September 20, 2023    |    Norton Elementary PTA Newsletter 

Hello, Norton Knight Families!

Are you looking forward to fall weather like I am? I love fall for the cooler temperatures (low 90s). In addition, my excitement is because Norton PTA is ready to host our fall events planned for our Norton community! I'm wishing for a cool, crisp morning for our students to Walk, Bike, or Roll to school on October 4. I can't wait to have everyone join us for the Fall Family Fun kNight! Kona Ice will have cool treats and Boardwalk Bites will have fair foods for purchase. Can you taste the powdered sugar on the funnel cake?

We're near the end of the Good to Glow Fundraiser. Together, we've raised $15,341.98 with two days left to reach our goal of $20,000 by Friday, September 22! I believe we can do it because I know how supportive our community is and how much we love Norton, our students, and our staff. If we don't actualize our goal of raising $20,000, some beloved programs and events will have to be trimmed. As a reminder, the money that is raised will be spent in the current year for your students. It will fund programs and activities that are planned for EVERY student. Whether you can contribute a modest amount or a little more, it all adds up.

Thank you to the families who have already contributed. We can't wait to throw the GLOW PARTY CELEBRATION for our students when we reach $20,000!

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

Norton Family, Friends, and Community members, 
Please help Norton PTA reach our fundraising goal of $20,000 by contributing to our GOOD TO GLOW campaign. No fuss, no selling--just a monetary donation using our online donation form or writing a check. 

This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and 100% of your donation goes back into the programs at Norton for your students.. By meeting our fundraising goal earlier in the school year, we can focus our resources and energy on implementing the fun and educational events we have planned for our students. Your contribution will also be used to support teachers, their classroom needs, and community building to make our school even better than it already is! Check out our school-wide and individual levels of incentives on the GOOD TO GLOW Fundraiser page.

If a student fundraises $50 or more, they will receive a GOOD TO GLOW! Norton Knights holographic sticker.

Any student who makes a donation to the fundraiser will have their name added to the GOOD TO GLOW Bulletin Board by the Gym.

There are three ways to donate:

• Donate Online (for registered users)
• Donate Online (for relatives & friends--no login required)
• Donate by Check (using a paper form)
  • Make check payable to: Norton Elementary PTA. Attach your check(s) to this donation form and return it to the Norton front office. 

Don't forget to request an employer match of your contribution. You can check if your company matches at Charity Navigator, or ask your human resources department. Questions about employer matching can be directed to Ermelinda Kraft-- treasurer@ptanorton.org.

Thank you for your support!

Join other Norton families for an evening of food and fun at the Fall Family Fun kNight on October 6th 5:30-7:00 pm. Admission is FREE. Try the corn maze, human foosball and bounce houses. Food & beverages will be available for purchase from Boardwalk Bites Food Truck (serving corn dogs, funnel cake, and other delicious fair foods) and Kona Ice snow cones. Thank you to OPD Smiles Dentistry for being one of our sponsors. Visit: https://nortonpta.membershiptoolkit.com/fallfamilyfun for more details and to view the food truck menus 

These guidelines and expectations are set forth to insure the safety of our students and staff. Before anyone can volunteer at Norton, they must COMPLETE the Allen ISD Volunteer Application and receive notice that they have CLEARED the background check. This must be done/renewed each year for every volunteer.

Please complete the following before signing up for a volunteer role:

• Complete the Allen ISD Volunteer Application
• Read the Norton Volunteer Guidelines and return the signature page to the front office.
• Join Norton PTA

Always bring your ID or driver's license with you to check-in with the front office. The receptionist will give volunteers a visitor ID sticker and a volunteer lanyard to wear while you're on campus. For the safety and clarity for all, please keep these two identification items on you at all times. Return the visitor ID sticker and the lanyard to the front office when you sign out.

We would love your help, great or small. sign up for one or sign up for all.

• Glow Party Setup/Chaperone (9/29 - dependent on fundraiser outcome): https://signup.com/go/gAWtYFJ
• Fall Family Fun kNight (10/6): https://signup.com/go/UkRoLJu
• Fall Book Fair (11/10-11/6):https://signup.com/go/CJQeMce

Name: Sarah Shiplett 

Current Role: Love Cart

Years in Current Role: 1

Roles/Positions in the past: Secretary, Programs Committee Chair 

How many students do you have? Ages, Grades? Winnie (7) 2nd grader and Everett (9) 3rd grader

When did you join the PTA?
How many years have you been active?
Why did you join? I joined right away when my oldest started KG to meet new moms and be a part of our wonderful community!

What is your favorite event/memory? World culture day!! Knightathalon!! 

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new board member or someone interested in joining the Board? Just come join us! You will find immediate friends and be useful for however much time you can commit to--a little or a lot! 

Name: Christina Denton

Current Role: Parliamentarian

Years in Current Role: This is my first year in this role

Roles/Positions in the past: I was Hospitality Chair for the 2022-2023 school year

How many students do you have?  Ages, Grades? My stepdaughter, Charlie Denton, is 6 years old and in Mrs. McDonald's first grade class this year. I also have a 9 month old named Lucy who can't wait to become a Norton Knight in a few years!

When did you join the PTA?
How many years have you been active? I joined the PTA when Charlie started Kindergarten last year.

Why did you join? My family will spend at least the next 12 years at Norton, so I wanted to begin involvement in a community of parents who care so deeply about creating the best experiences and opportunities for their children.  

Why did you choose your current board position? The Parliamentarian is responsible for: (1) knowing the PTA Bylaws and Standing Rules, (2) updating the Bylaws and Standing Rules to reflect changes and requirements from TX PTA, and (3) advising the PTA President on procedural matters in compliance with the Bylaws and Standing Rules. If that doesn't sound like a fun social event planning position you would expect from a PTA position, that's because it's not. However, I'm a corporate transactional lawyer during the day, so the reading, analysis, interpretation, and drafting requirements of this role are right up my alley. You could say I'm a language nerd, and you would be right.

What is your favorite event/memory? Charlie's second day of kindergarten was the first day of carpool drop-off. I will never forget watching this tiny little thing get out of the car with her backpack on and walk by herself up to the school. She was brave, but I cried! I wasn't ready for her to be a big kid! It's core memories like that that remind me how important it is to stay present with our kids because before you know it, they're all grown up.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new board member or someone interested in joining the board? If you're considering whether to join, do it! New perspectives and experiences are so valuable and welcomed. 

NORTON'S SEPTEMBER KNIGHT OF THE MONTH!
Congratulations to Ms. Hall! She is our incredible Resource 1 teacher. She diligently works to build great relationships with all of her students, collaborate with teachers to ensure they and the the students are supported. Ms. Hall is a strong communicator making sure parents know the wins their students are having in the classroom too. We are so grateful 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.

We had a packed house for Donuts with Dudes. We can't wait to see our new WatchDogs in our hallways this year. 

Our Norton families when above and beyond by contributing sweets for the school year's first PTA Love Cart. The team led by Sarah Shiplett treated our teachers to a gorgeous cookie exchange.

Our new street signs and reserved parking signs have arrived! Thank you to all who participated in the sign auction! We decided to spruce up the WatchDog parking sign, too. 

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