A Happy Thanksgiving for All

The PTO’s first Thanksgiving food drive was a success and 14 needy families now will have a wonderful holiday. Principal Tiffany Farris had suggested to PTO President Melissa Dixon that the group try this service project. Fliers went out calling for donation of food items or grocery gift cards. To make sure families would receive sufficient supplies, Mrs. Farris and her office staff also made cash donations. PTO also purchased gift cards. In the end, the PTO made sure each of the 14 green tubs had the food needed to cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner along with a $25 gift card to buy a turkey. Food baskets were distributed last week. Mrs. Farris said the families were very thankful for this timely assistance. 

The PTO is inviting families to play Santa’s elves this season for 46 Castle View children who need some holiday cheer. The Christmas Giving Tree, located in the school office, sports tags with a number identifying the age and gender of each child. Parents can take a tag (or more) and purchase a gift. Gifts should cost at least $10. Deliver the new and unwrapped gift to the school office no later than Dec. 16. Make sure the tag is attached to the gift. Gifts will be distributed to the children before winter break.

Sweet Fundraiser

The See’s Candy Fundraiser is underway. Brochures and forms were sent home with the students the week of Nov. 14. Orders are due back Wednesday, Nov. 30. The orders can be picked up at the Family Movie Night on Dec. 16. The top three sellers will receive gift cards.

Books – lots of ‘em – for sale

Here’s a page turner: The Book Fair is coming! A huge selection of books for all reading levels will be on sale Dec. 2-9 in the school library. Ellen Johnston, a parent volunteer, and Ms. Cramer, librarian, are running the show. Parents can get first pick of books on Dec. 2. Students who come with them to parent-teacher conference that day also can purchase books. 

It will take many authors to make this event a bestseller. Which chapters can you help write?

+ Volunteers needed to operate the cash registers. Training will be held Monday, Nov. 28, at 9:30 a.m.

+ Sales help needed daily the week of Dec. 5 from 1:45-2:30 p.m. Sales day includes Wednesday, early release day.

+ The books need to be set up for sale Nov. 30-Dec. 1 between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

+ Assistance will be needed to take down the book fair on Dec. 12 during the morning.

For information about volunteering, contact Ellen at [email protected] 

 

Running to 10K

All that running around the lower playground in September during the annual Jog-a-thon fundraiser generated $10,750. The money will go towards the field trips that grades will take this school year. Many thanks to all the students who participated.

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Delicious Fundraising

The PTO budget gained some weight because of fundraisers at a frozen yogurt store and a restaurant. Yogurtland on University Avenue ran a fundraiser special for several Riverside Unified School District schools. The store donated $46 to Castle View. Smokey Canyon BBQ in the Canyon Crest Town Center reported sales of $665 thanks to Castle View families. The restaurant donated $125 to the PTO. 

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 Money comes in, money goes out...

Jog-a-thon. See’s Candies. Fro-yo. BBQ. Where does all that money go?

-- Free Family Movie Night in September

-- Free Costume Ball

-- Pizza parties

-- AR parties

-- Thanksgiving food baskets

That’s just for starters. Hundreds of dollars have been provided to the grades for a variety of activities. Called Grade Grants, the PTO funds such things as Art To Go (first grade), Art’s Attack (second grade) and a field trip to Discovery Zone in Orange County (fifth grade). PTO recently approved the 5^th grade field trip to Riley’s Farms in Oak Glen. Cost for that trip is $1,653. 

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President: Melissa Dixon

Vice President: Tammy Wamsley

Treasurer: Lety Hilton

Secretary: Andrea Franco

Parliamentarian: Roxanne Walk 

 Wait! There’s more! Check out our highlights videos at Vimeo: