Germain Street School PTA
"A million voices for children"

This morning’s petition signing was a big hit. Thank you all for showing up! Most especially for those who brought their brooms.

Unfortunately, CBS & NBC — who both called PTA representatives yesterday — were otherwise occupied this morning with North Hollywood High-School’s 6AM bomb scare. (http://cbs2.com/local/suspicious.package.North.2.1757114.html)

While it is unlikely that anyone would begrudge the media’s choice between the two events, there was an interesting tie-in: The suspicious wired box — suspicious enough that it was handled by LAPD’s bomb-defusing robot — was discovered by an on-site groundskeeper, hours before children arrived at school this morning. Had he not been on-campus this morning, it’s entirely possible that the first person to find the box might have been a student.

We value the work of every individual who contributes to the education and well-being of our children. While every teacher stands to improve the lives and livelihoods of  his or her students — as proven this morning in North Hollywood — there are some staff who’s presence not only contribute to educational objectives, but who’s very presence impacts the health and safety of the entire campus.

If you haven’t signed the petition yet, or you know others in the community who would like to, please click on the link below and print a copy. The signed copy can be dropped off in the PTA mail box at school any time through the end of next week.

Click HERE to download petition.

Parents,

We have word that tomorrow morning, between 7:30 & 8:00 am, CBS and NBC news may be coming to report on our school’s fight to keep our plant manager, Dorothy Allison. Thanks to you, we have already collected hundreds of signatures. Now we need you and your children to join other families and show the LAUSD that our kids’ health and safety is non-negotiable. We encourage you to bring a mop or broom to school tomorrow morning, as a symbol of how important it is that we keep our school, and its staff and children working productively through these budget cuts.

This event was planned, in coordination with the media, to occur before school hours, so our children can go about their day. But, we do encourage you to involve them in the democratic process, in anticipation that next year they’ll have the opportunity feel pride in knowing that they contributed to their own education and well-being.

Parents: We need your help!

Every day next we will be collecting signatures from parents, staff, students, and community members to keep our plant manager, Dorothy Allison, here are Germain during school hours. Let’s make our voices heard. If you would like to help the efforts of collecting signatures please print out the attached petition sheet and collect names. Or you can sign up to help in the morning before school starts or after school to gather signatures.
Germain_Street_PTA_Petition_to_Keep_
Plant_Manager_Dorothy_Allison

More details:

URGENT – URGENT – URGENT

The LAUSD has proposed removing plant managers from many school campuses. Those who remain with the District will be given rotational night shifts, and their time will be spread thin across several schools. This is being proposed to take effect over the summer break when no one, except those directly effected, are around to object. Not all schools, however, need be affected. Decisions are being made on a school-by-school basis, according to the perceived needs of a particular campus. Germain St. Elementary is three-times the size of many other schools in our district.

Dorothy Allison, our plant manager, is vitally important, not only, to the safety, health and well-being of our kids, but also to the continuity of the classroom environment. Dorothy has been with Germain St. Elementary longer than nearly any other staff member. She also sits as an elected member on the Neighborhood Council, representing our school’s needs to the community. Thanks to her efforts, our school has been awarded counsel grants when we needed them.

Though we take it for granted that the classrooms are clean, fixtures are operational, and the supplies and equipment that each classroom needs are there when they need it, they are because Dorothy makes sure they are. She prides herself on keeping the safest and healthiest school in our region. Not only is she proud, but she is openly competitive with other schools in performing her service to our children. And, she engages with them as an integral part of their day — leading “Dorothy’s Helpers”, in-part, an on-campus recycling program, teaching respect for fellow students, their environment, and nominating awards to recognize upstanding students at each Monday morning assembly. An assembly which, by the way, is also facilitated in large part by Dorothy’s efforts in maintaining and configuring our school’s sound system — as are all of our assemblies.

On her own “off-time”, Dorothy has attended every after-school and weekend event when the school needed her. She arrives early and closes up late. She not only lobbies the Neighborhood Council and the District on behalf of our school’s interests, but she frequently lobbies the PTA to recognize the extracurricular efforts of students she observes on campus. Simply put, Dorothy gives our children one of the many advantages that they have at Germain St. Elementary over other neighborhood schools.

