PVMS PTO Meeting February 6, 2013
PVMS PTO Meeting February 6, 2013 Attendance: Ray Bernier, Danette Dykema, Sarah Minei, Penny Patch-Bartnicki, Lucia Gonsowski, Heather Quint, & Melissa Lennon 1) Review January Minutes i) Accepted the minutes and will post them online. 2) Principal’s Report i) Board of Ed. Meeting – at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 11th at the PVMS Library. (1) Will meet in executive session to discuss safety proposals (2) Families are welcome to attend the open session and echo support for improved and reasonable safety measures (3) Dan Harris is a PVMS parent who is on the Board ii) Thursday, February 14th and Friday, February 15th – ½ Day for Parent Conferences and Professional Development respectively iii) Monday, February 18th – No School iv) Tuesday, February 19th – School (change to original calendar) v) Uniform Survey Results – have not been made available at this time 3) Treasurer’s Report i) Summary pages show activity from July 2012-present ii) Transaction page shows all transactions from December-present iii) Book Fair profit: $1,398.72 iv) Spirit Wear profit: $79.00 v) Holiday Store profit: $299.30 vi) Ending Balance: $3,513.45 vii) Field Day at Strawberry Park this year will cost $7/student with an estimated cost of $2,000 for the day ($7 x 270 students = $1,890) viii) Box Top check should arrive at the school soon ix) Book Drop was full and emptied last week x) A+ Rewards Program paperwork was completed and submitted xi) Danette moved to accept the report and Ray seconded the motion. a) Budget Update i) With funds being low and not being able to fundraise this year without the nonprofit status, spending from here on in needs to be considered carefully. 4) Old Business a) PVMS PTO’s Non-Profit Status (501c3) i) The paperwork is completed. Once the check is written, the packet will be mailed. b) Box Tops – no update c) Labels for Education - Lucia i) Ongoing collection, but once per year submission. ii) A reminder will be included in the PTO newsletter.
d) February Family Fun Night (Moon Bounce) – Friday, February 22nd i) Three bounce houses will be rented; it was too costly to add at fourth ($100). (1) Standard moon bounce – two lines will be formed: 6 yrs. & under will bounce at their own time without the older children in 2 minute rotations (2) Obstacle course (3) Slide ii) Parks & Rec will not be able to supply staff for the event; Parent volunteers will be needed. A minimum of six parents will be needed to supervise the bounce houses (two per moon bounce). iii) A flyer will be sent home requesting volunteers; without enough volunteers, the event will be cancelled. iv) If volunteers become an issue, contacting Stephanie at Preston’s Youth Services Borough may be an option v) Jugs of ice water with cups will be supplied vi) Current date conflicts with the middle school’s pasta dinner fundraiser’s rain date. e) March Fun Night (Science Night) – Friday, March 22nd i) Danette has worked on adding new exhibits this year ii) She will schedule separate planning nights for the event. iii) Approximately 30 volunteers are needed! A flyer will be sent home. iv) The event is inexpensive to run – supplies will cost less than $100. v) Need to consider whether the PTO budget allows for Project O to return this year at a cost of $230. f) Field Day at Strawberry Park – Tuesday, June 4th with a rain date of Tuesday, June 11th i) Cost will be $7 per student with an estimated cost of $2,000 for the day ($7 x 270 students = $1,890), which is comparable to the amount spent on Field Day in years past ii) Bussing will be free iii) Will need to discuss further lunch arrangements and whether or not to use the pool iv) Park will accommodate the school’s requests for special activities to be included such as arts & crafts (like spin art with Frisbees), tattoos, popsicles, and whether to have a theme. g) Yearbook i) Heather Wolfe is the new staff advisor ii) A yearbook club started today for students in 4th & 5th grade. The response was very good. iii) Preston’s Youth Services Borough has provided transportation home for these students. iv) Danette will share pictures PTO has taken of previous events to be included in the yearbook. She also will offer support for the cumbersome computer software. h) PVMS Paw Print Car Magnets – blue & white PVMS car magnets (1) Rachel will send the proof for approval (2) Magnets cost $2-$3 at cost and can sell for $5-$6 at PTO events 2
