Next week, the Hauser PTO will show its appreciation for our teachers and staff by providing treats each day in the teacher’s lounge, hosting a nice lunch on Wednesday, and raffling off daily prizes. We are still seeking many donations, and rely on your support.

This year’s theme is ” As great artists, thank you for the masterpieces you create everyday”

Daily Teacher’s Lounge Treats
As we celebrate artists from around the world, we are looking for volunteers to bring the following food items for daily treats in the teacher’s lounge:
•    Piscasso -Monday, May 6th – 6 people to bring tapas or appetizers
•    Vermeer- Tuesday, May 7th – 5 people to bring a variety of cheese and crackers
•    Warhol -Thursday, May 8th – 1 person to bring a crock pot of soup

Wednesday Lunch
As we celebrate, Da Vinci’s  “The Last Supper,” we are looking for volunteers to bring the following food items for the Italian lunch on Wednesday, May 8th:
•    Fruit Salad or Fruit Plate  - 2 people
•    Desserts (prefer Italian themed) – 4 people
•    Crock Pot of Soup (prefer Italian Wedding or Minestrone) – 2 people
•    Salad – 3 people

We are also looking for volunteers to help at the lunch of Wednesday, May 8th:
•    Table Decorations – 2 people
•    Set-Up (9:30a-11:00am) -3 people
•    Serving (10:45a-12:15pm) -2 people
•    Clean-up (12:00pm-1:30pm) – 3 people

Daily Raffle
We are looking for parents and community members to donate items to be raffled each day during the week.  If you would like to donate an item for the raffle, please contact Lisa Freel at (freel@prodigy.net).  She will gladly arrange a time to pick up the donation.  We are seeking new gift items, gift cards or gift certificates for services.

Please click on the link below to volunteer for any of the spots above.

Thank you in advance for your help!
Lisa Gaynor(ltgaynor@aol.com), Lisa Freel (freel@prodigy.net) and  Lisa Muldowney (lfm384@yahoo.com)

On Friday Feb. 22, 2013, at 9:30 a.m., at Riverside Public Library, the Philanthropy Committee, comprised of PTO officers Carol Barlow, Jane Wilhelm, and Audrey Korslund, met to determine what gifts the PTO would make to the school this year. The PTO will vote on the following proposal at its meeting on April 6, 2013.

The PTO is in a fortunate situation to have positive cash on hand in the bank due to the successful fundraising over the past two years. Because of this surplus we have formed a Philanthropy committee to determine what positive contribution the PTO can return to the school and better yet, the kids.  Fortunately the school has very little needs due to the construction projects. We did purchase a one-cup coffee pot to the teachers as a gift to them. They also received every book on their wish list based on the success of the book fair. We decided it would be best to give back to the students versus any capital improvement or school supplies. All suggestions were considered.

Once we heard that the athletic uniforms are 20 years old, it was a unanimous decision to pursue replacing them for the eighth grade students. Boys and girls basketball teams share tops which really gets a lot of wear. We also decided that if the budget allowed, that eighth grade girls volleyball uniforms would be purchased as well due to the age and wear of them as well. Soccer, track and cheerleading uniforms are relatively new compared to basketball and volleyball.

Jane Wilhelm pulled numbers based on the actual performance to budget along with the projected budgeted expenses to determine what amount would be afforded to spend. Last year bank carryover is $11,932.61. According to the by-laws, we are obligated to keep $1,000 cash on hand at all times.  We decided that we would keep $5,000 in the check book as carryover into next school year to give cushion for operating expenses to start with. With the $5,000 cushion minus the projected expenses left into the year, we are expecting a surplus of $5,576.11. It was decided at the budget meeting that if there was a positive cash balance that it would be accounted for Philanthropy.

Katie Fissinger did a great deal of research to find the best price for good quality uniforms to represent Hauser. She looked at different schools uniform types along with giving the students an opinion on the design. There are 75 uniforms to purchase for both basketball and volleyball teams. A quote came in for a 3 color uniform (white, blue and gold) for a total of $5312.50. Carol Barlow, Audrey Korslund and Jane Wilhelm approved the purchase of these uniforms as a gift from the PTO to Hauser Jr. High.

Download the Philanthropy Committee meeting minutes.

Before you vote on April 9, meet the candidates running for the District 96 Board of Education. They will be speaking at the Hauser PTO meeting on Wednesday, March 13 at 6 p.m., in the LRC. (There are a few dates and times floating around out there. This is the confirmed date and time of the meeting.) Each candidate will briefly introduce him/herself, and then take questions.

