March 2009

Friday, March 6, 2009

9:15 am in Room 202

14 Members Present

Welcome!  Clare Scott thanked everyone for coming.

Prior Month Meeting Minutes – Review & Approve (Deb M)

Treasurer’s Report – Review & Approve (Dianne)

Motion to approve minutes & treasurers report:

1st:Sheryl Baran                                              2nd: Steph Skilton                                          All

Executive Committee Report

• 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.
• All committee chairs should put together an overview of what their committees do and important dates.  Please not only place this in the paper file, but also send it electronically to Sue McGorry & Clare Scott.
• If you need art supplies for anything – please check the PTO closet – we have lots!
• Playground Update:  Walk through scheduled for end of March.  Hope to be able to make firm announcement about purchase in May.
• Dianne:  Reviewed beginning of the year budget. The beginning balance included monies already designated for retirement gifts and teacher appreciation funds from last Spring. The monies not allocated were approximately $4,700.The projected Year-End Balance for June is conservatively around $10,000. Any extra monies will need to go to the playground fund. The playground equipment will be purchased and installed this summer. Dianne recommended any remaining funds stay in the bank to give a strong start to next year.

Teacher Remarks – Mrs. Holmes

• The Valentine Day Parties went smoothly. The timing worked much better with allowing parents into the classrooms at 2:15PM. It was not as rushed.
• Suggested the PTO Newsletter go home by Family, not to each student. Clare stated that this was requested for February and March, but she will follow up again with a second request.

Items for Review, Discussion & Voting:

• Discussion ensued around the annual PTO membership fee. Fran Ledeboer made a motion to allow all families and staff to be PTO members without a fee attached to membership. The directory will be available to all electronically, with a hard copy available by request only. Lisa Supplee seconded the motion. Approved by All.

Further discussion involved the look of the new directory, most notably the advertising that is currently done by local businesses. This is something that will be looked at in greater detail over the next few months.

Family Night & Auctions (Debby & Karen)

Thank you to Stephanie Skilton for volunteering to help chair the event for next year.       

We are collecting ideas for next year.  Please share them with any committee chair.  We will discuss new ideas at our March 10th “After Meeting.”  Committee Coordinators:  Event Coordinators: Debby Keba (610) 298-8055; keba@ptd.net"

Stephanie Skilton; Silent Auction: Karen Blaine, Katie Jeanes; Chinese Auction:  Deb Maurer & Carolyn Price; Entertainment: Becky Kistler; Refreshments: Lynn Pleban, Tanya Smargiassi; Ticket Sales: Jolene Mitich, Sue Shankweiler

Gift of Giving (Debbie)

       A collection is being taken for Easter dinners for families. Please see Committee Updates page for March Food Drive Items. Also, a clothing drive is happening for a family with five boys who recently lost their home in a fire. Please drop items off with Mrs. McGrath.

Market Day (Debby)

Volunteers needed help at sale starting from 4:00 to whenever you can or 6:30 at the latest (call Becky).

Encourage relatives, neighbors and friends to order. Only 3 months left to order before summer break.

Please share some of your family’s favorite MD items.  We’d all love to hear about them.  In March - Save 10% off orders of $80 or more.  Promo Code SAVE10 at checkout.  Debby Keba (610) 298-8055 & Amy Link (610) 298-8963; Becky Kistler: Sale Day Volunteers (610) 657-5621; Karen Winter: Telephone Volunteers (610) 285-4983

Nominating Committee (Lisa G, Susan D & Sue S) –

Clare, Sue, Dianne & Deb M. are interested in returning to their positions.  We are definitely in need of Secretary – Newsletter (& Bulletin Board), but if you are interested in any of the 5 positions, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee (Lisa Garbacik lgarbaci@ptd.net" ,Susan Dellicker - sfd1@ptd.net & Sue Shankweiler - alysmi@ptd.net).  All positions are always available.  We will also be proactively reaching out to individuals whom we believe would be an asset to the PTO.      

Play Days & Elementary Challenge (Susan D & Lisa G)

All students, K-5, to get a Weisenberg Water Bottle in May.  All new students going forward will be welcomed with a water bottle. Going forward, 5th graders will receive a t-shirt for their spring track & field day. Play Day will again be at the Rec fields this year due to construction. K-2 will go to the fields after arriving at Weisenberg for attendance.

Play Day is scheduled for 5/21, with a rain date of 5/22. Elementary Challenge will remain the same, with the Third and Fourth graders competing against Northwestern Elementary at the rec fields. Weisenberg students will be asked to wear gold shirts this year. The date for Elementary challenge is May 27th, with a rain date of May 28th.

Roller Skating Party (Kathy/Clare)

Cancelled due to the weather.  We were unable to secure the facility for next week and therefore all money has been returned to ticket purchasers.  Kathy has reserved the rink for the 2 parties next year (our deposit from this party just rolls over).  There was discussion around the possibility of changing the event to a different day of the week. Kathy will need to check on rink availability. Second discussion item; whether to give each staff person a ticket for admission. Lisa Supplee made a motion to give every staff member and their family an admission ticket. Steph Skilton seconded the motion. Approved by All.

TV Turn-Off Week (Rachael)

Would like parent on the plans for the week.  Would like to give every student a “survival kit” the Friday before and then post most activities online.

By-Laws  (Clare)

A review and approval of the by-laws has been completed by the Executive Committee.  Clare reviewed the major changes and asked for discussion.  Questions:  Do we want to have “Term Limits” for any role on the Executive Committee? No member present expressed a desire to add term limits to the current bylaws.

 Should Elections for the following year take place earlier in the future in order to make sure a smooth transition happens? Lisa Garbacik made a motion to move up elections to March for the 2009-10 school year and approve the newly created bylaws. Lisa Supplee seconded the motion.

Approved by All.

Principal Remarks

• The school newsletter will now be electronic. Clare has offered to send out a notice when the monthly newsletter is available.
• PSSA dates are approaching quickly. Testing will take place the week of March 16^th.
• Meetings are continuing with the Fifth grade teachers to discuss curriculum. Math will most likely be handled like it is at the Third and Fourth grade level. A pre-test will be given to divide the students into groups based on ability.
• Mrs. Cartier announced there are no plans for “re-districting” when both elementary schools are complete.
• Construction is going well and is on schedule. There will be lots of packing and moving going on in the building in late Spring and over the Summer. A moving company will be used, but parent volunteers will also be needed.
• Thank you for the help with the Valentine Day parties.
• Thank you to the PTO for the donation of paints, markers and crayons for the children in Guatamalea.
• The District is looking at all components of the budget during this significant economic downturn.
• Staffing for next year: 15 children will be returning to Weisenberg for first grade that attended kindergarten at Northwestern Elementary. K-2 children need the smallest class size to build strong learning foundations. There most likely will not be a fifth section for Fourth grade next year.

Discussion Items from the Floor (Open)

• A suggestion was made to have a lap top available at Kindergarten registration and orientation to allow parents to sign up for PTO manager.

Thank you for attending our PTO Meeting.  We hope to see you again!!

 The next Meeting is Friday, April 3rd at 9:15 am in Room 202.

Attendance Prize Winner: Lisa Supplee

Weisenberg Elementary School

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