Welcome!

Welcome to the John Muir Elementary PTA blog! Although we do have a link from the school website, our hope is to make this an interactive blog to share ideas, helpful suggestions and information about our school.



Thursday, August 26, 2010

Welcome to Another Great Year

The PTA welcomes you back for another great year at John Muir Elementary.  We have plans for many fun and exciting event this school year-from the first annual Walk-a-thon, to the Auction Dinner Dance, to the Spell/Map/Math-a-thon, there is something for everyone to enjoy.  These fundraisers are a crucial part of the PTA budget.  Last year we were able to fund the Timberwolf reading program, field trip buses for all grade levels, 5th grade planners, 5th grade promotion, tile wall and t-shirts; we hosted a family bingo night, family tile night, Red Ribbon Week and Teacher Appreciation Week; and purchased new musical instruments and sports equipment.  We also furnished each student with a John Muir Elementary School folder at the start of the school year, and provided snacks during the week of STAR testing.

Over the years, the PTA has become one of the strongest voices in the educational process that directly supports our childrean and school.  This year will be no different.  Your PTA Executive Board has been busy developing the details for a very productive and exciting year aimed at enhancing the educational environment for all students.  One of our major objective this year will focus on offsetting the impact of increased class sizes due to the state budget crisis.  Our hope is to not only raise enougth money to put teachers aides in the classroom, but to focus on setting up a volunteer committee to work in various classrooms when needed.
We not only encourage all of you to show your commitment to JME by joining PTA, we ask that you show your support by participating in the numerous events and programs that we have planned throughout the year.  The children love to see their parents, grandparents and family members participating at school. Your participation might be that of a committee member, volunteer, or as an attendee.  Whatever level of participation you select, your time and invlovement will certainly be appreciated.  

This year we are starting off with 106 PTA members at the start of school!  This compares to 23 members at the start of school last year.  Thank you to all who attended check-in day.  Our goal this year is to have 250 PTA members.  Remember not just mom and dad can join, we welcome grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, etc.  There will be a contest between the classrooms and the winning room will receive a pizza party provided by the PTA.  Please fill out the membership envelope that was sent home in your PTA packet and enclose your $8.00 membership fee and return to your teacher.

Thank you again, and we look forward to a successful year at John Muir!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Ice Cream Sales 8/24-9/2

PTA will hold Ice Cream Sales from 8/24-9/2 after school.  Ice Cream sells from $.50-$1.00.  If you would like to volunteer to sell ice cream please contact Nicole Morrill at jmepta@gmail.com or leave it in the comments below.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

House Passes Bill to Save Teacher Jobs

August 10, 2010 3:43 PM

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved legislation that will save or create 319,000 American jobs in local communities, including 161,000 teacher jobs, and also discourages American corporations from shipping jobs overseas. By a vote of 247 to 161, the House passed H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act. President Obama indicated he would sign the legislation into law later today.


...Under the bill, California will receive an estimated $1.8 billion in Medi-Cal assistance and $1.2 billion in emergency education funding. It is estimated that 16,500 California teacher jobs would be saved by this funding, including an estimated 249 education jobs in Miller’s 7th Congressional District, which includes portions of Solano and Contra Costa counties.



Miller said that he has indicated to the Department of Education that the education funds should be sent out to the states and distributed to local communities as quickly as possible.

We can only hope between the 24 or so school districts in Solano and Contra Costa, that Martinez Unified secures enough federal aid to save a few jobs. Our teachers at John Muir however, will still need our help in the classroom. We're looking forward to a volunteer corp to help alleviate the loss of Class Size Reduction (CSR) in grades 1-3. Kindergarten will most likely retain CSR with funds raised from the $20 for 20 campaign.