October 16, 2015
Dear Friends and Families of Los Ranchos,

Los Ranchos Elementary is a great place to learn and grow for many, many reasons. One of the main reasons is the unwavering support that we get from our PTA.  Thanks to your financial support of the PTA’s fundraising, our students  have access to engaging events, memorable field trips and enriching activities. Here are just a few of the ongoing events and programs our PTA supports, thanks to your generous donations:

• Field trips
• STEAM opportunities (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
• 15 weeks of visual art lessons for every student
• Assemblies
• Chalk Festival
• Fall Family Dinner
• Game room
• Scholastic Book Fair
• Classroom Periodicals
• Used Book Sale
• Classroom supplies
• Staff Appreciation
• Student Rewards

Last spring, I appealed  to our PTA  to purchase one to one devices for our upper grade students. Our PTA dug deep into savings to meet the need and purchased Chromebooks for 106 students. They recognized that  one to one devices provide access to 21st century learning.  As you know, the challenge is that  21st century learning is forever changing.

We need your help to meet this challenge. Our PTA sponsors one fundraiser, the Walk-a-thon. The money that is raised on October 30 will fund the enriching events  that occur daily, weekly, and annually at Los Ranchos. But we also need your help to support the constantly changing challenges of  21st century learning. The fundraising we do now will help us to be prepared in a proactive and timely manner. Your contribution has a direct and positive impact on the learning of 484 students today and prepares us for tomorrow. Thank you for your generous support.

We hope you can join us on October 30th. It is going to be a great day.

Sincerely,

Marlie Schmidt

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Vision Screening - October 20th 
Transitional Kinder, Kindergarten, Second Grade, Fifth Grade and Special Education Students
will have their vision checked by local volunteer optometrists. This valuable program is sponsored by the local Lion's Club and is a screening only. Those students who wear glasses and are seen yearly by their family optometrist, will not be screened. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please send a note addressed to the school nurse the day of the screening. Parents will receive notification of results only if a potention vision problem has been detected.
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Walk-A-Thon OCTOBER 30th

It's time to FUNDRAISE!!!  The 2015 Walk-A-Thon is fast approaching and we are hoping to make this a banner year for Los Ranchos!  Your student(s) may have come home last week with all kinds of fun Walk-A-Thon knowledge from the school assembly, such as . . . 

1. The event is coming up on Friday, October 30th!
2. All students are walking together from 11am to noon on an expanded track (1/4 mile) around the field and black top area.  Family is welcome to walk as well!
3. A bring your own picnic lunch and raffle (with fun prizes!) will take place on the grass from noon to 1pm, immediately following the Walk-A-Thon.  We hope mom, dad, grandma, grandpa and . . anyone else that might be available . . . will join!!
4. Pledge envelopes went home on Monday October 12th - we hope you got them!!
5. Amazing awards will be given - including Extra Recess and an Ice Cream Sundae party on Friday November 13th for all those students who raise $250 or more!  WE KNOW YOUR STUDENTS CAN DO IT!!! 
6. And, perhaps MOST IMPORTANTLY, a new website has been developed to assist students with their fundraising efforts!!
1. Parents and students can create their own Personal Fundraising Page (PFP) and invite friends and family to donate by credit card or check to their personal fundraising efforts.  Once you are on the Los Ranchos website, simply click on the green Participate button, complete the PFP form, then share the page with your friends and family via email, Facebook or Twitter.  It's that easy!  
1. Click on one of the below links or paste the following url into your browser:  https://www.scholasticchallenge.com/events/3DSjsP@21 

scholasticchallenge Event