McFarland EC-5 PTO
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 20, 2013
Present:
Stefanie Feralin, Theresa Pimental, Carrie Templeton, Stacy Mrowiec, Tom
Mooney, Sue Murphy, Amy McCullogh, Christine Punzel, Jeff Schraml and
several parents
Next meeting: Fall 2014, WIS library
Meeting began at 6:42pm by Jeff Schraml
Motion by Carrie Templeton to approve minutes from March 18, 2013 PTO meeting.
Stefanie Feralin Second. Motion carried.
1. New member elections:
 New PTO Advisory Committee Members elected: Amy McCullough will be new
Treasurer, Brooke Venable will be new secretary, Stacy Mrowiec is a new memberat-large. Jennifer Heaton-Amrhein, Theresa Pimental, Christine Punzel are leaving
the A/C.
 Carrie Templeton first motion to vote in new members/Stefanie Feralin second.
Motion passes. Welcome new members!
2. Individualized Education Plan
WIS Principal Sue Murphy presented the following information:
 An IEP is an individualized education plan. Once a child is referred there is a
series of tests and a team of educators who come together to look at results to
see if the child qualifies for special education. Then, the next step is “What can
we do to help this child succeed in school?” The parent is a part of deciding what
plan would help the child the most.
 The IEP consists of goals and is usually good for one year. Then assessments are
done to see if the goals and objectives are met.
 The ideal is to support the child as soon as possible so before they qualify for
special education. The McFarland schools provide extra support for those
students to help them succeed while they are awaiting approval for IEP status.
 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website has a wealth of information:
sped.dpi.wi.gov/sped_parent. Go to the “Especially for Parents” tab on the left
side of the screen for information for parents with children with disabilities.
 McFarland staff can refer a child for services or a parent can refer their own child
for services but testing and assessments need to be done.
 Principal Tom Mooney said, “Two questions that have to be answered. 1) Does
the child have a disability that is determined by the testing and assessments? 2)
Does the child require special education services? Some students may do fine in
the general education classroom and may not qualify for an IEP.
 To qualify, child must not have inclusionary factors/second language/attendance
problems.
 School psychologist Elizabeth Cook (K-2) and Sue Trentadue (WIS) have a
wealth of knowledge about the IEP process and can help parents decide what is
the best route to take for their child.
3.
Summer learning
 Visit the McFarland Library website to link to the public library that has many fun
events and reading programs: www.mcfarland.wi.us
McFarland EC-5 PTO – Meeting Minutes
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4.
Nov. 19, 2013
Use technology to strengthen the link from technology to the outdoors. Good
resource: www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/NationalWildlife/bot-techreport85x11final/1
o Geocaching-state parks have links
Kids need technology skills so saying no to all electronics is not necessarily the
best answer. For every minute on technology (including TV), kids should do five
minutes of something else.
Kids model their parents’ behavior. So parents need to modify their technology
use in front of the children.
Too much technology is shifting the kid’s ability to socialize.
There is a summer slide in kids reading scores. Waubesa will have a link up on
their website soon with ideas on how to keep your kids reading. Reading impacts
all other learning in other school subjects.
Sandra Taylor-Marshall, preK-5 grade reading specialist presents a worksheet
“Why your child should read 20 minutes every day?” Highlights of the sheet
includes:
o All research says that students that read more are more successful in life.
o A parent reading to a child has the same impact and there is no age limit!
o Building a joy of reading is very important, let kids find anything they are
interested in: graphic novels, manuals, the internet, picture books,
magazines
o Children who do not read over the summer will lose two months of
reading achievements. By 6th grade a child who doesn’t read in the
summer they will be 2 years behind their classmates.
o It doesn’t have to be 20 minutes in a row. It can be in 5 minute
increments.
o Don’t criticize what they are reading… just be happy they are reading.
o Be a reader and writer yourself.
o Use the www.goodreads.com (Not sure what to read next? Find out what’s
popular)
o http://whatshouldireadnext.com/ (If you loved a book, here’s a site that
can recommend similar titles)
o If your child is not a reader: Read to them, books on tape, reading apps.
o If you want to get good at a sport you practice every day, same with
reading. You have to practice every day to do it well.
Principal Reports:
- WIS Principal: Sue Murphy
 Big thank you to the PTO for volunteers, money, etc.
 5th grade safety patrol went to the Dells last week (60 kids)
 Orchestra performing May 22
 Parent night for 4th graders interested in orchestra June 3.
 Cave of the mounds next May 26.
 5th graders touring middle school next week
 Second graders come to Waubesa for a tour June 9.
 Show your Spirit Day May 29-kids can wear anything they are proud of to show their
“spirit”
 Olympiad May 30 Parent volunteers needed
 Online registration for Fall 2014 in early August. Parents will receive a message with
information in the summer.
 First day of school schedule will now offer morning and afternoon meeting times with
teachers.
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Nov. 19, 2013
There will be another survey about whether to continue the first day of school
teacher/parent/student meetings in the future.
No change to school start times in 2014.
Mid-July there will be police training at WIS. The police will put out a note to the
community.
Barbara Koechley (special education technology teacher) is retiring
Rob Lubbers (5th grade teacher) is moving.
Heidi Ackley (3rd grade teacher) is staying at home.
Maureen Reed (3rd grade teacher) is moving.
Mrs. Murphy also added that she is sad that this is Tom Mooney’s last PTO meeting.
He’s a great friend and colleague.
CEELC/Primary Principal: Tom Mooney
 Second grade teacher Kelly Kramper (was here on a one year contract) is leaving
because Mrs. Jefferson is coming back.
 New school social worker Kelly H. has been hired.
 Two new playground supervisor positions open for next school year.
 May 23 is Kindergarten field day.
 Hat Day is June 6
 June 9, June 10 1st and 2nd grade picnics
 June 16 is first day of summer school
 Bucky Badger reading program was a success! Bucky Badger came to school to
congratulate the students.
 Mr.Mooney said without volunteers we wouldn’t be able to accomplish special events
at school.
 Thank you to PTO! School lounges look great with microwaves, portraits of the
outdoors, watercoolers.
 PALS reading assessment will complete at the end of the May.
 Seven new trees being planted on the elementary campus.
 Railroad crossing. Milwaukee Street will become northbound. A crossing guard will be
located there.
 A new sign will go up shortly on the kindergarten building. A new sign will be
purchased soon for the primary school.
 Sarah Boatman will officially start on August 1st as the new elementary principal.
5. PTO SPRING Activity Updates:
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Bucky Badger reading program: 350 kids attended. Jess Karls popped all the
popcorn and organized the event. It was a huge success.
o Mr. Mooney also called each student who achieved their reading goals to
congratulate them.
Playtime Production: Seven McFarland students were in the production. The PTO
made a profit on the event this year.
Sock Hop: We will send out an infinite campus message to contact parents who
bid on auction items but haven’t redeemed them.
o New ideas: Euchre tournament, different silent auction items
Fall Movie night for 4K-5th grade in the works
Culver’s 10% fundraiser June 5
6. Check presentation!
The PTO was able to give $7,150 to each campus through the results of several
fundraisers.
7. Next PTO meeting
McFarland EC-5 PTO – Meeting Minutes
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Nov. 19, 2013
Fall 2014 at WIS.
MOTION by Carrie Templeton, second by Stefanie Feralin to adjourn. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.