Following are announcements that are still current but have been repeated in Ravensworth's Weekly Update emails:

AMAZON.COM:  Speaking of matching gifts, the PTA has a new very simple fundraiser through Amazon.com. Click here to go directly to the Amazon.com home page where you can order as usual, and Ravensworth PTA will receive between 3 and 4% of your purchase price in cash!  Nothing changes for you or your ordering, in fact if Amazon knows you, they still will… it’s all just the same as what you usually do… and the PTA gets a little cash!

BINGO!:  Bingo Night is scheduled for Friday, November 7th from 7-8:30 pm in the cafeteria. If you would like to help, please email Donna Dominick.  Thank you, Donna for coordinating this event!

BOX TOPS:  Continue clipping your box tops!  They are on many products you already have in your home like Kleenex, General Mills, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Huggies, Ziploc and many others.  Collect them over the next month and send them into the school by Friday, October 17th.  There is a collection box in the school lobby.  This only takes a few seconds here and there to cut and neatly trim your box tops and send them to school. Each is worth $.10 which quickly adds up when 500 students collect them.  Ask friends and family to collect them, too!  We send in the box tops and they send the school a check.  It is like FREE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL, so keep clipping.  The second submission will be in February.  This year’s goal is to collect $1,500 from the box tops program. Click here for more information and opportunities to help our school.
     We also participate in Tyson Chicken’s Project A+ program.  Send in the portion of the bag or box with the Project A+ information and it is worth $.24 per label for our school. Click here for more information.

CALENDARS FOR KINDERS:  Our wonderful kindergarten teachers have asked that we all please save any unwanted 2009 calendars that come our way.  The kinder crowd will use them for a variety of purposes in the coming year.  Please send them in with your children to be sent to the front office.  On behalf of Mrs. McAnallen and Mrs. Moncrieff, thank you!

CHESS CLUB: 
Children who sign up for chess club should already know the basic rules of how to play and how the pieces move. To register please email your child's name and grade, your contact information (email address, phone numbers) and mail a check for $60.00 to
Patricia Salinas
4204 Old Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
Meetings will be held about twice a month on Fridays from 3:15pm to 4:30pm.  The registration fee covers the coaching fee plus materials for the whole year.  For more information please email Patricia Salinas.
 
CUB SCOUTS: Calling All 1-5 Grade Boys.  Now is the time to join Cub Scout Pack 991 here at Ravensworth ES.  Our first Pack Meeting and Join Scouting Night will be Monday, September 22, from 7 to 8 pm in the school cafeteria. Come to check out the fun, or to join up with all your friends.  Cub Scouting includes a variety of activities that boys love to do.  If you have any questions please contact our Cubmaster, Bill Mitchell at 703-321-8072, or mitchwt@cox.net, or Recruit Lead, Karen Aftergut at 703-321-8703.

FCPS BUDGET UPDATE:  Next year’s budget is projected to be short at least $223 million.  No program will be untouched:  class sizes will likely increase again, full-day kindergarten is likely off the table for consideration at any more schools (like Ravensworth), and the SB is even considering a one-day furlough for staff.   Click here for some background information compiled by the Braddock District Coalition.  Click here to see the Superintendent's tiered proposal to reduce spending.   Email your School Board representative asking the SB to prioritize what’s important to you:  class size?  special ed?  summer school?  ESOL?  Step increases for teachers?   Email Amy Ryder for more information!

GIANT CARD: It is not too late to register your card!   Click here to register your Giant card.  Cards must be registered each fall.

GIRLS ON THE RUN:  Ravensworth is now one of 150 sites in Northern VA participating in this new nationwide program.  GOTR is made up of 20 girls per team in grades 3-6.  In addition to training for a 5K race on Dec 6th the girls will work on healthy habits, positive attitudes and encouraging each other.    Fall season runs (pardon the pun!) until early December with spring season running March to late May.  We had such interest that teams for fall and spring are full. Click here for more info or to become a coach/volunteer, or email Rachel Sachetti.

GRACE ART:  If you would like to help please email Sarah Shannon.  If you haven’t had the chance to experience Grace Art yet, please give it a try.  No commitment or art knowledge necessary (believe me, I’m the total humanities ignoramus.  Or at least I was prior to Grace Art entering my life!)  Grace Art brings art and artists into each child’s classroom five times throughout the school year.  The kids learn something about the artist or style of art and do a project related to the lesson.  Please consider participating in this amazing program  Questions?  Email  Susan Eggerton.
Here are the dates for Grace Art planning meetings:

Thursday, October 30 for Kandinsky
Thursday, January 8 for Grandma Moses
Thursday, February 5 for Horses in Art
Thursday, March 5 for Japanese Art

GROW TEAM:  The GROW Team has been busy!  We've been recruiting replacements, working with the boy scouts, and getting certified (not ‘cause we are crazy!).   In the meantime the two of the three primary volunteer positions have been filled.  If you would like to learn more about GROW, email Eileen Staron.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO JOIN THE PTA!:   Your membership contributions help fund programs that enrich our children's lives.  Just a few examples are:  Take Home Reading, GRACE Art, and Family Fun nights.  The PTA has also purchased LCD projectors, digital cameras, math and science manipulatives and other educational equipment - all thanks to the generosity of our members.  Membership dues are $10.00 and membership envelopes are available in the school office.  If you are unable to stop by the office, please email Sally McColl or call 703-644-4611 and she'll make sure an envelope is sent home with your child.  Thank you to the hundreds of parents who have already joined!

SAVE CLUB:  Did you know that Ravensworth is starting a new organization promoting environmental awareness?  SAVE (Students Against Violating Earth) is a club for 4-6th graders that meets about once a month.  The first effort they will be undertaking will be collecting seeds for plants indigenous to our region.  Watch for details, email Ms Fortenberry or Ms Simms, and click here for more information.

SPIRIT WEAR:  Click here to see our new 2008 spirit wear designs!  Return form and check to homeroom teacher.  Order will come via homeroom teacher.

VERIZON MATCHING GRANT: Thank you to Verizon and a very generous parent at Ravensworth.  Verizon has a matching grant in line for any employee who donates money to our PTA.  The paperwork is easy and the benefits to us are fabulous!  If there are any other corporations out there (for instance I hear that Exxon Mobile has a grant for volunteers in the school where they will pay the school for employee volunteer time) that have matching grants, we certainly appreciate parents making your gifts go further.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:  Please remember to fill out and return the volunteer sheet that came home in the welcome packets.  
The PTA has openings in the following positions for the 2008-09 school year.
*Grow Team Co-coordinator:  One position taken, two remaining.  Email Eileen for questions or details. 
*Magnet Art Coordinator: Spring fun fundraiser!  Children’s art projects sent to company for production to various gifts ie T-shirts, mugs, calendars.
*Spring Dance Coordinator: Notes and previous coordinator available for help.
*Summer Reading Program Coordinator
*PTA Executive Board Parliamentarian:  For information regarding any of these opportunities please email Susan Merrill.
*Welcome Desk:  8:35-9:00 one morning per week greeting tardy children and volunteers at the front door.