Meadowlark Elementary PTO Meeting Minutes
November 2, 2009
Welcome: Stacey Ellington, PTO Vice-President, called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Sixteen people were in attendance.
Secretary’s Report:
Chris Steward Motion to approve the October 4, 2009 meeting minutes was made by Dawn Monroe and seconded by Kim Manor. Motion carried. The October/November PTO newsletter is available on the Meadowlark Website. The next newsletter will come out around the first of December.
Announcement:
Stacey Ellington Three new PTO committee chairs are Shawna Cortez (P.E. Helper), Summer Crook (Yearbook) and Angela Luhar (Bulletin Board). We are looking for a Spring Fundraiser Chairperson.
Treasurer’s Report:
Laurie Wolf Motion to approve the November 2009 Treasurer’s Report made by Amy Rech and seconded by Kassie Zwiener. Motion carried.
All-Star Reading:
Sarah Ullmann The All-Star Reading Recess on Oct. 23 went well. Thank you to all the teachers and parent volunteers who helped. More volunteers signed up than were needed. They will be asked to help with the next recesses.
Fall Fundraiser: Barbara Baan Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the fundraiser and to all the students who sold items. Meadowlark earned $8,840.15 in the fundraiser, selling $18,297.50 worth of merchandise. One hundred ninety-eight students (55%) participated in the fundraiser. Meadowlark received $366 worth of Superior Play and Learn (school supplies) gift certificates as a signing bonus. These will be given to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. Mr. Bextel’s class was the top selling class, and Mrs. Haynes’ class had the most student participation. Both Mr. Bextel and Mrs. Haynes received $40 gift certificates to Superior Play and Learn. On Friday, November 6, 41 students will participate in the prize wheel assembly.
Parent/Teacher Conference Meals:
Stacey Ellington and Jody Baker
Thank you to all the volunteers who brought food, set up and cleaned up during parent-teacher conferences. The meals were enjoyed by the teachers.
Music Programs:
Jill Reeves
The 3rd and 4th grade music concert will be December 1 at Andover Central High School. Volunteers are needed to help decorate (Nov. 30 and Dec. 1) and to help with the dress rehearsal (Dec. 1). A sign-up sheet was distributed. Jill will meet with Mrs. Middleton on Tuesday, Nov. 3 to go over details.
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Family Fun Night:
Kassie Zwiener and Stacey Ellington Thank you to the committee and all the volunteers who helped with Family Fun Night. The turnout (513 people) was bigger than last year. Due to the large turnout and to donated food and prizes, the committee came in under their $250 budget. Parents donated 1,200-1400 cookies! Leftover hot dog buns were donated to the Union Rescue Mission.
Box Tops:
Stacey Ellington There were 1,219 box tops counted in October. Miss Ek’s class was the kindergarten through 2nd grade winner with 211 box tops, and Mr. Bextel’s class was the 3rd through 5th grade winner with 320 box tops. Those classes received a lemonade and popcorn party. Sheri Idol mailed in box tops from March, April, May, August and September totaling $1,087 for Meadowlark.
Outdoor Habitat:
Dawn Monroe The habitat looks good. This year, we would like to keep it simple. The habitat could use several large planters for flowers in the spring. Contact Dawn if you can donate or know of someone who can donate some planters.
Holiday Caring and Sharing:
Stacey Ellington (for Christie Flynn) The committee has to find the trees and decorations that go in the school lobby for Meadowlark’s part of Andover’s Holiday Caring and Sharing Program where students bring food to donate to needy families in the Andover area. A notice about the program will go home with students Nov. 20 or Dec. 4
Welcome Wagon:
Dawn Monroe Committee members have signed up to provide snacks at PTO meetings. Several committee members will put together welcome packets to give to new Meadowlark families who move here during the school year. If you have a business you’d like to include in the welcome packet, contact Dawn.
