Jump Rope for Heart is a fun field day that has our students jumping rope, running and jumping over hurdles and bouncing in a bounce house. In addition to fun, students learn about heart health and the importance of a good diet. Jump Rope for Heart also has a fundraising component that raises money for the American Heart Association and helps raise funds for athletic equipment at Grady Elementary. 

We will need volunteers on Friday, February 15th to help monitor stations, hand out water, turn jump ropes and more. We will be sending the full schedule and volunteer sign up later this week.

Your child can collect donations and turn them in via the envelope provided or you can sign up online by clicking on Grady Elementary's AHA Page. You can also download the Kids Heart Challenge mobile app. 

If you have any questions, please email Ms. Murrell at [email protected]

Thank you to all of the pirates that joined us on Thursday Night for our Unlock the Treasures of Reading Night! Our students loved hearing the stories, getting beads and eating cookies! 

Our goal over the past year and a half has been to upgrade our technology. With the funds raised last year, we were able to purchase 1 computer cart (with at least 20 laptops) for each grade level for a total of 120 laptops. The laptop cart will allow the computers to go from classroom to classroom, so that the computers can be utilized by more students during a single school day. For the 2018-19 school year, we included budget items for additional technology upgrades. We have already approved the purchase of 2 ceiling mounted projectors, 2 iPads, and 1 laptop and plan to purchase additional technology for the media center. 

Principal Dosal requested that we use the our additional funds this year to install a new digital marquee. The digital marquee will assist the office in quickly communicating with our parents and providing up-to-date reminders of important events at Grady, instead of monthly updates. During the meeting, we officially voted to fund the digital marquee with our additional funds. We will share more information about the marquee as it becomes available. 

In addition, during the meeting we approved over $2,500 in mini grant requests from our teachers and specialists that include: purchasing 100 classic literature books for 4th graders, providing flexible seating options for students, approving subscriptions (News 2 You, Scholastic, Storyworks, Starfall and ABC Mouse) that benefit students in multiple grades, and providing our ASD classrooms with kits that help with fine motor skills and help with science experiments.   

Thanks to all of our amazing sponsors, donors during events such as Tiger Trek and Auction Night, and increased club enrollment, we have acquired more funds that allow us to better serve our students and the community. 

Below are some upcoming important dates:

1/25 - Kindergarten Countdown for incoming Kindergarten parents
1/31 - Family Skate Night at United Skates of America
2/08 - Fair Day - NO SCHOOL
2/13 - Pre-K and Kindergarten Valentine's Day Concert
2/15 - Jump Rope for Heart and Field Day
3/09 - Grady 80's themed Auction Night at Christ the King 
3/12 - 1st & 2nd Grade School Concert
3/13 - 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade School Concert 

DUST OFF YOUR LEG WARMERS!

TEASE YOUR HAIR UP!

When: March 9, 2019 from 6-10pm

Where: Christ the King

Theme: The 80’s

THIS IS AN ADULT ONLY EVENT!

Day of Tickets available Saturday, March 9th (purchase at the door only - no online purchase available)
$45 includes admission + dinner (no drink tickets)

AMAZING AUCTION ITEMS INCLUDE:

    • One week stay at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek in Orlando from June 7 - June 14, 2019 (click on Wyndham Bonnet Creek for more details)
    • Football clinic with NFL Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick
    • VIP school parking - skip the car line and park in the back of Grady
    • Hang your college flag in front of Grady for a year


    We will be previewing some of the awesome items we will have available at the auction:

    Summer Camps

    • Girls with confidence
    • Martial Arts Advantage
    • Rockatar 
    • Camp Terrapin at Tampa Prep
    • Playgrounds of Tampa
    • Berkeley Prep sports, art or enrichment camp
    • LaFleur’s Gymnastics
    • South Tampa Basketball Camp at Grady 

    Sports

    • Under Armour Basketball Registration
    • Under Armour Flag Football Registration
    • Tampa Bay Little League Softball or Baseball Registration
    • South Tampa Titans Football or Cheer Registration
    • Strike One Pitching - private pitching or hitting lessons
    • Tampa Bay Lightning Basket, including tickets to a game
    • Martial Arts Advantage - summer camp and birthday party
    • LaFleur’s Gymnastics - gymnastics classes
    • Tampa Bay United Soccer Registration
    • Take Me Out to the Ballgame USF Bulls Baseball Basket
    • Tampa Bay Rays - 4 tickets to a home game
    • South Tampa Basketball Camp at Grady 

    Music and the Arts

    • Grady Music Teacher for the day
    • Grady Art Teacher for the day
    • South Tampa Center for the Arts - one week of summer camp
    • Private Piano lessons
    • Private Drum or Percussion lessons
    • Private Photography lesson
    • Adult Arts & Crafts basket including gift card to Painting with a Twist
    • Rockatar - private lessons or a week of summer camp
    • Berkeley Prep - week of summer camp
    • Tampa Music School - private lesson, and a bag of fun items including a ukelele

