October Meeting Minutes

Winans PTO Meeting Minutes
October 4, 2011 / 6:30pm / Winans Library

Attendance: Principal Jim Huntzicker, Lora Brown, Lessie Sites, Jessica Tyner, Muffy Norquist, Jamie Melin,

1. More communications sent to families
• Welcome letter explaining PTO, our blog and mailing address, meeting times, plans/purposes, etc. Jamie will fwd the one from last year and Lora &/or Jessi will edit & distribute

• We will collect email addresses from parents by attaching a form to the Welcome Letter; forms can be returned to the PTO inbox and Jamie can add them to the email list.

2. Fundraisers
• Send a more detailed letter out about Innisbrook and its purposes, especially for families new to Winans

3. Popcorn Early Release Days
[A huge chunk of our meeting time was spent trying to find ways to make Popcorn Fridays work—should we take a count? How should we distribute popcorn, etc. Our final decision was this:]

• Popcorn will be popped and served to everyone who wants it on Early Release Wednesdays right after lunch. We will send a flyer home announcing that EVERYONE gets popcorn on Early Release Wednesdays and parents can make a $2 donation to the PTO popcorn fund to cover their child (each child) for the year.

• Muffy Norquist is our popcorn coordinator.

4. Committees
We still need parent volunteers for the following committees this year

• Read Week- publicize read week activities (usually through newspaper and take-home flyers) to inspire community involvement; recruit volunteers from the community to come read to the students during the week (March 5-9, 2012); coordinate with Marcia and teachers to organize volunteers; Coincides with the Green Eggs and Ham Dinner/ Dr. Seuss Birthday Party being coordinated by The Melin Family.

• Carnival- in April or May, committee active from February through carnival, will work closely with Eastside PTO committee

• Teacher Appreciation- week of May 7-11, 2012. Think of ways to recognize and thank our teachers and staff throughout the week, traditionally culminating in a potluck luncheon on Friday the 11th.

• Muffy Norquist is our Popcorn coordinator
• Lessie Sites is our Box Tops for Education coordinator

5. Officers and Future Meetings
• Lora Brown has been elected PRESIDENT
• Jessica Tyner has been elected TREASURER
• Jamie Melin will serve as SECRETARY (again)

• Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm in the Winans Library starting NOVEMBER 1st unless you get an email stating otherwise.

• We are in desperate need of more involvement with our PTO; please let us know if you can serve on a committee or what you are willing to do; get signed up for PTO emails and tell your friends to do it, too. Parental involvement, even to a smallest degree, improves your child’s experience at the school and keeps you informed.

6. November 10th Soup & Bread Dinner for Teachers during Parent-Teacher Conferences; Lora Brown is donating meat & vegetables for Jamie Melin to make and serve 2 soups; volunteers needed for rolls and desserts. Please email Jamie Melin if you want to donate sweets or bread or drinks for this event (drop off anytime on Nov. 10th)—jamiemelin@msn.com

• Treasurer report: Same status as last month; Jessica Tyner was elected Treasurer at this meeting and will present a report at our next meeting—November 1st at 5:30pm in the Library.

Innisbrook Fundraiser Begins TODAY!

September 2011 Meeting Minutes

Winans PTO Meeting Minutes
September 20, 2011 / 6:30pm / Winans Library

Attendance: Principal Jim Huntzicker, Lora Brown, Christina Howell, Jessica Tyner, Muffy Norquist, Terry Chambers, Pat Thums, Jamie Melin, Superintendent Rich Moore

No officers were elected last year, so Principal Jim Huntzicker led this meeting


What do we want PTO to be? Review of fundraising, activities, goals

1. Fundraising:
• agreed to continue to raise funds to support teachers with stipends and field trip funds
• agreed to continue with Innisbrook (fall) and Braided Bread (spring) fundraisers; motion by Jamie to hold Innisbrook fundraiser Oct 3-17 as contracted, seconded by Christina, all in favor.
• Teacher stipend amounts will be determined based on Innisbrook earnings at our next meeting.

2. Popcorn Fridays have been changed to “Popcorn Early Release Days”
• After much discussion and many suggestions, it was decided at least for now, to do popcorn on Early Release Wednesdays and deliver them to classrooms before dismissal. On ER days, it was suggested that teachers take a popcorn count (just like the lunch count), which will be reported to the “poppers” and delivered to avoid mess and distraction. Muffy and Lora volunteered to do Popcorn, but would appreciate more parent volunteers and would like to schedule a popcorn orientation to learn how to pop and how to maintain the machine and inventory and how to clean the machine.

3. Combining Eastside & Winans Activities
• Each school will maintain separate PTO’s and officers and fundraisers, but will combine for large activities like the Crazy Mountain spring play and the Carnival.
• We still want to do Read Week and Teacher Appreciation; Jamie Melin will do the Dr. Seuss Birthday Party again, but we still need to set up committees for Teacher App and Carnival

4. Parent Advisory Committee
• Mr. Moore, our new superintendent, is setting up a committee of parents to give feedback and help draft a new Parent Involvement Plan (“PIP”). The first meeting is planned for mid-October. Please give Mr. Huntzicker your name if you are interested in serving on the committee.

