Boon Patriot Post Is a Weekly Newsletter Published by E.T

The Boon Patriot Post is a weekly newsletter published by E.T. Boon Elementary.

1 Boon Patriot Post

Volume 12, Issue 6 | Thursday, September 22, 2016

Here's What's Happening at Boon...

Patriot Calendar at a Glance

September 24 Environmental Club Creek Clean Up September 30 Picture Day Spencer Squire Book Drive Ends October 3 PTA Book Fair Begins October 4 Environmental Club Meeting October 5 International Walk to School Day October 6 PTA General Meeting & Super Chili Bowl October 7 PTA Book Fair Ends October 10 Student Holiday - No school Columbus Day October 11 Kindness & Compassion Club October 14 Box Tops Due

October 18 Chick-fil-A Spirit Day October 24 Ribbon Week Begins

Boon Calendar Allen ISD 2016-2017 Calendar

Patriot of the Week

Thank you WATCH DOGS' Dad, Charles Register, for spending the entire day sorting all the ACO goodies! What a task! We are so thankful for your help.

Patriot(s) of the Week Perk: All POW volunteers get to utilize the "volunteer of the week" parking spot in front of the school from Friday to Thursday of the week you are recognized.

ACO Donation Day - Transforming Lives

Thank you to the parents, students, staff, PTA, and volunteers who helped make "Boon Elementary ACO Donation Day" a huge success on September 15! Allen Community Outreach(ACO) is grateful for you and your giving hearts.

At the end of the day, the ACO Pantry Truck was full of more than 1,550 pounds of items needed for their Care and Share shelves. Thanks to your generous support, those shelves are now full with laundry detergent, paper towels, toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, diapers, and many other personal care items that "fill the gap" for the many individuals and families served each day.

In appreciation of your Patriot's generosity, ACO is hosting a pizza party for the grade level that donated the most items. Congratulations third grade. Enjoy! www.acocares.org

Chili Bowl "Game Day" Activities

Boon's Annual Super Chili Bowl will be held on Thursday, October 6. This event is a fall favorite with Boon families. Enjoy an endless bowl of chili for $2 (more than 35 recipes to choose from) and add a grilled Hotdog for $1. Kona Ice will be on the scene to round out your evening dining experience.

"Pre-Game Coverage" (PTA Meeting) begins at 6pm

"Tailgate Party" (Chili Bowl) begins at 6:30pm

"Stadium Fun" DJ and festive activities in front of Boon, near the tailgating, to keep the party going. Prizes will be awarded.

Kona Ice will be on site to "sweeten" the evening. "Concession Stand" Candy bars and snacks will be sold as a fundraiser for the 6th grade class. "Souvenir Shop" Boon's newly designed spiritwear will be available to purchase.

"Media Box" Stop by the MPR room to purchase your student's favorite scholastic book from the Boon Book Fair.

Chili volunteers are needed to make this event a success. Please sign up for a 30 minute shift to sell tickets, judge chili, pass out hot dogs, help setup or take down. Volunteer to help/sign up online, or email Beth Morse or Kelly Beaman (Chili Co- Chairs) to find out how you can be a part of the evening.

PTA Takes Action

PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy association in the United States. - National PTA

It is the Legislative Chair's responsibility to communicate up-to-date information to PTA members whether it be local, state or national legislation. Fortunately, the information is easily accessible through the National and Texas PTA. One of the first places to research is the Texas PTA website at txpta.org. Check out the Advocacy Tab and the My PTA/Leaders/Legislative Action Tab. The National PTA website pta.org is also a great resource for child advocacy tools.

There are three very helpful publications that provide up-to-date information that can be shared. The OC (Our Children), National PTA publication is sent to each Local PTA President and is available online. Texas PTA publishes a quarterly online publication, The Voice, that includes important legislative information to share with PTA members. Finally, the Legislative Chair, the PTA President and anyone interested can also register for Under the Dome which is a monthly (when needed) e-mail publication that includes legislative information, alerts, and calls for action.

Sharing these resources will educate and inform members about upcoming elections, pending legislation and local CommYOUnity events. The goal is to get everyone on board to advocate for our children. Check out the 2016-2017 Texas PTA Legislative Priorities today.

Important Election Dates: The General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016; Register by Oct. 11; Turn in application to Vote By Mail Oct. 28; Early Vote Oct. 24 - Nov. 11. For more information, go to lwvtexas.org.

Chili Bowl Tickets Available

Thursday, October 6- Boon PTA Super Chili Bowl 6:00 PTA Meeting 6:30-8pm Super Chili Bowl Boon Cafeteria/Front Parking Lot

Please join us for Boon's spiciest event of the year!

