Yearbooks still available

Allen 2011-12 Memory Books are still available online at www.schoolpictures.com until Friday, Feb. 17.  Parent Council will continue to accept handwritten orders with order forms available in the school office extended until March 2.  Checks should be made out to Allen Parent Council. 

Excellent opportunity for students and parents

The Gaming and Internet Trap”—speaker Kevin Roberts, author of Cyber Junkie: Escape the Internet and Gaming Trap.

Thursday, March 1, 2012 from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Burns Park Elementary School, 1414 Wells (auditorium)

Kevin Roberts, M.A., a University of Michigan and Antioch University graduate, is an educator, comedian, coach and author.  Students and families are encouraged to attend for an entertaining and informative perspective on gaming and cyberspace. Learn about internet safety and how to prevent our students from becoming too consumed with computer time.  Join us for this free event sponsored by Angell, Allen, Burns Park, Pattengill/Bryant Elementary Schools and Tappan Middle School.

Happy New Year!!

Today was a great first day back after a long winter break.   The students got busy engaging their brains and getting back into the routines.  I hope you all had a wonderful break and are ready for an exciting 2012 school year.

An exciting opportunity at the Ann Arbor District Libary:


Stretch Your Math Noodle with Mathnasium Coaches

Sunday, January 22 | 1:00-3:00 PM | Downtown Library Multipurpose Room | Grades K-5

Have a blast pumping up your math muscles. Mathnasium staff will help you practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and logic thinking skills through fun games and team competitions.

More time to support the Book Fair

Visit bn.com/bookfairs to support us online from 12/10/10 to 12/16/10
by entering Bookfair ID 10581205 at checkout.
A percentage of all sales from the store and café benefit Allen Elementary School!

Barnes and Noble Book Fair

A huge Thank YOU to Jenn Franklin and Karen Meints for organizing the book fair at Barnes and Noble. Several Allen families came to the store to show their support.   The Allen Chorus performed and the Allen Dance Team performed also.  The kids were able to make book marks as a craft project to take home.  Thanks to Mrs. Mobley, Ms. Lewit and Ms. Campbell for their time and energy organizing these activities.  Mr. Bruder and Mrs. J were also on hand assisting with the study sessions.   All the while, the store was filled with Allen families buying books and other items to support our Allen School Library.  Thank you all for your time, energy and efforts!!

Ms. Fitz

Celebration of Excellence Award

Did you know that parents can recognize a Teacher throughout the district's Celebration of Excellence Awards!  Below is some information and the link at the bottom of the page if you would like to nominate an Allen teacher.

The COE committee invites nominations of individual staff members in two categories of excellence. They are:

• INNOVATION - This award will recognize staff members who have demonstrated creative and innovative approaches to their jobs. Staff members worthy of this award are always thinking about how to improve, and they actually do something to make things better. Their innovative ideas get implemented and improve the school district in some way, whether it is a small improvement or a large one. Staff people are innovating all the time, yet frequently no one knows about it except the closest co-workers. The committee welcomes nominees who have accomplished both the big and the small, because each contributes in his or her own way.
• CUSTOMER SERVICE - All employees have "customers", whether they're students, other staff members, parents, or the public. This award celebrates those staffers who provide outstanding service to their customers. The nominator(s) will be asked to describe the ways the nominee is able to brighten the day or take care of those he or she serves. The awardees are the staff people who help everyone else, by figuring out what they want, how to get it for them and how to go the extra mile.

For the link to the nomination form click on:  
http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/boe.exc/online_nomination_form

Top 10 K-12 Public School Funding Advocacy Opportunities

As the legislative session heats up in Lansing, the stakes are incredibly high for students and families. With the threat of over 100 Michigan schools going bankrupt and more funding cuts looming, we must join together at this critical time to influence legislators on behalf of schools.

Please take part in at least one of the advocacy opportunities below. As you decide what your message will be, please read our Talking Points.

• Email Governor Snyder and urge him to establish a stable funding base for schools.

• Call, mail or email your legislators and ask them to fight for guaranteed school funding levels. If you are unsure who your legislator is, use these links to find your Representative and find your Senator.

• Sign an online petition indicating your support for a fair and responsible state budget that fully funds K-12 public education.

• Write a letter to the editor that illustrates how the devastating cuts will impact your school or community.

• Participate in a rally in Lansing to advocate for stable school funding. See Save Our Schools (SOS) for more info.

• Invite your legislator to your school for a site visit. Contact a PTOC member atptoc.a2advocacy@gmail.com if you’d like help organizing and preparing for your legislator visit.

• Attend a coffee hour or town hall meeting with your legislator. This time of year the legislators want to hear from the people they represent on issues that matter to them, and are scheduling meetings in your neighborhood. See the calendar above for coming events and meetings. Print our Leave-Behind Sheet to share with people you meet. 

• Fan our "Ann Arbor PTO Council Advocacy Committee" page on Facebook to get the latest news and advocacy opportunities about school funding advocacy opportunities in Michigan.

• Submit your comments to the House Education Committee.

• Spread the message. Encourage your networks, coworkers, board members, friends, and family members to get vocal and make our message ring loud and clear in Lansing.

Continue to visit this page for updates as the budget and the legislative session evolve in Lansing. Please contact us at ptoc.a2advocacy@gmail.com if you have questions or need specific information about these issues.