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January 6, 2015 PTO Minutes

1/6/2015

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January 6, 2015
>Next Meeting: February 3, 2015
Come to two consecutive meetings at PTO and you are a voting member!


Presidents: Jenn Irvine and Kevin Fudge
Treasury: Andy Forbes and Jennifer Lewis-Forbes
Recording Secretary: Sarah Evans

The PTO bulletin board is on playground. Look there for the latest news! News also updated online!

6:35 PRINCIPAL REPORT
(1). Visit a colleague month­­­
>Teachers visit others to learn new ways to teach from other folks in the building. Vertically good to know where kids came from and where they are going. Plus good as a team in terms of once one teacher does a common plan – what does that same lesson look like in another class.

First grade teacher Jamie Sliney says of experience: First we went to second grade. Two classes. Really cool. Thumbs up. Not enough time for all three but felt like the teachers received good general view.

(2). New Math Program?
Looking at data for the math program. Laura is chatting about that right now. Will need financing from curriculum money and PTO funds.

Laura: Dream Box is a math website that enables kids to work at home and in school. Get a free two week trial. Common core aligned that takes kids through math on their level – may need modification or enrichment for kids who need more than what they get in class. And teachers can see the data – what are kids doing at home? At school? Stratton is interested, too. Glitch. A cost. A year membership. Third grade only since teachers in that grade still have $500 per classroom they can spend. Subscription would cover ½ third and ½ forth grade – the year subscription period.

Cost
>$25/student. We might get it down to $20 with negotiations.
KD: School might be able to fund 1-2 classes. Rest from PTO.

What makes this unique?

>Differentiates based on student needs. Skill and conceptual
>Teachers can track progress.

Question: Is it worth it to have one grade for one year do a different technique than other grades before and after.

Answer KD: 3rd-4th is a good grade to start. On the radar. But I’ll ask Matt Coleman about switching for a year from one technique to another and back to original technique.

Laura: We looked at iExcel, too
KD: iExcel is quiz-like and a good program but not for struggling mathers.
Laura: This Dream Box is similar to Raz Kids.

Answering a question about RazKids….
KD: Claire Blumenfeld knows stats on RazKids. Is it working? We know kids are using it at home.

(3) Playground Rules. No more organized games afterschool on blacktop space.
Principal has gotten lots of push-back. The decision was made because of so many emails about behavior issues. Technically school property but KD doesn’t want to be in business of policing after school. Problem is that the issues on playground after school were spilling into recess behavior problems during school and principal had to spend time dealing with mitigating issues. So the behavior is following kids through next day. Because it impacts education time, she closed the  playground area by basketball hoops. Competitive nature of game playing is just too much.

Not necessary to close entire playground. Organized games is the issue. Fifth graders can still toss a ball back and forth. But kickball and soccer games stop for awhile until kids are polite and safe.

And so logical consequences. Law 222. Negates zero tolerance around bullying. The state found zero tolerance that every single thing across a desk meant suspension which interrupted kids’ education. 222 is restorative. So first offense isn’t  an automatic suspension. So when principal feels she has a plan in place that is restorative then  we can think about playground reopening in terms of games. With 222, principals can’t suspend without a trial and parents involved, etc.

Principal: But I’m holding kids accountable for behavior. Kids shouldn’t come to school feeling bad.

Restorative means that  both the wronged and wrongee work to fix problem. So one kids works with social worker and maybe the two kids talk together. But in-house suspension is still a consequence possibility.

EVENTS

Winter craft fair. Holiday lighting, yay!
Henry Bear. $200 cash and $200 worth of gift cards.
>Who gets money? The four new teachers will split the cards right before holiday.

Movie night –NEW DATE: 2/6 at 6:30p – Michelle
Horton Hears a Who! is the movie
She needs help. So far Japanese film but in English.  This may be weird.
Katie Garrett insisted that we go to the licensure website and we pay $75.
Get posters and fliers up!

Teacher Appreciation
Music Concert – is not in Feb but on April 9
Game and Math Night
Heather not here. Talked about moving it to Feb 7 but
not sure.

JI: Seque to how can the PTO and events be more efficient. How can we make the VPs more successful? Earlier list of whole grade level lists.  Most folks feel like we are not communicating well out to VPs. Not good vibes about communication and events.  Having exec meeting with VPs to discuss.

