Panther Pride

PTG Notes

Meeting:  October 18, 2006

 

 Those Present:

Principal Phil Callanan

PTG Board Members: President Marie Ricard, Vice President Lisa Miller, Secretary Cheryl Wood, Treasurer Laura Benevides, BoxTops/ Fund Raiser Coordinator Stephanie Berard, Donations Coordinator Melinda Asprey, Volunteer Co-coordinators Jill Anagnos and Jen Valente,  Past President and Sub-Committee Coordinator Christine Sullivan.

Teachers: Mary Barry (K), Lynn LaBell (1st gr), Nicole Rivers (2nd gr), Pat Cass (3rd gr), Irene Delude (4th gr), Michael Beaulac (5th gr), and Janine Kerouac (School Nurse)

Parents: Tracey Chapdelaine, Sherylin St.Onge, Karen Munt, Carl Benevides, Tracy Bryant, Shellie Ladd, Nancy Byko, Marquise Kendrick, Richard Howell, Linda Bourque and Stacey Lunderville.

 

Introductions: 

Jen Valente - Unanimously voted in for Volunteer Co-Coordinator

 

SecretaryÕs Report:

            Minutes for September 20th meeting was available, reviewed and accepted.

 

Treasurers Report:

¯     Financial report was available, reviewed and accepted. 

¯     Open House was a success.  Raised $1135.50.  New Tee Shirts and Hats a success.

¯     4th Grade Bake sale total was $50.50

¯    5th Grade Bake sale total was $93.25

¯     Fundraiser Update: Excellent turnout for the fundraiser.  Approximately ~19300.00 was raised; of that the PTG will receive approximately 50%.

 

Boxtops for Education:

Halloween party is planned but not enough box tops were collected to support it.  Have been researching new ideas to promote a better turnout.  Any suggestions would be welcome.  One suggestion was to use the money earned as an incentive to purchase items for winning grade levels and not individual classes. Contact Stephanie at the PTG website with ideas and or questions,  (Parker_Varney_PTG@yahoo.com).

 

Campbell Soup Update and Update for Volunteers for Lunch with Santa

Labels do not generate much.  Have 200 points left over from last year.  Do we continue the program?  Redemption brochure was passed around. 

Volunteers are needed for up coming events (Craft Fair and Lunch w/ Santa).  If you would like to volunteer contact Jen Valente at the PTG web address, or make sure and fill out a volunteer form so she can contact you.

 

Nurse Kerouac - Floor: Nurse Kerouac thanked the PTG for the new scale and other health care

products given to her last year.  Also made a request for a medication lock box that would hang on

the wall in the nurses office and insure that all medications stay safe and secure.  Cost of said box

will be approximately $240.  Principal Callanan offered to pay half the cost w/ the PTG picking up

the rest.  This was voted on by the group and approved.  Principal Callanan will order.

 

Craft Fair - Tentative date November 18th 11am - 3pm:

¯     Price for space will be $35 for using our table and $25 if has own table.

¯     Important suggestion: be organized day of the event, including set up and taping off floor.  Can use tables in main hallways if necessary.  Assign CraftersÕ numbers.  Coordinate crafters w/wall outlets

¯     Ask crafters to donate one item each to be used in a raffle

¯     Information will be fourth coming concerning event.  Contact Melinda Asprey for details.  Do not call PV front office for information.

¯     Refreshments:  in the discussion stage

 

Lunch with Santa set for December 2nd 11am - 2pm:

¯     4th grade parent gift center will be open during event.

¯     Plenty of crafts available from yearÕs past to do.  Also Melinda Asprey will once again be making gingermen for decorating.

¯     Careful attention will be paid to providing a safe environment for all (latex and peanut free sites will be available).

¯     2nd and 3rd Grades will have their bake sales.  Remember healthy alternatives can be donated.

¯     Volunteers needed for the event.  Need a minimum of eighteen.

¯     Donations for raffles are coming in; some of the larger items include a razor scooter, small computer, computer accessories, and a weekend getaway.  If you have anything to donate, contact Melinda Asprey at the PTG web address.

¯     A winter Bar-b-que (hot dogs and hamburgers) will replace the usual pizza at the event

¯     Entertainment will be taking place during the event

 

PTG Grants:

¯     Have in past years done 10 a year for a total of $1500.00. Did not do in the 2005-2006 School season. This year the group voted allow grants for each grade for a total of 6 grants of $150.00 each.  Like Teacher allotments, must be for non-consumables and benefit the grade.

