School &  District Archive

School and District Information:

• May Awards
  Every month, students in each class at Courreges receive awards for Effort, Citizenship and Academic Achievement. Please click here to view the award recipients for May:
  May Awards 2010
   

• Cougar Tales - June 2010
  For the online version of the Cougar Tales June 2010 click here: Cougar Tales June 2010
   

• The Courreges PTA is looking for a few Committee Chairs!
  We need a few Committee Chairs, as well as some Assistant Chairs, for the coming school year. The following committees are in need of your help:
  o Art Reflections
  o Boxtops for Education
  o Directory
  o End-of-Year Event
  o Fundraising
  o Grant Writer
  o Jog-a-thon
  o eMonday Envelope
  o Publicity
  o Spiritwear
  o 4th Grade Committee
  If you're interested in any of these committees, please contact Michelle Eichinger at (714) 596-7431 or mrseichinger@gmail.com
   

• Thank you
  Thank you parents for showing how much you appreciate our teachers! They were well pampered with the snacks, flowers, letters of appreciation and the fabulous luncheon. A special thank you to Cathy Griffin and Julia Wong for putting together such a wonderful week. Courreges has the best teachers around!! Please click here to view a message from the Teacher Appreciation Committee: Teacher Appreciation Thank You
   

• Community Volunteer Academy
  The Community Volunteer Academy will presenting training on making the transition from Kindergarten to First Grade Reading on June 9. You will receive tips on keeping your child practicing reading skills over the summer. For all the details, please click here:
  Volunteer Academy-K to First Grade Reading Transition
   

• Attention 4th Grade - Photo deadline June 11
  The Yearbook Committee is currently compiling pictures for your child’s 5th Grade Yearbook. The “Memories of our Previous Years” section of the yearbook will be completed this summer. For your child to have fair representation in their yearbook, you need to submit their pictures. Please click here for all the details for what is needed:
  4th Grade-Photos for Yearbook
   

• Retiring Teacher Send-Off / Open House, Friday June 11, Multi-Purpose Room
  After school, on Friday, June11, Courreges will be saying, “Good-Bye” to Ms. Saba, Ms. Swain and Ms. Perry. We are losing some great teachers after this year, so please stop by to tell them how much they are appreciated. We’ll host each of the retiring teachers in the MPR, have a book for signatures and notes on-hand, and time to tell them how much we’ll miss them and how they’ve changed our kids’ lives.
  
  Bring cameras, past photos, poems, letters, gifts, now-and-then pictures of children, or just come and sign the memory books for our retiring teachers. We want to shower them with our appreciation.
  
  Please spread the word to current and past students and their families to stop in for our Retiring Teacher’s Open House on the last Friday of the year, June 11th
  If you have questions or are interested in helping organize this send-off, please email jfedmonds@verizon.net. Thank you.
   

• PTA Meeting and Installations, June 9
  Everyone is invited to our annual installation of new officers and dessert reception. Please mark your calendars to be sure to attend. For all the details, please click:
   PTA Meeting and Installations
   

• Election Day, Tuesday, June 8th
  The PTA room (room 5) will be closed on Tuesday, June 8th, due to voting activities and we thank you in advance for your patience. We want to remind you that, although the PTA does not endorse candidates, the ballot includes 12 candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction (a position that should be of interest to all of our active and concerned parents at Courreges). We advise you to become an informed voter by reviewing the candidates background information at the following website: http://www.smartvoter.org/2010/06/08/ca/state/race/suppi/
  If you have any questions, please contact Jim Frederisy, ACE Rep, at jimpfred@yahoo.com.
   

• Honor our Teachers 
  A wonderful way you can honor our Courreges teachers and staff is by making a tax-deductible donation to the Fountain Valley Educational Foundation. Among other things, the Foundation provides the funds for our hands-on classroom science kits, our music program and supplements our math programs. For more information on making a tribute to a teacher, please click here: FVEF Tribute Program 2010
   

• Help Save the Hands-on Science Program
  Come enjoy the City of Fountain Valley Summer Carnival, “Summerfest”, June 11-13. Purchase your tickets early. $3 from each pre-sale ticket will benefit ScienceWorks, our Hands-on Science Program. Even better, pre-sale tickets are discounted, too!!! Please click here for all the details: FV City Summerfest Carnival
   

• June Lunch Menu
  Please click here to view the elementary lunch menu for June: June 2010 Lunch Menu
   

• Lice Awareness
  Lice has been an on-going problem at Courreges this year. It is important to be aware of the problem and to report it to the school if you discover lice on your child. Please click here for a letter from the District Nurses, including all the steps to take to cure and prevent the spread of lice: Nurses Letter on Lice
   

• Volunteers Needed for Art Fair
  Art Fair Volunteers needed to assist students visiting stations on Thursday, June 3rd from 8:15-12:25. Please contact Teresita Pombo at tdejongpombo@socal.rr.com if interested. Thanks for your help!
   

• Volunteers Needed for Jog-a-thon Prize Day
  All students who raised $150 or more in this year’s Jog-a-thon will be invited to select a prize on Friday, June 4. Parents are needed for set up, paperwork, facilitating selection and getting students from class. Please contact Libby Frolichman libbyvince@socal.rr.com to volunteer. Thank you!
   

