PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION






Speaking of parents, our active, engaged parent body is part of what elevates Webster to the top tier. Please join hands with the Webster community to get involved in whatever way you can at school.

September 2009

 Dear Webster Parents,

To our returning families -- Greetings, and we are so glad to see you back! To our new families -- our warmest welcome, and rest assured you won’t feel new for long! You’ll find the Webster family to be open and welcoming, and soon you will feel like experienced veterans at school.

We’re so proud of the school and community we’ve all built and nurtured here. It’s no wonder Webster students and families consider it the best school on the planet.

Since this time last year, there have been many exciting changes.  Here are a few of the highlights:

  • Smart Boards in all the 3-5th grade classrooms.
  • Ms. Cronrod and Ms. Verham were awarded Model Technology Classroom grants.  In addition to receiving 8 new laptops for classroom use, state-of-the-art technology systems will be built into their classrooms, including Smart Boards, an all-around sound system, and a system for integrating a laptop, DVD player, and Elmo into the Smart Board system.
  • After almost two years, Room 7 and the small former Computer Lab next to the library are finally under reconstruction.  Ms. Harris is scheduled to move back into Room 7 sometime in September.
  • Computer lab has 5 new iMacs bringing the total to 25, accommodating increased class sizes.
  • District has completed purchase and installation of upgraded technology infrastructure, fast internet connection, and wireless system for the whole school.
  • New (refurbished) copier in the Teacher Workroom and restructured maintenance contract at no additional cost to us.
  • We have ordered a built in LCD projector and connections for laptop, sound, etc. in the auditorium and are waiting for the District to arrange for the purchase and installation of this equipment.
  • Changes in locations:
    Computer Lab now in Room 13 - a full classroom
    Resource Room (Ms. Furer) now in Room 18 where the school psychologist's office is located
    Reading Enrichment (Ms. Murdock and Ms. Marsden) - Room 16A
    Ms. Verham now in Room 16

Our active, engaged parent body is part of what elevates Webster to the top tier. Please join hands with the Webster community to get involved in whatever way you can at school.

FIRST, please make a donation to the PTA’s Direct Donation Drive. It is called “Teach Your Children Well,” and you’ll be getting a letter asking for your financial contribution.  This accounts for the majority of our budget, and pays entirely for salaries for teacher aides, for art studio, computer instruction, disaster provisions for every child in case of a major disaster, etc.  These simply would not be funded were it not for your contributions.

SECOND, please find a spot that suits your volunteer skills. Whether it is working in your child’s classroom, monitoring the playground at lunch, helping to plan and execute a school event or tackling a role on the PTA, please find one of the hundreds of opportunities and claim it as your own! If you are stuck for ideas, call or e-mail either of us (details below), and we can suggest areas of greatest need.

Your PTA co-presidents, And thank you so much for everything you do for our school. Your generous contributions of time, skill, spirit and money are crucial and most gratefully appreciated.

Holly Kinyon                         Kathie Ferbas

CALIFORNIA PTA MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the PTA in California is threefold:

  1. to support and speak on behalf of all children and youth in the schools, in the community, and before governmental agencies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children
  2. to assist parents in developing the skills they need to nurture children
  3. to promote parent and public involvement in schools and communities

The objectives of the PTA are:

  1. to promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community and place of worship
  2. to raise the standards of home life
  3. to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth
  4. to bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth
  5. to develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical mental, social and spiritual education