The Liberty Flyer - lcps.org · The Liberty PTA welcomes you back for another outstanding year of...

Dear Parents, Guardians, Teachers and Liberty Community, The Liberty PTA welcomes you back for another outstanding year of learning. We have a full calendar of fun events planned, which start on Friday, September 4th with an ice-cream social at KuleYo’s (South Riding location) from 4:00pm – 8:00pm. This is a PTA spon-sored event for students to meet with their friends and trade stories about surviving the first week of school. The month of September also brings our inaugural “Laps for Liberty” event, a fun run the whole school will participate in. Liberty PTA has been very concise with our goals since we came into fruition 7 years ago! We request 2 things from you each year…..join the PTA and be involved in your child’s school by volunteering! #1 Join PTA! By filling out a membership form (on the back of this letter) and paying your $10 dues, you are supporting your child’s school. The largest portion of dues ($6.25) stays at Liberty to help us fund worthwhile “extras” like supplemental texts that bring SOL concepts into better focus or enough IPADs® for an entire class of students to work on a challenge problem together. A portion of dues ($2.25 to National PTA and $1.50 to VA PTA) supports advocacy efforts. Please, bring the form and $10 per parent ($20 for Mom & Dad to join) to an Open House or Back- to-School-Night (or send in via backpack). We will strive for “benefits” for our members at every opportunity. Our goal is 100% PTA membership! We need YOU to join to make that happen. This is a goal that we can achieve TOGETHER!

The Liberty Flyer

Letter from PTA President Calendar of

Events

September 4th September Newsletter Published 4th Ice Cream Social – KuleYo’s

4-8PM 10th PTA General Membership

Mtg. – 7PM 11th Patriot Day Assembly – 8:15 AM 15th Fall Picture Day 16th Join [Cub] Scouting Night – 6:30-9PM 17th Laps for Liberty Fall Fundraiser Kickoff 24th Laps for Liberty Fall Fundraiser 29th Spirit Night – Panera

All Grades, 4-8PM 30th Laps for Liberty Fall Fundraiser Ends October 1st PTA Exec Board Meeting –

3:15PM 2nd October Newsletter Published 6th Spirit Night – McDonalds All Grades – 4-8PM 8th PTA General Membership

Mtg. – 5PM 8th Family Reading Night 6–8PM 9th Field Day, Grades 1-5 12th Holiday – Columbus Day 14th Spirit Night – KuleYo’s KG – 2nd Grade, 4-8PM 15th Spirit Night – KuleYo’s 3rd - 5th Grade, 4-8PM 17th Stone Ridge 5k – 8:30AM 23rd Parents Night Out – Topkick 6-9PM 24th Fall Fest 4:00 – 6:30PM

September 2015

#2 Be involved. Find ways to be involved that make sense for you. E-mail Kerri Lewis, vclibertyp-ta@gmail.com, with your name, phone # and e-mail to be added to our General Volunteer e-mail list. Provide homework help, be an in-class volunteer, serve as a Room Parent, help out on Field Day, attend PTA meetings, participate in fundraisers, read the Newsletters … and the list of “opportunities” goes on. I look forward to working with you and making Liberty the best it can be! Like us on Facebook, bookmark the PTA website! PTA Calendar can be accessed here. Liberty has the best staff, students and parents and it would only be-fitting that we have the best PTA! Please feel free to contact me or any of the officers/committee chairs with questions, concerns, suggestions or just to say hi :-). I look forward to seeing everyone and getting better acquaint-ed with the new faces at Liberty! Anne Corej - PTA President – libptapresident@gmail.com

The Liberty Flyer Page 2

President: Anne Corej, libptapresident@gmail.com VP Committees/Volunteer Coordinator Kerri Lewis, vclibertypta@gmail.com VP Fundraising: Anaheeta Minwalla (temporary), libptavpfundraising@gmail.com VP Events: OPEN Treasurer: William Perry, treasurer@libertypta.us Recording Secretary: Molly Turcotte, libptarecordingsecrtary@gmail.com Corresponding Secretary: Jen Robinette, libptacorrespondingsec@gmail.com

Our goal – each school year – is for 100% PTA membership. That equals 1 parent or teacher member for each student. Membership dues are $10. We encourage both Mom and Dad to join ($20). We have a strong tradition of 100% Teacher membership. We hope to achieve this same level from our parents. Please join Lib-erty PTA today, so that we can reach this goal together. To be a current member you need to join each school year. The 2015-2016 PTA Membership Form can be printed here

Please contact the Committee Chair if you would like to help out with that activity.

