Programs and Events

Your PTA membership and generous donations make it possible for our school to offer these wonderful programs and events that benefit our children and our community as a whole. These programs and events also would not be possible without parents volunteering their time to organize, run and support them.

Click here to view a one page list of the school/PTA activities and events for the year 2007-2008.Calendar

Event/Program	Description	Chair Person	Date
ASSEMBLIES	Assemblies are held in the MP room and have been made available for the whole school.  Assemblies are attended by children during school time. Subject matters are geared toward broad topics that are of interest and concern for all children K-5 (for example, recycling).	Mary Rose	Periodically, through-out the year
BINGO	This is a fun social event that occurs on the school grounds in the evening. Everyone (parents, children, neighbors) is welcome to attend.  This event usually lasts about 2 hours where are there multiple winners per game to create as many winners as we can! Prizes are awarded to winners.  Food is usually served at the event. Bingo cards have typically cost 50 cents per card, per game.	Mona Napaa and Barbara Rains	Spring
BOOK EXCHANGE	During this annual event, children will bring in unwanted books, then these books are redistributed to other children in the school. Kids have a fun time picking and choosing new books to take home!	Elisa Schmit and Michele Kasper	January
BOOK FAIR	Although this event is also listed under ‘fundraising’, this is a wonderful way to encourage reading and put new books into the hands of our kids.  The book fair occurs twice a year (once in the Fall, and once in the Spring). It’s a great deal of fun to walk in the MP room and see it transformed into a huge bookstore. Kids enjoy browsing and purchasing books for themselves, friends, and teachers.	Erika Krugler	Fall and Spring
CALIFORNIA EXPLORER	This is a 4th and 5th grade instruction class provided by an outside vendor. Students are gathered together and play games and asked questions to test their knowledge about the history of California.
CARMELETTER	The Carmeletter is our school’s newsletter. It is the main method of communicating ongoing activities and issues around campus. Parent volunteers submit articles for the newsletter, and more parent volunteers helped to edit and layout the final product. It is a great way to find out what’s going on at school.
CHILD WATCH	Child watch services are provided for certain PTA sponsored events. These historically have been the Back to School Night, and various parent education events. The PTA tries to provide child watch services whenever it is important for parents to be attending events on campus.
CLASSROOM SUPPLIES	At the end of the school year, teachers provide lists for the supplies they need for the following school year. A PTA representative makes a large collective purchase (at a great discount) for all parents (grades 1-5 since Kindergarten’s lists vary by teacher). This enables teachers to receive items that are consistent with each other and may receive items throughout the year (instead of getting everything right at the beginning of school).  The parents are requested to reimburse the PTA for this group purchase at the beginning of the school year. Approximately $15/child is requested. This program has been very helpful in reducing the time parents have to take, running around looking for the specific supplies requested by their child’s teacher.	Megan Fisher and Melinda Schuur	Summer/Beginning of school year
DIRECTORY	Being able to have a way to easily contact other parents is critical to our community! At the beginning of the year, parents are requested to provide contact information to be printed in our school-wide directory. Directories are provided free to all PTA members, and may be purchased by non-PTA members for a small fee.	Jeff Bondor	Beginning of school year
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS	Did you know that there is an emergency supply shed on campus? It’s near the far end of campus behind the El Carmelo Kids Club. The district pays for the shed and most of the items contained inside. The PTA helps to fund any additional emergency supplies that are not covered by PAUSD that would benefit our school in case of an emergency.	Calvin Woon
FAMILY SKATE NIGHT	This is a fun social event that is held in early Winter at the Winterlodge. Families pay a fee (typically $12/person) which includes skate rentals to join other El Carmelo families in a night of skating, hot chocolate and desserts.  Kids really enjoy skating on the ice with other school friends!	Yi Mei Chang and Linda Jensen	Nov
FIELD TRIPS	Sometimes in order to really experience a topic that kids are learning in the classroom, requires a field trip. Students throughout the school year take field trips to places that enhance their education experience. PTA funds cover field trips at an average cost of $20/student.
