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4130 Albemarle St. NW
Washington, DC 20016
202-282-0110
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| Calendar
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Tuesday, May 13
PTA meeting, 7:15 pm, Janney multipurpose room
Friday, May 16
NO SCHOOL:
Conferences
Editors
Gretchen Cheney
Jenny Kletzin DiBiase
Elizabeth Levenson
Karen Mandel Muoio
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A Note from Your PTA Co-Presidents
Tonight's PTA meeting will be action-packed. Please come to the multipurpose room at 7:15 pm. Babysitting will be provided in Ms. Waters classroom.
We will vote on a slate for the PTA Executive Board for next year. The proposed candidates are:
Rennie Anderson, co-president - Rennie is the parent of three children, two currently at Janney. Caleb is in Kindergarten and Tala in 2nd grade. She has been on the PTA board this year as vice president, she has been co-chair of Auction Solicitations for the last two years, and she is an active room parent.
Lucy Smiles, co-president - Lucy is the parent of three children, two at Janney. Charlie is in Kindergarten and Georgia is in 2nd grade. She has been co-chair of the Auction Solicitations committee for the last two years and is an active room parent.
Scott Cheney, co-president-elect - Scott is the parent of two children: Ryan at Janney in Kindergarten and Ella at Saint Columba's. He is active on the PTA Advocacy Committee.
Jonathan McHugh, co-president-elect - Jonathan is the parent of two children: Conor at Janney in Kindergarten and Amanda on the wait-list for Pre-K. He is an active room parent and is also on the Board of Friends of Friendship Park.
Gerry Gretschel, co-treasurer - Gerry is the parent of three children, two currently at Janney. Isabel is in Kindergarten and Jack is in 2nd grade. She is an active room parent and co-chaired the Advertising Committee this year.
Dan Rosenthal, co-treasurer - Dan is the parent of two children, Lucy in Pre-K and Ethan in 2nd grade. Dan was the chair of the PTA Audit Committee.
Elizabeth Levenson, co-secretary - Elizabeth is the parent of two children, Lucy in kindergarten and Sammy in 3rd grade. She has been an editor of the newsletter for the past three years and was co-chair of the Yearbook Committee this year.
Sharon Masling, co-secretary - Sharon is the parent of two children, Hannah in kindergarten and Sam in 3rd grade. She is the co-chair of the PTA Open House Committee.
We will also be voting on the amended PTA bylaws change, the governing document for our organization. The PTA bylaws were written more than 15 years ago, and desperately need an overhaul to bring them up to date. The Executive Committee has proposed draft PTA bylaws, which you can pick up from the PTA general inbox in the school office or read on the Janney PTA website by clicking on "Draft Amendments to Janney PTA Bylaws." We will vote on the proposed amendments to the PTA bylaws at the next PTA meeting; any change to the bylaws requires two-thirds of the members in attendance to vote to support the changes. Here is a summary of some of the most critical changes that have been proposed:
* correcting the membership and dues provisions, which were outdated
* requiring the publication of the minutes of PTA Membership meetings and PTA Executive Board meetings
* creating an expectation that the vice-president would assume the presidency after one year
* changing the requirement that past presidents serve two years after the presidency to one year
* cutting down on general membership meetings to a minimum of quarterly meetings each year
* detailing financial procedures that govern budget preparation and changes to the budget
* incorporating an annual audit into the PTA bylaws
We will be proposing a PTA budget for 2008-2009.
The PTA also asked for and received a great deal of helpful feedback on our fundraising efforts and budget. As of this writing, no one has stepped forward to chair our largest fundraiser, the auction. One major proposed change in the budget would be the elimination of the auction as a line item, to be replaced with a Fundraising Committee. The Fundraising Committee would have the responsibility for determining the PTA's 2009 fundraiser or fundraisers. The success of the proposed budget will be determined in large part by the success, enthusiasm, and innovations of this Fundraising Committee. If you are interested in raising the money in the budget that goes to library books, teaching materials, custodial services, a new soccer field, technology for teachers, furniture, and equipment, please contact us. We will need a great deal of help as we try something new!
