Welcome to our second month of Alta Vista PTA News online. We are excited to have moved to this new medium and hope that you are enjoying finding this newsletter in your inbox instead of in the bottom of your child's backpack.

Michelle Lavin
Editor
Alta Vista PTA News!
Alta Vista PTA News!
South Bay Council 33rd District
California State PTA
November 2008
Volume 26, No. 3

December 2008 Principal's Message
Dear Wildcat Families:
First, I would like to congratulate PTA on a successful Apple Harvest Festival. This community event was filled with fun for all.  There were games, activities, music, and of course, apples.  From fresh pressed apple cider to apple crisps, everyone left with a smile on their face.  It was great to see all of our families enjoying the day with one another.
Second, I thank PTA for their continued support of our students and staff.  Whether it be by donating money, equipment and materials, time, or teaching Hands-On-Art, Health Lessons, or assisting on the playground, THANK YOU for all you do. Your dedication and commitment to Alta Vista is greatly appreciated by all. WE are ALL in this together.
As we approach the end of 2008, I want to personally thank all of you for another great year.  A little over two years ago, I joined the Alta Vista community.  I often reflect on how supportive all of you have been as we have strived to move our Wildcats from “Good to Great.”  During this time, we have seen many new things at Alta Vista: a new playground, computer lab, after-school extra-curricular activities, and valet student drop-off to name a few.  All of these improvements help our Wildcats grow academically, emotionally, socially, and physically.  It truly is an honor for me to work with you, your children, and our Alta Vista Staff.  I am looking forward to many more great years working with all of you as we continue to make it a great day to be a Wildcat!
On behalf of everyone at Alta Vista, may you have a safe, relaxing, and fun holiday season filled with health and happiness.

Sincerely,
Anthony J. Taranto
Principal

December 2008 Message from Dr. Joyce Stout

Project Pal

The winter holidays are just around the corner.  It is during this time that many cherished memories with family and friends are made.  This is also a time that can be stressful.
Here are some stress busters to try out during the holiday season:

• Inhale while counting to 5.   Hold your breath for a count of 5.   Exhale for a count of 5.
• Identify some songs with upbeat messages (e.g. Don’t Worry Be Happy).   When you feel stressed, think of one of your identified songs.
• Spend a few minutes creating a “safe place.”  Close your eyes and think of a wonderful happy and peaceful place.  Imagine all of the details that are in this wonderful place.  Take note of how you feel in this place.  After a few minutes, open your eyes and smile. 
• Spend time with the family pet.  Research strongly suggests that stroking a pet is can reduce blood pressure.
• Watching fish swimming in a tank, gazing into a lit fireplace or looking a lava lamp can help relax you.
• Giving/getting a hug or just holding someone’s hand can help relieve stress and lower blood pressure.
• Give yourself some down time.  Excuse yourself from where you are and go someplace quiet.  During your “time out” you can think of your upbeat song, take some deep breaths or imagine your safe place.
• Go on a nature walk.  Try visiting Wilderness Park, The Madrona Marsh, The South Coast Botanic Gardens, Polliwog Park or the beach.
• Aromatherapy is all the rage right now.  Interestingly enough, Aromatherapy dates back to about 5000 years ago.  Stores like Target and Bath and Body Works carry Aromatherapy products.  The scent in these products such as lavender and chamomile smell good and they can help you relax.
• Remember, children watch and learn from us.   If we model healthy ways to reduce stress, our children will be able to cope better with stress throughout their lives.

Safari Book Fair Update
Some important dates and events to remember:

• This year, we are involved in the One For Books Program.  Please send any loose change or dollar bills you can spare to your child’s classroom to participate in this charitable program.  All money collected will be used to purchase books for our school. Plus, Scholastic matches the amount collected to donate books to programs for children less fortunate than our own.  Each classroom, as well as several local businesses, have a collection jar exclusively for this program.  Learn more about it at http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/experience/onebooks.asp
• Wednesday, December 3rd is Student and Teacher Preview Day!  Your child can view and create their personalized wish list online at http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/books/elem.asp?wid=iNep2TS22B1227788824
• Classroom Wish List and Gift Certificates are available throughout the Fair!  Your teacher has chosen specific books they would like to include in their classroom library, and their selections will be posted at the Book Fair.  To make your donations even easier, gift certificates are available in any denominations.  Please stop at the Classroom Wishlist and choose a book or two for your class. The library will give you a sticker to put in the book saying that the book is to: your teacher and from: your child. Your child can then present the book to their teacher. ‘Tis the season of giving! What better gift than a book that will be enjoyed for years?
• Friday the 5th is our Family Fun Day!  Free Popcorn will be served all day long on Friday, lasting throughout our Movie Night in the cafeteria.  Movie starts at 6:00!
• On Friday, come & Build A Book with your family at either 2:00 or 4:00 PM.  There are still some books available, so even if you haven’t yet purchased one, please come by and join the fun!  Be sure to include the mandatory 8.25% tax when purchasing your Klutz Build A Book.
• Don’t miss the Family Fun Day Raffle at 5:00 PM in front of the Library!  Each student in the school was given one raffle ticket in class to turn in before Friday.  We are also giving the first 100 kids that bring their parents into the Book Fair an additional raffle ticket free of charge!  Increase your child's chances of winning by bringing them to the book fair early!We have over 100 wonderful raffle prizes to give away,  courtesy of Stuart and Margaret Kole.  Be sure to have your child bring their raffle ticket to the Fair anytime after the opening on Wednesday and before Friday at 4:30.
• The Book Fair will be open until December 9, so please find some time to come by with your children to browse our vast selection of great books.

