Volume 7, Issue 14

Cheatham Chatter #YouArePTA Monday, November 28, 2016

Wednesday, December 7

Friday, December 2

Monday, November 28

Saturday, December 3

School-wide Spelling Bee determines the student who moves on Friday

Friday, December 16

Friday, December 9

A Pedagogical Good Time

Thursday, December 15

See To-Do List, page 3

See attachments, page 10 and 11

Science Fair week begins

Spelling Bee

3rd/4th @ 8:30 a.m.

5th/6th @ 1:30 p.m.

Parent Education Program:

@ 11:30 a.m. in MPR

Wednesday, December 14

Winter Parties

2nd @ 9:30 a.m.

3rd @ 2 p.m.

PTA/Staff Cookie Exchange

Mrs. O‟Neill‟s Birthday

Winter Parties

5th @ 9:30 a.m.

Kinder @ 2 p.m.

Winter Parties

1st @ 9:30 a.m.

6th @ 1 p.m.

4th @ 2 p.m.

2nd Grading Period Ends

Mrs. Feeney‟s

Birthday Celebration

Mrs. Baker‟s

Birthday Celebration

See attachments, page 9

Rudolph Run

@ 8:15 a.m.

By Rachel Maygren

Chatter Editor

Classmates, teach-

ers and parents will gather in

Cheatham‟s Cafeteria on Fri-

day to watch practiced spellers

suss out the best of the bunch

in the school-wide Spelling

Bee.

The top spellers in each third

and fourth grade class were

decided before Thanksgiving

Break and those students will

take the stage at 8:30 a.m.

Fifth and sixth-grade spellers,

the winner of which will move

onto the district level, will

compete at 1:30 p.m.

And, while words are unlikely

to reach the caliber of Fel-

denkrais gesellschaft (the win-

ning word of the 2016 Na-

tional contest), students‟

knowledge is sure to be

stretched with practiced and

unpracticed words.

For a list of suggested study

words and more information

on the Scripps Spelling Bees,

see pages 5 through 8 of the

attachments.

Cheatham parents are invited to attend an educational course on childhood responsibility

Parent Education Program

By Ayanna Backs

Parent Education

The Parent Educa-

tion team is bringing

Cynthia Garrison to Cheatham

for a unique program centered

around teaching your

child responsibility. Bring a lunch and listen to the

informative talk December 7

at 11:30 a.m. in the multipur-

pose room. The presentation from Garri-

son will focus on practical

ways to teach your child how

to be more responsible at

home and at school. Garrison

has a Master's in Child and

Human Development and

Family Studies and works

with North Texas families. For more information and to

RSVP for free childcare, look

for the Facebook event on the

Cheatham PTA page. Sitters

are provided by College Nan-

nies Sitters and Tutors.

Cheatham’s annual Cookie Exchange takes place December 9

Bake a Little Love

By Rachel Maygren

VP Hospitality

Gather the pans

and whisks — Cheatham‟s

annual PTA/Staff Cookie

Exchange occurs December

9.

Teachers and staff gather at

the annual event to collect

donated baked goods as a kick -off to the holiday season and

thank you from volun-

teers.

Last year, teachers and

staff each left with

three dozen cookies

and baked goods.

Watch for the Genius

Sign-Up and help the

PTA make this year

another one to remember!

On the

Blacktop

Cheatham Chatter Page 2

Students were asked:

What was your favorite Thanksgiving dish?

Latham, 3rd grade

“Cherry salad. Cher-

ries are my favorite

fruit!”

Paisley, 1st grade

"Rolls are my favor-

ite Thanksgiving

dish."

Cole, 2nd grade

"Turkey because

you are what you

eat."

Ava, 3rd grade

"Noodles. My

grandma makes

them and we don't

have them in

Texas."

Des, 3rd grade

"Turkey. It has a

unique flavor."

Beverly Cheatham Elementary School

1501 Hopewell Drive, Allen, TX 75013 Ph: (972) 396-3016 Fax: (972) 396-3035

Web: allenisd.org/cheathames Twitter: Follow@CheathamElem

Principal: Stephanie Logan PTA President: Tasha Young The Cheatham Chatter is published by the Cheatham PTA in support of the PTA’s mission to be a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for the

education and well-being of every child. Send submissions by 5 pm on Wednesday prior to publication: cheathamcommunications@gmail.com. Content may be used on the PTA website and/or in the newsletter.

