The Pony Express

Trabuco Hills High School PTSA Pony Express 27501 Mustang Run, Mission Viejo, CA. 92691 (949)768-1934

www.thhsptsa.org
Volume 1 Issue 6 April 2011 Craig Collins Principal Andrea Padian Editor (Position Open)

Trabuco Hills High PTSA Saddleback Valley Council PTA Fourth District PTA California State PTA National PTA Andrea Padian President

Principals Message
By Craig Collins THHS Principal Craig.Collins@svusd.org
Graduation Although it sounds like its a long ways off, graduation plans are in full swing. To make your Graduation Ceremony experience a positive and memorable one, I am passing on a few tips and reminders. Graduation will be on June 21st this year. If you have been to graduation at THHS in the past, we have made a few changes that you should be aware of. The first is the time. To avoid the potential for extremely hot conditions, we have moved the start of the ceremony to 7:00 PM. While this may make for a rushed evening, it really helps at that time of year when the temperatures can get into the 100s. This is very helpful for the grandmas and grandpas that attend as well as the graduates sitting in the sun in those polyester robes. Each student will be given six tickets for the event.

You may request up to six additional tickets by sending the request to Ms. Hope at hoped@svusd.org. We will fill those requests through a lottery so they are not guaranteed, but based on past years, we have been able to meet all the requests. If you need confirmation on your tickets sooner, the best way is to have your graduate ask around. Many graduates will not need all of their tickets and will be happy to share. The gates will open for seating at 5:30 PM. Any saved seats will be cleared out before the gates open so please dont waste your time trying to get into the stadium earlier or reserving seats. We will start the line at 5:00 PM, but again, based on past years you should not need to arrive until 6:00 PM. Please do not bring shade structures or pop ups into the stadium, they are not allowed. You can bring umbrellas for the sun if you like, but you will be asked to take them down at the start of the ceremony. No artificial noise makers or air horns are allowed in the stadium. We want to have a distinguished ceremony and the use of noise makers prevents the families of the next graduate from hearing their childs name announced. The ceremony begins with the Procession of Graduates. Each graduating senior will have their
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Inside this Issue Principals Message continued ..... pg 2 Message from Andrea ...... pg 3 Mustang Marvels .... pg 3 ASB Report ......... pg 4-5 THHS Teacher of the Year .... pg 5 Advocacy Action ........... pg 6 Historian Report ..... pg 7 Arts Advocacy ... pg 7 THHS Reflections Winners .... pg 8 Ways to Help Our School ... pg 9

Master Drive Program.............. pg 10 2011-12 PTSA Board Elect ..... pg 10 Spread the Word Campaign ....pg 11 Membership Matters.....pg 11 PTSA Volunteer Activities ..... pg 12 MV Leadership Opportunities .... pg 12 MV Arts Alive Festival.. pg 12 2011 Grad Night. . pg 13 2011 THHS College Fair . ...pg 13 Coffee with the Principal .pg 14 THHS / PTSA Calendar ..... pg 15

What lies behind us

and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Trabuco Hills High 2010 11

PTSA Board members
Andrea Padian President Craig Collins Trabuco Hills High Principal Vanessa Braaksma Executive Vice President & VP of Membership Brenda Hanrath, & Isha Parol * Vice President Ways & Means Cindy Johnson Treasurer Stephanie Torres Auditor Karyn Bower Secretary & Communications/ Publicity Madeline Littman Historian Gayathri Sivadas* Parliamentarian Helen Denton Corresponding Secretary Mike Padian, Joan Rosenberg, & Shelly Becerra* Legislative/Advocacy Rep Cindy Ashley Volunteer Development Lisa Bauer & Tim Littman Grad Night Co-Chairs Deb Johnson Webmaster Karrie Coon & Nicholas Tasato * Reflections Kimberly Dennis Parent Education Chair Tish Witkin Arts Advocacy Chair Heather Gennettee Student Programs Maegan Bower, Lexi Witkins, Blake Hanrath Student Class Representatives Mike Padian & Helen Denton Mini-grant Co-Chairs Sandra McElwee & Sean McElwee * Special Education Chair Kim Waters Grant Writer Sue Burns Welcome Committee Chair Kristen Smith Outreach Grazyna Buchowiecki Ralphs & E-Script Chair * Indicates this is a student board member