5. Officers and Future Meetings
• Lora Brown and Jessica Tyner will serve as co-presidents
• Jamie Melin will serve as secretary (again)
• Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the Winans Library starting NOVEMBER 8th unless you get an email stating otherwise.
• We are in desperate need of more involvement with our PTO; please let us know if you can serve on a committee or what you are willing to do; get signed up for PTO emails and tell your friends to do it, too. Parental involvement, even to a smallest degree, improves your child’s experience at the school and keeps you informed.

Treasurer report: We do not have a treasurer for this year YET (hint, hint); Jim is guardian of the funds/checkbook until we do.

WELCOME BACK!

The 2011-2012 School Year has begun! Here are a few highlights from September's Newsletter:

MOST IMPORTANT to us: The first PTO meeting of the year will be on
TUESDAY September 20

at 6 p.m.

Teachers and parents are both invited to attend. This is a great time to meet the other parents and more of the teachers. This active group is a great support for our school. This meeting is a time to set new plans for the school year. Please join us.


WINANS OPEN HOUSE

Monday, September 19th, 5-6pm.

Please come meet the staff and visit your child’s classroom and see a part of what their school day is like.


BOX TOPS + INK & TONER CARTRIDGES

We collect Box Tops and cartridges and turn then for cash (each box top really IS worth a dime! Send them in!) or store credit. Please give the boxtops to your classroom teacher and drop off the cartridges at the office.

WE DID IT!

Our Rock Wall project is finally complete! (since Winans is now a K-2 school, we downsized our "wall" to age-appropriate climbing rocks). Congratulations to all you students who worked so hard selling braided bread the past two years to earn the money...you did it!

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Tammy, Lewis, our outgoing PTO President, whose idea and project this was. Thanks for all your hard work, Tammy, and for working so hard the past few years on behalf of Winans students!! Also, we whole-heartedly thank JOSH ALKIRE and MOODY IMPLEMENT for donating time and equipment to install the rocks. THANK YOU SO MUCH from all the happy students, parents, faculty, and staff at Winans!

MAY PTO MEETING MINUTES

Winans PTO Meeting Minutes
May 5, 2010 / 6:30pm / SGMS Library

Attendance: Tammy Lewis, Jim Huntzicker, Sue Meador, Carol Anne Romans, Amanda Alkire, Bob Stevenson, Jamie Melin

I. rock wall (Tammy)
-Has been installed, need to finish black stuff (tuftimbers) and gravel cushion
-Big hit, gratification for lower grades who did so much of the fundraising
-Invoice has been paid
-BIG THANKS to Josh Alkire and Moody Implement for donating time & talent for installation

II. yearbook (Zanya/Jamie)
-production status: waiting for word from PFL on production--our part is done, we may need PO from Jim, check if Zanya has heard from PFL, timeframe?
-PTO buys one for each student? decide May 20th, depends on stipend payouts, budget, etc.; if we don’t have enough to give books away, we can at least subsidize the cost down to $2-3. They are REALLY nice this year!

III. box tops reward ice cream party (Tammy)
-budget $100 (approx) –we made $500 from box tops this year
-scheduled for Thurs. June 9th, Amanda volunteered to help with ice cream party

IV. treasurer report (Carol)-attached in email

V. teacher stipends (Carol)- attached in email
-Tammy motioned to make teachers’ receipts due by May 20th for stipend reimbursements
-Carol seconded, all in favor

VI. balance to leave in checkbook (Carol)
-Carol motioned to leave $500 in account for next year (the same as Eastside is doing)
-Amanda seconded, all in favor

VII. review of focus group discussion (group)
-One more meeting planned for this month to invite more people and hold a vote. Angie Tinsley, pres of Eastside PTO, and Carol Anne, Winans treasurer, are arranging this meeting. If you have an opinion about PTO, come and vote for or against having joint PTO next year. You will receive an email with details on the meeting when it’s set.
-After the focus group, we are leaning toward a joint Eastside-Winans PTO with 2 treasurers/accounts, combining several projects (we are especially excited about the potential for a joint carnival) and doing 3-4 fundraisers next year. This will give the experienced parents a chance to mentor new PTO parents/ officers and share their experience, as well as combining the resources of both schools; also convenient to attend ONE meeting if you have children at BOTH SCHOOLS. Think about it…

APRIL PTO MEETING MINUTES

Winans PTO Meeting Minutes

Thursday April 14, 2011/ 6:30pm, Winans Library

Attendance: Amanda Alkire, Carol Anne Romans, Jamie Melin, Christina Howell, Lessie Sites, Jim Huntzicker, Tammy Lewis

Braided Bread Fundraiser totals-Tammy
(1) Last year we made $2500 in profit, sold 496 units
(2) This year we made $3454.23, sold 663 units

Rock Wall?-Tammy
We decided to keep the plan for the rock wall installation despite the grade level division. Current Rock Wall Fund balance is approx. $8,000 with braided bread money.

