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"Butterfly" >
February 2010
February 4, 2010
The Ada Merritt K-8 Center PTA
"Butterfly"
It takes a village to educate and grow our children.
AMK8 Proudly Embraces It’s Parent-Teacher-Student Partnerships!!
General Membership Meeting Tomorrow in the Cafeteria @ 8:30am. See You There!
February is Black History Month!
Black History Month Dates to Look Forward To...
Black History Month Program - Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 8:45 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.
(PARENTS Please plan to attend the program.)
* Florida Memorial University's Ambassador Chorale and Steel Pan Ensemble have been invited to perform at the 8:45 and 9:45 a.m. assemblies
* Youth Pastor Ramjohn/New Way has been invited to discuss the History of Black Economic Empowerment at the 8:45 a.m. assembly to the older students.
* Lauderdale Steel Pan Ensemble will advise of their availability to perform on 2/25 or another date.
* Continental Breakfast.
(Some invited participants have yet to confirm.)
Black History Month FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES
* Fund raising activities will begin on Monday, February 1st
* $2.50 bracelets
* $10 or $12 t-shirts (based on size)
* $1 pencils (extra pencils will be sold to cover the cost of talent)
Black History Month CALENDAR
* Look for the Black History Month calendar on the PTA website for these events and more!
* Library reading schedule
* Morning announcements (black inventors)
* Brazilian Black History
* Wear black, red or green on February 5th, 12th and the 19th
Black History Month DECORATIONS
* Library, Cafeteria, Walkers' Area, Bulletin Boards, Front Office
Black History committee will decorate starting on Tuesday, Feb 2, 2010. Come and help out.
Black History Month Special Items
* Speaker at Teachers' Luncheon
* BH calendars for AdaM teachers
* Cafeteria will serve some yummy “soul food” maybe like corn bread, collard greens, yams.
Let’s see what they come up with!
* Miami Dade County Public Schools BH Essay Contest. See the website for rules.
* BH pencils distributed at "Student of the Month" program 2/25/10
A Thank You From PIPA
PIPA wants to thank the PTA and the PTA Board for including the purchase of Portuguese Books as one of the Gala fundraising initiatives.
Portuguese books are indeed a number one priority for PIPA. For many years they’ve been counting on the teacher’s creativity, availability and disposition to make their own materials and photocopies since the classrooms lack the appropriate books. As one of our parents commented since the Portuguese teachers do not make color copies, “...our kids are learning Portuguese in black and white. They might think our country (Brazil) is also black & white.”
As always, please join PIPA members, teachers, Brazilian organizations, businesses, PIPA friends and supporters to work hard to make this year’s Gala a success.
Ada Merritt Helps Haiti
The terrible earthquake centered near the impoverished Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince caused the collapse of many buildings and an unknown number of fatalities on the 12th of January. The quake measured 7.0 on the Richter scale and at least 1.8 million people live within the area where the earthquake had its highest intensity. The daily struggle for survival for our brothers and sisters in that devastated country is heart wrenching to see.
Ada Merritt K-8 Center PTA was ready to help respond to the relief efforts. For two weeks the PTA assisted the Ada Merritt Community in delivering the collection of donated items to the local fire station, which served as drop-off locations in the City of Miami. The donations of simple medical supplies such as bandages, first aid kits and aspirin, disposable diapers, bottled water, new and like-new shoes & clothing, blankets, towels, batteries and nonperishable foods like canned goods & juices, baby food, powdered milk, dry foodstuffs such as rice, flour and cereals were brought to school daily by the students to the homeroom, then sent down to the small room next to the office where a bin was placed for collection.
This community effort shows that by lending a hand to the Haitian earthquake victims in these difficult times, Ada Merritt truly cares about it’s international neighbors.
