Harding Avenue Elementary PTA

Big Event at HAE

2010-05-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

Virginia Tech students and HAE families worked together on Saturday, April 17, to spruce up the playground and gardens of the school. After several hours of hard work and a pizza lunch, the school surroundings looked beautiful!

Fun & Fright at HAE

2009-11-10T16:46:00.000-08:00

HAE was the scene of a fabulous fall party with painted pumpkins, a flying rubber chicken and many spooky and creative characters. Cleopatra, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Bat Girl were just a few of the folks who could be seen roaming the hallways on Friday, Oct. 30.

Our annual Fall Festival was a great success! With many games, the Book Fair, the Haunted Hallway and the always-popular Cake Walk, the festival had entertainment for everyone.

The pumpkin decorating contest was well represented by a cast of crazy creatures. However, it was Captain John Smith from Ms. Newberne's class that came in first in the closely-contested competition.

Thanks to the Virginia Tech Women's Lacrosse Team for their enthusiasm and effort in helping with the food and games. And thanks to Delta Tau Delta, whose Haunted Hallway has become a much-anticipated annual tradition. Thanks to all the parent volunteers, to teachers Ms. Lloyd and Ms. Q, and particularly to Carolyn Ansley, whose organization and hard work made this year's Fall Festival memorable for all.

PTA Annual Fund Drive

2009-09-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

For the 2009/2010 school year, the HAE PTA is again conducting a fund drive to meet PTA budget needs as well as to help fund technology requests for HAE. One of the major goals is to provide an interactive white board and projector for each classroom to enhance student learning. The cost to meet this goal will be $15,000.

Our goal this year is to raise $4,000. With this money, we will do all of the following:

• give each teacher and aide a financial gift to use for extra supplies
• pay for the Barter Theatre performers to visit the school
• provide field trip scholarships to children in need
• provide after-school club support
• sponsor Teacher Appreciation Week
• help HAE families facing crisis
• support HAE by funding classroom technology needs

Please consider also asking family members to invest in HAE with a donation.

One hundred percent of your donation will be used to support the programs of the HAE PTA to improve the entire school community. Your donation is tax deductible.

Please return any donations to Harding Avenue Elementary
Attn: Dawn Wilson, Treasurer, HAE PTA

Thank you for your support!

PTA Cookbook

2009-09-09T05:59:00.000-07:00

The PTA is currently accepting recipes for the HAE Cookbook, which will feature the favorite foods of HAE families and staff members. Each cookbook will also contain helpful cooking hints, recipe category dividers, a table of contents and an index. The cookbook will be professionaly printed and bound.

Proceeds from the sales will help fund our schools needs, specifically technology requests for the classrooms.

We hope to preorder cookbooks and have them available in time for the holidays.

Submission forms were sent home with your children and can also be picked up at the school.

We hope you will consider submitting some of your best recipes to make this project a success!

Welcome Back, Purple Panthers!

2009-08-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

The PTA welcomes you to another year at Harding Avenue Elementary and hopes you will join us at Back to School Night on Monday, Aug. 17. In celebration of a new school year, the PTA will be hosting a Hot Dog Roast & Picnic for students, staff and families from 6:45-8:00 p.m. After meeting your teacher and checking out the informational displays in the multipurpose room, come out to the playground for dinner. The PTA will provide hot dogs, drinks, plates, cups and utensils. Bring your picnic blankets, lawn chairs and a dish to share, if you wish.

Also, we welcome all parents and teachers to become involved with the PTA. We will have membership forms available on Monday evening; cost is $5 per adult.

We look forward to seeing everyone back at HAE!

Spring Fling Fun

2009-05-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks Big Event Volunteers!

2009-05-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

Autism: Challenges & Solutions

2009-04-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the PTA Speaker Series on Monday, April 20, for a presentation by Diann Eaton on autism.

Eaton has been with the Training and Technical Assistance
Center at Virginia Tech (T/TAC) since 1998 and has a graduate degree in
special education. Diann taught in the public school setting as an inclusion
specialist and special education teacher at the elementary and middle
school levels. Prior to teaching, Diann worked as case manager and
residential counselor for adults with disabilities in community-based
services. While at the T/TAC, Diann focuses her efforts on supporting
teachers and programs that teach students with complex disabilities and
challenging behaviors and to improving parent involvement in the
educational process.

The HAE PTA business meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. with the speaker following at 7:00 in Theater II.

PTA provides child care for school-age and toddler children during the meeting and speaker event.

2009-02-16T11:07:00.000-08:00

PTA Speaker Series

The HAE PTA is pleased to present the following speakers and topics for the remainder of the school year. Please join us for one or more of these presentations!

