Wildcat PTSA News: East City Books Fundraiser | Story of Our School Donation | Fingerprinting

Posted on by smittyjd23

Hello, everybody!

Please visit East City Bookshop 4-7 p.m. this Saturday and buy some books. For everything you buy during this time, 20 percent will go directly to Payne. You can also buy books requested by classroom teachers or donate to the Payne Library. East City is located at 645 Pennsylvania Ave, SE. Shop local and support Payne. Bonus: there will also be complimentary wine and snacks.

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PTSA MEETING NEXT WEEK

There will be a PTSA meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Representatives from Eliot-Hine Middle School will speak and field questions. We’ll also learn more about REACH, a reading program that pairs teenage tutors with Payne students. And the PTSA wants to hear what’s on YOUR mind, so please join us!

You can also purchase tickets for Skate Night, which will take place Dec. 18 at Temple Hills Skate Palace from 6 – 9 p.m. Last year’s Skate Night was a huge hit last year, and this newsletter writer only crashed like 10 times. Tickets are $10 and 50% of the proceeds go to the PTSA.

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SHIRT SALE SUCCESS

Thanks to everyone who purchased Payne T-shirts. We exceeded our goal of 50, selling 84 clothing items and raising $280.

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Reading Coach Tiffani Turner is looking for volunteers to help organize the book room. Separate from the library, this room is where guided-reading, unit books and other supplies are stored. Ms. Turner is looking for three to four volunteers to assist. Tasks included setting reading levels for books, organization, sign creation and decor improvements. She notes, it would be especially helpful if one of our taller community members stepped up. “The shelves are pretty high, and I’m directionally challenged,” she notes. Interested in helping? Email Ms. Turner: tiffani.turner@k12.dc.gov

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STORY OF OUR SCHOOL PROJECT

If your child attended Payne last year, you’ve probably heard of the Story of Our School Project. A team of students, led by PK3 Teacher Ms. Stokes, conducted a thorough research project on the history of Payne, detailing accounts of the school’s namesake, Daniel Payne and interviewing past students and longtime residents of the neighborhood. The culmination of this project is a museum-quality exhibit, to be built in the main entry space, that will educate the Payne community and visitors for years to come.

This initiative is part of the Story of Our Schools project. The cost to build the exhibit is estimated at $30,000, and more than $20,000 has been raised through donations of area businesses and residents like you. And now the PTSA Board has unanimously voted to chip in an additional $4,600 to help close the final gap!

“When complete, the Story of Payne exhibit will be a lasting legacy for the school — a vision honoring Payne’s rich past that our students and our community made a reality,” said PTSA President Mark Jordan. “Through this donation, the PTSA board wanted show our commitment to the project and we thank all members of the PTSA for your fundraising efforts that helped to make this possible.”

If you would like to learn more about the program or make a donation (every little bit helps!) visit this website.

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FINGERPRINTING

To everyone who got a TB test this fall: We will be hosting fingerprinting at Payne the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Click here to sign up. Fingerprinting is the last step to obtaining DCPS clearance for volunteering in city schools. Please bring your negative TB test result to the fingerprinting.

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We wish a special thank you to one of our Fall Festival Gold Sponsors, the Jeanne Phil Meg Team at COMPASS Real Estate:

Compass Concierge is a program that helps sellers capitalize on their homes’ equity to make improvements in order to simplify and quicken selling their homes. No interest or fees. Find out more at jeannephilmeg.com

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DOWN ON THE FARM

Science Teacher Mr. Creef, aka Farmer Creef, introduces one of our chickens to kindergartener Valerie Bowen.

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IMPORTANT DATES

Saturday, Nov. 16: 4-7 p.m., East City Bookshop fundraiser

Saturday, Nov. 16: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feeder Fest at Eastern High School

Nov. 18: 9 a.m., open house for prospective families

Nov. 19: PTSA meeting, 6-7 p.m.

Nov. 19: 10:15-11:30 a.m., Eliot-Hine Open House

Nov. 21: Second grade field trip

Nov. 22: Picture Day. Note: Uniform is not required this day.

Nov. 26: No after care. Please pick up students no later than 3:20 p.m.

Nov. 27-29: Thanksgiving Break (no school)

Dec. 18: Payne Night at Temple Hills Skate Palace; details to come

Dec. 19: 10:15-11:30 a.m., Eliot-Hine Open House

Dec. 23-Jan. 3: No school