Have a Heart, Give a Heart, and Help the Fifth Grade
Have that special friend, teacher, Principal or Assistant Principal, or Ada Merritt staff member that you want to remember on St. Valentine’s Day? Well, starting tomorrow the 3rd, you can pre-order a personalized note and a friendship glow bracelet or carnation to be delivered to “Your Valentine” on the morning of Friday the 12th for only a dollar donation. All the proceeds go toward the 5th Grade End of Year Promotion Celebration activities. Look for the flyer in the book bags…
Other 5th grade fundraising plans call for two Mega Book Sales in March. There will be a book donation box placed in every homeroom in the school for all to participate. We encourage you to please start sending all those books that your children no longer read so that we can start organizing them for event. More details about this will be coming shortly to all 5th grade parents, as well as an e-mail explaining the sale to all the grade levels in the school.
SIPA: “It’s A Trip!”
On behalf of Ms. Maria Blet, and the Board Members of SIPA, we would like to thank those who attended the 2010 SIPA Spain Trip Meeting that was held Tuesday, January 19th, at Sunset Elementary.
As you were informed during the meeting, we are still in the planning process of this year’s trip and are working to finalize a few of the trip’s details. The travel dates are June 11th to the 22nd; a detailed agenda as well as the final price for the trip will be available soon. SIPA will be forwarding the information as soon as we have received confirmation from the travel agency and the airline. Because of the delay, we will be moving the deadline for the first deposit to February 8th. A $300.00 deposit is due on Monday, fully refundable until March 1st, 2010.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us at sipa@sipa-miami.org.
BOX TOPS
School budgets are tighter than ever, and Ada Merritt K-8 Center is asking for the support of its families and it’s community. This year we’ve set a goal of earning a minimum of $500. through Box Tops.
What is Box Tops?
We all shop for groceries, sometimes two or three times a week –- or more. Now turn those shopping trips into easy cash for your school, and encourage friends to do the same! Just look for the Box Tops logo on hundreds of products like Cheerios®, Hamburger Helper® and Kleenex®, available in almost every aisle of the store. All you need to do is clip and send them to your school’s Box Tops coordinator —- each one is worth 10¢ for your school. Want to see all the money saving coupons? Go to http://boxtops4education.com Best of all, it’s absolutely free! And maybe you have some products already! Click on the "ALL About Box Tops" tab and scroll to the Participating Products on the list, then look for those products in your home.
Box Tops has helped America’s schools raise over $175 million to buy the things they need. The Box Tops for Education program offers three easy ways to make a difference through everyday activities: buying groceries, shopping online or making purchases with a credit card.
An easy way to help our school is to sign up for the Box Tops website at boxtops4education.com
We will have a collection box placed in the cafeteria for easy collection and drop off. Please make sure all labels are properly cut on the dotted line and that the expiration date have not passed.
For more information on how you can help our school earn cash through Box Tops for Education, contact Mrs. Liliana Cadavid-Ponce, our Box Tops coordinator, at: Lilycadavid@yahoo.com
Reflections…
The Miami-Dade County Council of PTAs/PTSAs held the Annual Reflections Reception at MAST Academy on January 28th, 2010. Ada Merritt’s 5th grade student Patrick Barham was a primary school finalist countywide in Music Composition. His chamber piece entitled “…As Beauty Does” composed for first violin, second violin, viola and cello will now advance to the State competition in Orlando. If it is selected as a State of Florida finalist the composition will advance for judging at the National PTA/PTSA Reflections Program.
The Reflections Program has been in existence for 40 years and offers the opportunity to showcase the importance of the arts, music and literature in education. Students in preschool through grade 12 are encouraged to create and submit works of art in any of the entry categories. The program can also enhance Ada Merritt’s art program by giving students a sense of achievement and recognition. Entry Categories include Literature, Musical Composition, Photography, Visual Arts, Dance Choreography & Film Production. This spring the 2010-2011 Reflections theme will be announced so Ada Merritt participants can work on their entries over the summer.
And by the way, your PTA is looking for an interested individual to take the lead by being the Reflections Chairperson for our PTA for next year. By partnering with our school's art, music, and language arts teachers, Ada Merritt will have the opportunity to submit many more pieces of your student's work to showcase them county-wide.
Go Green Dance: It’s the Talk of the School!
