Tickets may be purchased:
| Thursday, February 23, 7:00 pm | Adult | $8.25 | |
| Friday, February 24, 7:00 pm | Adult | $7.25 | |
| Child | $5.25 |
Questions? Contact mcgintyshannon@hotmail.com .
Sponsored by the Sagamore Hills PTA.
![[Candid photo]](http://sagamorehillspta.org/wp-content/uploads/Presidents-rocking-e1486306544899-1024x391.jpg)
I have volunteered around Sagamore since Pre-K. Those early days were filled with apprehension and were a little lonely. I didn’t know many people, and was looking for way to connect with other parents.
I enjoyed being a Room Parent and when a friend asked me if I might be interested in being PTA President, I said “Yes!” I figured it was a great way to be involved, meet new people and maybe learn a few new things.
As President, I get to help influence events, help the school, learn more about Sagamore, but most importantly for me, I have had a chance to make lasting bonds with people I would not have interacted with. It has made my days at Sagamore such a great joy. I got a chance to add to my resume, with a the time commitment of about 2 hours a week, with a position that was meaningful to me and my kids. Being President isn’t hard, it’s rewarding and I would recommend it to anyone! If you see me smiling at Sagamore, it’s because I have truly have a great time as PTA President!
![[Candid photo]](http://sagamorehillspta.org/wp-content/uploads/2016-2018-Sagamore-PTA-Board-2x-e1486308310409.jpeg)
Firstly, most of our Board members do have a full-time jobs. The time commitment centers around events and has a natural ebb and flow.
Our positions are called Vice Presidents (which can be added onto a resume if you are a stay-at-home parent looking to rejoin the working world someday). The VP each have very specific duties.
Coordinates Open Houses and does PTA memberships and oversees the Room Parents. Rhonda Leake is currently this position and she’s a doctor! Her term is done at the end of the year.
Does the newsletter, oversees the website and oversees the yearbook. Dave Barker is currently in this position and says he’s got some folks ready to help with the website stuff if you are worried about that!
Does the Fall fundraiser, one spring auction over 2 years and one spring fundraiser, They over see boxtops and school store. Rachel Conrad, attorney, has been doing this position. She challenges you to beat her numbers!
Does our bookkeeping. This real life skill keeps our PTA running. Michelle Shevlin has kept us on budget. Her term is up at the end of the year,
Oversees the VPs and signs contracts, answers emails, check requests and runs the monthly PTA meetings. There is a 2 President system, so you are never alone and someone is always there to help. Shannon Spillett’s time is up at the end of the year. She would like you to try it! It’s not hard! REALLY! Weatherly Polinski will continue on as PTA President for another year to help the new President learn and get ready to lead.
Just when we thought our partnership with Emory couldn’t get any better, they invite us to join them in hosting a third event during the MLK holiday. In our truly unique “Sagamory” fashion (yes, our relationship has evolved to the point of earning a moniker or “SHIP” name) we turned a contemplative day off from school into a day full-ON with service. Having it honor the memory of one of Atlanta’s own, the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., made it more monumental. Sagamore families came out in droves again working elbow to elbow, with shovels, rakes, brooms, leaf blowers, wheel barrels, wagons and lawn bags in hand, loading, spreading, filling and moving in one accord. Emory matched our numbers by bringing their fiercely energetic Field Hockey and Jiu Jitsu teams along with the illustrious ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated-Nu Alpha Chapter. The weather even demonstrated signs of divine intervention by sprinkling us with rays of sunshine in lieu of rain drops. All we needed was the tune of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” softly playing in the background to take this day from fantastic to Over-The-Top. Instead, the Conrad and Karlowicz families pleasantly surprised our famished and parched crew with donations of a delicious assortment of Cheryl’s Cookies and bottled waters. With renewed energy, the Emory students firmly embraced their inner child and thrilled our students with “parent approved” high-speed wagon rides. As everyone reconvened in front of the school for a commemorative group picture and farewells, whispers of satisfaction filled the air followed by hopeful inquiries and promises of future partnerships. A dream conceived over fifty years ago lives on thanks to Emory and Sagamore.
