Can you believe this is the last Friday Five of 2024?

As we approach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude for your support and involvement in making this school year a success. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, or any other special tradition, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful holiday season.

This time of year offers an opportunity to reflect on the many ways we can come together, embrace the spirit of kindness, and celebrate our diverse traditions. We are thankful for the vibrant community we have built together and look forward to all that we will accomplish in the coming year.

Warmest wishes for happiness, health, and warmth throughout the winter season!

With gratitude,
Ms. Bolasky

OMAPalooza is THIS TUESDAY!! Come experience some holiday cheer!! ⛄⭐🎄🕎🎅

SHOW DATE: Tues Dec 17 3:20 pm (See flyer)

PLEASE keep in mind your child will need to be picked up and supervised between 2:45- 3:20. There will be no supervision provided by the school during that time.

Right now the weather is looking really nice for next Tuesday! Mid 70s! Yay! Red Hughes T-shirts are great, but we also invite students to wear any festive shirts or hats (no blinking things, please!). ALSO - once the sun goes down behind the building, it does get cool in the courtyard. So wear LONG PANTS and bring jackets for sure that day 🙂

SOME chairs will be set up, but you are welcome to bring your own chairs and blankets. And wearing your own festive items is encouraged, but not required 🙂 Let's get in the holiday spirit!! ⛄⭐🎄🕎🎅

PLEASE use my OMA Website! https://sites.google.com/tusd1.org/hughesoma/oma-home

All the songs and music are up on the website to PRACTICE for OMAPalooza!! Yay! 🎶🎺🎄📯⛄🎷🎶

You can email me at sara.gascho@tusd1.org with any questions/concerns.

Festively yours,

Ms. Gascho

Thank you PTA for sponsoring this wonderful tradition! We appreciate your support in making this CREW memory!!!

SAM HUGHES ELEMENTARY

presents the 2nd Annual

POLAR EXPRESS MOVIE DAY!

This will be a school wide movie day, please contact Ms. Bolasky at Kathryn.bolasky@tusdd1.org if you don’t want your child to participate.

• Polar Express Movie is rated G

• Your child may come to school dressed in their pajamas. Students need to wear shoes, so no slippers please.
• Our students will enjoy some popcorn while watching the movie.

Ceramic ornaments and wall-hanging decorations are on their way! All students kindergarten through 5th grade hand-glazed their ceramic pieces and then their work was fired in a kiln located in our school’s basement. These works of art are all one-of-a kind and very creative! For more details email: Meghan.Korman@tusd1.org

Ms. Cota and Ms. Gariepy's Kinder classes got to meet some of the red wrigglers from our school worm bin this week! Here they are looking to see the segments that help the earthworms move.

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We’re thrilled to announce that thanks to our CREW’s efforts, this year's Spell-a-thon was a fantastic success, raising $14,000! Congratulations to Mrs. Jackson's class for winning the class prize, and a big shoutout to Nora M and Luciano T. for being our top individual fundraisers!

Prize Distribution Update: We apologize for the delay, but please know that prizes, including experience rewards, will now be organized and distributed after the holiday break in January. Stay tuned for specific details on when and how these prizes will be awarded.

Our PTA's contributions make it possible to provide enriching experiences at Sam Hughes, from educational field trips and classroom resources to arts and STEM activities, as well as our special family literacy night.

Thank you to all students who participated and made this event a resounding success. We appreciate your hard work and look forward to celebrating with you in January!

he Chuck Wagon Festival on March 1st is a cherished tradition at Sam Hughes, and we urgently need more volunteers to ensure the event can go ahead. This festival is not just fun—it's am incredible community-building opportunity featuring games, food, and entertainment.

Here’s How You Can Help:

• Join the Planning Committee:
• Email us at SamHughesChuckWagon@gmail.com if you’re interested in making this amazing event happen.
• We will have weekly gatherings at Borderlands Brewery beginning in January.
• Volunteer for the Event: Whether you have a lot of time or just a little, every bit of help counts.
• Please sign up here - your involvement is crucial in keeping one of Tucson’s longest-standing traditions alive!
• For more details about the event, visit our Chuck Wagon Festival page.

Let’s work together to continue this amazing tradition—it won’t be possible without you!

Welcome to the Sam Hughes PTA Grant Program! With the incredible support from our fundraising efforts, we are excited to offer grants to teachers, students, parents, and community members. These grants are designed to bring your innovative ideas to life, enriching our school and community.

Key Details & Project Eligibility:

• Application and Full Guidelines: Sam Hughes PTA Grant Submission Form
• Submission Deadline: January 31st, 2025
• Qualified Projects: Must benefit at least one classroom or similar student grouping, such as curriculum enhancements, classroom technology, or enrichment activities.
• Non-Qualified Projects: Vague proposals, projects needing ongoing external coordination, or those without detailed plans.
• Who Can Apply?
• Teachers with creative classroom ideas
• Students eager to make an impact
• Parents with visions for school improvement
• Community members passionate about supporting education

A BIG thank you to our PTA Grant Program Chair, Robyn Fleming, and committee members Jayme Berge, Rebecca Karmondy, and Katherine Handley for their dedication and effort in managing this program!

For any questions or to discuss your project idea, please reach out to the PTA Grant Committee at samhughespta@gmail.com.

Let's help our CREW continue to create and grow together. We can’t wait to see what ideas you'll bring to our community!

Welcome to the 24-25 school year! OUR PTA board is:

Rose Hagood, President

Raquel Salgado, Vice President

Elizabeth McDonnell, Treasurer

Olivia Alicea Secretary

Come to a PTA Meeting!

The Sam Hughes PTA meets about once a month. In an effort to reach more families we will be alternating between morning and evening meetings- please see schedule below!

PTA meetings are a great way to meet other parents and stay on top of everything happening at school. Kiddos are welcome to come along! At meetings we plan events and keep everyone up to date on the latest news. Families are encouraged to give feedback and ask questions.

2024-25 Meeting Schedule

January 16, 2025 - 6:00PM in the Library

February 11, 2025 - 7:45-8:45AM in the Library

April 22, 2025 - 6:00PM in the Library

May 14, 2025 - 7:45-8:45AM in the Library

Come on down - we'd love to see you!

• 17th OMAPalooza- Show will start at 3:20pm in the Courtyard
• 20th No School Grading Day
• 23rd- Jan 3rd No School Winter Break