We hope to see you tonight!
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Janney Band Spring Concert and Ice Cream Social
You are invited to the Janney Band's Spring Concert and Ice Cream Social. Please join us in the Janney gym on Wednesday, May 14, 7:00-8:30 pm. RSVP to sscrogg@american.edu.
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Janney Yearbook on Sale This Week!
The 2007-2008 school year will soon draw to a close, and the Janney yearbook will help you remember all the fun we had! Look for a yearbook sales table starting this Thursday, May 15. (We'll continue sales the following week too.) Or fill out the order form in today's Take Home Tuesday packet and put it in the box in the front office, and your yearbook will be sent home in your child's backpack. Each yearbook is $20; make checks payable to "Janney PTA."
We want to thank the many people who helped to produce this year's book: Will Connor spent countless hours producing a beautiful photo for the cover; Lee Coykendall and Cathy Sledz put together the 6th grade section; Randy Colaizzi provided us with photos of the K-1 Notebusters and from Damn Yankees; Lisa Wackler and Carol Piwowarski ensured that all students and staff had their pictures taken on the scheduled days; and Dianne Torresen supplied the lists of student names.
The following parents created their classroom's collage page: Allie Hajian, Jill Cork, Kelly Lee, Gerry Gretschel, Allison Scuriatti, Eva Anifantis, Kindra Tully, Kim Curtis, Elizabeth Workman, Jenny DiBiase, Maren Siegel, Betsy Wiramidjaja, Catherine Leape, Denise Grimsman, Leslie Page, Malin Kerwin, Dianne Bock, Suzanne Koffsky, Lilly Abbey, and Amy Thompson. And thanks to Mr. Cartland and all of the teachers for their patience and assistance on Club Photo Day.
--Karen Garman and Elizabeth Levenson
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Counselor's Corner
Good Touch/Bad Touch
Permission slips for Good Touch/Bad Touch will be coming home in the Take Home Tuesday envelope for all students in Pre-K, K, 2nd, and 4th grades. Good Touch/Bad Touch is a body protection program and a child sexual abuse prevention program that has been has been validated as effective by professionals from a major university and is being used in over 18 states. There will be a parent information program this Thursday, May 15, at 8:50 am in the multipurpose room for all interested parents.
"10 Who Are 10"
Congratulations to Annie Rosenthal (5-B) who won a $2,500 college scholarship for her entry in the "10 Who Are 10" competition sponsored by JW Marriott. Annie and the other 9 ten-year-olds who won this year will be honored at a luncheon with Mayor Fenty and Chancellor Rhee on May 19. Annie's winning poem, "I am Helen Keller," will be read at the luncheon.
Theme of the Month
Our final theme of the month this year is "Moral Courage." Our 6th graders have found wonderful examples of moral courage, which are displayed in their writing and artwork on the first floor. Please stop by and read some of their examples.
Transportation Applications
Transportation applications for next school year are now available. If you currently have a student pass, or if you are interested in getting one for next year, please see Mrs. Leventhal, or contact her at maureen.leventhal@dc.gov.
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Thank You Letter from Kenya
 Jeni Klugman passes along this letter received from Anne Moore thanking Janney for the books collected during the recent Book Drive:
"I am writing to thank you and the children at Janney Elementary School for collecting up the books for our libraries here in Kenya!!! Thank you SOOOO much!!! All of our libraries are located in the poorest areas of Kenya: in the slum areas of Nairobi, and our first rural centre in Sipili, Laikipia West. The children in these areas cannot afford to buy books, and often have never handled a book other than a very tatty old school book before. You should see their faces when they look at a picture book or read from a story book, or find information from an information book!! It is wonderful...and you all have made it possible!!"
