Banyan Elementary acquires new technology, reaches for new goals
By Heather Milo
Acorn Staff Writer

FOLLOW THE LEADER-Banyan Elementary School Principal Judie Tetzlaff presents the current school year agenda and activities to parents.

Back to School Night at Banyan Elementary School was an evening of smiles, enthusiasm and reports of new technology for the school.

School-Team telecommunication technology has been successfully installed in schools such as Colina Middle School. School-Team seeks out local realtors who wish to give back to public schools.

When a school agrees to carry the new voice-mail technology that links staff and parents instantly, a local realtor agrees make a donation of $200 to the school for any real estate transaction with or referred by a school family. In exchange, every time the realtor’s clients or a school member uses a School-Team mortgage broker, School-Team donates $200 to the school.

In addition to being a fundraising tool, the principal can now put out a message to the entire school—including parents—with a single phone call. The School-Team telecommunication system can be used for announcements such as last minute changes in schedule, emergencies or as reminders, such as a back-to-school event.

"It was a way for me to give back," said sponsor and realtor Sherri Sweeney, whose children went to Banyan years ago. Sweeney said that the agreement is a long-term commitment for her.

Additional new ways of fundraising were announced at Banyan’s Back to School Night. Principal Judie Tetzlaff said this year will include a spring dinner/dance for parents. Banyan was inspired by Sycamore Canyon School’s similar fundraiser last year, which generated a whopping $42,000 at the Dos Vientos Community Center.

Banyan needs funds for new playground equipment and to pay off the recently renovated library. The school needs about $25,000. If Banyan meets its goal, Tetzlaff has agreed to jump like a frog on the roof of the main building—a dare which now has the PTA searching feverishly for a frog costume.

Also on the fundraising schedule is the Fall Festival from 5 to 8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 10. A cake walk and a few "silent-ish auctions" will be taking place, according to PTA Ways and Means chairperson Donna Clarke.

Unlike conventional silent auctions, these aren’t entirely quiet, she said, because competitive bidding helps the event raise more money. The PTA plans to offer at the auction a highly prized parking space in the Banyan lot. The space was already purchased for the month of September, but will be available monthly.

Alamo Nights will continue this year through proceeds from the Alamo Restaurant, which last year generated $7,000 for Banyan.

As for volunteers, teachers asked for help in classrooms and with fundraisers. "That’s what makes our school better," said Tetzlaff. On days that their parents volunteer in the classroom, Tetzlaff said, the children shine just a little brighter.

Back to School Night brings familiar faces and new ones together in an atmosphere of common interest. It helps keep parents informed about both school and classroom activities.

Like other local schools, there are problems at peak hours when parents deliver and pick up children at the campus. Complaints from neighbors about traffic and speeders prompted Tetzlaff to caution parents about driving carefully. She also encouraged carpooling.

After a central assembly, parents went to individual classrooms to meet teachers. Their child’s letter greeted each parent, and moms and dads were encouraged to write back, leaving the new correspondence at their child’s desk.

Third-grade teacher Polly Abney said that children usually keep parents’ responses in their desks all year, sometimes re-reading them on a bad day.

Third grade is a big adjustment for kids because it’s the first year that they start getting letter grades.

Banyan is one of the few elementary schools in Conejo Valley Unified School District with a sixth-grade class.

After fifth, students can either choose to stay at Banyan or they can go to Sequoia Middle School for sixth grade.

Banyan has three sixth-grade classrooms, with about 26 students in each class.