Fundraiser

MEMORIAL SCHOOL PTO MEETING
MINUTES
October 7, 2009

Meeting Called to order: 7:04pm

In Attendance - Shri Kamat, Gayle Field, Stacey Stewart-Afshar, Laura Pinkham, Kristin Pavao, Joanne & Steve Petrovich, Kerry Conley, Barbara Kelly-Hamilton, Jane Flanagan, Karen Rickershauser, Janice Luecke, Susan Lavacchia, Michele Burnham, Bridget Jay, Sandy Young, Morshada Khatun, Caroline Mallard, Dawn Morris

Welcome / Introductions
Sign in sheet - Passed around. This is useful as anyone new to the PTO Meetings may submit their email address to ensure they will be on the distribution list. This way if they are not currently on the distribution list they will get the minutes. Gayle Field the school Librarian was introduced at the meeting. She is looking for volunteers during the beginning of school, during the day or after school to help organized shelving. A CORI form is needed to participate in the library. You may fill out a CORI form at the Superintendents Office at the High School.

Board Positions

Secretary (Dawn) (Needs a backup) – For backup purposes. Dawn now has a child at Memorial and Marshall Simons. Marshall Simons has their PTO Meetings on the same night and time. Dawn would like to attend these meetings from time to time. A discussion took place on moving our PTO Meetings to the second Wednesday of each month. More information to come on this. If you would like become a Co-Secretary please contact PTO President Maryann Vigliotta at mvigliotta@antigenics.com

Other Board Members are Co-President Susan Lavacchia, Treasurer Paula Sullivan.

Some other Active PTO Members are

Michele Burnham, teacher representative, Janice Luecke runs the Wine Tasting Fundraiser, Barbara Hamilton is actively involved in Pizza Movie night. Cindy Collins runs the Social Committee, Donna Newnan runs the Enrichment Program that makes classroom work kind of fun so kids are not just focused on studies. Bringing readers/speakers/artists in etc.

Calendar Review
Maryann passed around a calendar that she will try to get published (See Attached .jpg file in email).

Halloween Party - Friday, October 23rd - All kinds of events and the kids love this party. If we can get high school volunteers to help set up a haunted house we will have one there again. Question was asked if a CORI is needed for volunteers on the night of the party and other events. Karen Rickershauser will double check on this. She doesn't seem to think one will be needed for the Halloween Party where every child who attends will need a parent chaperone.

Pizza Movie Night – March 12th - This is a very successful event that begins with Arts & Crafts and then the child goes to their designated room to watch the movie. Parent volunteers are needed to help run the Arts & Crafts table and then sit in each room while the movie is playing.

Wine Tasting - Saturday, March 28th, 7:00pm - Huge event that begins months ahead of time to collect Auction Items, Food, Raffle Items. A lot of people are needed to make this night a successful. If you are interested in helping out or learning more about this event contact Janice Luecke, jcl05115@yahoo.com.

Pancake Breakfast & Art Show - May 15 - This date is currently being planned. Right now and leaning towards the 8th as there is a conflict with the 15th. The Cafeteria is also looking for volunteers to cook pancakes and help out this day. If you would like to volunteer for this event, please contact PTO President Maryann Vigliotta at mvigliotta@antigenics.com.

Family Picnic June - Construction will be underway for our new school so the picnic will take place in back of the school this year. This will give us an opportunity to do things a little different. It is also important to try to schedule this around all of the baseball/t-ball games scheduled.

Field Day June - Always during school hours. Ms. Bannon runs this event and will send out a notice for when volunteers are needed. An Ice Cream social is also sponsored by the PTO. Cindy Collins will coordinate volunteers when the time comes.

Other Events or Comments Added - Math night will not take place this year as federal government has made too many cutbacks. The school is looking into some other ideas of events or activities that can be planned. Also, Disco Party and Holiday Ice Cream Social (See Social Committee below).

Adopt a Class and Student Volunteers
When PTO hosts events, high school students may participate to volunteer and earn points for hours spent. These hours go towards points they earn for a scholarship fund.

Committees

Fundraising

PTO Dues - Currently going on. We are a little behind this year assuming this is due to the economy. This year is the first year we have struggled in collecting dues from families and participation is down. To date, $1585.50 has been collected. Usually we are around 2,280.00. If you haven’t paid the PTO Dues, please send in as all portions of this money go toward the school. Review Treasurer’s Report below for some examples of how this money is used.