PTO Grants:
Kim Manor, Jody Baker, Dawn Monroe PTO will fund a small grant program for staff at Meadowlark. Staff members can request funds for a specific project or item by filling out a one-page form and giving it to Principal Baker for review. Forwarded proposals will go to a PTO allocation committee that will determine if each proposal meets objective criteria. Approved requests will be presented at the following PTO meeting. The request deadline will be the 20th of each month. The PTO allocation committee will meet the week before each PTO meeting. The committee will rotate members. Each member will serve one time during the year. The PTO Assistant Treasurer will serve as moderator at all meetings, will abstain from voting and will make sure the applications are turned in on time. The PTO will strive to spread funds equitably among staff.
Motion to allocate $5,000 for the small grants program and to form an allocation committee made by Kassie Zwiener and seconded by Amy Rech. Motion carried. Laurie Wolf suggested using box top money to help fund the grant program.
Future All-stars Playgroup:
Chris Steward Children birth to age 6 and their parents are invited to the playgroup on Thursday, November 5 from 12-2 p.m. at Andover Central Park (across from the Andover Public Library). This playgroup is open to everyone in Andover and is sponsored by the Meadowlark PTO.
Building Issues:
Jody Baker - Meadowlark’s Grand Re-opening on October 17 was good.
- Thank you to Kassie Zwiener and Stacey Ellington and their committee for a great Family Fun Night.
- The Parent-Teacher Conference meals were enjoyed – thank you to Judi Thomas and Shawna Cortez.
- Former student Zac Arnhold is collecting items for Iraqi children for his Eagle Scout project.
- The school is having email difficulties. If you send an e-mail to the school and do not get a response, please call the person you e-mailed.
- It is difficult for office staff to take care of last minute (after 3:00 p.m.) requests to change the way a student will go home. Please give the office plenty of time to notify your child’s teacher.
- Your child must be fever-free for 24 hours without assistance (e.g., Motrin, Tylenol) before you can send the child back to school. This rule is strictly enforced.
- An automatic hand sanitizer station will be installed in the cafetorium soon.
Student Incentive Drawing:
Allison Wolf’s name was drawn. Her teacher, Miss Ek, will receive a $25.00 Wal-Mart gift certificate.
Next PTO Meeting: Monday, December 7, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the Meadowlark library. We’ll see you there!
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m by Stacey Ellington.
Meadowlark Elementary PTO Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2009
Welcome: Carmen Schulte, PTO President, called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Nineteen people were in attendance.
Secretary’s Report:
Chris Steward October PTO newsletter will be out soon. Motion to approve the September 14, 2009 minutes was made by Kim Manor and seconded by Kristi Pederson. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report:
Laurie Wolf October Report: Motion to approve the October 2009 Report made by Kim Manor and seconded by Amy Rech. Motion carried. An activity summary for each PTO committee will be added to the monthly treasurer’s report.
Proposed 2009-10 Budget:
- If historical spending over the past 2 years was greater than the previous budget for a PTO committee, that budget was increased to be in line with typical expenses. The Family Fun Night, Greater Andover Days and gifts to teachers items were increased. New items in the proposed budget include: art program, outdoor habitat, recycling program.
- A field trip line item was added to the proposed budget to pay for out-of-town field trips. Jody Baker suggested using money set aside in previous years for projector lamps. The district is paying for the lamps now so the money is not needed for that purpose. The estimated cost of the field trips this year is $1,500. The money in the account will cover this. Motion to use the “projector lamp” funds for field trips made by Dawn Monroe and seconded by Kim Manor. Motion carried.
- Motion to approve the proposed 2009-10 budget excluding the field trip line item was made by Amy Rech and seconded by Heather Scott. Motion carried.
Shared Monies with Prairie Creek PTO:
In previous years, the Meadowlark PTO voted to share money earned with Prairie Creek. The percentage of monies shared is dependent upon the number of students who attended Meadowlark from 2007-2009 and eventually stay at Prairie Creek. Rhona Harvey compiled the following statistics: 2007-08 school year, 14% of students would eventually stay at Prairie Creek; 2008-09 school year, 37% of students would stay at Prairie Creek. Based on those percentages and taking out items that would stay at Prairie Creek (books earned at the 2007-09 book fairs) and stay at Meadowlark (cookbook money, Money Market account, technology fund), the total amount Meadowlark owes Prairie Creek is $2,835.75. At the beginning of the 2009-10 school year, Meadowlark advanced Prairie Creek $500, so we owe Prairie Creek $2,335.75.
