Mathews Elementary PTA everychild. onevoice.

• February 2010
• January 2010
• September 2009
• August 2009
• May 2009
• April 2009
• October 2008
• September 2008
• April 2008
• March 2008
• February 2008
• January 2008
• December 2007
• October 2007
• September 2007
• August 2007
• March 2007
• January 2007
• December 2006
• November 2006
• September 2006
• August 2006

February 2010

Our Book Fair is Coming!

Mathews will be hosting our annual Spring Book Fair Monday, March 29th through Thursday, April 1st. Don’t forget our Family Night! Tuesday, March 30th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. For more information, please visit our book fair homepage.

Seeking PTA Officers for the 2010/2011 School Year

We are seeking volunteers to serve as 2010-2011 PTA Officers for Mathews Elementary. This opportunity is available to all PTA members! If you would like to be considered for a position or would like to nominate someone, please complete this form and return it to you child’s teacher no later than Friday, February 12, 2010.

January 2010

Lunch, Recess and Specials Schedule Available

The schedule for Lunch, Recess and Specials is now available on line!

September 2009

Our Book Fair is Coming!

Mathews will be hosting our annual Fall Book Fair Monday, October 5 through Friday, October 9. Don't forget our Family Night Tuesday, October 6th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. For more information, please visit our Book Fair web page.

August 2009

2009–2010 Communications Group

The Mathews PTA Communications Group has many publications you can use to get out your message. See the list of publications.

Reflections

The theme for 2009-2010 is “Beauty is…” The deadline for Reflections entries is Friday, October 30. It will be here before we know it. Entry forms and rules can be found at the Texas PTA Website. Contact if you have any questions or need assistance downloading the forms. Good luck to all!

Memorial Service for Michelle Freeman

Kirk and Whitney Freeman have planned a memorial service and celebration in honor of Michelle Freeman. The service is scheduled for this Saturday, August 8, at 6:30pm at their home in Prosper.

• Letter from Kirk and Whitney
• Directions to Memorial Service from Dallas North Tollway
• Directions to Memorial Service from Central Expressway

School Supplies for 2009–2010 School Year

• Kindergarten
• First Grade
• Second Grade
• Third Grade
• Fourth Grade
• Fifth Grade

May 2009

Mathews PTA goes GREEN 2009–2010

We will be sending emails to give you the latest information about what is going on at our school, how you can be involved and other information you may need to know. We hope you will join us in this project to save time, money, paper and improve our communications to you and your family.

April 2009

Updated Traffic Information

From Principal Ball:

Dear Parents,

We are continuing to see an increase in traffic and parking related issues along Marchman Way, Caravan Drive and other neighborhood streets. I have recently been notified by the City of Plano Police Department that efforts to enforce traffic and parking laws will be heightened in our neighborhood.

We encourage you to use the carpool and pick-up/drop-off on the south side of the building along Caravan Drive. This location is supervised for your child’s safety from 7:15 – 7:45 a.m. and 2:45 – 3:00 p.m.

The south entrance is open at 7:00 a.m. each day with supervision in the gym until 7:30 a.m. The front entrance is open at 7:30 a.m. with classes beginning at 7:45 a.m..

Thank you for your cooperation.

October 2008

Reflections Entries

The theme for Reflections 2008-2009 is WOW! Don’t forget the deadline for Reflections entries will be Wednesday, October 29th. Entry forms and rules can be downloaded here:

General Rules and Entry Form

• General Student Participation Rules
• General Student Participation Rules (Spanish)
• Student Entry Form

Specific Entry Type Rules

• Dance Choreography
• Film Production
• Literature
• Musical Composition
• Photography
• Visual Arts

Contact if you have any questions or need assistance downloading the forms. Good luck to all!

Yearbooks

Yearbook orders start on October 30th. Yearbooks will sell for $23.00. Order online or look for your order form with the Oct. 30th YOPack.

September 2008

Wild West Carnival!

