Week of February 20, 2023     |    Norton Elementary PTA Newsletter 

Hello Norton Knight Families!

The end of February is packed with exciting PTA events for our Norton families and staff! Our PTA volunteers are busy preparing for the Perot Museum visit, making over the MPR for Spring Book Fair Magic, rounding up runners for the Allen Eagle Run, and caring for our teachers with charcuterie creations for Love Cart.

None of these activities could happen without the teamwork of the Norton PTA board and volunteers! We're entering our PTA board elections season and we invite anyone interested in a board or committee chairperson role to submit a self-nomination form by Friday, March 3rd. Visit our website for more information about board roles & responsibilities. https://nortonpta.membershiptoolkit.com/boardpositions 

We are a supportive group of volunteers from all backgrounds and we want you to help you succeed in your role. Every role is important whether large or small. Our mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. 

Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. I'll be at the Spring Book Fair all next week and I can also put you in touch with any board members to answer your questions about a role. The Norton PTA is here to help!

Faye Cagle
President of Norton PTA
president@ptanorton.org
Join the PTA! ptanorton.org

The Family Science Night with the Perot Museum is coming up! The Norton front doors will open at 4:45 pm on Friday, February 24 for pre-registered participants to check in. Please do not enter the cafeteria until 5pm.  You may visit the book fair in the MPR in the meantime.

No walk-in registrations will be accepted at the door. 

WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS - SIGN UP: https://signup.com/go/OJPUSCg
Volunteer must be an Allen ISD approved volunteer.

IT IS  RACE WEEK!
Prepare for the race to make 7 am on SATURDAY MORNING, February 25th a SUCCESS!

🦅 DON'T MISS THE FUN! REGISTER NOW!  HELP US REACH 200!
https://runsignup.com/alleneaglerun
(Choose "Norton")

🦅 PICK UP RACE PACKETS
Packets are available for pick up at the Allen ISD Service Center (1451 S. Watters Road, Allen). 
* Wednesday - February 22 2pm – 6pm
* Thursday -   February 23  8am – 5pm
Packets can also be picked up on the morning of race, but pick up on Wednesday or Thursday to avoid long lines.

🦅 VIEW SCHEDULE, RACE ROUTE, & PARKING INFO
Download the Virtual Race Packet for Parking Tips, Race Route, and Run Schedules.  There are also coupons from race sponsors.
https://www.allenisd.org/Page/64417

🦅 NORTON PRE-RACE PHOTO MEET-UP
All Norton participants are invited to meet up before the race at 7:35 am to take a group photo! Look for our Knight Mascot or Norton sign. WEAR YOUR NORTON COLORS! The location in the East parking lot will also be posted on the Norton PTA Facebook once it is determined.

🦅 HAVE FUN!
Thank you for supporting the Allen Eagle Run & Norton Elementary!

REMINDER: For Safety, anyone on either the 1 mile fun run course or the 5K course are required to be registered participants. If you registered your student, but did not register yourself as an accompanying adult participant, please register today.

Get excited for the Spring Book Fair because BOOKS ARE MAGIC!

The magic doesn't happen without our wonderful book fair volunteers. No prior experience is necessary, just a POSITIVE ATTITUDE!

VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP: https://signup.com/go/XCevbjr
Volunteer must be an Allen ISD approved volunteer.

Visit the Norton Book Fair Website for more information.

BOOK FAIR HOURS

*Between 7:30 am - 7:45 am, students will not be allowed into the book fair without their adult.

**The book fair is open to all shoppers on Friday evening, 2/24, but you must have a pre-registered ticket to attend the Family Science Night event happening at the same time.

EWALLETS

Student eWallets: Use the button below to set up or manage a previously created eWallet account for your student for an easy, cash-free way to shop the book fair.

Teacher eWallets: Donate any dollar amount to your teacher's classroom e-Wallet. The funds will be used to buy books for the classroom.
Use the button below to find your teacher's classroom e-Wallet or look for QR codes at the book fair.

Book Fair-y eWallet: 
The purpose of the Norton Book Fair is to put a book of choice in every student's hand so they will develop a love of learning. We invite Norton families and community members to contribute funds to the "All for Books" donation program via Norton PTA's "Book Fair-y" Scholastic e-Wallet. The funds collected will be used during the current book fair to purchase books for K-6 students and teachers at Norton.  Use the button below to donate any amount. 

We love our volunteers and appreciate any amount of time you are able to give. Short on time? We also have opportunities for items to be donated to various events. See below for a list of our current volunteer opportunities.

You must be an approved Allen ISD volunteer to volunteer on our campus. The Allen ISD volunteer application must be completed and renewed annually.  

Our board members come from all different backgrounds. Some started with little or no experience and others joined with a wealth of knowledge. Our board is composed of both parents working outside of the home and those working inside of the home. We have a spot for everyone!  The key is to be open, positive, and willing to learn!  There are lots of resources to help you succeed at your role, but you need to take the first step.