We are PRE-SELLING Chili Bowl Tickets. There will be two "VIP Fast Track Entrances" for families who purchase tickets prior to the event. Order your tickets early by completing the Pre-Order Ticket Form and returning it (with a check made payable to "Boon PTA") to your student's home room teacher. Pre-Order tickets will be available until Friday, September 30. Purchased tickets will be sent home with your student Wednesday, October 5.

Super Chili Bowl Pre-Order Form

Art with Ms. Hodges & Square1Art

For the last 8 years, Boon has worked with fundraising program, Square 1 Art. In this program, students in all grades complete art projects during art class with Ms. Hodges. Ms. Hodges submits your student's art to Square 1 Art. Parents then have the opportunity to order a variety of different products that feature their student's masterpiece.

Square 1 Art makes a great gift, but each student will receive a free sheet of stickers featuring their art, whether they order a product from Square 1 Art or not. Be on the lookout for a catalogue coming home in October that features your child's artistic accomplishments.

Excited Kinders are shown here painting their background for what is soon-to-be a masterpiece - it is the backdrop for dandelions that will be created using a dish brush!

Square1art.com/shop

Scholastic Book Fair

The Scholastic Book Fair will be at our school October 3rd - 7th from 7:30am-3:30pm. The Book Fair will also be open during the Boon Super Chili Bowl on October 6.

Come join us to promote reading at Boon! Giving kids access to good books and the opportunity to choose their own books will motivate them to read more. The more kids practice reading, the better they'll get. Now is the time! Plus, all funds raised from the book fair will go back to stock the Boon Library and put equipment in the classrooms.

Our new Book Fair theme for fall 2016 is "Bookaneer: Where books are the treasure!" This season's Book Fair will be an exciting celebration full of fun activities and hundreds of books kids want to read.

If you have some time to help us run our Book Fair, please volunteer. Volunteering is a fun way for family members to look through the hundreds of books available all while helping your Boon! If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Cunningham.

Book Fair Fall 2016

North Texas Giving Day

Today, September 22, is North Texas Giving Day.

Get up and give Allen on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 6am until midnight. www.tinyurl.com/GiveToAllen

The Foundation For Allen Schools is one of those non-profits and the funds raised on North Texas Giving Day come directly back to Allen ISD classroom via grants and student scholarships.

Every gift in the amount of $25 (or more) receives bonus funds from the Communities Foundation of Texas, the organizer behind NTGD.

School Picture Day

Friday, September 30 is fall picture day! Flyers and order forms are being sent home today in your child's Thursday folder.

Please visit Mylifetouch.com for clothing suggestions, online payment details and more. If you plan to place your order online, please note our picture day ID: LD946481Q0.

The picture of your student taken on September 30 will be the image printed in Boon's 2016-17 yearbook. Please contact the office with any questions.

Boon Volunteers

Boon is an incredible school for our children because of volunteers like YOU. Boon PTA is always looking for volunteers to contribute their time and talents to the many activities we sponsor throughout the year. Even if you only have an hour or two, here and there, there is a role for you!

Complete this on-line Volunteer Form (the same as the green form handed out at Meet the Teacher) and let us know how you would like to help.

Room moms will also be reaching out to you shortly to volunteer in your child's classroom. Remember: All volunteers must complete a background check online via Allen ISD Volunteer Registration.

E-Club: Community Creek Cleanup Saturday Environmental Club Community Creek Cleanup THIS Saturday, Sept. 24, from 9am to Noon.

Meet at the Dayspring Park Pavilion next to Boon Elementary to Sign In and gather supplies. We will provide Trash Pickers, Heavy Duty Trash Bags and some work gloves. Bring your own work gloves if you have them. Wear Rubber Rain Boots if you want to go into the creek to collect trash. You DO NOT HAVE TO GO INTO THE CREEK. You can collect trash along the cement sidewalk from Exchange Parkway to McDermott Drive. Bring a Re-usable Water Bottle. We will provide water. Wear Long Pants and Long Sleeves to protect yourself from Poison Ivy & Branches. Students MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT. No Drop Off of students is allowed for safety reasons. Weather should be fine in the morning. Storms are supposed to occur in the afternoon. If you have questions, email Jennifer Holloran

Boon Environmental Club

Boonster Donations

Thank you Boon Family!

We have 85+ families who have already donated this school year! 100% of your tax-deductible donation will be used toward supporting Boon programs such as Chili Cookoff, Authors and Artists Reception, Family Picnic, Boon All- Stars, Destination Imagination, Brag Tags, guest author visits, Spelling Bee, Environmental Club, educational programs, Patriot Press, 100th Day of School Celebration, and Donuts with Dads.

