PTO December Minutes

> PTO Minutes, December 2012 > > Convened at 6:05 > > Principal's Report: > December Highlights: > Adequate Yearly Progress work underway at SCS and at the CSSU level to address the corrective action required based on students with special needs > Alpha Play was a great success, congratulations to all who participated > Budget Meetings continue > congratulations to Emily Vigneault on the birth of her new baby, Aaron Matthew! > Professional development: Continued common core work during the in service days before Thanksgiving off site conference for some staff on "Understanding and Working with Developmental Trauma in Children", Schoolwide data analysis for Reading and Writing. > > Treasurer's Report > Accounts are in good standing > > Fundraising update > There are 4 local coupon books left, so far $440 has been raised from these > Hannaford's helps schools has ended, get receipts in to Alice by Thursday of this week, 13 Dec. > Holiday Fair was a great success for all teams and participants. 100+ tables were present, which is probably a new record. Fun was had from end to end. > Direct Solicitation Letter: to raise money for the PTO at year end, Alice has drafted a letter for team representatives to use in raising awareness of the PTO as a receiving organization for end of year donations. We are a registered non-profit and all donations are tax deductible. > Angel Fund: every three years the Angel Fund reaches out to the PTO to ask for members to champion cash donations to this great community resource. The Angel fund assists families in need who are identified through the work of teachers, staff, guidance counselors and social workers. Three years ago when the last push was made, 5% of SCS kids were on free and reduced lunch. Now, 15% are on free and reduced lunch. Consider this fund as another organization for your end of year giving. > Red Barn Fundraiser will begin after the start of the year. Great fundraiser of local products. Tasty local products too. > > Fund Spending: > Over $5000 dollars from the PTO was granted to teams and UA in November during the grant process. Grants were approved for more Kindles in the library, iPads for the music program, Brain Pop software for the entire school and more. In addition, other funding sources were found and pursued to total nearly $7000! Great collaborative experience in helping fundraising dollars go directly to work. > John Gailmor: Alice will contact John soon to begin arranging this event in April > Flynn Art/Dance series: Grant was put in this week for this program . Will know the status in two weeks. > > Other Business: > Open discussion about the two vote budget process. If anyone has any questions about it, please contact Dave Connery of the School Board. We need a small group of public relations personnel to sell this concept to town voters as a state requirement, not a gross increase in taxes. > Coat Drive continues. Donate all winter gear at the SCS Office. > > Mark your Calendars: > International Potluck Dinner, Friday 18 Jan 6-7:30 PM > Community Budget Forum: Tuesday 8 January, 7PM > "Anxiety in Children and Adolescents", a talk by SCS Parent, Elena Ramirez, Psychologist Doctorate, 15 January 6 PM > > SO SO SO MANY THANK YOUS THIS MONTH: > Mark Fragola for printing colorful Holiday Fair Flyers > Sharon Harkness, Leslie Borrok, and Courtney Tharpe for putting together the Holiday Fair > Jessamyn Walker, Valerie Richardson, Katie Kennedy, Deb Buley, Fiona Kovacik, Susan Dunning and everyone who helped setting up and cleaning up the Holiday Fair > Dave Kelly, Bob Miller, Randy Mushtare, the rest of the custodian staff and Allan Miller for all their help setting up and cleaning up the holiday fair. > Rita Daley and Teresa Shuptrine for the Holiday Fair bulletin board > > Next meeting: Tuesday Jan 8th 6 PM