John Swett Elementary School PTA
November Newsletter
President's Message
From the President
As we creep up into some cooler weather I hope you are able to find some time to pause and enjoy the crisp air. As family life starts ramping up, our PTA events are ramping down a smidge to provide some balance to our community life.
As I was getting my hair cut the other day, my stylist asked me, "I want to get involved, but I'm not a crafty, creative thinking type. What do people who stink at PTA type things do? I don't even know where to start at my kids' school!" And I realized that you might be feeling the same way and wondering the same thing.
What I told her is: There is a spot for everyone. If you haven't been involved in PTA it can be hard to see past the overwhelming roles (that you have no interest in filling, and that is ok) to see the people behind the scenes who are just as much a part of making this machine run. Sometimes it just means reaching out and letting us know a little more about yourself, and the people who are in deep can easily find a good starting point for you! Email me or fill out this form. It isn't a commitment, just an inquiry.
I am so thankful that so many of us are invested in making JSE a magical place. I love that we are already seeing the fruit of a community coming together for the good of our kids. October was great! I expect no less from November :) Much gratitude for all of YOU!
Courtnie Jensen
president@jsepta.com
October PTA Activities Recap
π We Had Spooky Fun In October! π§‘ π€
Following the tremendous success of our Fun Run, which raised an impressive $76,581.20 in total school profit, our Roadrunner community continued to show its spirit and come together in support of JSE!
Families, students and the community joined forces to help build our schoolβs Odysseus themed float for the Alhambra High School Homecoming Parade down Main Street. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed their time and creativity, with a special shout-out to the dedicated committee who brought the float to life!
Our community came together once again to make JSEβs first official Carnoween fundraiser a spooky, magical success! From creative, funny, and frightfully good costumes to exciting games, sweet treats, and plenty of Halloween scares, the evening was full of fun and frights!
A huge thank you to all our volunteers who helped make the event possible, and an extra special thank you to the Carnoween committee for their countless hours of planning, coordination, and hard work. These events are a wonderful reminder of what makes the JSE community so special. We couldnβt do it without you, Roadrunners!
We also saw and celebrated Latinx Heritage with Leyendas de Duende β Magical Tales of Latin America, a bilingual performance that celebrated Latinx and Hispanic heritage, folklore, and mythology. This was one of two assemblies by Boxtail Theater Company, brought to us by our awesome Cultural Committee!
It's never too late to JOIN:
Walk N Roll
Walk N Roll Halloween Special Charms for all participants who walk, roll or carpool to school on Wednesday October 28th. Reminder itβs never too late to register, find our school page at www.walknrolltoschool.org and use your students four digit number on their Walk N Roll tag to register your distance and mode of travel. Have fun and keep track of the impact you are having in our community!
Help do you part to reduce traffic, improve the environment, and provide our children with a safe and active childhood, plus you get to hang out with a really awesome group of parents.
Contact walknroll@jsepta.com to join our crew!
Sign Up Here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0449A9A72BA3FAC16-62317129-walk#/
Get Inspired:
Easy Fundraising Opportunity
πͺπ 4th Grade Penny Drive! ππͺ
Itβs time to dig into those piggy banks and help support our 4th graders! π
Throughout the month of November, bring in your pennies, coins, or dollar bills to help raise money for the 4th Grade Overnight Field Trip to Coloma! ποΈπ²
Every coin counts, and your support helps make this special experience possible for our students. ππ
π And thereβs a little friendly competition!
The winning grade level will take home the GRAND PRIZE! π
So start collecting those coins and letβs see which grade can bring in the most!
Letβs go Roadrunners! π¦ππ
π§ββοΈπ Missoula Is Coming Back to JSE! ππ§ββοΈ
Weβre excited to announce that Missoula Childrenβs Theatre will be returning this February with The Little Mermaid! ππβ¨
Weβre looking for a couple of generous JSE families who would be willing to host the TWO directors during the week of the play.
π Housing Dates:
Sunday, January 31 β Sunday, February 7, 2027
Hosting is a wonderful way to support this special experience for our students! ππ
Interested in hosting?
Please reach out to:
π§ missoula@jsepta.com
What does hosting involve?
Hosts are simply asked to provide:
- ποΈ A private room with a door
- πΏ Access to a bathroom
- π§ Access to a refrigerator
Hosts are NOT responsible for providing meals or feeding the director.
The hosting families will get up to 4 FREE tickets to each show (Friday and Saturday) plus reserved seating for those 4 tickets AND a saved parking spot. π«
More information will be shared as we get closer to the event.