• Box Tops For Education
  One of the easiest ways to raise money for our school is to collect the small pink “Box Tops for Education” Labels found on many household products. Each one turned in, is 10¢ for our school. Please be sure to turn in all of your labels to your child’s teacher by June 4. For more information about the program and where to find the labels, please click here:
  Box Tops 2010
   

• Roller Skating
  Let's get moving and raise some money for our school, too!!! Please join us at our last fund-raising roller skating party for the year on Thursday, June 3. Please click here for the details: Skate Party June 3
   

• Community Volunteer Academy
  The Community Volunteer Academy will presenting training on making the transition from Kindergarten to First Grade Reading. You will receive tips on keeping your child practicing reading skills over the summer. For all the details, please click here:
  Volunteer Academy—K to First Grade Reading Transition
   

• Honor our Teachers - Teacher Appreciation Week is This Week
  A wonderful way you can honor our Courreges teachers and staff is by making a tax-deductible donation to the Fountain Valley Educational Foundation. Among other things, the Foundation provides the funds for our hands-on classroom science kits, our music program and supplements our math programs. For more information on making a tribute to a teacher, please click here: FVEF Tribute Program 2010
   

• ICE CREAM SOCIAL / FUNDRAISER Friday May 21st after school from 1:45-3pm
  Come buy some Dippin’ Dots ice-cream and socialize with your fellow Cougars on the Kindergarten playground. We’ll celebrate the end of STAR testing, a Friday afternoon in Spring, and chat it up with other parents and teachers. 20% of all proceeds come back to our school. Parents, siblings, and students are all invited. We’ll have at least 4 flavors and it’s only $3/ cup. Hope to see you there!
   

• Best Paw Ice Cream Party, Kindergarten to 2nd grade, May 20th
  We need volunteers to scoop ice cream and toppings. Come join the fun to celebrate our accomplished readers who received 30 points or more in the Best Paw Reading Program. Please sign up by emailing Missy at the address below and please tell us which time you will be volunteering for. The times include set-up and clean-up.
  Kindergarten (at the kindergarten playground): 9:30 - 10:30
  1st - 2nd grade (In the Bowl): 11:15 - 12:30
  Email Missy Liefer at MBLIEF@aol.com
  
  Thank you,
  Laura Villafuerte and Missy Liefer
  Best Paw Chairs
   

• STAR Testing Scheduled
  STAR Testing is a very important measure of how your student and our school is performing relative to state standards. The tests are mandated by the state. To assure your child does well on these tests, please be sure he/she is well-rested and eats a well-balanced breakfast. The PTA will be providing a small snack (not a substitute for breakfast) prior to testing each day.
  Please click here for information about testing: STAR Testing May 10-21
  Please click here for the Courreges Testing Schedule: STAR Testing Schedule
   

• Cougar Tales - May 2010
  For the online version of the Cougar Tales May 2010 click here: Cougar Tales May 2010
   

• April Awards
  Every month, students in each class at Courreges receive awards for Effort, Citizenship and Academic Achievement. Please click here to view the award recipients for April:
  April Awards 2010
   

• May Lunch Menu
  Please click here to view the elementary lunch menu for May:
  May 2010 Lunch Menu
   

• PTA meeting: Wednesday, May 12, 8:15 AM in Room 31
  Come to the PTA meeting this Wednesday. We’ll be discussing the state PTA convention resolutions, next year’s budget, and the upcoming year-end carnival. As a bonus, our district superintendent Dr. Ecker will be our guest speaker. Come find out what’s happening in your PTA! Due to the STAR testing, we will meet in room 31 this month (ESP room).
   

• Emergency Procedures
  It’s never the wrong time to review the school’s emergency procedures in the event of a disaster. If there were a disaster, children are only released to those listed on your “Disaster Release Card”. Please be sure those names are up-to-date.
  Disaster Emergency Procedures
   

• We still need your DOUG’s!!!  
  Don't Forget to Bring Your DOUG's to School. Thank you to all who have donated DOUG’s (Duplicate or Unwanted Gifts) for our Jog-a-thon, but we still need more. Last year we gave out about 140 prizes on Prize Day and expect to do the same again this year. However, this year, we don’t have a budget to purchase any prizes and are relying entirely on donated prizes. Our dedicated students work hard collecting pledges to support virtually all the programming at Courreges including MIND Math, Art Masters, Computer Lab and field trips. The prizes are a large part of their motivation. Please keep in mind that these prizes are intended for students aged 6-11 (baby and preschool toys are not likely to inspire our students). The Jog-a-thon committee will be accepting donations of DOUG's in the basket located in the office. If you have any questions, please contact Libby Frolichman at 714-962-3620 or libbyvince@socal.rr.com.
   

• June 8 Election
  The California PTA has announced that it is neutral with regard to all ballot measures in the June election. To vote this June, you must be registered by May 24. Information regarding voter registration is available here:
  http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm
   

• Spring Book Fair Update!
  A great big “Thank You” to the Courreges Families and Teachers for a “Spectacular Spring Book Fair”! Cougar Families and Friends purchased close to $10,000 worth of books at our “Buy One Get One Free” Book Fair!
  
  A big “Courreges Thank You” to all of our fantastic volunteers! We appreciate all that you do for our school: Theresa DeVita, Marcela Curtiss, Julia Wong, Frances Banh, Kris Frederisy, Cathy McCutcheon, Jim Frederisy, Monica Maytorena, Paige Hashimoto, Jacqueline England, Erin Volz, Denise Sheppard, Trisha Templin, Elise Hung, Coletta de la Ossa, Jacqueline Bokor, Liz Smilor, Loretta Mak, Angela Johnson, Rosie Correa, Jaime Tillmann, Julie Laffoon, Nicola Weiss, Rachel Hernandez, Jen Cain, Sarah Svartstrom, Amy Issacson, and Libby Frolichman.
  
