Activities
The following is a list of some of the activities and programs that San Gabriel PTA supports. Many of these activities would not be possible without our wonderful volunteers and San Gabriel is well-known for having tremendous parent involvement and volunteers. If you see something that you would like to work on, please contact any PTA member or look for our calls for volunteers as these events approach. Many hands make light work.
Assemblies
PTA provides funds for all the school assemblies which have included such wonderful assemblies as We Care Sports, Celtic Spring, Chinese Acrobats, Abraham Lincoln, Kyle's Cartoon Platoon, and many others. Assemblies for the year will be listed below as they are scheduled.
Gator Fun Fair
The Gator Fun Fair is a school-wide carnival. Gator Fun Fair wristbands will go on sale before and after school in the days before the event for a discounted price. Wristbands may be purchased on the day of the event for full price. The wristbands allows each child to play the various game booths sponsored by each classroom and run by parent volunteers. Children earn tickets for playing the games which can be redeemed for a prize. Games and activities at the Gator Fun Fair include a Cake Walk, cake decorating contest, and an inflatable bounce house or jousting ring. Food and drinks are available for purchase. Proceeds of the wristband and concessions support PTA. It's a fun day for the family.
There are two Book Fairs during the school year--one in the fall and another in the spring. PTA partners with Scholastic to bring a great selection of new and popular book titles. Families may purchase books at the book fair or order them online. PTA receives a percentage of the sales which helps to purchase books for all our classrooms, Scholastic News magazines, and reading incentive prizes. Flyers will go home with the dates and times that the book fair will be open.
San Gabriel has a Halloween Costume Parade on the Friday before Halloween. On this day, PTA holds a Pumpkin Carving Contest. Students and their families are invited to bring their carved pumpkins from home to enter the contest. Prizes are awarded to the winners of each category including Scariest, Funniest, Best Family Design, etc. The entire school has a chance to view the creativity of our students.
PTA conducts a Coats for Kids drive once a year. Families are asked to donate new or used coats that will be professionally cleaned and distributed to needy families in our community. Children's and adults' coats and jackets can be donated. This is also the time that coats and jackets in the Lost and Found are cleaned out and donated to this worthy cause.
Once a year, PTA asks for nominations for the PTA Honorary Service Awards. These four awards are presented to people, organizations, or businesses who have made outstanding community service to children and youth in our community. The Honorary Service Award recipients receive a certificate and pin. Additionally, a donation to the California State PTA scholarship and grant program is made in their name. Awards are presented during a ceremony at the school.
Career Fair
PTA will ask for volunteers who would be willing to spend one morning talking with groups of San Gabriel students about their careers as part of our annual Career Fair. This event opens their eyes to the bigger world and helps to show them how the things they are learning are put to use. It is always surprising how interested the children are in the careers that are showcased.
The Kick-A-Thon is San Gabriel PTA's primary fundraiser for the year and helps to fund the majority of our programs and activities. It usually takes place in the spring a few weeks before Spring Break. Students kick a soccer ball and their speed is recorded onto a pledge sheet. The students take the pledge sheet and can ask people to sponsor them with a donation. There are fun classroom contests and prizes to encourage the kids to go out and raise money for our school. More information is available on our Kick-A-Thon webpage.
Talent Show
San Gabriel hosts an annual student Talent Show. Almost any talent can be performed, except for lip sync performances. In the past, we have had dance, singing, music, poetry, comedy, and other performances. Students are asked to do an audition and come to rehearsal. The Talent Show is free and always a fun family night.
Family Science Night
Family Science Night is put on by San Gabriel teachers in coordination with volunteers from Cal Poly, AHS, and other schools to showcase the field of science. Some activities may include hands-on science experiments, demonstrations, and student science fair projects. Family Science Night is a free event. Food and refreshments are available for purchase as a convenience to families and to help support PTA.
Battle of the Books
The Battle of the Books is a wonderful and required reading program for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders that introduces children to quality literature from many different genres. Fourth graders read 10 books from the Battle Book list, fifth graders read 12 books, and sixth graders read 15 books. In May, the students celebrate all of this reading with an exciting Battle of the Books. Student teams "battle" to see who knows most about the books. The winning student teams go on to participate in the District Battle of the Books against other schools.
Field Days
Field Days are usually held in the spring towards the end of the school year. San Gabriel students participate in a number of games and sporting events for their Field Day. These events have included potato sack races, hurdles, running, obstacle courses, tug-of-war, and relay races. The fun day of competition concludes with ribbons and popsicles.