CAMP READ

PTA helps co-ordinate volunteers for the school sponsored Camp Read Program. Camp Read is a program designed to help students strengthen reading fluency and comprehension. Volunteering involves a 30-min to 1hour commitment per week, working one-on-one with students. Starting in October, approximately 110 people are needed to run Camp Read effectively. Position requires a background check

2009-2010 Co-ordinator: Christie Whittington

Annually
Oct - April

CLASSROOM SUPPORT FUNDING

Kiker PTA provides support funds to all classrooms, to enable teachers to purchase additional materials.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

PTA General Meetings are open to all. Come meet your fellow PTA members and learn more about what's going on in the Kiker community. Meetings often include guest speakers or special events! Meetings are typically held in the Kiker Gymnasium starting at 6:30pm. Please contact Leticia Marquez with any questions.

KIKER COMETS STUDENT DIRECTORY

PTA is involved with the publication of our Kiker Comets Student Directory, which is printed and distributed each year at the start of the school year.

2009-2010 co-ordinator(s): Brenda Davis, Kirsten Howren, Bryan Landwermeyer

LEGO ROBOTICS PROGRAM - 4th & 5th Grades

Lego Robotics Club is designed to enhance children’s problem solving and creative thinking skills. Students enrolled at Kiker in 4th and 5th grades are eligible to participate. Club members design, build, program and present their own Lego robot creation. Students then compete in an Austin tournament to complete tasks preset by the First Lego Leauge. The club is run solely by volunteer parents who coach the teams after school, until the tournament.

After the tournament, the robotics kits move to the 5th grade classrooms for those students to continue designing, programming and building in a smaller, team atmosphere.

This club’s inception was made possible because of a generous grant from the 3M Corporation, the Kiker PTA and the Administration at Kiker. For more information, please contact Diane Bertotti.

Annually
Sept - Jan

MATH PENTATHLON PROGRAM - 1st Grade through 5th Grade

Mathematics Pentathlon problem solving games provide a highly motivational format for developing and practicing important mathematics concepts and skills. While playing games in cooperative groups, students strengthen their strategic thinking and critical reasoning abilities.

At Kiker, Mrs. Greene, Ms. Bredl and a team of parent volunteers will be sponsoring the Kiker Mathematics Pentathlon Club. The Club will meet various Monday evenings beginning in January at Kiker. Students will learn the fun games in division age groups led by parent volunteers. Members of Math Pentathlon are eligible to participate in the Texas area tournament held in Austin. Each student should have a parent volunteer who is willing to learn one of the games and help supervise at the tournament. If you are interested in learning more about math pentathlon, you can visit http://www.mathpentath.org, or contact Jeanna Crow, or Mrs. Greene.

Annually
January through March

REFLECTIONS ARTS RECOGNITION & ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM

The National PTA Reflections Program is an arts recognition and achievement program. The theme for 2009-2010 is "Beauty Is...". Students can submit original works of art expressing "Beauty Is..." in six areas: Visual Art, Photograph, Literature, Musical Composition, Film/Video, Dance Choreography. For complete program details, visit the Texas PTA Reflections Webpage.

2009-2010 co-ordinators: Carrie Keith

Annually in Early Winter

SCHOOL GROUNDS ENHANCEMENTS

PTA is involved in and sponsors initiatives to enhance our school grounds for the benefit of our children. Past initiatives included additions to the Kindergarten playscape, butterfly garden, and picnic area rock & water garden.

2009-2010 co-ordinator(s): Sarah Leese (Campus Beautification), Susan Karwoski (Butterfly Garden)

SCIENCE LAB

Kiker's science lab is designed to introduce elementary age children to all aspects of science in an exciting and hands-on fashion. Through experimentation students learn scientific methods/theories that will engage their minds and enhance their creative thinking and problem solving skills. Parent Volunteers needed for the lab to function.

2009-2010 Coordinator: Donna Poveda

Annually
All Year

TEACHER APPRECIATION

Twice a year the PTA appreciates our wonderful and hard working teachers with a luncheon. A room is transformed for a day into a small bistro and is filled with color and music to create a unique dining experience. A variety of sweet and savory homemade dishes are prepared by parent volunteers.

2009-2010 Co-ordinator: Ana McPherson