GREAT BOOKS	Great Books is a nonprofit, independent educational organization. They publish collections of classical and modern texts for children and adults. The PTA pays for the books and the training requested by any parents that are interested in Great Books training. This training helps parents use these books to strengthen students’ critical thinking, and promote the appreciation and reading of literature.		As needed
HOMEWORK CENTER	An after school homework club has been created by the PTA for 3rd through 5th grade students.  Once a week, students stay after school to receive extra helping completing homework. An El Carmelo teacher, plus help from other staff, assist students in completing existing homework, or providing general help with school work.		All year
ICE CREAM SOCIAL	Being a new family at a school isn’t easy. Our community wants to make our school as friendly and inclusive to new families as possible. The ice cream social is a social event just for new families at El Carmelo. New families will be able to meet their ‘buddy’ that has been assigned to them. Also, packets are given to new families that are full of great information to help them navigate our school.	Michele Kasper	One week prior to the start of school
INTERNATIONAL DAY	International day provides an opportunity to display and learn about the rich diversity of our community, as families share their cultural heritage through booths, art projects, dances and food. This event is currently scheduled for every other year. Children are given passports to hold stamps from each country table their visit. This is a great way to learn and appreciate the cultural diversity of our school community as well as for widespread parent participation.	Ana-Maria Dias
LIBRARY FUND	The PTA provides the library with money to purchase books every year.
LICE PREVENTION PROGRAM	To prevent the spread of Lice throughout the school, we perform monthly checks in each classroom. This is a very helpful service that minimalizes the spread of lice (which can occur quickly within a classroom).		Once a month
MATH LAB	Math Lab was created and developed by a parent many years ago to promote the appreciation and interest in general math skills. The basic philosophy of math lab is to make math fun (through a series of hands-on math activities) and to allow the child to progress through the math program at his/her own pace. This program would not be possible without parents generously offering their time to volunteer to work at the math lab stations in the classroom.	Stephanie Youngquist	Once a week (grades K-3); every other week (grades 4,5)
MONET ART	Students in the 3rd grade class perform an indepth study of Monet and Impressionism. The PTA helps pay for the materials used.		Once a year
NOON ART AND ACTIVITIES	During lunchtime recess, a parent volunteer make art projects available for students (approximately every other week). This very popular program draws nearly 100 students per session. The PTA pays for the art supplies for these projects.	Asmita Runge and Rhiannon Wallce	Every other week
PANCAKE BREAKFAST	The pancake breakfast has traditionally been the event that launches the El Carmelo Auction (our biggest fundraiser). The pancake breakfast is usually one two weekends before the Auction. The school year 2005-2006 was the first time it was offered free of charge. Items are available at the pancake breakfast on which families may bid.	Barbara Rains and Mona Napaa	March
PARENT EDUCATION	Part of the PTA mission is to support the whole family that includes the parents. Parent education events are to help education parents about various issues that will provide insights into how to better support our children, or other topics of interest for parents. This category’s expenses include payment for snacks, and cost for speakers/lecturers. Some parent ed events have included: Understanding the Kids and the Internet; Getting Ready for Middle School; Explaining Standardized Testing; and Your Child’s Friendship Skills and Communication Choices	Carrie Manley	Periodicaly through-out the year
PE and RECESS EQUIPMENT	The PTA supports the cost for all grade level’s PE and recess equipment. The secretary chooses the items that are needed (as he/she is privy to what is needed), orders and pays, then requests reimbursement from the PTA.	Office secretary	Through-out the year as needed
PROMOTION REFRESHMENTS	After the 5th grade promotion ceremony, there is a reception for all 5th grade students and their families/guests. The reception is held at school, and is coordinated by 4th grade parents -the funds for light refreshments are provided by the PTA.	Jill Spain
PTA CONVENTION	The California PTA has an annual convention that is very informative for incoming and current presidents and those on their executive board. Also, at the convention, our delegates vote on the various resolutions. We are permitted by our bylaws to send 2 delegates from our school. The budget includes money for travel, hotel, meals and cost of the convention pass.		Spring
PUMPKIN PROJECT	Every year near Halloween, a parent volunteer organizes a pumpkin carving display. Children bring their decorated pumpkins to school for viewing by other students. They may choose to take their pumpkin home after school or donate it to various places (such as retirement homes) around Palo Alto.	Barbara Rains and Mona Napaa	October
REVOLUTION PLAY	This applies only to the 5th grade classes. If time permits, the 5th graders will put on a Revolution Play that teaches about the Revolutionary War. Teachers sometimes opt out of doing it if their classroom work prohibits the time for it.