    Beauty Regiment

    • Mint Salon: $50 gift certificate and various hair care products (value $250)
    • Hair Affair basket: curlers, blow dry clips, wet brush, JoJo Siwa bos, curling iron, $25 ultra card and much more (value $300)
    • Christine Diaz Hair Package: certificate for single process color, haircut and style, various hair care products (value $200)
    • Perez Orthodontics: 1/2 off orthodontic treatment (value up to $2750)
    • Marcadis Plastic Surgery: $250 Botox Treatment
    • Pamper Yourself: $50 Fancy Nails, $100 Blowbar Express, $25 Hazel & Dot, and more (value $200)

    Good Eats

    • "In Pizza We Crust" basket: $25 gift card to Black Jack Pizza, $40 gift card to California Pizza Kitchen, Pizza stone, Kate Spade hot mitts and towels, Pizza making ingredients, pizza serving tools, cookbooks. Value $325
    • S'mores Family Fun: Fire pit and accessories, Hershey’s s’mores kit, Flannel blanket, roasting sticks, mugs, hot chocolate, S’mores recipe book, and much more. Value $300
    • Stroll Through Hyde Park: $50 Cinebistro, $25 Sprinkles Cupcakes, $10 Hyppo, $50 Timpano, $50 Wine Exchange, $50 Bar Taco, $50 On Swann. Value $235 
    • Patty Cake, Patty Cake Baking basket: 2 baking with kids cookbooks, a proofing basket, mixing bowls, dish towels, mixing spatulas, an electric mixer, measuring spoons, egg yolk separator, aprons and chef hats. Value $250
    • Ice Cream Social basket: $10 gift card to Cold Stone, $10 gift card to Dairy Joy, $10 gift card to Yogurtology, Cuisinart soft serve ice cream maker, Ice cream cone play set, ceramic ice cream bowls, plastic ice cream bowls and spoons, ice cream scoop, ice cream pillow, assorted ice cream toppings. Value $212
    • Date Night Basket:  $40 Coldstone, $25 Total Wine, $25 Darden Restaurants, $50 AMC Movies, $25 Maggiano’s, $40 Margaritas Mexican. Value $205
    • Village Inn Pie of the Month: turn in your coupon each month for one of the many delicious pies at the Village Inn! Value $120 
    • Nothing Bundt Cake: redeem your coupon each month for a delicious bundt cake. Also, you get to bring home a cake the night of the auction! Value $300
    • Besito Mexican Experience: Dining experience for 4 people. Includes appetizers, entrees, dessert, tequila flight tasting, and margaritas. Value $350 
    • A Taste of Mexico: Chipotle dinner for 4, $20 gift card to Tijuana Flats plus 2 of their hot sauces, 4 margarita glasses, bottle of Jose Cuervo tequila, bottle of organic margarita mix, queso and hot sauce, chip and dip bowl. Value $200  
    • Rollin’ Oats: $25 gift card, assorted snacks, water bottle, T-shirt. Value $50  
    • Taste of Tampa: $50 Bulla Gastropub, $50 Flemings, $50 Bella’s, $50 Bern’s/Haven, Bar Taco dinner for 2, $40 Deviled Pig, Toffee to Go gift card, Oxford Exchange tea for 2, $50 Roy’s gift card, $25 Metro Diner, $50 Edison’s, $100 Donatello’s, $20 Buddy Brew, and more. Value $700  

    Drink Up

    • Cooper's Hawk Wine Club: 3-month wine membership, 2 wine tastings and an oversized bottle of wine
    • PRP Wine International: Private In-Home Sampling Experience for up to 12 people, 90 minutes. Includes 8 bottles of wine and a wine consultant. 
    • Stroll Through Hyde Park: $50 Cinebistro, $25 Sprinkles Cupcakes, $10 Hyppo, $50 Timpano, $50 Wine Exchange, $50 Bar Taco, $50 On Swann
    • Date Night Basket:  $40 Coldstone, $25 Total Wine, $25 Darden Restaurants, $50 AMC Movies, $25 Maggiano’s, $40 Margaritas Mexican
    • Besito Mexican Experience: Dining experience for 4 people. Includes appetizers, entrees, dessert, tequila flight tasting, and margaritas
    • A Taste of Mexico: Chipotle dinner for 4, $20 gift card to Tijuana Flats plus 2 of their hot sauces, 4 margarita glasses, bottle of Jose Cuervo tequila, bottle of organic margarita mix, queso and hot sauce, chip and dip bowl, accessories
    • Total Wine & Spirits: Private wine class for up to 20 people
    • Tailgate with 81Bay: 4-pack of 81Bay Beer, 1 free crowler, ball cap, 81Bay swag, Yeti 12 Hopper
    • 3 Daughters Brewery: $40 gift card, 2 pint glasses, 2 koozies, assortment of 3 Daughters beers
    • Wine Please: wine bag, corkscrew, wine stopper, 4 wine glasses, wine socks, wine tote, Coppola Merlot, Votre Sante Pinot Noir