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(3) Magnets should be ready by the February Family Fun Night (4) A flyer will be sent home advertising it Spirit Week – April 1st-5th i) Student Council will be able to plan the daily themes/events for Spirit Week ii) The date allows two weeks to organize photos for the yearbook deadline. Supplies for Teachers (Spring for Supplies) – about March 20th for the first day of Spring i) In the past, teachers have been asked for a wish list of supplies they would like for their classroom ii) Teachers would like the tradition to continue. iii) Sarah will send a note to the teacher’s asking for their wish lists and then compile the list and send it home to families. Spirit Wear – Sarah i) We discussed having 20-25 PVMS shirts available in various sizes for purchase previously. Looking at storage concerns and being able to have the sizes families might need brings into question the feasibility of having shirts on hand. ii) An alternative would be to offer a spring order in plenty of time for Spirit Week and Field Day. iii) Ultimately, we could offer a fall and spring ordering option. iv) Could send home an order form as well as make one available online through the PTO page. Assembly Planning i) With a limited PTO budget, only one paid assembly can be supported at this time. ii) Prismatic Magic – Laser Light Assemblies (prismaticmagic.com) (1) Could do the eco show in conjunction with Earth Day (April 22nd) (2) Shows run between $695 & $895 iii) Black Dragons Karate School – Dan Jenkins (1) Will come and present an anti-bulling or self-confidence building program for free in exchange for permission to distribute a coupon promoting Black Dragons. (2) Mr. Bernier will contact the school about the program. iv) Dinoman! – Science Series (www.dinoman.org) (1) Shows cost $695 (2) Will table this show option for another time
5) New Business a) BOGO Book Fair – May i) Will need volunteers to help b) Mini-grants for Teachers i) In the past, teachers have been allowed to submit a request for items they would like for their classroom that costs less than $100. ii) Due to the current financial situation of the PTO, mini-grants will be discontinued at this time. c) Appreciation Days i) Bus Drivers – May 3
(1) Last year the bus drivers were taken out to breakfast after their morning run ii) Administrative Assistants – May (1) Last year the administrative assistants were given gift cards, since they typically cannot leave the school for a meal. iii) Staff Appreciation – June (1) The potluck luncheon worked well during parent conferences. Perhaps that should be considered. (2) Other schools have asked for a monetary contribution by each family. (3) Maybe giving families the option of a food item or monetary contribution would work. d) Year End Awards i) PTO typically sponsors a “star student” from each classroom at the teacher’s discretion and last year the student was presented with a trophy ii) Would like to continue the tradition e) 5th Grade Celebration i) In the past, $200 or $250 has been given to the class to help offset the costs of their celebration//graduation. ii) The fifth grade this year is selling concessions at the basketball games to help raise money for the class iii) Since the PTO is not serving food at the Family Fun Nights, perhaps the fifth grade class would like to see food at the events to help their cause f) Fundraising Ideas - if the nonprofit status is granted before the school year ends i) Yard Sale – sell space for people to sell their wares ii) Restaurant Night – several local restaurants will host a “school night” in which a percentage of the sales brought in that night are given to the school; the school just needs to advertise. 6) Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 6th
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d) February Family Fun Night (Moon Bounce) – Friday, February 22nd i) Three bounce houses will be rented; it was too costly to add at fourth ($100). (1) Standard moon bounce – two lines will be formed: 6 yrs. & under will bounce at their own time without the older children in 2 minute rotations (2) Obstacle course (3) Slide ii) Parks & Rec will not be able to supply staff for the event; Parent volunteers will be needed. A minimum of six parents will be needed to supervise the bounce houses (two per moon bounce). iii) A flyer will be sent home requesting volunteers; without enough volunteers, the event will be cancelled. iv) If volunteers become an issue, contacting Stephanie at Preston’s Youth Services Borough may be an option v) Jugs of ice water with cups will be supplied vi) Current date conflicts with the middle school’s pasta dinner fundraiser’s rain date. e) March Fun Night (Science Night) – Friday, March 22nd i) Danette has worked on adding new exhibits this year ii) She will schedule separate planning nights for the event. iii) Approximately 30 volunteers are needed! A flyer will be sent home. iv) The event is inexpensive to run – supplies will cost less than $100. v) Need to consider whether the PTO budget allows for Project O to return this year at a cost of $230. f) Field Day at Strawberry Park – Tuesday, June 4th with a rain date of Tuesday, June 11th i) Cost will be $7 per student with an