February 2014 Minutes

Union Sanborn/Southwick School PTO

Meeting Minutes

February 6, 2014

In Attendance: Christie Mingolla, Christina, Leigh-Anne Phelps, Cindy Cilley, Mr. Hines, Mrs. Parker, Miss Wisler

The meeting was called to order at 6:35 by Leigh-Anne Phelps.

Secretary’s Report

• Leigh-Anne Phelps motioned to approve the minutes as submitted.  Mrs. Parker seconded.  All were in favor.  Motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report

• January expenses include Southwick School snacks ($7.00), Drama Club ($452.95), homework snacks for after school club ($69.78), holiday craft fair ($13.32).
• Monthly income: $799.00 from the pancake breakfast.
• Outstanding bills: parent internet meeting ($150.00) and Holiday Shoppe custodial fee ($200.00).
• Have $12380.71 in bank; this does not include income from pancake breakfast.
• Leigh-Anne Phelps motioned to accept the Treasurer’s Report as read.  Mr. Hines seconded.  All were in favor.  Motion passed.
• Cindy Cilley questioned if Drama Club would be submitting additional receipts, as the proposed budget was for ($500.00).

Dr. Miller

• Mr. Hines presented on Dr. Miller’s behalf as she was unable to attend
• Working on Go Math this year for elementary level, along with Mahesh strategies
• No definitive answer from state if this will be the last year of NECAP testing, or if we do it again next year. 
• We will be going to Smarter Balance (state wide); it is done on the computer.  Questions are set up differently, with higher level thinking; tries to get students to use factual information they have gained to solve problems. 
• Performance Assessments – teaching component then a couple of tasks students have to do.  Mr. Hines distributed an example of a 5^th Grade Performance Assessment in narrative writing.  As a staff, Southwick School has looked at a math example.  A rubric is provided to the students so they know what is expected of them; these are then graded by teachers.  The purpose of the assessment is to prepare students for Smarter Balance (those are graded by the scoring company).  This will be coming to Union Sanborn School as well, but scaffolded.
• Star Assessment replaces NWEA.  Smarter Balance replaces NECAP.  Positives of Star Assessment: takes less time (approx. 20 minutes per subject); lessons based on student performance. 
• It was asked if this would be for kindergarten and up.  Mr. Hines indicated it would probably be for first grade and up.

Tiger Program

• Mrs. Parker presented that the Tiger Program is a group of people from PSU that put on a dramatic presentation teaching children about bullying and anti-bullying.  This year, Southwick School tried a different program.  However, it turned out not as expected.  She wanted to know if there was any way PTO could help fund the Tiger Program for Southwick School as it has been successful and enjoyed by students in the past. 
• Cindy Cilley said she has seen it in the past, but feels it is not followed up with in the classroom.  Mrs. Parker indicated that she does it in her room and that Mr. Cheney also follows up and reinforces through-out the year in his lessons.  It was also mentioned that Ms. Kitto has a DVD to follow up as well.  Lesson plans were provided last year as well, that Mr. Cheney does for his guidance lessons. 
• Cindy Cilley questioned how much the new program cost.  Mr. Hines thought around $500.00 and believes that the Tiger Program is $650.00 per school.  He thinks he has $300.00 in the school assembly account that he can put towards it for Southwick School. 
• Leigh-Anne Phelps inquired if Mrs. Parker was looking for PTO to cover funds or to set it up.  Mrs. Parker responded that she can set it up if PTO can help fund it.
• Leigh-Anne Phelps thinks it’s an important program to have.
• Cindy Cilley checked the financials to see what PTO could fund.  We have a $500.00 slot for school special requests and the Internet meeting that we were never charged for.
• Cindy Cilley motioned to grant both schools $650.00 for use for the Tiger Program.  Leigh-Anne Phelps seconded.  All were in favor.  Motion passed.

