Editor: Pamela Rineer
Table of Contents 2 PTA Information 3 Donaldson Student Awards 4 Battle of the Books 5 Arts Alive Photos & PTA in Numbers 6 Book Fair
es to April PTA Dat Remember 19th 6:30pm Donaldson PTA g: All General Meetin to Are Welcome Attend!
2015-16
April 2016 Issue 7
From the PTA President April is full of change - the weather turns warmer and wetter, nature reawakens, and signs of new life are all around. Change can be exciting, or sometimes difficult, but always necessary to keep moving forward. Over the past few months, I have had many ideas on how I can help promote change to make West Allegheny a better school district. Some may seem ridiculous, some even impossible, but there may be one or two that will make a real difference. Something I say or do may help shape new policy or start a new program. I can be a force for good in our community and SO CAN YOU!
Tuesday, April 19 at 6:30 pm, we will hold our next General PTA Meeting in the Donaldson cafeteria. We will have an open forum for parents and teachers to discuss ideas on how to strengthen our school. We will be specifically focusing on how PTA members, parent volunteers and Donaldson staff can work together to support programs that benefit our kids. We welcome any Stay Connected comments that will contribute to the betterment of • Watch your email for event Donaldson Elementary as a whole. (Please remember, dates and signup info. we will expect positive contributions from all speakers at • Stay connected through all times. Should you have a concern or issue, Mrs. Facebook by liking our page at Nolan is willing to set up a time to meet with you or to Facebook.com/DonaldsonPTA. talk to you in person after the more formal part of this • Get notifications through meeting is over.) Remind: text the code @cf21b to phone number This meeting is an exciting opportunity for our voices to 724-565-8456 or download be heard, and for ideas to be shared. We encourage all the Remind app and enter class families to attend and actively participate. Your idea may code cf21b. be just what we need to strengthen our school even more! • Check out our new website! www.donaldsonpta.weebly.com Kristi Gunderson we have tons of new PTA President information that we add every month!
Thank you to everyone who collected and turned in Box Tops for Education last month. The Donaldson Elementary PTA thinks you are a star for supporting your school! There were a total of 160 students who turned in Box Tops, which amounted to almost $683. The teachers will be distributing prizes to those students who turned in Box Tops. Don't worry if you were not able to participate this time, as there will be one more collection effort before the end of the school year, so please save those Box Tops.
The newsletter has been streamlined! Donaldson PTA has launched a new website. There is no longer a need to
We are sad to say that the Campbell's Labels for Education is coming to an end. Please send in as many labels as you can. There will be a bonus point promotion this month, then a final
send a lengthy newsletter
collection in May.
when you can now access all
Please ask family,
the information you need just by going to www.donadlsonpta.weebly.com
•Search the PTA Calendar •View our Fundraisers •View our upcoming Events ★ April 19th 6:30pm General PTA Meeting - All Are Welcome
friends and neighbors to help us make the last few months worthwhile. We hope to order lots of playground equipment with our remaining points. Thank you!
SPOTLIGHT ON DONALDSON AWARDS TOPS SALES FOR PIES
REFLECTIONS WINNERS!
Kindergarten: Mikayla Walker First Grade: Spencer Freshwater Second Grade: John Julian Third Grade: Aaralyn Wilson -Thornton Fourth Grade: Abigail Kizina Fifth Grade: Kristina FatigatI
Reflections Contest Update
Winning Class: Mrs. Mangan’s Class was awarded a cinnamon roll party!
The PTA Region 3 winners have been
CONGRATULATIONS!
announced. They competed against entries from schools across Allegheny County. Intermediate Literature 1st Place: Averi Zdinak, 4th Grade, Mrs. Buser Intermediate Photography 3rd and 4th Place: Sarah Rankin, 5th Grade, Mrs. Sunseri Both students will be invited to attend the Reflections Recognition Event & Art Show, celebrating the Region 3 winners, on Sunday, April 24th at Plum High School. The next round of judging is the PA PTA State Competition. Congratulations and Good Luck!
Battle of the Books Teams and Donaldson Champions Rock ’N’ Roll Readers!
Reese Bielecki Libby Hitchings Makynlee Martin Kate Miller
Donaldson Arts Alive: Smashing Success!
PTA in NUMBERS Arts Alive Kona Ice Dollars Raised
$150 Arts Alive Spirit Wear Sales
$249 Book Fair Birthday Books Bought for Students
250 March Pie Sale Fundraiser
$375 Scholastic Dollars Earned

$5,000 Book Fair Total
$7264.25 # of volunteers who made it happen
NOT ENOUGH It is clear that events like Arts Alive bring families and donations into our school. The PTA is moving towards EVENT ONLY fundraisers. No more sales! In order to make this happen, we need you! Please consider donating your time to the Donaldson PTA and make a difference in your child’s school. Many hands make light work!
10 classrooms at Donaldson Elementary School have been upgraded with digital interactive Smart Boards thanks to Donaldson families and the Donaldson PTA’s fundraisers, like the Book Fair! Look for an article in the Allegheny West Magazine!
The Buy One, Get One FREE Sale is coming in May.
Thank you for donating to ALL FOR BOOKS! With your donations were were able to get many new books for the Donaldson library. Delighting students, Mrs. Schultz was so excited she magically sprouted a unicorn horn!