PTO Meeting Minutes: MARCH 12, 2008 Courtesy of Jodi Van SprangPENNIES FOR PATIENTS
Mrs. Azevedo's 4th grade class won the pizza party for raising over $300. The whole school raised approximately $1,379.53. Thanks to Liz Wall for organizing this event.
MARCH FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Ice skating day at Driscoll Rink had a good turn out. We received $213.00 from the ticket sales.
Thank you to Jen Gallant for coordinating this event.
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
Sponsor forms were sent home with students after winter break and are due back March 25th. A parent from each grade volunteered to assist with collecting forms and counting money.
UPCOMING PARENT WORKSHOPS
Topic: Bullying - scheduled for April 2nd
Topic: Internet Safety - scheduled for May 7th
LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE
Community service day planned for Saturday, April 12th from 9 am to noon. The task will be to transplant and plant various ground cover plants in front of the school. Volunteers to help are needed and a flyer will be sent home. High school kids will be offered the opportunity to earn community service hours.
FOURTH GRADE FAREWELL
HELP NEEDED. 4th grade parents interested in becoming part of the planning committee should contact the PTO. Each student will receive a DVD which will be made from photos taken during their years at elementary school. The PTO is currently looking for a computer savvy person to scan the photos and make the DVD slideshow. Anyone with the ability to take on this task is asked to contact the PTO for more information.
REVIEW OF CURRENT TREASURER REPORT
Highlights include:
• $137.00 funds left for Teacher Wish Lists/Special Requests. Discussion of re-allocating funds from other budget items if additional requests are received.
• $4250 in budget for Field Trips will be reallocated for in-school programs such as POW Science, Regal Reptiles, Lloyd Center program (K), Illustrator program (Grade 4). In lieu of field trips, teachers from all grades were encouraged to find special programs to come into their classrooms.
• $700 from the Feinstein donation was allocated to the Library.
TEACHER WISH LISTS / SPECIAL REQUESTS
The first and second grade classes have been awarded $50.00 each for ink cartridge and photo paper costs.
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS
Proposal received from Captivation Photography of Tiverton offering affordably priced packages, as well as half price for a second and third child and a 15% commission to the PTO. Still awaiting the proposals of Costa Photography and O’Connor Photography for comparison.
APRIL FAMILY FUN NIGHT
An adults only wine & cheese evening with silent auction or raffle table will be planned contingent upon receiving the approval of the Superintendent. Sherri Feld will chair. This event will be held at the Meeting House in Tiverton and has been tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 25th. Budget items are: facility rental of $250, music $200, liquor cost TBD. Tickets will be sold in advance. Each grade will be asked to donate items for a themed basket for the raffle table. A Body Shop fund raising table may also be included in this event. The issue of the school’s liability has been addressed and resolved.
SECRETARIES DAY
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 – gift card for Mrs. Araujo was approved.
READING WEEK
March 31 – April 4th. Various themed reading activities have been planned and family members will be invited into classrooms to read.
SPRING FUNDRAISER
Candy Bar Sale will be chaired by Cheryl Simmons. The sale will start April 10th and end on April 23rd. The idea for an Us-born Books Read-A-Thon was discussed as a possible fundraiser later in the year in lieu of a BOGO Scholastic Book Fair.
ADVENTURE GAMES
Proposed date for this event is Friday May 9th from 6pm to 9pm. Parent volunteers will be needed. The program will be offered first to 4th grade students and then to grade 3 if space available. The event will be chaired by Jonelle Lopes.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS
Detailed discussion about the unfinished work and repairs to the building which remain unresolved. These issues are scheduled to be addressed at the Building Committee Meeting on March 18th at the High School Library at 7pm. Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.
NEXT PTO MEETING – APRIL 9th AT 3:30pm
FEBRUARY 5, 2008
Courtesy of Sherry Kourtesis
ATTENDANCE
Sherry Kourtesis, Sherri Feld, Kim Johanning, Kelly Furtado, Liz Wall, Hally Azevedo, Ginny Curtis, Jo-Ann Souza, Susan Peters, Joanne Reuther, Leigh Lattuca, Amy Brigham, Lynne Wilson, Peter Moniz, Leonard Wright, Jonette Lopes, Karen Angell, Jennifer Costa, Dorene Phillips, Tim Leary, Lynn Nicholas, Amy Mullen.