Literacy night: In March. Not date from Margaret. Dr. Suess is the theme.
Parents Night Out
Jennifer says “can anyone help?” Last year was at Menotomy Wine and the SpeakEasy last year. Tentaively booked ACA for some night the week of March 22.

Science Fair
Cedrine is still working on Science Fair.

Jump/Walk a thon
5th grade flower sale
Colonial Day
5th grade graduation
Field Day
Family BBQ


COMMITTEES

Playground
Committee head is Jenn Irvine

>Alex Bilsky respectfully being persistent with district saying that district should continue with repairs. Lots of yes, thank yous but so far no more action beyond wood chip delivery. To which Kristin tells parents that “we didn’t force kids to spread the wood chips. A volunteer effort!” :)
>JI still has grant money to paint in the spring.
>signage with rules to come.

Bylaws are happening next time.

Finances - Andy
>December slow month because of holidays. Aome more annual appeal. Tracking lower. We are down between 1-2k. By end of last year we were closer to 100.
>Appeal letter: second round of letter.
 
Next PTO meeting is Feb. 3

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PTO Meeting Minutes!

12/2/2014

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December 2, 2014
>Next Meeting: January 6
, 2015
Come to two consecutive meetings at PTO and you are a voting member!

Presidents: Jenn Irvine (JI) and Kevin Fudge (KF)
Treasury: Andy Forbes and Jennifer Lewis-Forbes
Recording Secretary: Sarah Evans

The PTO bulletin board is on playground. Look there for the latest news! News also updated online!

6:30 Introductions/Sign-in sheet

6:35 Principal (KD) report
(1) School council meeting: working on a resource book that talks about who we are during the day and what we do and how we create a community of learners and what parents can do to reinforce and help at home. Split into teacher and parent and talked through curriculum, social thinking, responsive. What is the standard space curriculum and judged on a rubric.
>plan is to send out to parents with PTO funding (hard copy).

Other Issues Meeting

>principals told council about class size sand other issues.
>full time social in each elementary but 2.5 are funded by soon to run out grant – that is a priority for council. Principals can’t have a good day without social workers
>inquiry based learning for children and basing instruction on data. This means math coaches and what data looks like. Having PD around talking about data at meetings. Also Literacy lab model = teachers watch good teachers and learn from each other (Lucy Cawkins in NYC model). She wants more PD to look like this and we need coaches. So asked for 1.5 literacy coach per school. More ELA with lab learning.
>Tools of the Mind lays foundation for learning so we need kindergarten TAs all day.
>STEM and science curriculum based on inquiry based learning. Bit too random.

Andy asked principal about playground.
KD: On the 12th she has an admin cabinet meeting so Diane Johnson will have answers. Wood chips came fast and furious. Bobby and others put out the chips. Kathy and Bill Haner (committee) did come by to check out the horror. We need to identify what needs to be safe.

IF you see something, say something – in terms being diligent in reporting unsafe playground things. Email Kevin, Jenn, or Kristen with concerns.

KD: Getting a lot of parents reporting bad behavior after school. They are being really mean to each other. HASP Will and staff are doing some extra training. Please parents: be vigilant. One parent wanted cameras! “I don’t want to close the playground but I will.”

FINANCE
Andy: Good month for Annual Appeal. Up to 71 donations an $12, 500. Brought in $4000 last month.
Spending: Library Margaret is spending book money. Another round of Hardy sweatshirts. Teacher supplement. Garden shed. Income: Election day bake sale. $1600 from book fair! Hardy Hoedown broke even. Resolved picture day issue and got a $2300 refund.


JI: looking to sell shirts on Fridays. Sending out sign up genius.

Andy: sending out another Appeal letter with reminder of tax break if you give by 12/31. Directories printed.

JI: Tshirts for field day. How do we get the rest of people shirts? 50% have shirts. Other 50% need one. Letters in folders in specific classes?

6:50 Pto Events 2014-2015

Bake Sale (made $200 for PTO)
Hoe Down 11/14 (3rd) Pete (lots of bandanas for next year and event went okay)
Winter Craft Fair CANCELLED

Holiday Gate Lighting Dec 5 / Jenn - 6 pm.

Simple event with white lights. Kids make snowflakes and drink hot chocolate. Principal lights the light.

