Darby Avenue PTA

In order to be as accommodating as possible, the due date for ALL pledges has been extended from Friday, October 9, 2009 to Monday, October 12, 2009.

As noted in earlier communications, in an effort to forego additional fundraisers, we are asking for a donation of $150 per FAMILY.

Thank you for your commitment to our children’s education. 

If you are a New (or returning) Parent, I’m sure you have many question and concerns. Well, you are in luck! Darby has two events that are here to help, please join us for the following:Sept. 3rd, 7:00pm -New parent Orientation: Mrs. Virginia Ghoniem, Principal of Darby, will be presenting this very informative orientation, which will surely address any questions and concerns you may have.Sept. 9th-PTA New Parent Tissue Tea: Please join us for this “tearfully” social event in the parent center, right after drop-off, 8:15am - 9:00am.  As new parents, you may not know what is going on at your school. The PTA is here for you. We have shoulders to cry on (should you need to), tissues to dry those tears, answers to questions you may have, and mainly just a strong support system. We all need TLC, don’t miss out.

Saturday, October 3, 2009
4:00-7:00 p.m.

Location:  Darby Avenue Elementary

R.S.V.P. to: School Office 818-360-1824 or Principal, Virginia Ghoniem vghoniem@lausd.k12.ca.us

Memories you’d like to share?  Please forward pictures and fond Darby memories to:  Michelle_Hamburg@knpdesign.com

Are you able to donate items for the celebration?  Food, drinks, music, other services?  Contact Nancy Simons at
lar-nan@verizon.net.

Donations will gladly be accepted.   50th t-shirts will also be available for purchase.  Check back for more information soon!

Here is the Science Night Preregistration Form:

science-night-preregistration.doc

Pre-Testing Nutrition

Dinner will be available once again from San Carlos Deli at a reasonable price. We hope to see all our budding scientists for this FREE family oriented evening put together by your PTA.

 cTeacher’s Night!

Ever dream of having your principal or teacher prepare dinner for you and your schoolmates?

Now’s your chance!

Darby Ave. Restaurant Night

McDonald’s
10350 Reseda Blvd.
(at Devonshire)
Wednesday April 29th
4:30-7:30 p.m.

Many of your teachers and Darby Staff will be serving you!

Bring this flyer and a portion of sales from McTeacher’s Night will be donated to our school.

Healthy alternatives available!

We had a fabulous turn out for our Darby Talent Show auditions.  We had 51 children show up and audition!  What a fantastic spectrum of talent.     

We are happy to say that ALL 28 acts that auditioned will be in the Talent Show as long as they continue meeting the requirements.   Requirements of Entertainers: 

~~ Monday, April 13th - CD with music turned into the Parent Center in the box marked “Talent Show CD’s”.  The CD must be labeled with masking tape on the CD case AND CD with child(ren) name, song and track number).

Parent Center will be open until 3:00 p.m.  CD’s will be returned on April 17th at the dress rehearsal, provided they are turned in by the 13th.  Children singing should provide a karaoke version (song should be no longer than 2 minutes; songs with a lot of music lead time will be shortened).  THIS IS A REQUIREMENT.  If the CD is not in, they can not be in the show.   

~~Friday, April 17th, 2:45-4:15 p.m. - Dress Rehearsal:  2:45 – meet in Auditorium in full dress as they will appear in actual show.   Please note act number above, this will be close to their actual number in the show.  They MUST be at dress rehearsal or they will not perform in the show.  There will be no reading songs off papers; the material must be known at this point.  Once the kids have performed, they will be released.  

~~Friday, April 24 – 5:30: All children must be in Auditorium dressed and ready to perform.  They will sit in chairs in the auditorium so they may see the show until their turn.  Talent Show begins promptly at 6:00 p.m.  