Principals Message

name read and will receive their diploma at this time. Since this is at the start of the ceremony, you will not want to be late. The gates to the stadium are closed as the seniors enter to prevent disruption, so you will need to be in your seat by 7:00 PM. Parking is always at a premium at graduations. The THHS Endowment will again be selling reserved parking in the lower level of the parking structure. This offers those of you that cannot get away from work early, or families with elderly, a place to park in the shade. Our handicap parking will be available as always, so if you have that need, please be sure to have your placard properly displayed as the Sheriffs will be ticketing. Additional parking will be available on the upper fields. To aide in the traffic after the ceremony, we ask that as many of you carpool as possible. As always, we ask that you be respectful of our neighbors and do not block their driveways and drive carefully through the neighborhoods. If you do park on the streets, please be sure to pick up any trash that you bring. At the close of ceremony you are welcome to come onto the field and take pictures with your family. We are in the process of checking to see if a photographer will stay after the ceremony to take family or graduate portraits. Additionally, we will have a photographer on the field, and you will be able to purchase a photo of your graduate as they receive their diploma. I hope these tips will help you to have a memorable experience on June 21st and that we can all work together to make this a memory of a lifetime. Any new or additional information, including information dealing specifically with the graduates, will be on the school website at www.trabucohills.org by April 6th. Congratulations on this milestone accomplishment and as always, GO BLUE!!!

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed in the things that you didnt do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. Mark Twain Where ever you go, go with all your heart. Confucius

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A Message from Andrea

Trabuco Hills High PTSA President apadian@aol.com

PTSA elections were held last month and Im very impressed with our new board-elect. I look forward to working with all OF them soon. The 2011-2012 PTSA officers are listed in a photograph on page 10. In addition to those positions, we have several appointed chair position and I hope to hear from those of you interested in working with us next year. This year weve made great strides moving forward and I hope to do the same next year. Last year, considering we are a PTSA and our students are no longer kidswe have added student positions as class representatives and in other board positions as co-chairs. These are great opportunities for students to fill leadership roles. Some of the student positions available on next years board that I hope your student will consider are. Student Reps for Freshman, Sophomore, Junior & Senior Classes (student positions only) Student Co-chair positions in Advocacy, Grad Night, Membership, Ways & Means, Special Ed, Mini-grant Committee, Student Programs and Reflections (Art program). We are looking for adults to fill the following posi-

tions as well: Corresponding Secretary The strength of Special Education Chair a team is each Grad Night Co-Chair individual Hospitality Chair member...the Teacher Appreciation strength of each Chair member is the Volunteer Coordinator team. Volunteer Development Phil Jackson Legislative Reps/Advocacy Newsletter Editor/Layout Parent Education Student Programs Scholarships Mini-Grants Communications/News Releases Escript/Ralphs Program Recruiter Drug and Alcohol Programs/Red Ribbon Week Reflection Chair and co-chairs for Visual Arts, Photography, Literature, Dance Choreography, Music and Video/Film Production Discount Card Program Welcome Committee Round UP College Fair Health Advocate Outreach & Grant Writers Please contact me if you are interTrabuco Hills High ested in any of these positions.

Andrea Padian
students serving on the State PTA Board of Managers, and I started thinking about student board members at our school, too. Why not? Were a PTSA (S being for students) -not just a PTA. I witnessed first hand what a different dynamic students can bring to a PTSA organization. And, now Im so proud of the students that participated in leading our organization this year. They have been there to help in many ways and are very appreciated. As we continue this idea of student leadership, I hope that your student will consider such a position as well. We are just starting to build on this idea, so we have room to grow, but having the very kids we are trying to help and support aid us with their help, ideas and opinions has been a real treat for me. Thank you all! You have made my first year as PTSA president at THHS very special. I hope to see many of you again next year! And to our senior representativesthe best of luck in your future endeavors. I KNOW your futures are

Mustang Marvels
I want to thank all the students that worked so hard on our PTSA board this year; Gayathri Sivadas, Maegan Bower, Tim Littman, Lexi Witkin, Shelly Becerra, Nicholas Tasato, Blake Hanrath, Sean McElwee and Isha Parol. Gayathri, an aspiring lawyer, has been and will continue to be a wonderful parliamentarian to our group. Maegan, Lexi and Blake led as student representatives. Tim, was our Grad Night Committee Co-chair and many of the senior board members also served on the Grad Night Committee. Our students have co-chaired or served in mirror roles in many areas, Fundraising, Special Ed, Membership, Reflections and Advocacy. While at the California State PTA Convention last year, I took classes on student involvement in high schools, classes lead by

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April, 2011, Volume 1, Issue 6

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ASB In Action!
By Aiko Mackus, Senior Class President Monica Ukah, Junior Class President Henry Yin, Sophomore Class President Megan Mondt, Freshman Class President Bills to Rebuild After hearing the devastating news about Japan, we knew Trabuco needed to help out. So ASB came up with the idea: Bills to Rebuild. This was a homeroom competition to collect dollar bills and we even collected twenty-dollar bills from great homerooms. Amazingly, in a matter of three days, Trabuco Hills High School collected $2,255! What an accomplishment! Of course, we had many homerooms contributing to our fundraising for Japan. Dr. Mooneys homeroom came in first with $231, Mrs. Gordons homeroom with $216 and Mr. Kendells homeroom with $138! We couldnt have done it without them. Also, an honorable mention to Mr. Ammirato. Thank you to all that donated to help rebuild Japan! Mr. Mustang Students, families and friends crowded into the Little Theatre at Trabuco Hills High School on March 25th at 7 p.m. With a fun opening dance, the audience was introduced to the twelve senior males who were fighting for the crown of the King of the Jungle of TraMr. Mustang takes the prize! buco. The male pageant was split into three areas: Swim Wear, Formal Wear and Talent.

