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Tricycle

August 2000

 

 

 

President

Cheryl Meriwether

216-328-9723

merimom@ptamail.com

Welcome new and returning members to the 2000-2001 Parma Early Childhood PTA – Normandy Cluster. Let me start by telling you a little about myself. I’ve been married to my husband, Jeff, for almost seventeen years. I have two children, Victoria age 6 and Alexander age 2. I’m currently a stay-at-home mom but I’ve also held the title of working mom. Everyone told me I would be bored when I quit work but that’s because they didn’t know about Early Childhood PTA. What a blast I’ve had with my children being part of this group. I’ve done lots of fun things with my kids, met lots of great people, learned much about PTA and the school district and I’ve also had a reason to learn to use my husband’s computer. I’d say PTA is a way to do something good for your kids as well as yourself.

With that said let’s get on to business. Many of us have had a busy summer planning our fun and activities for the year as well as taking care of some of the more mundane tasks. I want to thank everyone who has put in numerous hours before the "year" even began. We have many talented and dedicated people in this group that are such a pleasure to work with.

I also want to thank everyone who participated in our first fundraiser in June. Ten of us spent about eight hours, one beautiful summer evening, and worked a concession stand at Jacobs Field during an Indians game. Our fun and hard work earned the group $500. What a great way to start the year. Thanks again to Rita Basalla, Andrea Kalvas, Debbie Napoli, Lynne Cesare, Sherri Spagnola, Berta Paneccasio, Heidi Wessel, Mary Herrmann, and Donna Santabarbara. For anyone who didn’t get the opportunity to experience it the first time don’t worry. Sherri Spagnola has set up another date for us. Let her know if you want to participate.

For all you fellow mouse potatoes we do have a web page. The address is www.angelfire.com/pa2/ecpta. Let me know if you find it useful or have any suggestions on content.

I can’t wait to see you all again or meet you for the first time at our upcoming 8/22 meeting. If you have any questions about anything feel free to give me a call.

In keeping with this year’s theme of "Memories to Treasure" I submit the following because you never know when you might be making a memory.

 

"A memory is a photograph
taken by the heart
to make a special moment
last forever.

And of all the memory-pictures
that happy times can bring,
the best are those
that families make together."


NEXT MEETING: August 22nd, Hillside Junior High in the Media Center


 

 

 

 

 

1st Vice

Heidi Wessel

(440) 838-0888

Welcome to another wonderful year of Early Childhood PTA! The summer has gone by so fast, and I have made many "Memories to Treasure". My name is Heidi Wessel, I work part time as a computer programmer and full time as a mom of three wonderful boys, ages 11, 9 and 3. My husband Jeff works in Advertising and we have been married for 17 years. I have been in PTA for many years (I've actually lost count) and am looking forward to another terrific year.

In keeping with the "Memories to Treasure" theme I have several fun speakers planned this year that will give us great ideas on how to have fun with our kids. JoAnn's etc will be joining us to share some fun ideas about costume making for kids, authors of the book "The Ultimate Book of Kids Concoctions" will be with us in November to give us fun project ideas to do with kids using common household ingredients, and an AV specialist from the library will join us to talk about all the 'not so well known’ facts about library offerings. Since we all enjoy our monthly 'night out’ we also have a BINGO social, craft night, and mom's night out planned for all of us who look forward to socializing with all of us mom's.

Our first meeting will be Tuesday, August 22nd at 7:00pm at Hillside Jr. High in the Media Center.  Take Broadview Road to Hillside Road, go past Seven Hills City Hall and take a right on Educational Park Drive. Please bring along any new members or friends who may like to join us! Hope to see you all then. "Treasure the Memory" of the first day of school.


Sherri Spagnola

Fall Party

(440) 888-2528

The fall party this year will be Saturday,
October 21, 2000. It will be a jungle safari.
More details to follow at the meetings.

 


 

3rd Vice

Donna Santabarbara

(216) 573-7360

 

Welcome to the year that will be filled with memories to treasure made special by all the outings we will go on together. I am Donna Santabarbara, 3rd Vice President, in charge of organizing field trips. I have been in Early Childhood PTA for four years holding different positions including the chair positions of Telephone, Geranium Scholarship Sales, Membership, and Nominating Committees, and actively participating in sunshine, refreshment and safety town committees. I have developed such great friendships from the group.

Many know my family already. Sam, my husband, is a contract administrator at Avtron Mfg. In Independence and I work outside the home as well at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation as an RN in the Cardiothoracic operating rooms 2-3 days each month. But we all know the real work is done in our home with our children. I have three girls, Nicole age 6, Christine age 4, and Jennifer age 2. The4y are the reason that I wanted to be 3rd Vice President. They love to go places, try new things, and learn together what the world has to offer. And where do you think they get these ideas? Well, me of course! What a perfect match. But for those of us returning to PTA, we know what a big job this is. Thankfully, I will be aided this year by Sherri Spagnola, who has held the 3rd Vice position when we were divided into sections. My name is Sherri Spagnola and I have been in Pre-school PTA since my first son was 6 months old. My husband, Ray and I have been married for 9 years and we have 3 children. Derrick, our oldest is 5 and will be starting kindergarten this fall. Our two other children, Janelle and Andrew, are twins and they are 2 and a half. I have worked at the 3rd vice position in the past and look forward to assisting Donna this year. We hope you and

your children enjoy the outings this year.