HOUR OF CODE  / Eva / TBD:  Day and time.
Movement started last year get companies to use computer programs. Computer Science week next week! 15 million kids worldwide participate. This year 4th and 5th participate for one hour using iPad and simple exercise to expose kids to coding and engineering. For that a few people said they would volunteer. She needs help getting the word out – through 4th and 5th VPs will get the word out. Date and time? Tuesday could be a good day? Take the morning time for that hour. Also looking to hang posters.  I would like at least 5-10 volunteers. Need to test iPads beforehand. K: says talk to Shaun from 9-1 who is the Hardy IT person. JavaScript, Scratch tutorials.

Henry Bears Wrapping Fun Dec 13 at 9:30 / Heather
Wrap presents for an hour! Sign up. Henry Bear matches donations with gift card. Some schools make $300-400 in the day.


Movie Night 1/15 (2nd grade) Michelle/Bryan.
Michelle says Bryan has everything all set. What movie? And put the permit in!


Game/Math Night 2/6 (Heather Smith/Susan Dorsen) 2/27 – the natural pi J
Winter Concert 2/15
Literacy Night TBD March Mickey (K)
Parent’s Night Out March Jennifer Susse

Science Fair 4/5 (Cedrine Bell) 
Cedrine has ideas and will talk to Kristen – make an apt with her.


Teacher Appreciation Week TBD Jan/Feb (Danielle and Bethany). April 6-10.
Jump/Walk a thon May 2 (Melissa Jacobs)
5th grade flower sale 5/9
Colonial Day TBD June
5th grade graduation 6/11
Field Day 6/13 (1st) Family BBQ 6/16

Holiday Star Board.
JI: Amy did the work and made sure it worked. Pick up a star/tag by Friday 12/5. Or just give Amy money and she will shop for something. The kids are specific so don’t worry about name brands – it’s a wish list. Just give what you are comfortable with in terms of price point. Hey, you can even go in with another family. Leave the money with Donna at front desk. (1) pick up a star (2) give money to Donna and Amy will shop. (3) join with a family to buy one star gift.


COMMITTEES

Spirit Committee

Sarah is making survey monkey with what do you want to sell? and putting it on the google group PTO.


New Family Welcome Committee
Are we working with new families? Everyone in each grade level. When new families come in Donna can forward information for new families. Roll in METCO families. And the VPs will deal with that new family thing for now until new volunteers arrive on scene.


Other business? No.

7:45 Educatius: High School Student Exchange Program - Host a student!
The Exchange Student. Organization that facilitates high school exchange program. Kids from around world stay for a year at US high school. Based in Sweden. One of the offices is in Boston. Visas have been an issue the J-1 used to be used as the visa for a year long study. But now they use F-1. Private schools, community college, lots take advantage of the year long program. Growing over 100% each year. 800 placed last year. 1600 students this year. 60 districts in US. 20 in Mass. Arlington HS is the largest and mostly by word-of-mouth. Why? Despite the building it is a great school. Has a good rep from teachers. And close to Boston and universities. Educatius has exclusive HS relationship. 30 students in Arlington. educatius.org/

Who are the students? 14-18 years old. Usually 15, 16, 17. Attend high school. They try to have more families in Arlington closer to High School since many don’t live in Arlington while attending the HS here. So kids travel via subway to get here. Better community experience if they can live and go to school in same district.

Why host? Learn about each other’s culture and language. Many different types. Families, old, single. Young kids and older kids in family. FYI –the family can’t really ask for a particular language so you can learn a language. Point is that students learn English. Must maintain a B average. Own spending money and insurance. They have orientation

Who can be a family?  You need a room, bed, dresser, desk, three meals a day. Family pass CORI test. And you share daily life with student. This isn’t a money maker. Those students are not guest but part of the family. Same rules as all in family. Chores. In return for hosting, stipend is $700 per month.

Family holidays? They can go and pay their way or the organization has a back up families for those holiday weeks so exchange students have a place to stay.


How much contact with student parents? Up to host family. Not required. But good to be in touch. The students are encouraged to be on their own as much as possible. Up to discretion of host family.

What countries participate? China, Germany, France, Norway, Chile, Italy, Brazil, Sweden. They themselves are very well traveled, too.

Support Team: They help organize activities for all kids. HS organizes activities for kids, too.

As much as we want to offer this opportunity for culture but this is also a business. The highschool makes money because students pay full tuition. Extra income for schools! That makes Arlington better. More money. Hosting is like community service!

