Buy Your Carnival Wristbands & Tickets Now and Save!

The Claxton Carnival is less than two weeks away!

Your kids have something to celebrate -- report cards... benchmark tests... spring... warm weather, finally!

This year's carnival promises to be better than ever!  In addition to the spectacular carnival fare you expect - the inflatable slide, cake walk, face painting, food, drinks, prizes and of course a Claxton favorite- Barley’s pizza! - each student will receive a passport with the purchase of a wristband.  They'll work their way around the “globe” participating in games and activities chosen by each classroom to represent the country they've selected.  This is an event you don't want to miss!

And, new this year, you can purchase your wristbands and tickets in advance and save 20% over the day-of prices.  So, get 'em now!

Wristband Packages

Single $8.00 USD Two Pack $15.00 USD Three Pack $16.00 USD

Ticket Bundles - $8 for 10

Falafel 5K - School Challenge

Hey, runners!  Planning to run the Falafel 5k on April 21st?  

Anyone signing up for the JCC's Falafel 5K or Fun Run can designate Claxton as their school of choice, and our PTO will receive $5 for every 5K registration and $2 for every Fun Run registration.   Contact Amanda VanCleve, our Team Captain.


Already registered?  You can still designate Claxton as your school of choice!

The two PTO's with the most runners having designated their schools will win $500 and $250.
    

Get more information and register now: Falafel 5k Info

PTO seeking Nominations & Volunteers

PARENTS! 

Please support our wonderful school by signing up for a position with our 

2013-2014 Claxton PTO! 

Grab a friend and co-chair any position to divide and conquer!

Here's a short list of what we're looking for (Click here for the list with full descriptions):

• Fundraising: Fall & Spring Fundraising Chairs, Corporate Sponsorship and Merchandise
• Communications: Website/Blog (training provided), Directory, Yearbook, PR/Media outreach
• Volunteer Committees: Staff Appreciation, Hospitality, New Families
• After School Arts PTO liaison
• Room Rep Chair
• 4th & 5th Grade Field Trip parent reps
• SPMT Parent rep

There are also several executive roles on the board that will be open at the end of this year.  

We truly need your support and appreciate your help!  Supporting the PTO is a great way to directly and indirectly support all students, faculty, staff, parents and families in our school.  

To sign up, or if you have any questions, please contact the nominating committee -- 

Jill Mooney, Tressa Hayes, & Kristen Hicklin!

We challenge more Dads to hop on board this year also!

Carnival, April 13th

Parents and Students, mark your calendars!

Claxton’s International Carnival

Will be held on:

Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 10 a.m. -2 p.m.

Students and teachers have selected a country to showcase at the carnival and will come up with a game for participants to play. Each student will receive a passport with the purchase of a wristband and will work their way around the “globe” getting it stamped when they complete each game. We will also have some of the old carnival favorites from years past; the inflatable slide, cake walk, face painting, food, drinks, prizes and of course a Claxton favorite- Barley’s pizza.

Please check with your student’s teacher to see if they can use your help, and please come out to support the school on April 13th.

If you are interested in volunteering during the event for the PTO, please email

Molly Russell at mollyjrussell@mac.com

Applications for 2013 - 2014 FLL accepted through April 12th!

For the 2013 fall season, teams will conduct scientific research based on the theme "Nature’s Fury," and will propose an innovative solution to a real-world issue related to their research. Teams will also design, build and program a robot to compete in a game based on the same theme. Through all of this, teams must embrace the core values of teamwork, community service, "coopertition" and fun. Teams will compete in a regional tournament in November.

There are a limited number of spaces per team, and students must apply to participate.  Application information is available here.  Completed applications are due April 12th.  

Registration fee for the 2013 - 2014 season will be $60 and will be due when team placements are announced.  (The fee is waived for students with financial need).

Please email Jenny Manner for more information or questions. 

Side Items Still Needed for Staff Appreciation Lunch, Friday, March 15th

We are still in need of some more parents to sign up to bring side dishes to go with the meal of tamales for the Staff Appreciation Lunch this Friday, March 15th. You can bring in the dish in the morning and put it in the teacher’s lounge. The volunteer coordinator will be on hand to assist you and make it easy!

Please sign up using the google doc spreadsheet link here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AlOkoI25VAS-dFhlWlNHc0VtQ1NGV0xfaV81d3psZEE&usp=sharing

We are especially in need of beans, rice, and salad.

If you have any questions please contact Melissa Kledismkledis@yahoo.com

Thank you and let's show Claxton staff and teachers some love!”

Beginner's Spanish Conversation Group

FIRST Lego League Parent Meeting - March 12th

3rd & 4th graders, interested in the FIRST LEGO Robotic League this fall?

If you are the parent of a rising 4th or 5th grader, and if your child is interested in the FIRST Lego League (FLL) program, please plan to attend a parent meeting on Tuesday March 12, at 6pm in the Claxton Media Center.

For the 2013 fall season, teams will conduct scientific research based on the theme "Nature’s Fury," and will propose an innovative solution to a real-world issue related to their research. Teams will also design, build and program a robot to compete in a game based on the same theme. Through all of this, teams must embrace the core values of teamwork, community service, "coopertition" and fun. Teams will compete in a regional tournament in November.

There are a limited number of spaces per team, and students must apply to participate.  Applications will be due April 12th.

At the parent meeting, learn more about the program, what students can expect and the commitment required to participate.  We also need parents to make this happen!  We will be discussing how team parents will be involved..

If you can't attend, please contact Jenny Manner or Sarah Thornburg.

Meet the School Board Candidates

Fourteen candidates are vying for three seats on the Asheville City Schools Board of Education this month as City Council considers which contenders to interview and appoint over the next couple weeks.  Read about each candidate in the Asheville Citizen-Times.  

Members of the school board are appointed by Asheville City Council.  If you are interested in sharing your support for a particular candidate, click here to find out how to contact members of City Council. 

District-wide PTO meeting March 21st

We have a date set for our next District-wide PTO Meeting:

• Thursday, March 21st, 12:00-2:00 PM
• Asheville City Schools Board Room, 85 Mountain Street
• Lunch will be provided by Asheville City Schools (advise us of any dietary restrictions)
• Childcare is available (please let us know if you need it)
• RSVP by Monday, March 18th

We will continue the conversation from the previous PTO meeting of after-school programming.

This time around, some Asheville-area youth program providers will be joining us with the hope of building momentum to get some tangible plans/goals/accomplishments in place for next school year. I would love to have at least 2 people from each school attend. While the focus is on elementary school, this may be a good opportunity for the high school to consider ways they could partner with youth program providers, perhaps with an emphasis on 9th graders. It would also be great to have the Middle School PTO there to provide some feedback on IRL.

And, of course, this will be a good opportunity for parents of all ACS schools to discuss topics, ideas and concerns—above and beyond after-school programming. Our meeting space will be available until 2:30 for those who would like to stay and network. Asheville City Schools will provide lunch.

If you would like to submit an additional item to put on the agenda, please let me know.

Feel free to email me with any questions, concerns or suggestions.

Sincerely,

Jay Lively
Volunteer Training and Outreach Programs Director
Asheville City Schools Foundation
828-350-6135