TALENT SHOW PERFORMERS

Alexandra Escobar
Alisi Yasuda
Alyssa Escartin
Andrea Tosounian
Ani Keioglian
Berna Amet
Daniel Gutierrez
Dany Bouayash
Drew Golden
Eddie Ruiz
Ederlyn Garcia
Elisse Gutierrez
Evany Rosas
Gabriela Gallego
Germain Martinez
Goldy Faramarzyan
Griffith Jennings
Hanna Searcy
Heaven Ramirez
Isaiah Sosa
Jackie Rivas
Jason Foster
Jazmine Rodriguez
Juliette Ramirez
Justin Rodriguez
Kalee Rose Swan
Karla Bautista
Katelyn Cruz
Katherine Collins
Katie Guadagno
Katie Ham
Kayla Hamburg
Kelly Seaton
Kevin Foster
Kristina Andrada
Leonardo Garcia
Meghan Green
Mike Shraeber
Morgan Braverman
Natalia Lopez de Arenosa
Natalie Tarashckansky
Nicholas Grijalua
Nicole Sweeny
Noah Kutrosky
Owen Jennings
Peyton Hamburg
Ruthie Duke
Rylie Diza & Mom (Jacquelyn)
Sabrina Motto
Samuel Sosa
Sarah-Jay Thraen
Shva Schaefer
Sophia Kutrosky
Stephanie Mora
Taylor Simone
Tiffany Tosounian
Valerie Brunt
Vanessa Cabrera IF YOU ARE SINGING, PLEASE ADD HAND AND BODY MOVEMENTS TO MAKE IT MORE INTERESTING TO WATCH. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Hamburg at michelle_hamburg@knpdesign.com  or (818) 577-0611.

Darby Elementary School will hold this year’s Science Fair on Thursday, May 28, 2009. We are requiring that all 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade students complete and individual project. The Kindergarten, First and Second grades will be doing class projects as their participation, as Science Fairs provide motivation for our students to develop and strengthen their knowledge of the scientific process, to use their creativity and skills in problem solving techniques, and to give them recognition for their efforts and quality of their work. The directions for the Science Fair Projects are on page 2 and 3 of the Science Fair Packet. Please be sure to read over these and follow them. Failure to follow these directions may cause a project to be disqualified from the judging.Final projects are due in to the classroom teacher by Tuesday, May 26, 2007 for classroom judging. Each 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade teacher will select three projects from their classroom to compete in the final judging by the Science Committee and the Rocketdyne scientists on Thursday, May 28, 2009. To get a copy of the packet click the link below:

SCIENCE FAIR PACKET

DARBY’S TALENT SHOW

         April 24, 2009, 6:00 PM

For this fun event, we are looking for talented groups of people to show us their upbeat talent (no lip-syncing please).  Acts will be limited to approximately 2 minutes each, they must adhere to Darby dress code and dancing/language/music must be G rated. Students, classes, teachers, staff are all welcome to participate!  Pick an act and start practicing; auditions will be held on Friday, April 3^rd at 2:45 p.m.  You must have a signed permission slip, turned in by March 27, 2009, to audition.

Here is a copy of the permission slip:   2009-talent-show-flyer_permission-slip.doc.

If you would like to assist with the Talent Show committee, please contact Michelle Hamburg at michelle_hamburg@knpdesign.com  or (818) 577-0611.
    

It’s time to make our school look spiffy
With lots of helping hands
We’re sure to do it in a jiffy
So please come on out
Sunday, March 15th
Help us give Darby a shine throughout
It’s from 9 am until 12 noon
It’ll go by fast
Hope to see you soon! 

March 16th thru March 27th we will be having our Spring Book Fair. This is a great time to get some of your child’s favorite books. Make sure to check your child’s backpack for information on our Pastries for Parents during the book fair.

For more information go to:

http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/darbypta

Our next Family Fun Night will be at Skateland on Friday, March 20th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Tickets will be available for pre-sale for $8.50 or $9.00 at the door. We will have pizza, nachos and drinks for purchase.

 Hope to see all of you there! 