Fall Fundraiser: Carmen Schulte (for Barbara Baan) Total receipts so far are $17,548.06. Meadowlark will receive approximately half of this amount. The exact numbers will be reported at the November PTO meeting. The fundraising items will be distributed in late October.
Parent/Teacher Conference Meals:
Judi Thomas and Shawna Cortez
PTO provides meals to teachers on the days of conferences. This year, donations of food and drink are requested for the following dates: Monday, October 19 (Soup and Chili Night); Tuesday, October 20 (Taco Salad Night); Thursday, October 22 (Appetizer Night). A sign-up sheet was distributed.
Picture Day:
Jody Baker (for Gracie Fugit) Went smoothly.
Family Fun Night:
Stacey Ellington Family Fun Night will be at Meadowlark on October 27th, starting at 6:30 p.m. Hot dogs will be served and there are four more games planned. A volunteer sign-up sheet will be distributed to students for parents to donate time (30 minute shifts) and/or cookies (2 dozen). Kim Manor offered Boy Scout popcorn as prizes for the pumpkin carving contest winners.
Box Tops:
Kristi Pederson (for Sheri Idol) There were 4,309 box tops counted in September. Mrs. Allison’s class was the kindergarten through 2nd grade winner with 476 box tops, and Mr. Lee’s class was the 3rd through 5th grade winner with 699 box tops. Those classes received a lemonade and popcorn party.
All-Star Reading:
Carmen Schulte (for Sarah Ullman) All-Star Reading Recess will be Oct. 23 for those students who met their Accelerated Reader goal for the first quarter. Parents plus teachers will be on the playground with the students. Two volunteers for each grade level are requested. A sign-up sheet was distributed.
GAD Parade:
Chris Steward Thanked all 20 people who helped with the parade float and dance routine. The Meadowlark entry won for best non-business.
Outdoor Habitat:
Dawn Monroe A new chair is needed for this committee. Jody Baker said district maintenance workers have recently lad sod and trimmed the trees in this area. It looks nice. Bulbs could be planted now for the spring. Planters and shrubs would look nice in the area. The shed is available for equipment storage. Kim Manor said Dave Martine at TreeScapes could offer ideas on the space.
Book Fair:
Jill Sagehorn The Fall Book Fair (September 16-28) raised $3,700 worth of books for the Meadowlark library. Thanks to everyone who helped.
Building Update:
Jody Baker Thanks to all who have helped so far this year. The school will have an Open House on October 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This will be a ribbon-cutting for the renovated school and a celebration of 50 years as a school. A time capsule will be buried.
New Business:
Carmen Schulte
Suggested forming a committee to set up clear guidelines for staff to come to the PTO to request money for projects. The committee members would be anonymous. Kim Manor suggested a circulating committee where a person would change out of the committee every few months. Jody Baker would like to see school-wide projects as the PTO’s primary focus. Ms. Baker could build a wish-list for the building so staff and the committee could see how projects fit in. Carmen Schulte suggested the PTO president be a permanent, non-voting member of the committee.
Music Programs:
Jill Reeves
The 3rd and 4th grade music concert will be December 1 at Andover Central High School. Volunteers are needed to help decorate (Nov. 30 and Dec. 1) and to help with the dress rehearsal (Dec. 1). The concert has a holiday theme.
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Student Incentive Drawing:
Taylor Wolf’s name was drawn. Her teacher, Mrs. Traylor, received a $25.00 Wal-Mart gift certificate.
Next PTO Meeting: Monday, November 2, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the Meadowlark library. We’ll see you there!
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m by Carmen Schulte.
Meadowlark Elementary PTO Meeting Minutes
September 14, 2009
Welcome: Carmen Schulte, PTO President, called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. There were __ in attendance. Everyone introduced themselves and stated their children’s teacher’s names. Carmen passed out information folders to committee chairs.
Office Helper:
Kristi Pederson The committee has enough help with Friday folders. Kristi is compiling a list of substitutes for the lunchroom who can be called if Sue Parker or Janet Gibbs is absent. A sign-up sheet was circulated.
