December 2011/ January 2012Volume 10, Issue 4

Helen Baller Elementary 1954 NE Garfield Street; Camas, Washington 98607-1143Pnone: (360)833-5720 Fax (360)833-5721 Website: schools.camas.wednet.edu/helenballer/

Baller Bear NewsDear Helen Baller Families,I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving Break with your family and friends. I had a great time with my family. We stayed inCamas and spent time with my wife’s family. We cheered for the Packers as they played the Detroit Lions. I cannotbelieve it will be December in a couple of days!The students and staff have been working hard this first trimester. I am extremely proud of everyone. The teachers arealways looking for ways to improve. One of the things the staff is incorporating this year is to post learning targets forindividual lessons. Research shows that learning is enhanced when students know their learning target and know how toshow they’ve reached it. Learning targets allow the students to know the goal of a lesson, are referred to throughout thelesson and allow students to reflect on if they have met their target. Teachers discuss with students why it is important tobe able to reach the learning target. One thing you can do at home is ask your child/children what they were learningabout today and why it is important. Together we can continue to enhance our children’s education. In December we are getting ready to start our Stuff the Bus food drive. Students are being asked to bring nonperishablefoods to help support families in Camas. Our goal is bring 1,500 food items. I know we can reach that goal!The weather has definitely changed lately. It is important for the kids to wear winter coats, gloves and hats to help keepthem warm. We have had several kids show up with no coats. Please make sure they bring a coat to school.

The end of the trimester is December 5th. Report cards will be sent home on December 9th.

Helen Baller wouldn’t be the school it is without the parent and community support we receive every day. Thank you foreverything that you do. If you ever have any questions or concerns please contact me.

Have a great December!Aaron Parman,Principal

Baller Bear Calendar of Events

December1 Movie Night @ Liberty; 5:152 All Grades: Character

Counts Store 7 Pillar Assembly

3rd-5th grade: 9:30-10amk-2nd grade: 10:30-11am

8 Last day to order Spirit Wear for Xmas delivery

9 Report Cards sent home9 PTA board meeting 2-3pm14 Holiday Assembly with

Guest Speaker7-16th Winter Wonderland16 Birthday Table19 Winter Break Begins

January3 Students Return16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day20 Birthday Table20 PTA board meeting 2-3pm30 Secondary Grading Day

Yearbook - The PTA is doing the school's yearbook

again this year! We are looking for photos from

Baller Blast, 5th Grade Field Trip, and 1st day of

school photos for the yearbook. If you have photos

to share of these events, please email them to

helenballeryearbook@comcast.net or burn a CD

and drop off at the school office. The 5th Graders

will be choosing this year's cover in their classrooms

at the beginning of November.

PTA Website:www.helenballerpta.org

PTA President: Kathi Hansenpresident@helenballerpta.org

Spiritwear:Helenballerspiritwear@comcast.net

Newsletter:Helenballer.newsletter@gmail.com

Page Turners Book Discussion Group: for 4th grade and up, and their parents! Borrow a special copy of the book from the library, you both read it, both come to the meeting, and then you get to keep the book for free! We do an activity, and snacks are served. Only a limited number of spots are available; sign-up required. Runs Sept-May. Books are available for pick-up now! The next book is War Horse by Michael Morpurgp, on Tuesday December 13th @ 7pm.

News from Camas Public Library:

Scentsy Fundraiser for Helen Baller PTA

from a Helen Baller Parent/Consultant!

Get your holiday orders and Christmas shopping

done in one swoop! 20% of all sales will go

towards Helen Baller PTA.

http://www.mistythroop.scentsy.us/

PAY FOR LUNCH, VIEW ONLINE OPTIONSWhat did my child eat for lunch today? Why is my son/daughter already out of lunch money? Thesequestions and more can be answered online through the district’s MealTime program. Parents can seehow often their students eat lunch or breakfast and for secondary students, they can even see whatmenu items they chose to eat. Additionally, parents can also deposit money into their student’saccount.If your student is new to the district or you did not receive passcode information you can call 360-833-5768 or send an e-mail with your student’s name and school to lisa.myers camas.wednet.edu.@On-Line Payments for Lunch Accounts can be made at www.mymealtime.com . (Transactions aftermidnight will be posted to the student’s account the next business day). Through this website you canalso monitor your student’s account balance and purchases - for FREE.If you would like to use this feature, please contact Lisa at lisa.myers camas.wednet.edu or@833.5768 and she will provide your student’s passcode to set up an account.

Inclement WeatherAs winter weather approaches we think about school schedulechanges. In the event of school closure or delay, the district willlaunch an emergency notification system, titled Alert Now, whichwill send a recorded message via primary phone to every parent inthe district when schools are delayed or cancelled. You will receivethis call at approximately 6 AM. The information is also availablethrough local news media.

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER

In order to save paper, we are sending our newsletter home electronically. To view the most current newsletter, please go to http://schools.camas.wednet.edu/helenballer/To sign up for our Listserv, and receive the newsletters automatically, go to http://lists.camas.wednet.edu/lists/?p=subscribe .

