Meeting Minutes » January 2009
January 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009 9:05 am in Room 202 16 Members present Welcome! President, Clare Scott called the meeting to order 9:13 AM Thank you for coming! Prior Month Meeting Minutes – Review & Approve (Deb M) Treasurer’s Report – Review & Approve (Dianne) Motion to approve minutes & treasurers report: 1st: Lisa Garbacik 2nd: Jolene Mitich All Executive Committee Report o As your program/committee wraps up, Sue McGorry will be contacting you to get your files and to see if you are interested in continuing next year. o Thanks to all of the committee chairs who have been doing a great job with all of the programs we are offering. o If you need art supplies for anything – please check the PTO closet – we have lots! Teacher Remarks – Mrs. Holmes - Thank you for the wonderful Holiday Parties.
Principle Remarks- Clare reporting for Mrs. Cartier Thank you to everyone who helped with our holiday events and parties and for
all of the donated items for needy families in our community. Happy New
Year to everyone!
Watch for a date change confirmation of the January 23 In-Service day (most
likely Jan. 27). At our January 19 In-Service, our K-5 staff will be
together at Weisenberg and we will be working on mapping our math curriculum
at all grade levels K-5. Mapping identifies what each grade level currently
teaches each month throughout the year, how our students are assessed and
how our teaching aligns to our curriculum and state math standards. The
process provides the foundation for making any necessary adjustments to our
curriculum.
Construction Updates:
Phase III and IV construction is underway. We are planning for the shift
back into the remaining renovated spaces and for the arrival of the grade
five staff. Punch list items continue to be addressed in the new wing as
planned.
Items for Review, Discussion & Voting: Before and After School Programs (Susan) - Children may not be dropped off before 8:15. Please drive up to the main entrance and let your child out. Please do not park and walk your child into the building.
- Fit Kids for 3rd/4th grade did not meet this past Wednesday, due to the snow day. Fit Kids will run one additional week to make up this day.
- Please check your e-mail regarding weather. Some instructors have chosen to hold their club during the 2-hour delay time period of 10:15-11 am. Same drop-off policy applies. You will be notified through e-mail or by phone by your instructor. If school is closed, there will be no Before-After School Clubs that day. If your instructor can not make-up the club during the two-hour delay, an additional week will be added at the end of the session.
- Upcoming Spring clubs will be: 3rd grade book club, 1st/2nd grade Fit Kids, 3rd grade Spanish Language Session II, 4th grade Math Rocks (after school), and the final session IV of Shocking Discoveries (4th grade).
Copy / Office Committee (Sheryl) Thank you to all who helped with the DIBEL books, and with the kindergarten word cards. We still have more word cards to do, and I'm sure other work will be forthcoming. Now that we're in the new building, we might even be able to use the RISO copier! If there is anyone who would like to have things sent home to do, please let me know. I think Mrs. Gilligan needs more bookmarks cut as well! Thanks again! Family Night (Debby Keba (610) 298-8055; keba@ptd.net) Auctions: Karen Blaine, Katie Jeanes, Deb Maurer (Chinese Auction) Entertainment: Becky Kistler Refreshments: Lynn Pleban, Tanya Smargiassi Ticket Sales: Jolene Mitich, Sue Shankweiler o Event date: Friday, January 30, 2009 from 6:30 to about 8:45 PM at Weisenberg. o Entertainment: The Allentown Symphony’s Musical Treasure Chest o Ticket/info flyer will go home in January, twice. - Tickets will be sold Thurs & Fri, Jan 29th & 30thth in AM at school and at the door for an additional $1 each. o Anyone interested in helping out in anyway, contact a coordinator or stay for today’s meeting after the PTO meeting. o New coat check this year. Key Club from the high school will run the coat check out of the guidance office. A donation jar will be on the table. All proceeds will go directly to the Key Club. o Reminder: No food or drink in gym. Silent Auction (Clare for Karen) o Auction solicitation flyer went home twice, and once via e-mail o We are well on our way for donations – to meet the # donated in the past. Some great items coming in – will be exciting to bid on. o Please consider donating an item to either the Silent or Chinese Auction. In the past about 50% of our donations came from families. Some great ideas include gift baskets, arts & craft materials, tickets to games, certificate to a salon, etc… Or have an item donated by a vendor/business partner. o Discussion on the Chinese Auction. Goal is to have as many children as possible win. One prize per child. Market Day (Debby) o Next Sale: Tuesday, Jan.27th from 5:30 to 6:15; On-line orders due Wed., Jan. 21st by 12 noon o December 2008 Results: Sales:$5,560 . Profits: $1,090. o Customers: 78. Items: 700 .(FYI: Last December 2007, sales were $9,065) o Volunteers needed help at sale starting from 4:00 to whenever you can or 6:30 at the latest (call Becky). We were very short on helpers! We had to use some kids to pack, which often leads to errors. o Had more “no shows” than normal. Could have been because of the snow. o Hint: Place your on-line order early in January to take full advantage of daily prize drawings by Market Day: Disney Cruises, iPod Nanos, Market Day Gift Certificates. 1,000 prizes, estimated chance of winning is 1 in 225. Mitten Tree (Amy M & Tanya) - Thank you to all the Weisenberg families who donated to the Mitten Tree. The tree was decorated from top to bottom with 180 items! Thanks to your generosity, donations went to Weisenberg families as well as an Allentown school.