Election Week A hectic week is soon to begin. Election week will be held on April 6th to the April 13th! There are 23 students running for nine different positions. The candidates will be posting up posters, handing out flyers and campaigning throughout the week! Campaigning will begin on April 6th through 13th and voting will only begin during April 11th to 13th. Students will be choosing their next year ASB members. Voting tables will be near the theater and you must bring your school I.D to vote! So dont forget: Voting week starts April 6th and will end April 13th! GO Elections!!

International Week International week was a great way for the students of Trabuco Hills to get exposure to the world. Culture, food, international styles, all came together in a massive week filled with global awareness and fun. Monday- Japanese Drummers visited from UCI. Their fierce routine roused the crowd gathered around the rally stage to a level of frantic enthusiasm. Tuesday- The International Flag Parade allowed students to parade their national flags across the campus. Drumline provided musical accompaniment as the volunteers displayed their national colors through the quad. Wednesday- The Food Faire allowed the students to sample the tasty cuisines of the world. Delicious dishes from Hungary, India, Spain, and Japan were popular with the crowd. ASB sold good old American apple pie and ice For the next hour and a half, the judges judged the concream, too! testants on their areas of expertise. The winner of Mr. Thursday- Irish Dancers brightened up the rally Mustang 2011, who also received $100 and a free Friar stage with their elaborate costumes and high Tux rental was. LANDON GOLD! Runner up was stepping dance moves. Also, international forBrandon Cunnane, who was given $75, and third place eign exchange students gave presentations durwinner, Alex Cederholm, who received a prize of $50. ing third period in the library about their homeCongratulations to all that competed for a wonderful, lands. continued page fun- filled show.
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ASB Report

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Friday- Indian Dancers and the International Fashion Show ended the week with a bang. The Indian Dancers showed off their grace and beauty with their Bollywood style moves. The students practiced for weeks before the event to make sure they were stage ready. The International Fashion Show let students model ethnic clothes from their backgrounds. Bright African prints and flowing Indian saris were in abundance.

As Friday drew to a close, the spirit of international unity that was fostered throughout the week continued. This years International Week was a success!

Teacher of the Year: Mr. Hamilton

By Tim Littman, Student
Every year, a teacher is chosen from each of our SVUSD schools (by their peers) to be the Teacher of the Year. This year, Mr. Tom Hamilton was given the prestigious honor of Teacher of the Year at Trabuco Hills. Being with Trabuco Hills for many years, he is much deserved for this honor. In all of his years of teaching, he has always taught Physics, for it has always been his favorite subject. Mr. Hamilton is well known as a favorite teacher to many of the students at Trabuco because he is a very good teacher and he has a great sense of humor. He is always willing to help his students and many of his students dub his room as a hang out spot during snack and lunch time. Tim: What got you into teaching? Mr. Hamilton: Teaching was not my first choice in choosing a job. I worked for NASA for a few years which I did not like. After that, I felt the only other job for a person who loves Physics as much as I do, was to become a teacher. Tim: What subjects do you teach and why do you like them? Mr. Hamilton: I teach AP physics and honors physics. I like teaching physics because Physics is FUN! I also like teaching physics because I majored in physics in college and had always wanted to be a mad scientist. Tim: Is there anything you would like to accomplish before the school year is over? Mr. Hamilton: I would like to get my AP students through their exams which are coming up in May. Tim: Why do you like teaching at Trabuco Hills High School? Mr. Hamilton: One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching my students do well in High School and to get into good colleges. It is also one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever done. I also really enjoy working with kids.
*The Trabuco

Hills PTSA honors our Teacher of the Year by purchasing a table for them at the SVUSD Teacher of the Year Recognition Dinner so they can invite their family, friends, and/or co-workers to celebrate with them as they receive their award. This year the Teacher of the Year Dinner will be held on May 6th at the Dana Point Marriott. Thanks to all our PTSA members for supporting our great teachers.

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Advocacy Actions
Sacramento Safari
By Mike Padian THHS PTSA Advocacy/ Legislative/Advocacy Rep Padianteam@aol.com

wealth of insight on how things got to be the way they are and what can be done. We then broke into teams, while we ate a quick lunch, to strategize our approaches and messages for our afternoon meetings with our elected representatives.

