As we begin our 3rd quarter, let's reflect on our busy and successful January.
• PTA hosted the return visit from visual artist Bren Bataclan. He completed a three panel mural which is prominently displayed in our media center. It's a fabulous keepsake for Hunter.
• We held a PTA general membership meeting and reviewed the budget.
• Teacher mini-grants are offered and proposals submitted for review. PTA has $8,000 to award - Recipients awarded soon.
• YWCA study Circles began on Wednesday evenings.
• We hosted our book exchange and all students were able to select a gently used book for their personal collection.
• Tri-Force the precision jump rope team performed for our students. News media covered the event. Set your videos now for Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 12:30 the WRAL Health Team report will feature Coach Chad and the Hunter Jump Rope Program.
• Our school children raised $4,200 for Haiti relief and made the donation to the American Red Cross in honor of our fall artist-in-residence, Daniel Bernard Roumain.
• We hosted our first "day of service" and families came to school to paint and clean.

What a busy month - Looking ahead, we have some major events planned (Kevin O'Malley author visit and Hunter Heritage) and we could use YOUR help! Please volunteer if you are able.

HUNTER HERITAGE VOLUNTEERS Needed!
Hunter Heritage is one of our most popular events. Our Hunter Heritage co-chairs need YOUR help - please be a HUNTER STAR and volunteer for one of the roles listed below.
volunteer coordinator
5th grade coordinator
in house food coordinator
games coordinator
ticket sales
The event can NOT take place unless people step up and fill these positions. We have plenty of helpers but we need coordinators to lead and organize. We do not wish to cancel this well-liked event.
Hunter Heritage co chairs
Rachel Trunkey rbtrunkey@yahoo.com
Kim Von Weihe kimvonweihe@hotmail.com

NEW CULTURAL ARTS EVENT
The PTA is proud to present Transit Band on Feb.10, with K-2 assemblies at 12:45 and 3-5 assemblies at 1:45. Transit will offer the students of Hunter an in depth look at American Music from the a cappella perspective. All Hunter families are invited to attend.

4TH GRADE LOVE BASKETS
On Friday, Feb.12, the 4th graders will participate in a special service project. They will be decorating bags, making cards and filling the bags with needed items for the women & children at Interact, a non-profit protective shelter here in Raleigh. This is an opportunity for the children to give back to the community while also having fun. Help is needed with this service project. Please collect and send in the following items in the next two weeks (by 2/11):
Toiletries (small shampoos, soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tissues, etc. especially those travel ones you pick up from hotels and then don't use), Small treats such as a pack of gum, please do not send any sharp objects, such as razors. Also, if anyone has any doilies, valentine stickers, or other decorations for cards to send in, we would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks for your help with this. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Ginny Harris bgtaharris@msn.com or Jeny Schweitzer-Brill listentonature@nc.rr.com
Mrs. Deel's Homeroom Representatives

SUPPORT READ-A-THON
Read-A-Thon is Hunter's literacy-based fundraiser. Active reading period for Read-A-Thon started Wednesday, January 27th through Tuesday, February 9th. Please return your child's completed, signed, & initialed reading log, completed pledge form, and any tax-deductible donations to your child's homeroom teacher starting Wednesday, February 10th. All forms must be returned by Tuesday, February 16th for your student to be eligible for prizes. All students can participate whether they collect funds or not. New prizes and new prize categories this year. Funds collected from Read-A-Thon get invested right back into the classroom to enrich all of our students! Questions? Comments? Contact Co-Chairs Sharon Eckard (seckardrg@nc.rr.com) or Dare Johnston (dare370@msn.com).

reading log and cover letter with instructions attachments at the bottom of this blog

BOX TOP BATTLE of the GRADES:

Let the battles begin! February 1st through the 15th, send in BoxTops for Education, Campbell's Labels for Education, and used ink cartridges to your child's homeroom. Each homeroom will have a collection bin for these items. Each item will be worth 1 point. The homeroom in each grade that has the most points collected will win a Popcorn party. Below are some tips that can make collection and counting easier for everyone:

BOX TOP for Education:
• Cut the coupon down to size (or close to it).
• The expiration date must be visible. (please make sure it is not expired)
o There are a few boxtops that do not have expiration dates, if you think you have one, just drop it in.
o Watch for "fake" box tops. (Like from ads, or a sample indicating there is a box top)
• Visit www.boxtops4education.com for a complete list of participating products.

