Happy holidays, Westowne community! Enjoy the break with your families and friends. We'll resume weekly newsletters after school starts again in 2015.
PTA News
Cookies & Cards
Thanks to everyone who made cookies and candies for the teachers and staff this week. The goodies flew off the table and were greatly appreciated. Get in on round two on Monday, the 22nd, by bringing in your own favorite holiday treats. Drop off baked goods by 10:00 that morning so we can set them up in the lounge.
You can also send in holiday cards for the teachers and staff from your families to help us decorate the teachers' lounge. Cards can be sent in your children's folders in envelopes addressed to the PTA.
While you're at it, also consider giving cookies and cards to your bus drivers and our ever present crossing guard, Ms. Bev.
Teachers' Educational Supplies Fund
Support the effort to reimburse every teacher at Westowne $50 for their out of pocket school expenses by contributing to the Teachers' Educational Supplies Fund. Your tax deductible donations to the PTA can go even further right now. A parent-owned company has offered to match up to $2000 in donations made by the end of the year.
So far, five families have contributed a total $120. Thanks to their generosity, the fund will receive $240. If you or your Westowne family-owned company would like to make a donation, now is a great time to support our teachers.
Where Your Money Goes
Here are some of our recent expenses:
Make a New Year's resolution to be more involved. Here's how:
Once again, a huge thank you to everyone who helped make Holiday Shoppe such a great experience. This event is our largest single fundraiser and aims to be an enjoyable and memorable event for students. Holiday Shoppe raised about $4300, which is just in time for upcoming field trips, another assembly, and Literature Night.
Restaurant Night
Grab a meal at Grilled Cheese & Co. any Thursday in January after New Year's Day. Visit once; visit weekly. Get lunch or dinner. Dine in or carry out. Just mention Westowne PTA. The more business we bring in, the more Grilled Cheese & Co. will donate to our school.
Market Day
Place your Market Day order by Wednesday, December 31st. Perhaps try the Roasted Vegetable Manicotti or the Turkey and Cheese Pretzel Sandwiches. Use our account number (8132) for online orders. Pick-up is scheduled for Wednesday, January 7th from 6:00 - 7:00 in the cafeteria.
School News
Free Microsoft Office Software
Students, their families, and school staff can access the Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus suite for their personal computers, tablets, iPads, iPhones, and Android devices free of charge. This program helps support the BCPS 1:1 digital conversion initiative known as S.T.A.T. If you need help accessing this program, contact our technology liaisons, Mrs. Singer and Ms. Getsinger.
Facilities Plan
BCPS has just released this facilities plan, which includes the status of the Southwest area elementary school projects, including the new building for Westowne.
Community News
Holiday Train Gardens
The Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department hosts its annual Holiday Train Garden.
The Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department also features a Train Garden and neighborhood visits from Santa.
The Shops at Kenilworth has model trains and animated characters.
See the websites for dates and times.
Holiday Lights
The Symphony of Lights in Columbia
Valley View Farms in Cockeysville
Hampden's Miracle on 34th Street
The Daniels-Almand home at 5034 Durham Road East in Columbia
PTA News
Cookies & Cards
Thanks to everyone who made cookies and candies for the teachers and staff this week. The goodies flew off the table and were greatly appreciated. Get in on round two on Monday, the 22nd, by bringing in your own favorite holiday treats. Drop off baked goods by 10:00 that morning so we can set them up in the lounge.
You can also send in holiday cards for the teachers and staff from your families to help us decorate the teachers' lounge. Cards can be sent in your children's folders in envelopes addressed to the PTA.
While you're at it, also consider giving cookies and cards to your bus drivers and our ever present crossing guard, Ms. Bev.
Teachers' Educational Supplies Fund
Support the effort to reimburse every teacher at Westowne $50 for their out of pocket school expenses by contributing to the Teachers' Educational Supplies Fund. Your tax deductible donations to the PTA can go even further right now. A parent-owned company has offered to match up to $2000 in donations made by the end of the year.
So far, five families have contributed a total $120. Thanks to their generosity, the fund will receive $240. If you or your Westowne family-owned company would like to make a donation, now is a great time to support our teachers.
Where Your Money Goes
Here are some of our recent expenses:
- $448 for the kindergarten field trip to the B&O Museum ($4 per student)
- $252.95 for salad tables for the school's green initiatives: lettuce grown earlier in the year was made into salads by the kids for the teachers.
- $31.68 for clothes and underwear for the nurse to give out for spills and accidents
Make a New Year's resolution to be more involved. Here's how:
- Literature Night Committee - We need lots of creative, crafty volunteers for this March celebration of books, reading, and learning.
- Mother's Day Plant Sale Coordinator - Help the students honor their mothers by coordinating this at-cost program.
- SchoolKidz Coordinator - Collect the orders for student school supplies at the end of the school year and supervise the delivery in August.
Once again, a huge thank you to everyone who helped make Holiday Shoppe such a great experience. This event is our largest single fundraiser and aims to be an enjoyable and memorable event for students. Holiday Shoppe raised about $4300, which is just in time for upcoming field trips, another assembly, and Literature Night.
Restaurant Night
Grab a meal at Grilled Cheese & Co. any Thursday in January after New Year's Day. Visit once; visit weekly. Get lunch or dinner. Dine in or carry out. Just mention Westowne PTA. The more business we bring in, the more Grilled Cheese & Co. will donate to our school.
Market Day
Place your Market Day order by Wednesday, December 31st. Perhaps try the Roasted Vegetable Manicotti or the Turkey and Cheese Pretzel Sandwiches. Use our account number (8132) for online orders. Pick-up is scheduled for Wednesday, January 7th from 6:00 - 7:00 in the cafeteria.
School News
Free Microsoft Office Software
Students, their families, and school staff can access the Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus suite for their personal computers, tablets, iPads, iPhones, and Android devices free of charge. This program helps support the BCPS 1:1 digital conversion initiative known as S.T.A.T. If you need help accessing this program, contact our technology liaisons, Mrs. Singer and Ms. Getsinger.
Facilities Plan
BCPS has just released this facilities plan, which includes the status of the Southwest area elementary school projects, including the new building for Westowne.
Community News
Holiday Train Gardens
The Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department hosts its annual Holiday Train Garden.
The Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department also features a Train Garden and neighborhood visits from Santa.
The Shops at Kenilworth has model trains and animated characters.
See the websites for dates and times.
Holiday Lights
The Symphony of Lights in Columbia
Valley View Farms in Cockeysville
Hampden's Miracle on 34th Street
The Daniels-Almand home at 5034 Durham Road East in Columbia
RSS Feed