It was an exciting time to be in Sacramento, as we pushed our primary message - that the states schools are extremely important, as well as our secondary message Kurt Walker, a THHS math teacher, and I joined ten that the PTA supports a balanced approach to funding other PTA advocates from SVUSD, along with sixty adeducation with program cuts and taxes, along with a speditional representatives from the Orange County Fourth cial election where voters can decide. Our visit could not District PTA, and descended upon the Sacramento jungle have been timelier, as the states budget crisis was the in March. Every year the Fourth District PTA organizes top item of discussion in every meeting and conversation. a safari of supporters that go to the states capital to meet The main topic was whether the Republican side would with our elected officials and state agencies to lobby for join the Democrats and support the Governors call for a our schools. The Fourth District is the largest, most acspecial election. It appears that wont happen now. tive PTA group in the world, so we are well respected by the elected officials who recognize we are one of the few As you have read and heard before, the states budgetary crisis is extremely sobering, and there are no easy solugrass-roots, non-partisan, volunteer group of lobbyists tions to counter the effects of the economic challenges. who directly represent a large constituency of voters. This Safari was a 36-hour whirlwind of non-stop speak- In particular, education has already taken $18 billion in ers and meetings, during which we were bombarded and cuts over the last three years. If the revenue extensions overwhelmed by the sheer vastness of the problems and do not make it to a special election and pass, education could be looking at an additional $14 billion in cuts. complexities of the states educational systems. This would be devastating. So, all the delegates made it On the first day, we heard from at least ten speakers, inclear to our legislators of our desire to Let the People cluding State PTA leaders, officials from the State Board Decide in a special election. of Education and Department of Education, as well as other analysts and fellow advocates. The surprise high- Kurt and I were part of a small delegation that visited Representative Jose Solorio, a staunch supporter of the light was Board of Education member, Patricia Ann PTA. We had a good conversation about the importance Rucker, who was very personable, straightforward, and told it like it is- a welcome relief from the usual politi- of education, the chances for a special election, and Plan B options in case the special election failed to be apcal grandstanding. proved. Kurt and I then joined a larger group to meet We also heard a lot about the updated common core stanwith Senator Mimi Walters. Unfortunately, we only had a dards, which will place additional emphasis on math and brief conversation with a staff member in the hallway, so language arts. These new core goals are in response to the discussion was not as direct and intimate as our meetthe federal governments requirement for better college ing with Rep. Solorio. Despite the setting, we still delivand work success and to better compete internationally. ered our personal messages of how the budget crisis was Of course, trying to fund better programs in a shrinking impacting our schools. Other delegations met with budget is impossible. We also listened to in depth presenelected officials from our area, including Representatives tations on demographics, statistics, and trends in state Wagner and Harkey. and national education, and what that means as we strive Alas, Governor Brown was too busy to meet with us; to define our kids educational needs and the best syshowever, I did get to meet Sutter, the Governors Corgi, tems to meet those goals. as he was coming back into the Governors office after On day two we were at the capital where we met with an afternoon walk. All in all, it was a very worthwhile Richard Simpson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Speaker of trip for Kurt and I. It helped us understand the educathe Assembly, John Perez, as well as a member of the tional funding process and allowed us the opportunity to Governors staff. Richard has an extensive background speak directly with our Sacramento legislators. in the states education systems and a seemingly endless

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20112011-2012 THHS PTSA Historian Hours

By Madeline Littman, PTSA Historian tanmom@gmail.com
This year, Trabuco Hills High School PTSA members, parents and students have volunteered 24,850.5 hours of their free time to help at our school. If these volunteers were paid just the minimum wage, it would amount to $198,804.00. The impressive number of hours volunteered has been forwarded to the State PTA in Sacramento to show the strength of our parent, teacher, student and community support. The collection of hours is important for many reasons such as maintaining federal tax exempt status and as a valuable marketing tool to raise awareness of the PTA and all it does. It is also frequently used to request money from foundations. Thank you to all the volunteers!! Like Gandhi said Be the change you wish to see in the World. people and organizations. He focused on vital issues involving why its imperative in todays competitive global community to be able to be creative. Studies showed that when top Fortune 100 CEOs were interviewed, their biggest concern in todays incoming work force was their inability to be innovative. Robinson also pointed out there are numerous studies proving a strong link between science, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving. Therefore, a well-rounded education that includes the arts is of high importance in an ever-changing world. Just teaching basic skills is not enough. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities need to include the Arts turning STEM to STEAM! Creativity is the element that makes each child stand out as they pursue careers and college. Even in this tough economic time, we cannot afford to dismantle programs that are so valuable to our childrens education. The time for Arts is now! For more information on how you can support arts advocacy in our school and community go to: www.capta.org/ sections/programs-smarts or contact me at the email address listed above.