Toast to Memorial – A lot of volunteers are needed for this event. This event is our main fundraiser and generates around 10,000 to Memorial. If anyone has any contacts for Sports Memorabilia, tickets, etc. please reach out to your contacts for this event. The more auction/raffle items we have the more successful this event will be. If you would like to learn more about becoming a volunteer or what types of planning help is needed with, contact Janice Luecke, jcl05115@yahoo.com.

SCRIP Program - A percent of each card purchased comes back to Memorial. This is not inclusive to Memorial families. Friends and families can also participate in Scrips. More information to come on whether this program will continue.

Target, Box Tops, Shaw’s - On some of your grocery products (Cereal boxes, Ziploc boxes, etc. there are Box Top coupons. Simply clip these and drop them in the Box Top bucket in the school library. A check is cut to Memorial twice a year. Due in Oct 30 and Feb 28 checks come to the school approximately two months later.

Another program is being looked into through Shaw's where those signed up will get a percentage back for all purchases made against their Shaw’s reward card. Maryann is in the middle of submitting the paperwork for this. Look for an update at the next meeting.

Enrichment (Donna Noonan and Rebecca Sobolewski) – See Principals Report.

Social Committee (Cyndi Collins) – Cyndi was not able to attend the meeting but wanted to see if a Friday night in Jan or Feb can be selected and set aside now for a disco dance in the gym. Some ideas Cyndi was thinking of would be a DJ in gym, disco ball, darkened gym with white lights strung to illuminate area, bright colorful decor, kids can dress 70's or funky!

As always Cyndi will also organized the ice cream social during lunch before Christmas break.

These items will be added to the calendar.

5th Grade Committee Report

§ Karen Rickershauser will meet with the 5th grade committee after Halloween to start coordinating the 5th grade activities. Moving up celebration which is a beautiful event (both parents should try to attend this the last Thursday of the school year (June 17).

There was a comment/tip made about taking pictures for 5th Grade yearbook and even pictures through out year for lower grades. This way when the time comes for your grade level to be involved in 5th Grade Yearbook there will be plenty of pictures of the children through their days at Memorial.

Miscellaneous Items

Spirit Wear (Kerry Conley) - Samples of Spirit Wear is right outside Guidance Office. Orders are due in by October 16th. These items make an excellent Holiday Gift for your child. If you are planning on ordering for the holidays, put a note on the order form so that Kerry will not send the order home with your child when it arrives.

Baked Goods: Looking for volunteers to make (or buy) baked goods for the teachers once a month. Enough food for 30 people. Bring them in by 8:30am. A lot of volunteers came forward at the meeting. The following dates are now covered:

November – Bridget Jay
December – Stacey Afshar
January – Caroline Mallard
February – Sandy Young
March – Susan Lavacchia
April – Laura Pinkham/ Kristen Pavao
May – Jane Flanagan
June - Joanne Petrovich

Dawn Morris has been supplying Fat Free Cream for teachers for the past two years as a personal donation. If anyone would like to buy cream from time to time to help out, please contact Dawn Morris morrisddme@verizon.net to discuss further.

Dollars for Scholars - Maryann will be presenting a check to the Community Scholarship Fundraiser which runs 10/13 - 10/15. Memorial PTO makes a donation to this each year. Maryann will be on TV 10/14 to present this check for $100.

Set up a subcommittee for the wine-tasting - again volunteers are needed to run this event successfully. If you are interested in becoming involved in this fun filled event, contact Janice Luecke, jcl05115@yahoo.com.

Treasurers’ Report - (See Attached .jpg file in email).

Budget Review, Additions, Subtractions - There are some events listed on the budget where we don't expect to get money but usually wind up with small dollar amounts for these events ($100 or so). Our Wine tasting is our big money maker. Some other things the PTO does with this money is

We give out classroom backpack folders
Pay for the cost of the Enrichment Program
Bournedale Scholarships
For Field Day we donate the moon bounce
We give $200 for every classroom for a field trip to help sponsor a bus.
We donate 5,000 to the 5th Grade Committee to produce their yearbook.
We provide snacks under hospitality.
We supply gym equipment (basket balls, outside balls, etc.)
Provide for specialists if they hold any events during the year (Music, etc.).
For Teacher Appreciation we supply a full year supply of coffee.
Last year we hosted a staff appreciation for cafeteria.
$200 Staples gift card were given to each grade for supplies for the classrooms.
We also provide a $500 scholarship for a female and a male. Students are selected around April or May.