Special Thanks:
Volunteer Emory • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.-Nu Alpha Chapter • Aria Desai & Family • Marin Karlowicz & Family • Mary Lawton Jones & Family • Laura Durbin and Family • Aiden & Sydney Conrad & Family • Henry & Charlie Farrell & Family • Kate, Elise and Maggie Bohm and Family • Caroline Chrystall & Family • Sarah Schied and Family • Hannah and Sadie Strohl and Family • Quinn Douglass and Family • Owen and Violet Flake & Family • Shane and Olivia Spillett • Ansley & Grady Ackert & Family • Gavin Messer & Family
Mrs. Tasha L. J. Messer
Edible Schoolyard Academy Alumnae 2016
Monarchs Across Georgia Certified
Captain Planet Project Learning Garden Liaison
Bachelors of Arts in Sociology
IRR SE Paraprofessional
Sagamore Hills Elementary School
1865 Alderbrook Road
Atlanta, GA 30345
678-874-7502
tasha_l_messer@dekalbschoolsga.org
From Tasha Messer, Sagamore Hills Elementary School Paraprofessional and parent volunteer:
As we entered this past holiday season, Volunteer Emory participants joined us for their annual Emory Cares International Service Day. Quoting their alumni association’s website, “Emory Cares International Service Day unites alumni, students, staff, faculty, parents, and friends to give back to their local communities. By bringing together diverse members of Emory’s community with a common goal of service, Emory Cares strengthens the bond with each other and the University, and increases Emory’s visibility around the world.”
Under the direction of Volunteer Emory staff member Phuong Tran, and fine leadership of Emory student’s: Xavier, Lauren, and Nived; their large and lively bus load of student volunteers arrived. Included in the group were members of the Bengali Association for Students at Emory (BASE) and Kappa Sigma (ΚΣ) fraternity. Their already enthusiastic faces brightened up even more once they saw the adorable mini Emory t-shirts worn by Sagamore students with alumni as parents. This ethereal meeting of Emory’s past, present and future created a simpatico moment. After THEY…shared their admiration of another creative sign made by the talented hands of Sagamore student’s; and WE…offered our sincere gratitude for another generous donation of supplies from them; EVERYONE…separated into their teams and got straight to work! The mission, that everyone had chosen to accept, was to make Sagamore’s campus look fabulous as we transitioned into the Fall and Winter seasons.
Throughout the day community members from all walks of life, including Emory graduates across generations, popped in to lend a hand of support. Seeing and hearing the connections being made with one another in this natural environment, all while accomplishing a common goal, was pleasing. The sheer number of individuals meticulous caring for our school on this day revealed to anyone passing by that this was truly a special place. The honks, smiles, and waves of support were immeasurable and a friendly reminder of the good we were doing. Before we knew it, neighboring homeowners all around us were out beautifying their yards as well…action begetting action!
Sagamore students were not only hard workers but gracious host as well. They made it their duty to personally hand out water bottles to refresh our volunteers. This gesture, of course, was followed by many appreciative “AWES”. As groups completed their task, a few managed to squeeze in enough time for a quick game of soccer. Watching the Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers revisit their youth and just be free-spirited children again was a joyful sight to see. There was only one reported “boo-boo” that needed bandaging; thank you Phuong for holding back the tears like a big girl. This was all followed by the entire Emory team convening for their usual moment of reflection. These poignant words…”Fulfilled”, “INVIGORATED”, “Helpful”, “De-Stressed”, and “SATISFIED” summarized their feelings about the day. The ultimate finale was Emory Project Leader, Xavier Sayeed, keeping his promise to race a few eagerly awaiting Sagamore students…it was a tie! With over 100 Home Depot Lawn and Refuse Bags filled to capacity, EVERYBODY was a winner that day!
Presently, Sagamore Hills Elementary School has demonstrated exemplary dedication to service in our community. As a result, Emory has invited us to join them in honoring the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s memory with another day of service on our school campus. We, in turn, are inviting our entire Sagamore Hills Elementary School family (Faculty, Staff and ALL Club Members) to come out in support this effort. Please contact both Taylor Ackert (taylor@ackert.net) and Tasha Messer (tasha_messer@dekalbschoolsga.org) if you plan to attend.