Campbells Labels for Education:
• Campbells Labels for Education changed a couple of years ago, and now the only part of the label that is needed (and wanted) is the UPC.
• There are two products that require the lid instead of the UPC, Prego sauces and V8 juices.
• Please cut UPC label down to size. See sample to right.
• If the UPC is torn, you must have more than ½ of the barcode.
• Do not tape or staple the labels
• Visit www.labelsforeducation.com for a complete list of participating products

Used Computer Print Ink Cartridges
• Please place them in a sandwich bag and drop them in the collection bag.

It's all in FUN! It's all for a GOOD CAUSE!
Support Hunter by sending in your labels and Boxtops today!

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE HUNTER EDUCATOR?
Nominate your favorite educator to win $500 in classroom cash.
http://www.rbcbankusa.com/tribute/cid-141563.html
Now until March 14, 2010 you may nominate your favorite educator in RBC Bank's 7th Annual Tribute to Teachers program. Simply complete a brief nomination form online to tell us about the one word that best describes your favorite elementary or middle school teacher. He or she will then be entered to receive valuable school supply discounts & a chance to receive up to $2,000 in prizes to help fulfill classroom needs.
All Nominees will receive a limited time offer for special discounts with preferred vendors
70 Finalists will win $500 cash for use in their classrooms
4 Grand Prize Winners will each enjoy a $2,000 shopping spree for new educational supplies and resources
GO HUNTER Educators!

ANOTHER contest: Enter every day: http://cdwg.discoveryeducation.com/wawl/index.cfm

Think about how The 21st Century Classroom - interactive whiteboard, notebook computers, wireless cart, projector and document camera - could extend your teaching power.

ENTER NOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF THREE GRAND PRIZE PACKAGES including a 21st Century Classroom and a $5000 digital media grant from Discovery Education. Plus, over 20 additional technology prizes!  http://cdwg.discoveryeducation.com/wawl/index.cfm

SCHOOL BOARD
Are you interested in joining the group of parents advocating for diversity, magnets, and equity in the school system? Contact Hunter parent, Christine Kushner and ask to be added to her the email list which provides excellent summaries of meetings and general happenings with the school board. ckushner@nc.rr.com
Helpful tips on writing emails to School Board members:
1) Find the link at http://www.wcpss.net/Board/boeinfo.html.
2) Be brief and to the point. Write in your own words--they can recognize cut and pasted mass emails and those are generally disregarded.
3) Be civil and polite--incivility does not help your cause.
4) State the facts--use numbers, data and truth. Speak truth to power.
5) If appropriate, copy all board members so that they know what discussion is going on.
6) Email often--let them know we are paying attention to their work.

CALLING for YEARBOOK PICTURES
The YEARBOOK committee is currently looking for some great photos of our children at Hunter. The kids love to see their faces in the yearbook. Anyone can contribute photos taken on field trips, in the classroom or at other school events. Please don't wait to turn in your photos. We need to receive photos throughout the year to make sure all Hunter Events are represented. Turn in your photos now!
Please use the following criteria when submitting photos:
Do not submit more than 15 photos per event. Please choose only your best photos to submit.
Label each photo with the event name and grade. Example: Olympics2nd.jpg and Zoo5th.jpg
Only submit photos from the 2009-10 school years, taken at school or at a school event (DBR, concerts, performances, field trips.)
Submit Clear, Digital Photos at least 300dpi quality. Cell phone pictures are not going to be at a high enough resolution. Make sure that you can see the students' faces in the photo.
Turn the CD into the PTA box in the office with marked "YEARBOOK PHOTOS/Event(s) Name and grade." Example: YEARBOOK PHOTOS/DBR, Zoo 5th Grade, Hunter Olympics 2nd Grade.
If you have any questions, please contact Aileen Carroll at 870-9081/ aileenc@nc.rr.com or Jennifer Pittman at 787-1927/ jmpittman713@nc.rr.com.

BOOK EXCHANGE Thanks: Another successful PTA book exchange. I want to thank everyone that donated books and everyone that helped sort the books and distribute the books. It takes a team to make the exchange a success and I have been fortunate to have a wonderful team every year! K-3 students were able to take 2 books home each and 4-5 graders were all able to take a book home. Happy reading! Looking forward to it next year, Debbie King