MARCH PTO MEETING MINUTES
Final Draft
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2011
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Welcome by Co-President: Michelle Bourque and Anne Boswell
February PTO Meeting Minutes approved
Treasurer’s Report by PTO Treasurer Anne Shores – Please see report
Business:
A. Update on Gift Card Central – Curt Henderson. Anne Boswell communicated
information from Curt Henderson on the following statistics : 40 families have
participated in 2010-2011 gift card program, 23 families ordered once and 9 families
ordered two times. The school made a profit so far of $1.200. This fundraiser does not
cost anything to families and has the potential to earn enough money to be our only
fundraiser if the majority of people participate. How do we engage people to
participate?
 Send out an eye catching very few words flyer with the specific details that Curt
provided.
 Send out a separate flyer with the contest details – the contest to run 3/15-5/24
the class that has the most family orders – not the amount of money but the number
of orders during the contest period gets a Pizza and Ice Cream Party and for every
order a family places – their name is entered into a drawing for $100 cash prize
 Present this information to parents during times where there is a captive audience
Camp Jewel – Curt and Laura or Anne could announce, 5th and 6th grade concert night
– Anne has to work this night and the Academic Fair – Edie will make a couple of
announcements.
 Sandra and Laureen will make posters to engage the children in the contest
 Contact room parents to help promote the contest
 Thank you to Curt for overseeing and implementing this program
B. PTO Manager update by Laura Markelon PTO Manager is a web based program that
helps to organize and streamline information such as generating a budget, organizing
volunteers, and stream lining e-mails. Information on the PTO Manager can be obtained
at www.ptotoday.com. Laura spoke to Cheri Clanan PTO member from Tootin Hills Their
PTO Secretary Jill set up the whole system and is one who maintains the data. They did
a lot of work over the summer to get the system ready. They were unable to be at
tonight’s meeting due to scheduling conflicts. The cost is about $200 a year for PTO
Today membership and $200 a year for the software. Laura has a telephone conference
with Jill tomorrow to discuss the program. Laura will invite either a PTO member from
Tootin or a representative from PTO Today to introduce the PTO Manager program
possibly at the next PTO meeting. Discussed the possibility of utilizing a PTO
newsletter.
C. Academic Fair Update by Laureen Bohadik Fair is Math and Science and is scheduled
for April 8th 6:30 -8:00pm. Classes will visit the fair during the day on 4/8. Registration
Forms due by 3/24th. Each classroom was visited to talk up the fair with students.
Discussed the possibility of having a table for tickets to the auction or Gift Cards.
D. Read-a-Thon update by Teresa Zantow Thank you Teresa for running a successful
event that raised over $4.000 to be divided by the PTO and charities picked by the
children’s classrooms. Discussion occurred about what makes this fundraiser so popular.
E. Mixed Bag Fundraiser by Anne Boswell Anne brought up the question if it would be too
much with the silent auction, book fair or other things going on. It was agreed that this
fundraiser would be offered again this spring due to its popularity. The company will now
be accepting orders on line. Anne will determine the right time to introduce this
fundraiser this spring.
F. Silent Auction Update by Anne Boswell Co- chairs are Pam Lynch and Beth Llewellyn.
Planning meetings are held Monday evenings in the Teacher’s Lounge at 7:00pm. There
has been low participation. Please come and help. Also please spread the word for
donations. A letter will be going out to parents requesting donations along with a list of
items that the PTO was able to purchase at the end of last year for the school with
fundraising money. Room Parents will also be notified by the committee to request
classroom baskets like last year. They were very popular. The date is 5/13 to be held at
Hopmeadow Country Club and Scott Haney to emcee. It was brought up during the last
planning meeting to have the auction every other year but it was decided to go forward
this year. Nisha Waters offered to donate golf lessons. Teachers may donate a basket
per Edie.
G. Carnival/Pet Show update – Date has been changed to 6/4/11 11-2 pm. Anne Boswell is
not chairing it. We are still looking for chairs for this event. A planning meeting was
scheduled on 2/15th and only one person showed up. Bridget Rogers organized volunteers
last year and is not able to do it this year. Bridget may co-ordinate the 6th grade sink
tank. Spinners have been notified about the change of date. Need to revisit this topic.
Help is needed.
H. Book Fair Update by Chair Nisha Waters – Nisha reported that the book fair will be
held during parent conferences in March. From March 28 th until April 1st. Volunteers
are needed. So please consider signing up to help. Nisha reports that she is planning on
hanging posters this week and sending out a flyer. She will fill out a building
configuration Form. Classes will visit the fair during the day and there will be teacher
wish lists and teacher bags so parents can purchase books for classrooms. There will be
a table for Mixedbag purchases. She reports that working with the Scholastic
Representative has been very positive. She had to reserve the bookfair for next year –
fall conferences were booked since other schools have the same conference schedule.
Nisha booked it sometime in the fall.
I. Little City and Antonio’s Fundraiser Update by Sandra Cinquegrana. Sandra will be
picking up the check from Little City February Fundraiser and will report the outcome
next meeting. Antonio’s will be every Monday in April and in order to earn a percentage
of profit – customers from Central will need to present a flyer.
J. Artwork Fundraiser update from Diane Reynolds – Diane brought up that she hasn’t
received the information from Original Works and had concerns about having the proper
time to complete this event due to the amount of snow days and events that have
already been scheduled. It was agreed to postpone this fundraiser to the fall of 2011.
K. PTO Sponsored play date and an outdoor movie or ice cream social was discussed to
offer the opportunity for Central School families to get together with the idea to
recruit volunteers and increase PTO involvement. A date of May 20th was secured for
this outside event. Sandra will look into the copyright issues of showing a movie. Laureen
has projector and screen if needed.
L. Box top update - earned over $1,000
M. A request for $300.00 for Mrs. Blanchard, music teacher, to take the Central Singers to
McLean to sing was approved. $200.00 is for the bus and $100.00 is to pay for ice cream at
Fosters on the way home. This is an excellent opportunity for the children to share their
music and do some community service at the same time.
5. Principal’s Comments
a. CMT’s are going well
b. A parent/guardian Information Work Session entitled “Promoting a Positive School
Climate to Diminish Bullying” with featured speaker: Dr. Jo Ann Freiberg, PH.D. was
held on March 3. 2011 at Tarriffville Elementary School.
c. “Race to Nowhere” is a film documentary that shows the stressors our children face
d. Newsletter from Edie being sent via e-mail detailing academic and school events.
PTO may submit information to be included
e. Communication Survey to be possibly put together by Martha Hogan to be presented
to parents. PTO and school could generate questions for feedback to gain a better
understanding of how to elicit parental involvement. Example of questions could be:
What is the best way for the school or PTO to contact you a. e-mail, mail, phone call
etc.
Meeting adjourned at 9:05pm. Thanks to all for coming!!
See you on April 13, 2011 @ 7:15 in the Library Media Center
Respectfully Submitted,
Laureen Bohadik
PTO Secretary