October 2017

Comet Connection:

The Centennial

Elementary PTA

                                   Newsletter 

Fall is here and so are all the great activities that come with it! Read on to hear about...

Fall Picnic * Color Run * Spotlight Centennial * Try-athlon * Red Ribbon Week * PTA Membership * 5th Grade Dedication Ads * Reflections * Counselor Seminar and so much more!

Every Rodeo Must Come to an End!

Tomorrow is the last day for Centennial's Book Fair and Lunch with a Loved One.  Don't miss out on this FUN event with your kiddo at Centennial!! 

Go to Volunteer Forms and sign-up* for the LAST DAY of the Book Fair. It's a fun opportunity to interact with the Comet Cowboys and Cowgirls while nurturing their love of reading!

And be on the lookout as your Comet brings home their Go-Folder today, because...

This year, the Centennial PTA is excited to share another way to gather Color Run donations from friends and family afar!  In addition to collecting cash and checks, we're also launching a Centennial Color Run Fundraising page, allowing families to customize their own Color Fun page and enabling the use of email and social media to reach even more of the loved ones who want to support your comet!

Check it out!  Click HERE and select BECOME A FUNDRAISER to start!

SAVE THE DATE and JOIN US!

  Join counselor, Alison Leven, as she invites parents to learn more about this important topic. Please RSVP here. 

The 2017-2018 National PTA Reflections Program Is Here!  

Has your student completed their PTA Reflections entry?  If so, the first step of their Centennial Try-Athlon is "Within Reach!"  Entries for this national PTA program are due on October 27th.  For more information about entry rules and this year's theme, please visit our Centennial PTA Reflections page!

Don't forget that YOU or a family member MUST be a PTA Member to participate in the National PTA Reflections program! Great news - it's never too late to join our PTA! So join today on our Centennial PTA website.

Don't Forget To Keep Reading!

Be sure to refer back to the PTA Reading Programs page for all the pertinent reading lists for your student this year! Whether you're looking for the Texas 2x2 list, the Bluebonnet list or 40-book-challenge list, we've got you covered!  Check it out, we've got everything you need! 

Students who wish to be recognized this year for the Try-Athlon award please note the first deadline is quickly approaching!  PTA reflections entries are due on October 27, 2017.  Students must complete all three events to qualify for the Try-Athlon.  Try-Athlon participants will be recognized by Mrs. Stewart at a special ceremony in May.

 Check out this year's Centennial Try-Athlon and be sure to learn more about the first event, Reflections.  The 3 Try-Athlon Events this year are:

1. Reflections, Due October 27th
2. Science Fair, January, 2018, more info coming 
3. Publishing Kits, more info coming

Remember, every student who completes all three events in the Try-Athlon will be recognized by our principal, Mrs. Stewart, at the end of the year at a Try-Athlon recognition ceremony.  

Proud To Be Drug Free!

Centennial Elementary will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week during the week of October 23-31. The Red Ribbon Campaign, sponsored by National Family Partnership (www.redribbon.org), is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week.

The purpose of Red Ribbon Week is to show a  commitment to living a safe, healthy, and drug-free life. The campaign is designed to create awareness concerning the problems related to the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs and to support the decision to live a drug-free lifestyle.

Students at Centennial are encouraged to participate in Red Ribbon Week dress up days to show their commitment to the campaign. 

 It's Their Time to Shine! Spotlight! Centennial

Get to know what makes our Centennial Elementary staff shine!  

This fall we are introducing Spotlight! Centennial.  In each of our monthly newsletters, two Centennial staff members will be highlighted.  Get to know a little bit more about the super staff that support our kids day in and day out!   

Alison Leven-Counselor

1. What was your Elementary Mascot? The Warriors.

2. What was your favorite school subject? Writing

3. What made you decide to go into education? I had a school counselor in high school who I really looked up to. I went into education knowing that I wanted to inspire others the same way she inspired me!

4. What is your favorite movie? Mulan

5. Where would you go on your dream vacation? Australia and New Zealand

6. What is your favorite sports team? Patriots!

7. What is your favorite quote? “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” –Dr. Seuss

Feri Ghahremaninia (Nia) - Kindergarten

1. What was your Elementary Mascot? Lions

2. What was your favorite school subject? Language Arts  

3. What made you decide to go into education? I had a teacher in elementary school that made a huge impact on my life. I was excited to go to school every day and extremely eager to learn. This ignited my passion to go into teaching and give back by impacting lives through education. It is so rewarding to watch students get excited about learning, strive to do their best and make progress every day.

4. What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in pursuing your dream of becoming an educator? Before becoming an educator, I was a stay-at-home mom. My biggest challenge in pursuing a teaching degree was having to sacrifice some of the quality time I was used to having with my kids in order to study, write papers and complete assignments.   

5. What is your favorite Centennial Cafeteria dish? PIZZA STICKS! Funny enough, that was my daughter’s favorite dish in elementary school too. She envies that I get to have it on a regular basis.

6. What is your favorite movie? Chocolat

7. Where would you go on your dream vacation? I would love to do a Summer in Europe! I have family in Germany, Sweden and Switzerland – so it would be great to visit all of them and explore the scenic countries.

8. My favorite quote is: â€œTell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

Who Do I Contact?

The Centennial PTA is lucky to have the support of parents who volunteer to be their classroom and grade-level room representatives!  These room representatives plan and host grade-level coffees in the beginning of the school year, plan and lead two class parties throughout the year and help support the teachers during school events like Texas Day and End of Year celebrations!  

