Week of March 20, 2023     |    Norton Elementary PTA Newsletter 

Hello Norton Knight Families!

I can't believe we are in the last 9 weeks of school! I hope everyone has recovered from the 'spring forward' time change. It has taken my family awhile to adjust. 

April is an important month for the PTA because we are voting in new leadership for the 2023-2024 school year at our last general membership meeting on April 4th at 6 pm in the Norton Gym. Please make plans to attend. It is just 30 minutes and we need a quorum of our membership to vote.

In addition to the election meeting, we have many fun end of year activities planned.  Read on the find out more! Remember to save the dates!

Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Join me and other board members at Coffee Break with the Board next week!

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

We'd love it a "latte" if you could help us fill the remaining board roles for 2023-24. We know it's hard to commit when you have questions and haven't had a chance to meet the team. Join us for coffee either Monday or Tuesday morning 8am - 9 am at the Starbucks inside of Market Street to ask questions and learn more about the positions. Feel free to come & go!

AVAILABLE BOARD POSITIONS:

**Officer Chairs**

• 1st VP
• Parliamentarian 
• VP of Membership
  
  

**Standing Committee Chairs**

• Volunteer Services Chair
• Communications Chair
  
  

**Sub-Committee Chairs**

• Classroom MORE Shirts
• Spirit Gear
• Membership Committee  
• Community Outreach  
• Arts in Education/Reflections  
• Back 2 School Bash  
• Red Ribbon Week  

Contact secretary@ptanorton.org if you have any questions.

Join the PTA for food and fun while supporting our school at the Spring Carnival on April 28th from 5:30-7:30pm. Admission is FREE. In-N-Out food truck will be serving burgers (or grilled cheese), chips and a drink with a $6 ticket (75% of proceeds go to Norton and 25% will go to In-N-Out’s child abuse foundation). 

• March 28 - First day to purchase In-N-Out food tickets ($6 each) at ptanorton.org.
• April 21- Last day to purchase In-N-Out food tickets. Food tickets will NOT be sold on the day of the carnival. 
• April 26th -  Tickets will be sent home with students. Check backpacks!
• April 28 - Enjoy the Carnival from 5:30 - 7 pm

The Allen Council of PTAs is hosting the 2nd Annual Used Book Fair Friday & Saturday, April 28-29, 2023. The purpose of this event is to promote literacy by providing families the opportunity to purchase used books at a low cost and provide grants to Allen ISD staff to enhance student experiences in school. 

Bring your used books to Norton starting on Monday, April 17 - Friday, April 21. This is a great opportunity to spring clean your book shelves for a good cause.

For more information or to become a sponsor, visit: https://allenisdcouncilpta.membershiptoolkit.com/usedbookfair

The PTA is rolling out the red carpet this year to celebrate Norton Teachers & Staff for the entire week of May 1st - 5th. Stay tuned for more information in the next month!  Save the following dates.

Current Role: Faculty Representative / Norton School Counselor

Length of Time in Current Role: 2 years

How many students do you have?  0 but I do have a dog named Pepper!

When did you join the PTA? I have been an active PTA member for 9 years.

Why did you join? I joined when I became a teacher to support my school and have continued to join every year since. It is a wonderful opportunity to partner with parents and volunteers and to get to know the community in a way that breaks down barriers. 

Why did you choose your current board position? As School Counselor, my role requires quite a bit of communication with PTA in terms of event planning and community support so sitting on the board is an opportunity for us to work more closely together and provide insight on school programming!

What is your favorite event/memory? While my role as Faculty Rep often intertwines with my role as School Counselor in terms of school events, my favorite event every year is Veterans Day. I attended Veterans Day as a student when my mom was Norton's principal with my grandfather in attendance, and planning and hosting the event now is a way I can continue to honor him and our school.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new board member or someone interested in joining the board? Just jump in! It will only be as time consuming and as stressful as you make it, and we laugh a lot. It's not as scary as it looks! 

Current Role: Treasurer

Length of Time in Current Role: 1

Roles/Positions in the past: President, VP of Programs, Allen Eagle Run Chair, Spelling Bee Chair

How many students do you have?  1 student, Age 10, 5th Grade

When did you join the PTA?
 I joined Norton PTA in 2019 when we moved to Allen. Previously, I was a PTA member while living in northern San Diego, where I also served on the board of the education foundation. 

How many years have you been active? 5 years

Why did you join? To show my daughter the importance of supporting our local community.

Why did you choose your current board position? I love Excel!

What is your favorite event/memory? I was a school Spelling Bee champ so I love being part of the Norton Spelling Bee. It's so inspiring to see students grow as they come back every year to compete. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new board member or someone interested in joining the board? You don't have to know everything before volunteering with the PTA. If you are passionate about supporting our Norton community, you will do a great job while having fun meeting new people.

Current Role: President

Length of Time in Current Role: Almost 1 year 

Roles/Positions in the past: Wednesday Folder Volunteer, Website Coordinator, Room Parent, Volunteer Coordinator, Book Fair Coordinator.

How many students do you have?  3 children - 8th grade, 6th grade & 3rd grade

When did you join the PTA?
  I joined the Early Childhood PTA when my second child was born in 2011.

How many years have you been active in the PTA? 12 years

Why did you join?  I joined the Early Childhood PTA to meet other parents with young kids. Then, I leveled up to the elementary PTA when my eldest son started kindergarten. I'm a planner, so being in the PTA allowed me to stay informed. The first thing I did when our family moved from Dallas to Allen was to reach out to the Allen Early Childhood PTA and the Norton PTA. These groups graciously welcomed our family into the community.

Why did you choose your current board position? After serving as the Volunteer Coordinator where I got to see different areas of need in the PTA and then volunteering for end of year financial reconciliation, I felt like I had a good understanding of the workings of the PTA. I believed I could use my former professional background in IT and project management in the role of PTA president to support the other board members and give back to the community that has given so much to my family.

What is your favorite event/memory? I loved the book fair as a child. As a volunteer, I get to recreate that fun, magical feeling for our students. It's often a student's first experience with using cash, the dreaded sales tax, and making an independent purchasing decision. I love learning about a student's interests and matching them with a good book.They will not remember me as the PTA president, but they will remember me as the "Book Fair Lady".

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new board member or someone interested in joining the board? Just show up! Start small and then follow where your interests take you. I've met the best people in the PTA and I've learned a lot about myself. Even if they won't acknowledge it, your student will appreciate your investment of time in their school.

NORTON'S MARCH KNIGHT OF THE MONTH!
Congratulations to Cassidy Samuel, a Resource 2 teacher! Mrs. Samuel’s kindness shines every single day. She has created a culture of acceptance and joy in her classroom and we are so blessed to have her here at Norton!

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.

Please join us in recognizing these March Allen ISD Council of PTAs Citizenship Award winners. Each of these wonderful individuals have given their time to make Norton a better place for our students and staff. Congratulations and thank you, Lana LeGrand, Rasheeka Gill, Jim Oberholz, and Kirstyn Russell.

SCREENING OF THE DOCUMENTARY 'ANGST' RAISING AWARENESS AROUND ANXIETY

Join Allen ISD Parent University for a special Parent University where you can screen the documentary, Angst, anytime between March 21-28. This documentary raises awareness around anxiety. Sign up to get access >> https://www.allenisd.org/Page/62417

Election Day for city council and school board positions is May 6th. Local elections directly impact our city and schools. Make sure your voice is heard by registering to vote by April 6th. Early voting starts April 24th.

https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml

February was packed with activity at Norton. Here is a brief glimpse into all of the great things the Norton PTA is doing.

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