Grab your cowboy hats and boots and get ready for some boot-scootin' fun! The Mathews Family Wild West Carnival is set for Saturday, October 25th from 4:00pm–8:00pm! Food, Games, Prizes, Inflatable Slide, Bounce House, Cake Walk, Silent Auction and more of your favorites! Stay tuned for more details!

We need YOU to make this a fun event. To volunteer for a one-hour shift, contact . Questions? Contact .

Fundraiser

Mathews Elementary is having a fundraiser! Beginning September 8, 2008 the students of Mathews will be selling Entertainment Passbooks and Sally Foster gift wrap products. The Entertainment Passbooks are $20 each and are full of coupons for great local bargains. There are coupons for Tom Thumb that are worth $20 alone! Check out the Sally Foster gift wrap catalog for lots of great products all priced under $20 each. All orders are due by September 25, 2008. Thank you for supporting Mathews Elementary!

April 2008

Field Day 2008

Mark your calendars for Friday, May 30! That's the date for our school-wide day of fun and games that everyone looks forward to: Field Day!

We are getting ready and would love to have lots of parent volunteers to help make this the best field day ever. To join our team of fun-makers, please contact the .

2008–2009 PTA Officers

Congratulations and a big thank you to our PTA Board for the 2008–2009 school year:

• Michele Will, President
• Barbara Wahl, First VP Programs
• Ruthanne Kern, Second VP Membership
• Liz Bender, Third VP Ways and Means
• Angela Richards, Fourth VP Volunteers
• Kim Murphy, Secretary
• Kim Slay, Treasurer

Election Bond Update

The Plano ISD Board of Trustees will present a $490 million bond package to voters on a May 10, 2008 election ballot. The approved proposal was recommended to trustees by the 08 Plano ISD Facilities and Technology Study Task Force.

March 2008

The Reading Road Trip Book Fair is coming soon!

Monday, March 10 to Friday, March 14 in the Mathews Library

Schedule:

• Monday, 7:45am–3:30pm
• Tuesday, 7:45am–3:30pm
• Wednesday, 7:45am–3:30pm
• Thursday, 7:45am–2:45pm and Family Night, 6:30pm–8:00pm
• Friday, 7:45am–12:00pm

February 2008

Environmental Awareness Contest

Mathews students are invited to participate in the Texas PTA’s Environmental Awareness Contest! This year’s theme is “What Can I Do?”

Deadline for entries is Monday, February 25th. Download an entry form (pdf) or get one in the Mathews Office.

Contact with any questions. Please turn all entries in to your teacher on or before February 25th.

January 2008

Do you want to experience Math as you never have before?

Please join Mathews PTA for an informative “Brown Bag Lunch” program presented by Lynn Swartzendruber, 3rd Grade and Jennifer Novak, 5th Grade on January 31, 2008.

The program will be presented in the PTA Family Center immediately following the PTA General Meeting. Please join us at 11:00 am for a short meeting and then stay for the program (be sure to bring your lunch).

The program will include tips for “Math on the Go”. This will include great ideas for parents to help their child with number sense and problem solving when they have a few odd minutes in the car or at the Doctor’s office. Also, look for important information on routine and non routine homework problem solving as well as a detailed look at our Elementary Math Curriculum.

“Do Math and You Can Do Anything”

December 2007

Get to Know Mathews' Faculty

Would you like to get to know the Mathews teaches and staff a little more but don't have the time to chat with them? Are you looking for ideas for teacher and staff gifts for occasions such as birthdays, holidays, teacher appreciation, etc.? If so, then please stop by the Mathews front office and look at the new Mathews Elementary School Teachers & Staff—About Me notebook. In it you will discover favorite things, interests and hobbies of our wonderful Mathews faculty! In addition, if you have not met certain teachers or staff, then you will be able to see pictures of their smiling faces! This notebook can be viewed in the office at any time. You can find it near the couch.

Mathews Choir Connection Winter Concert

The Mathews Choir Connection will put on their winter concert Thursday, December 13, at 7:00pm and Friday, December 14, at 8:00am.