After School Enrichment (fall only) Beenish Javaid Beenish@durrani@hotmail.com

After School Enrichment (spring only) Beth Cattafesta becattafesta@gmail.com

American Education Week Neha Jain Nehajain1@hotmail.com

Beautification Chair Jamie Ziemann Jamie.ziemann@gmail.com

Box Tops Chair Kristen Reed kreed@hollins.edu

Copy Committee

Directory Peggy Pranschke ryanandpeggy@gmail.com

Eagle Eye Dad William Perry libeagleeyedads@gmail.com

Facebook Jen Robinette Jennrobinette97@gmail.com

Fifth Grade Celebration Teacher 5th grade lead teacher

Fifth Grade Celebration Parent

LEAP Liaison

LEAP Liaison alternate

Membership Drive/Data Entry Peggy Pranschke ryanandpeggy@gmail.com

Minority Student Achieve (MSAAC) representative Natalia Beardslee Nkm100375@yahoo.com

Newsletter Payal Jain jpayal@gmail.com

Odyssey of the Mind Dheepa Iyer dheepaprakash@yahoo.com

Reflections Chair Lakshmi Rahman lakshmilatest@gmail.com

Room Parent Coordinator Beth Cattafesta becattafesta@gmail.com

School Supply Kits Lisa Teetz lisateetz@verizon.net

SEAC representative

Spiritwear Chair

Stone Ridge 5K chair Julie McGoldrick julesmcgoldrick@yahoo.com

Stone Ridge 5K co-chair Molly Turcotte Molly.turcotte@gmail.com

Teacher Appreciation Week Chair Neha Jain Nehajain1@hotmail.com

Teacher Welcome Lunch Beth Cattafesta becattafesta@gmail.com

Website (PTA) Payal Jain jpayal@gmail.com

The 2015-2016 school year PTA Budget is available online at Liberty’s website under the PTA tab. After General Membership Meetings, the Budget and Actuals are updated and shared via the website. This year’s proposed budget will be voted on at the end of the September 10th PTA meeting. Any questions or concerns about the budget can be directed to William Perry at treasurer@libertypta.us or Anne Corej at libptapresident@gmail.com.

Tues Thursday Time

Kidzart

Sports Spectacular

2:40-3:40pm

Lego Robotics Sports Minecraft Modding

2:40-3:40pm

Lego Robotics Vehicles

Minecraft Modding Jr 2:40-3:40pm

Brain Busters Chess Club

2:40-3:40pm

Drama Kids Globetrotters 2:40-3:40pm

We have many exciting After School Programs this year at Liberty Elementary! Here is a preview of what we are offering. Please click here to register for the fall session of After School Enrich-ment. Registration for Fall classes begins 9/7/15 and ends 9/21/15. All classes are first come first serve and registration will stop when spots are full for that class. Unfortunately, there are no refunds for classes once you have signed up. For any questions con-tact beenishjavaid@gmail.com.

Last year we had over 40 dads volunteer to be an Eagle Eye Dad! It's a rewarding experi-ence and kids and teachers love seeing our dads at school. For those of you that may not be familiar with the program, Eagle Eye Dads allows for one dad to help at the school all day. The days begins with checking in at the office and then helping unload kids from the kiss & ride line. You will spend time with your child/children but will also help in multi-ple other classrooms reading stories, helping with math, working on STEM or doing a craft. Each experience is different. You will be on the morning show with your child/children, eat in the cafeteria, and may be outside for recess. You will end the day helping load kids back into cars. For more information please see the Eagle Eye Dads webpage, http://www.lcps.org/domain/13654 or contact William Perry, libeagleeyedads@gmail.com.

Odyssey of the Mind (OOTM) teams will form in Fall 2015. Information will come home in the Thursday folders and via email. In OOTM, teams of students in grades K-5 closely collaborate and apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to interpreting literary classics. Teams meet regularly starting in the fall to prepare for the regional competition in March.

To see the 2016 Problem Synopses, go to: http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/materials/2016problems.php/

The PTA Reflections Program is designed to enhance a quality art education by providing an op-portunity for students to explore their artistic talents and receive positive recognition for their efforts.

The theme for PTA’s 2015–16 Reflections Program is

"Let Your Imagination Fly" Literature -- works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, drama, short stories and lyrics.

Music Composition -- original musical composition, with or without words.

Photography -- prints up to 11 x 14 inches in color or black and white, including techniques: pho-togram, retouched, montage, sandwich and multiple exposure.

Visual Arts -- drawing, painting in tempera, oil, acrylic, watercolor & t-shirt paints, computer gen-erated art, two-dimensional collage, printmaking, needlework & leather tooling.

Film/Video -- original works, with or without sound, of animation, narrative, documentary, ex-perimental or music video/film.

Choreography/Dance -- originally choreographed dance composition.

Liberty PTA will distribute the flyer in late September with entry form , rules and the due date to submit the entry.

For more details please visit the National PTA Reflections Page https://www.pta.org/programs/ArtsinEducation.cfm

Reflections Chair, Lakshmi Raman, lakshmilatest@gmail.com.

