Enjoy our November newsletter from Patriot Oaks!

Charger Chronicles Nov 2020.pdf 

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Hello Charger families!

Well we are in the home stretch of our biggest fundraiser of the year. ChargerTHON definitely looks different this year for all of us, but we have worked hard to get all the info out to you the past two weeks. Our overall goal has been adjusted this year due to COVID and the unique circumstances that this school year is presenting us. Our overall goal is $27,000. This much lower than what historically raise each year ($45,000 or >). As of Sunday evening, we have only raised $7,172.00. Our overall student body prize goals are set at $9K, $18K and $27K. If we raise at least $45K we will have a special surprise reward for all students.

A letter was emailed and sent home hard copy last week outlining the prize structure for all students. With the PTO not being allowed in the schools at this time, our prize structure has to look different, but we think there are some amazing rewards for all students, no matter the grade or age.

We miss being able to be in the school and hyping the kids up and keeping the excitement going over the two-week ,campaign. We are relying on our wonderful teachers to help us get the information out to you as frequent as they can. As a reminder, all elementary students will be running their ChargerTHON event (which is tied into our separate Turkey Trot virtual 5K and Fun Run) this week during their PE resource class. We hope you will share your student’s individual donation page through 99 Pledges with all your families and friends, co-workers, etc. to help support your student. We are appreciative of every penny that comes in.

As a reminder of the importance of meeting our overall goal (or exceeding it), the PTO relies on the funds raised to support the school for THIS SCHOOL YEAR. With the closure of the schools last winter and spring, we were not able to hold smaller events and fundraisers. The success of last year’s ChargerTHON enabled the PTO to continue supporting the school all summer and into the start of this school year. We need to meet our goal to ensure we can continue supporting the school as we have budgeted for the remainder of this year. Exceeding our goal, ensures that we can support the school over the summer and into the start of the next school year.

The purpose of our PTO is to encourage and enhance the educational experience of our children, teachers, and administration. In doing so, we foster a sense of support, pride, and enthusiasm through the creation of activities and volunteer-based programs that support our teachers, children, and parents for the current school year.

Your donations will help pay for:

• Teacher development (conferences, materials, etc.)
• Technology – IXL, Raz-Kids, ABC-Ya, etc.
• Teacher workroom supplies (cardstock, copy paper, sentence strips, construction paper, flip charts, etc.)
• Teacher classroom supplies and materials (books for classroom libraries, curriculum based support aids, subscription services, alternative seating, carpets, storage, etc.)
• Equipment (musical instruments, iPads, resource headphones, science lab equipment, robotic equipment)
• Playground maintenance (mulch, shade structures, equipment)

Thank you again for your support of our PTO. I know we can rally and come together to raise the funds and meet our goal. Lets make this last week a record breaking week and close out ChargerTHON with a bang!

99 Pledges (type in your child’s name to find their page) https://app.99pledges.com/fund/chargerthon2020

PTO website (like and follow to stay up to date on all of our important announcements https://patriotoakspto.wildapricot.org/

Questions please email us at [email protected]

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Friends and family of Patriot Oaks Academy,

We are introducing a small fundraiser for our adminstrative account that pays for Good Charger bracelets, golden lanyards, charger horses, Friday cookies, Good Charger banners, etc. These are important positive reinforcers for our students! Please see the attached flier from Charleston Wrap for a look at all that is available. Get ready to get an early jump on holiday shopping and share with friends and family. Orders ship directly to your home. This fundraiser is only open for this week. 

Thank you for your support!

Charleston Wrap fundraiser.docx 

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Dear Chargers,

If your child has not had their school pictures taken yet, tomorrow is the last time to ge them taken here at Patriot Oaks. Saturday, Nov 7, from 9-11:30 (new extended time) in the blue lot (enter Islesbrook Parkway) is the plan! Come anytime in that window. The photographer will be set up in the cafeteria expansion. In order for your child to be in the yearbook, they need to have their picture taken. Thank you. 