  A “Special Cougar Thank You” to Sheila Lewis, Joel Lewis, and Zack Bernardin who volunteered at Open House, Wendy Horn for dropping off snacks and Melinda Lynch for cashiering all week!
  
  Your Courreges Book Fair Committee: Melissa Bernardin, Michelle Eichinger, & Carolyn Wang.
   

• By-laws Review Committee Formed
  A By-laws Review Committee was formed and met April 21st to discuss changes to the by-laws. The committee includes Chair Jim Frederisy, Jennifer Edmonds, Mitch Stein, and Michelle Eichinger. The primary goals of the changes include making sure the by-laws reflect current practices and providing more flexibility to our meeting schedule. The proposed changes will be presented at the next PTA General Meeting.
   

• Talent Show
  The annual Courreges Talent Show will be held June 10-16, rehearsals start May 21. All students are eligible and encouraged to perform in the show. It's always a fun time for everyone. Please click here for all the information. Talent show 2010
   

• ESP Registration for Fall 2010
  For parents wishing to register their children for ESP, Extended School Program beginning in the Fall of 2010, please click here: Courreges ESP Flyer
   

• Juice Pouch Brigade  
  We have collected more than 5,000 juice pouches since December and raised more than $100 for the PTA. Keep up the good work! If you would like to see what happens to your pouches, go to Wal-Mart (through April 29) to see the full line of products made by TerraCycle -- everything from backpacks to pencil pouches. If you buy any of these products, our school will earn 7% of your purchase price. Please put your receipt in an envelope marked "Liz Smilor" and place it in the PTA basket in room 5. Please keep collecting and remember to remove the straws! Let's keep these pouches out of landfills. Please click here for information about TerraCycle at Walmart: Walmart Promotion Flyer
  
  Also, included in the TerraCycle attachment is a coupon for Honest Kids juice pouches as a special thanks. Please click here to print the coupon: http://www.honesttea.com/tccoupon/
   

• Courreges Spring Food Drive, April 26-30
  Here’s another great way to teach our children about good deeds and compassion for those less fortunate. Our school is holding a personal care and food drive this week to benefit the Orange County Food Bank http://www.ocfoodbank.org. Please bring your items to the barrels located in the Bowl. To view all the details, please click here: Spring Food Drive 2010
   

• Crazy Hair/Hat Day
  Please have your student participate in our fun Courreges Spirit Day. On Friday, April 30 have your student style their hair in a “unique” way or wear a crazy hat. It’s all for fun.
   

• Roller Skating
  Let's get moving and raise some money for our school, too!!! Please join us at our fund-raising roller skating party on Thursday, April 29. Please click here for the details:
  Roller Skating Party April 29
   

• Festival of the Arts – 4th Grade Vocal Music and Opportunity Drawing,
  April 28
  4th graders performing as part of the 4th Grade Vocal Music Program should arrive at Moiola at 5:30pm. The performance will begin at 6:00pm. The Fountain Valley Educational Foundation opportunity drawing will be held at 7:15pm.
  
  Cookie Dough Orders Delivered April 28
  If you ordered Cookie Dough as part of the 4th grade fundraiser, please be sure to pick it up in the school parking lot between 1:45 and 4:00pm on Wednesday, April 28.
   

• Courreges Parents PTA Survey Will Conclude April 28
  Thank you to everybody who participated in the Courreges Parent Survey. The results, released at last Wednesday's PTA meeting, can be viewed online: http://www.courregespta.org/Board/PTASurveyResults.htm or from the http://www.courregespta.org home page. A new committee is being formed to discuss actions to improve our PTA based on the concerns and ideas brought forth by our survey. Please contact Parliamentarian, Jim Frederisy, at jimpfred@yahoo.com, if you would like to participate. We will be making accommodations for working parents. There have been requests to extend the survey for a few more days, so we are reopening it until Wednesday, April 28. It is open for everyone, so even if you have already participated but have thought of additional comments, you may resubmit. Please use the following link: http://www.zoomerang.com/survey/WEB22AHZ2VSM7V.
   

• Save our Music and Hands-On Science Programs!!!
  The Fountain Valley Educational Foundation is working hard to raise the funds to save some of our most important programs. On Wednesday, April 28 at the Festival of the Arts performance, an Opportunity Drawing will be held. You do not need to be present to win. Baskets can be viewed at the District office (10055 Slater Avenue) Monday through Wednesday from 8:00am – 4:30 pm. Tickets are $3 each or 10 for $20 for most baskets. Tickets for the “Silver” baskets are $10 each. The contents of the “Silver” baskets can be viewed here: FV Educational Foundation Raffle
   

• Fountain Valley Educational Foundation
  The Fountain Valley Educational Foundation has provided financial support to our students since 1982. As a result of State budget cuts, we are at risk of losing our music and hands-on science programs. The Foundation provides funds for those programs and needs your help to keep those programs funded. Please click here to print the donation form and to read about all the programs The Foundation has supported for the past 28 years:
  FV Educational Foundation Donation Form
   

• Non-Returning Students
  If your child is currently in K-4th grade and you are planning on moving to another school for the coming school year, please return this form: Non-returning students form
   

• Festival of the Arts
  Please come watch our students perform. Elementary and Middle School Orchestras perform on Wednesday, April 21 and the 4th Grade Vocal Music will perform on Wednesday, April 28. Please click here for details: Festival of the Arts
   

• PTA Membership has Benefits!
  There are many other benefits for those who join the PTA. For those of you who are members, we wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of some of the financial benefits to you while you are doing good for your children. Please click here to view some of those benefits: http://www.pta.org/benefits
   

• JAT Monies Due Monday, April 19th!
  A friendly reminder that ALL JAT Monies are due this coming Monday, April 19th in order to qualify for the Prize Day. $150 qualifies for Prize Day.
   

