MKM ECC PTO Minutes – October 4, 2011
1. Call to order – 7:35pm
 Angela
2. Approve May 2011 Minutes
 2nd by Nicole Sponheimer
3. Treasurer’s Report – Marie Chobor
 In the Treasurer folder in the office under the table are forms you
need:
o Check Request form – copies of receipts must be handed in
with the form, it will get back in about 2 days
o Tax Exempt Form – Every folder should have a few copies of it,
we are an organization that we should not have to pay the
taxes, and we can’t reimburse back for taxes. Take form with
you at the time of purchase. Most recent is 2/23/2010
 It was recommended not to put it on the website,
because that is public access – rather scan it and email it
to all committee chairs.
o You all have the tentative budget that is budgeted for your
committees. If you go over the budget amount, it’s fine if you
are having any additional people come in, the budget isn’t
finite.
o The other sheet of paper is how we did last year. You can look
at how we did, and what we made to provide all the benefits
that we fund. Last year we had $3000 left over, but we have
already spent $4,500 with gift to school. Every little thing we
do adds up to a significant amount. I can email to you the
break down of the different events – this will be done after the
audit.
4. President’s Report – Angela Penna
 Go around the room and introduce themselves and tell who they are
and who their children are.
 Board of Ed Meeting this Thursday at 8:00
 Woodruff Carnival was rescheduled for the 15th
 Bear Facts Deadline is October 12th
 Teddy Bear Times Deadline is October 21st – Printed on November 4
 I have put together some PTO letterhead, and I have put the Venders
Letter for the Adult fundraiser on the PTO letterhead
 Question: “Difference between Bear Facts and Teddy Bear Times?”
 Answer: Teddy Bear Times is a more in depth description, the Bear
Facts is just a small blurb about what is coming up. It is going to be
posted on the websites
 Question: “Are we good for Welcome Back Event with Volunteers?”
 Answer: The Boys Scouts are going to help out.
5. Vice President’s Report – Lauren Cordo
 Nothing tonight
6. Correspondence – Nicole Sponheimer
 Nothing tonight
7. Principal’s Report – Mrs. Corley-Hand
 Thank you for the beginning of the year, and getting everything up
and running. The server was down, and it was a nightmare, and we
are so heavily reliant on technology.
 Thank you to everyone who road the buses, and we would be very
happy to have you do it more. Most of our issues come from the
buses. Kids try things out that they have never tried before.
 Community Celebration – 1st one is on Thursday at 10 something. We
generally have them once a month. This is where we celebrate our
birthdays. We usually choose a theme, and this first one is the Week
of Respect and Bus Safety. Mrs. Reedy has posted the Bus Safety Rap
on the website. We will be reiterating the safety procedures. We use
a lot of puppets to get our points across. We also utilize the 9/11
curriculum to help the students.
 Having a safe place in the classroom. Part of the 9/11 Curriculum. 1st
Grade is reading The Chrysanthemum. We don’t talk about bullying as
much but more about being a helpful friend, a good friend. That is our
approach to anti-bullying. The issues that we have had here are on
the bus. They are under constant supervision in the building, so
generally the bus and the playground are our hot spots. Everyone will
be trained on Monday for the HIB. All aids, and teachers. Hopefully
we will have a parent presentation on the new law, because it is very
tricky. We have had 2 specific bullying reports that have taken up a
good 4 or 5 days of our time. Our anti-bullying specialist is only here
2.5 days a week. We will keep people updated on it.
Mrs. Hicks – “If you are a playground volunteer do you need to be
trained?”
Mrs. Corley-Hand – “I don’t know for sure, but I will check. As of now
just report it to the lunch aid so it can be reported to me”
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Car-line: Kindergarten can use it in the morning, but we are hoping to
put them in it in the afternoon as well.
370 students, 42 are NEW first graders. This is the most # of new 1st
graders that we have had ever. We have kids coming from
everywhere, overseas, all over the US. Our population is growing, and
we will most likely have an additional section of 1st grade next year.
Science: Here there might not be as much of a difference because we
have always done a hands-on approach. The shift has really happened
in grades 2 to 5, they are working through the kinks. 1st Grade may be
reaching out to parent volunteers when they are doing experiments.
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Technology: New SmartBoards – so every single 1st Grade class will
have it, and possibly getting another one for a Kindergarten
classroom. Teacher’s are writing grants for iPads as well. They are
more difficult to control on the server.
Kindergarten Program: Things are going well, transition was very
smooth. Teachers seem pleased with what is happening thus far. We
are going to work on getting high school kids from band and art to
come and visit with our Kindergarteners.
Mrs. Hicks: “How is 1st Grade going?”
Mrs. Corely-Hand: It is terrific, but the class sizes are larger than we had
hoped because people were registering at the last minute in early September.
