Creech Volunteers of the Month

Fantastic Five
By Robin Early

The school year is in full force and boiling over with activities.  Our volunteers help make sure that everything running smoothly.  Every month, we like to recognize five outstanding volunteers who really help to “take it up a notch” at Creech. 

Taking It Up a Notch in September

Brandy Burroughs can always be counted on to help, even when called upon at the last minute.  Not only is she the homeroom parent for Mrs. Williamson, but Mrs. Burroughs also helps with Market Day, Monday Folders, and the Cookie Dough fundraiser.  She also stepped up as the coordinator for the Sock Hop, the spring fundraiser.  No matter what the situation, Mrs. Burroughs is willing to volunteer and contribute her time and talents.

Laura Duffy has truly helped Creech take it up a notch.  She spent many of her summer hours redecorating the teacher’s lounge and the library bathroom and also putting up the hallway bulletin boards, and that was all before the first day of school!   Mrs. Duffy has creatively decorated our school to coordinate with this year’s cooking theme.  She has also recently taken on the task of editor of our weekly newsletter, The Stargazer.  She can also be found helping in the office and the workroom.  We can always count on her to go above and beyond to keep Creech festive and stylish.

Linda Ngo is our wonderful workroom coordinator.  Most afternoons, she can be found copying, laminating, die-cutting, and making sure that everything is under control in the workroom.   Despite the high stacks of copy requests and items to be laminated, Mrs. Ngo always has a smile on her face and is eager to get the job done!  In addition to her busy life in the workroom, she found time to help process cookie dough orders.

Melissa Nixon is this school year’s courageous PTA President.  She got off to an early start organizing the PTA, working to get all our committee and officer positions filled, and coming up with new ideas to involve everyone.  In addition to many of her duties, she stepped in as temporary editor of the Stargazer until the position was permanently filled.   Mrs. Nixon can be reached any time of day, and she never seems to sleep.  She always has a lot going on, yet she sticks to her motto of “keep laughing”.

Brad Rush is one of our great dad volunteers.  He not only helps out once a week in the Cosmic Café, but he also helps during especially busy times including the first week of school, Grandparents’ Day, or when a spot just needs to be filled.  Mr. Rush also assists the nurse when she is testing students, and he helps on Field Day.  He helps the Creech students and staff whenever he is able.  Mr. Rush has been a great addition to the Creech family, and we are so happy to have a dad that is dedicated.

Taking It Up a Notch in October
Maggie Boyle is our library coordinator this year.  She spends a great deal of time organizing and training the volunteers to work the many shifts in the library, which helps keep the library running so smoothly. She also spends a great deal of time gathering information and putting it in order for the student directory.  Mrs. Boyle is also the home room parent for Mrs. Vanya’s first grade class. She finds time to help in other areas as well, including the Book Fair, Field Day, Sock Hop Auction, and Sunshine Committee.  Over the summer, Mrs. Boyle led the PTA audit committee which took a great deal of time and dedication.  She still finds time to assist the nurse with special projects and chaperone field trips.
Lisa Hanks keeps very busy with her job as the PTA Vice President of Finance.  She did an amazing job with coordinating the community Bar-B-Que dinner, which took a great deal of organization and preparation. She also helps with first day packets, covering books, budget meetings, teachers’ lunches, rebates, cookie dough orders, library, brown bag projects, lots of Bar-B-Que dinner preparation and organization.  We greatly appreciate all her hard work. 
Jacqueline Hollo stepped in to fulfill the vacant PTA Treasurer position.  She works very hard at handling the money for all the different activities and fundraisers coordinated by the Creech PTA.  She also helps with banking, check signing, tracking expenses, entering deposits, budget, bank statements, PTA meetings and preparation, One-Stop Shop, and Junior Achievement.  
Suzette Hursh is the Homeroom Coordinator, which is a huge job.  She oversees all planning and coordination of the many activities that occur in the homerooms classes throughout the school year.  She also helps in the library, with Accelerated Reading, and with Science Enrichment.  One reason she was nominated to be one of our Fantastic Five was because of her great job of coordinating “fun, fabulous fall parties”.   
Janelle Williams coordinated our Cookie Dough Fall Fundraiser.  She has been working very hard on this project since before school even started.  She set up all the goals and rewards, including the limo rides and pizza party, dunking booth, and party at Pump It Up.  Mrs. Williams greatly contributed to the success of selling over $72,000 in cookie dough and other frozen treats.  She was really able to fire up the fifth graders with some great incentives.  She also stepped in to fill the PTA secretary position.  Mrs. Williams also helps out with the book fair, Kindergarten book bags, and in the library.  