➤ She helps keep our kids safe by removing dangers from their environment. ➤ She helps keep them healthy by insisting on a sanitary campus. ➤ She helps them learn by facilitating the classroom.

Help us keep Dorothy Allison here at Germain St. Elementary. Please write to the LAUSD superintendent Raymond Cortines, Local District 1 Superintendent Jean Brown, and Board Member Representing our district Tamar Galatzan. Address below.

The petition will be to the address below. You are welcome to write your own letter to the LAUSD officials.
 
LAUSD Superintendent: RAMON C. CORTINES
Mailing Address P.O. Box 3307 Los Angeles, CA 90051 Tel: 213-241-7000 Fax: 213-241-8442 superintendent@lausd.net

Office of Superintendent
333 S. Beaudry Ave.  Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: 213-241-7000

Local District 1 Superintendent:  Jean Brown
6621 Balboa Blvd.  Lake Balboa, CA 91406  
Phone:(818) 654-3600 Fax:(818) 881-6728

Board District 3 Field Office
6651 #A Balboa Blvd.  Lake Balboa, CA 91406  
Phone: 213-241-6386  Fax: 213-241-8979
Phone: 818-654-3785  Fax: 818-654-3788

Thank you for your time and support.

Please join us as our new officers will be officially sworn in at this association meeting.

When:  Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Time:    PTA Meeting – 6:00 p.m. *Note Time Change*
Location:  Porter Valley Country Club   *Note New Location *

                  19216 Singing Hills Dr.Northridge, CA. 91326

***$25.00 per person*** Dinner RSVP and payment must be received in the PTA box by the morning of school  on June 3, 2010.  Please make checks payable to “Germain PTA”. Everyone is welcome to come to the meeting and installation. We still have seats available so please RSVP with the form below. Bring it with a check to the school office.

———————————————————————-

Enclosed is my payment of $____________, which includes myself and ___________ guests. 

I understand that if I am attending the Association Meeting only and I am not having the dinner buffet I am not obligated to pay.

Name____________________________

 Phone #__________________________

 Phone #__________________________

Please join us for this fun dine out night, the last one of the school year. It will be held at the usual McDonald at the corner of Desoto and Devonshire from 5 to 8 PM. Some of our teachers will be serving behind the counter. We will try to have some face painting again and the raffle prize this time is a Wii video game console. If you win it and already have one, you can exchange it ($200+ value).

Note: We will sign in people for eScrip. Please bring your Von’s card number (forgot the #?, call 877 723 3929) and all the other merchant cards you can sign in (check www.escrip.com). Same for Ralphs, bring your card number (call 800 443 4438 if you can’t find your card).
See you there.

Thank you.

Monday May 24, 2010 @ 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Germain Auditorium

The LAUSD is building the Valley Region Span K-8 #2 at  corner of Mason and Sesnon. The meeting is regarding the upcoming construction. The new school is to relieve overcrowding at Germain and other local schools. Come and ask questions. Be heard. Know what is going on.

When will construction start?
When will the new school be opening?
How does it affect our school?
How could it affect your student?

URGENT meeting this Friday , May 14 at 8:15 am in the auditorium
 
We need to form a council including parents to get our $140,000.00 Title I money. If we cannot form the council, GERMAIN St. School does not get the money. PARENTS please come and find out more information and please join to help our school.

Reunion Urgente este Viernes, 14 de Mayo a las 8:15 am en el auditorio de la escuela
 
Necesitamos formar un concejo incluyendo a los padres de familia para que nos den el dinero the title 1 cantidad de $140,000.00 dolares.
Si no formamos este consejo no nos daran el dinero para la escuela. Padres de Familia por favor venga e informece mas como unidos po-
demos mejorar la escuela. Gracias.

Upcoming Events:
May 18  – PTA Meeting – Election for next school year and vote out money!!!!!!!!  7pm
May 26  – McTeacher’s Night Fundraiser
May 28 – No School
May 31 – No School

Thank you!

The “Sweet Success” fundraising was a great success.  Thank you to all the students and parents who participated. We raised approximately $5,000!
The order will be delivered to the school on Monday at 2:30 – 4:30. Please come to pickup your orders!

Thank you!