Letter from the President
As the school year and my 4th and final year as President comes to an end I would like to welcome the new board and wish them the best of luck next year. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the numerous volunteers who stepped up to the plate to chair a PTSO committee.
I am thankful for everybody’s support over these past four years that I have served as President of the Potomac Falls High School P.T.S.O. I would like to recognize two individuals that were instrumental in my successes over the last year. These individuals are Sheri Walden and my wife, Kathy Tulloch. Most people don’t know this but I had a major stroke a year ago May and subsequently had another stroke after that. During my time of recovery Sheri made sure that everything was taken care of, without fail. She included me in every discussion and decision. She made sure everything ran smoothly in my absence and I did not have to worry about anything. She has been a god send during this term; I will be forever grateful for her dedication, the time spent away from her family, and the respect she has shown me during this trying time. I would also like to thank my family for their support. My wife, Kathy, always made sure I was supported on the home front and in fulfilling my P.T.S.O. duties. I have but one simple thing to say to her… Kathy, I love you. I would sincerely like to thank my family, as well as these two women, from the bottom of my heart; I greatly appreciate all the passion, dedication, and charisma they have added to the P.T.S.O.
To the class of 2012, I would like to wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors. May you always remember your times at Potomac Falls High School and call upon them regularly in your life. Remember that the Potomac Falls community is always a safe haven to you and yours, and supports you in all that you do. Life is an adventure; live each day to the fullest, cherish those who mean the most to you, let go of those who doubt you, seek to find things that make you truly feel, and always strive to make the world a better place through helping others. Each of you has the capacity to do great things. Congratulations on this great success! Go PANTHERS!
Thank you to Liza Frasca and Karen Lusk for co-chairing our Hospitality Committee again this year. Liza has put in numerous hours making our teachers and our staff feel loved with breakfasts, lunches, raffles, and monthly baskets. Thank you to Sheri Walden for spending hours logging names into our database and for sending out emails to keep our membership informed. Thank you to Jamie Johnson for going to the monthly LEAP and SEAC meetings and giving monthly reports to the membership. Thank you to Mary Murray again for soliciting businesses, making the Panther Cards and organizing their sales. Thank you to Debbie Corbo for making sure our Newsletters were completed on time and with all the information needed.
Thank you to Katie Wright for chairing the ornament sales again this year. You always do a wonderful job selling these ornaments. Thank you to Claudette Evans for taking on the task of planning Toastmasters and the SAT course. Thank you to Wendi Owens for running the Student Supply Closet this year. Thank you to Sylvia Morgan for organizing the Front Door Greeters.
Thank you to Katie McIntyre for serving as the Faculty Representative for the PTSO for the past two years. Thank you to Mrs. K for allowing us to try new things and continuing to support the PTSO.
Last, but not least I want to thank the members of the Board who served with me this year. I couldn’t have done it without each of you. Mary Murray served as Vice President of Resources. Kristy Brewer served as Vice President of Programs this year, managed all programs offered to our children. Sheri Walden served as the Vice President of Membership. Becky Birks, our secretary, took the minutes at the monthly PTSO meetings. Missy Hooper, our treasurer, spent lots of hours giving away the money that you helped raise and for keeping our books straight.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to thank all of the people who in some way volunteered to help this year when asked. As my final words for the 2011 – 2012 school year - I challenge the rest of you who have not had the opportunity to volunteer in some way to find the time in the 2012-13 school year to volunteer.
PTSO 2012 Calendar
FINAL MEETING - Thursday, June 7 @ 7:00 PM
Please come and meet new PTSO officers for the 2012-13 school year.
A special thanks on behalf of the 2011-2012 Board to the faculty, staff and parents for their support throughout this school year. If you are interested in volunteering or you have ideas you would like to share for next year please contact one of the board members below.
2012-2013 PTSO Board of Directors
President Sheri Walden
VP-Membership Kathy Baker
VP-Programs Helen Lin
VP-Resources Mary Murray
Treasurer Missy Hooper
Secretary Becky Birks
The PTSO wishes everyone a wonderful and safe summer!
A Message from HOSPITALITY
Thank you all again, for your help and donations this year. Karen Lusk and I enjoyed planning and organizing PTSO events and gifts for the PFHS teachers and employees.
May’s teacher luncheon was a great success and the monthly Teacher Appreciation basket went to Fine Arts teacher Fawn Phillips. It was a summer fun basket. In June, Hospitality provided teachers with a continental breakfast on their last day of school.
We look forward to working with you again next year… Please consider joining the PTSO board or chair. Have a wonderful summer!
