November PTA Newsletter
Hello Vestal Families!
Welcome to November! As the days get shorter, our school community stays busy with exciting events and opportunities. October was a hit with a successful movie night, a fundraiser with Bipartisan Cafe, and the conclusion of our popular pie sale. Looking ahead, November brings more fun, including our wreath sale fundraiser and another movie night. Stay tuned for updates and join us in making this month memorable!
Vestal Value of the Month: Gratitude
At Vestal, the social justice mission is rooted in fostering empathy, community, and mutual respect. Gratitude plays an important role in this mission, helping students recognize the support they receive and inspiring them to give back. By practicing gratitude, we strengthen our community bonds and cultivate a culture of appreciation and kindness, essential for creating an inclusive and supportive school environment.
To spark meaningful conversations about gratitude at home, you might enjoy listening to the episode Fiona and the Fairies from the podcast Circle Round. Young Vestal scholars might enjoy the book Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora, which features a story about sharing and community. If you have time for a movie this month you might enjoy watching Coco, which has themes of perseverance, community, and gratitude. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin is a beautiful novel - an adventure tale that explores the power of storytelling and gratitude. And the whole family might enjoy looking through the beautiful book Tiny Gratitudes by Brooke Rothshank, which features 52 illustrations and short meditations on everyday things that spark gratitude.
PTA News and Updates:
Winter Wreath Sale: This annual fundraiser will run November 1-13. We are always excited to offer beautiful winter wreaths! Sale details and order form can be found right here!
Movie Nights: Our October showing of Inside Out 2 was a big success. We were happy to see so many families enjoying the movie, the snacks, and the quiet room, too. November’s movie night will be 11/22.
Teacher Conferences Potluck: The kids have the day off 11/25-26 but teachers will be hard at work facilitating conferences. We have a tradition of providing teachers with a potluck lunch on the first day of conferences as a way of saying thank you for all their hard work and ensuring they’re nourished on those long days!
New Website: We are excited to share the PTA’s new website with you! Features include a blog with news and updates, our Vestal merch shop, a calendar of upcoming events, volunteer sign up link, and an instant donation link. Check it out and let us know what you think!
Community Care Days: October’s grounds clean up was a big success: the school grounds got beautified and the community had a great time coming together. Join us Saturday, November 16 for the next one!
Can / Bottle Drop: Bring your returnable cans and bottles to our bottle drop team every 1st and 3rd Monday at school pick up. All proceeds go to the Vestal PTA in support of the Vestal Elementary community!
November Volunteer Opportunities
November 18th: The PTA Clothing Center is looking for 5-6 volunteers to help PPS kids receive clothing and sort donations so there are lots of choices for kids to see. You can sign up here. Note: This is not limited to just PPS parents, please share with fellow family and friends.
November 22nd: Let's kickoff our Thanksgiving break with fellow Vestal families at our second Movie Night. Movie TBD. Come enjoy free popcorn, concession treats, and entertainment presented by your Vestal PTA. We can always use volunteers to help run this free event. You can sign up here.
November 25th: The Teacher Conference Potluck is happening on the first day of teacher conferences. Let's help make conferences more enjoyable by supplying teachers with some yummy food. You can sign up to bring food here.
All current volunteer opportunities can be accessed here: Vestal Volunteer Opportunities.
Thank you for being a part of our Vestal PTA Community. We truly do feel the love and support from all of our volunteers!
November Events and Reminders
November 11 - No school, schools and district offices closed
November 12 - PTA General Meeting, 6:30 PM
November 13 - Wreath Sale orders due
November 14 - Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
November 16 - Community Care Day, 10 AM - 12 PM
November 18 - Bottle Drop
November 20 - Early Release - 11:50 AM
November 22 - Movie Night
November 25 - Teacher Potluck
November 25-26 - No school, teacher conferences
November 27-29 - No school, Thanksgiving break
Community Highlight: Mr. Plywood - A Neighborhood Staple since 1963
Located in the community for over 60 years, Mr. Plywood has been a locally owned and operated fixture since 1984, after returning to local hands. Current owner Bret Brantner, who started working at Mr. Plywood in 2002 and purchased it in 2009, has focused on expanding the store’s presence while maintaining its deep neighborhood roots.
"Our neighborhood is extremely important to us," Bret shares. "We try to take good care of our residential and commercial neighbors. It’s a joy." This commitment to giving back is evident in their partnership with Vestal School. A few years ago, Bret worked with the Vestal PTA to provide materials for a covered learning space in the outdoor garden. This space has been invaluable, serving students well through the past two winters.
With a dedicated team that takes pride in their work, Mr. Plywood ensures every customer feels valued and supported. “Giving back is a must for businesses that have had the community support we have,” Bret says. To keep this local gem thriving, he encourages neighbors to think of Mr. Plywood for their next project, spreading the word and choosing them over big-box stores.
For Bret and his team, supporting the neighborhood is more than a business strategy, it’s a way of life.