Editor: Pamela Rineer2014-15

March 2015 Issue 7

Table of Contents2 Sarris Easter Candy Donation Success Yearbook Photos Box Tops Donaldson Discovers 3-4 Box Tops5 Art Fair Flyer Book Fair Schedule6 Art Fair Raffle 7 Dine & Donate TGI Fridays8 Dr. Seuss Week9-10 Rewards Shopping11 PTA Committee List12 PTA Membership13 How to Print Newsletter

March Dates to Remember

2-4th Book Fair

4th Art Fair 6-8pm

5th & 12th Donaldson

Discovers

12th PTA Chair Meeting

7pm @ Donaldson Cafeteria

20th Carnegie Science

Center Assembly

funded by Shop and Save

Receipts

24th Dine & Donate @

TGI Fridays Open-Close

From the PTA President

Stay Connected Watch your email for event dates and signup

info.  Stay connected through Facebook by liking our page at Facebook.com/

DonaldsonPTA.  Get notifications through Remind:  text the code @cf21b to phone number 724-565-8456 or download the Remind app and enter class code cf21b.

I always feel so optimistic in March!  Maybe it's the luck of Saint Patrick's Day or the glimpses of sunshine that break through the gray skies, but this month stirs something in me that makes accomplishing new tasks seem easy.  It inspires me to do more and become better.

March is full of exciting events at Donaldson Elementary!  Our kids are exploring new ideas through Donaldson Discovers, diving into new worlds through books during Read Across America Week, and getting in touch with their creative side at the Art Fair.  Their optimism and eagerness is obvious - and contagious!

If you are feeling the optimism twinge too, pass it on!  Volunteers are needed to make all of our March programs a success.  If you have clearances on file in the school office and are willing to help, please contact me at kristigundy@gmail.com.

Happy Spring, everyone!  (Now THAT is optimism!)Kristi Gunderson

NEW PTA EMAILPTA officers can now be

reached at donaldsonptalistens@gmail.com  The former address is no longer

active.

Sarris Candy Delivery is currently scheduled for March 17.  Flyers will be sent home this week. Any questions, please contact Lori Rankin, lori.rankin@fedex.com, 412-417-3512

BOX TOPSThe Donaldson PTA has kicked off a

collection effort for both Box Tops for Education as well as Campbell's

Labels for Education.  Here's a chance to help Donaldson Elementary by

turning both of these items in to your student's teachers.  Please include both

the student's and teacher's name on the submission to ensure proper credit

as prizes will be awarded. *See next two pages for more info.

DONALDSON DISCOVERSAfter a week's delay due to the frigid cold weather that canceled school, Donaldson Discovers, sponsored by the Donaldson PTA kicked off on Thursday, February 26 with approximately 240 students participating in the four week after-school enrichment program.  This year's participants include some students from Wilson Elementary who have been calling Donaldson home this school year.  This year's offerings include courses taught by Donaldson's own teachers - Mr. DeChicko, Mrs. Taranto, Mr. DeMario, and Mrs. Vestal, the PPG Zoo and Aquarium, the Western Allegheny Community Library, Snapology of Pittsburgh, the Clay Cafe, the National Aviary, Gaynor's School of Cooking, and the Children's Museum.  Due to the delay in the start of the program, Donaldson Discovers has been extended for one week and will now end on Thursday, March 19, 2015.  

Attention Parents:  Your pictures are needed for the

yearbook! The yearbook can't be a success without everyone's contribution. Please submit

any pictures you would like to have possibly included in the yearbook to me

at jessicamarshall777@gmail.com

I am also looking for a couple of parents that would be able to go into the school

during the day to take pictures of the students. 

Thank you! - Jessica Marshall

VARIETY SHOWDonations Success

Thank you to all who donated at the Variety Show, Girl Scout Troop 50515 collected the donation items for Ronald McDonald house. Nearly 200 donations were collected!

Thank you!Jeannine Schuler

Addison Elliot and

Hope Halkias at the

Variety Show

Box Tops & Labels for Education

The Donaldson PTA is hosting Box Tops and Labels for Education collection contests beginning now through the end of the month. This time individual and classroom prizes will be awarded, so please make sure you label your submissions with your student’s name & the teacher’s name. Winners and prizes will be announced after the counting has stopped! Hopefully everyone did a lot of baking over the holidays and has been eating a lot of soup since the weather has been so cold so we can break some records for our submissions! As with any contest, here is the fine print:

x We would really appreciate separate submissions of Box Tops and Labels for Education since two different individuals will be coordinating the submissions.

x Submission of Box Tops for Education can be as simple as putting them in a

sealed envelope or plastic bag and sending them with your child to be turned into their teacher. Please make sure your student’s name and their teacher’s  name  is  on the submission so the appropriate student and classroom receive credit.

x You can also use the attached form and either tape or glue the Box Tops to it.