Content will be edited for space/clarity.

www.txpta.org www.allenisd.org/cheathames

Party Hard Birthday Coordinator Lisa Minyard works on her second year of bringing happy birthdays to Cheatham’s staff

By Rachel Maygren

Chatter Editor

If you thought you spotted a

giant cupcake making its way

down the halls at Cheatham, you aren‟t

losing your mind. What you might not be able to see is the

woman behind the cupcake, Lisa Min-

yard. Minyard is behind all the cupcakes

and all the staff birthday celebrations at

Cheatham.

It‟s a volunteer position that brings a lot

of joy to Minyard.

“This is my 2nd year to have the privi-

lege to be the birthday coordinator. And

I'm having a lot of fun with it! It truly

has been a great way to get to know

teachers and staff,” she said.

Minyard had already completed a year

as the birthday coordinator when Hospi-

tality VP Rachel Maygren started work-

ing with her.

“Lisa did such a great job last year and

continues to bring so much joy to the

teachers and staff at Cheatham during

their birthdays,” Maygren said.

The time and thought Minyard puts into

each staff member and the reminders she

employs to the students and families

shows in the numerous thank you cards

received by the PTA on a regular basis,

Maygren said.

Besides volunteering as the birthday co-

ordinator, Minyard helps with Spring

Fling and as an ArtSparks volunteer.

Because she is a

stay-at-home

mom, Minyard

said people are

likely to see her

preschooler tag-

ging along with

her as she vol-

unteers in the

school.

“She loves to

help too! It‟s so

nice seeing the smiles on the faces when

we knock on the door (for birthdays),”

Minyard said.

Prior to staying at home with her chil-

dren, Minyard was a kindergarten

teacher. She also has a first grader, in

addition to her preschool daughter.

Pamela, 3rd grade

"Turkey. I never eat

it except on Thanks-

giving and it is

really, really good."

Attendance Reminders Following some of these simple steps can ensure your children get to school on time and ready to learn

By George Lee

Assistant Principal

Here are a couple of suggestions to dis-

cuss as a family at home to ensure your

child‟s school day starts on time and on

a positive note.

Lay out clothes for the morning the

night before.

Prepare your child (children)'s back-

pack the night before and check for

homework.

Add in time to your morning routine

to eat breakfast.

Ensure you leave for school in

enough time to plan for a possible

delay in traffic.

Agree on a consistent bed time so

your child receives an ample amount

of sleep.

Remember students must be in the build-

ing before 7:55 a.m.

By this time, teachers have already

picked up their students and have started

morning routines in their classrooms.

These few suggestions above will help

your child (children) to start their school

day on time and in a positive way.

To-Do List

Tickets

for the

Allen ISD

Community

Education Fa-

ther-Daughter

Ball are on

sale. There are

2 dances, be-

ginning at 5

and 7:30

p.m. See at-

tachments page

14 for details.

Cheatham Chatter Page 3

Did You Know?

Did you know Cheatham needs 40 more PTA members to reach 100% membership — every student in

the school represented. One hundred percent membership is something no other Allen school has ever

done. www.joinpta.org

Beverly Cheatham Elementary School

1501 Hopewell Drive, Allen, TX 75013 Ph: (972) 396-3016 Fax: (972) 396-3035

Web: allenisd.org/cheathames Twitter: Follow@CheathamElem

Principal: Stephanie Logan PTA President: Tasha Young The Cheatham Chatter is published by the Cheatham PTA in support of the PTA’s mission to be a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for the

education and well-being of every child. Send submissions by 5 pm on Wednesday prior to publication: cheathamcommunications@gmail.com. Content may be used on the PTA website and/or in the newsletter.

Content will be edited for space/clarity.

www.txpta.org www.allenisd.org/cheathames

For the

Cheatham

Science

Fair, if a stu-

dent would like

to enter an in-

dependent pro-

ject into the

school Science

Fair they can

find all of the

information

they need on

the Science

Fair page of

the Cheatham

web site listed

under stu-

dents. Science

Fair projects

are due to the

multipurpose

room Wednes-

day by 8 a.m.

Is your

student

missing

a jacket, water

bottle or lunch

box? Please

send your stu-

dent to check

the Cheatham

Lost and

Found.