New Business:
Amy Arnhold and Sherri Tolleson A new Kindermusik program is offered at the Andover Public Library. The program, Music and Me, is for 2-5 year olds and includes finger plays, songs and movement for 30 minutes per week. Enrollment is on-going. Contact Amy (733-2568) or Sherri (733-2593) for a current schedule and fees. Amy and Sherri were Parent Educators with Parents as Teachers before that program was cut due to a decreased district budget.
Secretary’s Report:
Chris Steward Motion to approve the May 4, 2009 minutes was made by Beth Cunningham and seconded by Jana Farney. Motion carried. Chris Steward wrote the September PTO newsletter which is posted on the Meadowlark tab of the district Website, www.usd385.org. Committee chairs will be contacted for information for the October newsletter.
Treasurer’s Report:
Laurie Wolf Motion to approve the September 2009 Report made by Amy Rech and seconded by Barbara Baan. Motion carried.
Part of the PTO expenditures since May included an advance of $500 to the Prairie Creek PTO. Discussion ensued about how fundraising monies from the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years should be split between Prairie Creek and Meadowlark. Jody Baker stated that if the expense was one that Prairie Creek benefited from (such as the assembly during the 2008-09 school year where author Brad Sneed visited), we should count it. If the expense came with us (such as light bulbs for projectors), we should not count it. Laurie will prepare a report of the fundraising money and its use and a proposed PTO budget for approval next month.
Thank you’s
Carmen Schulte
Thanks to all the volunteers who have worked on committees so far this year.
Home Room Parent:
Jana Farney Home Room Parents plan the Halloween and Valentine’s Day class parties and collect money for teacher gifts. The Home Room Parent List is almost complete. To date, the following teachers do not have home room parents: Mrs. Segraves, Mrs. Young, Miss Hoopes and Mr. Lee. See Jana if you would like to volunteer.
Back to School Spirit:
Jody Baker (for Diane Tauscher)
The teachers received sunglasses and candy, wishing them a “cool school year”.
Helping Hands:
Amy Rech Thank you to everyone who helped before and after school and in the lunchroom the first days of school. Everything went smoothly.
Welcome Wagon: Dawn Monroe We had a great turnout (more than 30 people) at the Welcome Back Coffee on
September 2, 2009. This committee also provides snacks at the PTO meetings each month and would like to do something for families who are new to Meadowlark. Contact Dawn with any ideas.
Fall Fundraiser: Barbara Baan Tomorrow, September 15, is the kick-off for the fall fundraiser which is food and other items from River City Fundraising. Samples of the food were provided at Meet Your Teacher Night. Help is needed September 15 at
2:45 for about 45 minutes to deliver the packets to the classrooms. The deadline for orders is Tuesday, September 29. On that day, the committee will need helpers to collect the orders from each teacher and count the money. A sign-up sheet was circulated.
Parent/Teacher Conference Meals:
Carmen Schulte (for Judi Thomas)
Fall Conferences are October 19, 20 and 22. PTO provides the teachers a meal at the school each night of conferences. A sheet was circulated to sign up to bring food and other items for the meals.
Family Fun Night:
Stacey Ellington and Kassie Zwiener Family Fun Night will be at Meadowlark on October 27th, starting at 6:30 p.m. As in previous years, there will be games, food and fun for a minimal cost. This event is not a fundraiser. Planning meetings will start next week. More volunteers are always needed – this is a big event. In the past, we served ice cream but want to try something new this year because there is limited freezer storage. Games in the past included a tattoo station and candy walk bingo. PTO meeting attendees brainstormed ideas for food and games.
Box Tops:
Kassie Zwiener BoBo Box Top visited classrooms today (Sept. 14). BoBo is a clown who visits classrooms to get students enthused about collecting box tops, which raise money for Meadowlark. Students are encouraged to collect box tops from products which are listed at www.boxtops4education.com. Our school receives 10 cents per box top. Last year, Meadowlark received about $3,300 from General Mills. This year, a circus-themed display will show students how many box tops each class collects during the year. Each month, two winning classes will be determined — one from kindergarten through 2nd grades and one from 3rd through 5th grades. Those classes receive a lemonade and popcorn party. The class with the most box tops collected throughout the year wins a pizza party at the end of the year.