All the money that comes in goes right back to the school.

School Supplies - Is a non-profit event. Secretary Note: We usually get a 5% discount based on when the contract is signed which is passed on to the parents. With a new company used last year they offered a 9% discount if the contract was signed by August 31. Dawn took advantage of this and this 9% savings will be passed onto the parents who participate in this program.

Tax Exempt Status – Not discussed at meeting.

Miscellaneous

Burlington Family Dental collects candy for Treats for Troops. Carolyn Mallard contacted Dr. Feldman's office to see if we could partner up with them. Collectively we collect 500 - 600 pounds of candy. When they heard the weight they decided to just stick to their own Treats for Troops program. Carolyn is going to approach them again to see if they would be willing to submit a donation based on how many pounds of candy is collected as an incentive for kids to bring their candy in. Another incentive was mentioned to show pictures of troops, etc.

Miscellaneous

Mrs. Breton's husband, formerly the girl’s basketball coach at Marshall Simons, has become paralyzed do to a sudden illness that hit him last spring. All equipment he needs in the house as well as most supplies is not covered by insurance. They are paying most of his care and supplies out of pocket. The PTO discussed submitting something for a fundraising event being held on 11/28, from 4 - 8pm at the American Legion Hall in Burlington (Winn Street). Tickets are $35.00 for anyone who would like to attend. (This event is not being sponsored or run by the PTO). Personal Donations would also be accepted and made payable to Carol Breton. You may send your check to Michele Burnham as she volunteered to coordinate these donations.

A discussion took place during the meeting on whether or not the PTO should make a $100 donation. All voted and agreed. Mrs. Rickershauser also recommended putting together a multi cultural basket for Memorial to show their as Peter really took to the Japanese Drum. Maybe in the basket we could include a CD of Japanese Drums and other multi-cultural items. This basket would go directly to the fundraiser for Memorial to show their support.

Principal's Report
Through the Enrichment Program Rob Surette, Hero Art Artist was here in the school last year. His theme, “Be someone”, was an inspiration to the kids. He encouraged the children to use their passion and talent to make a difference. Two portraits that he painted are on display in the lower level.

Donna Noonan through Enrichment has already arranged for Ball in the House to come to Memorial. They are an Acapella band who performs up on stage. The other thing Enrichment does is Donna is very careful about arranging grade level specific events. She coordinates having readers come. For example, a map lady is coming in to speak with 3rd grade classes to align with the student’s curriculum.

Starting on Tuesday we are starting the RTI Initiative that you heard about Back to School Night. This is very carefully targeted instruction for what children need. There is constant progress monitoring so kids are constantly changing based on what kids are good at and what kids need. The DRA diagnostic reading assessment was presented to children last year to show what each child understands on what they read. This is one kind of indication that will tell the parents where the children are in their reading. A letter will be going out tomorrow that will explain all this. Your child may have another teacher for reading other than their own teacher based on their assessment level. This will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Some of the grade levels have already begun and these students really enjoy the change of pace of having another teacher. Some children in addition to this will be getting some intervention in a 30 minute block.

Principal's Report
All grade levels all have the same blocks of time where they learn Reading, Math, etc. Reading will take place across the board for all children. These structured blocks help the teachers run a more efficient classroom that targets to the child’s needs of following a schedule.

If you have questions or concerns feel free to contact Mrs. Rickershauser. Tomorrow she will be having her first coffee meeting for first grade parents to come in and discuss any concerns. She is trying to do each coffee meeting by grade level and notices will go out once the meeting is scheduled for the applicable grade.

If you are hearing people talk about Memorial Arrival, safety is a BIG issue this year. It has never been this bad. Safety is the operative word here and all the school is trying to do is keep the children and parents safe. Reminder the side access road through the church cannot be accessed during certain times. The school is trying to work on having posted signs that stipulates when cars may enter and exit through this road. 781-270-1720 is Karen’s direct line. Feel free to call her anytime. If she is not available leave her information on what you are calling for so she may be prepared when she calls you back.

Next Meeting November 4th - If this date is going to be changing notice will go out in the School Newsletter.

Adjourned: 8:17pm
Minutes Recorded by: Dawn Morris