Arts Advocacy
Tish Witkins
tish92610@netscapre.net

Arts Advocacy continues to promote the arts. On March 8th, the Saddleback Valley Unified School District adopted a resolution proclaiming March 2011 as Arts Education Month. SVPTA Council Arts Advocate, Julie Schwarz, and Assistant Superintendent, Kathy Dick, spoke to the board about the progress being made in the area of the arts in our district. To further the arts, the Fourth District PTA sponsored a lecture with the very entertaining and renowned speaker, Sir Ken Robinson at Segerstrom Concert Hall on Wednesday, March 30th. The event had a full house including many of the SVUSD board members, teachers and Superintendent Clint Harwick. Robinson spoke on how communities and businesses can jump start innovation by unlocking the creative energy of

think the arts are perhaps singularly the most neglected part of our educational structure today. And there are some of us who really do believe that an education in the arts is not expendable. It is not extraneous. Its not extracurricular. It is essential. And, without it, a student is not getting a full, complete, and total education. Governor Mike Huckabee My husband and I believe strongly that arts education is essential for building innovative thinkers who will be our nations leaders for tomorrow. Its our hope that we can work together to expose, enrich, and empower Americans of all ages through the arts. Michelle Obama

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2011Reflections 2011-2012 DIVERSITY IS

By Karrie Coon, Reflections Chair kcoon@digitalnetworksgroup.com
Last years Reflections theme was Together We Can. Our nine top Trabuco Hills Reflections winners moved on to the SVPTA Council for the next level of judging and three of those students won additional awards in the senior age category covering arts entries submitted from our entire school district. We are pleased to say that Isha Parol, took first place, or Award of Excellence, for her photography entry. Katie Gregory won an Honorable Mention Award , along with Shannon Richards, who won an Award of Merit, for their entries in Visual Arts. A Reflections Award Ceremony was held on February 28th at the SVUSD School District, where Superintendent Clint Harwick presented all student winners throughout our school district with their awards and all winning entries were displayed. One school district student, though only in elementary school, won first place for her Dance Choreography entry, which went on to win at the Fourth District PTA and eventually took first place at the State level. Her entry is being forwarded to the National PTA and we hope she will take first place there as well. Using your creativity could land you up in her place as well. If you dont try, youll never know how far your entry could go. Next years Reflection theme will be Diversity Is Your entry could be in any of the following areas: Visual Arts, Music, Literature, Photography, Video/Film Production and Dance Choreography. Go to www.capta.org/sections/programs/reflections.cfm for more information, rules and past winning entries.

Isha Parol, Award of Excellence Together We Light Up the World

Shannon Richards was unable to attend the Award Ceremony, but this is her winning entry. Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. Pablo Picasso Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. Thomas Merton Katie Gregory accepts her award and certificate from Dr. Harwich, SVUSD Superintendent. Imagination is the true magic carpet. Norman Vincent Peale

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How Can YOU Help Support Our PTSA, Students & Teachers?
CAR RAFFLE: We are still selling raffle tickets for the drawing of the a Toyota Corolla!!! PURCHASE yours for $50.00. Only 600 will be sold! You will be supporting all students and staff at THHS!! Purchase at the school office from Debi Hope, or contact Brenda Hanrath at (949) 702-4247 Or brendahanrath@cox.net DONATION BIN: NEW!!! We now have a donation bin in conjunction with Community of Change. Please donate your old clothing, towels, blankets, sheets, rags, purses and shoes! All textiles will be accepted. PTSA will receive a percentage back for every 50 pounds of donations collected. The bin is located on the Santa Margarita Pkwy side of the school near the tennis courts, on the road that leads to the front of the school. You can just pull up to the bin and drop off your goods. SCREAMIN DAILY DEALS: NEW!!! Want to get a great deal on food, entertainment, massages, hair care and more?? Check out Screaming Daily Deals!! You will get about 3 daily deals per day from local businesses. Purchase your deal, print the coupon and enjoy savings up to 70%! Sign up on the PTSA website, or www.screamindailydeals.com, and choose THHSPTSA as your school to support!! KEY TO SAFE DRIVING: NEW!!! Protect your teen from texting & talking on their cell phones while driving! It does allow your teen access to 911 and parents in case of an emergency. The device is $95.00 and can be purchased from the PTSA website. ITALIAN ICE: Sold every Friday from 2pm to 4pm in front of the school. Cost is $3.00 per cup and supports PTSA. Yummy, too! RECYCLING: Drop off your used printer cartridges, laptops, digital cameras, and cell phonebroken or otherwise in the office recycle box. RALPHS & E-SCRIPT: Go to the PTSA website at www.thhsptsa.org and sign up your Ralphs Club Card or Vons/Pavilions card with the Ralphs Community Contribution Program or EScript program. Its easy and a percentage of all your purchases will go back to the school/PTSA. It costs no money and doesnt take away from your own rewards. Don t wait! Do it today. Families can raise thousands of dollars this way.