We have an extraordinary staff her. Mrs. Dorringer is new from Woodruff,
and Mrs. Rottenberg is new in the classroom – they are so supportive of one
another and they really help each other. I feel really good about the start of
the year. I do appreciate you bringing things to my attention?
Question: “Back to School Night was done differently this year, they were
done at the same time. AM and PM were all together in the room at the same
time, it was a lot of people in the same room. It wasn’t as intimate as it was
in the past. Didn’t allow for the parents to connect in the classroom.”
Mrs. Corely-Hand: “I can certainly share this with the teachers. They had
suggested it this year, and what seems like a good idea may not have worked as
well as we thought it was.”
8. Teacher’s Rep Report if Available – Mrs. Howard/Mrs. Varley
 Rita Varley – 1st Grade Teacher, Mrs. Howard – Special Education Selfcontained teacher
 Wanted to introduce ourselves and two things:
 1. Thank you for the PTO grants of $150 that we can use for our
classroom
 2. The new Media Specialist wanted to say thank you so much to all of the
parent volunteers.
 Is there anything that we need to report back to the teachers?
o Yes, last year as Treasurer I saw that teachers went in and did the
grants together, and we need to make sure that both names are on
the check request.
 When do you need the grants done?
o End of the year is a little crazy. Receipts are great, but just notes
didn’t work, need the formal check requests.
 Let’s make the deadline for May 1, 2012
 Question: “Membership – we had deadline as October 1, but could you let
the faculty know that they can still put in their membership application.
In addition, the book fair is coming up, we need all teachers to bring
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clipboards for each student. We also have the teacher wish-list, and we
are going to institute a “Teachers’ Favorites” section.”
The teachers left at 8:16
9. Committee Reports
 Art – Ginger Wilson, Abbie Pappas
o Not Present
 Audit – Eva Dooley, Laura Raftery
o We are about ½ way through will be done by the next meeting
 Bilingual Support – Lydia Wong, Katherine Matfes
o Kathy – lot of volunteers but not a lot of demand. One boy at the
beginning of the year with Mandarin. One teacher wanted to use
us for teaching Spanish, would like to see if other teachers would
be interested in using us to teach Spanish?
o Angela – something we need to clear with Mrs. Corely-Hand
o In the Newsletter we are going to put an add about if you need
help with Mandarin here are some numbers and people to talk
about.
 BOE Liaison – Jodi Cear, Lydia Wong
o Only thing Mrs. Rattner missed was that video cameras are
installed in all the schools and the Principals are going to be
trained.
o Question: Are these going to be linked right to the police
department?
o Answer: I don’t know I will find out
 Book Fair – Nicole Mauriello, Michelle O’Rouke, Kelly Sheehan
o October 24 – 26 – and the letter will go home this week. We
definitely need volunteers to help us. Going with All Book again.
o This year the Pre-school classes won’t attend, but the Pre-school
parents will be given time during the day to come in with their
children.
o It will also coincide with Parent-Teacher conferences and PTO
meeting
o We have about 45 volunteers, but we want them to sign in on the
forms going home in the backpacks
 Box Tops – Joyce Gallagher
o Not Present
 Class Parents – Kelly Lorne, Kelly Sheehan
o In addition to $5 they are also allowed to ask for items for the
parties
o Suggestion: Standard form for each of the Holidays, where parents
sign up for each of the holidays. Perhaps we can do it that way as
that is how the Elementary Schools do it.
 Cultural Arts - Milla Trigos, Kelly Hawkins
o Already have “The Peace Maker” – November 23 9:30 and 10:25 –
whole school
“A Year in the Life of Frog and Toad”- December – whole school
“Cliff Sunflower” – 1st Graders
We are working on “School House Rock” but we want a discount
What about bullying?
Peace Makers is sort of that kind of anti-bullying and tolerance
presentation
o Cultural Arts Meeting – Woodruff is getting a Magician who does a
magic school “Bully Proofing Your School” – we might take a look
at it and see if it is appropriate.
o Pre-School up in the air if they are going to come to the
performances – we are trying to schedule them so that they can
come
o This year we found an in-class workshop called Let’s Pretend that
will be just for the Kindergartens, so they will have that with the
chick hatching
o ICP has scheduled an Author visit in December, and a Dentist visit
in February
o Are parents allowed to attend the cultural arts assembly?
 For Honey Bees we need volunteers, as for the other ones I
don’t know – but they tend not to have parents. If you have
a concern and want to be there, you could run it through
Mrs. Corley-Hand
o Kindergarten – we are trying to find things for them, such as
Classical Music and stuff but we are struggling with it.
Curriculum Liason – Kali Cannizzaro, Mary Itri-Hicks
o We have our first meeting October 28 – once we go we will post
the minutes to the website. If something specific is talked about
we can discuss it here.
