We hope you're having a safe and happy summer! While there are still a few weeks of summer left, we do have some important back-to-school information including: CHROMEBOOK DROP-OFF, YEARBOOK, PUBLISHING KIT, & REFLECTIONS PICK-UP,BACK TO SCHOOL CHECKLIST, PTA MEMBERSHIP, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, & SPIRIT WEAR INFORMATION, VOLUNTEER INFORMATION, 2020-2021 CENTENNIAL PTA BOARD, LEARNING ENVIRONMENT UPDATES and much more!  Please read the entire newsletter for more details.

CHROMEBOOK DROP-OFF

5th graders going to 6th grade and students who will not be returning to Centennial must drop off their school-issued Chromebook and charger if they did not do so in May. 

Save the date for Monday, July 27th or Tuesday, 28th from 7 am to 9 am in the Centennial front drive.

Get ready for the 2020-2021 school year with this step-by-step list!

• Update PISD Parent Portal information between 7/22 and 8/7. Find instructions for setting up a new PISD Parent Portal account here. 
  
• Create / update your online family profile on the PTA website
• Update your directory preferences
• Sign-up for weekly / monthly PTA newsletters for events and program information
• Follow the Centennial PTA on Facebook.  This is the best way to get the latest news to parents quickly
• Sign-Up Centennial Online (see details below) on Monday July 27th to:
  • Purchase your annual PTA Membership
  • Order your Spirit Wear 
  • Purchase your school supplies 
    
  • Contribute to the Comet Campaign Donation Campaign
  • Select your Volunteer Preferences
• Complete your PISD Volunteer Application in August (TBD)
  

SIGN-UP CENTENNIAL ONLINE MONDAY, 7/27

It's back-to-school season, and that means the Centennial PTA Online Sign-Up is coming soon!  Go to our PTA website on Monday, 7/27 to place orders for your PTA membership, school supplies, spirit wear, and to express interest in volunteer opportunities.  

 Read below for details.

PTA MEMBERSHIP

The Centennial PTA are parents, teachers and community members who have an interest in supporting the children, families and staff of Centennial Elementary. 

Joining the PTA:

• Supports engaging and educational programs and activities made available for ALL Centennial students and families (see below)
• Grants you access to the Centennial Student/Family Directory
• Adds your voice to the largest child advocacy organization in the state with over 500,000 members across Texas

SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS

Centennial’s PTA has made it easier than ever to ensure your student has the exact supplies they need for their 1st day back at school.  

Save your time, save your sanity, and enjoy your last days of summer!  Order your School Supplies HERE starting July 27th.  Need another reason to purchase School Supply Kits from the PTA?  They are TAX-FREE! 

2020 - 2021 School Supply Kits are $50

Questions? Contact Merene @ SchoolStore@CentennialPTA.net

SPIRIT WEAR

Show your Comet Pride with Centennial Spirit Wear.  All Spirit Wear comes in adult sizes, too, so grab something for yourself! 

This year the PTA is also offering a Centennial Yard Sign to show off your Comet Pride! 

Order your Spirit Wear HERE on July 27th.  Questions? Contact Michelle @ SpiritWear@CentennialPTA.net

CENTENNIAL PTA DONATIONS

Did you know you can also make a tax-deductible donation to support the PTA programs and investments in Centennial? 

Learn more about the PTA fundraising or make a donation to Centennial PTA today! 

Don't forget to check with your employer to see if your donation is eligible for an Employer Matching Gift.

Purchased items will be available for pickup and/or delivery, pending guidelines from Plano ISD. Even if your student participates in School@Home for the entire first 9 weeks, you are welcome to shop with us!  Details about distribution will be sent as soon as possible and may include a "car line" pickup.

** Remember you need to login (with password) and update your parent / student information and directory preferences before you can access the Order Forms **

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

Our Volunteers are superheros!  The PTA Volunteer Program is one of the best ways parents can support the students and staff of Centennial Elementary. 

While we don't yet know what volunteering will look like this school year, we are hopeful to find meaningful opportunities as plans for returning to school evolve.  In the meantime, we encourage you to complete the Volunteer Interest Form so we can call on your support when the time comes!