And don't forget to look for "Mary the Book Fair Lady."
Mary and her team of volunteers will be there to help!
This year's book fair would not be happening without her, so be sure to give her a big "thank you" as you enjoy the book fair.

Access Books 2009
As you're making room for those new holiday books, please remember that Alta Vista will once again be participating in Access Books the weeks of January 26th & February 2nd.  We will be collecting gently used books for an elementary school in need and will be delivering them to the school on Saturday, February 7th.  The Alta Vista Wildcats were so generous earlier this year that we surpassed our goal of 3000 books, and the students at Anderson Elementary in Compton were very appreciative.  More details to follow after the holidays.  It's a Great Day to be a Wildcat.

RBEF Kick Off

Press Release 

Redondo Beach Educational Foundation Welcomed Warmly by the Community

The night buzzed with people from all over Redondo Beach who had one thing in common – to learn more about the little known Redondo Beach Educational Foundation (RBEF).  The registration line at one point actually went down the stairs, but people patiently waited, then arrived inside the banquet room with smiles and kind words for RBEF Board members who greeted them.
Held at Delzano’s by the Sea, the more than 150 people in attendance included City Councilman Steve Aspel;  Board of Education President Todd Lowenstein and Board members Carl Clark, Jane Diehl, Drew Gamet and Student Representative Teresa Tenfelder. In addition to parents and teachers, Superintendent Dr. Steven Keller, all of the District principals and assistant principals along with a strong RBUSD contingency came in support.  The telling success of this event’s draw was evident by the many guests who stated they had no children in the District, but felt an education foundation in our community was important.

The evening was underwritten by corporate sponsors – Chevron, Toyota and Wells Fargo, along with in-kind donor Murad Medical Spa.  Volunteers Melonie Patterson and Joanne O’Connor helped staff the registration tables along with Event Chair and RBEF Board member Sandra Fuchs, as other Board members met and greeted the incoming guests.  Brief comments included a warm welcome and thank you from Co-President, Blaise Tracy who opened with an amazed, “WOW!” at the number of people who filled the banquet room.  Dr. Steven Keller also made comments voicing his support of the RBEF and his hope that the community would continue its enthusiastic support.   Co-President Debbie Wu Sullivan introduced the newly formed Board, including:  Sandra Fuchs,  Liz Marcon, Dr. Chris Moggia, Dale Petrulis, Henry Sutro and Roseanne Tracy.  Board members unable to attend included Pat Hosken (Secretary), Arlene Staich (Treasurer), Jill Brunkhardt and Jim Patterson.  The program concluded with a $15,000 check presented by the foundation to the District, which provides full funding for the intramural programs at Parras and Adams middle schools.

It was clear that this new board’s first event was successful in bringing the community together to re-establish this much needed organization.  Both Co-Presidents Blaise Tracy and Debbie Wu Sullivan, commented that the health and longevity of the RBEF would be dependent on community support from individuals, local businesses and corporations both with financial donations and volunteerism.

The Redondo Beach Educational Foundation states its mission that, in partnership with individuals, community businesses and corporations, (it) seeks to provide the additional funding and resources needed to enhance the educational experience of all RBUSD children.

For those who missed the event but would like to learn more about the foundation,
visit the website at www.rbef.org

December Tips & Reminders

• Parent/Teacher conferences will be held Monday, Dec. 1st through Monday, Dec. 8. Please come prepared to ask how your child is doing academically, socially, and behaviorally. Bring a pen and paper to take notes. Remember, you will only have a short time with your child’s teacher, as they have other conferences scheduled with other parents, too. 
• Parent/Teacher Conference days are “Minimum Day Schedule” days. 1st and 2nd graders get out at 1:15, 3rd through 5th graders get out at 1:30. Kindergarten and SDC schedules will remain the same.
• We have our “Safari Book Fair” Dec. 3rd through Dec. 9th. More information can be found at http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/publish/4altavista
• Alta Vista Cafeteria Theater! Come one, come all, to a FREE SHOWING of ‘Kung Fu Panda’  Friday, December 5th, doors open at 5;30pm show starts at 6:00pm. Bring your blankets and cushions, we will provide the popcorn! Great family night!
• NO PTA Meeting in December
• Dec. 19th through Jan. 2, 2009 – WINTER BREAK! –ENJOY—
• Parent Participation Counts! http://www.teachingheart.net/parenthelpers.html
• Check out the Great Schools website at http://www.greatschools.net/content/stateStandards.page?state=CA and learn about California's Department of Education says that your child should learn in each grade. The learning standards described are broken down by subject for each grade.