By Tasha Young

President

If you know a high school senior who also

graduated from Cheatham, tell them to apply for one

of the two $1,000 scholarships the PTA and your

„No Fuss‟ dollars are funding in 2017.

The Community Scholarship Application, adminis-

tered by the Foundation for Allen Schools, is now

open to all Allen High School seniors and can be

found at www.AISDfoundation.org.

Students must complete at least

one essay as part of the applica-

tion and provide two teacher

references and one community

member reference. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m.

January 10.

Cheatham Chargers shined at Artropolis, the Allen

ISD Elementary

Art Show.

Selected artwork

from Cheatham

students and stu-

dents from every

district elemen-

tary school were

displayed at the

Blue House Too Gallery in Watters Creek

from November 17 to November 27.

The holidays are coming early for

Cheatham students this year thanks to

you and your „No Fuss‟ donations.

In November, the PTA Executive Board voted to

purchase soccer goals for kids to use during recess

and here‟s the best part — the goals were installed

Monday.

Students found out about the playground addition by

PTA VP of Programs, Allison Hargraves, during

morning announcements Monday and sounds of sur-

prise were heard throughout the building.

The soccer goals are part 2

of a 3-part outdoor improve-

ment plan. First, the PTA

bought several new pieces of

jungle gym equipment. Sec-

ond, is the addition of soccer

goals.

The final piece of the playground puzzle? The PTA

is keeping it secret for now, but it should arrive be-

fore the Winter Break. And, when it does, the

sounds of surprise may not be contained to the hall-

ways of Cheatham — you just might hear them at

your house too.

President’s Corner Scholarships, Artropolis and Goals

Cheatham PTA is close to having each and every child in the school represented with a voice in the PTA. Such a

tremendous act is bringing community together and the PTA would like to thank the business who have helped

make 100% membership attainable:

Kona Ice Summer Smiles Dentistry

Watters Donuts

Looking for a Holiday gift for grandparents

or other family friends?

Give the gift of a

PTA Membership!

Former teachers or family who live far away

will love the feeling of still being involved with

your child’s school.

Remember you are also giving them access to the PTA

Facebook pageand all the discounts that come with a

membership.

Go to www.joinpta.org for sign-ups.

If you would like to give them a membership card send an email to

jena.barocio@yahoo.com.

Scripps National Spelling Bee School Spelling Bee List 2016-2017

fit hugged shirts sturdy monkeys mansion

mad trail moody chatter studio laundry

bus butter lawn bakery nifty available

dots sharp branch darkest janitor lodging

spy digging pantry feast pottery portions

job soap sandbox dollars wonderful gallant

row bones posters might square veins

tree small spider subject belief mountain

ship center or centre coast dishes contract whistling

name lava bother partly anteater voyage

ears monster mouse forward pouring hooves

room bathtub swift strange lantern funnel

case ivy restless hitched subtracting gravely

meal nose parents rather portable hiccups or hiccoughs

rang tusk beehive puzzles twine performance

tile road shopping sign estate specific

lost oven artwork pebbles umbrella dowdy

aim news chance married timidly indicate

nest food lookout chamber observe clause

tiny rules stroller flicker trance failure

need braid anyone onion elderly biology

darts miles thumb arcade liquid hangar

straw folds backdrop London deadline quality

maybe pages fuddy-duddy pounce country saucepan

cried boring paint shrill flexible invisible

shell corner soul mayor promote classical

wash ferns banana farewell massive blurred

chew elbow frown young bronze contestants

start taxi temper supplies climbed farfetched

first stuck burst beginning teaspoon bemused

picky grain hungry vacation balance clients

claws float riddle skateboard knitting tightrope

great awake porch poem merely innocent

stage bird silver snoozing furnish dignified

open snack untidy lotion passage priority

sadly wear curved prevented complaints delicate

brush mane leaky smirk thunderbolt applause cross hardly interact destiny nonsense bargain

