PTA

Thanks to the generosity of the WAB community, the Chengdu City Orphanage has recently received hundreds of much needed nappies and boxes of baby formula. The PTA Charity Committee responded to an urgent request from the orphanage, which received 400 additional orphans as a result of the earthquake. Special thanks to WAB's Korean community, which raised 5,000 RMB for this relief effort. In addition, the PTA Spring Bookfair raised 2,000 RMB and the PTA Fun Fair/Rock in the Park Silent Auction raised 34,600 RMB for earthquake relief. Liz Durkin reports on the PTA's relief efforts and offers thanks on behalf of the orphanage director.

During the last week of school, PTA Place (ES) will be open for extended hours in order to allow time for parents and students to buy last minute WAB-ware and gifts. Stop by between 8:30am - 3:10pm on Wednesday June 11 or Thursday June 12, or between 8:30am - 12:00pm on Friday June 13. Take advantage of this last opportunity of the school year to purchase a colorful Fuwa/WAB T-shirt, kid-sized WAB ballcap, peasant poster, WAB pillow and blanket, Fuwa mug or any of the other fun new items in stock.

In appreciation for the wonderful support of our parent volunteers, the school invites all parent volunteers to a thank you breakfast on Wednesday June 4 in the Lotus Lounge (ES). WAB is keen to recognize all of your hard work and to thank all parents for their contributions, big or small. The breakfast begins at 8:00am, in order to ensure that teachers have the opportunity to express their appreciation for room parents and other volunteers. A formal thank you will be presented around 8:45am, after which parents are invited to linger over their breakfast. Please RSVP by emailing Katharine Mitchell at kmitchell@wab.edu.

The PTA's new WAB blanket is perfect for cuddling up with on long plane rides, unfolding for a summertime picnic or bundling up with on an overnight camping adventure.

Have you always fancied the folksy peasant paintings of WAB hung around campus? Prints of these fabulous campus images are now available in the PTA Shops! The images are also available in sets of gift cards.

Fuwa mugs now available in the PTA Shops!

Despite the heat, the PTA Fun Fair and Rock in the Park were a huge success this year, bringing together the whole school WAB community for a day of celebration and charitable giving. The PTA Charity Committee will allocate proceeds from Saturday's event for various earthquake relief efforts in Sichuan province. Many thanks to all who contributed, performed, volunteered, set-up and enjoyed...the day truly embodied the WAB spirit and sense of community.

Thank you to all Room Parents, PTA Place and JingXi Place volunteers, Charity Committee and all of you who have helped in any way, big or small, during the year. We’re looking forward to another year of activities in our community! The PTA seeks volunteers for the 2008/2009 school year in several areas, ranging from Room Parents to PTA Shop coordinators.

Book lovers young and old meandered among the stacks last Friday at the PTA Spring Book Fair. The PTA teamed up with the ES Library this year to hold its first whole school spring fair. Over the course of the one day sale, more than 100,000 RMB worth of books were sold! "The general feel of a Whole School Book Fair was very nice," said Annette Arbenz, PTA Book Fair Coordinator. "The sale was also very beneficial for MS students, with whole classes coming over to the ES to browse and purchase book."

Many, many thanks to everyone who has contributed blankets, tracksuits, other clothing and baby items to the PTA's collection for earthquake relief. If you'd like to help the PTA Charity Committee sort and box items, please contact Liz Durkin at liz_durkin@hotmail.com.