We are open to ideas for outings and have received many already that we have scheduled or are investigating for our group. We continue to expect payment for outings on the night of the meeting so that bookkeeping can be made easy and we can all enjoy the outings together. We also ask that if you cannot attend an event that you previously signed up for, please notify us as early as possible in case there is a waiting list of other interested members. Most of all, let’s have fun and make memories to treasure.

 

Save the dates for:

Tour of Red Lobster and lunch on August 29th

Self guided tour of Children’s Hershey Garden at the
Cleveland Botanical Center on September 8th

Visit and feed animals at Searn’s Farm September 12th

Hillside Farm Outing September 19th

March with Normandy Band to be announced

Fall preparation program at the Metroparks Look about
Lodge on September 27th

Hayride, pumpkin picking at Walsh Farm to be
announced (October)

Playhouse Square Theater Series program SuperFudge
(musical) November 30th and December 1st

Santa’s Workshop at Apple Country November 24th
and 25th and December 2nd and 6th

Brunswick Skate Station January 4, 2001

 


Don't forget that membership dues are due at the first meeting. The cost is $12.00


 

A Kiss for Kindergarten

Tomorrow is the day little friend. In the morning you go to school for the first time. A whole new world opens up to you then. You are ready to meet it. You’ve handled your new kindergarten clothes so many times in anticipation of the day you would first wear them. And you’ve mastered typing your own shoes, except for the hard part-making the bow.

But I wonder how ready your mother is for this new life of yours? If I could, I’d hold you back just a little longer, close to me, where I can shelter your world and share your life.

Tomorrow, when you take my hand for the walk to school, I will be the one who dawdles. When we reach that door, you’ll leave me, anxious to join the others in the kindergarten room. You’ll walk through it, as your brothers and sisters have done without a backward glance. There I’ll stand wanting to shed a few mother's tears because another baby has become a little man. But, I won’t cry. Instead, I’ll concentrate on being proud. Proud that we have made you secure enough in five years to stand on your own for a little while before racing home to share the news of the day. How we’ve built so much security, I don’t know. All we’ve don is love you.

Tomorrow you will meet the ultimate authority. Soon you will tell me with complete confidence what has to be done because "Teacher says." I must surrender part of my position to that other woman who is about to enter your life and your heart. No longer will I know all your friends. Tomorrow you will broaden your horizons and meet other children, I shall know only through your tales of the school room.

You will soon learn to keep your own little secrets as you master the art of making Christmas presents, and someone else’s hands will help you do it. But there is much for us to share this year as you tell me what "Teacher said" and "Joey did." And I will listen enchanted as I view the new world through your eyes.

It’s so hard to let you go, my friend. For five years you have been my companion. Tomorrow I begin a new life too. Yes, I hate to see you leave behind the sheltered world of home and Mother, but I will always be will your as I am will your brothers and sisters. Love reaches beyond the doors of schoolrooms, beyond the boundaries of neighborhoods, beyond time and place.

In the morning, I will help you put on your shirt and crisp new pants and we will be on our way. But tonight-tonight for the last time, you are simply my baby. And I hold you now at bedtime just a little longer, cuddle you just a bit closer, give your one more kiss before saying goodnight. In your excitement, you don’t notice my stealing that extra kiss. I need it for kindergarten.

Ann Serb-Family Digest

Submitted by Donna Santabarbara


Sherri Spagnola

Fund Raising

(440) 888-2528

Thank you to everyone for your patience with my numerous and repeated phone calls in trying to get everyone's schedules coordinated for this game. I

would like to thank the following people for volunteering for our next Indians game fundraiser, scheduled for Friday, September 8, 2000:

Rita Basalla

Lynne Cesare

Kim Jesionek

Dave Jesionek

Lisa Lesh

Glen Lesh

Cindy McGuire

Cheryl Meriwether

Robin Wangler

Heidi Wessel

I am hoping to have at least 2 people available as alternates. That information should be available at our 1st meeting. I will also have available a map to the parking lot and entry gate. At that time I would

like to try to coordinate a car pool location/time. In the meantime, just a few reminders:

Game time is 7:05pm. You need to be at Jacob's field between 4:00pm and 4:15pm so that you may get your ID tag, the rest of your uniform, and be trained on whatever position you will have for the night.

Jacob's field requires all volunteers to be in proper dress for the game. That includes navy/dark blue casual pants (Dockers or like)(no black, shorts, or jeans) and a white shirt (can be T-shirt, printed is OK but it must be white) and an Indians hat (navy cap w/red bill) if you have one, if not they will supply you with a beautiful paper hat.

If you are scheduled to work and an emergency prohibits you from attending, please try to find a replacement. The nice thing about this fundraiser is it's not limited to PTA moms only. You may find a friend, neighbor, relative, etc. as your replacement if need be. As stated I will do my best to find 2 alternates that would be available in an emergency situation.


You must bring self-addressed stamped (business sized) envelopes to the meeting to have future copies of The Tricycle mailed to you.