Again please ensure you include the student’s and teacher’s  names.

x Please do not tape any Bonus Box Tops certificates to the attached form as they need to be submitted separately.

x Submission of Labels for Education is as simple as putting them in a sealed envelope or plastic bag and sending them with your child to be turned into their teacher. Again, please make sure your student’s name and their teacher’s name is on the submission so the appropriate student and classroom receive credit.

Thank you in advance for your support and let the competition begin! Be sure to check an upcoming PTA newsletter to find out who the winners are.

Spring Book Fair Shopping ScheduleMonday, March 2

(Day 6A)8:45 Setup

9am Cartisser AM9:30 Buser

10am Hensler10:30 Rukas

Lunch12:30 Augustine1pm Smith PM

1:30 Shaffer2pm King

Tuesday, March 3 (Day 1B)

8:45 Makeup9am Boesenberg

9:30 Barr10am Prevade10:30 Mangan

Lunch12:30 Sekelik

1pm Stout1:30 Hamilton

2pm Brookman

Wednesday, March 4 (Day 4B)

8:45 Makeup9am Makey

9:30 Sunseri10am Smith AM

10:30 OrdichLunch

12:30 DeMario1pm Cartisser PM

1:30 Stone2pm Claus

6-8pm Book Fair at the Art FairSign up to Volunteer at the book fair :

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0E4AABA92FAA8-spring

ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN OVER $100 IN ART SUPPLIES!!

TICKET SALE TIMES Monday Morning March 2 Tuesday Morning March 3 Wednesday Morning March 4 Wednesday March 4th at the Art Fair COST OF TICKETS 1 Ticket = $1 10 Tickets = $5 Arm’‛s Length = $10 ALL PROCEEDS DONATED TO THE LAMAR FAMILY LOOKING FOR DONATIONS OF RECYCLED ALUMINUM CANS!! DONATIONS CAN BE PLACED IN THE BOX RIGHT INSIDE THE ART ROOM DOOR

Sponsored by the Donaldson PTA

Friday, March 6th – Celebrate Dr. Seuss Day by wearing red and white. Show your Seuss pride.

Thursday, March 5th – Celebrate The Sleep Book by wearing PJ’s.

Wednesday, March 4th – Celebrate Wacky Wednesday by wearing your Craziest Hair Style.

Tuesday, March 3rd – Celebrate Truffula Day by wearing slippers to school.

Monday, March 2nd – Dr. Seuss’s Birthday

Shop, Scan and Support Your School with Giant Eagle!

For more than 25 years, Giant Eagle® has supported local schools through our Apples for the Students™ program. Through this partnership with our customers, Giant Eagle has donated over $31 million in educational equipment, including classroom technology, recreational and playground equipment, science materials, art supplies, music enrichment items, nutrition programming and more. This year, Giant Eagle will donate $1.1 million to area schools for purchases made with registered Giant Eagle Advantage Cards®. Shop and earn points October 1, 2014 through March 17, 2015.

How the Program Works

Make the most out of this one-of-a-kind educational award program! Simply register your Giant Eagle Advantage Card with Apples for the Students and use it each time you shop at Giant Eagle to earn points for your school. Earning points is simple! With every scan of your registered Giant Eagle Advantage Card at the cash register, points are automatically credited to your selected school.

It’s Easy to Register!

Sign in to gianteagle.com or create an account. Register your Giant Eagle Advantage Card® online.Visit the My School Programs page and enter the code 4071 for Donaldson Elementary. You’re done! Be sure to encourage your family and friends to register, too.

S.E.E.D. Program - Support Your School with SHOP’n SAVE!

SHOP 'n SAVE has hosted the "Students Extra Educational Development (S.E.E.D.)" program for nearly 30 years, bringing assemblies from The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Carnegie Science Center and Carnegie Museum to children of all ages.

Use Your SHOP 'n SAVE Perks Card to Support a Local School

Now instead of collecting receipts, you can link your Perks Card with the school of your choice to help to bring an assembly to students. After you link your Perks Card to your local school, just swipe your Perks Card anytime you shop at SHOP 'n SAVE and your purchases will be automatically added to your school's total. A total of $250 spent is required for each student attending the assembly.

Go to http://shopnsavefood.com/Perks/PerksCard/PerksCardRegistration.aspx to register your card.  Donaldson's ID is 226.

Grocery Shopping Supports Donaldson!

Earn Donaldson Rewards When Shopping!Did you know that by taking a few seconds of your time, Donaldson PTA can earn extra money? Above you read how switching your Giant Eagle and SHOP’n SAVE card can support our school, but other locations do it as well!

