See a combined calendar for the PTA and PAUSD.
These wonderful programs and events benefit our children and our community as a whole. Your PTA membership and generous donations make them possible. Parent volunteers organize and run them.
| Program or Event |
Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| ASSEM- BLIES |
Assemblies are usually held in the MP room during school hours, and have been made available for the whole school. Subject matters are geared toward broad topics that are of interest and concern for all children K-5 (for example, recycling). | Period- ically, through- out the year |
| BINGO NIGHT |
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. Pizza is usually available for sale. Bingo cards have typically cost 50 cents per card, per game. | Spring |
| BOOK EXCHANGE |
During this annual event, children will bring in unwanted, outgrown books, which are then redistributed to other children in the school. Kids have a wonderful time selecting new books to take home! | January |
| BOOK FAIRS |
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. Book Fairs occur twice a year (once in the Fall, and once in the Spring). What 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. | Fall, Spring |
| CARME- LETTER |
The Carmeletter is our school’s newsletter. It is one of the main methods 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. | Roughly monthly |
| CLASS LIST POSTING CELEBRA- TION |
A perfect get-together when students and families come to see the class lists when they are posted. | Before school starts |
| CLASS- ROOM 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). This enables teachers to supply their classrooms with supplies that are consistent with each other. The parents are invited to make a donation of $25 per child to help cover the cost of supplies. This program has been very helpful in reducing the time parents spend looking for the specific supplies requested by their child’s teacher. | Summer/ Begin- ning of school year |
| COFFEE WITH THE PRINCI- PAL |
Once a month, the Principal is available to chat informally with parents about various issues facing the El Carmelo community. PTA volunteers bring coffee and goodies. | Monthly |
| DIREC- TORY |
Having 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. | Begin- ning of school year |
| ENEWS | eNews is published weekly to keep the El Carmelo community aware of ongoing activities and issues. Another great way to keep up with what’s going on at the school.. | Ongoing |
| FAMILY SKATE NIGHT |
This is a fun social event that is held in early Winter at Winter Lodge. Families pay a fee (~ $16/person, which includes skate rental) to join other El Carmelo families for a night of skating, hot chocolate and desserts. Kids really enjoy skating on the ice with other school friends! | Late fall/ early winter |
| FIELD TRIPS |
Students take field trips throughout the school year to places that enhance their education experience. PTA funds the costs of all field trips, and parents are invited to make a donation of $50/child to help cover these costs. | Ongoing |
| FIRST DAY COFFEE/ KINDER COFFEE |
What better way to meet up with old friends and meet new ones than over a cup of coffee? PTA hosts two coffees at the beginning of the school year, one for the entire parent community and the other for Kinder parents. | First days of school |
| ICE CREAM SOCIAL |
Starting at a new school isn’t easy, whether a student is a Kinder or an older child who has moved to El Carmelo from another school. Our community wants to get to know our newest members as quickly as possible. The Ice Cream Social is an event especially for new students and their families, occurring right before the first day of school. It is the perfect place to come meet other new families, and to meet some “old-timers” who can answer all your questions. | One week prior to the start of school |
| KINDER VISIT SUPPORT |
The Kinder Team invites incoming Kinders to come meet them in the spring before they start Kindergarten. PTA volunteers provide a warm welcome for parents and Kinders while teachers chat with a few children at a time. | Spring |
| LIBRARY FUND |
The PTA provides the library with money to purchase books every year from several revenue streams: Sponsor-a-Book, where parents make donations of $15/book on the One Check Form in the Fall, Book Fairs, and through a line item in the PTA budget. | Ongoing |
| LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRA- TION |
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the El Carmelo community! | Winter |
| 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 program at his/her own pace. PTA provides funding for materials for this program, which would not be possible without parents generously volunteering their time to work at the Math Lab stations in the classroom. | Ongoing in classes that partici- pate |
| PANCAKE BREAK- FAST |
The Pancake Breakfast provides a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy a delicious, leisurely breakfast together on a winter Saturday morning. Perfect for building community, it is one of many events that kids look forward to all year long. | Late winter |
| PARENT EDUCA- TION |
Part of the PTA mission is to support the whole family (including parents!). Parent Education events are held on a variety of topics that might be of interest to parents. 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. | Period- ically through- out the year |
| PE and RECESS EQUIP- MENT |
The PTA helps to fund PE and recess equipment for all grade levels, ensuring that plenty is available for everyone. | As needed |
| PROMO- TION REFRESH- MENTS |
Following 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. Funding for light refreshments is provided by the PTA. | Last day of school |
| PTA CONVEN- TION |
The California State PTA’s annual convention provides useful training for PTA Executive Board members, as well as workshops that are of interest to PTA members at large. At the convention, our delegates also vote on various statewide PTA resolutions. Our bylaws permit us to send two delegates from our school. The PTA budget includes money for travel, hotel, meals and cost of the convention pass for our delegates. | Spring |
| PUMPKIN DISPLAY |
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. | October |
| SCHOOL SUPPLIES |
The PTA provides funding for supplies needed at the school that PAUSD does not cover (in addition to supplies purchased in lieu of “Back-to-School” supplies). | As needed |
| SITE IMPROVE- MENT |
PTA provides funding for various site improvement projects at El Carmelo that are not on the list for PAUSD. Some site improvement activities have included installing a new shed for storage of PE/recess equipment for Kinders, installing raised beds in the garden area, and replacing cabinets in the staff lounge with shelving to allow space for storage of leveled readers. | As needed |
| SPIRIT SHOP |
The Spirit shop sells El Carmelo dragon-logo clothing (such as hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts), water bottles and frisbees. These items are especially popular on Blue Fridays, when the El Carmelo community shows its school spirit by wearing blue. | Ongoing |
| STORIES UNDER THE STARS |
Once a year the PTA sponsors an evening where students come to school in their pajamas and listen to stories read by special guests. These guests have included teachers, the principal, local authors, and other guests from the community. | Winter |
| TALL SHIPS |
Toward the end of the time at El Carmelo, 5th graders 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, but also a terrific learning experience that they’ll never forget! | End of school year |
| TEACHER/ STAFF APPRE- CIATION |
Parents and children take a week to show their appreciation of the entire El Carmelo faculty and staff for their hard work during the year. One day during this week, a luncheon is provided for all staff members in the teachers lounge. | Spring |
| TECHNO- LOGY |
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 have also been purchased with PTA funds. | As needed |
| TEN MILE CLUB |
A parent volunteer started this club to encourage physical exercise during the school day. Children run around campus during noon recess and their progress is tracked. Prizes funded by the PTA are available once they reach various milestones! | Through- out the school year |
| VISITING 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. | Through- out the school year |
| WELCOME DINNER |
This is a fun, social event for families at El Carmelo to meet each other and develop a greater sense of community. | Fall |
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