Taking It Up a Notch in November

Annie Bonner is our wonderful PTA Reflections coordinator for the second year in a row. She organized the entries, contacted judges, prepared the entries for display and the award ceremony, and submitted the winners to the district level for the competition.  Mrs. Bonner told a great story, and the chocolate bars were a huge hit.  Mrs. Bonner also finds time to help out in the workroom and with Gingerbread House Day.  She works super hard and does a wonderful job.  

Usha Machiraju is this year’s Art Room coordinator. She did a great job helping the art teachers with the sweetest day of the year – Gingerbread House Day.  She helped make sure that the students had all the right tools to build a fabulous gingerbread house: graham crackers, icing and all the candies, cookies, and marshmallow items to decorate them.  Mrs. Machiraju is also a big helper in the workroom, die-cutting, laminating, and handling other projects.  She also spends time volunteering in the library. In addition, she finds time to help Mrs. Vanya with various projects and with the bulletin boards.

Dina Russell is our wonderful Hospitality Coordinator.  She does a wonderful job of keeping the staff and teachers feeling thanked and appreciated with all the wonderful treats. She also did a wonderful job of putting together our new cookbook fundraiser.  Mrs. Russell was able to get everyone so fired up about the cookbook that we actually ran out of space to run all the recipes contributed! 

Kristin Vigeant has been a true asset to Creech this year.  Mrs. Vigeant recently made and decorated 20 beautiful display posts to the school.  These display posts can be used to display information during community events throughout the year.  The Vigeants graciously donated the time and materials to construct the posts, even personalizing them with the school colors and Creech Comets logo.  The school will be able to use these posts for many different programs throughout the years.  Mrs. Vigeant is also the homeroom parent for Mrs. Knapp.  She has assisted with the fabulous decorations for the first grade’s Fishing for Phonics night, helps with Monday Folders, serves on the Auction committee, and helps in other ways as well.  She contributes her many great ideas for the various events at school.  She is very giving with her time and talent!

Jo Walker has been a dedicated volunteer for many years at Creech.  She can be seen volunteering in many different places throughout the school.  She is a homeroom parent, library volunteer, classroom reader, and Extended Planning Period substitute.  She has helped out with Red Ribbon week, the fall fundraisers, the Teachers’ Feast, and she helps with the Kindergarten Book Bags and Accelerated Readers.   Mrs. Walker is an “all around awesome volunteer. You can find her helping anywhere and everywhere!”

Taking It Up a Notch in December

Karin Greke jumped right in her first year at Creech.  She is one of our wonderful library volunteers.  During her first week of helping in the library, she covered an extra shift and worked two shifts in one day!  She also fills shifts when the library is short-handed.  We appreciate her flexibility and willingness to help.

Jessica Mumey is the coordinator for the Science Enrichment program.  She works very hard at making sure that all the students are able to experience the exciting world of science.  She is responsible for creating the experiments, teaching them to parent volunteers who then teach the classes to all grade levels.  Mrs. Mumey also found time to help with the VIPS Fair, school supplies, school store, the fall party, Gingerbread House Day, the fifth grade play, the fifth grade party, planning for the International Festival, substituting for Extended Period Planning, and acting as the assistant homeroom parent for Mrs. Searle’s fifth grade class.  Mrs. Mumey remains an active volunteer at Creech.

John Nixon is a true all-star.  He stepped up to the plate and took over the truly important job of the PTA’s webmaster.  He spices up the webs-site and keeps all the information up-to-date.  He does all this in his free time from a full-time job, and he does so expecting no recognition.

Beejal Patel is a new Kindergarten mom who so graciously took on the role of the Kindergarten Book Bags chair so that the Kindergarten students could continue with this wonderful program.  We appreciate Mrs. Patel taking on this important task and for helping our younger students enjoy the world of reading.