Mary-Ellen – My kids and I enjoyed the experience. Her German exchange student is leaving in January here for a semester. 15-year-old daughter feels like she has a big sister. Her 5th grader values foreign languages in a new way. And good to know what is going on in the high school.

Rudy - French 16 boy. Same age as his daughter plus younger son. They are just like siblings. What changed for us? Laundry – lots more because kids have just one bag. Food is about the same. Space? One more person in the room. What are the rules in our house that we know but don’t really talk about? What are our values? Who are we? Been a positive experience.

Next PTO meeting: January 6

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PTO Meeting Minutes!

10/28/2014

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October 28, 2014
>Next Meeting:
Dec. 2, 2014
Come to two consecutive meetings at PTO and you are a voting member!

Presidents: Jenn Irvine and Kevin Fudge
Treasury: Andy Forbes and Jennifer Lewis-Forbes
Recording Secretary: Sarah Evans

The PTO bulletin board is on playground. Look there for the latest news! News also updated online!

6:30            Introductions/Sign-in sheet                    

6:35            Financial report  (Andy/Jenn)        
Annual Appeal
>46 donations and we are at $8603
.
First two months are the go months then donations trickle in. We are a little behind on Annual appeal.

Spending
Third graders scholastic stories (annual). Teacher supplemental stuff and librarian has started to buy a few books. Jenn Irvine had a second selling of pumpkins (about 300) and a few more t-shirt field trip fees. And a few more sweatshirts. Check for picture day squared away (they forgot about the 25% discount for three year contract). And the book fair net amount is coming – waiting for the purchase/gross to even out.


Note about Book Fair. Lots of book fairs this year at other elementary schools. So FYI, they didn’t have the books to reload empty shelves until Thursday. That is different than previous years. Company just had too many restocking orders on same nights. Smooth as far as the volunteers. 

Teachers are allowed $200 a piece and teachers can spend how they want.

No questions.

6:45            Principals report
(1). Friday costume book celebration. Every class is getting ready. Kindergarten is rolled into the curriculum with fairy tales. They will have headbands at assembly. KD reading from Charlotte Web because she is Charlotte (on an adventure!). Students are being very conscientious. 'Hello My name is' tags ready to go.

(2) School council meeting. Enrichment and how enrichment is shifting culture to experiential learning and inquiry. So lets move away from bringing in animals or a painter. I was thinking about simulations around Colonial Day – experiential. She would like two school wide events to be based in EL and I.

(3) Parent Resource Book – responsive classroom and what schools are adapting to get kids ready to learn. We have a parent matched up with teacher on council and they are running through all the responsive stuff and what would be useful for parents to know and what is important for parents to know about it. A yearlong process but a resource will get it out. Printed and web-based. Available to new people and to read online.

Questions?

>Kevin Fudge (KF): Resource book. Do people have options to comment? Or is it just a ‘here is what is going on.’
KD: Just a resource. How do we set up the first six weeks of school? Developmental milestones? How do teachers talk to students with logical consequences? What is expected at Hardy School? So that when parent is on the other end of the telephone, parents understand where policies are coming from and what to expect with conversation.

>Pete asks: Can you add all the lists for parents to sign up?
KD: The resource book isn't the right spot.
But we should find a way to get that information out.

FYI, Kristen knows the bell isn’t working. She has put in a work order. First one she thought it was to fix indoors and outdoor bell. But the workers adjusted tones and such.

KD: The website and how can parents and teachers can use website better. How about a JoinMe? What do parents want with the website? By class? Anything helpful for each one. Pictures?

I’m not opposed to different things. But everyone should be doing something. There are happy mediums. We just need happy medium for all. Maybe for 3-4-5 , we need homework pages. But maybe K-1-2 doesn’t need that mandatory homework page.

I want to be able to tell parents “here is the minimum you can expect” and anything more than that "hip, hip hooray!”

Q fro KD: Are we going to spend money on Weebly? Or is there a better solution? I want to keep the Hardy on Weebly but what about the teacher portals?

Marcie – what about room parents send out specific questions? Like three questions.

