Wednesday, October 14, 2015 School Library, 7 ... - St. Ambrose School
PTO MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 14, 2015 School Library, 7:00 pm ATTENDANCE Father Fisher Mrs. Angela Rowley John Furey Alissa Nonis Kim Vores Marcia Healy Kate O’Connor Eileen Bliss
Pastor Principal Vice President Secretary Treasurer / Volunteer Coordinator Faculty Representative At Large – STEM Committee Chair At Large Social Committee Co-Chair
VICE PRESIDENT’S REMARKS The Buzz archive needs to be updated; Mrs. Rowley will contact the web master. We have two potential nominees for PTO President. We will follow up with both tomorrow and proceed with one of the following options: a) If only one of our potential nominees is interested then we will announce the President on Friday; or b) if both are interested ballots will go home to all families on Friday, returned on Monday, and the new President will be announced in next week’s Buzz. Kristin Gorak and Kim Vores will run the Three Kings shop this year. An announcement will be created for The Buzz requesting donations; it will also include a short description of what items are acceptable for donation to the Three Kings shop. PRINCIPAL’S REMARKS Mrs. Rowley is reviewing our field trip busing options. We may be able to save as much as $350 per trip by switching bus companies. When our new President is installed we will discuss the sustainability of PTO funds being used to pay for field trips. Charging families a flat fee for class trips would relieve the fundraising burden of the PTO but the Board is divided as to whether this is the best option. FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE’S REMARKS An informational meeting with room parents will be scheduled to review their duties for the school year. Kim will coordinate this meeting. The final total for the new laptop carts is $723.44 (with shipping). The vote for purchasing these carts will be deferred until our November meeting, after the Fun Run. SECRETARY’S REMARKS
We will have a PTO meeting dedicated to strategic planning, fundraising, and parental communication/messaging. This discussion will be held on January 13th from 7-9pm during our previously scheduled January meeting. Parent Education o The September parenting education seminar with Lauren Kenworthy received positive feedback and was well-attended. o We have contacted the local police district and will move forward with planning a cyber security seminar for January. We will also coordinate with our contact to set up a presentation for our middle school students and teachers. Assemblies o 02/22: STEAM Museum in the parish hall.
TREASURER / VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR’S REMARKS A budget balance sheet was distributed. The PTO net income as of 10/13/15 is $-970.83. The Pumpkin Run in November should bring our net income back into the positive. In the meantime, we can draw from our savings for necessary expenses. COMMITTEES SOCIAL o Ocktoberfest was a well-attended success. We spent $1,772.00 and raised $2,135.00, bringing our net gain to $461.28. o 10/30: Trunk or Treat. We are coordinating Trunk or Treat with a Family Bingo Night scheduled for 7pm in the parish hall. Parking for both events will be at the church; the school parking lot will be reserved for Trunk or Treat. Teens attending Bingo Night may be asked to help direct traffic. A joint flyer advertising both events will be developed. Trunk or Treat is also a joint social/service event; non-perishable food for Food for Others will be collected. 6:30-7:15 Trick or Treating at vehicles. One car is already signed up. 7:15-7:30 Children’s Costume Parade ending with donuts and cider Carved pumpkin Contest Eileen will contact the families decorating their trunks/handing out candy prior to the event to identify any needs (generators, etc) and to provide a parking map. We need volunteers to judge the decorating – perhaps teachers like at Oktoberfest? Pre-ordered pizza will be offered. Families can order pizzas ahead of time to be picked up at the start of the event. School trash cans will be used for refuse. o December: Christmas movie for kids on either the 4th or 11th.
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April: Paint & Sip. This is an adults only social event. The company hired provides all art supplies. Attendees are charged $45 ($40 w/o drink option) and we receive $15. The PTO provides alcohol. A possible date is Sunday, April 10th. Save the dates will be sent in the new year.
SERVICE o 10/30: Food for Others food drive kick off at Trunk or Treat and ongoing until the third week in November. Every Friday volunteer will pick up donations from the school collection box and take them to the drop-off site. STEM o Lego Friday in Extended Day (formerly Lego Club) seems to be going well. o STEAM Lab begins this Thursday in extended day. This week’s maximum participants is 16 children (due to number of computers). The first STEAM Lab will focus on Drag and Drop programming (Scratch) - Alice, TinkerCad, and a NASA site. Mrs. Whetzel will be checking in on STEAM Lab. This is the pilot week; lab details and frequency are still be hammered out. There is a $3 flat fee to participate in each STEAM Lab. Discussion as to whether we should make this a STREAM Lab (R for religion). o 11/07: Paper Airplane Contest. The Knights of Columbus are hosting a spaghetti dinner this evening as well. We are awaiting the final details from the Knights as the Paper Airplane Contest will be prior to the spaghetti dinner.