By Karyn Bower, PTSA Secretary & Restaurant Night Chair kpbcsr@cox.net

The PTSA has another win-win fundraiser. Simply by eating out or picking up some take-out, you can raise money for our school to help purchase paper/soft supplies. Now, through June 2011, the PTSA will be hosting Restaurant Week the first week of every month. Our next Restaurant week will be May 2-6, so mark your calendar! If you plan to eat out the first week of the month, why not consider dining at one of these fine restaurants? Visit http://www.thhsptsa.org, click on the Restaurant Week link on the left. Scroll down to Attachments and print out the restaurant flyer and present it when you order and earn 15% of your bill (pre-tax) back to the school. Most flyers will be available at the school reception desk, too.

Eat Out, Help the School!

Monday: Trabuco Oaks Steakhouse, 20782 Trabuco Oaks Rd, Trabuco Canyon. AND Mimis Caf, 22651 Lake Forest Dr., Lake Forest Tuesday: Peppinos, Foothill Ranch in food court near movie theatre. Pick Up Stix, RSM by Lowes and Mission Viejo (Trabuco and Alicia near Mobil). Wednesday: Oggis Pizza, 23641 Via Linda, MV (off Alicia across from baseball fields) or Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Foothill Ranch, near Walmart. Thursday: Claim Jumper, Mission Viejo in Henrys Shopping Center or Phillys Best, RSM in the Lowes shopping center. Friday: Baja Fresh, RSM, next to Kohls, or Del Taco, Foothill Ranch (near Target).

$500 PTSA Continuing Education Scholarships for Seniors

PTSA is offering four $500 senior scholarships this year2 Volunteer/Service Awards, 1 Arts Scholarship (Art, Photography, Dance, Theater, Video/Film, Music) and 1 for Students with Financial Need.. All applications are due May 13th. Please see Bridget Mondt in the Career Center for info and an application.

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STATISTIC OR SURVIVORWhat will your Child be?

The reality is that teens are injured and killed every day driving cars. More than 6,000 teens die in car crashes in this country every year, and over 300,000 are seriously injured! Every parent should be rightfully concerned about their child becoming a safe driver in this dangerous driving environment! LHHS PTSA is teaming up with Trabuco Hills High School to bring you a seminar that addresses this important subject.

On Monday, May, 2, 2011 (6:30-8:30 PM in the Laguna Hills High Schools MPR) MasterDrive of Orange County will provide a seminar for new drivers and their parents with very specific survivor strategies.
This two-hour program is designed to equip parents with strategies for teaching their teen to become a competent driver. Come learn about today's driving dangers, the licensing process, essential car control skills and response maneuvers, financial liabilities, cars for new drivers and much more. Each family at the seminar receives a complete packet with information and strategies for teaching teen driving. Also, MasterDrive is offering free Drivers Education Classes (a $169 value) for all teens that attend with a parent! Spaces are limited at this free seminar so reserve your spot now by emailing Stephanie at stephfound@yahoo.com

2011Meet your Newly Elected 2011-12 THHS PTSA Board

Front Row: Gayathri Sivadas, Parliamentarian Cindy Johnson, Treasurer Carol Byrnes, Financial Secretary Linda Boud, Secretary Rachel Ward, VP Membership Alexis Witkins, Student Leader Back Row: Craig Collins, Principal Andrea Padian, President Vanessa Braaksma, Executive Vice President Brenda Hanrath, VP Ways & Means Not Pictured: Louise Robertson, Auditor Lisa Semons, Historian

Congratulations All!
Trabuco Hills High

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Special Education Best Buddies Report

Lexi Witkins Junior PTSA Representative & Big Buddy President beammeupscotty66@gmail.com
Last month THHS participated in the national movement campaign, Spread the Word to End the Word. Every day for a week students watched and listened to different commercials on their morning announcements, and posters created by the Best Buddies Club were placed around campus as a reminder. This movement stems from the hurtful words used to describe something derogatory by saying thats so retarded. How many times each week do you say or hear someone say that? Its like, like. Like is not the correct use of the word. They use Fire Retardant to SLOW a fire. Retard(ed) means slow. It does NOT mean Stupid, Silly or Insane. As a community as a whole, we are encouraged to use a better R wordRESPECT! We all can be guilty of using words without thinking, so this week was dedicated to making students and staff aware that using the word retarded to describe situations or as a joke is not only disrespectful, but hurtful as well. Pass the word on to pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from every day speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities at www.r-word.org.

Membership Matters
By Vanessa Braaksma VP Membership V.braaksma@hotmail.com
With the year almost done, I would like to thank all those parents, students and teachers who became THHS PTSA members. Without your support we would not have been able to do all that we have done for Trabuco Hills High this year. With membership support, we were able to maintain our school's high academic standards and programs. We were able to provide minigrants to the teachers and to the classrooms to help cover expenses no longer provided by the district. Your PTSA membership also allows us to support student programs such as: Reflections (Art Program); the Consequences of Drunk Driving Assembly speaker; Experts to help guide students through with colleges and financial aid; senior scholarships and much more. Most importantly, the PTSA is an advocacy group that promotes the education for all students all year round. If you didn't become a member this year, I encourage you to please do so for next year and for those who did - please continue to be a member of THHS PTSA. With the budget crisis our schools are facing next year, we need all the support we can get to make sure the students of Trabuco Hills High continue to receive the best education we can offer. Go Blue!