Michele Schroedter can be seen volunteering and helping in different areas of the school.   Before school even started, she was busy volunteering at new-student registration, the VIPS Fair, and school supplies.  Once school started. Mrs. Schroedter helped with cookie dough fall fundraiser and Gingerbread House Day. She continues to help throughout the school year with Story time stars and Kindergarten book bags.  Mrs. Schroedter is “always flexible and pleasant.”

Taking It Up a Notch in January 2008

Georgia Easterly - Mrs. Easterly has been very hard at work taking, collecting, and compiling pictures of our students and activities and planning page layouts to put into the 2007-2008 Creech yearbook.   She has also been busy this year with the Thanksgiving Feasts,  the cookie dough fund raiser, cocoa for teachers, Kindergarten turkey project, teacher-appreciation breakfast, One-Stop Shopping, First Day Folders, and yearbook distribution. In addition to all her hard work on the yearbook, she also finds time to help with hospitality, classroom reading, extended-period planning, and preparing for the spring party.

Beth Fortier  - Mrs. Fortier is one of our co-coordinators for that School Store.  She helps keep the School Store operating at a fantastic level for the kids, which they love. She is a dedicated Library volunteer, always willing to help when needed, and she is an excellent Home Room parent.  She also helped with covering books, the VIPS Fair, First Day Folders, and school supplies at the beginning of the year.

Dena Nunn – Mrs. Nunn is the PTA’s Vice President of Membership.  She is also in charge of the year-long fundraiser of Market Day.  Mrs. Nunn has helped in many more areas including the teachers’ luncheon, cookie dough delivery, the VIPS Fair, One-Stop Shopping, and check signing.  Mrs. Nunn has also been busy with Biztown, the fifth-grade musical, and the Accelerated Reader program.  She has also been a great asset throughout her years at Creech.  We are so thankful for everything she has done, and we are sad that this will also be her last year at Creech.

Geri Terry –Mrs. Terry is heading up Arts in Education this year.  In an effort to expose students to other cultures and others arts, she has orchestrated several different events and activities, including an essay contest on a person who students believe has changed the world.  Mrs. Terry also coordinated several entertaining and educational programs, including one conducted this week.  She worked very hard on preparing for the International Festival.  Mrs. Terry is also an assistant Home Room Parent. She also helps with the fifth- grade party, Science Enrichment, Market Day, and hospitality.  We are going to miss Mrs. Terry as this is also her last year at Creech.

Michelle Zamora – Mrs. Zamora is the other co-coordinator for the School Store.  She is also the Nominating Committee Chairperson this year. Mrs. Zamora has found time to help with the VIPS Fair, Gingerbread houses, and International Festival. She is a very dedicated volunteer and without her, the School Store would not exist! She loves to help the kids with their purchases, and she keeps the store stocked with wonderful goodies. She is also a wonderful assistant Home Room Parent and will help in all areas whenever needed.

Taking It Up a Notch in February 2008

Robin Early volunteers in all areas of the school and is always more than willing to help.  She is this is this year‘s VP of Volunteers, helping coordinate the volunteers and making sure they are all personally rewarded.  Mrs. Early also helps with Monday morning folders, and is a classroom reader, and helps in the workroom.  She helped with the Financial Audit Committee, Gingerbread House Day, Cookie Dough Fall Fundraiser, delivery of school supplies, and extended period planning.  She also decorated the auction classroom project. She enjoys spending countless hours in other areas as well.

Laura Hoffpauir has really taken it up a notch over the past two months at Creech.  She is always willing to help where needed.  Mrs. Hoffpauir is relatively new to the school but she has shown off her enthusiasm and school spirit to many.  Mrs. Hoffpauir was a co-coordinator for the Sock Hop tickets and is an assistant homeroom parent.  She also helps with Monday Folders and is a classroom reader.  She has also been involved with the class auction project, extended period planning, Gingerbread House Day, brown bag projects, International Festival, and the science lab. She is a “true asset to the Creech PTA.”