NEXT MEETING Wednesday, November 11th, 7:oopm Meeting ended at 8:20pm.
Pastor Principal Vice President Secretary Treasurer / Volunteer Coordinator Faculty Representative At Large – STEM Committee Chair At Large Social Committee Co-Chair
VICE PRESIDENT’S REMARKS The Buzz archive needs to be updated; Mrs. Rowley will contact the web master. We have two potential nominees for PTO President. We will follow up with both tomorrow and proceed with one of the following options: a) If only one of our potential nominees is interested then we will announce the President on Friday; or b) if both are interested ballots will go home to all families on Friday, returned on Monday, and the new President will be announced in next week’s Buzz. Kristin Gorak and Kim Vores will run the Three Kings shop this year. An announcement will be created for The Buzz requesting donations; it will also include a short description of what items are acceptable for donation to the Three Kings shop. PRINCIPAL’S REMARKS Mrs. Rowley is reviewing our field trip busing options. We may be able to save as much as $350 per trip by switching bus companies. When our new President is installed we will discuss the sustainability of PTO funds being used to pay for field trips. Charging families a flat fee for class trips would relieve the fundraising burden of the PTO but the Board is divided as to whether this is the best option. FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE’S REMARKS An informational meeting with room parents will be scheduled to review their duties for the school year. Kim will coordinate this meeting. The final total for the new laptop carts is $723.44 (with shipping). The vote for purchasing these carts will be deferred until our November meeting, after the Fun Run. SECRETARY’S REMARKS
We will have a PTO meeting dedicated to strategic planning, fundraising, and parental communication/messaging. This discussion will be held on January 13th from 7-9pm during our previously scheduled January meeting. Parent Education o The September parenting education seminar with Lauren Kenworthy received positive feedback and was well-attended. o We have contacted the local police district and will move forward with planning a cyber security seminar for January. We will also coordinate with our contact to set up a presentation for our middle school students and teachers. Assemblies o 02/22: STEAM Museum in the parish hall.
TREASURER / VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR’S REMARKS A budget balance sheet was distributed. The PTO net income as of 10/13/15 is $-970.83. The Pumpkin Run in November should bring our net income back into the positive. In the meantime, we can draw from our savings for necessary expenses. COMMITTEES SOCIAL o Ocktoberfest was a well-attended success. We spent $1,772.00 and raised $2,135.00, bringing our net gain to $461.28. o 10/30: Trunk or Treat. We are coordinating Trunk or Treat with a Family Bingo Night scheduled for 7pm in the parish hall. Parking for both events will be at the church; the school parking lot will be reserved for Trunk or Treat. Teens attending Bingo Night may be asked to help direct traffic. A joint flyer advertising both events will be developed. Trunk or Treat is also a joint social/service event; non-perishable food for Food for Others will be collected. 6:30-7:15 Trick or Treating at vehicles. One car is already signed up. 7:15-7:30 Children’s Costume Parade ending with donuts and cider Carved pumpkin Contest Eileen will contact the families decorating their trunks/handing out candy prior to the event to identify any needs (generators, etc) and to provide a parking map. We need volunteers to judge the decorating – perhaps teachers like at Oktoberfest? Pre-ordered pizza will be offered. Families can order pizzas ahead of time to be picked up at the start of the event. School trash cans will be used for refuse. o December: Christmas movie for kids on either the 4th or 11th.
o
April: Paint & Sip. This is an adults only social event. The company hired provides all art supplies. Attendees are charged $45 ($40 w/o drink option) and we receive $15. The PTO provides alcohol. A possible date is Sunday, April 10th. Save the dates will be sent in the new year.
SERVICE o 10/30: Food for Others food drive kick off at Trunk or Treat and ongoing until the third week in November. Every Friday volunteer will pick up donations from the school collection box and take them to the drop-off site. STEM o Lego Friday in Extended Day (formerly Lego Club) seems to be going well. o STEAM Lab begins this Thursday in extended day. This week’s maximum participants is 16 children (due to number of computers). The first STEAM Lab will focus on Drag and Drop programming (Scratch) - Alice, TinkerCad, and a NASA site. Mrs. Whetzel will be checking in on STEAM Lab. This is the pilot week; lab details and frequency are still be hammered out. There is a $3 flat fee to participate in each STEAM Lab. Discussion as to whether we should make this a STREAM Lab (R for religion). o 11/07: Paper Airplane Contest. The Knights of Columbus are hosting a spaghetti dinner this evening as well. We are awaiting the final details from the Knights as the Paper Airplane Contest will be prior to the spaghetti dinner.
NEXT MEETING Wednesday, November 11th, 7:oopm Meeting ended at 8:20pm.
