Dear Members of the Grady Community,

This is just a quick update to tell you about an awesome new Grady t-shirt available for purchase, to update you on the Grandparents Breakfast and PTA board meeting, which all occurred after the September newsletter was published, to provide you with a link to a Box Tops contest, and to provide you with a copy of Grady’s Serve Form, which must be filled out by all school volunteers. 

First, the Grady PTA is selling 100% combed cotton black t-shirts with a bejeweled paw print design that says “Grady Mom” or “Grady Faculty,” your choice.  Pictures of the designs are included in the attached order forms.  The shirts are offered in fitted and relaxed options, but because the fitted shirts run small and tight, it is quite wise to order a size up if you want a fitted shirt.  The relaxed shirts run true to size.  The shirts are $25 each and can be ordered by returning the attached order form and payment with a note “attn: PTA” in your child’s homework folder (checks payable to Grady Elementary PTA).  The deadline to have your shirt included in the first batch of t-shirt orders is September 13, 2013, with an estimated delivery date of September 30, 2013.  The finished t-shirts will come home in student backpacks.  Dads and grandparents, don’t feel left out.  Men’s and women's size Grady “Eye of the Tiger” spirit shirts are already on sale at Teamwork Imprinted Sportswear, 2403 S Dale Mabry Hwy. (across the street from Plant High School, store phone number (813) 258-0331). 

Next, on September 5, 2013, the PTA held a board meeting.  During the meeting the PTA funded the following projects:  (1) Common Core State Standards reading materials for the first grade team; (2)  A speaking fee for Glory Be author, Augusta Scattergood, to speak to the third, fourth and fifth grade students in conjunction with the Battle of the Books event; and (3) a hand truck to be used by the custodial staff to move furniture and boxes around the school.  We also have instituted a new mini-grant application process that allows teachers to submit applications for mini-grants to purchase education enhancing curriculum.  An example of our mini-grant process is that last year, we partly funded a grant for Mr. Florio to purchase a World Drumming set of drums so that all of the students could learn the rhythm and discipline that it takes to make music with a group of drummers.  We will soon be publicizing our new mini-grant application process to Grady teachers. 

Thanks to the many grandparents who came to the Grady Grandparents’ Day Breakfast on September 4 and 5.  Our guests enjoyed coffee, orange juice, fruit and muffins.  Thanks to the many volunteers who helped keep the food fresh, who helped sign in participants and who helped set up and take down the food display for the event.  Notably, we are close to winning a PTA Gold Award for grandparent participation on our PTA.  So, if any grandparents were favorably impressed by the breakfast and want to be a part of the Grady Community, please have them sign up to join the PTA.  Membership is only $6 for one person and $10 for two people and helps our school so much.  A membership form is attached and you can forward it by email to people who might like to join.  Please email Debbie Bresnahan at [email protected] for more information about PTA membership.

Also, if you or a member of your family (significant other, grandparent, etc.) may volunteer at Grady during school hours or for any school/PTA event, please have each potential volunteer fill out a “Serve” Volunteer Application form.  A PDF version of the Serve form is attached to this email, so you can print it and send it in your child’s homework folder for processing, and then you will be covered for the whole year. 

The next topic is box tops.  In addition to clipping box tops and getting coupons (see link for ways to get 60 box tops for our school http://www.boxtops4education.com/scan-receipt?nicam2=Email&nichn2=Core&niseg2=BTFE&nicreatID2=BTFE_09_04_2013), there is an opportunity to register Grady Elementary for two contests featuring additional box tops and cash prizes:  a Cheerios contest, called “Send Cheer” and an Old El Paso Contest.  You can register Grady for both contests by clicking here http://www.boxtops4education.com/savings-and-promotions/bonus-offers. Also, when submitting box tops (the first submission deadline is on or before October 18), please clip them neatly and place them in plastic (Ziploc-style) bags of 50 box tops each.  If less than 50 box tops are in a Ziploc, please note the number on the Ziploc or on a slip of paper inside the Ziploc.  Finally, please don’t forget to vote for Grady every week until September 21 on the Give with Target website (http://givewith.target.com/).  If you don’t want to publish your vote to social media, redefine the group to where the vote will be published to “me” and it will appear only to you on social media.  This means you can vote for Grady without giving Target free advertising if you that is what you wish.   We hope that you will help support Grady by participating in the Box Tops and Target programs.

Thanks for your time in reading this update and have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Grady Elementary PTA

Grady Elementary PTA 2013-2014 Board – Every Child. Once Voice.

Damaris Allen, President ([email protected])

Debbie Bresnahan, VP of Membership ([email protected])

Kris House, VP of Sponsorships ([email protected])

Jennifer Narvaes, VP of Events ([email protected])

Jennifer Postlewait, VP of Events ([email protected])

Ellen Lyons, VP of Communications (GradyPTACommun[email protected])

Jessica Schentrup, VP of Fundraising ([email protected])

Melissa Azevedo, Secretary ([email protected])

Julie Cuevas, Treasurer ([email protected]