PACE Referrals

Plano's Academic and Creative Education program (PACE) is now accepting referrals for students in grades K–5. The PACE program provides services for academically gifted and talented students in grades K–12 who have demonstrated need for advanced, differentiated instruction. Referral forms may be obtained from the classroom teacher or from the gifted specialist, Ms. Maschek.

Kindergarten referrals are due December 14, 2007. Testing will take place in January, 2008.

Referrals for grades 1–5 are due February 29, 2008. Testing will take place in March.

Please contact if you have questions.

October 2007

Literacy Program with Pat Antoniou

Please join Mathews PTA for an educational program provided by literacy specialist Pat Antoniou. Pat will be discussing and answering questions about MAP scores: what they mean, how you can help your child, reading levels and current resources available at Mathews that parents can check out. Thursday, Oct boer 18th at 9:00am (immediately following the PTA General Meeting) in the Mathews Cafeteria

September 2007

Newcomers Coffee

Mathews PTA and Principal Jane Ball warmly welcome all new families to Mathews Elementary.

Please join us for a Newcomers Coffee on Thursday, September 20, 2007, at 9:00am. Come enjoy refreshments and mingle with other parents new to Mathews. There will be a PTA General meeting before the coffee at 8:30am.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact .

New Lost and Found

Find your Maverick’s “Treasures” in the front office! Check out the new “Maverick Treasure Chest”—our new lost and found! We will be cleaning out all lost and found items at the end of each month and donating them to charity.

August 2007

Congratulations to our Mathews students and teachers

Mathews Elementary is a 2007 Texas Education and Business Council Honor Roll School!

Volunteers—We Need You!

Please complete the Volunteer Opportunities packet that you received on the first day of school and return it by September 10.

All volunteers need to complete their online registration and return their notary form to school.

When you volunteer don‘t forget to record your volunteer hours on a green volunteer time card—every hour counts!

Thanks for all you do for Mathews!

Volunteer Questions or Concerns? Contact: .

New Spirit Wear is Here!

The new Mathews Spirit Wear has arrived. This year‘s merchandise celebrates the 20th anniversary of Mathews Elementary. T-shirts sport cool new logos, fashionable colors and updated styles. In addition to offering water bottles and wrist bands, we have expanded our line to include coin pouches to hold ice cream money and bag tags to identify backpacks and lunch boxes.

This year‘s carnival is in October and a t-shirt reflecting the “Vintage Luau” theme is available now and will be available throughout the school year.

Spirit Wear will be on sale after school on Wednesday, August 29 and Friday, August 31, as well as at both “Back to School Nights” on August 30 and September 4.

Mathews Family Carnival: South Pacific Style!

Mark you calendars for October 6! Grab your surfboard and get ready for the Mathews Family Carnival on Saturday, October 6 from 4pm–8pm! Food, Games, Prizes, Inflatable Slide, Bounce House, Cake Walk, Silent Auction and more of your favorites! Stay tuned for more details!

We need YOU to make this a fun event. To volunteer for a one-hour shift, contact .

Questions? Contact Carnival Co-Chairmen, .

New Traffic Pattern

Please note that the pickup and dropoff traffic patterns have changed to accommodate construction progress:

• Carpool will return to the south side of the building.
• Students may enter through the gym hallway entrance between 7:00am and 7:30am.
• Front doors will open at 7:30am.
• All walkers will need to enter in the morning and exit in the afternoon through the front doors.
• The back fire lane gates will remain closed.

March 2007

Practical Parent Education Session

“I Can Handle It!” — Facing Up to Bullies — Thursday March 22, 2007, 9:00 a.m. …

Yearbook Orders

Yearbook order forms were distributed in YO Pack on March 15. Please return your completed form by March 23rd.

Kindergarten 2007–08 Information

The office is busy preparing for our 2007–08 Kindergarten Registration! Please mark your calendars and inform your neighbors of these very important dates.