SVUSD Board of Education Meeting April 12th & May 10th

6:15 PM
SVUSD Board Room

Dont miss the next

THHS PTSA Meeting April 25, 2011 Monday 7 PM Library

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City of Mission Viejo Leadership Opportunities for Students & Adults

By Trish Kelly Mission Viejo City Council Member trishkelley@cox.net
The City of Mission Viejo offers opportunities for our youth to serve on three city committees. The Student Advisory Committee meets the second Sunday of each month at 3:00 p.m. at the Murray Community Center. The Community of Character Subcommittee for youth meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the Saddleback Room at City Hall. We are also looking for parents or students for the regular Community of Character Committee, which meets the 4th Tuesday of each month from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. These are great opportunities to become involved in programs that are helping to make a difference in our schools and our community, and to build your high school resume! For more information and an application, please contact City Council Member Trish Kelley, 470-8476 or trishkelley@cox.net.

Upcoming THHS PTSA Volunteer Activities

Grad Night: The PTSA is looking for volunteers to sell Grad Night tickets on Fridays during snack through June. We will also need parents (non senior parents if possible) to help check students in on Grad Night, to chaperone their allnight party, to take photographs throughout the evening for their Grad Night Scrap Book and security (police, fire, or suchboth woman and men) to search the students before they get on the buses to leave. All these positions will be volunteer positions. Contact Lisa Bauer at lisakaybauer@yahoo.com if you are interested in helping or would like more information. Grad Night will be held June 21st and we will need help at different times between 7 PM, June 21, and 6 AM, June 22nd. Taste of the Hills: We need volunteers to serve on this planning committee or help out at this event to be held June 11, from 3-8pm: Selling Tickets, Set Up/ Clean up, Work Food booths, Sell Car Raffle tickets before drawing, Decorations, Silent Auction, Solicit Sponsors/ RestaurantsAnd More! Vendor Opportunities: People wishing to sell merchandise during the event. ($50 + a minimum $20 silent auction gift) Club opportuni ties too!!! Especially dessert sales! Donate Silent Auction Items/ Baskets: club opportunities, too!!! Donate Entertainment Email brendahanrath@cox.net for more information on how to help our school and get involved today.

Mission Viejo Arts Alive Festival

Janice Gagnon works with the United Nations and has over 4,000 murals worldwide representing the UN. She is planning on putting up 100+ murals at the upcoming Mission Viejo Arts Alive Festival on April 28-30 at the Norman P Murray Center in Mission Viejo. Any students that need community service hours and would like to help put up the murals for the Art Miles event at the Arts Alive Festival would be greatly appreciated. She needs six students to help on April 28 -29, between 9-5pm, to help put up 100 murals for Art Miles event at the Arts Alive event in Mission Viejo on April 30th. She also needs students to help the day of Arts Alive Festival (Saturday) April 30th. Not only does she need volunteers to help install murals, it would be a great experience for the THHS community to be a part of this event. Stop by. You can find out more about the event at: http://cityofmissionviejo.org/ artsalivefestival. Contact our Arts Advocate, Tish Witkin, at tish92610@netscape.net if you would like to help.

Teamwork divides the tasks and doubles the successes. Unknown Author

Trabuco Hills High PTSA Pony Express

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GRAD NIGHT 2011

By Lisa Bauer Grad Night C0-Chair lisakaybauer@yahoo.com
Our seniors graduate in two and a half months. Where does the time go? We are planning one last hurrah for them before they venture off on their own to college, trade school, jobs, or perhaps a trip around the world!

The senior Grad Night Party is being held off campus in a remote location and will feature a variety of entertainment, food and beverages. Best of all, it is a night for seniors to be with friends from their senior class on a night to remember. Activities include rides, carnival game booths, sport games, roving entertainment (magician, balloon and caricature artists), a hypnotist show, laser tag, and DJ with dancing and karaoke. Dinner and breakfast will be served and there will be unlimited snacks and beverages throughout the entire party. To make this a successful event for our graduates, we need many, many volunteers:

Photographers (you dont have to be professional), at check in and at the event Security staff for check-in and at the event Volunteers to work the check-in tables (20) Volunteers (2 each) to chaperone the buses to the event and remain at the event for one shift (total 20)) Volunteers for second shift at the event (20) Water bottles and cup cakes, cookies, brownies, individual chips or granola bars and other food donated for the students while they wait on campus for bus departure Goody bag assemblers Friday snack helpers at the Grad Night table to answer questions, help senior class sign their surf board, to gather missing parent and student signatures, to give out Grad Night forms or to take Grad Night payments. Set up and Clean up for Check In Music for Check-in More to follow!

