WMS PTSO
MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
11:30AM
Welcome
President’s Report – Heather Beering
 Attendee introductions
 PTSO membership/volunteer forms available during the meeting or in school office at any time. Please
complete a form so that Membership Chair, Patty Molnar, can add members to PTSO database for
increased communication
 Committee Chair persons introduced. Explanation of each committee’s function including Membership,
Book Fair, Awards, School Parties, Staff Appreciation, CIC (Curriculum Instruction Council), and DAC
(District Advisory Council)
 Book Fair starts next week. Volunteers are still needed. Also asking for volunteers for upcoming 6th
grade party and magazine sale
 President-elect position is still open
 Please check out PWMS PTSO Facebook page. It’s a great resource for staying connected
 Kids First Initiative is a student based group geared toward getting out the vote. More information is
available on the PPS website
Principal’s Report
 Special thanks to Heather Beering for serving as PTSO President this year, and to all officers and
committee chairs
 Looking for morning drop-off volunteers to facilitate better traffic flow
 Open House is September 22, 2015 6:30-8:30pm
 Communications: multiple ways to stay connected including the school newsletter, daily
announcements, SkyAlert, Teacher GoogleSites, Homework Hotline, Principal’s Corner website, Twitter
@WMSPioneer. Parents are welcome to come to school and visit during lunches
 Staffing: 14 new teacher/staff members announced for the 2015-16 school year (see Principal’s Report
for complete list). Marcy Van Winkle is acting interim Assistant Principal. Kevin Doerfler is currently on
administrative leave
 8th grade Washington D.C. trip is moving forward as scheduled. ELA and social studies teacher Val
Abbott is the WMS trip liaison now that Mr. Dykehouse has accepted a position as Assistant Principal in
Byron Center. Parent chaperones will be needed for 10:1 chaperone/student ratio
 Explanation of Professional Learning Community. Talking points include identifying what students need
to learn (essential standards), how to identify if they have learned it (assessmets), and what to do if
they don’t learn it (implementing interventions, XTS-Extra Time and Support). See allthingsPLC.info for
more information
 Student Ambassadors: 50 7th & 8th grade students providing mentoring for new 6th graders
 Mathematics: purposeful scheduling, meaning teachers work in pairs to offer more math assistance,
M2-peer assisted learning, which is similar to the ELA Par 4 program, and continuation of Intensive
Math Intervention class.
 Continued focus on reading and comprehension including Summary Writing from Information Text
(charts, graphs, tables, etc.)
 Homework Assist Program begins for all grades on September 28th. The program is similar to detention
in that, if homework is not completed, students are required to stay after school from 3-4pm to
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complete assignments. Participation in extracurricular activities is prohibited if homework is not
completed.
Calendar reminders include Sept. 18th Magazine Sale Kickoff, Sept. 18th 6th grade party, Book Fair week
of Sept. 21st, Open House Sept. 22nd (6:30-8:30pm)
November Election: Ballot will contain two separate bonds. One bond for 3 middle schools’
construction/improvements, pools, technology, and busses. Second bond for 2 new multi-purpose
stadiums.
Motion to nominate Julie Case as PTSO Secretary by Heather Beering. Motion seconded by Lori Hannemann
and approved by all.
Meeting adjourned at 12:37pm