Kindergarten Parent Information Night is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will be held in Mathews' Library and is intended to answer all questions and concerns that parents may have regarding their child's 2007–08 Kindergarten school year. Registration packets will be distributed at this time. If you cannot attend Parent Information Night, the registration packets will be available in the front office beginning Wednesday, March 21, 2007.

Kindergarten Round-up is registration day for children that will turn five (5) years of age by September 1, 2007. This year's Kindergarten Registration is scheduled for Thursday, March 29, 2007. It will be held in Mathews' front foyer (near the office entrance) from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Registration packets are to be completed and turned in at this time!

The following documents are required when registering your child:

• Proof of updated immunizations with doctor's signature or stamp
• Proof of residency (gas, water or electric bill with your name and address)
• Original birth certificate (with the state seal)
• Social Security Card (if your child has one)
• Picture identification of parent/guardian registering the student

If you have any questions, or need more information, call the Mathews' office at 469-752-2300 between 7:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.

January 2007

From the PISD website:
(January 17, 2007 - 6:20 a.m.) Plano schools are closed today due to inclement weather. All classes and activities are canceled.

Mathews Spirit Night at Main Event in Plano

Sunday, January 14, 2007 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.

Come for a night that will “bowl you over” with fun for the entire family! Join your Mathews' friends, families and faculty for fun as you bowl, play and eat together!

Tickets are only $12 each and include one hour of bowling, bowling shoes, a $10 video game card, 2 slices of pizza and a medium soft drink.

What a GREAT deal!!!

We only have a limited number of tickets, so please mark your calendars and don't forget!!

December 2006

Updates to New Traffic Pattern

Thank you for all your cooperation and support during our traffic changes! Just to keep perspective on traffic and times, Wednesday afternoon's last car came at 3:03, Thursday's last student in the morning was dropped off at 7:47. We appreciate your tolerance of a very brief traffic surge. We are continuing to make adjustments.

Please note the following change:

If you live North of campus - You are encouraged to use the fire lane (7:30-7:45) (2:45-3:00). Traffic is improving there each day. If you are picking up your child after school from the fire lane, remember to write your students' names on the new car tags. If you need to use the circle drive, there is now no left turn into the circle drive off of Marchman Way. You will need to proceed past Caravan, turn left on Langley, left on Lepage Place, and get in the carpool line heading West on Caravan.

Reminder: Parents and students should not be walking across the playground and field North of the building before and after school. This is for your safety since traffic is moving along the fire lane. Please use the sidewalk along Marchman Way and walk to the front of the building.

View full information on the new traffic pattern.

Thank you.

Renovation is Coming!

New Traffic Flow Starting December 13, 2006

Thank you in advance for your partnership in this project. We will get through this together and the end result will be worth any short term inconvenience! We are really excited about what the completion of this project will bring for our children. Construction will begin very shortly and is scheduled to continue in stages through Spring 2008. Due to our school renovation, there will be significant changes in traffic flow beginning Monday, December 18th. These changes are anticipated to remain in effect throughout the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year. Please read the changes closely as it will impact most student drop off and pick up procedures.

Any changes in afternoon pick-up should be communicated to teachers in writing prior to December 18th. All carpool students will still be held in the gym until dismissed.

Beginning, Monday, December 18th, families will have several options for their children in the morning and afternoon. These are:

1. PASAR (available after school only)
2. Daycare Buses (available after school only)
3. Front Door Walkers
4. Front Door Carpool
5. Back Door Carpool (NEW – Read on for explanation)

Here is a summary of each group.