GAD Parade:
Chris Steward The Greater Andover Days (GAD) theme this year is, “It’s Home to Me”. Our float theme will be, “There’s No Place Like Home” with a Wizard of Oz Theme. The float will have a rainbow and yellow brick road. Kindergartners and possibly first graders will sit on the float. Other students will march behind the float. Jody Baker will be Dorothy on the float. This year, the PTO is responsible for the choreography and teaching of the “marching routine” to the students. Kassie Zwiener will contact the dance teacher at the YMCA to see if she is interested in choreographing and/or teaching.
Meadowlark has a great participation tradition in the parade. We have won many parade awards and would like to again. All students and parents are invited to participate in the parade. Children are encouraged to wear their yellow Meadowlark T-shirts or a yellow or blue T-shirt or they can wear a Wizard of Oz costume. Jody Baker stressed that parents are encouraged to walk behind the students in the parade. If a parent cannot walk in the parade, he or she should meet the float at AndoverCentralHigh School after the parade to pick up their child. Younger siblings can walk or ride in a wagon pulled by their parents.
Building Update:
Jody Baker Thanks for coming to the meeting. Please feel free to ask any questions about the school and/or district. We want parents to have opportunities to be involved in the school. We are glad to be back at Meadowlark which has a current enrollment of 357 students.
1. The district has cut school budgets. When making the PTO budget for this year, please consider that teachers are short budgets for their classrooms this year. In the past, the Meadowlark budget was about $4800. This year, it is $2800. Most of this money goes to the teachers. Please consider a PTO goal of giving the teachers more practical gifts this year, such as gift cards, that they can use to supplement their classroom budget. I’ve asked teachers to create wish lists for their classrooms that they should publish on their on-line Wiki pages. Teachers will not ask parents directly for items.
2. Field trips have changed. In the past, classes could go on any amount of “in-town” (Andover city limits) trips and one outside trip (for example, to Wichita). Now, due to budget cuts, classes can still go on any amount of in-town trips but will have to pay the bus and driver for outside field trips. The PTO could be asked for help with paying for outside field trips. Teachers will have to go through Jody before requesting money from PTO. In the future, we will set up a process to apply for PTO money.
3. Home Room Parent Guidelines are given to each home room parent. They include limiting the parties to one hour long (including the Halloween parade time), keeping the parties down to a minimal cost and limiting the number of sweets. Room parents can only ask for $10 total per year from each child’s family, usually spread throughout the year (for example, teacher’s birthday and then an end-of-the-year gift).
Book Fair:
Carmen Schulte (for Melanie Joseph) The Fall Book Fair is September 16-28. The book fair is open during library hours. Family Night is Sept. 24 from 4-6:30. Parents are encouraged to attend Family Night with their students. The book fair committee helps set up and take down the book fair and staffs the cash registers during the entire time the book fair is open.
PTO-sponsored
Andover Area Playgroup:
Chris Steward The playgroup met today, Sept. 14, at the Central Park playground, across from the Andover Public Library, from 1-2:30. The playgroup was started by the Meadowlark PTO to encourage all Andover-area young children and parents to meet before or during Kindergarten. In the past, it has met once per month, around the middle of the month. If anyone is interested in running the playgroup or helping set dates for this year, contact Chris Steward.
T-shirt:
Beth Cunningham The last order was submitted, and it should come before the GAD parade. We sold T-shirts for 50 cents over what we paid for them. Early estimates indicate the PTO will break even on the shirts. Wear your shirts to the GAD parade!
Additional Business:
MES 2009-10 PTO Board:
Amy Rech made a motion to nominate Kim Manor as PTO Assistant Treasurer. Beth Cunningham seconded. Motion carried.
Board and Committee Chair List:
Carmen Schulte
Presented. Will be posted on the Website.
Student Incentive Drawing:
Meg Farney won $25.00 for her teacher, _________.
Next PTO Meeting: Monday, October 5, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the Meadowlark cafetorium. We’ll see you there!
The meeting was adjourned at
7:50 p.m by Carmen Schulte.
Comments (1)
Amy Arnhold said
at 11:26 am on Oct 16, 2008
Thanks, Suzanne! I'm looking forward to using this. -Amy
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