Scripps National Spelling Bee School Spelling Bee List 2016-2017

fortune auction resonate bestial concussion remonstrance

vocabulary sediment zodiac tenaciously legitimately prestidigitation

caterpillar fervently ravine cavalcade vagabonds tetanus

wistfully bushel hovel burglarious affectionately Cotswold

annual clodhopper sentries scrumptiously habanero pertinacity

beckon unappealing rendition boulevards overweening cayenne

creation dandruff nonviolent laburnums vengeance Lilliput

dumbwaiter pensive enchantment thaumaturge gladiatorial patronymic

unbearable gnarled perilous marvelous or semaphore castellated

cupboard peculiar servitude marvellous inconceivable ebullience

dimension cutlery derelict vulpine pilgrimages Hebrides

initials equestrian charismatic catastrophic Holocaust phosphine

daunted oblivious heredity quandary nuisance nautilus

settee spatula prosthetic Honolulu enervating outré

digestive tuition treatise uranium sanctum sanctorum pterodactyl

lounge bedraggled avian collision undulating aspidistra

marooned paisley indifference alpinist Jacobean chevalier

poisonous orchestra epithets mahogany hypotenuse toccata

vinegar satchel compatriots neutron machete rheumatic

moisture herring petrifying insulin silhouetted tumulus

terrier coronet tremendous allegiance conflagration gendarme

gymnastics precursor engineering Dantean churlish malacca

vertical infuriating alliance perpetrator mandrill Huguenot

inlet suet discreetly avalanche ascetic hors de combat

botany forfeit enumerated bedlam pugnacious phrenologists

linen partridge feckless Mylar gesticulations reveille

esteem arduous implacable exquisite interminableness ague

mildew mastiff opinionated assailant potentialities netsuke

gourd pauper javelin functionary decrepitude recherché

pitiful armadillo lyre inadvertent promulgate supererogation

concise reggae artillery Mandarin constabulary au fait

perimeter marionette stratagems physicists recusant wallah or walla

thicket algae austere Einstein Patagonia a posteriori

naturalist tortoise venerable tremulous syncope

quashed varsity Icarus aperture pirouetted

microscope antidote oracle prodigious crustaceans

cathedral emperor antiquated Stilton eucalyptus diligent mystic pearlescent unscrupulous moiety

Scripps National Spelling Bee Sources for Your Spelling Bee Study List 2016-2017

Children can view their reading progress for each book, track reading accomplishments for each day and earn achievement badges for reaching milestones.

Short and simple definitions within the context of the sentence automatically appear above difficult words to improve comprehension.

Words looked up on Kindle are automatically turned into flashcards for future review and learning.

Word Wise Vocabulary Builder

Kindle FreeTime

Where do my study words come from? The Scripps National Spelling Bee is pleased to partner with presenting sponsor Kindle in creating a new kind of spelling bee study experience. Good words come from good books, and this year each word on the study list can be found in one of the exciting Kindle e-book titles listed below. Each of these books is available on Kindle e-readers as well as the Kindle app and is enabled with Word Wise to help spellers master the meanings of words while seeing them in context. Kindle puts the tools and resources spellers need right in their own hands. With a Kindle e-reader, students can bring thousands of books with them without weighing down backpacks, and unique features teach new words quickly without ever having to leave the page. Adventure and knowledge await with Kindle and the School Spelling Bee Study List!

Kindle Key Features:

First Grade Source Books:

• Dodsworth in New York by Tim Egan

• The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo by Judy Blume

• Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon

• Amazing Armadillos (Step into Reading) by Jennifer Mckerley

• Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharma

Second Grade Source Books:

• The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes • Ivy and Bean (Book 1) by Annie Barrows • A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author by Ron Roy • The Titanic: Lost and Found (Step into Reading) by Judy Donnelly • My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Scripps National Spelling Bee Sources for Your Spelling Bee Study List 2016-2017

Third Grade Source Books:

• Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissinger

• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

• The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

• Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst

• Who Was Isaac Newton? by Janet B. Pascal

• Mr. Popper’s Penguin’s by Richard Atwater

Fourth Grade Source Books: • The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

• Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

• The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan • The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Fifth Grade Source Books:

• Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

• Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

• Matilda by Roald Dahl

• The Candymakers by Wendy Mass

• Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventure by Samantha Seiple • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Sixth Grade Source Books: • A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

• The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

• Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Young Readers Edition by William Kamkwamba • Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Seventh Grade Source Books: • Wildwood by Colin Meloy

• Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin

• Cinder by Marissa Meyer

• The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation): Nine Americans and their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Eighth Grade Source Books: • The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

• The Princess Bride by William Goldman

• Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

• The Terrifying Tales by Edgar Allan Poe

Happy Birthday Mrs. O’Neill!