Open Positions for 2011/12 PTA:

Videographer - wanted for filming events & performances, especially Musiking. Work with Mrs. Hardy, Mr. Parman, and PTA VP

PE Team Assistant - help organize team performances & field trips. Work with Mrs. Wing and PTA VP

Nominating Committee (needs 3) - 3 PTA members who know most current board members and would like to work onrecommendations for next year's board members

Contact Booklet Data Entry (spreadsheet) - take All in One Forms and update last year's contact booklet (currently in excel). Workwith PTA VP & Secretary

Family Fun Nights - Plan Free events for HB families. Work with Mrs. Wing, Mr. Parman, & PTA Benefits Coordinator

Movie Nights (in house & @ Liberty) - coordinate & plan Movie nights with Liberty Theatre & In school Movie Nights. Work withPTA Benefits Coordinator, Mr. Parman, & Liberty Theatre Owner

Garden Courtyard Coordinator - team members identified, just need leader to step up and organize team to get garden planmoving forward. Work with Mr. Parman, PTA President, teachers, & students

Fifth Grade Year End Events & Fundraising - 2 parents on team already, need coordinator to organize fundraiser & year endevents for 5th grade. Work with 5th grade teachers, Mrs. Wing, & Mr. Parman

Grant Writing & Requests - Write and submit requests for grants and fund requests including CEF (due Jan 2012), Kohl's Cares,and more.

SAVE THE DATE

BALLER MOVIE NIGHT

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1ST 5:15 pm

AT LIBERTY THEATER IN DOWNTOWN CAMAS

FEATURING DOLPHIN TALE

TICKETS $3.50,

PRE-ORDER TICKETSAT HELEN BALLER

BEGINS NOVEMBER 28TH!

Success Book Roll CallBelow is a list of students who have signed the Success Book during the month of November. AnyHelen Baller staff member can have a student sign the Success Book for being successful withacademics, behavior or work ethic. Several of the students signed the Success Book multiple times,but I have only listed their name once. Way to go Helen Baller Bears! We are proud of you!

Edison TwymanMacynn SchmidLaila MarklandLogan ReichertAlex Espitia- DotyLogan ReichertCourtland AndersonEwan MCclainIsabella KrohnertGarbriel ManilaSyerrah WilsonMichaela EphraimAlycen TemplerJames PodrezLuc UthezaSophia HrellaBrooke CraftAlex GilbertsonKai CathcartAustin AshcraftGabriel GrampsNoah DangerfieldTristen MangenelliElla ShannanRegan VanCleaveBilly SchuldtNico SwansonRiley SingletonChristian GeigenmillerBrandi PrattRachel RealBree McClellandEmma BlissLogan CoatesAnna WalbruchLevi BuzanTaija SoukiMakayla CaineSpencer TwymanEmily EllwellMarinaha Vargo

Conner MurphyJulia MarshRhyan BrownAliexia JohnsonTrinity LacherLili FordBella DistanteRylee CookRiley RobbinsReece VawterAlex JohnsonSammy GeigerBrig GriffinDylan GoodwinEbin DanleyJazzy GillespieViolet SmileyQuyen DoLuke BalesTorin PasaAnne CaliffAlexia JohnsonDelaney AndersonWestin FieldsBella BurnsLaura BersonQuantez KelsenElijah DallorIzzy DavisMilana TsiblskiyTyler VigilStephanie MathwichTyler JackAiden BairdSophia RubunoCyenna McCustkerAnne CaliffTyler DinhAllyson StollerJayden FosterCalvin WightTaylor Betschart

Ann BuckleyElizabeth NillesLuc UthezaYozen FangJoe BarnettNels MartinJoseph ColinsJulia MarshKayleigh BroughHaley ShawEthan ThroopLeanaMatthew SturegeanJefferson JacksonShakyah BoggsMoriah EphraimCassie JonesMakenna PasaAngelina GobleDeitrich VuDavid Melton

Shop.Swipe.Earn.

Shop your favorite brands,Swipe Shopper Card:

Earn P O I NTS for your School!

Spread the Word about e-Labels for Education!

Participating Retailers!

It’s really that easy. Sign up today at

www.eLabelsForEducation.com

Sign-up online and every time you purchase a Labels for Education participating product using your Shopper Card from participating retailers, you automatically earn 1 point our school can redeem

for FREE educational merchandise.

(Your school can still clip and redeem UPCs to earn the face value of Labels

for Education® points to earn even more for your school.)

eLabelsForEducation.com

Pampered Chef Holiday Shopping and Give Back

to Helen Baller PTA

Thank you to Pampered Chef Consultant and Baller

Parent Sara Califf for giving back 15% to Helen Baller PTA

with a Pampered Chef Show. Order your holiday gifts and

favorite products. Place orders by December 9th to be

entered to win a 60% off any item. All orders need to be

turned in by December 14th so they can be

back for the holidays.

www.pamperedchef.biz/saracaliff

On her website, click on "shop On-line"

and type in MY first (KATHI) and last name(HANSEN).

When you check out it will all go towards the

Helen Baller PTA fundraiser show.

CALLING ALL PARENTS WITH KIDS WHO HAVE DECEMBER AND JANUARY BIRTHDAYS!

You are invited to join the December birthday kids at the Baller Birthday Table on Friday, December 9th from 11:25am to 12:30pm. We would love for you to be there during the

entire lunch period to sit with and chat to the birthday kids to make their birthday celebration that much more enjoyable. If you can onlyattend for a short period of time, you could

sit with your child during his/her lunch.

After Winter Break, watch for an invitation if your child has a January birthday. We will be celebrating on Friday, January 20th, from 11:25am to 12:30pm.

Note: All health concerns and allergies are being closely monitored and can be accommodated for your child to participate in the birthday table.

If you have any questions, would like to volunteer your time or donate ice cream treats for the event, please contact Cheryl Johnson at 360.844.5797 or email her at

birthdaytable@helenballerpta.org. You may also sign up at Signupgenius.com and enter hbpta@yahoo.com in the search.

Win up to $2,500 in books for your school!

Enter the Labels for Education®Book Bonanza Sweepstakes

for your chance to win Scholastic books for your kid’s school.

Visit the Scholastic website at scholastic.com/bookbonanza

to enter by December 31, 2011.

Helen Baller's Goal: Bring 1500 food items!