PTA General Meeting minutes
April 10, 2012
I.Call to order by Donna Widmann at 9:30 AM.
II.Presidents’s Report
A.No report at this time
III.Principal’s report
A.Upcoming events
i.Plunge into fitness logs are due at the end of month. Students log 30 minutes of exercise per day to earn a Raging Waves certificate.
ii.Volunteer Appreciation Tea is April 26 at 2:30 in the MPR
iii.Chorus is performing this Saturday at Kiwanis pancake breakfast
iv.Next weekend the chorus will be singing at the Kane County Cougars game. They will be singing right away at 1:00.
v.Save the date for May 23 where the school will honor 4 teachers, Mrs. DiSanto, Mrs. Reif, Mrs. Kimball and Mrs. Stewart, with a retirement. The party will be after school, starting at 4:00, in the MPR. Former students are invited and encouraged to attend.
B.Staff updates
i.Cristy White will be returning from medical leave next week. She will transition with the current substitute teacher and then return full time the following week.
ii.Jen Williams will be out the remainder of the school year, but is assisting with planning activities at home. Mrs. K will be staying on as PE teacher for the rest of the year.
C.The district has let go all 1st and 2nd year elementary teachers and some 3rd year teachers in specialties. Due to the teachers’ contract, the cuts must be made now in order to give teachers enough notice. The district is still waiting to hear on grants and other state money, and hopefully many of those teachers will return in the fall.
D.PBIS, CHAMPS, PATHS and PAWS presentation by Michele Frost, Katie Purse, andLauren Westerman, the school psychologist who is in the building 2 ½ days/week, and First Grade teacher Diane Reif.
E.School Wide Information System = SWIS
i.Administrators use data to determine different levels of behavior (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3)
ii.System can track the specific infraction, time and date given, reason for referral (e.g. attention getting)
iii.Data is entered into SWIS and helps determine if universal system is working or if a specific child needs more support
iv.Grades 3-5 participate in a school life survey online and asks if there’s anything going on emotionally, etc.
v.System also track referrals among ethnic groups and shows there is a an equal distribution of referrals among the school population
F.PBIS = Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS)
i.Every building in the district is required to have this in place
ii.It is school wide discipline and education in regards to behavior;
iii.It creates a more positive attitude and encourages students to model appropriate behavior
iv.It is consistent through all grades in school
v.Patterson’s 3 Positive Pillars are Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful
vi.PBIS is a method of teaching kids how we expect them to behave
G.CHAMPS = Conversation Help Activity Movement Participation Success
i.CHAMPS is a behavior management tool for adults
ii.This method was used in creating the procedures for dismissal
iii.This helps to remind teachers to communicate clear expectations
iv.Example: “Give me 5” attention signal is used school wide as a method of getting attention and setting expectations
H.PATHS = Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies
i.educational component to behavior in school
ii.offers kids techniques in how to interact in social/emotional situation
iii.First Grade teachers met over the summer to learn the program and plan the pacing; about 30 hours of training
iv.This is a research based program and studies have found that students with a healthy social/emotional environment do better academically, kids have improved self control, learn how to tolerate frustration and use conflict resolution, decreased anxiety and depression, less conduct problems, and less sadness
v.Last year the program was implement by the school psychologist and social worker; this year teachers are implementing the program since teachers are more familiar with their students and can incorporate lessons as part of daily routine
vi.There is also the potential for using the program in small groups
vii.First Grade teacher Diane Reif explained that some of the lessons cover classroom rules, sharing, fair play, giving compliments, feelings, self control, problem solving; accidentally vs. on purpose; and manners
viii.Teachers try to do 1-2 lessons/week. There is a “PATHS kid” selected each week to help with lesson and that child gets compliments at end
ix.Lessons include activities and role playing. At the primary level, there is a Turtle mascot and kids model and practice “turtle” behavior. The lessons advance developmentally as kids get older.
x.There are class meeting formats available and novel studies as well for older students.Grades 3-5 have looked through the kits and 5th grade staff have looked at incorporating some of the novel lessons as well.
xi.The program has been around since 1998 and was revised 2 years ago.
I.PAWS = Positive Action with Support
i.This is a mentoring program for Tier 2 and 3 students
ii.It is a research based check in/check out strategy shown to be effective for students with increased levels of inattentiveness or disorganization, as well as those that benefit from individualized adult support for behavior, emotional, or motivational needs.
iii.A teacher or other staff member is assigned to as a mentor to be a positive influence or point person in the school; Students check in/check out with the assigned adult
iv.Program is not intended for kids to feel bad or as a punishment. It uses positive support to give students feedback and offer rewards for behavior.
v.A mentor can help students problem solve; Students get rated on a checklist each day and student returns the checklist to mentor at end of day. Focus is mostly on positive behavior and problem solve any issues for next day. Parents get a copy of the checklist each day.
vi.Teachers/staff volunteer for the program and then pair up students that way. Ideally the mentor is not their current teacher; someone who is not involved in grading, discipline, etc.
J.Anxiety issues seem to increase in grades 3 and 4. This is because academic demands increase and the physical, developmental changes that occur at that time. Social work has started some small group to address these issues.
K.Referrals: Generally speaking, 3 tallies from a teacher before a referral goes home. Ifi t’s a “major” offense, no tallies needed and a referral is sent home.
L.Consequences are determined by age, offense, and increased each time. The consequence needs to “fit the crime”. The goal is to change the student’s behavior and try to figure out the motivation behind the behavior.