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This Week in the Lost & Found
7 heavy winter jackets
1 jacket hood
9 thin jackets/windbreakers
2 rain slickers
10 fleece tops
4 jean jackets
2 cardigan sweaters
17 sweatshirts
5 t-shirts
10 long-sleeved shirts
1 vest
1 tank top
1 pair of jeans
1 pair of cleats
1 pair of shin guards
5 lunchboxes
2 water bottles
assorted lunch containers
2 backpacks
2 umbrellas
10 baseball caps
5 sun hats
1 wool hat
1 wool scarf
2 unmatched gloves
1 pair sunglasses
assorted small toys
3 paperback books
Please stop by the Lost & Found in the first floor hallway to see if your child is missing anything! Contact us with any questions or concerns.
The Lost and Found Committee
Sally Juram, 202-686-5302 or philsal@verizon.net
Lisa Jacobson, 202-363-4127
Lucy Smiles, lucysmiles99@yahoo.com
School Counselor Ms. Leventhal
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In the Neighborhood
Turtle Park May Fair This SaturdayPlease come to the 11th Annual May Fair at Turtle Park at 45th and Van Ness Street, this Saturday, May 17, from 10-4. May Fair is Turtle Park's biggest event of the year, with pony rides, moon bounces, games, food, and entertainment. This annual event is a community favorite and Turtle Park's only major fundraising effort. Funds raised support park maintenance, improvements, and free events throughout the year. Entertainment schedule: 11:00 Singer Marsha Goodman-Wood 12:30 Singer John Henry English 3:00 Bolivian Dance Troupe Alma Boliviana We are still in need of volunteers. If you have an hour or two to spare on Saturday, or if you have questions about May Fair, please contact Karen Harris at karenh@gmail.com. HoopEd Mini-Camp This FridayFriday, May 16, is a holiday for all DC public school students. Don't waste the day! Join HoopEd for a one-day mini-camp. We have locations at the Jelleff Boys and Girls Club in Georgetown and at Lafayette ES. Camp is for boys and girls grades K-6 and runs from 9 am-3 pm. To register or for more information, go to www.hoopeducation.com or call 202-431-9780.
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 Safety Patrol Tip of the Week
Parents: Never allow your child to exit the car into traffic rather than on the sidewalk side of the car.
-Adam Pomeranz, 1st Lieutenant
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 Principal's Letter
To the Janney Community:
Don't forget that there is no school this Friday due to parent-teacher conferences. Conference sign-up sheets are in the main hall.
Congratulations to Lily Gasperetti and Charlie Williamson for holding their own at the National Scholastic Scrabble Tournament. The kids had their picture taken by an AP photographer and have now become the face of Scrabble around the country! The Washington Post will also be doing a story on their trip in the next week or two.
Please try to attend the PTA meeting tonight at 7:15 in the school gym. There are a number of important items on the agenda including a first look at next year's budget, ratifying the slate of officers for next year, and amending the bylaws. Plus, there's air conditioning in the gym so everyone will be very comfortable!
The Janney Band has their spring concert and ice cream social Wednesday, May 14, at 7:00 pm in the auditorium. Obviously if your child is in the band, you don't have a choice of going or not, but attending a concert is a great idea for those of you with younger children who want to spur a little interest (an ice cream sundae doesn't hurt as incentive either).
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
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Contributing to the E-Newsletter
Submissions to the PTA newsletter may be emailed to Janneynewsletter@yahoo.com.
The deadline for submissions is Thursday at 3:15 pm. Because the newsletter is reviewed by several individuals before distribution, we must adhere to this deadline in order to get the newsletter to you every week on time.
Please make every effort to submit your notices by email for the electronic newsletter. Include all text in the body of your email (rather than as an attachment). Small jpeg thumbnails may be attached and can be included in the newsletter. All links or email addresses will be made active (clickable).
Prepared fliers should be turned into the school office by COB Monday for inclusion in the regular Take Home Tuesday envelope.
We will run notices about community or other non-Janney events as space permits. It is the PTA's policy not to carry for-profit advertisements or classifieds. Thank you for your cooperation.
The Editors
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