March is PTA election month.  I am happy to present our 2010-2011 Executive

Officers:
President                                             Shavon Pierce
Executive Vice President                    Debbie Helenihi
1st Vice President Programs                Shelley Kottman
2nd Vice President Membership          Charlene Rowe
3rd Vice President Volunteers             Chris Ennen
4th Vice President Fundraising            Marcela Alban
Treasurer                                             Lena Sparks
Recording Secretary                           Sara Valinsky
Financial Secretary                              Caitlin Ritchey
 
With many students moving onto the middle school level, valuable volunteers are also leaving our school.  This means that PTA has many committee chair opportunities.  It is never too late to join the PTA and get involved.  If you have minimal or extra time to volunteer, Peterson PTA has an opportunity for you!  For more information, please email Debbie Helenihi at Helenihipta@earthlink.net or Shavon Pierce at ShavonP@aol.com .

Peterson Garden Committee would like to express their sincere gratitude to HB Magazine for donating the ad space for Huntington Garden Center to help fund the much needed supplies for our beautiful garden. This hands-on cooperative inspires, teaches and gives students an understanding of how important our role in nature is. Because the garden is not PTA-funded, the school accepts donations of all kinds - including gift cards and volunteer time to assist in certain garden needs. If you'd like additional information on how you can help support the Peterson Garden, please contact Bret Andersen at  HBBret@aol.com.

HB Magazine

“Fun”Raising Updates
 
This month’s Family “Fun”Raiser is scheduled for Wednesday, March 24th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Souplantation in Costa Mesa, at 1555 Adams Avenue, 714-556-1903.  If you bring in a flier and purchase a meal and a beverage, Peterson will receive 15%! Be sure to check your children’s backpack’s for the special flier as the date approaches, or you can print your own at www. petersonpta.com.

Thank you to Chuck E. Cheese and all the families who supported our February Family “Fun”Raiser !  It was a huge success and so fun to see so many families together having fun! 
 
Our “After School Cool” with Jamba Juice this month was such a treat!  Thank you to Jamba Juice and everyone who supported this event!
 
Don’t Forget… it’s never too late to register your preferred cards!

*To register your Ralph’s Card visit: http://www.Ralphs.com
Sign-in to your existing account or create a new one.  Then choose “My Account” from the menu on the left-hand side of your page.  Scroll down to “Community Rewards Information” and choose Peterson as your organization.  Peterson’s Organization Number: 82719
Every time you swipe your Ralph’s Rewards card, Peterson PTA earns money to help support our many programs!
 
*To register your Vons Cards, and various other participating merchant’s and your credit/debit cards visit: http://www.escrip.com
Enter Peterson’s ID #: 6668729

If you have any questions regarding fundraising, please call Marcela Alban (714) 625-2109.
 
Marcela Alban, PTA Fundraiser Chair

Thank you to everyone who sent in box tops!  As a result of all of your hard work, Peterson earned almost $500 in our Spring Box Tops collection.
 
The classes that turned in the most Box Tops were:
Kindergarten –                        Anderson                   
First-Second -                         Snow                          
Third-Fifth -                            Burgos            
 
A special prize will be awarded to the classes that collected the most Box Tops.  Keep collecting and be a winner!
 

Family Dinner Night – Save the Date!
 
The Family Dinner Night kick-off meeting was held and plans are under way to create an evening of fun, community spirit and lifelong memories.  This year’s Family Dinner Night theme is “Party in the USA” with an emphasis on patriotism.  Please mark your calendars for May 14th to join in the fun!  From 5:00 to 8:00pm, plans include a street fair with vendors; raffle; BBQ with Dads; Bake/Cake Walk; and, last but certainly not least, a Dance and Song Showcase.  Additional highlights will include a tribute to our community heroes, a 3-legged race for children and their parents by grade and Tug-of-War competition between classes at each grade level.

If you can help, please email jdaterhb@verizon.net or call (714) 261-7059.
 
Jennifer Dater
Family Dinner Night Chair

Thanks to everyone who made this year’s Book Fair such a treat! Sales this year surpassed previous years, and added specialties like our Grand Event Kick-off and Donuts with Dads boosted our sales even more. Even Clifford the Big Red Dog showed up for the fun!

Our Peterson community really came through with support for the One for Books Program that raised over $450 to purchase books directly for our own Whales Tales and AR reading programs. Scholastic Books will now match our donations with an equal amount of books to be donated to literacy programs.
 
All of this was made possible with the support from the Peterson staff, students, and parents. An especially loud shout of thanks goes out to the following great volunteers who put in lots of hours to help out with set-up, take-down and daily manning of the fair to help our children with their selection of books: Leigh Friedman, David Hattersley, Jennifer Dater, Linda Bearden, Caitlin Ritchey, Bridget Jacobson, Gretchen Woodard, Marcela Alban, Shavon Pierce, Stacy DeBernardo, Angie Dargavage, Kim Geroch, Amy Houwen, Taunya Grimes, Debbie Helenihi, Diana Marella, Sayaka Mochizuki, Jane Ooms, Amy Morris, Jessica Marlatt, Ram Sharma, Kristin Kazamaki, Catherine Hulsy, Peggi Fowler, Amy MCKay, Robin Moses, Patti Kirk,  Letitia Sterns, and Cathleen Bosworth.
 
Thanks to all for helping to serve up such a good time and great event!
 
 
Maria January, Myra Klepinger, Marcie Taylor, Mimi Vogel
Book Fair Committee

Check out photos from the event.

The CAC of the Huntington Beach City School District is a group of parents, educators, and community representatives, who meet regularly during the school year to review programs and procedures and make suggestions for improvements that will benefit children with special needs.  The majority of the group’s members are parents of children with special needs, but members also include district personnel, general education teachers, and special education teachers.  The CAC meets the first Wednesday of each month.  The CAC is a local source for parents to learn about the system that manages our children’s special services and gives them the opportunity to become collaborating partners in the process.  Parent involvement is an important element in providing effective programs for our students.   The CAC meetings are open to all parents, as well as teachers, and we would love to see any and all of you there.  The meetings are a great opportunity to discuss concerns, learn about available services, and share information and support with others.  Please join us at one of our meetings, on April 7, May 5, or June 2 at 6:30 PM in the District Office on Crailet Drive.
 
Lynn Grimm, Vice Chairperson