• Cougar Tales - April 2010
  For the online version of the Cougar Tales April 2010 click here: Cougar Tales April 2010
   

• March Awards
  Every month, students in each class at Courreges receive awards for Effort, Citizenship and Academic Achievement. Please click here to view the award recipients for March:
  March Awards 2010
   

• April Lunch Menu
  Please click here to view the elementary lunch menu for April: April 2010 Lunch Menu
   

• PTA meeting April 14 - Please note the time change
  In an effort to include more parents and teachers, the April general PTA meeting will be held at 2 PM on Wednesday, April 14th in room 5. We hope to see everyone there!
   

• PTA Honorary Service Award Due April 15
  Each year the PTA recognizes very special people to honor them for their outstanding and continuous effort to support our children and our school community. If you know of someone deserving of this honor, please submit this form to the office by April 15:
  PTA Service Award Nomination 2010
   

•  URGENT: School District Community Information Meeting, April 14
  California is imposing further cuts on education for the coming year, please come learn first-hand how those cuts will impact the Fountain Valley School District and the proposed solutions. This is an opportunity to ask questions about this very important issue. Please click here for the details about the meetings: Community Information Meetings
  
  For information on what FVSD is doing to deal with the funding cuts, please click here:
  FVSD Must Cut $3 Million
  
  To make money-saving suggestions, please send an e-mail to: budgetsolutions@fvsd.k12.ca.us
   

• COOKIE DOUGH FUNDRAISING DEADLINE
  The deadline for turning in your cookie dough fundraiser form and money is approaching fast!! Please turn in your form and check, made out to "Courreges PTA", to your child's teacher no later than Friday, April 16th. Remember to include your 4th grader's name to get credit towards their outdoor education account. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Eichinger at mrseichinger@gmail.com 
   

• Soles 4 Souls
  Here's another opportunity to teach our children about caring, compassion and community involvement. Miss Ruck's 5th grade class is collecting shoes for Soles 4 Souls, an organization that provides shoes to those in need. Just bring in new or gently used shoes, secured with a rubber band to keep pairs together. For more information, please click here: Soles 4 Souls
   

• Parenting Forum a Great Success
  On March 18, our PTA hosted Sandy Spurgeon McDaniels as she presented new ways to get our kids to listen to instruction without fighting. We learned about the “Penalty Box” and the “Minute Drill”. For those that could not attend or those that need a refresher, please visit her website for more information: www.parentingsos.com
   

• We Want to Know What You Think….Please Respond by Friday, April 2
  In an effort to meet the needs of our membership, we have created a short survey about PTA Elections and Meeting Schedules. Please take a few moments to let us know what you think. Click here to participate in the survey:
  http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AEX3RWSZJ
   

• Please report all PTA Volunteer Hours by Friday, April 2
  It's almost time to prepare the annual Historian Report, which reports on all hours our volunteers have contributed to our PTA Council from July 1, 2009 to June 30th, 2010. I can count all the hours on the sign-in sheets, but I need to know any other hours you've contributed to our PTA, either at home or on campus. Please include those hours that have not yet been served, but will be, through June 30th. Think about any activities your committee has done when you skipped the sign-in or met at someone's home for planning. Be sure to think about your time contribution for activities that will occur after March 2010 (please estimate those hours).
  
  Please provide the total number of hours you have and/or will serve for this year, no later than Friday, April 2, 2010!
  
  Thanks so much to all of you for all you do at Courreges!
  
  Melinda Lynch,
  Courreges PTA Historian
  melinda.lynch3@verizon.net
   

• Courreges Open House, April 1
  Come view what your children have been doing this year and take a preview of classrooms for next year. Stop by the Carl's Jr. Truck for dinner (be sure to bring your prepaid ticket with you) and take a trip through the BookFair. Please click here for the evening's schedule: Open House 2010
   

• Teacher Requests for 2010-2011 Due March 31
  Teacher request forms are available in the school office and are due by March 31. For information on how classes are created for the coming school year, please click here:
  Mrs. Buehler's Message about Teacher Assignments
   

• Spring Buy One, Get One Free Book Fair, March 29 – April 1
  Teachers are always grateful for donations that help them keep their classroom libraries up to date. The Spring "Buy One, Get One Free" Book Fair is the perfect time for those donations, since each purchase goes twice as far. If you are not able to attend the Book Fair, a gift certificate is a wonderful way to make a donation to your teacher or the library. Please click here for the form: Book Fair Gift Certificate
  
  Please click here for all the information about the Spring "Buy One, Get One Free" Book Fair: Book Fair Parent Letter Spring 2010 , Book Fair Pamphlet
  
  If you would like to visit the Book Fair during the time your child's class is visiting, you are welcome to stop by during that time. Please click here to view when your child's class will be visiting the Book Fair: Teacher Book Fair Schedule Spring 2010
   

• FVSD Student Illness Procedures
  To avoid spreading illness, the Fountain Valley School District wants to assure that all parents are aware of our procedures. Please click here to view: Fountain Valley School District Student Illness Procedures
   

• Best Paw Super Reader Prize Winners must have 60 points by March 23rd!!
  All Students in K - 2nd that wish to receive a Super Reader Prize must have 60 points by March 23rd. All prizes will be delivered by March 26th so the students will have their Cougar Bucks for the Book Fair, which starts on March 29th. All other prizes, including earning 30 points for the ice cream party, can still be earned to the end of the program on Monday, May 3rd. The ice cream party will be on Thursday, May 20th. Any questions please contact Laura Villafuerte at Lvillafuertecpa@earthlink.net or Missy Liefer at MBLIEF@aol.com.
   

