There will be a Legislative Conference in Sacramento February 7th and 8th. Whether you are a seasoned advocate or a newcomer, this is an opportunity to hear directly from experts about what is really happening in our state that affects our children and our schools. It is a chance to learn firsthand and meet directly with decision makers at the state legislative level. Stevenson is considering sending a delegate to this conference.

Further, three School Board member seats will be up for election this spring. If you would like more information on the Legislative Conference of School Board member seats, please email – susangold017@gmail.com.

Based on observations by parents, our vigilant crossing guard and our neighbors, it has been requested that we PLEASE help our young pirates by being sure to use the MARKED crosswalks, refrain from J-walking in the street and NEVER double park. Other crosswalks, while possibly legal, present our kids and neighbors to hazards not as prevalent at less congested times of the day.

By setting a GREAT example for our young people, we can all look forward to an accident deprived school year and future.

In addition to other safety measures and rules of the road please:

• Use MARKED crosswalks
• Follow and wait for direction provided by our vigilant crossing guard.
• Do Not Double Park
• Ensure that all of our young pirates are kept out of the street.
• If possible, have all young pirates board your ship,..er,..I mean vehicle on the starboard (sidewalk) side.

Wishing for you all calm seas (and roads) and smooth sailing!

Tiffany with Scotty & Niko

Time flys when you’re having fun!

Happy December everyone! Can you believe that we are just a few weeks from the school year being officially half way through? Time flies when you’re having fun! PTA sure has been having fun! I am sure you noticed (or your pocket books noticed) that we have been busy fundraising to pay for many fun activities for Stevenson students. With all the cut backs that the state faced, PTA was not sure what we would be asked to pay for and with the tough economy, we weren’t sure what kind of money we could raise. But I am happy to report that so far this year we are doing fantastically! With all the great contributions from parents, PTA will be able to pay for many things. To start with your kids now will get to go on fun, educational Field Trips. They will also get to see educational assemblies. And that’s just to start, here are many other things that PTA can pay for this year because of all your fundraising efforts! A special thank you to all you parents and staff who participated!

Another program that PTA participates in is the Holiday Basket Program.  This is a heartwarming program that lets you and your family help other families in need. PTA “adopts” a few families for the Holidays. Baskets are put together for the families so that they can have a special Christmas. The children can receive toys and much needed clothes and a Holiday dinner is also provided for them. Please look out for the flyer going home that asks for toys, clothes, food (non perishable), and gift cards. PTA will supplement whatever else is needed. Together we can make a difference in many lives. Gift Cards are available from the FFS Sun Shade Crew (who sells cards on Monday Morning and Friday afternoon in front of the school office).   Happy Holidays to you all!

Tiffany Bakas, PTA President

Everyone appreciates a good multitasker. It’s that clerk at the store who can help one person into the dressing room, answer a second question all while finding the perfect size for someone else. It’s the fabulous cleaning stick that takes stains out from both the grout and the rug. And there’s a talented multitasker in sun safety that we can appreciate – hats!
Hats play an important part in sun protection and they multitask too.

A wide-brimmed hat is the best kind of hat for sun protection. It protects the scalp, the face, the back of the neck and at the same time provides valuable protection for sensitive eyes. One statistic estimates that hats block 50% of UV rays that would otherwise be damaging exposed skin.

While wide-brimmed hats may not be widely popular on the playground, they really are the best choice for maximum protection. Some believe though that any hat is better than no hat and promote the use of the much-loved baseball cap as an acceptable alternative. Schools once banned hats universally along with other problematic clothing that commonly carried symbols or messages inappropriate for school. But as the concern for sun safety increased, The California Education Code was modified to allow for hats to be used outdoors – with specific rules on use being determined at the school or district level.

So take a few moments to appreciate a great weapon in the battle for kids’ sun protection and embrace the great multi-tasking hat!

Melissa Boag – Made in the Shade Committee

Classrooms that met or exceeded our 100% enrollment goal:

• Mrs Almeida
• Mrs Boulais/Rondinella
• Ms Diamond
• Mrs Kern
• Mrs Lavitt

Each class  got to enjoy a well deserved popsicle party!  Mrs Almeida’s class also received  a $50 Amazon gift certificate as the classroom with the most PTA member sign-ups.

Congratulations to  Kael O’Donnell for being the student with both the highest PTA sign-ups and the most out of state sign-ups.  We hope you enjoy your pirate gear!  We certainly appreciate your effort!

We are still accepting memberships so join today!