(1) Motion by Carol Anne, seconded by Amanda to deposit all braided bread money into Rock Wall Fund
(2) Motion by Carol Anne, seconded by Jamie to transfer excess funds from PTO checking account at year end (approx. $5,000.) to Rock Wall Fund, bringing Rock Wall Fund total to approx. $13,000.
(3) A committee was formed to choose new equipment appropriate for K-2 Grade Level AND to coordinate installation timing & costs. This committee, headed by Tammy Lewis, joined by Christina, Lessie, and Amanda, will meet Monday, April 18th at 10:30am at Christina’s home (across the street from Winans at 1006 W. Clark Street).
Treasurer Report- Carol Anne (see attached)

Carnival—Plans, Insurance Issues—Carol Anne (see attached) NEED VOLUNTEERS!

Stipend Totals- Carol Anne (see attached)

Yearbook Update- Zanya Betley is chairperson
(1) Class collages are done—Thank you, teachers, for all the great photos this year!
(2) Get Lifetouch Class Pictures on disk from Jim
(3) Get T-Shirt Art (digital copy) from Tammy to use on yearbook cover
(4) Create mock-up and production schedule (Zanya & Jamie will do this next week)
(5) Put all of the above in an envelope and deliver to PFL by April 22nd
(6) Tammy & Zanya coordinate on a pre-selling form & pre selling display for Carnival (4/29)

Teacher Appreciation Update- Who’s in charge of the week?
(1) We need a parent to serve as the general coordinator of the T.A. Week Activities.
(2) Let Jamie know if you want to use the Wishing Tree again—I’ll bring it on 4/25
(3) These are our volunteers so far:
Erin Nelson (gifts, etc.)-
Sarah Knecht (lunch 5/6)-
FROM SARAH: I am working tomorrow and will not attend meeting, Here is an update.
Staff -44
Napkins, Plates, Utensils-provided, Cups-needed (Jamie will bring more forks)
$50.00 Budget-added donations
Menu:
2-4 Soups depending on quantities either 1/2 gallon of 4 or 2 at 1 gallon each
6 dozen Sandwiches
Chicken Salad on Croissant
Italian Stack me up with salami, ham, cheeses, peppers, spinach, chili mayonnaise
Turkey Clubs with Bacon-Still Need
Green Salad with lots of veggies
2 dressing choices
Cheesecake, Fruit
Donations (so far):
7 layer bean dip and chips- Cassie Wagman
1 Gallon soup-Allysa Davis-406-223-792-she will deliver in crock pot day of
Sandrine Olds-will bring Salad and cookies-she will deliver
Sara Banstra is going to make soup
Sarah Knecht down for the Italian stack me up sandwiches and Fabu Ice Tea
Jacqueline Boreham on chicken salad
Krystal Cipriani will bring the fruit, cups, a veggie tray and one dozen sandwiches
Cheesecake-5 dozen slices
Ellen Gemperlein McDonald will provide two cheesecakes
Francis Smith-Fruit tray
Nicole R Ritter-1 Cheesecake

PTO--What to do next year, K-2? Officers?
(1) We decided to do some exploration and recruiting for our May meeting in light of the Grade Level changes. Some suggestions included forming two PTO’s—one for each school—and meeting together +/- 3 times a year, dissolving PTOs and starting them up independently next September.
(2) Carol Anneorganized a PTO meeting for ALL ELEMENTARY PARENTS on Thursday May 5 at 5:30pm at the SGMS Library.
(3) Our regular Winans PTO meeting will follow that meeting at 6:30—we’ll try to just have it be a continuation, or else we will make it for 7pm in the Winans Library. I (secretary) will send you an email confirming time and location. For now, please mark the 5th on your calendars! We need you now more than ever.
Addendum--Here is the letter CA sent out on April 15th:

Greetings,

You have been invited to attend a focus group to plan and prepare for the future Parent Teacher Organization for our schools under the new grade level structure. An idea has been proposed to combine the schools under one cohesive PTO which will collaboratively function for both schools. The meeting will take place on May 5th at 5:30 p.m. in the SGMS Library and should last about one hour.

The purpose of this meeting is to decide if a unified PTO would benefit the new grade level structure. If so, we could establish a mission statement and compare the traditional PTO functions for both schools including fundraisers, projects, yearbooks, teacher stipends, teacher appreciation etc. Then we could have an open meeting later in May for administrators, parents and teachers from both schools to elect officers, establish a budget (wishlist), and gather ideas for the upcoming school year.

My personal belief is that this would be an effective way to help bridge this transitional process and I would love to hear back from you as to your ideas or comments with this proposal.

Thank You,
Carol Anne Romans