1. PASAR — Students in PASAR after school will continue all current procedures. No changes are expected..
2. Daycare — Students in daycare after school will be picked up by the daycare buses on the West side of the building on Marchman Way North of the circle drive. Please Note – This area will be designated with city signs as daycare parking only. Other vehicles parked there may receive police citations.
3. Front Door Walkers — Students in Kindergarten and 1st grade will be exiting through the Kindergarten door near the front entrance. All other front door walkers will be released through the front door.
4. Front Door Carpool — Carpool students will be exiting through the front door. Cars will be routed West on Caravan (past current carpool entrance) to the stop sign and directed into the front circle drive for student drop off and pick up. Safety patrol will continue to be present in the mornings to help open doors. In the mornings, cars may also drop off along the sidewalk on the North side of Caravan West of the Marquee. Upon exiting the circle drive, all cars will be directed by city signs to make a left turn only on Marchman. Cars turning right out of the circle drive may receive police citations. Update (12/15/06): Please note there is no left turn into the circle drive off of Marchman Way. You will need to proceed past Caravan, turn left on Langley, left on Lepage Place, and get in the carpool line heading West on Caravan
5. Back Door Carpool — The fire lane behind the back of the school will be open mornings from 7:30 – 7:45 and afternoons from 2:40 – 3:00 for carpool. Traffic flow in the fire lane will be one way beginning at Marchman Way and ending at Caravan. Parents wishing to use this alternate route are encouraged to pull to the right for drop off near the 3rd or 5th grade level doors. Cars may pass on the left. All cars must remain running. Unoccupied cars in the fire lane may receive police citations. Please communicate with your child which door you will be waiting at (This location should remain the same for the entire spring semester).

Back Door Walkers — Students who usually walk out the back grade level doors (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th grades) will NOT be allowed to walk out those doors any more. Cars will be using the fire lane in the back of the school. This would be an unsafe walking exit. Instead, all walkers will be released through the front door (grades 2-5) or the Kindergarten door near the front entrance (grades K-1).

Note On Parking: School parking will be temporarily reduced in early spring due to construction. Limited parking may occur for a period of six to eight weeks. We apologize for any inconvenience caused during that time.

View a printable PDF version of map.

November 2006

Mathews' Environmental Week

November 13–17

“Don't throw it all away! Reuse or Recycle!”

Please consider donating the following items to help others and our environment!

• Monday: Children's books
  
• Tuesday: Old prescription eyeglasses
  
• Wednesday: Wire clothes hangers
  
• Thursday: Used shoes including cleats & adult athletic shoes
  
• Friday: Old cell phones & print cartridges
  

If you forget something on a particular day, please send it any day! Thanks for helping!

Texas PTA Environmental Awareness Contest: “Don't Mess with Texas”

The Texas PTA, in partnership with the Don't Mess With Texas Organization, wishes to extend an invitation to all students to participate in the 2006-2007 Environmental Awareness Contest.

Students are asked to develop photography, media art, print advertising, newspaper articles or a newsletter that reflects the “Don't Mess with Texas” theme.

Deadline for Mathews' entries is November 15. Click on Rules and Guidelines below for specific guidelines for grade levels and entries. The Official Entry Form must accompany all entries. Please contact the Environmental Programs Chairman with any questions. Good luck!

2006-2007 Texas PTA Environmental Awareness Contest Downloads:

• Rules and Guidelines
  
• Student Entry Form - PDF Format
  
• Student Entry Form - MS Word Format
  

September 2006

Reflections

Parents and students of Mathews Elementary:

The 2006-2007 Reflections Program has begun and the theme for this year is “My Favorite Place”.

All completed entries are due back to your child's teacher by October 31, 2006.

Forms can be downloaded below. Please contact the if you have any additional questions.

Good Luck to all!!

2006-2007 Reflections Program: My Favorite Place
Specific Rules for Each Arts Area
General Student Participation Rules
Official Entry Form

Get WILD for Books at The Reading Rain Forest!

Plan an adventure with your child to the Fall Scholastic Book Fair, September 25^th – 29^th. Start the week with our Family Night Event in the Mathews Gym from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, Sep. 25^th. Also, for an additional opportunity to visit with your child, look for a letter that will detail when your child's class attends during regular school hours.

