Clermont PTA Meeting Minutes
September 20, 2016 Clermont Cafeteria 6-7 p.m.
In Attendance:
Lea Anne Foster, Donna France, DeeDee Denton, Nicole Olsen, Dina Katz, Kerri Carter, Gabrielle Engle, Crystal Groves, Molly Niday, Jim Dahl, Keytrell Slack, Amanda Phillips, Raechel Acosta, Nancy Cox, Daniele Clayton, Leslie Huber, Paula Treger, Sandra W. Carver, Jen Owens, Joy Simuel, Rhonda Crawford, Shirley Ellison, Geovanna Pardo, Mollee Hansen, Diyar Bozkurt, Craig Fennell, Michele Fennell, Stacie Moats, Ana Sady, Heather Lee, Paola Omonte, Michael Robbins, Carolyne Hathaway, Pam Hill, Cynthia Sickman, Amy Wessner, Sara King, Polly Monson, Ralph Paul, Brendan Mulvaney, Karman Reese, Chris Reese, Teresa Bearden, Kristin Paul, Jennifer Ackerman, Khalida Jawaid, Sherry Carr, Nathan Rivers, Amy Olsen, Jessica Leith, Betsy Mullet, Kannan Cangro, Laura-Paige Mertins, Shey Gift, Amber Finnegan, Michele Fontana, Hayde’ FitzPatrick, John FitzPatrick, Robin Christman.
PTA President, Karman Reese, called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m. and gave welcome remarks
President’s Opening Remarks
Volunteering- sometimes people are nervous about volunteering and about becoming a PTA member because they think it means they have to volunteer. The exec board has members who work full, time part time and are stay at home parents, with one child, twins, preschoolers, and middle schoolers.
Clermont Happenings - If you are a member of the Clermont PTA you should have received a copy of the Clermont Happenings. If you just signed up to be a member, the membership person will get you added and you will begin receiving the Happenings. It is also posted on the Clermont PTA website.
We also send home a bi-weekly calendar in Thursday folders.
We are also on Facebook, some of our committees are on Twitter.
Fundraisers - we try not to do a lot of fundraisers. our main fundraiser is the Silent Auction. We also have Spirit Nights. We have an energetic kindergarten parent who is heading up our Spirit Nights. We get percentages back from restaurants. We already had one Spirit Night with Red, Hot, and Blue, at the Back To School Picnic.
We also take donations. We also get percentages back from Amazon Smile, Mabel’s Labels, and Box Tops for Education.
Meetings: We alternate meetings from evenings and mornings to try to accommodate everyone who works at different times.
This year we will be talking about revamping the PTA Exec meeting, school supplies, and the Spelling Bee. If you are a PTA member you can vote on these topics.
Next Meeting - Our next meeting is Oct 5th, 9:30 a.m. We will have a Fairfax County School Board member talking about the Meals Tax.
Volunteer Coffee is Thursday at 9:30 in the cafeteria. Clermont won a $150 gift certificate from Panera Bread so we will be having breakfast from Panera at the coffee
School of Excellence - Jen Ackerman gave our big announcement for the evening. Clermont Elementary has been named a National School of Excellence. There are nly 14 such schools in the state of Virginia.
Committees
Shelby Workman, First Vice-President
Enrichment Matters – We are offering 9 programs this fall, and will be offering 8 more in the springs. The fall classes are Zumba, Lego Engineering. SCRATCH program for girls, fencing, art studio with Mrs. Cangro, Pottery, morning chess club, magic class, guitar club, musical program (no one is currently registered, need 5 kids to make that happen). There is a link to register on the PTA web site and also on Happenings. We still need a parent volunteer for Zumba, just checking kids in and out of the class, and your child gets to take the class for free.
Odyssey of the Mind – Liz TUcci Hall, Committee co-chair, spoke. Each child is placed on a team of 5-7 kids at their grade level. They meet for several months and go to a tournament in Manassas in the spring. They could do a technical problem where they create a vehicle, or a structure, or a balsa wood project. Parents may not give suggestions or touch any of their props or costumes. It is all student created. Clermont had 10 teams last year. We need coaches this year. The PTA pays for you to be trained, no general or specific skills required. A sign-up sheet will be coming around and will be coming home. The PTA pays for the registration for all of the teams to participate.
Learning Garden – Tysen Perszyk, Garden Committee Chair, spoke. Tysen spoke about where the different gardens are located. They have already had their first garden even where they weeded the court yard garden. It only took them about an hour. Parents are encouraged to know what their child is doing in the Learning Garden. There is a Learning Garden email listing, Twitter “Ernie’s Eagle Nest” or there is information on the Clermont PTA web site.
Global Languages – This year we were able to add Global Spanish to our Global Chinese program. They are currently running low on sign ups. Sign up is opened through Sep. 30th. Minimum of 15 students must register in order for the classes to happen. Joanne Tompkins is the point of contact. Early bird registration ends Sep 30th.