SPECIAL GUESTS
Peter Moniz of the Tree Commission presented plans to enhance the landscaping of Ranger School which included planting more trees and creating a tree grove with several benches which will serve as a natural environmental teaching space. This would be enhanced over the years with an outdoor work of art consisting of ceramic titles designed by students. Donations of 2 benches, 3 trees and $1000.00 have already been received. He is applying for another grant to fund this project and is also seeking contributions from public donors, businesses and families. A flyer will be sent home with Ranger students in the near future. A planting day has been scheduled for Saturday April 19th from 9-12pm. All Ranger families are encouraged to participate. Community service volunteers are also being sought from Tiverton Schools and Roger Williams University. Anyone interested in assisting with this project should contact Mr. Moniz directly via the link from the PTO website.
Amy Mullen, President of the Teachers Union, was invited to our meeting to answer our questions about contract negotiations. Many issues were explained and discussed including parent concerns about the cancelling of fields trips and other student/school activities. Parents were informed that in-school assemblies would be scheduled by Mr. Gastall and paid for from the funds allocated for field trips since no field trips will be planned. Parents who are anxious to have the teachers contract resolved were encouraged to get involved by attending School Committee meetings and/or contacting the SC directly by phone or letter. A member of the SC was also in attendance and verified that the information provided by the union was accurate. PTO members discussed forming a petition to present to the SC requesting that the contract negotiations be resolved quickly.
MARCH FAMILY FUN DAY
Skate day at Driscoll Rink has been scheduled for Sat. March 8th from 2:30 pm – 4pm. Cost will be $4 per person. The rink will receive the first $375 of admission fees for ice rental. Any funds collected over that amount will profit the PTO (including any fees collected from the public). In the event that $375 is not made for the rink rental, the PTO will get 10% of the total admission fees instead. Tickets need not be purchased in advance as the rink will also be open to the public during this event. Jen Gallant will send home a flyer but we are still in need of someone to run the event.
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
Sponsor forms will be sent home with students after winter break. Jumping will take place in March. Amy Brigham volunteered to assist Mr. Deldeo with collecting the forms and money.
TEACHER WISH LISTS / SPECIAL REQUESTS
Mrs. Ronan, Gr. 2 – Erasers (cost unknown) - Will be reconsidered next month once cost obtained and verified that these cannot be provided from the school supply budget.
Mrs. Frazier, Gr. 2 – Math Decks (pkg. 10 = $63.96 / pkg. of 5 = $31.65)- Mrs. Petrarca donated 1 deck - PTO APPROVED one pkg of 5.
Mrs. Bird, Guidance – Pencils 144 per tub ($22.25 – Pledge / $20.97 – Multiplication) - APPROVED
(Note: Teachers are reminded that all requests should be turned into Mr. Gastall for review and consideration before submitting to the PTO.)
SPRING FUNDRAISING IDEAS RECEIVED
Body Shop at Home Sale, Beachtowel Sale, Candy Bar Sale, Spring Book Fair, Read-a-thon with Usborn Book Co., Wine and Cheese/Silent Auction Adults only evening. These ideas will be further deliberated and voted upon at the next meeting.
PARENT WORKSHOP
“FREE” CPR class: Poor response – 12 people signed up (only one person showed up that evening).
RANGER PROVIDENCE BRUINS NIGHT
Friday, February 8th - - approximately 59 tickets were purchased. This was not a fundraiser.
VALENTINE THEMED FEBRUARY FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Good response – 120 children signed up, however, only half showed up that evening. As a result, for future fun nights we will collect a small admission fee in advance to assist with the cost of supplies. Many thanks to Amy Brigham and Leigh Lattuca for their help organizing this event.
100TH DAY OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
On the 100th day of school, we will kick off our annual fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with a “Patriots and Pennies for Patients Day”. We originally planned to have a PJ day but due to concerns about the cold weather, we decided to ask students to wear their Patriot garb or red, white & blue attire instead. The 4th grade teachers have also planned a food drive to commemorate this day as well.
NEXT PTO MEETING
Wednesday, March 12th at 3:30 pm. After school child care will be provided.