The Nomination Committee has already started work on forming the PTA Board for the 2009-2010 school year. If you are interested in being on the board, or have an idea of someone that would be great at it, please contact Jessica Sanders at jessbluestar@verizon.net

Here is the list of Board Positions:

President
Secretary
Treasurer
Ways and Means (Fundraising)
Membership
Programs
Financial Secretary
Historian 

Some of our current Board Members would like to stay on …however, all positions are open and we are looking for some key positions to be filled.

I look forward to hearing from you and welcome your nomination! Jessica Sanders, Nomination Committee 

FREE ADMISSION!!!

5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Our DJ will keep you dancing!  So bring you family, friends and your appetite.  Pizza, popcorn, and baked goodies will be available for sale.

If you are able to help with selling food, set-up or clean-up, please contact Lisa Vargas @ lisavargas@earthlink.net.

See you at the Dance!!!

GOT SCRIP?  Gift cards purchased from our Scrip inventory make the perfect holiday gift for family, friends, teachers and staff.  Please check in the Parent Center to find out which retailer gift cards your child’s teacher and other Darby Staff have “wished for”.  For a list of all available retailers visit www.darbypta.com or www.glscrip.com.  Need scrip for last minute gifts, shopping or holiday travel? For your convenience, Nancy Simons will also have Scrip available over the winter break.  Please contact her at (818) 360-0121 during the break

COMMUNITY DISCOUNT CARD 
Save hundreds of dollars in discounts at several local businesses such as: McDonald’s, Subway, Carl’s Jr., Pizza Hut, Brunswick Matador Bowl, Auntie Anne’s, Ben & Jerry’s, Winchell’s, and many more! Discounts are reusable until December 2009. You can use the card over and over all year long for any and all locations.  Cost per card: only $10 You can also order cards for other cities in California. You should have received a flyer/order form in your child’s backpack.  If not, or if you need additional forms, stop by the Office or Parent Center. The sooner you get your order in, the sooner you can start using those discounts!  Questions? Contact Nancy Simons, PTA Ways & Means 818-360-0121 or lar-nan@verizon.net

Reflections Art Show WINNERS!
The “WOW” Reflections Art Show was a great success!  PTA Reflection Ribbons and Certificates were awarded on November 21st and the following winners were announced.
Primary Literature: 1st Place—Zachary Musleh
Intermediate Literature: 1st Place—Andrew Dirksen,
2nd Place—Tatyana Lopez,
3rd Place—Julian Arcatado
Primary Photography:
1st Place—Kevin Foster,
2nd Place—Ryan Green
Intermediate Photography:
1st—Berna Amet,
2nd Place—Collin Green,
3rd Place—Inti Gracia
Primary Visual Arts:
1st Place—Grace Kim,
2nd Place—William Griffin,
3rd Place—Venia Ghazarian
Intermediate Visual Arts:
1st Place—Jason Foster,
2ndPlace—Kaitlyn Guadagno,
3rd Place—Angela Del Rosario
Primary Film Production:
1st Place—Meghan Green
Intermediate Film Production:
1st Place—Jason Foster,
2nd Place—Kayla Hamburg
Primary Musical Composition:
1st Place—Nicole Sweeney
Congratulations to all of the Winners!!
Kari Foong-Chong and Raquel Villages Reflections Co-Chairpersons

Please join us for the Holiday PTA Dinner. It is a Potluck at 6:30pm on the 12th of December, at the Vargas Home.  Spouses are welcome.  However, since it is so rare we get to “party” without our kids, please let’s keep it to adults.  We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate the various Holiday’s of our wonderful PTA.  For details, please email Lisa Vargas at lisavargas@earthlink.net.

Please join us for the November PTA Meeting.  It will be at 12:00pm on Wednesday, 11/19 in the Parent Center.  This month is ”BYOL”, bring your own lunch.  You are welcome to eat during the meeting.  Bring your lunch, bring a friend, and learn about important school matters.  We are looking forward to seeing plenty of new, and familiar, faces.