• Carl’s Jr. Presale Ticket Deadline March 23
  Our 4th Graders are planning ahead. To begin earning money for their Outdoor Education experience in 5th grade, they have made arrangements for the Carl's Jr. truck to be at Courreges on April 1, during our Spring Open House. With all the rush to get to Open House on time, how nice it will be to have a meal ready for us. Avoid the lines, order your presale tickets by Tuesday, March 23. Click here for the order form: Carls Jr Flyer
   

• Jog-a-thon is March 25
  Come cheer the kids on as they run laps on the track. The more laps they run, the more money they raise for our school to help maintain our computer lab, field trips, library and much more.
   

• 4th Grade Vocal Music Performance
  Please note that the 4th Grade Vocal Music Perfomance has been changed to Wednesday, April 28, 2010. To view the flyer, please click here: Vocal Music – Save the NEW Date
   

• Roller Skating
  Let's get moving and raise a some money for our school, too!!! Please join us at our fund-raising roller skating party on Thursday, March 18. Please click here for the details: Courreges Skate Party Mar. 18
   

• It’s Jog-a-thon time at Courreges!!!!
  The 2010 All-Star Jog-a-thon is now underway. With the budget cuts we have already experienced and the anticipated future cuts, it is more important than ever to make sure our Jog-a-thon is successful. To earn the opportunity to come to Prize Day your child must raise a minimum of $150, so please collect those pledges. Remember, DO NOT let your child go door-to-door without an adult. Please click on the following links for all the documents including in the Jog-a-thon kick off packet:
             
      -JAT Parent Info Letter 2010
       -JAT Pledge Card 2010
       -JAT Startup Flyer 2010
       -JAT Matching Funds Letter
       -JAT Wishlist 2010
       -JAT DOUGS 2010
   

• The Spring "Buy One, Get One Free" Book Fair is scheduled for March 29
   through April 1
  The Spring Scholastic Book Fair is opening Monday, March 29th. Please contact Carolyn Wang at 714-848-0504 or qcwang@msn.com if you are able to volunteer--we still have a few time slots that need to be filled. Please check the schedule for volunteer times that remain available: Parent Volunteer Sign Up – Bookfair Spring 2010
  
  If you would like to visit the Book Fair during the time your child's class is visiting, you are welcome to stop by during that time. Please click here to view when your child's class will be visiting the book fair. Teacher Bookfair Schedule Spring 2010
   

• Jog-a-thon Pledge Cards Due March 19
  Please turn your Jog-a-thon pledge card in by Friday, March 19. You will have the opportunity to collect additional pledges until April 19th, when all money is due.
   

• Parenting Forum March 18, 6:30pm
  Parents-- Are you tired of the same homework battles? Want your kids to listen to you the first time? Then come to the parents' forum on Thursday, March 18th, at 6:30 PM in the Courreges multi-purpose room. Author and child development specialist Sandy Spurgeon McDaniels will present new ways to get your kids to listen to instruction without fighting. She will also be promoting her latest book, Don’t Feed the Dragon. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to fine-tune your parenting skills. Please RSVP for this event to: Michelle Eichinger at mrseichinger@gmail.com or (714)596-7431. For all the details, please click here: Parenting Forum
   

• REMINDER: Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 14. Please be sure to set your clock ahead one hour.
   

• March Lunch Menu
  Please click here to view the elementary lunch menu for March: March 2010 Lunch Menu
   

• Teacher Requests for 2010-2011 Due March 31
  Teacher request forms are available in the school office and are due by March 31. For information on how classes are created for the coming school year, please click here:
  Mrs. Buehler’s Message about Teacher Assignments
   

• Cougar Tales - March 2010
  For the online version of the Cougar Tales March 2010 click here: Cougar Tales March 2010
   

• February Awards
  Every month, students in each class at Courreges receive awards for Effort, Citizenship and Academic Achievement. Please click here to view the award recipients for February: February Awards 2010
   

• Carl’s Jr. is Coming to Courreges!
  On April 1, during our Spring Open House, the Carl’s Jr. truck will be at Courreges to help our 4th Graders raise money for their Outdoor Education trip in 5th grade. Pre-sale meal tickets are being sold now through March 23. Please click here for the order form: Carls Jr Flyer
   

• Best Paw Super Reader Prize Winners must have 60 points by March 23rd!!
  All Students in K - 2nd that wish to receive a Super Reader Prize must have 60 points by March 23rd. All prizes will be delivered by March 26th so the students will have their Cougar Bucks for the Book Fair, which starts on March 29th. All other prizes, including earning 30 points for the ice cream party, can still be earned to the end of the program on Monday, May 3rd. The ice cream party will be on Thursday, May 20th. Any questions please contact Laura Villafuerte at Lvillafuertecpa@earthlink.net or Missy Liefer at MBLIEF@aol.com.
   