Remember to send in those Box Tops you've been saving to your child's teacher during Book Fair Week. Your child will then have their name in a random drawing for a free book, and their classroom will benefit if they have the most labels by receiving $50 in new Book Fair materials. Another bonus for students is the “Read Three Books” coupon that will be coming home. It's redeemable at the Book Fair for $1.00 off a book. Also, please remember your teachers with a purchase from their “Wish List,” of buy them a gift certificate that will be used towards books for classroom reading centers. New to our Book Fair this year will be a charity program called “One for Books.” If you would like to make a donation to help buy books for Andrew Jackson Elementary School Library in Chalmette, LA, please make your donation at Family Night Event on Monday, Sep. 25^th 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Many public schools are still rebuilding their resources, affected by Hurricane Katrina, and we can help with our spare change. Scholastic will match us dollar-for-dollar to their charity of choice.

We need many helping hands to ensure a great experience for our children. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Book Fair chairpersons . Get your child WILD for books by choosing books together and begin building successful reading habits that will last a lifetime. See you at the Reading Rainforest!

Want to know what is going on at Mathews Elementary?

Sign up for Enews, a free service from PISD. Get district and school specific news. Just go to pisd.edu and click on Enews in the lower left corner of your screen. It will ask you to fill in a few sections with your email address, name and home address and you pick what schools you want Enews sent to you from. The Enews will come from the office at Mathews and will keep you up to date on early release days, student holidays, important announcements from the principal and staff, upcoming school events, reminders and more.

It is quick and easy so don't forget to sign up now!

Mathews Sock Hop Carnival

Get your poodle skirts and bowling shirts ready. The Sock Hop is September 16^th, from 4:00 - 8:00.

Tickets go on sale September 9^th through September 15^th. Buy your tickets early and save. Tickets are $.25 before September 16^th and $.30 the day of the Sock Hop.

Watch for ticket envelopes in your child's YO-Pack materials or purchase tickets after school at the Marchman door or in the car pool line from 2:20 – 2:40 p.m.

We have a great new food alternative this year, Mega Wraps, made to order sandwich wraps.

Tickets are good for food or sock hop events.

Carnival Volunteers

Be a part of one of the biggest events of the year! Volunteers are needed for Mathews “Sock Hop” Carnival scheduled for September 16. It's the volunteers that make the carnival so successful and fun for our kids. It is an easy and fun way to support Mathews! The following shifts are available:

• 3:50 – 5:00
• 5:00 – 6:00
• 6:00 – 7:00
• 7:00 – 8:00

Contact for more information.

August 2006

Picture Day!

School Pictures are going to be taken Wednesday, September 6. Mark your calendar & get your smile ready!

New to Mathews?

Mathews PTA and Principal Jane Ball warmly welcome all new families to Mathews Elementary.

Please join us for a Newcomers Coffee on Thursday, August 31, at 9:00 a.m. in the Mathews Family Center. Come enjoy refreshments and mingle with other parents new to Mathews. The first PTA General meeting of the year will precede the coffee at 8:30 a.m. in the same location. For more information, please contact .

PTA General Meeting

There will be a General PTA Meeting on Thursday, August 31, at 8:30 am in the Mathews Library. Q & A session with Principal Jane Ball and Assistant Principal Kevin Kennedy. The Newcomers Coffee in the Mathews Family Center will follow the meeting.

Passbooks Now On Sale!

The last day for the Entertainment® book fundraising sale is Thursday, August 24. Out-of-town family and friends can help by purchasing an Entertainment® book for their area on-line.

Go to the Seller's Section at http://www.fundraising.entertainment.com to sign up for the email program. Our school earns profit on online sales too. You'll need our school's account number, 627689, and you're on your way.

Voluntary Standardized Dress

Mathews Mavs have a uniform look this year. A committee of parents, staff and administrators considered parental feedback and other factors in recommending voluntary standardized dress for the 2006-2007 school year. The goal is to foster a strong sense of community. PISD dress code standards will still apply.

The optional standardized dress includes navy or khaki pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, capris and jumpers with red, navy, or white collared shirts, turtlenecks, sweatshirts or sweaters.

Spirit wear and jeans can be worn on Friday. Standardized dress clothes may be purchased at many retailers online or in local stores.