Meeting Minutes - February 10th, 2020

Attendees: Susie Overall, Hien Larson, Celli Baker, Jen Standheiner, Jenny Suh, Kate Byus, Raughley Koehler

Principal’s Update, Hien Larson:
Friday 26th will be distance learning, starting at 7:43 am due to teacher’s scheduled second vaccination dose, in anticipation of side effects.

Tamales - thank you for doing it. Many happy parents.

Thank you Susie for basket of treats. Teachers appreciated it.

Site council wants to do a campaign to encourage kids to turn their cameras on, especially Cohort C kids. Needs to feel like classroom participation as normal. Positive reinforcement is needed. Maybe PTO can sponsor a drawing, awarding kids for having their camera on at random times. Summit swirl prize? Encourage engagement.
Also, we are moving away from honor roll. How else can we celebrate learning? North Tahoe is moving away from honor roll also. We are surveying students, asking: What does a celebration look like? Tell us about a time you were very successful. How were you celebrated? How do you want to be celebrated? Email? Phone call? Swag?  Will invite 3 students (1 per grade level) to join the celebration committee so we have student input. How can we celebrate life-long learning and celebrate skills to thrive?
Will there be no celebration of academic success? Need to celebrate life skills. Celli - disappointed that this is going away. Academic achievement is important in our family. Jen: we are trying to look at broader skills that kids should be learning. What is an intrinsic motivator? What life skill are they developing in this difficult time? Perhaps a peer-to-peer nomination? Raughley: spelling bee, art contest, science fair, these are ways to celebrate differently-skilled kids. Kate: ask kids how they want to be rewarded. Each kid may have a different way they want to be celebrated. Maybe have a celebration day.

Celebrate work habits, citizenship, and life-long learning. Kids set an academic goal and set a social/emotional goal. Passion projects. Accountability  partners. Peer support. Can we do spirit wear at cost as rewards for these achievements?

Hien is amazing, connecting with families and kids. If a kid is absent, she will drive to their house and ask how we can help them be successful. Kate: create an account, slush fund to support Hien. Do we already have this? Kate: coat closet to put things for kids, school nurse can pull from it to give to kids who they think need something.

Annual staff gift? Raughley says we used to do this. Kate: White elephant (would it work for a group this size? Or would it be better to let them choose…)? Everyone brings a gift with a $100 value? Ask parents to donate. Ask teachers where they want a gift card too. Massage? Target gift card?

Catered lunch for teachers - Tahoe Food Hub? Do a big gift now and then the food week for teacher appreciation week. 

Give teachers snacks every Friday? Or once a month? Set up a Sign Up Genius so we all take a shift? Move to budget $100 per month for teacher appreciation baskets and teachers. Jennifer S. - February; Celli/Kate - March. "ACMS Love" - ask for contributions to the monthly stash for teacher goodies. Reach out to Raley’s, Grocery Outlet, and Celli’s contact. Meals from Food Hub - how will that look. Meal every day? What is our budget? Sign-up genius? Allow parents to “sponsor” a lunch.

Treasurer’s Report
$7390 in account
$940 profit from tamale fundraiser
Tax issues due to our “employee” from last year’s Spanish class. Everything is worked out. Thank you to Raughley for taking care of that.

How to get around paying fees? We aren’t really paying a ton in fees now. So let’s just stay the course as we are doing it.

Other Fundraising Ideas:
Tamale lady will sell batches (Marisol) for $18 and then we sell for $25. Could be ongoing fundraiser.
Flowers for mother’s day? Celli and Kate will work on this. Fundraiser for kids to buy for their parents.

Spirit Wear: 
Spirit wear sales are trickling in. Need to periodically market it. Maybe do a spring blast. Remind parents that these items are for sale. Should we keep a stash of 10 beanies on hand for Hien to give away?

Adjourn: 10:00 am