• March PTA Meeting Back to Regular Schedule
  The March PTA general meeting will be held at its regularly scheduled date and time. Please plan to attend the PTA general meeting on Wednesday, March 10th, at 8:15 AM in room 5. We will be voting for next year's officers.
   

• Soles 4 Souls
  Here’s another opportunity to teach our children about caring, compassion and community involvement. Miss Ruck’s 5th grade class is collecting shoes for Soles 4 Souls, an organization that provides shoes to those in need. Just bring in new or gently used shoes, secured with a rubber band to keep pairs together. For more information, please click here: Soles 4 Souls
   

• Please Donate 3 oz. Cups
  Every year, about 3000 cups are used for the Jog-a-thon. It is very important to keep our young runners hydrated while they work so hard to raise money for our school. We encourage them to stop to take a drink regularly and we need lots of 3 oz. cups to make that happen. If you could grab a pack next time you are in Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart or Target it would be very helpful. Please drop the cups off in the DOUG’s basket in the PTA room.
   

• Share our Love with Haiti Program Concluded - UPDATED
  The generosity of this community has been fantastic. Together with another Fountain Valley school, we were able to raise enough money to send 3 shelter boxes to those desperately in need in Haiti. Each shelter box provides everything but food and water that a family of 10 will need to survive while Haiti awaits reconstruction. Thanks to everyone that contributed to this very worthwhile cause.
   

• Pajama Day is Tuesday, March 2 All students are encouraged to wear their pajamas and slippers to school on Tuesday, in honor of "Read Across America" Day. For safety reasons, shoes must be worn to and from school and during recess and lunch. We look forward to a fun-filled day.
   

• Free UCLA Women's Basketball Tickets!
  The UCLA Women's Basketball team is heading into the final weekend of the season in 2nd place! Please come out to Pauley Pavilion and cheer on the Bruins!
  
  Thursday, March 4th 7pm against Arizona State
  
  Saturday, March 6th 12:30pm against Arizona
  
  If you are interested in attending either of these games, please print out the flyer and redeem at Gate 2 of Pauley Pavilion for four(4) free admissions. Free Tickets – UCLA Women’s Basketball
   

• Jog-a-thon T-shirts, Orders Deadline extended to Tuesday, February 23 - UPDATED
  In celebration of all the star students and faculty at Courreges, we are offering a 2010 Courreges All-Star Jog-A-Thon t-shirt to be worn the day of the big event. All t-shirts will have the same design, but each class will be assigned a different color to make it easier for our volunteers to do the tallying. The ordering deadline has been extended to Tuesday, February 23rd, so be sure to get yours turned in.
  For all the details and the order form, please click here: JAT T-shirt flyer
  To view the T-shirt design, please click here: JAT T-shirt design
   

• “Fit to be Square 5K Run/Walk” can Benefit Courreges Event Feb. 27
  Science Works provides the hands-on, inquiry-based science lessons used in our classrooms and the program needs our support. If you register for the Fit to be Square 5K using the Science Works registration form, 100% of your registration will benefit this very worthwhile cause. Please click here for more information: Science Works Fit to be Square
   

• Cougar Tales - February 2010
  For the online version of the Cougar Tales February 2010 click here:
  Cougar Tales February 2010
   

• January Awards
  Every month, students in each class at Courreges receive awards for Effort, Citizenship and Academic Achievement. Please click here to view the award recipients for January: January Awards 2010
   

• February Lunch Menu
  Please click here to view the elementary lunch menu for February: February 2010 Lunch Menu
   

• The Governor’s Fitness Challenge Continues
  After the first Governor’s Fitness Challenge, Courreges is in 6th place in Orange County. You can do better than that!!! Please click here for all the details and the Activity Log for the second Governor’s Fitness Challenge: Fitness Challenge 2
   

• Last Call for PTA Board Nominations
  The PTA Nominating Committee has been hard at work preparing the slate of nominees for election to next year’s PTA Board. If you are interested in serving in a Board Position in the coming year, you must notify the nominating committee by this Friday, January 29. Please contact Nicola Weiss at cn.weiss@verizon.net or 714-963-5258.
   

• Volunteer Academy Training, February 3 - Register by January 27
  If you missed the fall training session, this is your chance, but be sure to register by January 27th! With our extreme budget cuts and class size increases this year, parent volunteers are more important than ever. To make your volunteer time most effective, we are asking that you be trained in, "How to Help Teachers Reinforce Reading Skills". Only those who have taken this training will be allowed in the classroom to help during academic instruction time. Please click here for more information: Community Volunteer Academy – Feb. 3
   

• Cougar Tales – January 2010
  For the online version of the Cougar Tales January 2010 click here: Cougar Tales January 2010
   

• January Lunch Menu
  Please click here to view the elementary lunch menu for January: January Lunch Menu
   

• Roller Skating
  Let's get moving and raise a some money for our school, too!!! Please join us at our fund-raising roller skating party on Thursday, January 14. Please click here for the details: Courreges Skate Party Jan. 14
   

• MIND Research Institute Presentation, Wednesday, January 13
  The MIND Research Institute will present information about the new computerized math program coming to Courreges. Please join us at the PTA Meeting at 8:15am or for a special presentation at 6:30pm. Please click here for information about the evening presentation: MIND Research Institute
   

• Fresh & Easy Receipts Due Tuesday, January 12
  Thanks to your support, December's Fresh and Easy School Shopping Night was a huge success ~~we made $285.32! It was a great experience to volunteer at the store and hope for more participation next year. We are now in the process of adding up the teacher sales and collecting the rest of the receipts for those who shopped through December 31, 2009. Please turn in all 2009 receipts by Tuesday, January 12, 2010 to your child's teacher. We will announce the class winner for the Fresh and Easy Fundraising Program once all receipts are received and tallied.
   