Thank you for helping us make Missoula possible for our Roadrunners! πππ
Family Movie Night
Save The Date - Friday December 11th @ 6pm
Get ready to snuggle up for a cozy night of holiday fun at John Swett Elementary! Join us on Friday, December 11th, at 6:00 PM for a special family movie night featuring the holiday favorite Elf! π§π
Bring the whole family and get comfortable for a fun-filled evening with Buddy the Elf! Whether you're a longtime fan or watching this Christmas classic for the first time, it's the perfect opportunity to relax, share some laughs, and enjoy time together with our JSE community.
π§£ Get cozy! Bring your favorite blankets, pillows, and lawn chairs so you can settle in and enjoy the show in comfort. Feel free to wear your favorite holiday pajamas or festive gear to make the evening even more fun! π β¨
π
When: Friday, December 11th
β° Time: 6:00 PM
π Where: John Swett Elementary (JSE)
π₯ Featured Movie: Elf
β¨ More details coming soon β we can't wait to see you there! πΏπ
Food Drive
Join us in making a difference!
November 9β18
Letβs come together as a school community to help those in need! During our food drive, we invite all Roadrunner families to donate non-perishable food items to support the Contra Costa Food Bank or Contra Costa County!
π₯« Most-Needed Items
Peanut butter
Canned tuna
Rice
Pasta
Whole-grain cereals
Canned vegetables
Canned fruit
Canned soup
Non-perishable, ready-to-eat meals (such as ravioli and chili)
π« NO GLASS CONTAINERS, PLEASE!
π¦ Where to Donate
Students: Drop off donations in the collection bins inside the school entrance.
Parents: Donations may be dropped off in the school office.
Every donation counts! Thank you for helping our Roadrunner community spread kindness, support local families, and make a differenceβone can at a time! ππ
Spring Family Event
Dance, Derby Cars, Dodgeball, Bingo???
Teacher Treats
Our teachers are the backbone of our school, lets shower them with treats
Let's show the JSE staff some LOVE by providing them with treats / snacks once per month
in 2026-27! Please review the available slots at Signup Genius and click to sign up. Healthy
snacks like fruit, yogurt, granola, carrots, celery, hummus, bubbly waters, etc. are
welcomed!
You can drop off your snack with Lori Martin in the office on your assigned day.
We're so fortunate to have such amazing teachers and staff!!! If you have any questions,
please reach out to Tamra, at teachertreats@jsepta.com
Let's go Roadrunners!
Sign Up Here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CADA628ABFECE9-64302379-teacher#/
Stay Up to Date: Social Media
Multicultural Events
πππ Celebrate Our JSE Community! πππ
Do you love celebrating the vibrant and multicultural community that makes John Swett so special? Weβd love for you to join the PTA Cultural Events Committee!
There are lots of ways to get involvedβwhether youβd like to help plan a celebration, share a special tradition or cultural experience, or simply lend a hand on the day of an event. Every contribution helps us create meaningful opportunities for our students and families to learn, connect, and celebrate one another. ππ
Your time is flexible! We can work with your schedule and offer both remote and in-person volunteer opportunities.
Want to be part of the fun? Weβd love to have you!
π§ Contact us: culturalevents@jsepta.com
Letβs celebrate what makes our JSE community unique! ππππ
PTA Meeting Nov 17th @ 7pm
Join Us!
Our mission is to build a connected, inclusive JSE community where every child and family feels supported, valued, and empowered. We do this by fostering meaningful relationships, advocating for equity, taking action to meet community needs, and raising funds that enhance opportunities for all students.
We lead with belonging, collaboration, listening, and accountability because we believe lasting impact begins with a community that works together.
But why should you come? First of all, as a member of this community, you are valued. And while new places (and sometimes old places) can be intimidating or carry negative connotations, this is THE first hand place for information. Events, budgets, voting for leadership. Our PTA brings SO much to the JSE community, but it also TAKES a community. This is where your voice is best heard. Attendance to our meetings is NOT a commitment to volunteer or to be roped in. But we do hope you find inspiration to find a place you are excited to support and plug into.
Mark your Calendar
Don't Forget!
- 11/1 Daylight Savings
- 11/11 No School
- 11/9 - 11/18 Food Drive
- 11/17 PTA Meeting
- 11/23 - 11/27 Thanksgiving Break No School
- 12/11 Family Movie Night
Checking out our online calendar is also a great way to stay up to date on what is going on!
John Swett Elementary PTA
Follow us on Instagram: jseptaroadrunners
or facebook: John Swett PTA Facebook Page
Email: president@jsepta.com
Website: www.jsepta.com
Communications: communications@jsepta.com