If you are interested in assisting, please contact Lisa Bauer at lisakaybauer@yahoo.com or you can call me on my cell at (949)910-9318. Also, we are having volunteer meetings every two weeks at THHS on Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. We hope to have it in the MPR room. We will have a table at Open House near the Rally Stage. Please contact me for further information. Thank you so much for your continued interest and support.

Fair THHS College FairNext Fall, October 3, 2011

Trabuco Hills is scheduled to host its first college fair in several years this coming October 3, 2011. All of the high schools in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) will participate. For those of you not familiar with the concept, college fairs are a wonderful opportunity to meet representatives from colleges and universities, large and small, public and private, from around the country. By all means you should check-out schools on line, download the latest rankings from US News & World Report, understand financial aid options, and review curricula. However, complementing your efforts by meeting with representatives at a college fair is a great way to round out the research process. There are lots of options available to college bound seniors, and with the challenges confronting the UC and Cal State systems, out of state options are all the more viable. We will need volunteers to assist with the planning and staging of the event. If interested, please contact Chris Burns at chrisburns83@gmail.com.

April, 2011, Volume 1, Issue 6

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2011 Toyota Corolla Raffle!

For just $50, you can purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a new 2011 Toyota Corolla LE 1838 . No more than 600 tickets will be soldno less than 410! The odds are outstanding and all proceeds will benefit the THHS PTSA and Trabuco Hills High students. Dont let this chance slip away. For details visit www.thhsptsa.org. To purchase a ticket, email brendahanrath@cox.net.

PTSA Presents A Taste of the Hills

at Trabuco Hills High School June 11, 2011 38 pm
Food, Entertainment, Sales Booths, Silent Auction, Car Raffle, Fun! Fun! Fun!

Coffee with the Principal

Brought to you by the PTSA

April 12th, May 10th, June 14th

*Meet in Building 500 conference room between 7:309 AM. Starbucks and the PTSA will supply coffee & a treat. Open discussions about anything on your mind.

Sign up or renew your participation in Ralphs and Vons/Pavilions Value Customer Community Support Programs ITS EASY! ITS FREE! ITS POWERFUL!

www.ralphs.com Org. Number 92164 Or Name: Trabuco Hills High School PTSA

Register your grocery club card(s) and the rest is done by Ralphs and eScrip. The instruction for how to sign up for these great fundraising opportunities are posted at http://www.thhsptsa.org. Click on Ralphs Club Card Instructions. The icon for each program on the above mentioned website will lead you directly to a Sign-In screen for that particular program. Then just follow the prompts and use the group/organization numbers from this ad. Even if you sign up for these fundraisers in the past, you HAVE to renew your participation every year.
The Ralphs program runs from September 1 to August 31. eScrip (Vons/Pavilions) program runs from Aug. 1 to July 31.* DONT WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW. LET OUR SCHOOL EARN MONEY TOO.

www.eScrip.com

Group ID 10482514 Or Group Name: Trabuco Hills PTSA

Trabuco Hills High PTSA Pony Express

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Mark Your Calendar...

Trabuco Hills High

April 12th April 12th

Coffee w/the Principal Meeting 7:30-9 AM SVUSD Board of Education Meeting 6:15 PM SVUSD Board Room April 14th Minimum DayTHHS OPEN HOUSE April 18th-22nd Spring BreakEnjoy!!! April 25th PTSA Executive Board Meeting 6 PM, Library *Special Date April 25th PTSA Association Meeting 7 PM, Library * Special Date
April 28th-May 1 California State PTA Convention Longbeach May 6th Teacher of the Year Dinner May 10th SVUSD Board of Education Meeting6:15 PM SVUSD Board Room May 16th THHS PTSA Executive Board Meeting 6 PMLibrary May 26th SVPTA Training for 2011-2012 Board/Committee Members May 30th Memorial Day June 6th THHS PTSA Executive Board Meeting 6 PMLibrary *Last Meeting! June 6th THHS PTSA Association Meeting7 PMLibrary * Last Meeting! June 11th Taste of the Hills @ THHS 3-8 PM (Car Raffle) June 17th,20th, 21st Minimum Days June 21st Last Day of School June 21st Graduation Ceremony 7 PMTHHS Stadium June 21st Grad Night PartyTennis CourtsCheck in at 9-9:30 PM

GRAD NIGHT 2011 Mardi Gras Under the Stars June 21st
Following Graduation
Download forms at www.thhsptsa.org

PTSA Discount Card s 50% OFF

*ONLY $5.00! 27 Vendor discounts you can use every day until the end of August You can earn your $5.00 back after just one purchase!!! Email apadian@aol.com for information, a full list of vendors, &/or to buy a card today. Help PTSA and SAVE!

Buy tickets NOW for $175.00

*Rates go up in May
Turn forms & payment in @ the reception desk in front office or on Fridays at the Grad Night table