Emory & SHES-MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 16, 2017
12:00 pm-3:00 pm
*Sagamore Hills Elementary Schools’ campus
Honorable mention for attendance at the 2016 Emory Cares International Service Day goes out to the following:
Mrs. Tasha L. J. Messer
Edible Schoolyard Academy Alumnae 2016
Monarchs Across Georgia Certified
Captain Planet Project Learning Garden Liaison
Bachelors of Arts in Sociology
IRR SE Paraprofessional
Sagamore Hills Elementary School
1865 Alderbrook Road
Atlanta, GA 30345
678-874-7502
tasha_l_messer@dekalbschoolsga.org
A strong, successful school depends on volunteers in many roles, large and small. Please check our Volunteer page to see how you can help out. There are numerous opportunities with the school or the PTA that can accommodate a busy schedule.
By Tasha Messer, Sagamore Hills Elementary School Paraprofessional
Emory Truly Cares About Sagamore
(To the tune of the Ghostbuster’s theme song by Ray Parker Jr.)
If you need some work…done at your school.
Who you gonna call?
VOLUNTEER EMORY!
(instrumental)
They ain’t afraid of no work!
Just a few weeks into the busy 2016-2017 school year, Sagamore Hills Elementary School hosted another Volunteer Emory-First Years’ Welcoming Day of Service. Sagamore Citizen’s from all grade levels showed up in support of this meaningful event. As the Emory Student’s bus drove in, they were pleasantly greeted by a welcome sign adorned with the precious handprints and signatures of many Sagamore students. The delightful look of astonishment on their faces further fueled their already helping spirits. They, in turn, surprised us with a generous donation of gardening and groundskeeping supplies.
Shortly after this exchange was made; five separate teams, assigned to designated areas in need of immediate attention, went to work in our schools’ gardens and grounds. We did the usual… lawn mowing, leaf blowing, weed whacking, pine cone, leaf and litter collecting; and the unusual…grass sweeping. It took the brilliant mind of one of Emory’s own to come up with this effective yet humorous technique. There were moments where adults and children alike took a break, or two, or three, or four to use whatever method of cooling suited their needs. A thirst quenching swig if water… AHHH; a head cooling wipe of the brow… PHEWWW; or a quick run of the leaf blower through the hair… WHOOOSH! By the end of the day’s events; we had accomplished all the goals set out on our workday checklist. We even managed to satisfy some things from our personal To-Do lists as well… EXERCISE (for the week)…check!
All joking aside; one of the most memorable moments was hearing the Emory students share their thoughts on the experience during their reflection discussion. Our outdoor classroom was the perfect backdrop for this intimate and enlightening conversation to unfold. When asked to describe how the experience made them feel; the words EMPOWERED, Respectful and Helpful were uttered. Tears welled up in many of the Emory student’s eyes from the emotional connection they made. Everyone went away from the day feeling fulfilled knowing that we impacted the community in some small way.
A special THANK YOU is owed to both our Kindergarten and First Grade teaching teams for their donations of hand and facial cleansing supplies.
Now, if reading about this event has let you yearning to lend a helping hand… you’re in luck! Sagamore Hills Elementary School is honored to host the Volunteer Emory group again for their larger-scale Emory Cares International Service Day. Please mark your calendars, and plan to join us, for this upcoming event. The details are as follows:
EMORY CARES DAY
LOCATION: Sagamore Hills Elementary School
DATE: Saturday, November 12th
TIME: 12:00pm-3:00pm
*All students must be accompanied by an adult
Mrs. Tasha L. J. Messer
Edible Schoolyard Academy Alumnae 2016
Monarchs Across Georgia Certified
Captain Planet Project Learning Garden Liaison
Bachelors of Arts in Sociology
IRR SE Paraprofessional
Sagamore Hills Elementary School
1865 Alderbrook Road
Atlanta, GA 30345
678-874-7502
tasha_l_messer@dekalbschoolsga.org
Saturday, November 5th, 2016
10:30am
The 5k is a PEACHTREE QUALIFIER! Runners Fit Race Works will be timing the race, and the course is USATF certified.
