Buckman Arts Focus Elementary School

Has your child ever felt like other kids are intentionally ignoring them, won't play with them, or talk with them? This is bullying, and it happens even at Buckman.

Tonight, acclaimed counselor Howard Hiton speaks at Buckman about how to handle these difficult situations and how to support our kids through them. The event is free and open to members and non-members of the Buckman community. Invite your friends! Childcare is available.

A short PTA meeting, starting at 6:30 p.m., precedes Mr. Hiton's presentation.

Don't forget the January PTA meeting Wednesday 1/9 at 6:30 - 8 pm this evening.

Amy Ruona from Portland Public Schools Parent Education dept. will be speaking on
Guiding Good Choices; a Substance Abuse Prevention Curriculum for Parents. This workshop will include:

• identifying your child's risk and protective factors
• creating a culture of communication within the family
• establishing healthy beliefs and clear standards
• helping kids make healthy choices when you aren't around, and
• handling strong emotions in a healthy and constructive manner

PTA VP Jill Bennett has requested that this material be tailored to the youngest child and discuss how parents should address issues in earlier development. The public is welcome to attend. Child care will be provided.

The Buckman PTA recently established a PTA Scholarship fund to support families who cannot afford Buckman's full day kindergarten program. We are now asking for assistance raising money to fund this effort - interested donors can send a check to the Buckman PTA c/o Buckman at the address above, or contact PTA President Joyce Koenig.

Join us from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 14, when the PTA presents a guest speaker from Multnomah County Library School Corps. Titled «Safe Space: Social Networking for Parents, Educators & Caregivers,» this talk addresses internet safety for kids. Learn what kids are really using social networking sites like MySpace for and how you can educate them about being safe online.

The presentation is open to everyone (not just PTA members), in the Buckman cafetorium, and childcare will be provided.

Writing is focus of next PTA meeting

Teachers Lauren Wooten and Janice Avidan share Portland Public School writing guidelines and how they are applied in the classroom at the PTA meeting at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 10, in the cafetorium.

Learn what your child is learning and how you can help he/she be a better writer. A brief PTA meeting will also take place. All are welcome. Childcare is provided.

Our PTA Officers for 2006-2007 are:

President: Joyce Koenig
VP: Jill Bennett
Secretary: Kim O'Neill
Treasurer: Jerome Faulkner

You can email them as a group at buckmanarts *at* yahoo.com (replace *at* with @ and you'll be set!)