Challenger PTA News
January 2015 – Challenger PTA Chapter 2.6.6
Co-Presidents
Yvette Artman
Jennifer Laramore
Your 2014-2015 Challenger PTA Officers are:
Co-VPs
Treasurer
Betsy Kheriaty
Janelle Quigley
Varija Kolagotla
Key Dates:
January:
1/13 – PTA General Mtg 7pm – Library
1/21 – Yo Plateau Benefit Day
1/23 – Festival of Cultures 6:30 pm
February:
2/6 – Popcorn Friday
2/16-20 – Mid-Winter Break
2/18 – Yo Plateau Benefit Day
In this Issue:
 Presidents Message
 Eager Reader
 Festival of Cultures
 Parent Education Events
 After school classes at Challenger
 ISF updates
Like us on Facebook at
Challenger Elementary
PTA, and visit our website,
www.challengerpta.org
challengerpta.org
Co-Secretaries
Shannon DeHart
Rachelle Hrncirik
Presidents Message
Happy New Year! We hope you all had a nice Winter Break and took the
time to enjoy spending time with family and friends. Before I get into the
heart of my message I would like to thank all those who volunteered at and
attended our Bingo night-it was a huge success and a lot of fun. A special
thank you to Sara Jo Pietraszewski, Mrs. Raff, Doug Richmond, Joel Sayson,
and Hank Klein for your help.
I’m not really a New Year’s resolution type person, but I was reminded over
break that “less is more” and that “busy-ness is not a virtue.” Wow, what a
great reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment. Time passes by so
quickly! In addition to my third grader, I have two middle-schoolers. It is so
shocking to me to realize that next year my oldest will be in high school.
These moments are so precious. I hope we can all remember to enjoy them
while they are home with us.
Speaking of enjoying them while they are home… one way I have really
gotten plugged in and spent quality time with my elementary school
daughter is by getting involved with PTA. I know it sounds kind of hokey but
once they get to middle school, volunteer opportunities are few and far
between, and much less personal. Although I do keep busy with PTA duties, I
can’t imagine ever regretting the time I spend at school getting to know
teachers and staff and contributing to the Challenger Community.
This is my last year as PTA co-president, and I am looking for a replacement!
This job is really so important. It is time consuming at times but a great
opportunity to be intimately involved with enrichment activities and PTA
programs and to get acquainted with other Challenger parents. This is the
time of year we start looking around for some folks to take over next year.
The good news is, many of our current officers and chairpersons will
continue next year so anyone interested can shadow the current chair and
takeover when they are ready. Please consider getting more involved-it really
is a fantastic way to focus on your child during these fleeting years.
Thanks for all you do to support our students.
Yvette Artman
([email protected])
Jennifer Laramore
PTA Co-Presidents
Jennifer Laramore
([email protected])
Challenger PTA News – January 2015 - Page 1 of 3
Get the scoop!
Eager Reader is Starting Soon!
Eager Reader will begin on February 1st. The program is all new and exciting this year. Please watch for
an information packet to come home at the end of January that will explain the program and also have
all the materials your child will need to participate.
If you have signed up to volunteer to tally reading minutes, please remember to attend a short training
on January 27th at 8:30 in the MPR.
Join us at Challenger’s Festival of Cultures
Parent Education Events
On Friday, January 23rd, from 6:30-8pm, Challenger “will
go around the world” and learn more about the culture,
food, music and traditions of the countries representing the
rich diversity of our school. Students will work on their
geography skills while sampling food from all around the
world. This free PTA event is run by Challenger families for
the whole community, family and friends are welcome to join
the journey. If you would like to represent your country at
the Festival and/or would like to perform, please go to
Challenger PTA website to register.
Staying Safe Online:
Sponsored by the Issaquah PTSA
Council, the Briarwood Elementary
PTSA proudly presents Teaching Your
Child How To Share Smart A and
Stay Safe Online. Parents can learn
practical and effective strategies that
can be put into action as soon as you
get home!