Patriot Oaks

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Dear Charger families,

Don’t forget to send in non-perishable food items for our annual food drive for Southwoods Elementary! We need your help so that our community to the south has enough for their needs this holiday season. Donation boxes are at both entry doors and in the front office. Thank you in advance for your generosity! Donation drive goes until November 10.

Patriot Oaks Academy

A couple of important announcements and reminders for all families!

1. Math Counts is starting up again this year for middle school students! If you are in middle school and you love doing challenging math problems with friends for FUN, then Math Counts is for YOU! We will host tryouts for this year’s competition team on Monday, November 2nd right after school in Mrs. Westberry’s room. The tryout will last until 3:30 – so please make sure you have a safe way to get home that day at 3:30. Any middle school student is welcome to try out! 

2. Picture retakes are Wednesday October 28^th for B&M students only.  Order forms are on the counter in front of the mailboxes or parents can order online at leonards.com. If your child has recently returned to brick and mortar and has not had their picture taken yet, please have them come to school ready for pictures tomorrow. Reminder, DL pictures are on Nov. 7 from 9-10:30 at POA. In order to have your child’s picture in the yearbook, they must have their picture taken! We want all to be in the yearbook. 

3. The PTO is excited to announce our first ever Chargers Turkey Trot Virtual 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run that kicks off this Friday October 23, 2020. Race weekend is 11/21/2020 and 11/22/2020.

4. This week is the last week of our online Book Fair! We hope you’ll support Patriot Oaks by purchasing Scholastic items before Friday, Oct. 30. Our PTO receives a percentage back on all orders placed through our link! Don’t forget that anyone can support our school by purchasing, so you are welcome to share the link with friends and family.

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Picture retakes are Wednesday October 28^th for B&M students only.  Order forms are on the counter in front of the mailboxes or parents can order online at www.leonards.com/photoprepay access code R519553.

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Hello Chargers!!

The PTO is excited to announce our first ever Chargers Turkey Trot Virtual 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run that kicks off this Friday October 23, 2020. Race weekend is 11/21/2020 and 11/22/2020. Please see the attached letter and flyer that goes into detail on all the important facts about how this race will work, the app we will be utilizing to track participation and prize reporting. We are excited to be working with so many local businesses to bring you a fun way to get out and move with your family, friends and neighbors and compete for some awesome prizes. This virtual 5K and 1 mile fun run is not taking the place of our biggest fundraiser of the year, ChargerTHON. We will be emailing out and sending home hard copy information for ChargerTHON next week.

For now, please read through the information letter attached and the flyer that outlines the competitive and non-competitive aspects of the race. We have set a registration goal of 250-275 participants. We know we can meet that goal. Everyone who registers will receive a custom race t-shirt and medal. Please share with family and friends as this is not limited to just POA families and students.

If you have any questions, please email the PTO at [email protected] and be sure to visit our Turkey Trot page on our PTO website for FAQ’s and race info and to REGISTER!!! https://patriotoakspto.wildapricot.org/Turkey-Trot

We can’t wait to see all our Charger families and friends out having fun and racing. And remember, Chargers Run, We Don’t Wobble!

2020 Virtual 5K Turkey Trot Parent Letter Final.docx 

2020 Turkey Trot Race Info Graphics Final_.pdf 

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Dear all Charger families,

We have an opportunity to help and serve right here in our community!

We are collecting travel-sized personal hygiene items (soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, feminine products) for Murray Middle School’s “Trick or Treating for Hygiene Products” event. If you would like to participate, please send in any items to your child’s teacher by Thursday, October 28^th. Distance Learning families- you can drop off any items you would like to donate on Wednesday afternoons during the materials drop off and pick up or bring them to the front office. Thank you!

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 Hello Charger Families! 

Your PTO is excited to announce that our fall Scholastic Book Fair IS OPEN! 

