: Not at all. Checking the boxes will just get you on the right email distributions to let you know when volunteer opportunities exist.
Q: Your shirts are adorable. Can I buy one? A: We had originally ordered the “Keep Calm and Join the PTO” shirts just for the board members, but if there is interest we can see about ordering more.
Q: I don’t want to fill out a paper form. Are there other options? A: Definitely. You can fill out our online form and pay via Paypal.