 

Popcorn:  Discussion concluded w/ popcorn being available in the am.  The teachers will either send

            someone down to pick it up or a parent volunteer will deliver and leave it outside of the classroom. 

Parents  will not go into classrooms.

 

Sub-Committee Chairperson / past PTG President- Christine Sullivan: Submissions

for the first student spotlight in the PV pulse were passed around and voted on by those present.   Next deadline for submissions is Nov 13th.   Still need 2nd grade news.  Requests 100% participation from all teachers and grades.  Will be looking for more help from students to act as Ònews gettersÓ and requesting parents, teachers, etc to submit information for special reports and/or community news.  Also looking to add education websites for students. 

¯     Students chosen to be in the student spotlight will receive a pin, a Good News Award and free popcorn voucher.  A photo of the child w/ the award will be displayed in the school.

¯     Congratulations to Mrs. Golden for this monthÕs Teacher Spotlight recipient and to Alicia Ladd, the 2nd Grader chosen to be the first student in the spotlight.

 

A recap of the PTG meeting will be held on the Thursday morning following the meeting in the parent center.  A PTG Board member will host this session.

 

Principal Callanan: Issues discussed during the meeting included:

¯     Supply budget for school ok for now, may call on PTG for assistance in the spring.

¯     School system promoting healthy foods for snack and lunchtime.  Also pay attention to various allergies such a providing a peanut free and latex free environment.

¯     NECAP testing has wrapped up for the fall.  Possible results as early a January.  WeÕre concerned, need to have a 10% grain is scores to meet the Òsafe HarborÓ goal and not get the second checkmark as a school in need of improvement.   Need to find a better way of testing and providing a positive environment during the three weeks of testing necessary for 3rd, 4th and 5th grades.

¯     School is a school-wide Title I school, this is based on a free and reduced lunch program population that is growing each year.  Each parent needs to take an active interest in their children and focus to increase scores on an individual basis.  ChildrenÕs attitude is reflective of their parentsÕ attitude.

¯     FAPE:  each child is guaranteed a Free Appropriate Public Education.  No child will be turned away.  This can and does lead to behavior issues that not all parent like.  PV is building a team of special education staff.  In regards to this a new type of behavior plan will be in affect in the near future.  This program (PBIS) is in use in the middle schools and will change the culture of the school.  Creates a set of expectation for each child.

¯     Coffee chat with the Principal is scheduled for 11/8 at 8:30 am for grades K-2.

¯     Will be having another wreath sale this year.

¯     Violence is increasing within the City and precautions to keep the school and each student safe have been implemented.

¯     Students were notified concerning Officer Briggs.  Will be accepting donations for the family.  Please discuss with your childÕs teacher.

 

Open Forum: 

¯     Karen Munt had an idea to raise money; have a school wide contest for student to design and create Christmas cards.  Each grade will vote on one card for submission and six designs will be chosen to print.  Cards will be sold in packets of 10 or 12 with profit going to the PTG.  Please contact Karen for more information at the PTG email site.

¯     If parents come up with suggestions they also need to follow through and implement their suggestions.

¯     Mr. Howell brought up issues concerning early release days and such.  He will provide a written question sheet that Principal Callanan will respond to at the next PTG meeting.

¯     Lisa Miller brought up the suggestion to purchase PV window clings with a design similar to the new tee shirts and hats.

¯     On going suggestion to have bake sale money earned donated to the school for funds to fix up playground.  In this do we just repair what is already there or look into purchasing new equipment.  This issue needs to further addressed and may need to be combined with the parking issues.  May look into re-doing playground and parking areas to create a safer environment and a better flow of traffic.  To do this, the city and school board will need to be involved.  Suggest invite Alderman Smith, Alderman-At-Large Lopez and School Board member Cote to our next meeting to discuss options.

¯     Sherilyn St. Onge contacted a gentleman concerning fundraising ideas to raise money for the playground project.  She will follow up on this.

 

Happy Halloween!

 

 

**Special Thanks to Laura Benevides for the snacks during the meeting** Also special thanks to the parents and faculty members who attended the meeting.

 

 

Next meeting November 15th 2006