Learn more about the roles & nominate yourself! 

Nomination Form (Due Friday, March 3, 2023)

Current Role: Allen Eagle Run Coordinator

Length of Time in Current Role: 1 year

Roles/Positions in the past: Celebrate Me Chair 

How many students do you have?  Allison grade 6, Lindsay grade 1

When did you join the PTA? We moved here in 2019 and I joined right away.

Why did you join? I wanted to meet new people and learn about the school. 

Why did you choose your current board position? I ran in the Allen Eagle Run last year so thought it would be fun to motivate Norton to participate!

What is your favorite event/memory? Watching Allison dress up as the inflatable Allen Eagle to help promote the race. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new board member or someone interested in joining the board? Just give it a try. You get lots of support from others and everyone is so appreciative!

Current Role: Vice President

Length of Time in Current Role: 1

Roles/Positions in the past: Auction, Treasurer, Wednesday Folders

How many students do you have?  2 kids, Kinder and 7th grade

When did you join the PTA?
 I've always been a member since my older child started school. 

How many years have you been active? 5 years

Why did you join? To be as excited as my kids are in the school activities. I feel that when I am involved in these activities I can share their enthusiasm and excitement for the events.

Why did you choose your current board position? I felt like this role would play to my strengths.

What is your favorite event/memory? My favorite event has been the Fall and spring festival.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new board member or someone interested in joining the board? Take on small roles. It will be a nice conversation to have with your kids. You will know so much more about the events.

Current Role: VP of Programs & Castle Run Co-Chair

Length of Time in Current Role: 1 year

Roles/Positions in the past: Youth Protection Chair and Spring Carnival Chair

How many students do you have?  3 kids in Kindergarten, 2nd & 4th

When did you join the PTA? I joined the general PTA 5 years ago


How many years have you been active? I’ve always been a room mom and volunteered but ramped it up the past two years.

Why did you join? I joined because I wanted my kids to see that I found their school important and for them to see that I had an interest in the place they are five days a week. 

Why did you choose your current board position? We only get a short period of time from kindergarten to 6th grade when kids get to have fun in school and really enjoy it. I think it’s important to do as much as we can to bring that extra joy to the school day and also put on fun events outside of school hours to bring our community together.

What is your favorite event/memory? The fall festivals and spring carnivals. It’s so fun to see parents socializing while the kids have a blast running around enjoying all of the activities. It really brings our school community together. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new board member or someone interested in joining the board? Don’t be afraid to join even if you don’t have any previous experience. Most of the time fresh ideas are exactly what the board needs to evolve. 

Current Role: Student Scholarship Committee Chair

Length of Time in Current Role: 5 years 

How many students do you have?  2 children-- 8th grade & 5th grade 

When did you join the PTA?
  Joined PTA in 2014. 

How many years have you been active in the PTA? 9 years

Why did you join? We joined to support Norton and help make sure students have great elementary experiences and teachers have the extra tools to make this possible.

Why did you choose your current board position?  I worked in higher education for 18 years and ran a freshman scholarship program at a local university before leaving in 2018. 

What is your favorite event/memory?  Any of the festivals both fall and spring.  I love watching the children run around with huge smiles on their faces as they play with their friends and enjoy pony rides, gaming trucks, or great bounce houses.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new board member or someone interested in joining the board? PTA has great opportunities to be really active in the school so that you can get to know staff and other parents at the school.  However, there are also positions where a huge time commitment isn't necessary, but you are making a great impact on the school and staff.   

Congratulations to Mrs. Harper is our amazing SSI teacher and she has worked so hard to aggregate data and get our intervention groups set for the spring so that the maximum number of students can get the help they need. We appreciate all she does for our school! 

Thank you to Montgomery Insurance Agency / Farmers Insurance for sponsoring Norton's Knight of the Month. This program recognizes a Norton teacher or staff member every month for their outstanding work and dedication to our school.

From Allen ISD:
Will you be zoned to a new elementary school next year? If so, save the date on March 16 for Destination Night. This special event is designed for elementary students and their families who will be zoned to a new campus this Fall. This event will be a great opportunity for students and families to meet the principal, visit with teachers, and tour their new school.

Our campus leaders are committed to providing a smooth transition to every new student who will join their school next year, and they can't wait to welcome you inside the campus! Be on the lookout for more information from your new campus soon.

More information about this campus transition process, known as Eagles on the Move, is available at www.allenisd.org/EaglesOnTheMove

Did you know you can make donates to the Norton PTA through your everyday shopping and grocery purchases? All donations go directly to support the programs and events our organization offers. No amount is too small - please consider signing up with the shopping partners programs. For more information, go to Norton PTA Shopping Partners.

Frances E Norton Elementary PTA (Allen ISD, TX)

1120 Newport Drive

Allen TX 75013

www.ptanorton.org