GFS, Target & Amazon SmileAt GFS it’s as simple as mentioning that you’d like a portion of your sales to be donated to

Donaldson Elementary while you are checking out. Easy!

If you have a REDCard, Target will donate up to 1% of your REDcard purchases to

Donaldson Elementary. Just follow this link: 1. http://www.target.com/redcard/benefits-target-rewards 2.Click on the ENROLL button below the paragraph “Take Charge of Education”3.There are three options next: sign up, updating your school, and searching for your school.

Donaldson is listed under Donaldson Elementary in Oakdale PA, 15071. School ID: 119980

How does it add up?The most recent Target donation to this school (August 2014): $201.87

Total of all Target donations to this school through August 2014: $1586.69Amount accumulated toward the next Target donation:* $64.21Number of REDcard holders who have designated this school: 16

I know we can get more then 16 REDcard users to designate Donaldson!

Amazon Smile will also donate a portion of your sales to the Donaldson PTA. Simply

go to www.amazonsmile.com and sign in under your existing Amazon email and password. Under “Your Account” click on “Change Your Charity”. It will then prompt you to type in your organization, “Donaldson PTA”. Select Donaldson PTA, Oakdale PA by clicking the yellow

“Select” button on the right. It will then thank you for selecting Donaldson and 0.5% of

your purchase price will go directly to Donaldson PTA!

Still confused on how to sign up? I’ll walk you through it! Send an email to Pamela at p-rineer@hotmail.com

Executive BoardPresident Kristi Gunderson 724-695-0456 donaldsonpta@hotmail.com

kristigundy@gmail.comVice-President Sherry Romano 724-695-8580 sromano6743@yahoo.comTreasurer Jen Wolfe 724-624-1813 jenwolfe10@comcast.netSecretary Dana Chandler 412-889-7791 ektchandler@yahoo.com

Committee ChairsArt Fair Sue Wingert thewingerts@comcast.netBook Fair Anne-Charrisa Halkias 484-769-3672 ACagape@aol.com

Kristi Gunderson 724-695-0456 kristigundy@gmail.comDonaldson Discovers Tracy Pustover * 724-695-3170 tpustover@verizon.net

Sue Betta 724-695-5007 susanbetta@gmail.comFall Festival Leah Vestal 724-695-5201 ext 6163 lvestal@westasd.orgField Trips Grade Lead TeachersFifth Grade Picnic Tracy Pustover * 724-695-3170 tpustover@verizon.net

Patti Guira * 724-695-8348 patty@newageenviro.comFundraising

Mall Coupon Cards Kristi Gunderson 724-695-0456 kristigundy@gmail.comSarris' Christmas Candy Patti Guira * 724-695-8348 patty@newageenviro.com

Sarris' Easter Candy Lori Rankin 412-417-3512 lori.rankin@fedex.comOtis Spunkmeyer Cookies Lori Rankin 412-417-3512 lori.rankin@fedex.com

Grant Writer Beth McMullen bethlincoln@hotmail.comHealth & Safety Kim Morton 412-480-8009 Kmorton172@gmail.comJunior Achievement Kristin Tisdale closingpros@gmail.comLabels & Receipts

Box Tops Sue Betta 724-695-5007 susanbetta@gmail.comShop N Save Seed Assembly Sherry Romano 724-695-8580 sromano6743@yahoo.com

Giant Eagle Apples for Students Sue Betta 724-695-5007 susanbetta@gmail.comCampbells Labels Erin Clay

Market Day Mindy Rose 724-695-9276 mjzrose@verizon.netMembership Lori Rankin 412-417-3512 lori.rankin@fedex.comNewsletter Pamela Rineer 717-203-1021 p-rineer@hotmail.comPolar Pajama Party Colleen Finkbeiner butterfly5_79@yahoo.comPTA directory Lori Rankin 412-417-3512 lori.rankin@fedex.comReflections Lori Rankin 412-417-3512 lori.rankin@fedex.comSanta Shop Melissa Gnoth 412-719-6969 Gnoth.Melissa@pti.eduSpirit Wear Sherry Romano 724-695-8580 sromano6743@yahoo.com

Melissa Gnoth 412-719-6969 Gnoth.Melissa@pti.eduVariety Show Tracy Pustover * 724-695-3170 tpustover@verizon.net

Teacher Appreciation Sherry Romano 724-695-8580 sromano6743@yahoo.comJessica Marshall 724-695-2947 jessicamarshall777@gmail.comMelissa Gnoth 412-719-6969 Gnoth.Melissa@pti.edu

Walk a thon Pamela Rineer 717-203-1021 p-rineer@hotmail.comWebmaster Leah Vestal 724-695-5201 ext 6163 lvestal@westasd.orgWelcome/New Family Liaison Vicki Danzik 724-695-2315 vdanzik@gmail.comYearbook Jessica Marshall 724-695-2947 jessicamarshall777@gmail.com

Tiffany Mangan tmangan@westasd.orgNote: * = 5th grade parent, will need new committee chair the following year.

