Home of the Gators
Happy May, Gant Families! Hope spring break was great. We are on the final count-down ‘til summer (wow, how time flies)!
We had a lot of fun programs in April with great turn out. The zero-waste lunch was a great success where we cut our trash by over half for 2 weeks. We would love to continue this success till the end of school. This month is busy as well with teacher appreciation, fun run and much more. Thank you for all our help to make Gant a success.
Cassie Fanton and Genn Billish
(Minnie Gant Principal and PTA President
2018-19)
During the month of May, Parent University will be hosting a series of free workshops open to all LBUSD parents at Hoover Middle School and Bobbie Smith Elementary. Topics include:
· Building Resilience and Growth Mindsets
· Mental Health Awareness
· Technology in the LBUSD Classrooms (Google Classroom, Google Docs, and Google Sheets)
· ParentVue and Khan Academy
· Summer Enrichment Opportunities for LBUSD Students.
For more details, click here.
Calling all Gators! The 2019 Minnie Gant Talent Show will be Thursday, June 6, from 7-8:30pm at the Stanford Middle School Auditorium. Everyone who auditions gets in the show! Please complete the form online and plan to attend one of the two auditions on Thursday 5/16 or Thursday 5/30 at 1:45pm in the Gant Auditorium.
Performers also need to attend a mandatory tech rehearsal at Stanford on 6/5 from 4-7pm.
- Thursday 5/16, 1:45-3:30pm (Audition 1)
- Thursday 5/30, 1:30-3:30pm (Audition 2)
- Wednesday 6/5, 4-7pm (Mandatory Tech rehearsal at Stanford)
- Thursday 6/6, 7-8:30pm (Talent Show)
Check out the Google form and details here.
Our Scholastic Book Fair is a reading event that brings the books kids want to read right into our school. It's a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Please make plans to visit our Book Fair and be involved in shaping your child's reading habits.
Book Fair dates: May 20 - May 24, 2019 Shopping hours: During class library time MW/F (students only) and after school T/TH (all) Special activities: Grandparent Event, Mon 5/20, 5-7 pm and Open House, Wed 5/22, 5-6:45 pm
NEW digital payment option: Book Fair Wallet! Now your student can shop the Fair cash-freel Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and to create an account.
If you are unable to attend the Fair in person, we invite you to visit our online Book Fair from May 12 to May 25.
Also, please consider volunteering during Gant's annual book fair and helping to foster an excitement for reading. Please take a look at the volunteer sign-up sheet here: https://volunteer.scholastic.com/#/signup/IIqcvIAfR Final book fair hours of operation will be determined based on the number of volunteer sign-ups.
Our NEW Gant Running Club will continue this week, after school on Thursdays and before school on Fridays. Due to its popularity, we need more support for this program! Sign-up here.
We can hardly believe the year is almost over, but Gant PTA is excited to announce a family picnic on Friday 5/31.
Bring your picnic dinner and relax! A DJ and desserts will be there, sponsored by the PTA. Let’s get together to celebrate a job well done and a year almost over.
This past week, parents and students came together in celebration of our exceptional teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week! The week began with the reveal of "fiesta" themed classroom doors, decorated by some hardworking, creative parents. In the days that followed, there were flowers, there was a cart of treats visiting classrooms and there were adorable notes delivered by students.
The week culminated in a delicious teacher luncheon generously donated by GREAT MEX restaurant here in Long Beach. Thanks, Great Mex!
We hope that our teachers left the week knowing how very, very much we appreciate them!
PTA would like to congratulate our 2018/19 Teacher of the Year, our amazing 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Karlowitsch! Thank you to all who submitted entries. You are greatly appreciated.
Congratulations to our new board members for the 2019-2020 year, and thank you to our outgoing board members from this year. Along with many others, the PTA board members give considerable time to our school. They go to meetings, go to trainings, and go the extra mile for our school. Many have served for several years while welcoming and training newer members to maintain a strong PTA and programs that support our school and all of our children. So, welcome new members, and thank you to all. We are very grateful gators!
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Gennifer Billish |
| Vice President | Jessica Reed |
| Auditor | Samantha Holdren |
| Financial Secretary | Chris Plaisted |
| Historian | Pam Rima |
| Legislation | Jennie Marvin |
| Recording Secretary | Tarah Petrone |
| Treasurer | Taleen Ferguson |
| Ways & Means | Torey Carrick |
| Parliamentarian | Danielle Geye |
| Programming | Erin Lipeles |
| Membership | Kristin Wise |
We could see and feel the difference during the Zero-Waste Lunch Challenge 4/1-18!
- We reduced trash 50% (good for the planet),
- We increased TerraCycle (good for the planet and revenuefor programs),
- Students and parents got involved with sorting (community service); and
- Students got excited about making a difference (self-esteem and leadership).
Many small acts really do add up. Thanks to our PTA Green Team for leading the effort and to everyone who participated.
Let’s keep the zero-waste mindset to reduce waste for the rest of the year!
On Thursday, April 11, Gant students and parents came together in the cafeteria to roll up their sleeves and get to work for a good cause. One hour later, and with the incredible support of Girls Scout Troops 723 & 2823, we had assembled 160 hygiene kits and 200 PB&J sandwiches for the Long Beach Rescue Mission! Big hearts and a strong work ethic were evident in each of the students who gave their time, and we are so proud of the service they gave to those in need!
On April 4 and 5, more than 70 Gators from all grade levels performed in the school play "Aladdin Jr." at the Stanford Middle School auditorium for two huge and enthusiastic crowds! Many thanks to the staff and helpers from Yaya's Performance Academy, and to our many parent, grandparent, and sibling volunteers. Congratulations to our talented performers -- we already can't wait for next year's show!
Gant is working to save trees and reduce paper. We are going to begin sharing flyers electronically. New after-school and community activities flyers this week:
Please visit the After-School and Community Activities Page for all current or upcoming activities.
Our April FNO at Baskin-Robbins raised $302! Plus, they gave us a sweet way to keep raising funds. They will donate $5 to Gant PTA for each ice cream cake you purchase at the B-R at 1960 Ximeno ($3 for orders under $25). Perfect for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Birthdays, Graduation. Just download and present the Baskin-Robbins flyer:
Please “like” Minnie Gant PTA on Facebook to get all the up-to-date happenings and stay informed about our school and special events!
The new SchoolMessenger app delivers communications from the school district, Gant and your teacher all in one place. Now only: $500 incentive to Gant if 70% of parents sign up for the App!
Shop at Amazon Smile
Clip and save Box Tops for our next drive.
Please share any photos you have of students in school activities with our PTA Historian to be used for promoting school activities. Any student in a photo must have turned in a permission slip.
Popsicles will be sold Thursdays from 1:30-1:45 pm. All popsicles are 100% all natural and adhere to California state nutritional guidelines. Price is $1.
The first Thursday of every month is Throwback Thursday, brought to you by 5th Grade Committee. Everything is still $1.
Bullying defined:
"A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending themselves."
(D. Olweus)
Click to Report a Bully
Please mark all items brought to school (jackets, sweaters, lunch boxes, backpacks) with your child's first and last name so that they don’t end up on the red racks outside of the auditorium!
All marked items will be returned to your child's classroom & the rest (not picked up) will be donated to charity at the end of each month.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has anticipated that 2019 will be a very active year for pertussis (also known as whooping cough). Currently, the number of cases reported in Long Beach in 2019 are already much higher than expected. The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), is informing parents and guardians in Long Beach about pertussis and how to best protect your families and prevent the spread of the disease. Read more here.