In addition to meeting the candidates, we will be taking care of important PTO business at the meeting, including voting on revised bylaws and the proposed slate of 2013-14 PTO officers. We hope to see you there.

If you cannot attend the Hauser PTO meeting on March 13, you are welcome to meet the candidates at one of the upcoming PTA/O meetings at D96 elementary schools.

Ames:  Tuesday, March 5, 7 p.m. , multipurpose room
Blythe:  Wednesday March 6, 7:15 p.m., lunch/multipurpose room (enter North doors on Leesley Rd.)
Central:  Friday, March 8, 8:30 a.m., library
Hollywood:  Friday, March 22, 11:15 a.m., tbd

A special committee, chaired by Board Parliamentarian Melinda Brom, has revised the Hauser PTO bylaws. The general membership – which includes all Hauser parents and teachers – is invited to review and comment on them. The PTO will vote on adoption at its meeting on March 13, 2013, at 7 p.m.

Download the revised bylaws.  If you have comments or questions, please contact Melinda at thebroms@sbcglobal.net.

The next meeting of the Hauser PTO will be Friday, Feb. 8, at 9 a.m., in the LRC. All are welcome. We will have reports on a new Student Inclusion Committee, revised bylaws, and recent events and activities. Mark your calendar and download the meeting agenda.

The Hauser PTO will meet at 6 p.m., on January 14, immediately prior to Dr. Michael Maniacci’s presentation on “Parenting Under Pressure.” Download the meeting agenda.

Minutes from the November PTO meeting, and the most recent Treasurer’s reports are also available online.

The Hauser PTO relies on volunteers to make our many events and programs successful. We are currently recruiting volunteers to chair the following activities.

Spiritwear: The Spiritwear sale is a fundraiser that occurs at the beginning of the school year. The committee is responsible for all aspects of the sale, from choosing the vendor and items to sell, to creating and distributing the order form and collecting money, to managing distribution of purchased products. Time commitment is moderate while decisions are being made, and when orders arrive for sorting and distribution.

Book Fair: Seeking a co-chair to help organize the four-day Book Fair, which provides funds for new library and classroom books for the school. Committee members set up, run, and take down the fair, which is typically in late winter/early spring.

Family Dinner: One of Hauser’s most popular fundraisers is the family dinner and silent auction, which takes place one evening during the Book Fair. Past dinners have featured homemade pasta or soup, as well as catered menu items. The committee coordinates donations of food and auction items, and organizes set-up, serving, and clean-up at the dinner. Time commitment varies depending on the extent of involvement. Proceeds support PTO activities.

Teacher Appreciation: This committee is responsible for meals for the staff during parent/teacher conferences in the fall, as well as the traditional luncheon and events during teacher appreciation week in May. There are varied opportunities for committee members, with jobs appropriate for whatever time you are able to give. The committee is encouraged to be creative with themes and activities. Volunteer committee can be time intensive leading up to the events.

Eighth Grade Graduation Celebration: This committee plans and coordinates the PTO-sponsored graduation party for the eighth graders. The event happens on graduation night at Riverside Town Hall. Volunteers help in various ways to manage event details and work within the budget.

If you are interested in chairing or co-chairing one of these committees, please contact Jodi Connelly at jodi.connelly@sbcglobal.net. If you want to volunteer for these or other PTO activities, stay tuned for volunteer sign-up information in early September.

The next Hauser PTO meeting will be Friday, February 3, 2012, at 10 a.m., in the LRC (Library). The agenda is available here: Hauser PTO Mtg Agenda – Feb 2012.

There will be reports on several exciting, upcoming events, as well as news on the PTO Nominating Committee for next year’s PTO Board.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

In our small, close-knit community of Riverside, the dangers of the world can often seem far away … until you go online. According to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office:

• 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online — more than 40% say it happened more than once.
• 53% of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another person online — more than 1 in 3 have done so more than once.
• 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

Cyberbullying – through cell phones, social media, e-mail, or Web sites — can have a serious impact on a child’s life and behavior. To learn how to deal with cyberbullying and other Internet safety issues, don’t miss the District 96 PTA/O’s 2012 Guest Speaker Sarah Migas, an Internet Safety Specialist from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, on Tuesday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m., at Blythe Park School’s auditorium, 735 Leesley Rd, Riverside.

Download the event notice.