KD: Lets have brainstorming time to come up with questions. Krisen will work with Jamie Sliney to come up with questions for the room parents to give out

6:50            PTO Events 2013-2014

Book Fair 10/20-10/24  (4th grade)– Patty
Went well overall. Lots of teacher wish lists were finished. Library got some books. Needs to have more than two volunteers and maybe more than one grade. It is over one week. So lets not make this a grade level. Jill and I worked like crazy. I would recommend this be a committee run event. I don’t have numbers yet. Thanks everyone.

KF: what would be an ideal number.
Patty: The teacher appreciation has 5-6 people. That would be a great number. I think if we start earlier – we didn’t start until September but paperwork said to start in June.  Are you recommending that we change companies? As a committee we could figure that out.

Andy says “There isn’t anything stopping you from getting more people. The idea of a VP wasn’t to be an owner but that VP would gather as many as needed in terms of crew.

Hoe Down 11/14 (3rd grade) – Pete
I haven’t made significant progress. As near as I know everything is rolling forward. But I haven’t gotten out fliers. I have the band and the date. And the form saying we have a the gym. I have the flyer from last year.

Refreshments: does it fit into budget? Or can people bake? Get apple cider. Sent out a sign up genius now.

Winter Craft Fair - Dec / Michal and Britt– not here

Henry Bears Gift Wrapping Fun - Dec 13 / Heather
– not here

Movie Night - Jan / anyone signed up?

Teacher Appreciation Week-  April / Jill Swilling
Can we gather more volunteers? Anyone? Anyone? Weeklong event and easier with more people. We’d love to have more ideas for this year. If you know of anyone it is fun and we need help. April 6-10? Yes. We can confirm!

Q: KF asks how many on committee?
A: We would like 8.

Game/Math Night - Feb 6 / Heather Smith/Susan Dorsen – not here.
In terms of date, Kristen said night week doesn’t have to be on Pi day. Or during other Math week. This can be freestanding date. KF says 2/6 is squishy. Not firm. Marcie says do we have to have a game night. KD says some people like a game night. KF thinks it is a community intergenerational night. Do we CORI people? Pete thinks this is opposite of what we talked about so who is in charge of this and maybe we should talk about it. KD appreciates Kevin’s talk about enrichment and math-based comments but she says parents won’t see how we use math games in class because this event is outside of the teacher contract. So math game night isn’t going to really be an experiential event as KF would like because teachers won’t be there. But we can do a different community event. What does it look like?

Winter Concert 2/13 – day before Valentines.

Literacy Night TBD March – Margaret

Other events...

Parent’s Night Out TBD March

Science Fair 4/5 (Cedrine Bell)

Jump/Walk a thon May 2 (Kinder)

5th grade flower sale 5/9

Colonial Day TBD June

5th grade graduation 6/11

Field Day 6/13 (1st)

Family BBQ 6/16

7:20           Committees

GARDEN COMMITTEE

Garden Clean Up Sunday Oct 26 2pm – occurred! Nobody showed. Christina was by herself. Jen and Andy were putting mesh up on other side. Sad face. Maybe incentives like a Hardy Park open house to get more incentives to participate.

PLAYGROUND
To do: Painting, hop scotch and poles, wood chips, bricks.

What is the solution for safety and parking? KD might have a little money in a grant for painting. Someone who wants to do the art work on map? Kevin will look into finding someone after 11/3. http://www.padsolution.com/

SPIRIT COMMITTEE 
Store Manager?
Someone to order and research new printers.
Someone to receive and process.
Someone to deliver.
Someone to maintain the excel list.

NEW FAMILY WELCOME COMMITTEE
Dana has sent out welcomes.

7:40           Other Business

>School Committee meeting Thursday 10/30 6pm
>VP letter/Room parent assistance - next time
>Bi-Law amendments – next time
>Appeal letter/Field Trip request – next time

School committee at 6p. Playground is on the agenda. No comment from public. But just discussed. A group of concerned parents would be helpful. Kathy and Diane (CFO) have information that we sent information to town. How to deal with school department playgrounds? Doesn’t make sense for two organizations to run upkeep. This is probably what they are talking about. Diane will say Hardy is in disrepair because of this weird relationship. So any support the better.

7:55           Wrap up/Schedule November Meeting
Tuesday Dec. 2

Extra conversation
Two fifth graders are working with a farm that takes (Nevin farm) old animals.  Melie Whiteman and Coco Anderson found out they needed newspapers. As part of their community achievement . Girl scout troop related. Kristen says kudos. Nice leadership. .

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