Applebee’s Review

• Leigh-Anne Phelps reported that about 88 people came, with 67 pre-sold tickets.
• Buffet style went very well.
• We got $3.40 per ticket
• Person who won 50/50 raffle isn’t answering Leigh-Anne Phelps’ call.
• Made $781.00 last year (charging $10.00 a ticket then, instead of $8.00)
• The group discussed having it at the school next year instead of outsourcing so that we could make more of a profit.  However, there is a charge for custodian and kitchen staff; there would also be a need for more volunteers.
• Christie Mingolla mentioned that there’s a grandparent that would like to volunteer.  She will have her email Miss Wisler to be added to the PTO email list.
• Leigh-Anne Phelps suggested that next year we keep to a date in January.
• Sold 3 sweatshirts
• Christie Mingolla asked what was done for advertisement.  Leigh-Anne Phelps said that it was on the Autoserve jumbo-tron, Market Basket had a flyer, 94.1 wouldn’t advertise on the radio, flyer at the farmer’s market, and flyers were sent home with students.

Tilton Sports Update (Heather Durgin was unable to attend; Christie Mingolla spoke on her behalf)

• They are super excited for us to come for the family night.
• We have full access to the field, screening room, and batting cages.
• Heather Durgin made a flyer that she sent electronically and printed a hard copy for both schools.
• $5.00 per kid, with a cap of $10.00 per family
• The group discussed not offering the arts and crafts in order to promote the other active choices being offered.
• The group also discussed if we would have a bake sale there.  We will have to check with them if we can do that.
• 10-12 volunteers needed to cover all the areas
• It was questioned if we have to prepay?  Will have to check on this. 
• Mrs. Parker motioned that $350.00 go towards covering the rental costs.  Cindy Cilley seconded.  All were in favor.  Motioned passed.

Bus Driver Appreciation

• Next month
• In the past we have done Dunkin Donut gift cards.
• Cindy Cilley asked how many bus drivers we have.  Mr. Hines has 10 for Southwick, not sure if Union Sanborn has any additional.  Cindy Cilley will email Mrs. Proulx for her buses.
• Cindy Cilley will pick up the gift cards and something for the cross walk guard at USS and Miss Holden and Mrs. D’Abbracio at Southwick.
• Mrs. Parker will ask Student Council to make a “thank you” sign again this year.
• Cindy Cilley will bring the gift cards to our next meeting so that Mr. Hines and Mrs. Proulx can distribute them.

Valentine Gift Card

• Cindy Cilley asked for a discussion on if PTO is still doing the gift card for teachers this year, as a budget was not voted on for it.  Leigh-Anne Phelps said she thought it was a good idea and asked how much we usually do.  Cindy Cilley reported that in the past it has been $200.00 per school.
• The group discussed getting pastries to drop off, having the kitchen prepare a breakfast, or maybe having a sweets platter.
• Cindy Cilley motioned for $200.00 for a gift card for each school and $50.00 per school for baked goods/sweets, for a maximum of $500.00.  Leigh-Anne Phelps seconded.  All were in favor.  Motion passed.
• Leigh-Anne Phelps will pick up the baked goods.

Tanger Grant

• Cindy Cilley reported on this.  She mentioned that Bridget never made copy of the grant from last year.
• Submission due by March 15^th.
• Cindy Cilley posed to the group what we should request the money for.  Mrs. Proulx wants chairs.  RiF books and Artists in Residence were mentioned as well. The application asks questions, such as: What is the current situation?  How many children will benefit?  How will you measure success? 
• It was mentioned that it may be better to ask for a product rather than a program.
• AiR at Southwick discussion – working on developing a grant for next year.  Looking at art and music, hoping to tie into writing as well.  There is no cost figure yet.  Mrs. Swain is doing it.  Grant will not cover entire cost; they have to show that the district is paying for some.  Mr. Hines had put some into his budget for it; hopefully PTO can also contribute, so that it’s a community involvement.  It would be difficult to answer the Tanger grant questions with a program like this.
• Reading is Fundamental book discussion – children get to pick out a book for them to keep; brand new book.  This may be a better way to go, because we can talk about the measurements Mrs. Proulx has implemented at USS (reading incentive program).
• Cindy Cilley will write the grant, requesting $2000.00 (last year we got $1000.00) and have Miss Wisler review it.

Leigh-Anne Phelps motioned to adjourn.  Christie Mingolla seconded.  All were in favor.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:47pm.

*** The next meeting will be Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 6:30 in the Southwick School Media Center ***