• PTA Needs You!!!!
  Many PTA positions will be opening up for the 2010-2011 school year and it would be wonderful if you would fill one of them. The nominating committee will be having their first meeting in January. So, if you are even considering filling one of those positions, please contact Nicola Weiss to learn more about the position’s responsibilities and/or to let her know of your interest. You can contact her via e-mail at cn.weiss@verizon.net.
   

• Volunteers Needed - Fresh & Easy Shopping Night, December 17
  Volunteers are needed to make the Fresh & Easy Shopping Night a success. The Warner & Bushard location will donate 5% of sales between 4pm and 8pm on Thursday, December 17 to Courreges. Please click here to see how you can help: Fresh & Easy Volunteer Program
  
  Don’t forget, every receipt totaling $20 or more is worth $1 for every $20 spent, until December 31. Be sure to send those receipts to school. Fresh & Easy Shopping Night
   

• 2nd Annual Holiday Potluck Celebration, December 16
  Parents and Teachers, come join us in the MPR for the 2nd Annual Holiday Potluck Celebration! Bring a dish to share and enjoy the time with teachers and friends while sharing some great food and Holiday Spirit!
  
  Lower Core 11:15-12:15
  Upper Core 12:15-1:15
  
  Please RSVP with the dish you are planning to bring to Nicola Weiss at cn.weiss@verizon.net
   

• December Lunch Menu
  Please click here to view the elementary lunch menu for December: December Lunch Menu
   

• Cougar Tales - December 2009
  For the online version of the Cougar Tales December 2009 click here: Cougar Tales December 2009
   

• 2nd Annual Holiday Potluck Celebration, December 16
  Parents and Teachers, come join us in the MPR for the 2nd Annual Holiday Potluck Celebration! Bring a dish to share and enjoy the time with teachers and friends while sharing some great food and Holiday Spirit!
  
  Lower Core 11:15-12:15
  Upper Core 12:15-1:15
  
  Please RSVP with the dish you are planning to bring to Nicola Weiss at cn.weiss@verizon.net
   

• Save Your Empty Drink Pouches!!!
  This must be the easiest fundraiser of all time! Just save your empty drink pouches (Capri Sun and Honest Kids pouches only) and bring them to school. TerraCycle will pay us for the pouches and use them to make new consumer items. Make money and save the earth, how great is that? Please click here for more information: Drink Pouches
   

• A Note from your PTA President
  
  Our PTA is already working on the 2010/2011 School Year. As you know my appointment as your PTA President is coming to an end. I have enjoyed working with all of you for the past two years and hope that many of you feel more involved and more connected to what the PTA does. That said, we are starting to get ready for our nominating committee to put together our ballot for vote. If any of you are interested in serving on the Board next year, many positions are opening up and we would love to have you. Please let me know and I will pass your name and interest on to the Nominating Committee!
  
  As for me, I am sure you have heard I was elected to the Fountain Valley School District Board of Trustees. I am very honored to be serving all of the Fountain Valley Community and look forward to my new duties.
  
  Thank you for all your support!
  
  Nicola Weiss
  PTA President
  cn.weiss@verizon.net
   

• PTA Meeting Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 8:15am, Room 5
  There will be a presentation of the Mind Math Program to the Association. Come and learn about the investment your PTA would like to make in the Mind Math Program to help our children with math and make math fun! This is a large investment so make sure you come and hear about it! The upgrade of the Computer lab will be discussed as well.
   

• GATE Nominations Due Dec. 8
  Parents may nominate students in grades 3-7 to be tested for the Gifted and Talented program. Only the student’s teacher may nominate a student in 2nd grade. Please click here for information on the program and the nomination/testing procedures and timeline: GATE Nomination Process and Timeline
   

• Picture Make-up Day, November 17th
  If you child was absent on Picture Day, or the picture just didn’t come out right, this is your chance to try again. Please be sure to send this form with your child: Picture Make-up  
   

• Cougar Tales - November 2009
  For the online version of the Cougar Tales November 2009 click here: Cougar Tales November 2009
   

• Hurry up and get your tickets. You don’t want to miss the Taste of Fountain Valley Casino Night, November 13
  The annual Taste of Fountain Valley is all new this year. In addition to the wonderful tastes of food from many of our local restaurants, this year's event will include a casino night and lots of fun prizes. This event helps raise funds for the Fountain Valley Educational Foundation which provides our music program and many other wonderful programs we enjoy at Courreges. With many state budget cuts, and our extremely high enrollment, it is very important to support the FVEF to maintain the excellence we expect at Courreges. Please click here for all the information: Taste of FV 2009  
   

• No school on Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day
   

• ScienceWorks Needs Volunteers
  Science Works provides the kits used in our classrooms in support of our science curriculum. Parents are needed to help prepare those kits. Please click here for the details: ScienceWorks Volunteer Flyer
   

• November Lunch Menu
  Please click here to view the elementary lunch menu for November: November Lunch Menu
   

• Fresh & Easy
  Fresh & Easy will donate $1 to Courreges for every receipt of $20 or more through December 31. So, start saving your receipts and turn them in to your child’s teacher. Please click here for all the information: Fresh & Easy Kick Off
   

• Roller Skating
  Let's get moving and raise a some money for our school, too!!! Please join us at our fund-raising roller skating party on Thursday, November 5. Please click here for the details: Courreges Skate Party Nov. 5
   

• School Loop at Courreges
  Courreges now has a School Loop website. You can check the calendar of school events, link to teachers’ e-mail and much more. Please click here to view the flyer: School Loop Flyer
   

• Harvest Parade
  In celebration of the season, there will be a costume Harvest Parade on Friday, October 30 beginning at 8:30. Parents and friends are invited to come watch the parade. Please click here for all the details: Harvest Parade
   

• REMINDER:
  The week of October 26-30 classes will be on a modified schedule. Please plan accordingly.
   