Spirit Wear – Spirit Wear orders are due Sep. 30th. Paper versions can be sent in with your students or can order through the link online.
Teacher Wish List – On Clermont Web Site
Picture Day – volunteers are needed, please contact Shelby or email the PTA and they will get you the information.
Room Parents – Room Parent Coordinator, Serena Lambeth, spoke about volunteering to be a room parent. Serena works full time, has 7 kids, but volunteered as a room parent because her kids’ teacher asked her to. She volunteered and it turned into other opportunities like coordinating the Father Daughter Dance. She made great friends doing it. Volunteering doesn’t have to take a lot of time, only as much as you are able to put into it.
Treasurer’s Report
Brendan Mulvaney, PTA Treasurer gave the Treasurer’s Report/Budget. The Silent Auction is our biggest fundraiser, please invite others to come participate. $45, 700 is what we plan to give back to the school this year. Dreambox was purchased for every child. Operating funds are only 7.3% of our total budget. Brendan proposed the vote to adopt the 2016-2017. Karla Bachteel was seconded.
Brendan Mulvaney made a Motion was made to approve the audit. Liz Montante seconded the motion.
Kristin Paul, 2nd Vice-President
Assemblies – K-2 order forms went home in Thursday folders for Pete the Cat books. The author of Pete The Cat will be coming to Clermont in Oct. Kristin is looking for a co-chair for the Assemblies committee.
Art Boosters – Amber Finnegan is working with Mrs. Cangro to get Square 1 fundraiser back to Clermont.
Library volunteers – If you would like to volunteer to work in the library on a regular basis, please contact Jen Martin.
Reflections – Robin Chrisman, Reflections Chair, came forward to talk about the program. This is her second year as committee chair. We had 30 students do Reflections last year with some going through to the county level as well as the state level. All of the submissions were on display at John Marshall Library last year. She is looking for co-chairs and volunteers to help her with the program. Students can submit artwork in different categories. Volunteers are needed to do judging, but cannot judge own child.
Running at Recess
Special Education
Spelling Bee
Silent Auction – Dee Dee Denton, Nicole Olsen, Kerri Carter are the Committee Chairs. Dee Dee and Nicole’s 4th year doing Silent Auction. Nicole - Almost 200 people attended the auction last year. Last year’s theme was 80’s and most people came in costume. This year’s theme is Heroes and Villains. Think outside the box. The Auction is on Nov. 12th, at PTO on Eisenhower Avenue. The decorations are being put together. There will be a jail at the auction where you can pay to have someone locked up. Dee Dee – donations, write them a check, get donations from places that you frequent regularly, restaurant, hair dresser, beach houses. The most important thing they have is teacher experiences, where our children get to do things with their teacher, be principal for a day. Socials – where you can make a meal for families. One thing we have received this year thanks to Kristin Paul is tickets to Disney World. Kerri – planning has been under way since April. The 3 volunteers have worked on this all summer. Walkers Grille is doing the catering this year. Help is needed for planning and gathering donations. The perks on volunteering is getting to vote on next year’s theme. See them on Thursday at the volunteer breakfast. There is also a link from the PTA website.
Box Tops – Donna France is the Box Tops for education coordinator, donations are due on Oct 4th,
Bingo – Fall Bingo is Oct 21st. Liza Prado is the chair this year.
Yearbook – thanks to Jen Martin and her team for putting together yearbook each year.
Hospitality
Watch DOGS – Chris Reese – 2nd year running Watch Dogs Program, 1. Kids love it, 2. Get to see what kids do at school 3. Teachers appreciate having a father figure in the classroom. Next Tuesday, 6:30-7:30 there is a pizza party where you can bring your kids, ask that you sign up for one day. If you can’t do it, talk to Chris, or there are other volunteer opportunities. Sign Up forms are over on the table for the pizza party.
Membership - Karman introduced membership chair, Lea Anne Foster. We already have over 200 members, $10 for the first member and $5 for each additional member.
Meals Tax - Brendan talked about Meals Tax, he is the chair for next 2 years. Yesmealstax.org
Mrs. Remali will come to a PTA meeting to talk about all of the technology here at the school.
Principal’s Remarks
Ms. Stokowski – thanked PTA board, committee chairs, and PTA members for creating a unique partnership here at the school with Father\Daughter Dance, Learning Garden, etc. Volunteers for a committee, events, even just come to eat lunch with them. How many have received News For You. Will be sent out once a week and will be sent out every Friday. If you had an email address on file with us then you are automatically receiving News For You. If there is an emergency message it will be sent out this way. If you are not receiving them you can go on the Clermont Web Site to enroll through November.
Meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m. by Ms. Stokowski.