ROCK MUSICAL	This applies to only the 3rd grade classes. The third graders prepare for a ‘rock musical’ usually held in the spring.  All children participate in this fun and uplifting show.	3rd Grade Teachers	Spring
SCHOOL SUPPLIES	The PTA provides some money for supplies needed at school that PAUSD does not cover.	Office secretary	As needed
SITE IMPROVEMENT	This item includes landscaping areas of El Carmelo that are not on the list for PAUSD. Some site improvement activities include helping reduce the muddy areas on campus so children are not tracking mud into classrooms. Help to make some areas of the school more useful for teachers to be able to use for class time or for children to play.		As needed
SPAGHETTI DINNER	This is a fun, social event for families at El Carmelo to meet each other and develop a greater sense of community.	Jane Littau and Susan Ridert	Fall
SPIRIT SHOP	With a newly designed El Carmelo dragon in 2005, the school sells many different items to show your school spirit! The Spirit shop sells clothing (such as hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts) and pencils, water bottles, etc.	Colleen Hall and Susan Rider	Through-out the year
STORIES UNDER THE STARS	Once a year the PTA sponsors a night where students come to school and listen to ‘special’ adults read stories. Some ‘special’ people have included teachers, the principal, and local authors.	Penny Kerhin	Feb
STUDENT COUNCIL	The student council at El Carmelo is an active group of children who take part and lead many activities at school. The PTA helps to pay for some incidentals costs incurred by the student council such as film processing.	Diane McCoy	As needed
TALL SHIPS	Tall Ships is the big field trip that 5th grader take towards the end of the school year. Students spend a weekend on a ship tirelessly working to prepare meals, clean the ship and other tasks. Sounds exhausting (which it is), but the kids leave the ship feeling independent, and realizing what they accomplished. It is a very fun weekend for them! The cost is $4800, of which the PTA pays $2800 and the 5th grade students must raise the remaining $2000.	Office secretary	End of school year
TEACHER APPRECIATION	Parents and children take a week to show their appreciation of their teacher. One day during this week, a luncheon is provided to all staff members in the teachers lounge.	Michele Kasper	May
TECHNOLOGY	The PTA helps fund the purchase of various technology items. Due to the immediate obsolescence of computers , purchases focus mainly on new computers and software. Digital cameras and printers are also items that have been purchased.	Office	As needed
TEN MILE CLUB	A parent volunteer started this club to encourage physical exercise during the school day. A teacher has volunteered his time to help run this activity. Children run around campus during noon recess and their progress is tracked. Once they reach 10 miles, they are given a great T-shirt to reward their accomplishment!		Through-out the school year
VISITING AUTHORS	Students are given the chance to speak with published authors. The PTA helps bring various authors to the school to meet the kids and talk about their books, how they write, and answer the children’s questions.	Maya Venkatraman	Through-out the school year
YMCA NOON ACTIVITIES	The YMCA offers noon time activities and games on the El Carmelo campus. They provide staff that come and direct and monitor the children during these games.		Through-out the school year