Curriculum Night - Thursday August 20

As you arrive or leave the school on Curriculum Night, please stop by the PTO table to buy your Mariposa spirit t-shirts. These are worn by students every Friday! We have a rad new design that is perfect for both girls and boys this year! Plus a hot new color - all for the lowest price in years - $10!

And for the very first time in Mariposa history we are selling pride stickers! These are great for the back window of your car or student's notebook or just about anything! Show your Mariposa Pride!

See you then!

Box Tops Proceeds Go To NEW Recess Program!

Have you ever wondered what happens to all those Box Tops you send in with your student? The PTO receives thousands of these every year. They are painstakingly cut, packaged and sent to the company and what we get back is a big, fat check! But what happens to that money? Normally it gets spent for the PTO's usual operating expenses to help out the school. Starting this year, however, all box tops proceeds will go towards the new recess program, Active and Heathly School!

ANNOUNCING THE KICKOFF OF A NEW RECESS FROM MRS. ALLEN
Mariposa is extremely excited to announce to the community that our school is implementing the Active and Healthy School Program! The AHS program takes a proactive approach that assumes the playground is a place to learn and an environment that contributes to the activity and health of the students. The following steps are designed to make the playground an active, safe and friendly experience:

• Think of recess as “Activity Time”! By definition, the word recess signifies that it is time for a break from learning! However, there is much learning that takes place during recess. One of the most important lessons learned is how to get along with others regardless of ability or age. “Activity Time” serves an important function in the school beyond giving students a break from academics.


• Zones for the playground allow for added safety. The Activity Zones also are intended to increase variety of activities for students to participate in. They offer youngsters the opportunity to make choices they like. This design keeps kids active and having fun, as it has Activity Zones are organized in a compact and easy-to-use format.

The following are examples of the New Playground Activity Zones:

Primary Zones:
- Shuffle Board
- Hopscotch & Number Jump Games
- Hoops & Scoops
- Bowling
- Jump Rope (indiv. & long)
- Tetherball
- Playground Area
- Soccer
- Basketball Shooting
- Walking & Jogging Track with pedometers
- Four Square

Intermediate Zones:
- Shuffle Board
- Hoops & Jump Rope (indiv. & long)
- Basketball also Bump Out & Around the World
- Kickball
- Flag Football
- Tetherball
- Playground Area
- Soccer
- Four Square & Nine Square
- Walking & Jogging Track with pedometers
- Game of the Month (Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Frisbee Golf, Team Handball, Hockey, Tennis, & Capture the Flag & Softball)

So be sure to keep sending in those Box Tops!! They directly benefit your students every day!

Not sure what products have Box Tops? Download a complete list here: http://www.boxtops4education.com/AllAboutBoxTops/products.aspx

Print coupons for Box Tops products here:
http://www.boxtops4education.com/Coupons/

Want to get involved in the new recess? Mrs. Allen is looking for parent volunteers to help with this program.

Are you able to take a “Longer Lunch?” and play games with the kids once a month? If you are able, this would be a huge assistance in the launching of this exciting AHS program. Our goal for the Intermediate “Activity Time” is to have each day one parent scheduled to assist the 3rd, 4th, 5th grade lunch by leading “The Game of the Month”. The time commitment would be from 10:20am- 11:30am. If twenty-five parents could commit to one a month we would be covered!

The Primary “Activity Time” is open to all parents during your child‟s “Activity Time”! The times are as follows: 2nd grade 11:20am-11:40am, 1st grade 11:45am-12:05pm, Kindergarten Lunch in Cafeteria 11:52am-12:15pm, Activity Time 12:15pm-12:30pm!

SO COME AND BE A KID AGAIN AND ENJOY OUR NEW RECESS!
** Sign- up sheet in the Mariposa Office or contact Mrs. Allen, coallen@kyrene.org

Great way for working parents to help out!

Are you a working parent, or parent with small children, but would like to help out your Mariposa student's school? There is a very easy, yet very important, way to contribute - join the hospitality committee!

This committee provides food and drinks for our valuable and excellent teachers at their staff meetings and a few other events. It takes very little time, but makes a big impact.

It's very simple - you get on the email list of helpers, then about every 2 weeks or so, you'll get an email asking for a few people to bring in drinks and snacks for the teachers and to help set-up and clean-up. You don't have to help every time. You can drop off your contribution at the beginning of school, or after school, or even send it in with your student. Have a little one? Bring them along in the stroller and get the plates, napkins, cups and food set out. Or come back a little later and help clean up. Whatever is most convenient for you!

The teachers very much appreciate this small gesture from the parents of their students! Won't you join us?

Please leave a comment or email us at mariposapto@kyrene.org if you are interested in being a part of Mariposa Hospitality!

got student?

Beginning of School

Meet the teacher night was a great success! Lots of new parents signed up to get involved in their child's school!

We also sold many school spirit t-shirts. If you weren't there and didn't get a chance to purchase them, order forms will be going home soon with your students. This year they are a hot new color with a cool new design! Don't miss out!



We also gave away our free calendar magnets. Did you get yours? Each family gets a very handy calendar magnet that has the school 2009-2010 calendar, plus other important info. All compliments of the PTO. If you missed out, you can get it in the school office.



The first day of school has come and gone. Another great Mariposa year is here!

Review of 2008-2009 School Year

We had a very successful year in 2008-2009! Our fundraisers did very well and we were able to supply many things for the school.

• Grade Level Grants - each grade purchased items to enhance their math and science curriculums


• Mariposa School Website Update


• Water Slide - for Survivor Field Day and Primary Water Day


• Folding Tables


• USA Stencil - for new outdoor map


• 5th Grade Agendas - for upcoming 5th graders


• New A+ T-shirts - for the whole school


• Picture frames for the hallways

PTO also funds or contributes to PALS supplies, hospitality committee which hosts school staff meetings, school printing costs, the 5th grade party, Turkey Trot, Field/Water Day, volunteer appreciation, and much more.

In addition, last year we donated $1200 to the Preserve Kyrene Foundation and sponsored teacher seminars.

PTO-sponsored events included:

• Harvest Festival
• Book Fairs
• Restaurant Nights
• Yearbooks
• Student Directory
• Otter Pops Sales
• Movie Night
• Mariposa T-shirts
• Spring Social
• Plus many more!

We look forward to another successful and exciting year in 2009-2010!