Open to the public, the 5 kilometer race begins in front of Sagamore Hills Elementary, goes through the neighborhood, and ends on the track behind the school. All registrants will receive a commemorative t-shirt. All proceeds benefit Sagamore Hills Elementary.
Register on RunSignUp.com or fill out a paper registration to save the processing fee.
PLEASE NOTE: We are not able to give refunds for registration fees. You have the option to transfer your registration to another participant. We do not charge transfer fees.
Free to all registrants and available for purchase, the 100% cotton commemorative Día de Los Muertos t-shirt features the 2016 sugar skull design. All proceeds benefit Sagamore Hills Elementary.
Cost is Free!
11:30am
One mile run for children 13 and under. Everyone who finishes receives a skull necklace.
Skull Sprint Registration Form
We need volunteers along the 5K route and to help students with crafts at the tables during the festival.
10:30am–12:30pm
The festival will include a mariachi band, sugar skull face painting, holiday traditions, as well as other fun activities and crafts. Cost is free!
Taqueria el Vecino will be on site offering food for purchase.
Learn about the holiday that inspires this Sagamore Hills Elementary School PTA event.
ddlm@sagamorehillspta.org404-985-8151 (Kellei Johnstone)Learn about this Sagamore Hills Elementary PTA fall fundraiser…
Ask any Sagamore Hills Elementary School family, or keep an eye out for students this fall visiting your door or selling them at local businesses.
Good through July, 2020.
| %15 off | Cafe Bombay | |
|---|---|---|
| Thai Chili | ||
| Taqueria el Vecino | Except on Taco Tuesdays | |
| Sprig | Dine in only, excludes alcohol | |
| %10 off | Dragon Palace | |
| The Grove | ||
| EATaliano Kitchen | ||
| Willy’s Mexicana Grill (2566 Briarcliff Rd & 2074 N Decatur Rd) | Not valid w/ other promotions or catering | |
| Grub Burger Bar (2470 Briarcliff Rd) | ||
| Free | Tazikis Mediterranean Cafe | Kds eat FREE Tuesdays and Thursdays w/adult purchase |
| Chick-Fil-A (2340 N Druid Hills Rd) | Sandwich with purchase of any Value Size Meal. | |
| Mo’s Pizza | Soft drink with each meal purchased | |
| Oak Grove Market | Gallon of lemonade or tea with purchase of Meal in a Minute for 4 @ regular price | |
| Burritos | Moe’s Southwest Grill (2484 Briarcliff Rd) | $5 for all burritos on the menu |
| %20 off | Video Impact | Video transfers to DVD or digital file |
|---|---|---|
| %15 off | Pinckard & Morgan Cleaners | In-store & home delivery |
| %10 off | Vanessa Munsch Photography | 10% off full session package |
| Queenie’s Consignment | ||
| The Stress therapist | One free meditation class for 2-5 people. | |
| BISHOPS | 20% off any hair service | |
Community Building at its FINEST!
From Tasha Messer,
Sagamore Hills Elementary School Paraprofessional
and parent volunteer
As you approach our school you will notice that our gardens and grounds look more beautiful than ever! Their amazingly fresh appearance is largely due to the tireless efforts of a small group of student, parent, community member, business partner, and staff volunteers. Under the direction of Mrs. Messer, Paraprofessional at Sagamore Hills Elementary School, these individuals embarked on a summer-long gardening adventure!
Initially, they were requested to attend to our S.T.E.M. Learning Garden (located in the courtyard) and the, recently installed, Captain Planet Project Learning Garden (located outside the exterior doors of the cafeteria). The maintenance of both required a rigorous amount of watering, weeding and harvesting during extremely hot and humid weather conditions. Although a daunting task at times, they stayed the course.
As things began to grow abundantly, the team was asked to expand their scope to include the upkeep of the school grounds as a whole. They replied with a resounding YES, adding an extra layer of responsibilities to their list of things to do. The new tasks now included mowing the lawns, weed eating edges, raking leaves, trimming hedges, bagging twigs, blowing away debris and litter collection. They had made it up in their minds that Sagamore Hills would not only hold the title of dual certified S.T.E.M school but look the part as well!
