August 27, 2015
Meramec PTO Meeting
Attendees: Jenny Abeles, Jay Epstein, Layne Helmering, Rula Winings, Eua Yu,
Elizabeth Smith, Jennifer Chan-Wong, Kami Waldman, Margie Beck, Patty Li, Allison
Thomason, Annie Sloane, Jeff Orgel, Rosemary Bubnis, Bella Keough, Wilhelmina
Brown, Jodi Ladner, Emily Whitney, Tahnee Whitlock, Mona Helmy, Lawanda Hall,
Dan Fazio, Tarita Rhimes, Cari Lowry, Lisa JT, Elisa Suarez, Michelle Stone, Chrissie
Wojiekowski.
Back to school coffee was a great success. Over twenty parents attended.
Snow cone day was also a success.
Dinner was provided for staff at Open house courtesy of PTO .
Spirit Wear co-chairs are Kristi Runyan and Elisa Suarez. They are creating new
inventory of shirts and stickers. Elementary schools will only have single colorsMeramec is to have only orange color. Soon, all three elementary schools will have
an online ordering system. Mrs. JT to check with Mary Jo Gruber on who the
ordering and payment process will work for each school so that Meramec receives
the profit for its orders. Character Council will be selling items in school store on
Fridays , pencils etc to benefit character council.
Room Parents; Email blast to go out on Monday. All packages done already and
there will be a meeting on September 10th to orient parents to the room parent
process. We need parents to take pictures and send to yearbook coordinators.
Mrs. JT to check with cafeteria if Tom Emmans can bake the cookies in the school
cafeteria .
Movie Night: Kate Glass to run Movie Night on Friday September 26th with Allie
Rossini and Danielja Boric . People can start arriving at 630 for the movie night.
Madagascar is the movie. IN case of rain, movie night will be in gym. Concessions
include candy, pizza, popcorn, lemonade. Movie Night is courtesy of the PTO. Jeff
Orgel to check with district to put orange tape on playground area so that kids do
not play on equipment when movie is on.
Meramec Market-Cara Downs and Angela Flotken to lead and looking for new
ideas.
Kristin Stapleton is leading the MUM sale for ten dollars on the playground.
Book Fair; Jennifer Chan-Wong and Jessica Graetz will send out a volunteer sign
up. The book fair is running during conferences as it does every year.
Yearbook: trying to get a shot of every child. There is a new app for the yearbook
that allows you to take pictures for the yearbook.
Treasurers Report: Send receipts to Jay Epstein and speak to him if you have
unbudgeted events. Also, send all event contracts to Jay before signing. GFS is
another option for warehouse shopping for supplies for PTO events. If you are
purchasing an item for an event, the PTO does not reimburse sales tax. 2014 and
2015 financial transactions are available for your review if you so wish. If you need
a cash box for an event, ask Dan. New this year, we are asking people to use paypal
instead of checks for FFE. 63 families have chosen to pay via paypal. Dana
Emmenegger is responsible for FEE and she has decided to send another
communication out to ensure payments are made. Last year 190 families
contributed to FFE last year, out of 240 families at the school.
The motion to accept the PTO financial report passed.
Communications If you need an email blast to go out or something put on the
website., please contact Michelle Stone. If you need to get graphics put together,
please talk to Jodi. Michelle will also be working on facebook this year and if you
have any photos for facebook then please send them to Michelle.
Principal's Dialogue: Next parent principal dialogue is next Friday. Anthony
Henderson will be the guest speaker to talk about how he is supporting students.
Anthony looks to see how kids are developing socially and emotionally. Meramec is
considering hiring a social worker to work with kids who have emotional issues. Go
St Louis is going to start and Tina Murtha is leading the Go St Louis team. Leo
Robotics will be starting out again this year. 4th and 5th grades will have teams for
Lego Robotics. There will be a lockdown drill (called unplanned scenarios) so that
parents can be aware to let their kids know what to expect.
PTO volunteers are being asked to fill out the form for a background check each
year. It is encouraged for everyone who wants to be a volunteer with kids, and
should be filled out by Labor day if possible.
Tarita Rhimes is asking the PTO for money for audio enhancement systems for
special needs children. The motion is for the purchase of two audio enhancement
systems for children who need them, at a cost of $2500. The Special Services School
District is unable to fund them at this time. Motion passed to fund the $2500
purchase.
PTO Council meeting-first one to be held September 1st at the Admin Building.
Chrissy Wojiekowski wants to know if there are other requests for new Town Hall
meetings.
Meeting concluded at 10:11am.