Due to COVID restrictions, the Book Fair will be online only this month from Oct. 19-30. 

The exciting part is that families will be able to shop over 6,000 items, including new releases, best sellers and value packs! This year all orders ship directly to home plus you receive free shipping on book-only orders over $25!

SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL!

Did you know that Scholastic Book Fairs directly support our school? Our PTO receives a percentage back on all orders placed through our link! Friends, grandparents, cousins, etc are welcome to purchase through our link! Additionally, you can support your student’s classroom directly by purchasing wish list items (Click here for teacher wish lists!). If you do not see your child’s teacher listed, it is because they have not sent the PTO their wishlist book titles. We will continue to add teachers as we receive them. 

PURCHASE FROM OUR BOOK FAIR LINK:

Don’t forget to purchase directly from our Fair link so Patriot Oaks receives credit! https://www.scholastic.com/bf/poa 

PTO MEMBER PERK! 

PTO member perks look a little different this year – and require an extra step by families – but you won’t want to miss these prizes! 

All PTO members who place a Book Fair order Oct. 19-30, can enter to win one of ten prizes below:

* One $25 Amazon Gift Card!

* One $20 Credit in Scholastic Dollars to use at the spring book fair!

* Eight Different Book Bundle Prizes! 

(Two pre-selected book bundle options for K, 1-2, 3-5, and MS)

HOW TO ENTER: Submit the following items to [email protected]

1) order confirmation number

2) PTO member first/last name 

3) grade(s) of your child(ren)

Winners will be selected and emailed after the close of our Book Fair. Book bundles will be sent home with your child or porch dropped for distance learners. No cash back.

SUBMIT PTO ENTRIES and QUESTIONS:

[email protected] 

Thank you for your support! Happy reading, 

PTO Book Fair Committee 

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/poa 

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Happy Unity Day Chargers! Today’s the day we come together to celebrate kindness, acceptance and inclusion. Each of us can use actions representing our Good Chargers Character to make our school bully free every day. I am sure it will be an incredible day of kindness, acceptance and inclusion that will be repeated every day after today.

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Dear all Charger families,

You can surprise your child at school with a special Smencil delivered on their birthday!  You can also share the celebration with the whole class by ordering a class set.  PTO will deliver to your child’s teacher, or we offer front porch delivery for distance learners. Please see the attached form for details, or contact Heather at [email protected] for more information.

BirthdayGram Order Form – Half Sheet with Distance Learning.pdf 

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Hello POA Families!

I am Ms. Lawrence, your child’s art teacher. If you are new to POA, Welcome! I am so excited and honored to be able to create with your child! This year, we will be continuing our Elementary art room fundraiser with Art to Remember. This is a way for us to raise money for some new and exciting art supplies! If you are unsure of what Art to Remember is, here is the link to our school page https://arttoremember.com/school/6nm77y (you might have to copy and paste). Watch the video labeled “How Art to Remember works” to find out! Brick & Mortar students will be creating their artwork for the fundraiser with me at school but I want to give the opportunity for Distance Learners to participate as well. I will be posting a lesson for Art to remember to Schoology early next week (I will title it Art to remember!) OR you can submit an artwork your child has already created! Please understand that this project is OPTIONAL and will not be graded. If you are in need of paper, (mixed media paper works best and ATR supplies one piece for each student!) there are a couple ways you can get it…

1. Stop into the front office and ask for a piece of Art to remember paper.

2. Grab it when you drive through the RED lot on Wednesday (this week 10/7 or next 10/14). Just simply ask for a piece of Art to remember paper!

Once your student has completed the ATR artwork, you can drop it off on Wednesday 10/21 via RED LOT  (I cannot accept it after this date, as this is the deadline!). PLEASE put it in a gallon Ziploc bag labeled with your child’s FIRST & LAST name, TEACHERS NAME, and ART PROJECT in big letters. This will help ensure that I receive it. If you have any issues or questions please do not hesitate to email me! Stay well!!