Monday, March 9: Parenting with Cynthia Lease, PhD, Counseling Associates of Southwest Virginia

Monday, April 13: Autism Awareness with Diann Eaton, Coordinator of Parent and Family Involvement of TTAC (Training/Technical Assistance Center)

Monday, May 11: Gifted Education at HAE with Amy Lunsford, Gifted Resource Teacher at HAE

Monday, June 8: Family Systems with David Moore, Virginia Tech's Institute for Policy and Governance

The speaker series begins at 7:00 p.m., following a short business meeting at 6:30 p.m., in Theater II at HAE.

The PTA provides free child care.

Annual Fund Drive is a Success

2009-01-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the generosity of many families, the HAE PTA reached its goal of raising $3,000 for the 2008/2009 school year. Fifty-five families participated in the fund drive, donating
$3,263.25 to support the efforts of the PTA.

The PTA, the teachers, staff and students appreciate all of the support so many of you give in time and money during the year. Thanks for making that commitment to HAE.

Digital Photography

2008-11-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

The HAE PTA
Speaker Series

What kind of digital camera should I buy? How do I get my kids to smile naturally in pictures? How can I take a great holiday portrait? If you wish to know the answers to these questions and more, please join us for the November meeting and program, presented by Michele Sudweeks, a HAE parent and professional photographer.

Monday, November 10
6:30 p.m.—PTA business meeting
7:00 p.m.—program

Theater II at HAE
Child care will be provided.

Fall Festival Fun

2008-10-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

Despite the rainy evening, many families came out to enjoy a night of food, games, and scares at the annual HAE Fall Festival.

New this year was the Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Each class turned a pumpkin into a character, animal or object; the transformation was incredible. We saw everything from a rainbow fish, bat and leopard to a scarecrow, witch and even Mr. Guynn! Pirate Pete from Ms. Newberne's 4th grade class was the winner with a prize of $100.

Many kids came dressed for Halloween, showing their creativity in a variety of costumes from the scary to the sweet.

Thanks to the Virginia Tech Lacrosse Team and Delta Tau Delta for helping with the Haunted Hallway and the concessions and games. Also thanks to Napoli's for the pizza and Food Lion for a donation for drinks. Thanks also to Ms. Lloyd and Ms. Q for their enthusiastic participation each year and to all of the volunteer parents and HAE staff whose help was invaluable.

It was a great night for all of the HAE princesses, ghouls and goblins!

PTA Annual Fund Drive

2008-10-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

Dear HAE Families:

For the 2008/2009 school year, the HAE PTA will not be sponsoring any product fundraisers. Instead of asking your children to sell wrapping paper or cookie dough, we are asking you to support us with a monetary donation.

Our goal is to raise $3,000 to meet our budget needs. With this money, we will do the following:

• give each teacher and aide a financial gift to use for extra supplies
• pay for the Barter Theatre performers to visit the school
• provide field trip scholarships to children in need
• provide after-school club support
• pay for the 5th grade DARE t-shirts
• sponsor Teacher Appreciation Week
• help HAE families facing crisis
• support HAE by helping fund equipment and instructional needs

Please consider also asking family members who would buy products to invest in HAE with a donation instead.

Please know that 100 percent of your donation will be used to support the programs of the HAE PTA to improve the entire school community. Your donation is tax deductible.

If you wish to support Harding Avenue this year with a pledge, please send cash or a check made payable to HAE PTA to Harding Avenue Elementary
Attn: Dawn Wilson, Treasurer, HAE PTA

Thank you for your support.

Feeding a Healthy Family

2008-10-05T07:46:00.000-07:00

The HAE PTA
Speaker Series

Join us on Monday, Oct. 13, for a special program about feeding good foods to our families. Guest speaker Amy Vaughan, nutritionist and HAE parent, will talk about how to keep us on the right track with guidelines, samples and tips for preparing nutritious meals and snacks.

6:30 p.m. PTA business meeting
7:00 p.m. speaker and program

Theater II at HAE
Child care will be provided.

For questions or suggestions about the PTA Speaker Series, please contact Lisa Garcia, 953-5536, lgarcia@rbnet.com.

Pics from the Potluck Picnic

2008-09-02T17:11:00.000-07:00

Despite the gloomy forecast, the one-day delay and the bug infestation, the HAE Potluck Picnic was a success with many families coming out to share good food and friendship.

Welcome Back, Purple Panthers!

2008-08-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

As the new school year kicks off, the HAE PTA wishes to welcome all returning students as well as new students and families to our community. If you wish to become involved with HAE, one of the best ways is through the PTA. We sponsor several school-wide events each year, raise money for school needs and scholarships, and host special guest speakers at each monthly meeting. The PTA also coordinates volunteers for classroom help, after-school clubs, and school-wide projects.

