Reminders and volunteer requests from the Exploris PTO for the week of September 10:
- Emergency Contact/ Inclement Weather Info
- Spirit Wear- order today!
- Teacher Snack Stash
- School Picture Day
- PTO Committee Leads needed!
- Explorations
- Carpool reminders
- Upcoming Events
1. Exploris Emergency Alert System
2. Last call for Spirit Wear! We have great new Tshirts, water bottles, cinch bags, hats, and more available on the Exploris PTO Square Store. Don’t forget to check out the spirit wear at this link https://squareup.com/store/exploris-school-pto/
The LAST day to order is September 10th.
Note: we will deliver orders to crew teachers. Please print and turn in an order form to the school (even if you pay online) so we know where to send things.
Let’s show some love and appreciation for our teachers and staff by stocking their snack stash! This is the first of two times we will collect snacks for this school year. (Of course, you are welcome to send in treats and snacks any time of the year. We just won’t have another official collection until February.)
4. School pictures are scheduled for this week!!
- September 12 Middle School
- September 13 Elementary School
We will reschedule photos if necessary due to Hurricane Florence. We are watching the weather and hope to at least be able to get the middle school photos taken.
Here is a sign up for volunteers to help facilitate school pictures at the middle school. Ellie would love to have the staff in the and classroom or utilizing their planning time.
5. PTO Committee Leads
The following committees are in need of lead volunteers this school year: If you are interested in leading any of these committees, please email Allie Lindahl, VP of Volunteers at allie.lindahl@gmail.com. If you are interested in helping with any of these or other committees, but not lead, please fill out the Parent Involvement Form here – https://goo.gl/forms/VV7tjoYkX46C5Vmd2
- Teacher Stash Snack Drive:
Send out signups and organize incoming snacks twice a year to stock teachers
on goodies! One volunteer for each campus would be ideal. (The fall sign up is above, so we just need volunteers to organize snacks next week – September 17-21 – as they come in). - Teacher Appreciation Week:
We love to show our teachers and staff how much they are appreciated! Our chairperson will communicate exact needs via a PTO Blog email, but typically involve a Signup Genius request for Meals (each teacher receives an entrée/side dish to take home for dinner one night), breakfast food donation (a breakfast is held for the staff one morning before school starts), and some kind of “love your teacher” gift or card. The PTO sponsors a catered lunch one afternoon and a sweet treat on a different afternoon. This event is held annually in May time frame. - Adult Social:
This is a time for parents, teachers, and board members to get together and socialize. There are no children allowed at this event. Volunteers are needed to help with all aspects: hiring food trucks, renting tables, decorations, beverages, etc. This is a great way for parents to get a chance to spend time together outside of carpool pickup! - Soap Sales Art Contest Coordinator:
Run the student art contest for the soap product labels. Includes writing the rules for the contest, communications for the contest, and selecting winners. - Crew Parents:
4th grade (Annah’s Crew), 5th grade (1 parent for the grade), and 6th grade (1 parent for the grade) are in need of crew parents. Crew parents help teachers to coordinate volunteers for the classroom, field experiences, and other needs the teachers will work with you on. While it’s great if the crew parent can volunteer regularly, there is no requirement, and many working parents coordinate volunteers on their time, and volunteer when it works with their schedule.
6. Explorations!
Elementary students are having a great time in this first session of Friday Exploration 
Classes. It is now time to start thinking about the second session. Eugene and Jamie need a few more instructors for this four week session to be sure all ages have awesome opportunities! The dates for this upcoming session September 28; October 12, 19, 26.
Please email Eugene (ewheeler@exploris.org) and Jamie (jbutler@exploris.com) if you can teach a class!
Even if you don’t have time to lead a class, you can volunteer each week to help chaperone our Explorations classes. Here is the signup link.
7. MIDDLE SCHOOL CLUB INFO:
FOSSIL CLUB will start Tuesday, September 11, from 3:15 to 4: 15 pm. Any student interested just needs to show up in 6th East at 3:15 pm. We will be meeting every Tuesday to learn about fossils and meet Paleontologist Dr. Terry “Bucky” Gates. We will be collaborating with him in a citizen science project: Shark Teeth Forensics, and other projects. Questions? Please contact Juliana Thomas- jthomas@exploris.org
CAM DOCENTS: 2018-2019 CAM Docent Program Applications were due September 4th, and training sessions begin September 10. If you have any questions about the CAM Docents please contact Shawna Scipione (sscipione@exploris.org)
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD CLUB – First Meeting Monday Sept 10th at 3:15 pm in 7 North At Science Olympiad, kids compete with partners in a track-meet style science competition. There are 23 events that are all science related build or study events. Prior to the tournament, kids are studying or building with their partners. Team meetings will be held every Monday from 3:15 – 4:30 pm to build team spirit via mini competitions and to also allow some study time as the year moves along. We take 18 students to compete at the Regional Level and we have many open spots left by rising 9th graders. We also need all the help we can get from parents & older siblings to help coach one or two events. Registration forms will be available in early September for students who are eager to choose their events and partners prior to our first meeting. We have 3 or 4 new events this year that some students may want to try. Helene & Emily in 7th Grade will be Science Olympiad coaches.
Cross Country: We need runners and drivers, and water and snacks. All parents are encouraged to help out throughout the season. Team parents are Debbie and Evan Kane. Please contact them if you can help or if there are general questions. evankane@gmail.com debtkane@gmail.com
Yearbook – Yearbook club meets every Thursday afternoon from 3:15-4:15pm. Forms were due August 31, see Jessie in 8th grade if you have questions.
Dungeons and Dragons Club will began Thursday, August 30 from 3:15 – 4:15pm. Cris Preble is the club’s advisor. Please meet directly after school in 8 South. Questions? jayandcris@nc.rr.com
6. Carpool? Confused by Carpool at the Elementary School? Still wondering if you’re following the rules correctly? Check out these REMINDERS to help clear up any confusion.
8. Upcoming Events
- September 12 — MS – Picture Day
- September 13– ES – Picture Day
- September 13 — Parent Orientation -Middle School @5:30
- October 1 – 5 — Fall Break
Thanks for reading the “Monday Minute”! We plan to publish this Exploris PTO blog post each Monday during the school year. If you would like to include information, please email your text (copy ready), photos, and links to Dana Deaton at explorisptonews@gmail.com by 8pm Sunday evening.
Exploris PTO 
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