Dear SJLES Families,

This was a rebuilding year in so many ways.  As a PTA, our goal was to organize events that could bring our community together again, but in outdoor environments so people could feel as comfortable as possible.  We had a couple challenges: 1) unpredictable weather; 2) since the previous two years did not allow for gatherings, the majority of our PTA team had never even been to many of the school events that we were planning for this year; and 3) we needed to rebuild the budget after two years of being unable to hold fundraisers.  

But with determination and teamwork we were able to have a great year.  Here’s a peek at some of what the PTA was able to accomplish this year, thanks to all who supported PTA programs with their time, talents, and finances…  

• Hosted 17 super fun events for students and families
• Provided meals on 6 different occasions for 100 teachers and staff members
• Bought coffee and creamer for the staff lounge all year long
• Purchased a brand-new Funnel Ball system for the playground, which will be installed over the summer
• Purchased table top scales and butterfly terrariums for science classes
• Purchased 46 recycling bins, for every room in the school
• Purchased 212 laptop bags for students
• Collected 1,799 items for the food drive, 89 coats for the Coat Drive, and countless toys for students in need
• Provided prizes for the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports to fill the Spot-O-Gram store
• Framing for over 1,400 artwork displays
• Purchased new books for the Media Center
• Purchased headphones, learning manipulatives, therapy putty, sensory fidget toys, instructional games, pumped up recess supplies, and countless school supplies

We sincerely thank everyone who gave membership dues, volunteered their time, loaned us equipment for events, and encouraged us with your feedback!

With sincere gratitude,

Meg Halvorsen, PTA President

P.S. This summer, we’ll hold two planning sessions so we’ll be ready for next school year.  Just like our regular PTA meetings, these sessions will be held on the first Wednesday of the month at 8:00 p.m. via Zoom.

• July 6th
• August 3rd

Mark your calendars now and bookmark our zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84490138573?pwd=eVBBUm9ZdXpEL3NvQkExQ0JXcVIyZz09

• Meeting ID: 844 9013 8573
• Passcode: 643443 

Hope to see you there!

Thank you to all our May Day donors. The May Day Festival cannot happen without generous donations of time and items from all our parents and teachers. It’s with your help that we are able to provide a fun filled day for our Jaguars.

Thank you also to our local business donors, that generously donated to our silent auction. You are helping to raise funds that provide school supplies, assemblies, field trips, picnics, and more. Below are the business that donated to our silent auction:

Saturday 5/21  •  1PM – 5PM

Our beloved tradition at St. John’s Lane for over 55 years is coming back this year! It is a carnival event with games, prizes, inflatables, delicious food, entertainment, and a silent auction.

All are welcome! Please spread the word to family, friends, and neighbors!

Ticket Information

• Blue Tickets can be used to play games, play on the inflatables, and purchase PTA-provided food (i.e., excludes Food Trucks)
  • Pre-sale discount pricing: 20 cents per ticket (5 tickets for $1)
  • Ticket price on the day of May Day: 25 cents per ticket (4 tickets for $1)

• Wristbands available for all-day, unlimited access to games and inflatables (not food)
  • Pre-sale discount wristband price: $20
  • Wristband price on the day of May Day: $25

• Order forms for pre-sale tickets will be sent home during the first week of May. You can also order using our PTA online store. Pre-sale pricing will be available until Wednesday, May 18th. 

Games & Food

• Here’s the list of games and food that will be available at the May Day Festival! 

Delicious menu options include:

• Tasty Maryland Food Truck
• Vocelli’s Pizza by the slice
• Kona Ice Truck
• Cotton candy
• Fan-favorite lemon sticks
• And more!

• Play for prizes! Each game gives you a chance to win Yellow Prize tickets that can be redeemed for fabulous prizes!

Volunteers Needed!

• We need your help to make May Day run smoothly! Choose a time slot to help with the games, prize tables, and silent auction. Click here to sign up. Thank you!
• We are also looking for Bake Sale volunteers and Items for Loan. Thank you!

Live Entertainment

• We are pleased to welcome several great community groups, including a Cub Scouts opening ceremony, the MHHS Color Guard, Kangaroo Kids, Kavanagh Porter Academy of Irish Dance, and more! 
• A live DJ will provide the perfect soundtrack for the day!