Donaldson PTA Committee List 2014-2015

Join Donaldson Elementary PTA ! PTA MEMBERSHIPPTA MEMBERSHIP

$6.00/person

! I would like to be listed in the 2014-15

PTA Directory (Membership not required)

! I would like to sign up to receive emails

from the PTA about upcoming events/news

Here at Donaldson we provide many wonderful

programs at school to help enhance the learning

environment that our school district provides.

Some examples are parties, field trips, birthday

books, teacher appreciation, yearbooks,

recreational equipment, cultural programs in the

arts, school assemblies and so much more! We’ll

keep you updated on what our National PTA is

working to achieve. Weʹll keep trying to come up

with ways to meet the needs of our children, our

teachers, our school and our community.

To achieve these goals, we need your voice. We

need your ideas and we need your input. Wonʹt

you please consider becoming involved in our

PTA? Together, we CAN make a difference in our

childrenʹs lives and potentially many future

generations.

We hope you will want to be an active part of

Donaldson PTA this year. Donaldson PTA is an

association of faculty, parents and our community

supporting each other to improve the education of

our children. The PTA is the largest, non-profit,

volunteer, child-advocacy organization in the

nation. There are two easy steps that you can take

to help promote the welfare of our children.

1. Volunteer for a commiWee or any of the many

PTA sponsored activities.

2. Give the PTA your suggestion, thoughts and

ideas. Make your voice heard.

Thank you for your continued support. We look

forward to working together.

Please note that clearances are needed to volunteer for most PTA activities. However, if you have not moved and have your clearances on file at Donaldson, you do not need to redo them.

Thanks to your support, Donaldson ElementaryPTA

finances, provides volunteers and organizes the

following events for our children:

Art Fair

Assemblies

Book Fair

Donaldson Discovers

Family Fun Night

Field Trips

Fifth Grade Picnic

Fundraising

Health & Safety

Hospitality

Labels & Receipts

Market Day

Membership

NewsleWer

Polar Pajama Party

PTA Directory

Reading Program

Reflections

Talent Show

Santa’s Workshop

School Apparel Sales

Teacher Appreciation

Welcome CommiWee

Yearbook

For more information on any of the PTA’s commiGees

or programs, please visit us on the web at

www.westasd.org/webpages/dpta/

PTA Sponsored

Events/Programs

Make checks payable to Donaldson PTA

#

# of Memberships at $6.00/Person __________

TOTAL ENCLOSED $__________________

Mother’s Name (please print clearly)

Father’s Name

Address

Zip

Phone

Email

Child’s Name/Teacher

Child’s Name/Teacher

Child’s Name/Teacher

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

(_______)_________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

*Please aGach an additional sheet of paper for any special

circumstances.

www.westasd.org/webpa

Donaldson Elementary PTADonaldson Elementary PTA

20142014--2015 Membership2015 Membership

We Are FamilyWe Are Family

Join Our PTA Family TodayJoin Our PTA Family Today

Donaldson PTA Commi/eesDonaldson PTA Commi/ees

I would like to volunteer for the following commi4ees:

! Art Fair ! Assemblies ! Book Fair ! Donaldson Discovers ! Family Fun Night ! Field Trips ! Fifth Grade Picnic ! Fundraising ! Health & Safety ! Hospitality ! Junior Achievement ! Labels & Receipts ! Market Day ! Membership ! Newsle4er ! Polar Pajama Party ! PTA Directory ! Reading Program ! Reflections ! Talent Show ! Santa’s Workshop ! Spirit Wear ! Teacher Appreciation ! Welcome Commi4ee ! Yearbook

Kristi Gunderson, President

724-695-0456 kristigundy@gmail.com

donaldsonpta@hotmail.com

Sherry Romano, Vice President

724-695-8580 sromano6743@yahoo.com

Jen Wolfe, Treasurer

724-624-1813 jenwolfe10@comcast.net

Dana Chandler, Secretary

20142014--15 PTA Officers15 PTA Officers

For questions about PTA Membership, contact:

Lori Rankin

412-417-3512

lori.rankin@fedex.com

For more information on any of the PTA’s commiEees or programs, please visit us on the web at hEp://www.westasd.org/webpages/dpta/

www.westasd.org/webpages/dpta/

www.westasd.org/webpages/

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If you have trouble viewing or printing this newsletter please feel free to contact Pamela Rineer at p-rineer@hotmail.com