• School Pictures, Wednesday October 21
  Be sure to look your best on Wednesday, October 21 when all student pictures will be taken. Please click here to view the available photo packages: Picture Day—October 21
   

• Cougar Tales – October 2009
  For the online version of the Cougar Tales October 2009 click here: Cougar Tales October 2009
   

• Volunteer Academy Training, October 19 (Form due October 9)
  With our extreme budget cuts and class size increases, parent volunteers are more important than ever. To make your volunteer time most effective, we are asking that you be trained in, “How to Help Teachers Reinforce Reading Skills”. Only those who have taken this training will be allowed in the classroom to help during academic instruction time. Please click here for more information: Community Volunteer Academy-Oct. 19
   

• Pat Harney—Celebration of Life
  It is with great sadness, that we must announce the passing of Fountain Valley School Board member, Pat Harney. As a teacher and as a school board member, her commitment to public education never wavered. Pat experienced complications after an illness last month, became increasingly ill and was not able to survive. She will be greatly missed. She has meant so much to so many, and her legacy will live on in the lives of those she has touched.
  
  A Celebration of Pat Harney’s Life -- Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
      Service: 11am-12pm
                  Mariners Church-Beachside Campus ,18111 Magnolia, Fountain Valley
      Celebration: 12:15pm-1:30pm
                       Greenbrook Clubhouse, 18222 Santa Joanna Street, Fountain Valley
      In lieu of flowers, those who would like to, are encouraged to make a donation to the
      Fountain Valley Educational Foundation in Pat’s memory. Please click here for the
      donation form: Fountain Valley Educational Foundation Donation Form
  
   

• Entertainment Book and Sally Foster Orders Due October 2
  Help support our 5th graders as they try to earn their tuition for Outdoor Education. When you order the 2010 Entertainment Book or Sally Foster Gift Items, a percentage of the sale is credited to the student for the Outdoor Ed trip. If you don’t know a 5th grader, but would like to purchase either the Entertainment Book or Sally Foster items, leave the student name blank and the funds will go into the 5th grade general fund which is used for scholarships. Please click here for the Entertainment Book order form: Entertainment Book Order Form
  
  Please click here to go to the Sally Foster website. Remember to use school code 871304 when placing an order: www.sallyfoster.com
   

• Cougar Tales 
  Due to budget cuts, the “Cougar Tales” will only be published monthly this year, on the first Monday of the month.  Please click here to view the first “Cougar Tales” of the new school year:  Cougar Tales September 2009
   

• Fountain Valley Educational Foundation:  
  The Fountain Valley Educational Foundation funds lots of the wonderful programs we enjoy at Courreges and fills many of the voids left by state budget cuts. Be sure to stop by The Bowl at Back-to-School Night at 6:00pm to hear more about the Fountain Valley Educational Foundation. Supporting this fantastic organization is of particular importance this year with our extremely high enrollment. Please remember, if your company provides matching funds for your donations, you can make your money count twice!!! For more information about the Fountain Valley Educational Foundation, please click here: Fountain Valley Educational Foundation 9-09
   

• Roller Skating, September 17
  Let's get moving and raise a some money for our school, too!!! Please join us at our fund-raising roller skating party on Thursday, September 17.  Please click here for the details: Courreges Skate Party Sept. 17
   

• Back-to-School Night, September 17
  Back-to-School Night is this Thursday, September 17.  This is a great opportunity to meet your child's teacher and find out about the curriculum for this year. REMEMBER, THIS IS AN ADULTS ONLY EVENING.  Please click here for the schedule for the evening: Back to School Night 2009
   

• Cougar Tales Archive
  Cougar Tales September 8, 2009
   

• Patriots Day at Courreges, Friday, September 11
  The entire Courreges community is invited to watch as our Courreges Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts perform a special flag-raising ceremony on September 11th, in honor of Patriots Day. All Courreges Scouts are asked to wear their Class A/Formal Uniforms and to stand with their Pack/Troop during the ceremony. Those who wear their uniform will earn a special patch. Please arrive at the planter by the Courreges office between 7:30 and 7:40am. The ceremony will begin promptly at 7:45am.
   

• School Forms All Due by September 8
  Be sure to complete all of your school forms provided in the first day packet. 
  The Emergency Card, the Disaster Emergency Card, the Letter of Understanding, Progression of Consequences, Behavior Expectations, and the Student Injuries and Insurance letter are all due by Tuesday, September 8. Please turn those forms into your child's teacher or the office. If applicable, the following additional forms are also due: Change of Address Notification, Prepaid Lunch Ticket, and Student Accident and Health Insurance.
   

• Lunch Menu for September 2009  
  For September's Lunch Menu, click here: September Lunch Menu
   

• School Supplies to bring on the first day
  Please click here to by grade level what to bring on the 1st day of school: What To Bring
   

• Daily Time Schedule
  Please click here to see the daily time schedule: Daily Schedule