Finally, send us a picture of you reading this summer and we will have a surprise waiting for you at the beginning of the school year! Send your picture to summerreadingphotos@utspta.org

Don’t forget to register for UTSPTA regular updates at www.utspta.org

Reading Program Links:

• Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program
  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/index.asp
• Reading Warriors Summer Reading Challenge
  http://www.readingwarriors.com/rwshell.html
• NY Libraries Summer Reading Resources. Here’s just one of the great links
  http://www.summerreadingnys.org/index.php/Kids/menu/category/reading_writing/
• NY libraries Summer Reading Program which offers you a chance to earn virtual badges and read other reader’s book reviews
  http://www.summerreading.org/
• Week by week activities for reading and writing
  http://www.readingrockets.org/article/391

Sign up for a week or whatever time you would like to offer to water, do light weeding and then eventually harvesting and delivering to a local food pantry of your choice.

Please RSVP to Bonnie Netschert by Wednesday, June 16 via email to bnetschert@comcast.net or cell 908-246-5774 to indicate whether you would like to earn service hours or simply contribute some time to this very worthwhile cause to send food to the hungry at local food banks. More instructions will be given when you sign up.

Thank you!
Bonnie

As you go off on your summer vacations
Please don’t forget about Box Tops donations
Save them, save them in a cup or a drawer
Then tape or paste them on this sheet galore
They are on lots of food flaps and easy to find
That Box Tops square otherwise known as a dime
This year we worked hard and raised lots of free “cash”
Be the first in your kitchen to do the Box Tops dash!

Click here to Download your form

Sponsored by Union Township Recreation Committee and local businesses.
Questions? email movie@utrecreation.com

We will be working for the majority of the day on Saturday but stay as long as is convenient for you. Additional dates will be posted for additional volunteer support to maintain the garden throughout the Summer with the initial picking early to mid July.

Remember, if you work for a company that has a corporate donation program, you can total your volunteer hours and possibly have your company make a donation to Grow-a-Row.

Grow-a- Row’s mission is to help those in need through a volunteer effort of planting, picking, and delivering fresh produce, via a unique model that: heightens awareness of socio-economic issues, highlights the importance of local farms, and inspires.

In 2009 alone, America’s Grow-a-Row donated 317,000 pounds of fresh, healthy produce and to date, has donated 700,000 lbs. of produce. This was due to terrific leadership from Chip Paillex, Colleen Duerr, Pete Ashey and other Board Members as well as the nearly 950 volunteers that gave over 5,000 hours of their time that year to feed the hungry. So many people are facing the combination of increasing health issues, a housing crises, and living expenses growing steadily. With that, the need is rapidly growing and the importance of the work that we do is becoming more crucial to decreasing hunger and improving the health of those in need.

Click here to Contact Bonnie Netschert

Thank you!

On behalf of the current UTS PTA Board, I am writing to urge everyone to attend this week’s PTA meeting. During the meeting we will vote in the nominated 2010-2011 UTS PTA Board. The meeting is on Thursday, May 20th at 9:30am in the Middle School cafeteria. The nominees include:
President- Amy Masters
VP Middle School- Bonnie Netschert
VP Elementary School- Casie Fariello
Secretary- Julie Mrak
Treasurer- Donna Chen

This last PTA meeting of the year is a great opportunity to sign up for the many open committee head positions for the coming year. Positions such as Babysitting Coordinator, New Family Welcome, ES Book Fair ad 3rd and 4th grade NJASK celebration chair are all open for next year. We are also in need of three parents to conduct the UTS PTA audit over the next few weeks. For those of you who chaired an event this year, please submit your receipts to Donna Chen asap.

We are also SO EXCITED for this week’s ArtFest, which will be held at the Elementary School following school on Friday. This is THE MUST SEE EVENT of the school year. We hope to see you all there!  Click here to download the ArtFest flyer.

We have also found a forum for you to use to voice your opinions of state budget cuts. Visit http://www.njkidsandfamilies.org/ to call or email your comments to the Governor’s office.

Finally, we need all UTS families to register at www.utspta.org to receive our PTA emails. The emails are our most cost effective and timely way to reach everyone about happenings at UTS. Please register today. It takes only seconds.

In closing, this week is my last meeting as PTA President after four consecutive years on the PTA board. I am leaving the PTA in very good hands with this new nominated Board. If I have learned anything in this position, it is that we are all have something to give to the school. Please give whatever you can. The children and teachers always appreciate it!

Thank you,

Lisa Coster

Click here to RSVP to Bonnie Netschert

Click here for more details

Thank you!