Mantua PTA News 2024, Back to School Issue 6

Kids Care Club: Register Now!

Registration is now open for the Kids Care Club! Sign up using this link: https://www.memberplanet.com/mantuaelementaryschoolpta/2024-25_chatnchew_kcc 

The Kids Care Club meets once a month to work on fun service projects for our school and community. Examples include making care packages for people in need, creating signs for school events, drawing or writing holiday cards for first responders, and supporting the annual food drive. Our goals are to help others through our projects and to develop a group of future volunteers and community leaders. Mantua students in all grades (K-6) can join the club. We will meet after school on the second Wednesday of each month, starting Oct 9. Questions? Reach out to kcc@mantuapta.org.

Fall Enrichment Starts on Wednesday this Week 

Mantua PTA has paired with Baroody Camps to bring you another exciting selection of classes! Classes will run 10/7-12/12. Fall registration begins at 10AM Wednesday September 18th and ends Wednesday September 25th at 11:59PM. See the flyer below for the schedule and a link to class descriptions. Mantua Elementary School (jumbula.com) 

As you may know, one of the after school enrichment vendors who partners with Baroody Camps issued the following statement link regarding the recent arrest of an employee from one of their providers. In addition to multiple background checks, FCPS badging, and trainings, Mantua PTA will employ additional measures to ensure student safety:

All adult after school providers will be instructed by Baroody to use the teachers’ lounge restroom while on campus.

Providers will be reminded of the current mandatory buddy system that is in place for all students attending after-school enrichment programs who need to use the restroom.

An on-site enrichment coordinator is always on campus during enrichment to check attendance rosters, wait with students during late pickup, and is responsible for reporting to Baroody any behavior or other incidents that arise during after-school enrichment.

Additionally, Mantua PTA will have a PTA representative on-site every day for the first week of classes to ensure that all safety measures are being followed properly.

Please let us know if you have any further questions about the safety protocols by contacting the PTA enrichment coordinators at: enrichment@mantuapta.org. We are excited to offer another season of enrichment programs!

Don't miss Fall Raccoon Runners Registration!

Get ready, Raccoon Runners families! Registration for the Fall season of Raccoon Runners will begin on Wednesday September 18, 2024 at 8am. Last year, the Spring season filled up in under 20 minutes, so be sure to set a reminder to avoid missing out!

Registration Link: (Live on 9/18, 8am) www.memberplanet.com/s/mantuaelementaryschoolpta/fall2024_raccoonrunners 

The running program is designed for 3rd through 6th graders and runs from 10/8-11/26, meeting from 8:00-9:00am on Tuesdays and Fridays.

We meet rain or shine (as long as school is in session). Raccoon Runners promotes physical and mental health through fun, coach-guided exercise sessions (approximately 45 minutes with warm up and drills), followed by a snack and meaningful peer discussions.

At the conclusion of the program, participants have the option to run in the Fairfax Turkey Trot.

Mantua Drama Behind the Scenes Program

Mantua Drama is proud to introduce our "Behind the Scenes" Program, open to 5th and 6th graders. If your child has an interest in helping with TECH (6th grade only), Set Design and Costume Design, please click the registration link for complete details!

Registration will close at the end of the week.

https://forms.gle/NUNibncoonQqD9mg8

Mantua PTA Basketball

Mantua PTA Basketball Registration is Open! We still need volunteers. There are some great opportunities to volunteer and support the League and our community.

If you have any question on the roles and/or time commitment, please don't hesitate to reach out to: commissioner@mantuabasketball.org

Dessert Night! 

Join us on “Dessert Night” at Toby’s Ice Handmade Ice Cream in Vienna! On Thursday evening, September 26th, 6-9pm, the Mantua Elementary PTA will get 10% of all proceeds from purchases made at their Vienna location!

Date: 9/26/24

Time: 6-9pm

Location: Toby’s Handmade Ice Cream,

280 Cedar Lane,

Vienna, VA 22180

 https://tobysicecream.com

Volunteers Needed for the Art Department

Mantua Academics Competition

Don't forget to fill out the Interest Survey by September 20th: https://forms.gle/fx7qF1poKc9WSULp8 

This survey is to gauge group interest in activities and promote information sharing among interested families. There is no obligation to participate by filling out the form, and there is no guarantee your child will be placed in the activities.

Tip: Please use Google Chrome to open the survey if you encounter any problems with other browsers. If the issue persists, restart your computer and try again. For more information, please reach out to mantuacompetitions@gmail.com

Classroom Volunteers Needed! 

We are looking for classroom volunteers! (Room parents, Tuesday folder helpers, and party coordinators.) These are great opportunities to get to know your teacher better and to spend time in your kiddo’s classroom!

A brief description of the current volunteer opportunities is included below.

Can’t commit to one of these jobs? More opportunities will be posted throughout the year for various events and programs!

Please reach out to volunteering@mantuapta.org if you have any questions.
-------------------------
Room Parent - Send email reminders to class families about PTA events and fundraisers, communicate with parents to coordinate teacher gifts, help party coordinators plan seasonal class parties, this job can be done remotely.

Tuesday Folder Helper - Comes to the classroom on a weekly basis at a time coordinated with the teacher to stuff Tuesday folders that will go home with each student. Since this requires someone to come weekly, this position can be split between two parents who alternate weeks.

Party Coordinators - Coordinators get a set date and time from the teacher and coordinate games, crafts, snacks, etc. for the class, often soliciting the other class parents for supply donations and extra volunteer help.