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) works with the School Board, administrators, parents and teachers who are responsible for students receiving special education services. Meetings are held from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Administrative Offices, 2100 Education Court, Ashburn. There is a presentation at each meeting of interest to par-ents, staff, and educators. Please check the website at www.lcps.org, click “parents”, then select "Special Education Advisory Committee" to view the current meeting and presentation schedule or click here. The 2015-16 meeting dates have not yet been announced but will be posted here when they are available.

Parents are encouraged to reach out to the Parent Resource Center, www.lcps.org/prc, to learn about upcoming programs and workshops of interest to the disability community and to seek infor-mation about LCPS special education programs and services. This is a wonderful parent resource and parents are urged to utilize the PRC.

We are currently seeking a SEAC Representative for Liberty.

Please contact Anne Corej if you are interested, libptapresident@gmail.com

The Stone Ridge Race for Education is coming!

Mark your calendars – the Stone Ridge Fun Run & 5K is on

Saturday October 17th at 8:30AM! Liberty needs 15 volunteers

to make this race a success and earn the proceeds for our school.

Please consider volunteering and/or signing up for the 5K or Fun Run!

Have you registered yet? If not, registration is easy, just visit the Stone Ridge 5K Race

Registration page: http://www.stoneridgeva5k.org/Registration.php Don’t forget to desig-

nate Liberty as your school when you register.

We’ll need volunteers to make the race a success. If you're interested in volunteering,

please visit our VolunteerSpot at: http://vols.pt/dfpLY2.

If you have any questions about the Race, please email Julie McGoldrick

(julesmcgoldrick@yahoo.com) or Molly Turcotte (molly.turcotte@gmail.com).

Liberty will celebrate Patriot Day with an Assembly outside in the bus loop grassy area (weather permitting). The Liberty Cub Scout Pack 910 scouts will lead the flag ceremony. Liberty Parents retired and active duty in uniform (including e.g. military, firefighters, po-lice and all patriots) are invited and encouraged to attend. If you would like to participate please check-in with Luanne Nichols by 8:00AM. All parents are invited to attend and should gather in the area between the bus loop and drop off/parking lot. If required, the event will be moved to the gymnasium.

Ice Cream Social on Friday, September 4th

(All Grade levels)

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

(Please mention Liberty at the cash register)

Spirit Night @ Panera South Riding, September 29th

(All Grade Levels)

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

(Please print or show this flyer on your phone)

Liberty’s Fall Fest

Saturday, October 24th

Please click here to be a sponsor or

to order a Fall Fest t-shirt.

Spirit Wear Orders Are Due September 11th

Click here for an order form

OR

Order Online:

https://libertyspirit.itemorder.com/sale

A huge thank you to our Welcome Back Lunch Team of Beth Cattafesta (Chair) with Mike, John & Greg Cattafesta; Lisa and Molly Kaplan; Diana, CJ, and Colt Gibson; Ana-heeta, Amy, and Naomi Minwalla; Jen, Bradley, Natalie, and Kiley Robinette; Kimberly and Sarah Turner; Molly Turcotte; William and Annabelle Perry; and Anne, Michael & Mary Corej.

Thank you Anita’s at 13921 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy, Chantilly for the delicious Wel-come Back Lunch food!

A hip-hip-hooray for our School Supply Kit distribution Team of Anne Corej-Chair, Kelly Gray, Jen Robinette, Crystal Langstaff, Jennifer Mary, Kate Godbois, Alicia Susalla, Kerri Lewis, Kristina Adams, Stephanie Fink, Peggy Pranschke and assorted volunteers’ chil-dren.

Thank you to those who assembled the 1st Day packets: Lisa Shackelford; Lisa and Molly Kaplan; Anne, Michael & Mary Corej; William, Annabelle & Alexis Perry; Kristina Adams; Rachel Koeneke; Kapil Kulkarni; and David & Daniel Henderson.

If we inadvertently missed adding your name, please know that we still very much appre-ciated your help! If you know of a PTA member that deserves a Shout-Out, please email Jen Robinette, libptacorrespondingsec@gmail.com

Please send all questions/comments regarding newsletter to Payal Jain @ jpayal@gmail.com

It’s time to turn in your

Box Tops!

Liberty Elementary PTA is collecting Box Tops for Education. Look for the Box Tops logo on products you already buy, clip them and send them to school in your child’s backpack. It is

really that easy! We get $0.10 for each box top, so if you fill the dollar below, PTA gets a dollar from General Mills. Each month we will have a contest and a collection sheet. You are

always welcome to send in your Box Tops in a sandwich or snack baggie. September Contest

Top 3 classes win

Popcorn at the Fall Festival

Please tape, glue or staple ten Box Tops to the “dollar” below or place in a snack baggie and send in via backpack by October 16th to enter the contest for September. Every child in the three classes with the most Box Tops submitted will receive a coupon for a free small pop-corn at Liberty’s Fall Festival on Saturday, October 24th.

Student Name: __________________________ Teacher: _______________ Grade: _________ (* Kindergarten – indicate AM or PM)