 If you have questions about how you can get involved, please contact your room rep!  Interested in becoming a room rep?  Be sure to show your interest in the Volunteer Interest Form on our Online Orders / Volunteer Forms next August!  

 Please see the list of 2017 / 2018 Room Representatives:

 Kindergarten:

Room Rep Coordinator: Julie Liberman, Julie.liberman@gmail.com

Ms. Morrison (Team Leader): Julie Liberman, Julie.liberman@gmail.com

Ms. Fabrega: Mona Lurich, lurichs@verizon.net

Ms. Nia: Niloofar Khalesseh, niloukh@gmail.com

Ms. Immel: Kimi Hutson, kdhttu91@sbcglobal.net

1st Grade:

Room Rep Coordinator: Sara O’Connell, sarajoconnell@me.com

Ms. Collins (Team Leader): Cynthia Bush, mtnest324@verizon.net

Ms. Brock: Gabrielle Symank, gsymank@gmail.com

Ms. Palmer: Kecia Gray, kecia_gray@hotmail.com

Ms. White: Michelle Massaro, m_moreno99@hotmail.com

2nd Grade:

Room Rep Coordinator: Leigh Robinson-Ahangar, leigh_b_robinson@hotmail.com

Ms. Jenkins (Team Leader): Shana Fishman, shanafishman1@gmail.com

Ms. Bay: Abbie Alter, abbie6@hotmail.com

Ms. Hudgens: Manasi Mantry, manasih@yahoo.com

Ms. Mighell: Susan Triplett, smtdvm@yahoo.com

Ms. Rector: Tami Martins, tklemcke@gmail.com

3rd Grade:

Room Rep Coordinator: Missy Walker, walker.missy@ymail.com

Ms. Litman (Team Leader): Lisa Hingson, lisa.hingson@gmail.com

Mrs. Boyle: Jenny Stilwell, jennystilwell@gmail.com

Ms. Dowd: Mary Graff, mary@texasfootsurgery.com

Ms. Greene: Heidi Parra, heidi.parra@rocketmail.com

Ms. Tarver: Simone Lang, simone.93@gmx.de

4th Grade:

Room Rep Coordinator: Kathy Grane, kgrane1@aol.com

Ms. Davison (Team Leader):

Ms. Cizdziel: Jennifer Church, jennifer.church@livelmc.com

Ms. Corzine: Claudia Madden, claudia0286@hotmail.com and Ashley Wilcox, sawilcoxrn@aol.com

Ms. Sims: Natalie Jenkins, nataliezjenkins@icloud.com

Ms. Stow: Kathy Grane, kgrane1@aol.com

Maria Suarez Moreno, maria.suarez.moreno@gmail.com

5th Grade:

Room Rep Coordinator: Kara Grimes, kdgrimes98@gmail.com

Ms. Stadheim (Team Leader): Melissa Nelson, melissaenelson@verizon.net

Ms. Bilodeau: Indrani Dhanisetty, indu.dhanisetty@gmail.com

Ms. Maness: Dana Rose, dmrose28@yahoo.com and Angela Harris, angelaharris@us.ibm.com

Ms. Switser: Abbie Alter, abbie6@hotmail.com

  5th Grade Dedication Ads

Can you believe your child is in his or her last year of elementary school? My, how time flies! Well, get ready to celebrate all they have accomplished with a yearbook dedication ad. Start collecting all your adorable pictures and working on your special messages to recognize and congratulate your 5th Grader!  

 This year we're making it easier than ever!   We are happy to introduce a new and streamlined program that allows you to order your ad, pay for your ad, and create your ad in the same place.   Completed Ads due DEC. 20th.

You will be able to create an account so you can:

• upload photos directly from your computer,
• select your own design, colors, and font,
• save your work and come back later to modify
• all on your own timeline! (completed online ads due Dec. 20th)

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and enter 15040 for Centennial Elementary
2. Select "BUY A YEARBOOK AD"
3. Select the size of ad you would like to purchase:
• ¼ page ads are $35
• ½ page ads are $70
• Full page ads are $125

From there, follow the prompts and you'll be on your way to creating a priceless memory for your Comet!

***All 5th Grade Ad proceeds will go to support 5th Grade Programs***

  Questions about 5th grade yearbook dedication ads?  Contact Manasi Mantry at yearbookads@centennialpta.net

Are You A Member?

Have YOU joined the Centennial PTA yet? It's not too late!  The PTA is a great way to get plugged into your Elementary child's experience. 

By joining the PTA, you will:

• Know first-hand what programs are being scheduled at Centennial
  
• Join with our teachers and staff - Did you know that 100% of our Centennial staff are PTA members? Yes, they are...they are working to enhance our kids' experience every day!
• Help other parents create and build programs enhancing our school campus
• Gain access to other PTA members phones/addresses/emails (i.e. need a play date--look up their address on our FREE membership Toolkit app on YOUR cell phone!)
• AND...drum roll please...NOW you can access Centennial school calendar on your phone, right on the Membership Toolkit app!

Please note that volunteering is not a requirement of PTA membership!  Click here to join us today!   

*Reminder*

In order to access your account, sign up for volunteer positions, order spiritwear or donate please log-into your CentennialPTA.net account FIRST and then CLICK My Toolkit/Volunteer.