M.On the playground – administrators meet with playground supervisors once a month and review videos and discuss other issues that come up while kids are playing at recess. Special needs issues are addressed as well. This is a pilot program in the district.
N.Tier 1 – standard behavior policies works for most kids, Tier 2 - kids that still need a little extra help; Tier 3 – staff may open a case study and track data for a specific student; this may include functional behavioral analysis (observations) and a behavior support plan might be created and train staff in non-violent crisis intervention
O.Climate team at Patterson – “benchmark of quality” survey for staff and administrators; team will start involving families and community and 2 parents will be on the committee; Climate Corner in Patterson Press
IV.Treasurer’s Report
A.Current balance: $17,164.76
B.Expenses: IL Secretary of State for corporation fee - $10; Variety Show decorations -195.15; Go Green blanket for the worms - $39.98; Sock Hop balloons - $68.65; Wheel of Wisdom assembly - $975; Storytelling assemble - $450; Hospitality Teacher Appreciation gift cards - $210; still many expenses that are coming up (Yearbook, Field Day, 5th Grade Celebration, School Supply Kits)
C.Income: Ozzie’s Reading Club; Cookie dough sales: $4666; Yearbook: $6012
V.Executive Vice President reports
A.VP Finance: Janet Juarez
i.Cookie dough will be available for pickup on April 19 from 3-5 in MPR. There will be a reminder in listserv.
ii.Boxtops class competition ends in April.
iii.PTA will have a Jet’s Pizza night fundraiser on May 8.
iv.Summer Bridge book orders due by the Friday, April 20th. These are the same books sold for the same price as at the Chalkboard, but PTA will get $3.00 for every book sold.
v.Fall Carnival: Amy Sutcliffe reported that planning has started and she still needs a chairperson for Sponsorship (soliciting sponsors). She also needs someone for graphic design and flyers, etc.
B.VP Enrichment: Eileen Boffa
i.Variety Show is this Friday the 13th. There are 49 acts with 139 kids participating. Sound equipment is being provided by Music Mania and they will be using the schools microphones as well. There is a rehearsal on Wednesday. Kids and volunteers should be at the school by 5:30 on Friday. The PTA will offer light refreshments for purchase. There will also be a surprise performance by the teachers.
ii.Go green committee is collecting used battery for proper disposal for earth day.
iii.Kane Count Cougars tickets should be coming home next week.
iv.Trevor Cartwright made it to the National level of competition for Reflections.
v.Eileen is still in need a Reflections chairperson for next year.
C.VP Administration: Karen Amundsen
i.Yearbook: Kris Dalaly reported that the yearbook has been passed off to Sally Bernard for printing. They are awaiting the proofs before final printing. 521 yearbooks have been sold so far.
ii. Hospitality: Michelle Bassi reported that this week is Librarians and Administrative Assistants Appreciation weeks are coming up soon. Teacher Appreciation Week is April 30 – May 4 and the PTA will be sponsoring a breakfast, massages and a luncheon for the teachers during that week. The week of May 7 is Nurses Week.
iii.5th grade celebration: The DVD form was sent home last week. Class picture is scheduled for May 1. Decorations are being planned and Courtney Perry is working on a special memento for the kids. There will also be a “Words of Wisdom” wall where outgoing 5th graders will leave encouraging words for incoming 5th graders.
iv.PDAC is holding their next meeting on April 11, from 7-9. They are also looking for nominations for the Equity Champion award.
v.Karen Amundsen is still looking for an IPSN representative and chairperson for the 5th grade celebration.
vi.Field Day is May 29 and backpacks will be the giveaway for the kids.
VI.New Business
A.Janet Juarez presented the report from the Nominating Committee.
i.The following nominations for 2012-2013 Patterson PTA Executive Board were presented: President: Donna Widmann; VP Finance: Janet Juarez; VP Administration: Karen Amundsen; VP Enrichment: Michelle Bassi; Treasuer: Jen Beason; Secretary: Alissa Chrisos.
ii.There were no nominations from the floor and nominations closed.
iii.Alissa Chrisos moves to approve the nominations and elect the slate for Patterson PTA Executive Board for the 2012-13 school year as presented by the Nominating committee report. Motion was seconded. Motion passes by voice vote and slate is elected as Patterson PTA Executive Board for the 2012-13 school year.
VII.Old Business
A.Bylaws: Alissa Chrisos moves to adopt the amendments to the Patterson PTA Bylaws as posted for 30+days. The motion was seconded. Motion to adopt Patterson PTA Bylaws amendments as posted passes.
B.Janet Juarez moves to transfer $134.72 remaining from the sock hop budget to the President’s discretionary account to purchase gifts for retiring teachers. The motion was seconded. Motion to transfer funds from sock hop budget to President’s discretionary account passes.
C.Alissa Chrisos moves to amend the Standing Rules to replace “Patterson Press” with “Communications” under 16a (Administrative Committees). Motion was seconded. Motion to amend the Standing Rules passes.
VIII.Meeting Adjourned at 10:59 AM
PTA Members in attendance
Donna Widmann / Terri Maas / Bill Lia / Janet Juarez / Karen AmundsenEileen Boffa / Michelle Bassi / Amy Sutcliffe / Michelle Frost / Katie Purse
Kris Dalaly / Becky Swartz / Jennifer Beason / Dipali Shah / Alissa Chrisos
Diane Reif / Lauren Westermann