Their greatest source of motivation came from the simple pleasure of knowing that they were helping the school BE MORE! The gratitude displayed by school administration and maintenance staff was uplifting. However, the outpouring of compliments from surrounding community members was enough to evoke an emotion in any humble spirit. They were truly the wind beneath our wings.
The pièces de résistance were the construction of the Green House and the completion of the Captain Planet Project Learning Garden (CPPLG) Revitalization Project. Mr. Mark Bollinger and his family-team committed three days to installing our adult-size, high tech greenhouse. Its S.T.E.M.-iest features are the nitroglycerin lifts that enable the vents to open and close automatically as temperatures dictate.
Mr. Alexis Carbajal volunteered his time to, single handedly, professionally pressure wash and paint the badly peeling doors, windows and vents on the wall facing the Captain Planet Project Learning Garden. To make it more aesthetically pleasing, he even pressure washed the sidewalks as well. Thankfully, he had the moral support of his family including Mama Carbajal visiting all the way from Uruguay! They joined him every evening and weekend making for a delightful display of work-play moments.
In honor of The Sherwin-Williams Company 150-Year Anniversary; Mr. Bear Brown, Store Manager of the Shamrock Plaza location, donated ten gallons of paint and heavily discounted the cost of the remaining supplies needed to complete the painting project. The retail value for those items would have exceeded $900! After discounts were calculated, Mrs. Taylor generously contributed the lesser balance due for those supplies.
During this tremendous effort 760 water rotations were completed, hundreds of weeds were pulled, 78 bags of debris were collected and hauled, many unusual insects were discovered and countless bug bites were endured. It’s exhausting just recapping it all.
A very special Thank You must be extended to the following students and their families for dedicating time during their summer break to volunteer service hours to our school. They truly embody the Be MORE motto by Doing MORE!
Acker (4th) • Alvarez-Ramos (3rd, 5th) • Baldwin (2nd, 4th) • Carbajal (4th) • Douglas (1st) • Helander (2nd) • Jones (2nd) • Karlowicz (1st) • Lake (3rd) • Martinez (2nd) • McMahan (kindergarten, 5th) • Meeks (1st) • Messer (2nd) • Perlmutter (pre-k, 3rd) • Rodriguez-Nava (5th) • Sanders (1st) • Shevlin (kindergarten, 2nd, 4th)
As the sun brightly shone and the birds sweetly sang on, what seemed to be, another beautiful day at Sagamore Hills Elementary School; catastrophe was amidst! That dastardly Captain Pollution had struck again, wreaking havoc on the school’s delightful Captain Planet Project Learning Garden (CPPLG). He had literally trashed the area. Teachers, Parents and Students alike gasped at the unsightly mess, asking questions and making statements like, “What happened here?” “Oh my gosh, who did this?” “Somebodies in trouble!” and, “It wasn’t me!” All of this chaos on the morning of…FIELD DAY!
At any other ordinary elementary school Captain Pollution’s plot may have spoiled the day’s activities. However, Sagamore Hills was an extraordinary school! A S.T.E.M. Certified school to be exact! Academically armed with the best critical thinking, problem solving, design focusing students and teachers around. Conjuring the five PLANETEER powers of Heart, Earth, Fire, Rain and Wind the students, dubbed honorary Planeteers, went to work. They formed teams and came up with a perfectly fun solution to the problem Captain Pollution caused…. a “Trash Collecting Relay Race”…it was GENIUS! In no time flat there was not a remnant of trash left.
Once calm was regained, everyone took a moment to tour the Captain Planet Project Learning Garden in its renewed state of beauty. Reminiscing on how the 5th Graders designed it as their legacy and; many other grade levels filled its beds with delicious vegetables to harvest and pollinator plants to ensure future growth. Thanks to the combined powers of S.T.E.M. and Captain Planet lovely lessons would continue to blossom in this rich learning garden for years to come.
Villains BEWARE…you are no match for the big brilliant minds at Sagamore Hills Elementary School!