The first ever Go Green Dance is being co-sponsored the Green Team and by the 8th Grade parents as a fundraiser for the 8th Grade Year End activities such as the May Promotional Dinner & Dance. The Go Green Dance is scheduled for Friday, Feb 26th from 3:00-4:30pm in our cafeteria. The dance is open to students of the 5th thru the 8th grades. To encourage school-wide participation, all grades are invited to wear a green colored shirt for $1. donation that day. We will be charging $3.00 admittance and will have music, special activities as well as refreshments and miscellaneous items for purchase. The Green Team Committee wants to incorporate environmental themes into this event. So, if you have any ideas, please share them with Carolyn West west.carolyn@gmail.com. Thus far, Carolyn will set up a recycling station for cans and plastic bottles. The Green Team is in need of volunteers and donations. The 8th graders will help and earn community hours as well. In particular, we are looking for the following assistance; donations of sodas, water, ice pops, parents to help set, clean up and work during the event. Go Green! Let’s make this an annual affair! For more info, contact Go Green Committee Chair, Contact Ben Cruz artmagus@bellsouth.net
Science Fair Accolades
We are congratulating all the students who participated in the 2009-2010 Ada Merritt K-8 Center Science Fair. The completion of a science fair project allows all of the students to create then experience hands-on activities using the scientific method and to demonstrate pride in their work.
The following students were recognized with a superior performance for their grade level: Third Grade, Julian Enriquez; Fourth Grade, Nicola Stojanovic; Fifth Grade, Patrick Barham; Seventh Grade, Jasmin Almonte, Robbyn Jimenez, & Matthew Roman.
Nikola Stojanovic and Patrick Barham will be representing Ada Merritt K-8 Center at the 22nd Annual Elementary Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Invention Fair on Saturday, April 17th, 2010.
Jasmin Almonte, Robbyn Jimenez, & Matthew Roman were invited to represent Ada Merritt K-8 Center at the 56th Annual South Florida Regional Science and Engineering Fair on January 23rd, 2010. Congratulations to Robbyn and Mathew for being recognized for Superior and Jasmin for Excellence and bringing them to Ada Merritt. Thanks to Science Fair Coordinator: Lourdes B. Cobas.
“That 70’s Gala”
The PTA will again be presenting the Gala and Silent Auction. You’ll see “That ‘70’s Gala” flyer around school very soon. Thanks so much to Dorn Martell for the standout graphics work.
This extremely popular event will be held on Friday, March 19th at Parrot Jungle Island. Tickets are available on the website and flyers to solicit auction items went home and can be found on the PTA’s website as well. Buy your tickets early and take family and friends. There’s a lay-a-way plan set up, contact: Amelia Gowdy: amelia@miamidade.gov
Please help in getting your local businesses to participate in this worthwhile event by asking for donations for the silent auction, to purchase ads in the program or just give money! If you’d like to get involved in the 70’s themed party, please contact: Nely Martinez, nelymartinez@bellsouth.net or Deanna Christensen, could certainly use your help deanna.christensen@gmail.com. Your friends in the PTA look forward to seeing you so we can all party on that special night!
Spelling Bee
The buzz around school was that 5th grader Alliyah Bassit was the Elementary School Champion and 7th grader Robyn Hurd took the Middle School Champion honors during last month’s Ada Merritt Spelling Bee held on Friday the 29th of January. Congratulations go out to First Runners Up: Jose Heijn (Elementary) and Aliyah Symes (Middle School).
Good Luck to Alliyah Bassit and Robyn Hurd as they represent Ada Merritt K-8 Center at the 70th Annual Miami Herald Spelling Bee that will take place on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at Parrot Jungle Island.
A special thank you to Spelling Bee Coordinators: Lourdes Cobas, Diane Davis & Sonia Garcia.
Serve Your PTA Next Year
Have you considered running for a PTA elected office? We need candidates for next year and now’s the time to start to think about being one of those dedicated individuals.
Contact Lisa Kauffman
The PTA Serves Many of the Needs of Ada Merritt. The PTA Needs You to Serve!
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