Looking at the sea of red shirts at the Red Ribbon Week Assembly on Monday and watching our students entranced by Tony Asaro was powerful. As Mr. Asaro noted in his address, our students paid attention and participated beautifully. How inspiring to watch children want to dress as directed, want to participate, and overwhelmingly indicate that college was in the future plan. This is something for which all of us – parents, teachers and community – should be proud. Thank you Denise Reyna, Jean Black and Pam Jacobsen for a great Red Ribbon Week; the presentation was inspiring, the posters bring life to our campus, and the new bracelets are darling.

Tomorrow, all of our students will join fundraising efforts as they run laps for the jogathon. Please remember to return pledge envelopes (go for the $40 because the bike is darling! What child doesn’t love playing DS?). Sincere thanks go out to Erin Levi for her amazing organization of the only school fundraiser in which every child participates.

Meanwhile, Kirsten Hayes eagerly awaits assistance in accumulating items for the raffle for Holiday Boutique. If underwriting seems an easier option, she will happily accept it. Tomorrow is also the last day to order gift wrap. With a 50% return on orders, Maria Klostrakis is hoping to have your computers busy placing orders tonight!

As Mr. Asaro described his love and dedication to baseball, I thought of the parents at our school. Clearly, our students are loved. Dedication to our students’ education is obvious in our well-attended school days and was also apparent on Monday as so many students raised a proud hand at their intention to one day graduate from college. Yet, there is something missing that deters new faces from participating in PTA sponsored activities. Surely, parents are aware that every dime the PTA raises goes directly back into our school. Perhaps, it is being busy but everyone is busy, and the volunteers who chair these events are among the busiest people I know. As I thought of all of the event chairs for fall events, all but two are employed outside the home. There are positions for all personality types-those who are shy, loud, confident in one specific area to those who are multi-talented. If it is a lack of knowledge of who to contact, CALL ME at 224-4976. If nothing else, I will point you to the right person. We are STILL looking for an e scrip chair, for an auction chair, for willing people to be committee heads for the inaugural Crocker Road Garden Tour. There is ample work for everyone. Borrowing from the words of Mr. Asaro "we can, we will…succeed" in reaching our fundraising goals but with a little more help, we will reach those goals faster with smiles on our faces!

Enjoy this beautiful fall weekend,

Sam Mellor