January 2018

Comet Connection:

PTA Newsletter 

A new year is upon us, as are many exciting activities at Centennial!  Read on to learn more about... 

Enrichment Programs * Science Fair * Multicultural Night * Yearbooks *  Comet Congratulations * Texas Day * Outreach * Spotlight Centennial * PTA Opportunities & Committees * and so much more!

After School Programs

Spring Enrollment Opens Tue, 1/16!

 Is your student interested in participating in one of Centennial PTA's after school enrichment programs this spring?  The PTA is pleased to offer programs after school on Tuesdays (CraniaLogix & PowerKids) and Wednesdays (Chess). 

Sign-Up will be active from Tuesday, 1/16 through Tuesday, 1/23, or until the classes have filled.  For information on how to sign-up, go to the PTA website and select 'Online Order' tab, or click HERE on Tuesday!

The Spring programs run from Feb. 6th through May 9th, (note there will be no program classes during the weeks of 3/13 and 4/10).  Please refer to each activity link below for more details, including dates and cost. 

Chess Enrichment Program Details (Wednesdays)

CraniaLogix Enrichment Program Details (Tuesdays)

PowerKids Enrichment Program Details (Tuesdays)

Space is limited and programs are filled on a first come, first served basis.  Students must adhere to the PTA's participation policy to ensure a safe and fun environment for all participants. 

  Science Fair

The Science Fair is right around the corner! We want to encourage interested students to take advantage of this exciting opportunity – this event is also part of this year’s Try-Athlon!

Science Fair projects are due on Wednesday, January 24th. The campus science fair judging will be on Thursday, January 25th.

Are you interested in becoming a judge? Please sign up HERE. Judging will take place on Thursday Jan 25th from 8am to 12pm, with training provided that morning. Thank you in advance.

Please contact Ms. Bilodeau with any questions: rebecca.bilodeau@pisd.edu

SCIENCE FAIR HELPFUL TIPS #3

As you're preparing to put your display together, remember to follow the display rules very carefully in your student handbook. Make sure your board follows the size requirements (not to exceed 30 inches deep, 32 inches wide when opened on the table, and 80 inches high from table to top of exhibit), does not consist of any personal information on the board or in the journals/reports, and uses photographs and drawings instead of actual objects or apparatuses. The actual display should include the backboard, the research report, and the science project notebook. The judges look very carefully and critically at the notebook and research report, so make sure you are taking thorough notes!

 For previous helpful hints, refer to our Science and Technology page HERE.

Centennial's Multicultural Family Night

All of us have a family tree with roots in a foreign country.  Celebrate the diversity of our Centennial community with cultural displays, ethnic food, student artwork, entertainment, performances of your choice, and cultural fashions! 

If you would like to participate in Centennial's 1st Multicultural Family Night, scheduled for April 5th, please complete the Interest Form by January 31st.  Once you have indicated your interest, the Multicultural Family Night Chair, Nour Almahaini, will be in contact with further details. 

Questions?  Please reach out to Nour at culturalprograms@centennialpta.net.  

Comet Congratulations!

The end of December brought with it some accolades for many of our Centennial Comets!  See the exciting details below and BIG CONGRATULATIONS to all!

Reflections Awards

Congratulations to the following students for their recognition in the Regional PTA Reflections Level, including one very talented 2nd grader whose Literature entry placed 1st in the Region and is moving on to the Texas state-level competition...

Literature

Adam Tham - 1st Place Regional Level, Advancing to STATE!

Dance

Charlotte Eckroat - Honorable Mention

Film

Yashashvinisri Gopalakrishnan - Award of Excellence

Music

Kelly Morefield - Award of Excellence

James Keogh - Award of Merit

Elise Nelson - Honorable Mention

Photography

Aaron Hu - Award of Excellence

Nabil Oulad-Chikh - Award of Excellence

Tashvi Pasupulati - Honorable Mention

Noah Oulad-Chikh - Honorable Mention

Visual Arts

Tashvi Prognya Pasupulati - Award of Excellence

Emily Si - Award of Merit

Michael Ahn - Award of Merit

Emma Lin - Award of Merit

Shreya Kirkumaki - Honorable Mention

Yeseul Kim - Award of Merit

Fall Chess Tournament

Congratulations to the following students who placed in the fall chess tournament:

Texas PTA Life Member Honorees

Get Yer' Ponies Ready!

Texas Day is just around the Bend!

Texas Day is Thursday, February 22nd.  The day is filled with activities, games and special guests to teach our children about our state.  This is a uniquely "Centennial" experience you won't want to miss! 

Stay tuned for fun volunteer opportunities including kinder pony production, Cowboy Carpool, grade-level classroom crafts and decorating /set-up.  It takes lots of cowboys and cowgirls to pull off such a memorable event for our students!  Thank y'all in advance for your time and support!

Contact the PTA Texas Day Chair, Mona Lurich, with any questions: texasday@centennialpta.net

Valentine's Outreach

items accepted from 1/22  to 2/2

We will be collecting boxes of Valentines cards and Valentine's candy for Mendenhall Elementary School from January 22 - February 2nd.  These donations will be used for their students to exchange with classmates. The next time you are out, please consider picking up an extra box of Valentine's cards or candy, and drop them of in the donation box in the main hallway of Centennial. Let's show our sister school some LOVE!

Questions? Contact Julie Liberman at mendenhall@centennialpta.net  

5th Grade Parent Info Night at Renner

5th Grade Parents, this is an event you won't want to miss!   Renner Middle School is hosting a 5th Grade Parent Night on Wednesday, January 17th at 5:30pm. 

See more details HERE and be sure to save the date so you can be in the know!

Parking Reminder

Just a gentle reminder that there are three RESERVED Parking Spots for Auction Winners in the southeast corner of the Centennial driveway.  These parking spots are denoted with personalized AUCTION WINNER parking signs and were won by parents in our 2017 Spring Silent Auction.  Please do not park in these marked spots unless you are the auction winner.

If you're interested in having one of the highly-sought after parking spots next school year, stay tuned for our 2018 Spring Silent Auction this April!  Thanks in advance for your continued support and cooperation!

 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!   

Carla Corzine - 4th Grade

1. What was your Elementary Mascot? Forman Falcons

2. What was your favorite school subject?Reading/Social Studies

3. What made you decide to go into teaching / education? My parents were both teachers, and my older sister is a teacher.  So, it is in the blood.  When I did some teaching as an aide at the daycare at my church, I was hooked!  I knew that this is what I wanted to do with my life.

4. What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in pursuing your dream of becoming an educator? The biggest challenge that I faced was surviving my first year.  Everything was new so there was a lot to learn.  However, after that first year everything seemed to fall into place.  I am still learning new things, but now I have enough experience that everything is not still brand new.

5. What is your favorite Quote: "Be sure you're right and then go ahead." - Davy Crockett

6. What is your favorite movie? Harvey

7. Where would you go on your dream vacation? I would want to go to Memphis, TN to visit Graceland.  I have actually been there several times, but it is still my dream vacation.  I love Elvis Presley!

Samantha Bay - 2nd Grade 

1. What was your Elementary Mascot?  I have 2- Dolphins and Bobcats (both PISD schools!)

2. What was your favorite school subject?  In elementary school my favorite subject was language arts. In high school it was history.

3. What made you decide to go into teaching / education? I always wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. I stayed after school to help teachers and play school in my room. I’d place paper down on the floor to mark where each student’s desk was. During high school, I worked for an afterschool program on site at the elementary school, and knew then my passion for working with children.

4. What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in pursuing your dream of becoming an educator? I had to overcome learning what classroom management style worked for my personality.

5. What is your favorite Centennial Cafeteria dish? The annual Thanksgiving feast they serve in November!

6. What is your favorite movie? Titanic

7. Where would you go on your dream vacation? Tahiti or Fiji

8. What is your favorite sports team? Dallas Cowboys

9. 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

Nominating Committee

Are you interested in serving on the PTA Nominating Committee?  The PTA Nominating Committee works together to nominate the PTA Officers for the next school year.  If you are interested, please contact our Parlimentarian, Tricia Hunsucker at Parlimentarian@centennialpta.net.   

PTA Board Interest

Have you been thinking about getting more involved in the Centennial PTA?  Curious about taking on a bigger role?  Do you have great ideas about how to make our Centennial PTA even better?  We want to know about you!  

Each year the Centennial PTA has openings on the board and looks to parents like YOU to bring your unique experience and perspective to these roles.  There are roles to suit every time commitment and passion!  Be it math, writing, community, culture, sports, arts, the outdoors...you name it, we've got it!

Go to our PTA Board Interest Form to select positions you would be open to holding for the 2017/2018 school year. 

Not sure about the time commitment?  Want to learn more about the position you're interested in?  Contact Ashley Hamilton at president@centennialpta.net to learn more!

SAVE THE DATE AND JOIN US!

The mission of Family Education and Guidance Services in Plano is to strengthen all families in the community by providing education, resources and services which support rearing responsible, self-confident, emotionally healthy children in today’s complex society.  Check out one of the amazing workshops PISD offers to our fantastic families.  You won't be disappointed!

If you have any questions, please contact 

Family Education and Guidance Services located in the Allan K and Carolyn H Bird Education Center.

1300 19th Street , Plano, TX 75074
(469) 752-2272

Thank you to our 2017-2018 Corporate Sponsors

To see a complete list of all of our wonderful corporate please visit our website HERE.

*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.