meeting minutes - october, 2017

ACMS PTO Meeting Summary
October 18, 2017 - Meetings are on the 3rd Wednesday of the month
Present: Hien Larson, Stephanie Bragg, Jenifer Standteiner, Coral Cavanagh, Susie Overall, Heather Spear, Heather Runge, Yvonne Moore, Laurie Clemente, Lucy Hodges
Meeting called to order at 7:45
Principal’s Update - Hien Larson

• 6th graders had a successful field trip to Shady Creek. 187 students attended. This was an expensive trip ($6,000 for transportation alone, in addition to $240/child for facilities). ACMS asked for donations of $240, will continue to request donations, and is asking PTO for help funding this ($3,000).
• The girls’ basketball championship this past weekend at ACMS went well. Smokey’s was here with food and donated 20% of their profits.
• Follow the ACMS Facebook page for up-to-date info and announcements.
• Homework Club meets after school twice per week. 7th grade teachers are present and they help with English, social studies, math, and science.
• First trimester progress reports are going out soon.
• The next Honor Roll breakfast will be in January.
• Student-led parent-teacher conferences are next week, October 23–27.
  • More sign-ups are needed for the teacher lunches.
• 6th Grade parents will have an additional opportunity to meet the teachers at a Meet and Greet on November 1st, 7:00-7:30 a.m. in the 6th grade classrooms.
• The week after conferences (October 31–Nov 3) is Red Ribbon Week. This year’s theme will be “Think of Your Future.” This week includes activities intended to help point the children toward a drug-free life. Dress-up themes are as follows:

 

• Monday - PJ day - Dream the drugs away. Video to be shown: “Natural High”
• Tuesday - Halloween - Scare those drugs away. Halloween costumes.
• Wednesday - Choose a Drug-Free Future Futuristic costumes.
• Thursday - Join the Era against Drugs - Dress retro.
• Friday - Red Ribbon Week - Wear red. The newspaper will be on campus to take a photo.

The week will also include homeroom competitions and the organization Parent Committed will be here to take a pledge with kids.

• Minimum Day - November 8 is a Minimum Day
• Veteran’s Day (no school) - November 10
• Next Dance - December 1st
  • Additional dances will be on Feb 9, maybe March, May 24 (5th-6th Grades), and June 1


Co-Presidents’ Discussion - Stephanie Bragg
PTO is seeking to improve the schoolyard and after-school environment. We discussed the following:

• Kids have expressed an interest in gaga ball (A ball game played in an octagonal pit. The kids played it at Shady Creek. It requires adult supervision.)
• Kids also requested more shade, such as umbrellas or sail shade structures.
• Life-size games (chess, connect four, Jenga)
• Balls are very popular and more are needed: tetherball, foursquare type, wall ball, basketballs, and footballs). For safety reasons, Baseballs and tennis balls are not allowed.
• Picnic tables also get lots of use.
• Goal - create an after-school place, the Cougar Club, for kids to hang out (through 4:30 p.m.), with games like table tennis, balls, and other games. Provide a hangout space, maybe with some beanbags. Perhaps food could be available for purchase. Cafetorium may be available some days.
  • We will need supervisors for this and we will work with Mrs. Larson, who will talk with Cindy at the District Office. Need one supervisor; two if food is sold.
  • Hiring would have to be through PTO and staff would have to be CPR certified. Perhaps use parent volunteers who are already in the system.

Voting

• Coral Cavanagh moved, Hien Larson seconded, and the group voted in favor of electing Jennifer Standteiner as Treasurer.

• Members duly moved and seconded to approve minutes from the previous meeting.

Treasurer’s Report - Jennifer Standteiner

• PTO has ≈$3,700 in bank and a budget framework.
• School Kit sales at Back to School night netted about $700.
• PTO has no expenditures now, but generally, we spend about $3,000 per year per class.
• Given our anticipated expenditures and potential additional projects, we need to raise funds.

Fundraising
We have several fundraising ideas. Planned fundraisers and ideas include the following:

• Fall Fundraiser (previously called the Alternative Fundraiser) - simple request for donations. Online donation method already available.
• Box Tops - we need someone to sort and submit. Perhaps Leadership can do this.
• Escrip - We need to determine whether this $ is still coming to PTO.
• Movie Night? We have beanbags and could use bleachers. $5 admission could buy food and drink.
  • Need insurance through Facilities, and need to plan for custodian cost
• Social events - offer fun opportunities for the kids. Emphasis on social aspect and not on the fundraising, which would be a bonus.
• Plaques with donors’ names - as Spring Fundraiser

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.               

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