Liza Frasca & Karen Lusk
LEAP MSAAC Meetings – School Board Meeting RoomLCPS Administration Building, 12000 Education Ct, Ashburn, VA, 20148
Ph (571) 252-1040; All are encouraged to attend!
LEAP TOPICS for 2012 – 2013 School Year (Sept-May)
2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm
www.lcps.org/Page/66557
The Loudoun Education Alliance of Parents is a non-partisan network that promotes interaction between parents, teachers, School Board members and the LCPS Administrative Team. Topic to be determined.
MSAAC for 2012 – 2013 School Year (Sept-May)
3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm
www.lcps.org/Page/1494
The Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC) is dedicated to working in partnership with LCPS, parents, and the community to further the academic, social and cultural development of every student, and to ensure that the needs of all minority students are met. MSAAC Topics to be determined.
2012 PTSO Senior Scholarship Winners
Thank you to all 29 seniors who applied to this year's scholarship program! Your dedication to the school and insightful replies to the essay prompt are greatly appreciated. Scholarship winners were recognized at the Annual Awards Ceremony held on May 29th, 2012.
$1,000 Scholarship Winner: Kathryn Printz
$500 Scholarship Winners:
Connor Adams
Zawad Chowdhurdy
Nicole Crew
Kristin Ritchey
Jennifer Schmid
Joseph R. Tulloch
Elizabeth Wieland
Congratulations Class of 2012!
Special Thanks!
Thank you to the community businesses and organizations that have helped sponsor
the Potomac Falls High School All Night Graduation Celebration.
Walmart
Mahalo Cove
Potomac Falls PTSO
Sterling Ruritan Club
Abbey Design Center
Loudoun Education Foundation
Claude Moore Charitable Foundation
Scott K. York, Chairman – Loudoun County BOS
Cascades HOA Otani Steakhouse Wegmans
Cascades Park HOA
Countryside Proprietary
EDOC-Farhad Zangeneh, MD
Featherle Pet Care
Horizon Elementary PTA
Potowmack Elementary PTA
White Orthodontics
Delegate David Ramadan
Mary J. Hitchcock State Farm Insurance Salon Fusion
Algonkian Elementary PTA
Ashburn Ice House
Bowl America
Bristles & Shears
Cheesecake Factory
Costco
Creative Nails & Spa
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dominion Dental Care
Embassy Autowash
Galilee United Methodist Church
Giant Food
Grand Prix Allsports
Great American Restaurants
Green Mountain Coffee
Jammin Java
Junior Women’s Club of Loudoun
Kings Dominion
The Laser Tag Group
Lions Club of Sterling
Meadows Farms
Portrait Innovations
Potomac Falls HS Jr Class
Sam’s Club
2011 - 2012 Panther Discount Card for $10
Our Panther Card also has the following vendors:
Slice of Italy Alpine Ski Shop Tiffany’s Nail
Subway Good Year Countryside Cleaners
American Decorating Center Carried Away Los Toltecos
Domino’s Pizza Dulles Sports Plex IHOP
Carmine’s Chengs Jersey Mike’s
Potomac Falls Florist Tropical Smoothie Applebees
Dunkin Donuts Ledo Pizza Cold Stone
Don Corleones Euro Café O’Faolain’s
Dulles Golf Dee Dee Nail Salon Velocity Five
Let’s Dish Robeks The Deli
Contact Mary Murray: for more information or to purchase a card.
Potomac Falls HS
PROJECT GRADUATION
Grocery Certificates
Project Graduation is an event committed to promoting safe, supervised, memory-filled All Night Graduation Celebrations in an alcohol-free and drug-free environment. The aim is to change what had become an annual tragedy- losing our youth to the deadly mix of drugs, alcohol and driving. And it has succeeded! Since the program began there have been no alcohol- or drug-related accidents or deaths in Northern Virginia on graduation night! Each year more students are making the right choice against underage drinking and drug-use.
Some of you may not be aware of a fundraising program we have for Project Graduation. You can buy grocery store gift cards at face value through PFHS, and we earn 5% of each dollar spent.
The program works like this: you place an email order through our volunteers, set a check out at your home on a specified day, and your grocery store certificate is delivered to you. That’s all!
We currently work with Giant and Bloom (both in $50 and $100 increments). Again, these gift cards are good for the entire dollar amount you spend; PFHS Project Graduation earns money because we buy the certificates in bulk directly from the stores at a 5% discount.
If you have any questions, or would like to be added to the email list, send an email to