Cheatham PTA likes to send birthday wishes and celebrate our teachers and staff members on their special day. Mrs. O’Neill is a 5th grade teacher. Her

birthday is December 10 so we will celebrate on Friday, December 9. If your child would like to bring her a card or one of her favorite things from the list below, please do so on Friday. Thank you!

Favorites

Colors: Green

Flowers: Any

Goodies: Peanut M&M’s, Strawberry or Cherry Twizzlers

Drinks: Unsweet Peach Iced Tea, Vitamin

Restaurants: Any Mexican Restaurant, Pei Wei, Sonic

Stores: Amazon, Target

Hobbies: Reading

Gift Cards: Amazon, Target, iTunes

Class Needs: Lysol Wipes, Sharpies, Fun Stickers

*If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Minyard, PTA Birthday Coordinator Lisa@Minyard.com

Happy Birthday Mrs. Feeney!

Cheatham PTA likes to send birthday wishes and celebrate our teachers and staff members on their special day. Mrs. Feeney is a Library/SSI Aide. Her birthday is

December 28 so we will celebrate on Friday, December 16. If your child would like to

bring her a card or one of her favorite things from the list below, please do so on Friday. Thank you!

Favorites

Colors: Blue

Flowers: Lilacs, Daisy, Roses

Goodies: Dark Chocolate, Peppermints (Sugar Free)

Drinks: Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Sonic Lemonberry Slushes, Starbucks Green Tea Frappuccino Restaurants: Panera, Pei Wei, Roman Cucina, BJ’s

Drive Thru: Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Jimmy John’s, Starbucks

Stores: Target, Old Navy, Kohl’s, JCPenny

Hobbies: Reading, Music

Gift Cards: Amazon, See Restaurants, Drive Thru, and Stores

Class Needs: Clorox Wipes, Sticky Notes, Dry Erase Markers, High Liters

*If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Minyard, PTA Birthday Coordinator Lisa@Minyard.com

Happy Birthday Mrs. Baker!

Cheatham PTA likes to send birthday wishes and celebrate our teachers and staff members on their special day. Mrs. Baker is a SSI Aide. Her birthday is

December 30 so we will celebrate on Friday, December 16. If your child would like to bring her a card or one of her favorite things from the list below, please do so on Friday. Thank you!

Favorites

Colors: Orange

Flowers: Mixed Flowers

Goodies: Peanut M&M’s, White Cheddar Popcorn

Drinks: Diet Coke, Unsweet Ice Tea, Vanilla Coffee Frappuccino

Restaurants: Cheesecake Factory, Uncle Julio’s, Chuy’s, Chick-fil-A, Sonic

Stores: Target, Hobby Lobby Kirkland’s

Hobbies: Walking, My dog-Maggie, Traveling, Family

Gift Cards: Target, Hobby Lobby, Chipotle, Starbucks

Class Needs: Colored Papermate Flair Pens

Allergy or Sensitivity: Nitrates, Donuts

*If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Minyard, PTA Birthday Coordinator Lisa@Minyard.com

Stuff the Bus Toy Drive

December 1-9

We will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for Allen Community Outreach.

Toys can be left in the boxes at the front of the building. You may also make a financial contribution for the Holidays.

Thank you!

January 28, 2017 9AM-12PM Lowery Freshman Center

$35/$40 at the door

It’s back! Future Eagle Spirit Leaders

Join us for a fun filled camp with your AHS Cheerleaders and Mascots!

Registration Opens 11/28/2016 www.ahs-cheer.com/little-eagle-camp

Pre-Register to Save $$

Register Early! Space is Limited!

Father-Daughter BallHosted by Allen ISD Community Education

Saturday, December 10Twilight Dance

5 - 6:30 p.m.For Girls 5 and Under*

Allen High School CafeteriaFor Dads and Daughters, Preschool to Grade 6

Evening dance: $35 per couple - $10 each additional girl Twilight dance: $30 per couple - $10 each Additional girl

Includes DJ Music, Refreshments and SurprisesCorsages and Boutonnieres Available for

Additional Cost

For information, call 972-727-0502Purchase tickets online at www.allenisd.org/

communityed or at the Community Education Office, 612 East Bethany Drive.

Cancellations accepted until noon on November 30. Tickets will be mailed after this date.

Evening Dance7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

For Girls in Grades 1-6*

* Ages are recommendations only, not restrictions