Welcome to Clayton PTA - The Clayton Weekly

"The Clayton Weekly" is our calendar and news e-mail sent via the school Google group. By each Sunday evening, you receive a snapshot of what’s going on at school for that week. We know everyone's busy so it's easy to skim.

If you’re already signed-up on the Google group, you do not need to do anything. If you’re not, click here to sign-up for the Clayton Google group.

Please contact Erin Ochoa at claytonweekly@claytoncardinals.org with questions.

MOST RECENT CLAYTON WEEKLY:

The Clayton Weekly

Week of September 1 - 7, 2008

**CALENDAR**

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Student/Staff Holiday

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

7:45am -- Assembly
Eat Out for Clayton -- Eat dinner at Waterloo Ice House (Escarpment Village) and 10% of the proceeds goes back to Clayton

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

3:15 -- PTA Executive Board Meeting, Library

**DETAILS/ANNOUNCEMENTS**

Reminder: Labor Day Holiday

Please enjoy your Labor Day on Monday, September 1st. Students will resume classes on Tuesday, September 2nd. We will start the day off with assembly on Tuesday.

SOAR Reading Program Kick-Off - We need 240 volunteers for this good cause!

SOAR stands for Students on Adventures in Reading and is an wonderful volunteer-based program. This program supports the teachers and students in 2nd – 4th grades. Students increase in confidence and self-esteem by improving their reading skills. Immediate and frequent feedback from their volunteer Reading Coach keeps them reading and reaching for higher goals! The program has already helped over 100 students and had concrete success last year. We all like a little special attention now and again. And when you’re a kid in elementary school, that extra attention could make the difference between passing and failing the state mandated TAKS test. Who makes it happen? Volunteers (like you!) - we just need “mentors” to devote just two half hours per week to reading with a child, cheering them on, and giving them the special attention they need to, well, soar. Sign up to volunteer at www.mysignup.com/clayton_soar or contact the SOAR volunteer coordinator, Melinda McKenna at SOAR@austinreps.com. For all the FAQs, please go to the SOAR web page.

Get Involved at Clayton - Volunteer Opportunities for 08-09

In addition to volunteering in your child's classroom, there are always opportunities to help and support at Clayton. They range from program and project coordinators, helping the coordinators on a committee, help in the office or VIP room, and much more. Some can be done from home and/or at night. So, for all moms and dads, who work outside the home or stay at home, please think about what you can do. Without Clayton's volunteers, many of the things you see simply wouldn't happen. And besides the obvious benefit of supporting your child's education, you will meet so many great people! Current coordinator positions open are: School Directory, Yearbook, Reflections Art Program, Public Relations, Track & Field Day, Art Department Fundraiser. If you are interested in these positions or need more info., please contact Marimel Ansdell at volunteers@claytoncardinals.org.

Arrival and Dismissal
Parents, we appreciate all of your help and hard work in ensuring the safety of our children at arrival and dismissal. Please remember that our school day is from 7:45-2:45. Students in grades K,1, and 2 will not be dismissed before 2:40 and students in grades 3-5 will dismiss at 2:45. In order to relieve the congestion on LaCrosse, we encourage you to arrive after 2:30 if you will be driving through the dismissal lane. Usually, our dismissal takes less than 10 minutes once students are released from classrooms. Please save your self some time and help us in managing the after school dismissal process. We will get children safely to their vehicles and send you on your way. Thanks so much for your help and understanding.

Back to School Nights Next Week

Next week we will host Back to School Nights for parents. These adult only events for our parents and teachers to meet, discuss the goals of the year, and learn more information about the classroom. All Back to School Nights will start first in the cafeteria for an overview and introductions with our campus administration and teachers. The PTA will also be selling school t-shirts and taking hoodie orders again between 6:00 - 7:00 pm in the lobby. We look forward to seeing parents there. Thank you.

Tuesday, September 9th
        5:30-6:30        Kinder, PPCD
        6:30-7:30        Second Grade

Wednesday, September 10th
        5:30-6:30        First, Life Skills, SCORES
        6:30-7:30        4th Grade, Resource

Thursday, September 11th
        5:30-6:30        3rd Grade
        6:30-7:30        5th Grade

Magazine FundRaiser Starting Soon

Monday, September 8th will be the QSP Magazine Fundraiser Kick-Off. This fund raiser is sponsored by the campus administration for school-wide programming, additional classroom materials and subscriptions, etc. Please wait to renew you magazines and do so through our school. Most subscription prices are competitive and 50% of the cost each magazine purchased comes directly to the campus. Please tell you family and friends that this is starting next week on September 8th.

For all Grade Level Leaders, Program and Project Coordinators - Use the Clayton Weekly!

The best way to communicate to parents is the Clayton Weekly email. We only know about dates and news if you tell us. So, if you are a grade level leader, program coordinator, etc., please email your submissions by the Friday deadline to Erin Ochoa at claytonweekly@claytoncardinals.org.

The Clayton Weekly (deadline for submission is Fridays): Erin Ochoa at claytonweekly@claytoncardinals.org

PTA General E-mail: info@claytoncardinals.org
PTA Website: http://claytoncardinals.org
Clayton AISD Website: www.austinisd.org/schools/website.phtml?id=157

AISD Main Website: http://www.austin.isd.tenet.edu/