Wish Night
You’ve all seen the Wish Lists our teachers have shared and met them virtually at Wish Night. So far, only one classroom has hit our 70% participation rate goal, so please consider a gift for your class to enrich your child’s classroom! Every dollar helps!
Our teachers have an amazing year planned and some of their extra reading and science projects are only possible with our help! Remember, our classrooms get about $200 from the State and the many things that make this school one of the best are achieved via Wish Night!
Teachers will get their preliminary totals soon to plan out the months ahead and every dollar helps! Names or dollar amounts per donation are not shared. Giving now allows them to plan ahead for an exceptional year!
We encourage online donations at ptav.org/wish-night or you can mail a check along with your donation form to: Arroyo Vista, Attn: Wish Night, 335 El Centro St.
Next week, we will shout out those classrooms that have hit 70% participation. Let’s grant those wishes!!!
Thanks!
Wish Night VP
A Word about our Community and SPUSD Core Values
Wildcat Assembly Recap
Friday was our very first Wildcat Assembly! We hope that you had a chance to tune in. Parents are always invited to attend the assemblies. Principal Sinclair and Mrs. Hayes talked about three character traits or values that everyone who is part of AV’s community–students, staff, and parents–should all aspire to exhibit: respect, responsibility and safety.
Our very own AV mascot, Whiskers, helped out with the safety portion of the assembly. Thank you, Whiskers, for teaching our students how to cross the streets safely using the crosswalk and with the crossing guard!
Our very own AV Equity Committee also put on an informative and engaging presentation to kick off Latino/Hispanic Heritage month.
This month we’re celebrating the contributions and impact of Latinos just as the nation also gears up to celebrate national Latino/Hispanic Heritage month (which runs from September 15 – October 15). Latinos represent people whose lineage traces from Mexico, to people from the Caribbean, South America, and Central America.
Did you know? At AV, about 1 out of every 4 of our students identify with family members from one of these countries!
In case you missed it, you can view the full presentation here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSD_7JWwDfSo2ywnl_ehdrToAdVIQB_f7YTO9sgTG6gm5CI6P6xXg8hVfK7FKfc2g/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000
There is bonus footage provided by the owners of our very own Republic of Lucha store in South Pasadena with scenes and insights about Lucha Libre. (A special note for parents – please watch the video before sharing with young kids – while the video is informative and entertaining, there are live wrestling scenes and images with tight or revealing costumes). A huge thank you to Javier and everyone at Republic of Lucha!
A very big thank you to Patti Urzua, Janis Ortega, and the AV Equity Committee for putting on an amazing presentation!
Keep a look out for special Instagram features, art projects and service opportunities to come! A special thanks to everyone that helped pull together the resources for the Equity Committee presentation, Roxann Berry, Vivan Tran, Xochi Castro, Roberto Gonzalez, Amber Jaeger, Jen Wang, Erin Bonz, and Cassandra Kaldor.
First AV Equity Committee Meeting of the Year!
Please join us for the first AV Equity Committee meeting of the year! Come learn more about what we hope to do this year and bring ideas about how we can continue to serve our community:
Thursday, September 9th at 7pm, via ZOOM.
https://spusd.zoom.us/j/83083277958
If you have any questions/concerns or thoughts you’d like to share please reach out to us at [email protected]
Hope to see you there!
-AV Equity Committee Co-Chairs, Patti Urzua, Andy Perry, Amber Jaeger
Picture Day – Wednesday, September 8th!
Picture Day is on Wednesday, September 8th! Picture Day order forms should have been included in your child’s backpacks last week. Pictures can be pre-ordered online or on picture day with your child’s order form. Please do not turn in late orders to the School Office. The Picture Day Schedule is noted below.
5th Grade Drop-Off Lane Volunteers Needed – Let’s Keep the Lanes Running!
Each month, a different grade will be asked to volunteer to keep our drop-off lanes running. Without volunteers, we will have to close the lanes. September is 5th grade month. If you are a 5th grade parent, please, please, please sign up for a day or 3 or 4. We need 4 volunteers per day! Sign Up HERE.