Flat Fee vs. Fundraiser
You've probably been reading about Alta Vista's Flat Fee Donation Option. Here is a quick reminder of the difference between Flat Fee Donation vs. Fund Raising for Alta Vista: 

Term: Flat Fee Donation

Definition: An amount of money given to support an organization and it’s goals. If the organization is non- profit, like the Alta-Vista PTA, the money is tax deductible on  your next years taxes. Alta Vista PTA is able to take these donations at ANY time, and more than one time, and can take them  by cash, check or charge.  A.V. PTA uses the money to bring and provide enriching programs to the students. 100% of the money you donate goes to A. V. PTA.

Term: Fund Raiser

Definition: Alta Vista PTA raises money by selling products, provided by a vendor. In the past years, we have sold holiday wrapping paper in September. The vendor makes 50% and A.V. PTA makes 50% of the money earned. Our kids (and us!) do the footwork, selling, keeping track of the purchases, collecting the money, turning in the money and forms, receiving the products, bringing home the large boxes the products are package into, and distributing the products to those who purchased them.

Food Drive Thank You
I would like take this opportunity to give a BIG thank you to the Alta Vista Community and to the Northrop Grumman Corporation for their generous contributions to the “Food for Friends” Food Drive.  Your generosity has helped so many families in our own Alta Vista School Community.  THANK YOU!
I would also like to thank the “Foods for Friends” Food Drive Committee Members:, Mrs. Schneider, Mrs. Denison, Mrs. Green, and Mrs. Troiani.  THANK YOU!
Many Thanks!
Dr. Joyce Stout
PTA Food Drive Coordinator

Box Tops Contest Ends Friday
Don't forget that the Box Tops Contest ends this Friday, December 5th.
There are two ways to win:

• On your own - fill in the collection sheet that was sent home with your child to receive a special Box Tops bracelet
• For your class - the class with the most Box Tops PER GRADE will win a special treat. Hmmm....what could it be??

The Box Tops must be official coupons, not labels and NOT expired, so be sure to check them out before submitting them. Also, watch those scissors when you're cutting them out to make sure that you don't cut off the expiration date.
Good Luck and Happy Clipping!

Let's Skate!

City News Service

Ocean-front ice rink opens for 55 days
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. A 120-by-60-foot ice skating rink will open on Tuesday at Redondo Beach's Seaside Lagoon for a 55-day run.
The ocean-front ice is the creation of Tom Kearney, a filmmaker, and professional skater Scott Williams, who persuaded the Redondo Beach City Council to award them a five-year lease during the winters, the Daily Breeze reported. "It's been quite an amazing journey, making ice on the beach," Kearney told the newspaper last week amid unusually warm temperatures. "It ain't easy, but we're all very excited. It's coming together." The amount of ash in the air over the weekend, due to the wildfires, actually helped blot out the sun and get the first layer of ice frozen, according to Wayne Sebold, president of Ice Rinks 2 Go, which built the temporary rink atop the sand. After the opening ceremony, members of the public will be able to take to the ice until 9:30 p.m. The rink will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. weekday, and from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on weekends. The adult cost for 90- minutes on the ice is $14 and $12 for children 12 and under. Parking is available at Redondo Beach Marina off Harbor.

eScrip
eScrip is an effortless way to raise money for our school. Once you register your debit, credit cards and Grocery club cards a percentage of every purchase you make at participating merchants is contributed to Alta Vista.
There are more than 150 merchants,chants in the program.
Registering is simple, just follow these easy steps:

• Log on to www.escrip.com and go to “sign up it’s free”.
• Enter 90277
• Alta Vista PTA is at the top. Register your Vons, Pavilions, or Safeway card and if you like you can register debit or a credit card also.

When you visit eScrip merchants to shop, you earn for Alta Vista.  It’s automatic. 

Albertson's/Sav-On Community Partners

Registering is simple:

• Just go to www. Albertsons.com go to the bottom of the page and click on “in the community”. 
• Half way down the page on the right click “community partners”. 
• Click on “log in or register”, enter your card number and phone number. 
• Choose “sign up,” Follow the instructions. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Janiene Wilson at 310-316-4090 or email her at J9wil@msn.com

Galleria School Rewards
Alta Vista is one of 20 schools that is able to participate in the South Bay Galleria’s School Rewards
Program. Each school can accumulate points from February through December.  At the end of the year the schools are given monetary rewards that range from $250—$2500, depending on the number of points received.
When you shop at the Galleria, simply take your receipts to the information booth located on the first floor by Nordstorm. We get one point for each dollar you spend at Mervyn’s, Macy’s and Nordstorm and 2 points for every dollar you spend at all the other stores in the Galleria, including the movie theater, and the food court. You can bring your receipts to schools and leave in our rewards envelope in the office and we will turn them in for you.

ARCHIVE

November 2008