2013-14 Draper PTA Information

7/27/2013

Volunteers
     Welcome Draper Elementary Parents!
      Let’s work together as a team to make this year great for our students. Focused on this year's theme of "Team Draper," the PTA encourages all parents to volunteer at least three hours this school year (PTA Three for Me).
     To sign-up to volunteer in your child’s class/grade, please click-on the link for your child’s grade below. There are also opportunities to volunteer for events for the whole school, watch for those sign-ups throughout the year or contact PTA President Kerri Brown at draperelementarypta@gmail.com to get more involved!  Make this your year to volunteer!


Join PTA
     Do you want to make a difference at Draper Elementary?  Become a member of our PTA! 
Membership costs $6 per person.  The membership fee is used to support PTA programs at the school.  This year’s Draper PTA theme is “Team Draper.”  Together Everyone Achieves More. 
We want each parent to feel like you are part of our Draper team.  By joining you can have a voice, be an advocate for the children at our school, be involved and get to know parents and staff.  PTA members also get local discounts on events such as Jazz games, Bees games, Real Salt Lake games, Disney on Ice and more.  Visit  www.utahpta.org/come-play-events to view all discounts.  The national benefits to take advantage of include a  14% monthly discount from T-Mobile, 20% discount at HERTZ,  Sharp discounts and more.  Go to www.pta.org/members click on member benefits providers.  We will have membership tables set up at various events, starting on Aug. 16 at Meet the Teacher Day.

Spirit Wear
The PTA will be selling Draper Dragon T-shirts at Meet the Teacher Day on Aug. 16 as well as Curriculum Night on Aug. 29. School T-shirts are a great way for our students to show their school spirit at events such as Spirit Day, the fun run, field trips, and grade-level programs.  We will have a variety of sizes at the beginning of school for purchase.  We encourage students to wear Spirit Wear or school colors (blue, gray, white and yellow) any Friday during the school year.


Stay Informed
You can also follow us on Twitter, “like” us on Facebook or subscribe to our newsletter blog at draperelementary.blogspot.com. We update social media on a frequent basis.  The PTA monthly newsletter will be emailed to parents the first week of each month.  We also post it on the blog and on Facebook.


Meet the Teachers

Parents and students are invited to “Meet the Teachers” on Friday, Aug. 16, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the school.  We hope this will give students the chance to see who their teacher is as well as see who is in their in class. Our PTA will have school T-shirts for sale as well as sign-up lists for PTA membership and classroom volunteers.




Bus Route Changes
In addition to a few boundary changes,  Draper Elementary also has some changes this school year in bus routes. Parents can look up their address and find out if their student is eligible for busing by clicking here



Reflections
The theme for PTA’s 2013–14 Reflections art program is Believe, Dream, Inspire.  Students can submit entries in the following categories: Visual Art, Music, Dance, Film, and 3-D Art, and Photography.  The Reflections program fosters self-exploration, encourages creative thinking and problem-solving, and promotes the exploration of arts and culture in the home, school and community. For more information visit the Utah PTA website at  www.utahpta.org/reflections.  Reflections entries are due Oct. 15.  It’s not too early to get started on entries. Laura Branch is coordinating the program this year.

PTA Volunteers Needed
If you are interested in being part of the PTA and helping with various activities please contact PTA President Kerri Brown at draperelementarypta@gmail.com. Our PTA is still in need of volunteers to assist with the following:
-          Art Through the Ages bulletin board (updated before each art unit begins)
-          PTA information board (update throughout the school year)
-          Red Ribbon Week chair

Yearly Fundraiser
     Each year, the PTA sponsors one fundraiser during the year.  Our Fun Run, renamed this year  the Dragon Dash, will be held Friday, Sept. 20.  It begins at 9 a.m. and parents are welcome to run/walk with their children.  More information will be sent home with students.  The funds raised are used to address additional academic needs, technology, field trips, Dads & Donuts, Teacher Appreciation, literacy, fitness and art programs.
     In addition to our yearly fundraiser, we also encourage parents to save their Boxtops, soup labels for education, used printer cartridges, and receipts from Fresh Market.  All can be turned in to the school and we receive donations for those items.  There is a Fresh Market receipt box located in the main hallway of the school.

Art Through the Ages
     Throughout the year, your students will be introduced to different periods of art through a program called “Art Through the Ages” (ATTA).  The philosophy of  Art Through the Ages is simply that kids learn best when they do.  The unique way in which this program is presented allows students to interact with and become invested in history and art.  Each art project is grounded by the subjects and materials of the time. This year's four art sections will include: Dark Ages/Age of Faith, Medieval Age, Renaissance Age, and Baroque and Rococo Ages.
     The objective of Art Through the Ages is to not only educate about art, artists, and art concepts, but where and why the art existed. That is, it’s not enough to talk about van Gogh, but why at this specific moment in time van Gogh could do what van Gogh did.  What was unique to the development of society that enabled certain people to break out of the artistic norms?  Art Through the Ages attempts to answer the question, How did the evolution of art mirror or impact the evolution of society?
     Art Through the Ages participants discover and experiment with historical problems and solutions.  In this way, they get to experience history and become invested in what really happened.   Art Through the Ages recognizes that information stays with students when they recall (The Bridge), learn (The Fence), and show comprehension by applying and analyzing their knowledge (Let Them Roam).
     Volunteers:  Parent volunteers make this program successful!  Please consider volunteering in your child’s classroom sometime this year.  For information on each Art Through the Ages throughout the year, visit the ATTA blog at artthroughtheagesblog.blogspot.com. 
      
2013-14 PTA Executive Board
President:  Kerri Brown
President-Elect:  JoAnna Meyer
Secretary:  Melinda Colton
Treasurer:  Cori Yeomans
Legislative Vice President:  Kamie Brown
Membership Vice President:  Becky Alder
Teacher Representative:  Monica Lewis
School Administrator:  Principal Piper Riddle