With Appreciation,

Christie Lawrence

Elementary Art Educator

[email protected]

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Dear Brick and Mortar families!

Art Club Atelier is starting soon! Please see the attached flier for registration information, fees and dates. Act right away as the club fills quickly! Deadline is October 7.

Fall 2020 ATELIER FORM.docx 

The PTO is excited to host our first spirit night of the year Thursday October 1^st at PDQ on San Jose Blvd from 4:30-8pm.

Please be sure to mention Patriot Oaks Academy when you make your purchase so that the proceeds will come directly to the PTO.

Proceeds will help the PTO support our school THIS SCHOOL year! We hope to see you there. Go Chargers!!

PDQ Spirit Night 10-1-2020.png 

Update 9/14/20 

If your child is interested in trying out for boy’s baseball through SJMSAA. Our school volleyball team tryouts for both middle school boys and girls are next week. Please email Cynthia Bean or Michelle Hiett for details. 

 Fall pictures: For our Brick and Mortar students, pictures are this Friday and a flier has gone home for you to order pictures. For our Distance Learners, your pictures are scheduled for October 28. As we get closer to that date, we will send out a schedule and the flier for ordering. 

Please be sure your child comes each day with a water bottle. We have fillers but they need a bottle. 

Food & Nutrition Services News

USDA Meal Service Waiver

Posted on September 9, 2020

The U.S. Department of Agriculture extended waivers allowing students a breakfast and lunch option available at no cost. The meals available at no cost are the posted school lunch and breakfast menu. A la carte items are not included as part of the no cost meals. A la carte items will continue to be available for purchase. Meals are also available for pick-up at all schools for anyone 18 years old or younger. Meals available for pick-up are modified for safety and may not reflect the menu served in the cafeteria. It is preferred that children are present for meal pick-up. If the child/student is not with the parent for meal pick up, USDA requires a form of ID. Valid forms of identification may include, but are not limited to, school identification card, child’s passport, government-issued child identification card, or any document proving parent/guardian identity and relationship to the child, such as an adoption decree; doctor, clinic, or hospital record; religious record; or daycare center record. Meal pick-up times are as follows:

Patriot Oaks Academy : 9 – 9:30 am  Pick up outside- Kitchen/Central Receiving location

The program will begin on September 10, 2020. The longevity of this extension is dependent on funding.

Dear All Charger Families,

Below is the absence form that you need to fill out when your child is out for an entire day. Please either send it in to Andrea Murphy at the front office or email it to her at [email protected]. Thank you!!

POA ABSENTEE FORM.docx 

Happy Friday Charger families,

Our School Advisory Council (SAC) is seeking parent and community members for the 2020-2021 school year. Participating in SAC provides an opportunity for parents and community members to get active and involved with Patriot Oaks’ school vision and mission through school improvement planning.

If you are interested in participating as a member, please email Allison Tumbelty at: Allison[email protected] .

Meetings will be held the last Tuesday of each month at 3:15pm. 2020-2021 school year meetings will be held virtually until further notice.

Definition of SAC: a diverse group of stakeholders of a school, established through Florida law, with the shared goal of increasing student achievement in a safe learning environment.

Thanks,

Allison Tumbelty

Each school year, our school district produces a Student Code of Conduct for the school year. Grades K-2 received a hard copy in the first day of school folder and it is accessed on our school website for grades 3-8. On page 63 of the booklet, there is a signature page that states that you have read the document and are aware of the contents. We need a signed form returned to school for all students. 

Brick and Mortar: please tear out the form or print the attached, sign it and send it in to your child’s classroom teacher or homeroom teacher. 

Distance Learners: please tear out the form or print the attached, sign it and either scan it/take a picture of it. Upload it into Schoology to the classroom teacher or homeroom teacher or send the attachment to their email.

We ask that the forms be turned in by the end of this week. Thank you so much. 

Parent Student Acknowledgement.pdf