Fall Forms
Thank you to everyone who filled out the Fall Forms and for your continued support of AV PTA! We hope all the classes enjoyed their Popsicle parties! If you haven’t had a chance to complete your Fall Forms, you can still go online to ptav.org/fall to donate to the “No Sweat” fundraiser, Join the PTA (no volunteering required), and choose volunteer options.
Traffic and Drop -Off Lane Reminders
As we return to school, the PTA would like to remind everyone that the safety of our students, staff and families is of the utmost importance.
When using the drop-off lanes:
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- Please have your child ready to get out of the car, with their backpack, lunch, water bottle, mask, etc. on hand.
- If your child needs help walking to the gate or getting out of the car, please park and walk until they get more independent. Everyone must exit cars on the sidewalk side.
- Drivers must remain in the car.
And for general traffic safety…
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- Please take your time when driving around campus.
- Utilize crosswalks & crossing guards. Please do not j-walk, walk in the street, or cross without the guard.
- Let’s be good neighbors and not block driveways.
- Please do not double park or drop off your child or park in red zones.
We encourage walking and biking! There is a bike locker on campus for kids to store their bikes and scooters.
Dismissal Procedures
Arrival and Dismissal gates are as follows. PLEASE remember to bring a sign with your student’s name and teacher printed in large letters to help with smooth and speedy dismissals.
First PTA Meeting of the School Year
Please join us on Wednesday, September 15th at 7pm for our first PTA General Association meeting of the school year. There will be presentations from Dr. Michelle Kipke, AV’s school board representative, the DUDES, a South Pasadena non-profit organization that supports our schools and community, and SPEF. This meeting will be held virtually. We look forward to seeing you there.
Future meetings are scheduled for the following dates:
October 20th
February 16th
March 16th
May 18th
All meetings are held on Wednesdays at 7pm. Additional meetings may be added.
Reflections Art Celebration & Contest
Do you enjoy art, music, photography, film, writing or dance? Join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist with the PTA Reflections. The National PTA Reflections Art Program has been bringing the arts to life for more than 10 million students since 1969. This year’s theme is “I Will Change the World By…” Students use the theme as an inspiration for their art.
Special Artist Division for students who identify as having a disability.
Visit the Reflections national art gallery for inspiration and to learn more about prizes and scholarships: PTA Reflections
Please email Reflections chair, Cami Zappaterra for questions or more information.
If you are a parent passionate about the arts and would like to help coordinate we are looking for either a co-chair or adult helpers that can spread the word to the AV community.
Submissions are due by October 15th.
Important Fall Dates
The PTA has compiled a list of important dates. Please click here to review and/or print it.
Subscribe to the Weekly Wildcat and PTA Calendar
Visit ptav.org/subscribe to learn how. If you are no longer an AV parent, you can unsubscribe from this list.
Arroyo Vista Elementary 2021-22 Bell Schedule
[Click HERE for a printable 2021-22 Bell Schedule]
Do You Have Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Megan Gardner, PTA President, or Erik Gammell, PTA Executive Vice President.
¿Tienes preguntas? El maestro de su hija/o o la oficina principal pueden ponerlos en contacto con una familia en AV que hable español.
질문 사항이 있으십니까?자녀의 담임선생님 이나 학교 사무실에서 필요한 언어를 사용하는 학부모와 연결해 드립니다.
你有問題嗎？您孩子的老師或學校辦公室可以將您與另一比特講您語言的AV家長聯系起來
Thank you!
South Pasadena Arts and Music Academy is holding their bi-annual $10 Music Lesson Week in-person and online from Monday, August 30th – Saturday, September 4th. Thirty-minute private music lessons are only $10 each (normally $42) and all proceeds will benefit the South Pasadena Educational Foundation. It’s a great opportunity for you and/or your child to explore new instruments while giving to a great cause!
The academy offers a range of lessons including piano, voice, drums, guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, violin, songwriting, and music theory. Ages 4 and up and all experience levels are welcome!
You can get a glimpse of instructors, classes, and recitals via their Instagram (@southpasadenaartsmusic) or on their YouTube channel.
To reserve a spot, please email [email protected], call (626) 808-4031 or fill out the contact form on their website: https://artsmusicacademy.com/book-an-intro.
Thank you.