Momentum

Quickly -
We are ON OUR WAY!
This morning's meeting proved successful! As always there were more new parents wondering what they can do to participate in the improvement and acceleration of our children's experience here at Gardnerville.  Again, I heard a parent say that their life experiences have taken them from Gardner St. Elementary and on their return were grateful for this charming school.

GARDNER ST. ELEMENTARY is a special place. Our kids are LUCKY to go here!

Through the donation of materials and time of our parents, caregivers, and staff at Gardner we are covering the costs of becoming a non-profit. We are able to receive donations and offer a tax write off for all contributions. 
Money
Goods
Skills
are all tax-deductible.

I'll see if Susan Penevolpe - Secretary, can get the minutes to me to post here for all the details!

We are also ready to start making some concrete goals. 
You know, "We need X amount to fund X project." Complete with fund raising 'thermometer' (or sunflower or pot of gold, etc) that keeps our awareness up.
This is where we need you!  We need a survey of what we as parents and caregivers want to see for our kids here at Gardnerville.  Something will be coming in a Thursday notebook in the new year. But I am asking you to begin thinking about it now.  What do you dream for this school and the kids?  What do you have to give toward these goals? Do you have 10 minutes - to an hour to help before, during or after school, perhaps in your child's classroom? Do you have a skill? Do you know someone in the community that can donate toward Gardnerville events? Perhaps time and money are both on short supply? Pick some of the items in your home that you are not using, write a list and give it to Friends of Gardnerville - we'll see if we can find a need for your items here in the school. You will get a tax write off as well!
Half day today - got to go get Iris!
Oh! I volunteered to Chair the Mardi Gras Fund raiser!  You're going to help - right?!

Elevate

Ever wish you were in inner circle inciting progress, you know, making things happen?  Here we are in 2010 nearly 2011 and the media doom and gloom - got you down? Where do you start?  Well guess what, getting together as parents is one of the most powerful and uplifting things you can do.  OUR kids ARE the future, there is no more noble cause.  Do you want to have coffee? Do you have time for a cocktail?  If we make time for these events, we will find out that tardiness costs our school a lot of money (in the range of $100 per student per tardy) from the district. That our participation in the calendar events have a huge impact on the school operations. The STAR enrichment program has a mind boggling array of programs IF we could just get enough kids (5) in a group! As parents of Gardnerville students, we need to obligate ourselves to four tasks during the calendar year.  This year, as our inaugural year, we need to commit ourselves to the idea that WE WILL hand in hand with EACH AND EVERY parent or caregiver, participate in our students education.  WE WILL understand that it is our obligation to give to this school.  WE WILL announce our participation and we will request, nay expect that our peers do the same.  Nothing is too heavy if the weight is spread among a group.  Gardnerville can elevate beyond our greatest dreams with this effort - and our children are the beneficiaries.  Is it time? Is it money? Donations? Ideas, skills?  Think about it, what do you have to contribute? Don't be bashful, step up, and ask your friends to do the same. Please consider it part of the front doors of Gardner St. Elementary.  Then write back and tell me what YOU want.  Friends of Gardnerville will meet - if you cannot be there, send an email and tell us what are your concerns, or request the minutes.  We will have meetings with Principal Urbina - be there.  Talk to Lali, Maria Elena, Christina Bulbenko, or Lesley Holmes, to name a few. Ask them how you, your child, and your involvement effect Gardnerville.  In  10 minutes or less you will find out that SOMETHING you are capable of changing will bring revenue to this school.  Asking for something AS A GROUP OF PARENTS, can actually get you something. 
I hope to bring you information, and will do my best, but a quick conversation with some of the heavyweights in this forum will bring you right to the core of understanding.  Take this to a Friends of Gardnerville meeting and we have elevated from 'kids at school,' to making things happen. This is already a great school, just watch it take off with parent involvement!! Create Elevate!
Do me a favor, send this to any parent you think might not be receiving this letter.  I have only the addresses I collected at the Halloween Carnival.  I am just one parent. I need your help to network to the entire parent community!  Do you have a great idea how I can get each and every parent's email?  It is an honor, Lesley Sue

How do you convince a cat?

Snug?
I sure hope snug is an adjective you are using to describe home lately!  Certainly, at the very least, the feeling of the covers over you in bed before the day beckons your attention.  Though one could argue that this scenario is more like torture than snug, at which I agree and urge you to get a timer on your furnace and your coffee maker. <wink>
Cats are professionals when it comes to snug.  I've been watching our cat and even a seemingly lumpy, uncomfortable spot will prove to be snug.  Despite my cajoling I cannot convince my cat to move to what I perceive as a better location.  Something smooth perhaps, with a washable blanket.
I try to talk 'cat,' I make the new spot look ever so inviting, I question my salesmanship skills. 
As the long list of cat personality traits suggests, you just can't CONVINCE a cat...they do what they do, when they do it...or do they?
I had a breakthrough the other day!  I gently nudged my kitty. Yep, just gave him a little push toward the yummy food he just asked for...and he walked over there and ATE it.  I know - who knew! OK, maybe a lot of you knew - but I am new to cat cohabitation.
Pleased with my cat whispering skills I tried my new found talent on snug location number three. You'll see the band-aid on my hand.
I guess you can't nudge snug.

