HVNA

Thank you to parents, children, teachers, staff and our neighborhood for a wonderful completion of the fall semester at John Muir. Your PTA continued to rally to provide support for your neighborhood’s children, as we work to create a positive learning environment. Here’s what we’ve accomplished for our kids:

December 7 Parent Dinner - $500 Congratulations, parents! Fantastic home-cooked tamale dinner! Completely organized and run by our families.
$5000 grant received from PG&E -5th grade teacher Ms. Cogley was awarded this grant to teach our children how to use a solar cooker (without electricity!). PTA VP and grant writer Kim Knox assisted Ms. Cogley in applying.
$250 Adopt a Classroom - from the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Assn. Thank you. We'd love to have other neighbors adopt a classroom. The funds will be used for field trip buses and expenses to give our kids experiences outside our neighborhood. Donate what you can- your contribution is tax-deductible.
$500 in neighborhood fundraising - thank you!

The first class series will start on January 14, 2008 and end on March 13, 2008. The second series will start on March 14, 2008 and end on May 13, 2008. All classes will be held at John Muir Elementary School in Room 18 on the third floor, every Monday and Wednesday (except holidays) from 6:30-8 pm. Space is limited so please encourage those who may be interested to pick up an application as soon as possible. For more information, you can contact Maysha Jackson, Program Coordinator at (415) 793-5008 or Marco Diaz, Site Coordinator at (415) 749-2715.

John Muir Elementary PTA will be one of three schools statewide to participate in a Department of Conservation effort to encourage children and their families to recycle glass and plastic bottles as a fundraiser for their school and a composting effort in the cafeteria. One of our supporting foundations, Tzu Chi Foundation, has a contributor who will match every dollar that is raised from recycling. We hope to teach our kids that trash isn't just garbage. Trash can be useful and raise money! If you have bottles or cans to donate, please contact PTA President Gail Baugh at 265-0546.

Each year, the PTA nationwide sponsors an art contest, called Reflections. John Muir submitted two literature winners from our school to the District PTA contest. Madeline Behrens-Brigham and Russell Pritchard were the neighborhood artists who helped judge the entries. This is the first year that John Muir ES has participated in this local, state & national contest. The winners will have their entries published in a book of all local entries. Congratulations to our kids!