Fall 2016

From the PTO Board Welcome to another exciting year at Ryerson! The 2016-2017 school year is off to a great start. Thank you to all of the volunteers who have jumped right in to support the important back-to-school events that our students, teachers, and families so look forward to! We have a lot of fun planned for the year, and we are so grateful to the school community for your help with every event.As always, we look forward to incorporating your interests and talents into our programs. No time commitment is too small! Please feel free to contact RyersonPTO@gmail.com, or any of our individual emails (on the school’s website) if you have any questions, comments, or ideas!

PTO Executive Board 2016-2017Co-Presidents: Bee Gordon, Michelle MenardCo-Vice Presidents: Lindsay Aiello, Kevin WolfeTreasurer: Pam SchneiderSecretary: Beth Emerson

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Upcoming Dates

School Closed/Holiday: 10/10-12Spaghetti Dinner: Oct. 14 – 5:30 PMParent/Teacher Conferences: Oct. 19 & 20 – early dismissalsScholastic Book Fair: 10/24-28Book Fair Evening Event: Oct. 26 – 6-8 PMHalloween Magic Show: 10/31Election Day (No School): 11/8Thanksgiving Early Dismissal: Nov 23Thanksgiving Holiday (No School): Nov 24 & 25Winter Break Early Dismissal: Dec 23Winter Break (No School): Dec 26-Dec 30New Year’s Holiday (No School): Jan 2Martin Luther King Day (No School): Jan 16Early Dismissal: Jan 24

What does PTO fund?

• $10,000 gift to school last year ✦ iPad minis ✦ Storia subscription ✦ Keyboard for music class ✦ Comprehensive learning

center equipment • $10 per student to offset field

trip costs • Startup/supply funds for each

teacher each year

HAPPENINGS ON THE HILL Ryerson Elementary | PTO Newsletter | Madison, CT

Fall 2016

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Thank you!

Our amazing teachers were welcomed back with a luncheon on August 30th. Special thanks to PTO Hospitality Chair, Joanne St. Pierre, for her hard work organizing this event! Thanks to Beth Ackerman, Lindsay Aiello, Susann Boroczky, Stephanie Clark, Beth Emerson, Bee Gordon, MaryBeth Hughes, Michelle Menard, Amy Paradiso, Cara Rich, Kim Schiavone, Pam Schneider, and Christine Tangredi for their time and baking skills to help our teachers know how much we appreciate them.

School picture day on Sept. 27th went off without a hitch, thanks to the hard work of Carolyn Varone, Amy Paradiso, and Candace Barnes.

Thank you to Kristen Waterman and Lisa Brown for their work beautifying our school with bulletin boards and garden work. Please let us know if you would like to help with these efforts.

Want to help out? Do you have time? Consider volunteering for upcoming school events! Have a talent? Run a Winter Workshop! Love carnivals? Help out at the Fun Fair! Green thumb? Pitch in for school beautification projects! We have opportunities for an hour, or an hour a week. Let a board member know what interests you.

Less time? No problem!

• Register your Stop and Shop card with A+ School Rewards (https://stopandshop.com/savings-and-rewards/rewards-program/aplus/)

• Collect Box Tops for your child’s classroom

Halloween Happenings Halloween is just around the corner! Consider bringing a UNICEF box with you when your student is trick-or-treating.

Fall 2016

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Welcome Room Parents!

Thank you to the room parents for the 2016-2017 school year:

Mrs. Ackerman’s Class: Candace Barnes & Linda Romanchok Mrs. Soja’s Class: Caroline Anderson, Megan McGuire, & Karen Staschke

Mrs. Chin’s Class: Julie O’Connor & JoAnn St. Pierre Mrs. Dunbar’s Class: Cheryl Duncan & Kim Schiavone

Mrs. Figurelli’s Class: Janice WolfMrs. Voitans’s Class: Bee Gordon & Amy Kennedy

Mrs. Bell’s Class: Rebecca Bixon & Carolyn Varone Mrs. Pinski’s Class: Amy Paradiso & Kim Yahara Mrs. Tang’s Class: Beth Ackerman & Kristen Waterman

Mrs. Karimi’s Class: MaryBeth Hughes & Nancy Tong Mrs. Parente’s Class: JoAnn St. Pierre Mrs. Townsend’s Class: TBD

Book Fair Ahoy! Join us in celebrating our annual book fair, which will be held October 24-28 in the library. Stay tuned for an announcement of times to visit and shop with your student. All purchases support our school, and provide your student with fun reading materials for home as well.

Also, save the date for a great family event on October 26 from 6-8 PM featuring reading and food trucks!

Cultural Arts The PTO is busily planning a monthly cultural arts assembly for the school. The first will be held on October 31, featuring a Halloween Magic Show! We look forward to the return of Shakesperience, the Daniel Hand Vibe Show Choir, and other great events.

Fall 2016

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Spirit Wear

Coming soon, Ryerson gear in the Madison black and gold colors. Go Ryerson!

Holiday Drives

Please stay tuned for announcements about our annual food drive (throughout November) and our annual toy drive (around the December holidays). Thank you to Rebecca Bixon and Bee Gordon for organizing these important drives to support our Madison community.

Next PTO Meeting

Tuesday October 25th at 7 PM

See you there!

New to Ryerson? We have some great community events that happen every year as a tradition! Here is a summary of some of our favorites, so that you and your family can plan to attend.

✦ Spaghetti Dinner - Oct. 14 5:30 PM - A fun family event featuring a delicious dinner prepared by our own Chef Kevin Wolfe. This is held annually at the Senior Center, and also features a 50/50 raffle if you’re feeling lucky!

✦ Mini Golf Night - Nov. 14 6-8 PM - The Ryerson Multipurpose room is converted to a mini golf course. The cost is $6 per person per round, and all ages are welcome!

✦ Give to Grow - in the Spring - A night out for grown-ups with great food, fun, and auctions of student art projects as well as other prizes. Plan to volunteer and/or attend!

✦ Fun Fair - in the Spring - A Ryerson favorite, this outdoor carnival-style family day involves parent-run carnival games, a “Cake Walk” game where kids can win baked goodies, Mystery Bags, and more. Plan to volunteer and/or attend!