 Date: Thursday, 1/29 at 6:30 pm
 Location:
Briarwood Elementary Library
17020 SE 134th St, Renton, WA
Would you like to be part of this multicultural event by
representing your country? Come and join Mexico, India,
Costa Rica, China, Japan and many more. It is a fantastic way
of meeting new faces while sharing your country through
food samples, crafts and displays.
Would you like to perform on stage at the Festival? Perhaps
your family is part of a dance group or you friends interested
in performing at the Festival? We are looking for performers
such as dancers, martial arts, traditional musicians…
- Anny Figueroa, Festival of Cultures Chair
[email protected]
150 Screen-free Kid Activities:
Clark Elementary parent and author
Asia Citro will teach tons of creative
screen-free kid activities! Parents will
take home slime, playdough, and all
the materials to make your own ice
excavations!
 Date: Thursday, 1/20 at 6:30 pm
 Location:
Clark Elementary Art/Cooking
Room
Challenger PTA News – January 2015 - Page 2 of 3
After-School Classes at Challenger (Non-PTA)
On-campus classes starting this winter
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Eastside Enrichment - Winter Classes: Classes begin the 3rd week of January and run through March. Classes
offered this session are: Art (Mon), Dance/HipHop (Tue), Karate (Wed), Lego Building (Thu). For schedule,
class descriptions, and to register, visit: eastsideenrichment.org.
French classes: ParisAcademy Northwest is now offering French language program at Challenger after school on
Tuesdays from Feb – May. To register, go to: parisacademynw.com. For questions, contact: Madame Parisa
Behzad-Pour at (425)753-6561 or [email protected]
Chess4Life: Chess classes are offered at Challenger this winter. For more information, go to: Chess4Life.com.
Issaquah Schools Foundation Update
Mail Call – Donation Tax Receipt
Plant the Seed
If you made a donation to the Foundation during 2014,
keep an eye out for your tax-receipt letter. It should hit
your mailbox by Monday, January 26th. Call 425-391-8557
if yours does not arrive by this date.
Mark your calendars and join us for the Annual
Nourish Every Mind Luncheon, Thursday, May
14th at IssaquahCommunity Center and/or
Nourish Every Mind Breakfast, Wednesday,
May 20th at Eastridge Church. The Breakfast and
Luncheon are THE BEST ways to learn about the
District/Foundation partnership and see how
students directly benefit from your investments.
Plus, both events are inspiring and fun!
.
Happy New Year!
Our community rocks! Your donations topped off our All in
for Kids Annual Fund campaign in December, allowing us
to begin 2015 with even more support of our students and
schools. Because of you, the Start Strong Program for
freshmen will be expanded and we’ll be able to fully fund
our Academic Enrichment Grants. THANK YOU for
continuing to elevate education for every student in the
District. Our best wishes for a fantastic 2015.
Empty Closests = Full Tummies
Value Village is opening a store in Issaquah and has
selected the Issaquah Schools Foundation as its local
nonprofit partner. All clothing and household goods
donated at the Issaquah store February 17-21 will result
in a cash donation to the Foundation. We’ll direct the
money to the Basic Student Needs program which
provides food, health care, clothing and school supplies
for students in need. Stop by 5530 E. Lake Sammamish
Parkway with your donation, and thank Value Village for
supporting our students.
If you’d like to join us as a Table Captain or event
volunteer, please contract Audrey Clark,
[email protected].
Cracking the Code
Thanks to your donations, computer-coding
instruction will soon be available at several
elementary schools. The Foundation has
approved training for 19 elementary teachers so
they can bring Scratch programming into their
classrooms. Developed at MIT, Scratch is a
programming language that allows children to
design interactive media using stories, games and
animation. The Free Scratch Coding Clubs will be
piloted at four elementary schools this spring.
With their launch, Foundation donors will bring
computer programming to students as every
level – elementary, middle and high school.
Challenger PTA News – January 2015 - Page 3 of 3