Silent Auction

• Our Silent Auction will be held in the Gym and has some amazing items up for bidding! Don’t miss your opportunity to win incredible prizes, including…
  • Front row tickets to 5th Grade Graduation
  • $1000 orthodontics gift card
  • Tickets to the Frederick Keys
  • 8-person tasting event at Black Ankle Vineyards
  • Merriweather Post Pavilion gift certificate
  • Free yogurt for a YEAR from Sweet Frog
  • Lift tickets for Timberline Resort
  • Vedic Spa facial gift certificate
  • 3-month YMCA family  membership
  • 4 free passes to the Zava Zone
  • And much, much more!

Rain Date Information

Saturday, June 4, 1:00 – 5:00 PM

• In the past, May Day has been held rain or shine. But this year, we wanted to have a plan so almost all of the event can be outside.

• Inflatables can only be set up outside (per HCPSS policy), and we didn’t want rain to ruin the fun!
• May Day is a BIG event and we’d like as many people as possible to feel comfortable!
• In the event of rain on BOTH days, the event will be moved inside on June 4th, 1-5 PM.

Questions?

Send a note to SJLES.PTAmail@gmail.com

Yearbook Order Deadline is April 29

LAST CHANCE to Save on Theme Park Tickets!

Different Ways to Contribute to Class Baskets

1. Your student can bring in an item or monetary donation and submit it to the collection bin with their teacher.
2. You can shop via our Amazon Wishlists. When selecting the shipping address, be sure to choose our Silent Auction Coordinator, Katherine Etheridge. ** And once you’ve added something to your cart, you can shop through Amazon Smile, select St. John’s Lane Elementary, and a portion of the purchase will go straight to our school. (This easy way to support SJLES will work any time you shop through Amazon Smile, not just through these wishlists.)
   1. Kindergarten – Summer Fun Theme
   2. 1st Grade – Pet Supplies Theme
   3. 2nd Grade – Sports Theme
   4. 3rd Grade – Family Fun Night Theme
   5. 4th Grade – STEM Theme
   6. 5th Grade – Gift Card Theme (See additional ideas link below)

Additional Ideas For the Baskets

Here are some ideas of items to fit with each grade’s theme. A contribution of any size is appreciated and we are truly grateful for the support!

Tickets are now on sale for SJLES Bingo Night, April 22 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.! This year’s picnic-style event will be held outdoors on the basketball courts behind the school, so please bring a blanket. Tickets are $2 each, and include Bingo cards, a snack, and a bottle of water. You also have the option to pre-order pizzas and salads from Vocelli’s. Flyers are being sent home this week, or you can order online via our MemberHub store. Tickets are limited, so don’t wait! Registration closes April 8 (or when tickets sell out). The first 30 players to arrive will receive a FREE Bingo dauber! 

If your student earned a charm from any of our events and didn’t get a chain yet, let us know with this quick form, and we’ll deliver it to you. 

Good News!  Now there’s extra time to order yearbooks! Follow these steps to order now before it’s too late. If you have any questions, please send an email to yearbooksjles@gmail.com.

The PTA Council of Howard County (PTACHC) discussed the district’s budget for Fiscal Year 2023 at its March 7 meeting. Revenue was a hot topic at this meeting, because it appears revenues are not keeping pace with expenditures. The majority of HCPSS funds come from the county council. This is a great opportunity for parents to advocate for the school system. The State has funding for capital expenditures, but currently requires HCPSS to match any contributions provided by the state. We can advocate with our HoCo Senators and Delegates to have this match removed.

The budget is over 600 pages of data but for the key points read the following sections: “Factors Influencing the Budget” beginning on page 19, “Summary of FY 2023 Superintendent’s Proposed Operating Budget Expenditures” on page 20, and “FY 2023 Operating Budget Changes” on page 40. A link to the budget can be found on the HCPSS home page: https://www.hcpss.org/about-us/budgets/fy23/

In summary, the FY 2023 Superintendent’s Proposed Operating Budget totals $1.07 billion, which is about $112.5 million, or an 11.7 percent increase over the FY 2022 Approved Budget (revised). A summary of the budget by state category is shown in the table on page 20.

The deadline for ordering yearbooks will be here sooner than you think! The price is $20 and all orders must be in by next Tuesday, March 15. Just follow the steps outlined here to reserve your copy. Our school code is YB101337. If you have any questions, please send an email to yearbooksjles@gmail.com.