    Thank you to our Auction Sponsors:

    Grady PTA School Skate Party With The Worlds Largest Indoor “Real Fake Snowball Fight”

    Thursday, January 31st
    6:00 - 8:00 pm

     

    Pre-sale are available until Tuesday, January 29th!!
    Pre-sale tickets get you early entry at 5:30 pm!!

     

    $6.00 per person
    (includes regular skate rental)
    Non-skating Adults entry is FREE!
    All children entering must pay admission.
    ONLINE SALES ARE NOW CLOSED!
     
    Please join us on Thursday, January 31st for the World’s Largest Indoor Snowball Fight themed school skate party at United Skates of America. Join us to skate, throw snowballs and support the Grady Elementary PTA. Hope to see you all there!
     
    United Skates of America, 5121 N Armenia Ave., Tampa, Fl 33603 
    813-876-5826

    www.unitedskates.com/tampa

    Today is the last day to register for our Spring session of After School Enrichment (ASE) Clubs. The clubs start January 22nd and run through May 17th. Please visit ASE Club Information for more information about our clubs and ASE Club Signup to register. Please note that the Baseball Club has been cancelled due to low enrollment.

    Thursday is our annual Unlock the Treasurers of Reading Night (Pirate Reading Night). The kids are invited to dress as pirates or wear pajamas. The night starts with a general PTA meeting at the flagpole at 5:45 pm. Children will go to classrooms and enjoy stories read by pirates from local krewes, while parents of students in grades 3-5 go to the Media Center for the FSA Information Session and parents of students in grades K-2 go to the Cafeteria for a Reading Essentials Information Session. It's a really fun night with free books, beads, juice and cookies!

    Congratulations to all of our Reflections Art Contest winners! To see a full list of the winners, click on Read More.

    Below are some upcoming important dates:

    1/17 - Unlock the Treasures of Reading Night (Pirate Reading Night) & General PTA Meeting
    1/21 - MLK - NO SCHOOL
    1/22 - First day of Spring After School Enrichment clubs
    1/25 - Kindergarten Countdown for incoming Kindergarten parents
    1/31 - Family Skate Night at United Skates of America
    2/08 - Fair Day - NO SCHOOL
    2/13 - Pre-K and Kindergarten Valentine's Day Concert
    3/12 - 1st & 2nd Grade School Concert
    3/13 - 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade School Concert
    3/9/19 - Grady 80's themed Auction Night at Christ the King
    Yearbook sales are officially open! Envelopes  for paper sales will be sent home later this month. Prices are currently $20 for a softcover yearbook and $25 for a hardcover yearbook, however, pricing will increase April 1st. Please visit www.strawbridge.net to purchase online and enter online code 112045. 

    On Thursday, January 17th from 6:00-7:00pm is our annual Unlock the Treasures of Reading Night, also known as Grady Pirate Night.  In addition, we will be holding a very brief PTA General Meeting at the flagpole at 5:45 pm. 

    Parents and children are invited to this event.  Children will go to classrooms and enjoy stories read by pirates from local krewes.  Parents of students in grades 3-5 will go to the Media Center for the FSA Information Session and parents of students in grades K-2 will go to the cafeteria for a Reading Essentials Information Session. 

    The kids will have a blast and they are invited to dress as pirates or wear pajamas. There will be free books, beads, juice and cookies. Please don’t miss this fun event.

    Grady Elementary is running a food drive to benefit End 68 Hours of Hunger of Hillsborough County. Donations will be collected from December 3rd to December 19th. Please send donations in with your child and they will place them in the donation box in their classroom. 

    Recommended donation items are:

    • Rice
    • Instant Potatoes
    • Boxed Stuffing
    • Cereal
    • Cereal Bars
    • Granola
    • Crackers
    • Apple Sauce
    • Spaghetti
    • Spaghetti Sauce
    • Chef Boyardee
    • Mac n Cheese
    • Tuna in Water
    • Peanut Butter
    • Jelly
    Our Winter Concerts are quickly approaching! The dates of the concerts are:
    1st & 2nd Grade: Wednesday, December 5th at 6 pm
    3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Chorus: Thursday, December 6th at 6 pm
    Pre-K, Kindergarten and ESE Students: Friday, December 7th at 8 am

    Click on Read More for concert details