June 5, 2012 meeting minutes

Hardy PTO Meeting AGENDA Tuesday, June 5, 2012 6:30 – 8:00 6:30 – Introductions & cookies • Minutes 6:45 - 7:20 – Events/Projects - have received some funding from aef requested money for ipads to make films about core values pilot it in 4th grade and then perhaps expand to other classes need more equipment such as a second ipad and accessories - need abt $2,000 for two classroom sets - approved contingent on seeking other funding for the ipads if not found, then money will be allocated by August 1st • Hardy Film Festival (Susan Bisson & co.) • Literacy Night debrief (Claire & Margaret) • Flower sale debrief (Cris) • Teacher appreciation debrief (Jill & Katie) • Walk-a-thon debrief will eliminate prizes for next year and will find some replacement • Colonial Day debrief • BBQ (June 13) still looking for volunteers • Field Day (June 15 – note the date change) Joe will no longer be here next year so we will need a new coordinator for next year 7:20 - 7:40 – Principal’s Report - last week she sent out letter to parents about next year current third grade will divide into five classes current 4th grade will get one additional teacher for three grades 7:40 - 7:50 – Money issues - andy reports that we have about $6,000 excess funds to spend. Deb reports that there are still 6 classrooms that do not have document cameras - deb has $4,000 left over she would therefore need $2,000 to get all the cameras needed motion to set aside an additional amount up to $3,200 for elmos. Approved • Appeal update • Spending committee - at tonights school council, deb passed out school budget - the money she gets from the district - $24,800 per year. Money that teachers spend out of their own pocket - around $500 per year this year we allocate $200 per teacher, but they have to submit reimbursements would we want to continue with this model, or shift to old model where we just gave them each a check for supplies also, do we want the PTO to continue to pay for field trips? 7:50 - 8:00 – Stuff we forgot to add to the agenda Date of Next meeting – Some time in July!!

Minutes from May 1 meeting

Hardy PTO Meeting AGENDA Tuesday, May 1, 2012 6:30 – 8:00 6:30 – Introductions & cookies • Minutes 6:40 - 6:55 – Update on nominations, plus some thoughts about modifying bylaws We discussed the possibility of modifying the bylaws so that there will be a junior and a senior president, with the understanding that junior will ‘graduate’ to senior the following year. Co-Presidents: Heather Smith and Ned Hall Co-Vice Presidents: Kate Kapstad and Betsey Crimmins Treasurer: Andy Forbes School Council: Stephen Reynolds and Betsey Crimmins New Members at Large (confirmed – still waiting to hear from some others): Julie Rosenberg Brett Miller Kevin Guiney Kirsten Meisinger Eva Bitteker Jennifer Beaurgard Victoria Arthur Michael Leen Heather added: Gloria Acosta has confirmed she will join. 6:55 - 7:20 – Events/Projects • Skating party debrief Lots of fun, but lower turnout – it was on the hottest day of April! We agreed to try to set the date earlier next year. • Literacy Night (Claire & Margaret) Confirmed date is Thursday, May 17; 6 - 7:45/8; kids will come in, have 10 minutes to acclimate, then there will be different story readers in ~5 different locations. Kids will get a ‘field guide’. Snack will be included. Heather suggested getting Girl Scouts to help out. Heather or Margaret will follow up with Lynne Cogswell. Margaret needs while xmas lights to borrow for the event, along with a tent. Margaret will send flyer out this week. • Art show Thursday (6:30 - 8); we will sell pizza 6 - 6:30, $2/slice Ned asked for 3 or so people to help out. • Flower sale (Cris) Cris would like to send a flyer home. Deb and Betsey suggested working with Donna Vanderlinden to get copies made. We are getting three times as many flowers as last year. • fitgirls.org – for next year? Lisa met with Roblyn Brigham at Bishop (?), who runs a program for 4th and 5th grade girls that combines reading and preparing for a 5K run. Laura Doherty will check with friend at Bishop to get feedback. • Teacher appreciation 5/7-11 (Jill & Katie) Will be very similar to the past. We are changing a couple things. Letter was sent out to room parents outlining schedule: Monday – Shannon Guthrie will be donating potted flowering plants to teachers, Linda Medwar is coordinating; Tuesday – luncheon for teachers, partially catered from Francescas, parents will bring in salad, still need one large veggie platter; Wednesday – 5th grade Girl Scouts will hand out apples to teachers in the morning, kids should bring in home made cards, letters, etc.; Thursday – after school ice cream social, children will be serving to teachers; Friday – Principal’s breakfast. • Walk-a-thon: 5/11 (rain date 5/18) Betsey has many volunteers, still would welcome more. Some donations have come in (though most come in afterword). Kids need to remember that they cannot walk without the permission slip. • Colonial Day (May 30) • BBQ: Date change to June 13; We will likely extend the hours, 5 - 8. • Field Day (June 7 – note the date change) 7:20 - 7:40 – Principal’s Report This Friday there will be an informal but festive dedication of the Japanese Gate, starting at 2:30. Margaret’s 2nd graders have been making carp kites for decoration. Afterschool children will come out. Dedication is open to all. The coordinator of science for Arlington, who works with the science museum, asked for volunteers among 2nd grade teachers who would be willing to have their classes videotaped for pr purposes. Anne de Cefuintes was chosen, and has been being filmed. Last week, 6 Hardy & Thompson went to an all-day workshop in RI run by Carl Anderson, on how to have productive conferences with young writers about their writing. This augmented training the teachers have been receiving on the Lucy Caulkins program. Teachers said they learned a lot, and got some excellent tips. Art show: this year, Deb Martin and Linda Flynn have collaborated on some collage work, that includes photos of the children in phys ed, embedded in some of the displays. Letter for class placement next year has gone out. This year, teachers have been asking children to think about classmates with whom they work well, to come up with a confidential list. Plan is that at least one child from each list will be in that list-maker’s class. Betsey asked whether there is any possibility that the Thompson 4th graders might stay next year. If not, is there a plan to have a third 5th grade class? Deb responded that space across the district is an issue, and that looking at the numbers, it seems unlikely that the Thompson 4th graders will stay. It’s like that we will keep the 3rd graders. If we keep just the Hardy 5th graders next year, we will have a third 5th grade class. Kerry asked about this year’s first graders; how many 2nd grade classes will there be? Deb responded that Emily Brambilla will switch from 2nd grade to 1st grade. Kirsten asked for clarification about whether we will get new Thompson kids next year (current Thompson 2nd graders). Deb said it’s up in the air. 7:40 - 7:50 – Money issues • Appeal update Inching closer to our goal: currently at 97%. Field trip expenses have started to come in. Andy suggested that next year, we look more closely at the process for funding field trips, since spending has been all over the map. Deb commented that some grades typically spend more on field trips than others; maybe it evens out over time. The idea was raised of having field trips funded directly (or partially directly) by parents (as all other schools do). We will discuss this at the next PTO meeting. We continue to sell Winter Concert DVDs. Received spring Box Tops payment – down from last year by ~$300; we should promote this more vigorously next year. To date, we are in the black $550 on events this year. Deb and Andy discussed the possibility of purchasing lcd projectors for all classrooms that don’t have them, by the end of the year. • Spending committee 7:50 - 8:00 – Stuff we forgot to add to the agenda Date of Next meeting – Tuesday, June 5