Hello, O’Hara Families! We really need your help this Friday. Due to construction, our teachers have not had their usual access to set up their classrooms and prepare for the start of school. Construction has also created a lot of work for our administrative staff, who have been working in temporary rooms. Please consider volunteering for a shift this Friday to help our amazing teachers and staff! Even if you cannot stay for a full shift, an hour of your time would be greatly appreciated. We currently have 12 teachers/staff members requesting help for the morning shift (9am – 11am), and 11 for the afternoon shift (12pm – 2pm). The afternoon shift in particular could use more volunteers. It’s all hands on deck as we count down to the first day of school!
Hello O’Hara Families! Classroom assignments have hit mailboxes and the countdown is officially on for the first day of school! Be sure to mark your calendars for these August events and dates to note:
Monday, August 20, 2018 (4:00 – 6:00 p.m.) PTO Sponsored Incoming Kindergarten Family Meet Up at the Playground. Have a child entering kindergarten at O’Hara Elementary this year? Your family is welcome to join the O’Hara PTO for an informal playdate at the school’s playground on August 20th from 4-6pm. New kindergarteners can meet their classmates and explore the playground, while parents can mingle and get any last minute questions answered by PTO representatives. We will have water and pretzels available, but feel free to pack a picnic dinner and enjoy a relaxing end-of-the-summer evening with your family.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018 (5:00-6:00 p.m.) Meet and Greet for all grades.Students and families are invited to visit the building, see their classrooms, and meet their teachers. [Want a sneak peak at who’s in your class before the 23rd? Pop on over the PTO Facebook page to connect with families]
Thursday, August 23, 2018 First Day of School
Wednesday, August 29, 2018 School Pictures
Thursday, August 30, 2018 (5:00 – 7:00pm) Curriculum Night(Parents/Guardians only, please, stay tuned for more details).
Friday, August 31, 2018 Early Dismissal (1:30 p.m.)
Hello O’Hara families! We hope your summer is going well!!! While it’s hard to think about indoor recess days when the sun is shining and our kiddos are living outdoors, the PTO is getting ready for rainy days ahead. Please ask your students what they would like to see in the indoor recess bins. What were their favorite items last year??
While you’re at it – ask what we need more of for OUTDOOR recess (where we hope to be a much as possible throughout the year)! We’re gearing up for a great year ahead. Comment below, please!
Friday the 18th marked our last PTO meeting of the school year and the last fundraiser of the year with the conclusion of Spring Basket raffle ticket sales. Thank you all for the making the basket sales (and the entire year!) a success. The Spring Basket Fundraiser brought in a total of $8,100. Here’s your handy recap from the 5/18 meeting:
Mrs. Batis shared rankings from the Pittsburgh Business Times showing Fox Chapel as 4th overall (1st in 3rd grade!).
The PTO officers for the 2018-2019 School year were confirmed as follows. Thank you to Dana Rofey for a great two-year term!
Sarah Shaffer – President
Nadine Carl – Vice President
Kristina Adams – Treasurer
Lauren Mohn – Secretary
Faith Moser – Fundraising Officer
Dana Rofey – Advisor
Carrie Work – Advisor
Committee Chairs for 2018-2019 are still being confirmed. Recent planning meetings and survey results identified several new committee opportunities – stay tuned for another open call for nominations.
The PTO currently has a budget of just over $13,000 set aside for courtyard renovations. The courtyard committee held a preliminary meeting with several teachers and Mrs. Batis to discuss potential uses. Next steps include meeting with
Dan Breitkreutz, Director of Ancillary Services, to explore options. Parent and teacher input will be sought throughout the planning phase (additional information to follow).
Outdoor recess was also a hot topic at the meeting. There is consensus among parents, lunch and recess monitors, teachers and administration that outdoor recess is preferable to indoor recess, but poor weather and some limitations due to construction frequently kept students inside this year. The PTO will continue to work with administration to explore options to provide physical activity during the school day when outdoor recess is not possible. Potential policy changes will also be investigated.
An interim budget for projected spending between June 30 (the end of the PTO year) and September 20 (the next PTO meeting) was presented and approved by members present.
Thank you again for your support this year! The Board will be working over the summer, so expect to hear more from us throughout the coming months.
Calling all PTO supporters and volunteers! Please join us for our last meeting of the year on Friday, May 18th at 9:15am in the O’Hara Courtyard*. We’ll have breakfast and coffee as a small token of appreciation for all of your support this year. Breakfast will be followed by a brief meeting, including an administrative update from Principal Batis and the election of our 2018-2019 PTO officers. We look forward to seeing you there!
The 2018 O’Hara Elementary School Spring Basket Fundraiser is here! This fundraiser is an annual favorite for students, staff and parents alike. It’s also O’Hara PTO’s largest fundraiser – last year we raised close to $9,000! Money raised helps the PTO fund teacher stipends, assemblies, courtyard improvements, O’Hara t-shirts, and more.
How it works:
Students in each class contribute items based on a set theme, and then PTO volunteers assemble the baskets. The baskets will be on display in the Commons Area the week of May 14 – 18, during which time students can purchase raffle tickets from PTO volunteers at school. Each student receives one free ticket for a chance to win the basket of their choosing. Basket winners are randomly drawn on May 18th after school, and winners are notified by email.
How to Help:
Begin sending in donations NOW through May 11th
The PTO requests that students bring donations of NEW items (specific to their selected theme as listed below) to their classroom, where collection baskets will be provided. The deadline to donate items is May 11th.
Donations DO NOT need to be expensive, but something a child would enjoy receiving. For example, if your child had “Movie Night,” you could donate movie passes, popcorn, a DVD, etc.
Purchase Raffle Tickets the week of May 14th through May 18th
Each student will receive one free ticket.
Parents, staff, and students may purchase additional tickets during the school day (8:40am – 3:45pm): 1 for $1, 12 for $10, and 30 for $20. Cash and checks payable to OEPTO are accepted.
Students will need to write their name and their homeroom teacher’s name on the back of each ticket. Kindergarten & 1st Grade students are encouraged to buy their tickets Monday—Thursday to bring home and write their name and their teacher’s name on the back of each ticket and place in the baskets the next morning.
Winners will be announced on May 18th via email.
Volunteer to assemble Baskets on May 11th (all slots filled – thank you for volunteering!)
Fetterman- Movie Night (iTunes gift cards, movie tickets, popcorn, candy, etc.)
Ricci- Spa Day/Relaxing Day
Ivanusic- Take Me Out to the “Pirates, Steelers, Penguins” Game
Planz- Star Wars (May the force be with you.)
Bonus Baskets!
In addition to the class theme baskets, there are several “Big Kid” baskets that will be up for raffle, including:
Pirate tickets for 4
4 ski tickets & rental tickets to Hidden Valley 2018-2019
4 ski tickets & rental tickets to Seven Springs 2018-2019
4 snow tubing tickets Hidden Valley 2018-1019
4 snow tubing tickets Seven Springs 2018-1019
Golf for four Hidden Valley 2018
Golf for four Seven Springs 2018
Seven Springs Overnight lodging for a family of four
Parents are welcome to sign in to view baskets and purchase tickets. Anyone without clearances will need escorted by a staff member. Tickets will still be on sale during the PTO Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast and Meeting on May 18th (9:15 – 10:15).
We appreciate the support and participation of all the families and students with this fundraiser.
If you have any questions, please comment below or email the Spring Basket Fundraiser Co-chairs:
O'Hara Elementary PTO 