Lisa Madrigal stepped at the last minute to fill the Volunteers In Public Schools co-chair position, so she handles the numerous volunteer hours that are submitted each month and more.  She is also an assistant homeroom parent and a co-coordinator for Newcomer Hospitality.  She spent hours making candy sticks for the Sock Hop, and she helped coordinate the cake walk at the Sock Hop as well. Mrs. Madrigal decorated for the Sock Hop and designed and painted the classroom auction project.  She also finds time to be a classroom reader and completes brown bag projects. She was awarded for her being the first VIPS coordinator in the school district to turn in volunteer hours.  She also helped out with Gingerbread House Day and the First Grade Feast.  We are so thankful to have her as part of the PTA.

Kym Pratt has become very involved during her first year at Creech.  She is a Kindergarten Home Room Parent for Mrs. Williams, a library volunteer (picking up extra shifts as well), and a Kindergarten book bag volunteer.  She was on the Book Fair decorating committee, worked the Sock Hop, and is currently part of a team working to bring SPARK bags back to first graders.

Winner of the Volunteer of the Month reserved parking space

She can be seen helping with in the library, Kindergarten book bags, and the computer lab.  Mrs. Pratt helped during the book fair, Gingerbread House Day, Polar Express Day, the Friendship picnic, Kindergarten hearing and vision, and the International Festival.  She has also chaperoned the second grade field trip, helped out during Extended Planning Periods, and she completes brown bag projects as well.  She also won this year’s chili cook off competition.  We are so glad Mrs. Pratt has joined the Creech community.

Julie Wilson dove right in her first year back at Creech and volunteered to be the grade-level coordinator for Kindergarten, so she is responsible for organizing the parents to help with all the fun activities that the homeroom parents help out with during the year.  She worked very hard on coordinating the Kindergarten Fall parties, and she is busy planning the Kindergarten Spring parties.  Mrs. Wilson helped out with Polar Express Day, Gingerbread House Day, Kindergarten Height and Weight, Thanksgiving costumes and the Friendship Feast. Throughout the school year, she also helps out with Kindergarten book bags, the computer lab, as a classroom reader, and with copying and laminating.  Mrs. Wilson is “so sweet and is always there to help Creech”.

Taking It Up a Notch in March 2008

LaDonise Cole is a Kindergarten parent that really dove in her first year at Creech.  Mrs. Cole helps in the library, with Kindergarten book bags, with Biztown, and with various projects for Mrs. Thrash class.  She has also helped with owl pellets, the book fair, the science lab, the Fall party, and Gingerbread House Day.  Mrs. Cole is also a classroom reader.

Winner of the Volunteer of the Month reserved parking space for April

 

Stephanie Faulk is this year’s PTA Parliamentarian.   She is also the chairperson for One Stop Shopping, and she is coordinating this year’s Fifth Grade Celebration.  Mrs. Faulk has spent many hours working on planning, t-shirt sales, and collecting money for the big party. She is also the homeroom parent for Mrs. Sutton’s class. She can be seen helping in the office, with hospitality, with banking, with the Sock Hop and Auction, and anywhere else she is needed. We are sad that this is Mrs. Faulk’s last year at Creech.

Rebecca Kerr is this year’s Vice President of Programs.  She spends a lot of time organizing all the programs and the committees that bring us the extraordinary programs to Creech, including the Buddies not Bullies program.  She also helps out in other areas of the school, including the fall fundraisers, Junior Achievement, Market Day, banking days, science enrichment, teacher appreciation, youth protection, Reflections, extended period planning, and the Sock Hop.  Mrs. Kerr helps with many different things in our school.

Valerie Moderski is this year’s PTA Historian, so she is responsible for photographing and documenting the many great things that happen at Creech.  She chaired the Sock Hop Auction and co-chaired the Sock Hop Raffle Baskets, both of which are huge undertakings.  Mrs. Moderski has also volunteered with the VIPS Fair, first day folders, yearbook sales and distribution, registration, hospitality, workroom, the Fall party, extended period planning, and as a class reader.

Robbie Serrano is also a Kindergarten parent who jumped right in at Creech and started volunteering.  Mrs. Serrano assists in the library and with Kindergarten book bags.  She helped with Gingerbread House Day and helps various projects for Ms. Riviere's class.

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