Undaunted, mainly because you are not cats, I will continue to nudge you the parents and caregivers of our Gardnerville kids, to get ready to show our future corporate donors that this non-profit has 100% parent involvement.  That we are a motivated, effective team committed to the improvement and enhancement of our children's education.

I truly hope your Thanksgiving holiday was filled with the warmth of family and friends, and the many blessings that make you who you are. 
Welcome back kids, we love you and we are working for you.

In The Midst

We've turned the corner, the seasons have changed - even if our weather tries to fool us otherwise. You can't trust Southern California's weather to usher in Fall with any true storybook fashion.  But you CAN trust daylight savings and retail marketers to give us that cool, crisp, holidays are upon us feeling.

At Gardnerville it's all about the kids.  Remember what it was like to be in elementary school. I remember it clearly -some days better than others, but I digress.  It was fun, it was all about the fun. I was learning through art projects, and games, rewards, and hearing my teacher confirm that my answers were right.

Fast forward to the present as a parent, I recall my sister expressing her frustration that the education process doesn't present practical lessons like how to balance a check book or read a contract, real things that you NEED to maneuver through life.  I don't know if this is entirely true but it is food for thought.

Well, in our own small way Friends of Gardnerville is bringing one of these lessons to the kids.  Not missing the cue, we are holding a HOLIDAY GIFT SHOP.  But this isn't just a go in with Mom and Dad and help them buy gifts. The kids will control the entire process of their gift giving. From earning their money at home and in the school - yes, that means you get to have a little extra help around the house! Oh, if it were only every season...  The kids will then need to browse the catalog and budget their money to make their purchases.  Class by class, they will go to the 'store' to purchase their items and wrap them - that ought to be fun! 

Don't forget to be REALLY surprised when you open your gift during the holiday, and gush that they were too generous with their money, and write them a thank you note <grin>.

What you can do is to get into it with them.  Give them extra chores, and let them know that you see them working very hard, that this must be a fun project for them.  Reward their efforts with specific compliments about their work and effort - hey, they might do it again later FOR FREE!  Review money with them, and help them by dropping hints of who they can purchase presents for. Remember every purchase is money for our school, let them be generous.  There are of course volunteer opportunities for the Holiday Gift Shop.  Click on the VOLUNTEER tab on the blog or see Lesley Holmes.

Holiday Gift Shop - December 6-10
The lessons: earning income, purchasing power, budget, and the reward of surprise and giving.

The Holidays do begin in earnest, be safe and use the search engines to find ways to trim the stress from the holidays.  We DON'T have to do it ALL ourselves, and we DON'T have to do it by the book.

We have a long Thanksgiving break - if you want something to REALLY entertain the younger kids, you must visit the Zimmer Museum.

Great Success!

Great success is something built. It might involve luck, but primarily success is qualified after time and attention are given a specific direction.
Gardner Street is like that.  During the PTA Halloween Carnival, I met a lot of parents and one comment struck me as significant.  A father mentioned that his older child attended Gardner St. years ago and how much it has changed since Principal Urbina came to this school, "academically it has grown so much."

A few years ago, some of the parents here at Gardnerville might have chosen to beg, borrow, or steal their way into one of the other schools nearby, hoping for a school worthy of their most valued treasure.

Well, things have changed and now WE have parents coming from far and wide to have their children attend.  The state has also changed and funding is not what it used to be.  As Gardnerville is elevating through the ranks it is also facing a slowing of the time line and overall vision of great success Principal Urbina has for this school.  Friends of Gardnerville's pending 501(c)(3) non-profit status will change everything.  Our great success in having 100% parent support will ensure our ability to secure corporate grants.  We - THE PARENTS, will open the doors for educational excellence on all  levels for our children by our small tokens of involvement.
As I said to many of you Friday, "If we ALL do a little, then we all will ONLY have to do a little."
So now is the time to lay the foundation of the 'sponsored public school,' by wrapping our minds around the idea that our direct involvement in Friends of Gardnerville will translate to funding and grants for our children's school.  It IS our school and our kids are very lucky to have us. They are after all OUR great success - in the making!
Some things to keep in mind - Our LAUSD Title 1 status is dictated by the lunch applications received.  Please do not opt to throw this simple application out.  This application can procure an extra $300 PER STUDENT in state funds.  Whether you think you qualify or not, please fill it out.  If you have ANY questions please see  Marielana or Lali.  Immediately!!!  THE APPLICATIONS ARE PAST DUE NOW.