Joining the PTA does not mean constant requests for volunteering. We welcome all levels of commitment from serving on a committee to helping for one hour at an event to simply giving input in an email. We want to hear opinions from all parents and teachers, and we want to know what you need and want from us to help serve all HAE students!

Our first big event for the year is the Welcome Back Potluck Picnic, Thursday, Aug. 28, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on the HAE playground. (Rain date will be Friday, Aug. 29.) Bring your picnic blankets, lawn chairs, and a dish to share. The PTA will provide drinks, cups, plates, napkins, and utensils. This is a great time to catch up with old friends, meet new families, and get to know teachers and staff.

Raising the Sign

2008-04-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

Raising the Sign!
Did you know that Harding Avenue is the only elementary school in Blacksburg without a marquee? One of the PTA’s priorities for spring/summer is to help the school purchase and erect our own school sign for announcements. Two fundraising events will take place this spring to help raise the projected $4,000-$5,000 the sign will cost.

1) Fun Run: The Lightning Panthers, HAE’s Running Club, invites all students to participate in the Fun Run on Thursday, May 1, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at HAE’s track. Students will log laps by walking or running and raise money through pledges.

2) Spring Fling Basket Auction: New this year for Spring Fling will be a silent basket auction. Each grade is collecting items to create themed baskets, which will be auctioned during Spring Fling, Friday, May 23, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thanks very much for your donations, and we hope you will engage in a little friendly bidding to make this a successful event.

The Big Event at HAE

2008-04-08T18:32:00.001-07:00

Under cloudy skies, the Big Event came to HAE on Saturday, April 5. Two groups from Virginia Tech, including a dance ensemble, were prepared to weed the gardens, mulch the beds, and rake the leaves. A Brownie Girl Scout Troop that included several HAE students planted pansies and mulched around the swing sets. An ambitious group of 8th graders did a lot of the heavy lifting, and several HAE families also participated. Students from Scholastic Painters spruced up the drab doors with bright colors. And after several hours of hard work, pizza and some play, the HAE gardens looked beautiful. Thanks to everyone!

Save the Date!

2008-02-04T13:26:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, March 26—Friday, April 4—Scholastic Book Fair
All funds raised from the PTA’s spring book fair are given to the school library, so plan to schedule your book shopping during this week.

Monday, April 14, 6:00 p.m.—HAE-VT Lacrosse Game Night
The Virginia Tech Women’s Lacrosse Team has invited our school community to attend their game vs. Duke. The team supports HAE by helping with some of our events, such as Fall Festival when they dress up in costumes and help with the games. They would love to see the kids, so plan to come out and support our team!

Friday, May 23, 6:00-8:00 p.m.—Spring Fling
Spring Fling continues to be a great HAE event, bringing many families to the school for a few hours of fun. In addition to regular activities such as the Moon Bounce, Obstacle Course, and Cake Walk, there will be a few new games, a great new prize and a special fundraiser—the Spring Basket Silent Auction.

Each classroom will be putting together a themed basket, such as “Summer Fun,” “Virginia Tech,” or “Game Night.” Money raised from this auction will go toward the purchase of a new HAE sign with marquee. Please keep an eye out for a request for an item to contribute to your child’s classroom basket and for other ways you might be able to help with Spring Fling.

Next Meeting: Monday, Feb. 11, 7:00 p.m.

2008-02-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

At our next general meeting, we will be welcoming guest speaker Michael S. Rosenzweig, co-founder of the non-profit community education organization SEEDS (Seek Education, Explore, DiScover). SEEDS provides discovery-oriented learning experiences in ecology and cultural awareness for very active and curious children. SEEDS offers after-school programs and summer field camps. Mike is also the director of the Science Outreach Program (SOuP), which supports K-12 outreach education and encourages the growth of K-12 participation in research. All are welcome to attend this presentation, and free child care is provided.

Next Meeting: Monday, Jan. 14

2008-01-10T16:02:00.000-08:00

Please join us for our monthly meeting on Monday, January 14. We will conduct a short business meeting from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Following this, Meggan Marshall and Carol Jennings, from SBO, will facilitate a discussion about the MCPS 6-year planning process. What are our existing strengths? What are our most promising opportunities? What are our hopes and aspirations? What are the specific results we want to achieve?

We will begin the session with an overview of the SACS standards, the visioning work done by the district’s leadership last spring, and the Commonwealth’s six-year plan requirements. Our discussions will be used to help develop goals for the Six-Year Plan. We want to hear from many voices, so all are welcome to attend and participate.

Free child care is provided.