- A new tree was purchased for next year. 7 ft. pre-lit foldable. $53.00!! If anyone would like the old tree, please let me know. We will be getting rid of it if not.
Party Parents (Fran & Sue) The Holiday Parties were a wonderful success - lots of fun activities, games and treats. Thank you to all the volunteers and those that donate any items. Kindly forward your folder to the Valentine's Party Coordinator. The Valentine's Day Party will be held on Thursday, February 12 at 2:30.
Yearbook (Layout – Deana; Sales – Marcie) The layout committee will begin working on pages for the yearbook this month. Pictures can still be submitted to Deana Sewald at dne1196@aol.com or dropped off in the office, labeled "yearbook". Sales flyers will go home with students this month. Discussion Items from the Floor (Open) Lisa McGrath sent a thank you note. Twenty-one families benefited from the Secret Santa program. Guest Speakers: Brian Uplinger (Asst. Superintendent) & Larry Morris (Dir. of Transportation) Both guest speakers held an open question and answer session. Questions posed to Brian Uplinger: - Is there a policy for consolidating bus stops?
Answer: The District has taken on a goal of reducing fuel costs. Stops will be consolidated when there is less than 2/10th of a mile between stops for elementary children and 3/10th of a mile for secondary students. - Why is there no policy in place for a screening process or background checks on the volunteers in the District buildings?
Answer: Mr .Uplinger stated the District can take a look at this. He will take it to the District Safety Committee and the School Board for consideration. Discussion ensued about parent volunteers. There are unwritten policies in place such as the parent volunteers should not use the same bathroom as the children. Also no parent volunteer should be alone with a student(s) at any time. - Will metal detectors be put in place at Weisenberg?
Answer: Mr. Uplinger did not feel this was necessary at this time. There will be a buzzer/lock on the second door, which currently is not locked. There is also a need for a night bell for entrance to evening events. - Will the current kindergarten class that was sent to Northwestern Elementary be brought back to Weisenberg next year?
Answer: Yes. It may again necessitate adding a fifth class for the first grade. - What is being done to address indoor recess and the supervision of the children during this time?
Answer: The children will now start using the gym for indoor recess instead of individual class rooms today. This will allow fewer adults to watch more children. Questions for Larry Morris: 1. What is being done about the safety issue of children who need to walk along Claussville Rd. to get to and from their home to their bus stop? Answer: Larry stated he would come out and evaluate the bus stop of concern. 2. Is there anything done to monitor the speed of the busses? Answer: Larry stated the busses may look like they are going faster than the stated speed limit because of their size. He is always available to investigate specific, individual complaints. 3. Are there cameras on all the busses? Answer: There are boxes on all the buses, but only ten cameras that are rotated. 4. What is the rule regarding large items such as band instruments or sporting equipment on the bus? Answer: The item must be on the child’s lap, not in the aisle. No formal policy and procedure in this subject area. Depends on how crowded the bus is and safety concerns the driver may have. 5. Is there a separate bus for peanut allergy children? Answer: No. A protocol was developed for one bus to accommodate an extreme case. There is no set policy and procedure regarding food on the bus. Individual drivers decide. 6. Is there an acceptable time for a child to be on the bus? Answer: For elementary children it is attempted to keep the ride in one direction to 45 minutes or less. 7. Has there been any thought of having an extra adult on each bus to enforce discipline? Answer: Not planned at this time because of the associated costs of this. Thank you for attending our PTO Meeting. We hope to see you again!! The next Meeting is Tuesday, February 3rd at 6:30 pm in the Library. Attendance Prize Winner: __Susan Dellicker______ Meeting Adjourned at: __10:35 AM_____________
Weisenberg PTO
Northwestern Lehigh
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