Spooks and Fun for the PTA

The PTA has supported this school for years. With the committed effort of Marielena, our community of parents have continued to raise funds for our most precious annual events.  The Halloween Carnival is one of my favorites.  Every year, parents volunteer to make games and offer prizes to 'trick' our crafty Gardnerville kids! Every year, the kids win and go home with smiles and memories.  School days come and go, it is the punctuation of these events that mark the year and send the kids into life, brimming with positive memories.  Community is one of the most positive ethics we can instill in our children and that is what the concept of Garderville is all about.

Remember to bring your money for the games and food.  All proceeds go to the Gardner Street PTA.

Please see Marielena if you have any time to contribute to this event:

Gardner St. Elementary Halloween Carnival
Friday October 25th
1:30pm Costume Parade
3-6pm Carnival

Enjoy

Congratulations! Gardner St. Elementary is a century old!

Many of you have met the indomitable Ms Christina Bulbenko.  If you haven't met her personally, you have certainly been touched by her work here at Gardnerville; the STAR program – she brought it to our school.  Have your children mentioned an experience with the "Meet the Masters" art program?  Ms. Blubenko procured this arts learning program with PTA funds, while her children were still attending the school.  Perhaps she has recently substituted in your child's class!

Her latest endeavor is the celebration of Gardner Street Elementary’s 100^th birthday.  

As serendipity would have it is also our opportunity to RE-dedicate the auditorium in the name of Michael Jackson (see related article here).  In recent assemblies, Principal Urbina has outlined Michael Jacksons association with our school and his contributions as an alumni.  It was in 1989, the auditorium was dedicated in his name and he continued with student scholarships for many years.

This event is sure to have an enormous amount of press and it is a wonderful opportunity to encourage community involvement in this emerging paradigm of the 'sponsored' public school.

A committee has yet to be created for this event!!  The celebration will likely include past attendees of Gardner Street, key educators, community businesses, the City of West Hollywood and Hollywood, the greater neighborhood, and of course the current staff, students and parents (THAT’S YOU!) of our beloved school!

Would YOU like to have a voice in this celebration?  Perhaps you would like to be included in the planning process, donate goods or services, or would like to offer ideas for the event, please let Christina know via your child's teacher, this blog, or call her directly at: (323) 868.2921.
   
The success of this event is dependent on the help and support of past, present, and future Gardnerville community members participating in whatever way they can.  The possibilities are endless and we encourage anyone from the larger community to participate either as a performer, guest speaker, presenter, or support service.  It will be an excellent business opportunity for any involved, with high profile media coverage!

Come one, come all!  It is a century anew ~ an event worth celebrating!

Good Morning Friends of Gardnerville,
   You may be wondering why I have gathered you here today...

We have an opportunity to do something great! 

     Principal Kenneth Urbina and his team of educators and staff have elevated Gardner Street Elementary academically under some of the most daunting financial constraints in recent history. Now, we as parents, have the chance to directly support our school like never before.
    We are in the FINAL STAGES of securing a NON-PROFIT STATUS for Gardner Street Elementary. This means we can accept donations from corporations and businesses as well as from private individuals, on a tax deductible basis. Better yet, ALL supplemental financial support we raise will to go directly to the school.
  Currently, with private donation money we are running a six part pilot Arts Program including:
Dramatic Arts
Instrumental Music
Visual Arts - Art History
                  - Art and Literature
                  - Art and Culture
Dance

There is no limit to the benefit we can offer our children through our private donation and ideas.  We have talked about an Engineering program and participation in the MESA Math Competition for our 6th Graders!

This is OUR opportunity to give our children (yes, the ones who will be taking care of us in our old age - unless they program their robots to do it for them...) the start they deserve. The state of California is not in a position to offer our kids what WE truly know they should have.  We live in a community with GRAND interdisciplinary opportunity.  We have access to leaders in  the: Arts, Sciences, Business, Literature, and so much more - all at our fingertips!
Further, we have a Principal who is eager to elevate the educational experience of our children.  He has the knowledge, the connections and the commitment to do so, and he is just waiting for us, as parents and caregivers of the next amazing generation, to launch the academic success of our children, BEYOND what the current state standard allows.
So, in whatever form it takes; volunteering your time, offering your connections or contacts, financial donation, involvement in governance, smiling, and just being that much more proud to be a part of the Gardnerville community, we want you. We want you to know that we did something extra to give our children the most successful start possible. TOGETHER as a community we can really do something great!