estimated cost of $2,000 for the day ($7 x 270 students = $1,890), which is comparable to the amount spent on Field Day in years past ii) Bussing will be free iii) Will need to discuss further lunch arrangements and whether or not to use the pool iv) Park will accommodate the school’s requests for special activities to be included such as arts & crafts (like spin art with Frisbees), tattoos, popsicles, and whether to have a theme. g) Yearbook i) Heather Wolfe is the new staff advisor ii) A yearbook club started today for students in 4th & 5th grade. The response was very good. iii) Preston’s Youth Services Borough has provided transportation home for these students. iv) Danette will share pictures PTO has taken of previous events to be included in the yearbook. She also will offer support for the cumbersome computer software. h) PVMS Paw Print Car Magnets – blue & white PVMS car magnets (1) Rachel will send the proof for approval (2) Magnets cost $2-$3 at cost and can sell for $5-$6 at PTO events 2
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k)
l)
(3) Magnets should be ready by the February Family Fun Night (4) A flyer will be sent home advertising it Spirit Week – April 1st-5th i) Student Council will be able to plan the daily themes/events for Spirit Week ii) The date allows two weeks to organize photos for the yearbook deadline. Supplies for Teachers (Spring for Supplies) – about March 20th for the first day of Spring i) In the past, teachers have been asked for a wish list of supplies they would like for their classroom ii) Teachers would like the tradition to continue. iii) Sarah will send a note to the teacher’s asking for their wish lists and then compile the list and send it home to families. Spirit Wear – Sarah i) We discussed having 20-25 PVMS shirts available in various sizes for purchase previously. Looking at storage concerns and being able to have the sizes families might need brings into question the feasibility of having shirts on hand. ii) An alternative would be to offer a spring order in plenty of time for Spirit Week and Field Day. iii) Ultimately, we could offer a fall and spring ordering option. iv) Could send home an order form as well as make one available online through the PTO page. Assembly Planning i) With a limited PTO budget, only one paid assembly can be supported at this time. ii) Prismatic Magic – Laser Light Assemblies (prismaticmagic.com) (1) Could do the eco show in conjunction with Earth Day (April 22nd) (2) Shows run between $695 & $895 iii) Black Dragons Karate School – Dan Jenkins (1) Will come and present an anti-bulling or self-confidence building program for free in exchange for permission to distribute a coupon promoting Black Dragons. (2) Mr. Bernier will contact the school about the program. iv) Dinoman! – Science Series (www.dinoman.org) (1) Shows cost $695 (2) Will table this show option for another time
5) New Business a) BOGO Book Fair – May i) Will need volunteers to help b) Mini-grants for Teachers i) In the past, teachers have been allowed to submit a request for items they would like for their classroom that costs less than $100. ii) Due to the current financial situation of the PTO, mini-grants will be discontinued at this time. c) Appreciation Days i) Bus Drivers – May 3
(1) Last year the bus drivers were taken out to breakfast after their morning run ii) Administrative Assistants – May (1) Last year the administrative assistants were given gift cards, since they typically cannot leave the school for a meal. iii) Staff Appreciation – June (1) The potluck luncheon worked well during parent conferences. Perhaps that should be considered. (2) Other schools have asked for a monetary contribution by each family. (3) Maybe giving families the option of a food item or monetary contribution would work. d) Year End Awards i) PTO typically sponsors a “star student” from each classroom at the teacher’s discretion and last year the student was presented with a trophy ii) Would like to continue the tradition e) 5th Grade Celebration i) In the past, $200 or $250 has been given to the class to help offset the costs of their celebration//graduation. ii) The fifth grade this year is selling concessions at the basketball games to help raise money for the class iii) Since the PTO is not serving food at the Family Fun Nights, perhaps the fifth grade class would like to see food at the events to help their cause f) Fundraising Ideas - if the nonprofit status is granted before the school year ends i) Yard Sale – sell space for people to sell their wares ii) Restaurant Night – several local restaurants will host a “school night” in which a percentage of the sales brought in that night are given to the school; the school just needs to advertise. 6) Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 6th
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