Directory – Alexadra Frank, Jenifer Sprinzen
o Not Present
o Is there anyway that we can receive confirmation that our
information was received?
o We can talk to Mr. Prupis about it
o Deadline is October 6
Expo – Sharon Lovit , Julie Jones
o Nothing as of now – it isn’t until March
o What is Expo?
o Its an opportunity for kids to showcase their artwork. One year its
art and the next year its Invention Convention – used to be at
Columbia – but this year Mary Kay is here at the school
Families Care/Newcomers – Sharon Lovit, Maryanne Kesler
o No issues as of right now
o You will be notified if you need to get a hold of someone
o We have had 2 new students in the last two weeks and we haven’t
been given of the information
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Fundraising – Denise Micca, Jenn Castrovinci, Dina Linde
o Stop and Shop – You have to re-enroll every year, flyers went out
this week. Also on the website and the link is right there. – Are
there any other supermarkets that do this? Kings does the bags –
we aren’t going to do this year - but we will ask about the cards.
We will check Shop Rite, and A & P
o Target – If you have a red card and sign up it is on going and
money will go to the school continually until you choose to stop it.
Checks will go once a year in the month of September.
o Original Works – We displayed it at Back to School Night –
Children will create artwork in the classroom, and it will be sent
home and you can reproduce it on various items – 1st Graders did
it already, they have options, Kindergartners only get one. Minor
issue is we asked Mrs. Lombardo for labels of the children’s names
but their might be privacy issues with the children’s names and
labels. Kelly and Michelle have the class lists. Should be sending it
home by October 24 for 1st Grade. Still waiting for the
Kindergarten work. There will be directions going home with it so
that if it needs to be finished you know what can and cannot be
used.
Garden – Jessica Schmidt
o Nothing
Hospitality – Jodie Pelinsky, Jackie Parker, Leslie Koch
o Thank you for Back to School Nights
In-Class Professionals – Jackie Parker, Maryanne Kesler
Library Volunteers – Shirley Vargas, Mary Itri-Hicks
o Every class had 2 parents
o However some of the classes time slots got flipped, and that
caused a problem and we didn’t have the information.
o One mother now can’t volunteer with the new time frame – so they
are going to resend the schedule out to Mr. Prupius and Mrs.
Howard
Membership – Michelle O’Rourke, Joyce Gallagher
o 224 Families 26 Teachers Total of $6450.00
o Surpassed last year by over $1000
Newsletter – Kan Lee
o The Newsletter layout is pretty much set, as soon as I get the
stories I can put them in and send it out. Get it to us by October 21
o He is going to send out last years and this years so people can see
what it looks like
Playground Volunteers – Abbie Pappas, Nicole Mauriello
o Supplies – we have a budget of $150 but I am going to ask for a
little more money – The supplies seem to disappear over the years.
We have chalk and we have balls. I am going to make the jump
ropes, just be spending $38 more.
o No problem.
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o We can put a box in the office and ask for donations for the
playground.
o Summit Medical Group has left over jump ropes from their event
that was rained out last week.
Publicity – Mary Beth Bade, Joyce Gallagher, Jean Freely
o Nothing
Special Education Liaison – Angela Penna, Candice Eisenberger
o Morris Union Jointure is doing Parent Training Workshops
o Social Skills Workshop October 23rd
o Trycan – has programs as well for people and everything will be
put on the website
o ASKBH a parent support group is available
Spirit Clothing – Eva Dooley, Mandy Krug
o Extended deadline, we are only at about $400 of our $700 goal
o Stress the Community Days – we need to publicize them
o Table at Welcome Back Event?
o Car magnets – only $5 we need 100 but we have only sold 25, so
we might have to buy out of pocket and sell it
Teacher Grants – Lisa Curran
Terracycle – Laura Walter
o Bring in Caprisun
o Also Oreo Cookies and Huggies Diapers
Volunteers Coordinator – Kelly Shehan
Website – Angela Penna, Shelly Lettington
o Its up and running
o Is the calendar up? Yes under events 2011-2012
Welcome Back Social – Jessica Schmidt, Heather Tan, Maureen HartnettShea
o So far the weather looks good for Thursday October 6
o We are good on Volunteers with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
o Inflatables, DJ music and Cake Walk, Games with prizes, Selling
Pizza, Pretzels, Popcorn, Water, Juice and stuff. Penguin Ice – all
registered kids will get a coupon for Penguin Ice
Winter Social – Candice Eisenberger, Gentiana Vandeventer, Carla Costa
o February 25, Saturday Night
o Why did it get moved from the fall? It was too early – but it is going
to clash with the Elementary School socials. But we figure that the
parents that go aren’t going to go to the other ones anyhow. We
also need the time to get the baskets together. Also early fall is
prime wedding season, and the costs were going to be so high per
head.
10. Old Business
11. New Business
12. Adjournment – 9:15 Angela adjourned
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