** Don't forget that every year volunteers must (re)apply to be considered for any volunteer opportunity.  Plano ISD is implementing a new volunteer management system for the 2020-2021 school year.  The new system will be available at www.pisd.edu/volunteer in early August.  Any returning or new volunteers will need to apply there before August 31st.  We will send updates as the new volunteer management system becomes available. 

If you have any questions, please contact the VP of Volunteers, Geetha, at vp.volunteers@centennialpta.net

WELCOME NEW PTA BOARD

The Centennial PTA is excited to announce the PTA Board for the 2020-2021 school year.  We are all looking forward to another fabulous year at Centennial!

Officers

President - Missy Walker

1st VP Programs - Kimi Hutson

2nd VP Volunteers - Geetha Ashokk

3rd VP Fundraising - Celeste Dominguez

4th VP Communications - Ashley Hamilton 

Secretary - Daryn Roemer

Treasurer - Mishaal Oulad-chikh

Parliamentarian - Julie Traub

Standing Committee Chairs

Arts in Education - Amy Lopez

Building & Landscape - Sara O'Connell

Chess Program - Kristie Shorey

Cultural Programs - Sadaf ElHaffar

Comet Captains - Susan Triplett

Community Outreach - Kelly Cooney

Hospitality - Lisa Hingson

Legislative - Claudia Miranda

Marquee - Christy Byerly

Membership - Michelle Massaro

Partnerships - Shrayashi Browne

Reading Programs - Chantal Boeckman

Room Representatives - Olivia Salinas

Scholarship - Lesley Guinn

School Supplies - Merene Makil

Science & Technology - Afshin Ahangar

Spirit Wear - Michelle Schwabauer

Texas Day - Liv Thenhaus

Watch DOGS - Mona Lurich 

Yearbook - Ashley Hamilton

Principal - Sara Stewart

Faculty Representative - Sarah Vartabedian

Sub-Committee Chairs

5th Grade Celebration - Leigh Robinson-Ahangar

Birthday Cakes - Michelle Peters 

Find contact information for the 2020-2021 Centennial PTA Board HERE.

OPEN BOARD POSITIONS

The Centennial PTA is still looking to fill a few open positions on the board.  If you are interested in learning more about, or serving in one of the roles below, please contact Missy, the PTA President at President@CentennialPTA.net.   

Corporate Sponsorship

Book Fair

After School Programs

Youth Safety & Wellness (Red Ribbon & Field Day)

2020-2021 LEARNING ENVIRONMENT UPDATES

As a reminder, Plano ISD made the decision to begin the 2020-2021 school year in a completely virtual environment for all students through Labor Day.  Please refer to the original communication from PISD HERE.  

The current plan states that students who opted for face-to-face learning would return to their assigned campus for classes beginning on Wednesday, September 9th. 

Please note that the window to select your students' instructional environment has been extended through July 29th to allow the greatest degree of flexibility.  This instructional environment will be honored for the remainder of the nine weeks (after the first 3 weeks of virtual for all students).

You can find continuously updated information from the district on the 2020-2021 Planning Page.

July 27 & July 28, 7 to 9 am: Chromebook Drop-off, PTA Materials Distribution

July 27: Sign-Up Centennial Online Store Opens for PTA Membership, School Supplies, Spirit Wear, and more!

July 29: Deadline to select Learning Environment for first 9 weeks in Parent Portal

Early August - August 31: New Volunteer Management System available for renewing and new PISD volunteers 

August 8: Classroom Teachers released on Parent Portal at Midnight.

August 12: First Day of School@Home (for three weeks), 7:40 am to 2:45 pm

* Please note all dates and events are subject to change as directed by PISD based on the evolving COVID-19 situation in Texas and our community. Thank you for your understanding!

REMINDERS

Go to the PTA website for much more information and to access your account.  You can manage your newsletter subscriptions, volunteer preferences, as well as purchase your PTA Membership, School Supplies, Spirit Wear and make donations at CentennialPTA.net. 

Don't forget to LOGIN to your account. 

Click HERE to manage your newsletter subscription.

DON'T MISS OUT:  To continue to receive the Comet Connection and other PTA       e-mails, you must go to the Centennial PTA website to update your Parent & Student Information beginning on August 1st.  The e-group for the previous school year (2018-2019) will be purged by the end of August!