Haven't made a donation? It is not too late!

How to Donate

Online via paypal, the link at Boon's Facebook page or Membership site Via check made payable to: Boon Elementary PTA Donations can also be mailed (along with this Boonster Form) to:

Boon Elementary PTA Attn: Boonster 1050 Comanche Dr. Allen, Tx 75013

Corporate Matching gifts accepted Contact Jamie Hunsaker, Boon PTA Treasurer for more details

Questions? Email Boonster Co-Chairpersons: Melissa Riccio and Jenifer Williams at boonptafundraising.

The Early Bird Gets the Award

Boon PTA is 190 members away from getting the Texas PTA Early Bird Award!

As an incentive to new members, we will be giving away a $10 gift card to the restaurant of your choice for the 48th, 98th, 144th and 190th person who joins.

The contest ends on Wednesday, September 28th. We will periodically provide updates and announce winners.

Please note, students interested in participating in the Reflections contest must be members, or have parents who are members, of the PTA.

JoinPTA.org

Start the Boon Presses

Patriot Press, Boon PTA's in house publishing center for students, is up and running. The first 20 authors to submit a story along with the proper paper work will receive a coupon for a free ice cream at the Boon cafeteria.

Students in grades K-6 are invited to submit their best original stories for publication. Authors may bring their stories to the Boon Library where they will receive a form. This form must be completed and signed by both the student's teacher and parent. The student can then submit the manuscript and completed form.

Stories can be up to five handwritten pages and should not contain any violence or inappropriate language. A volunteer editor will meet with each author during school hours to complete the publishing process. All stories will be made into a hard cover book and become property of the Boon Elementary Library until the student leaves (graduates or moves). Parents will also be given the opportunity to purchase additional copies of the student's book.

The submission deadline is Friday, November 18, 2016.

The Patriot Press program is always looking for volunteers to help edit and type the student's stories. It is a wonderful opportunity to work with the students or volunteer from home. It is a flexible schedule.

Email Mary Beth Donohue for more information.

Fire Safety: Bookmark & Poster Contest

Fire Safety School Week is October 9-14. Each year the Allen ISD and Allen Fire Department sponsor a poster and bookmark contest for the students in Allen schools.

All Allen ISD students in grades K-6 are encouraged to create posters (or bookmarks) that convey fire safety and education messages. The contest helps students and their families to learn fire safety.

The 2016 Campaign theme is "Don't Wait, Check the Date." This theme reminds everyone to replace smoke alarms every ten years and replace batteries once a year.

Bookmarks and posters are due to the Boon Front Office on Tuesday, September 27 at 8:30am. No late entries will be accepted. Contest categories are below:

Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade - Create Posters 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade - Create Bookmarks

Additional rules and specifications are available on the Allen Fire Prevention Flyer.

About Fire Prevention Week: Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

Explore Agriculture and Learn

The Allen High School Agriculture Science Department would like to extend an invitation to all students at Boon Elementary. A new program for the students at the Elementary school level (Grades 3-6) is being launched to explore agriculture prior to entering high school.

Allen Jr. FFA

Box Tops Bonus App

We know that you're excited about all the box tops you've saved and will be bringing in on your Box Tops Collection Sheet, but now you can earn extra credit for our school!

Put your smart phone to good use by downloading the new Box Tops Bonus App! It's free, easy to use, and available for both Apple and Android devices. Keep clipping, and download the app for even more!

Box Tops Bonus App

Last Chance to Enter UIL Contest

This is the time of year where we begin recruiting students (2nd-6th grade) who would like to enter the UIL Contest. UIL stands for University Interscholastic League, an organization that governs all athletic and academic contests in the state of Texas.

UIL academic programs are designed to support basic curriculum and allow the students to apply what they learn in the classroom. Students do this by selecting a contest to enter, spend a couple of months practicing the concepts before, after or during school under supervision of a coach, and then compete at the district-wide contest on January 7, 2017.

Please check your child's Thursday folder for the information.

University Interscholastic League Boon Spiritwear

It's not too late to get your newly designed Boon Spiritwear. Email Kristen Young (or text 214-762-4747) to purchase spiritwear.

Boon Spiritwear

Students with Disabilities

The AISD has a duty to identify, refer, evaluate and if eligible, provide a free, appropriate public education to disabled students. For more information click the flyer attached.

504 Child Find Notice

Sending in News Items

Items for the Boon Patriot Post should be sent to boonpatriotpost by 3pm on Monday for publication in the next edition. The Boon Patriot Post is sent out on Thursday mornings during the school year.