April 17, 2024    |    Norton Elementary PTA Newsletter 

Hello Norton Knight Families!

Don't miss out on the end of the year fun! Remember to pre-order red roses for Teacher Appreciation Week and to buy meal tickets for the Spring Carnival that is around the corner (April 26th)! 

The annual meeting on May 7th is the final PTA meeting of the year. Please make plans to attend to vote on important items including the budget and fundraiser for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Lastly, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the privilege to lead the Norton PTA for the past two years. It was a wonderful learning experience and an honor to serve alongside so many committed volunteers. Norton teachers and administration have been so supportive. I will leave this role at the end of May with a grateful heart. I look forward to serving on the Board at Ereckson and on Norton's Board as PTA Council Delegate next year to learn and share the many resources that Allen ISD has for our community.

Read to the end to see the joke that my 13 year old and I workshopped earlier this week. Happy reading!

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

On July 2, 2023, at the Texas PTA annual meeting, a motion was passed to increase Texas PTA dues by $0.50 per individual to be effective starting in the fall of 2024. As a result, local PTAs have to decide how to address the dues increase. 

Local PTAs could either 1) increase the total membership dues by $0.50 or 2) maintain the current membership dues and thereby decrease the portion of local dues by $0.50. 

The Norton Board voted to adopt option 2. Norton PTA will absorb the $0.50 increase in Texas PTA dues by decreasing the amount of local dues by $0.50 which will maintain the current membership dues amount for Norton membership at $10 (individuals); $15.00 (two members same household) and apply the same changes to Life Member dues. Our goal is to grow our PTA community and we do not want the dues increase to be a deterrent for families to join. Please attend the Annual Membership Meeting on May 7th to vote on this proposed amendment:

Article VIII

Section 2. Dues. 

A.This PTA shall remit a membership roster along with the national and state dues to Texas PTA for each of its members. 

B. Annual dues for each member shall be the sum of national dues plus state dues plus the local dues amount of $5.50  $5.00 (individual); $6.00 $5.50 (two members same household)

Pre-order RED ROSES for teachers now until 4/23!

Help the 6th graders fundraise for their end of year celebration by purchase a rose for your teacher. All of the red roses that your teacher receives will be styled into a beautiful bouquet to brighten their day on May 8th!

Each rose is $3.50. ORDER TODAY at https://tinyurl.com/6thgradeflowers

ADOPTED STAFF LIST: Remember to recognize your specials teachers and classroom's adopted staff members: https://tinyurl.com/adopted-staff

Come out and join the fun at the annual spring carnival on April 26, 2024, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm! Admission is FREE.  A pizza meal is available for pre-order for $5 (this includes a slice of pepperoni or cheese pizza, a bag of chips, and a drink).

Questions? Email Marisa Dunagan programs@ptanorton.org

Norton PTA has planned fun activities to celebrate our teachers and staff. Listed are ways your student and your family can participate to help make Teacher Appreciation Week a success! Feel free to do as many activities as is comfortable for your family.

Sparkle & Shine: Honoring Norton's Teaching Stars!

During Staff Appreciation Week, each teacher and staff member will be entered into the Norton PTA Sparkle & Shine Teacher Appreciation Prize Drawing! Norton PTA will give away $600 worth of prizes to the teachers whose names are picked on Friday morning, May 10th. Help a teacher increase their chance of winning by shining a light on them with a STAR NOTE. A basket of stars will be in the classroom for your student to write a sweet note, draw a picture, or give a compliment for a teacher! Each star note a teacher receives will count as an additional entry into the prize drawing! Help our amazing teachers Sparkle & Shine!

*Your students can give a STAR NOTE to any teacher they wish. Grown-ups can write a STAR NOTE, too!

Questions? Email Meagan Kamra staffappreciation@ptanorton.org 

WIN FRONT ROW SEATS!
Save the dates for the music performances & Front row seat auction!

May 7 - Singing Knights Choir Performance | Choir Seat Auction*

Secure a front row seat! *Seat auctions will open 2 days prior to each performance and end at 9:30 pm the evening before the performance. There are 4 sets of 4-seats together up for bid for each performance.

Congratulations to our Honorary Life Membership Award Recipients! We truly appreciate their dedication to our children and community.

• Aimee Cherry
• Kelly McCawley
• Mimi Park
• Dawn Schaffner

Extended Service Award

• Jodye Koopman

Thank you to the individuals and families who have already joined the PTA. We continue to welcome members through out the year. JOIN NOW to help us support our Norton students and faculty. 

Daniela Movshits, a senior and former Norton Knight was awarded the Norton PTA Scholarship at the Class of 2024 Foundation For Allen Schools Scholarship Awards Dinner & Ceremony. Daniela wants to major in Business with a Management and Marketing focus. Norton PTA is proud to be a supporter of this Norton alumnus. Once a Knight, Always a Knight!

These guidelines and expectations are set forth to ensure 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.
• 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. For certain events, we ask that you sign up for one spot only in order to include more individuals. Sign ups are first come, first serve.

• Spring Carnival - MS/HS Student Volunteers (4/26)
• Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day (5/8) 
• 6th Grade Celebration (5/23)

Use the button below to find upcoming volunteer opportunities through out the year. Links will be added to the sign up page linked to the button as the event nears.

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.

NORTON'S MARCH KNIGHT OF THE MONTH!
Congratulations to Nurse Mallory! She works hard to take care of Norton students and staff everyday. Her kindness and ready smile are a comfort to those in her care. We are so lucky to have her at Norton

NORTON'S APRIL KNIGHT OF THE MONTH!
Congratulations to Mrs. Lamb, Norton’s 6th grade science teacher! Nothing could eclipse her radiant smile or dim her excitement this past Monday as she made Norton’s solar eclipse viewing experience a million times more fun by sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with both students and colleagues. On any given day, she is an amazing educator, but on Eclipse Day, she even outshined the diamond in the sky.

Allen ISD Parent University provides free programs and resources to parents and guardians. Check out their Calendar of Events.

Register here the next Parent University:
Thursday, April 18 HOW TO AVOID THE SUMMER SLIDE 

Catch up on past Parent Universities by watching recordings on the follow topics.  Watch here: https://allenisd.org/parentuniversity

Congratulations to the March award recipients!

• Carmina Whitehouse
• Pamela Meis
• Peyton DeLeon
• Sarah Shiplett

Our Norton Knights had a busy two months with the Allen Eagle Run, Spring Book Fair, Multicultural Day, the 4th grade music performance, and the SkyDome Mobile Planetarium.

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.

*Note the following Facebook groups are not owned by Norton Elementary PTA or Norton Elementary. They are listed here as a courtesy.

• Kindergarten 2023-2024
• First Grade 2023-2024
• Second Grade 2023-2024
• Third Grade 2023-2024
• Fourth Grade 2023-2024
• Fifth Grade 2023-2024
• Sixth Grade 2023-2024
• Incoming Kindergarten 2024-2025

Frances E Norton Elementary PTA (Allen ISD, TX)

1120 Newport Drive

Allen TX 75013

www.ptanorton.org