Hill and Plain PTO Minutes – Draft

3/4/13 1:30 pm

Teacher’s Report:

Ms. Molinaro was the teacher rep. 2nd grade grants for Pratt Center were approved by Town Wide.

Principal’s Report: Mrs. Ness

  1. CMTs started today
  2. Next year will be the last year for CMTs because they are not aligned with the Common Core Standards. Teachers have already begun teaching towards these standards.
  3. SBAC will replace CMTs. HPS chosen to pilot these tests in April. All testing will be done online.
  4. Ten teachers at HPS will pilot NWEA as a way to monitor students’ progress. There are 3 levels of testing: screening, content-oriented, and analysis.
  5. SmartBoard gifted by PTO to Excel should be approved by Superintendent and Board of Ed by March 12.
  6. Three 2nd grade classes are piloting new math programs: Stepping Stones and My Math.
  7. A few parents had questions about how to help their children – they felt they had not received directions for the new math.
  8. Jill Bracksieck, K-6 Math Coach, demo’d some of both programs at the meeting.
  9. Read-a-thon was well received. Thanks to Chairs, Kim Rogg and Jessica Poodiack.
  10. Parents are to use the new Parent Portal to sign-up for conferences.
  11. It was noted that dates may be wrong in some communications.
  12. Ms. Molinaro’s class is piloting Chrome Books (similar to Ipad). Hoping for the budget to include 4 for 2nd grade and 5 for 3rd grade next year.
  13. ASL course offered to any 2nd grader who replied by the deadline. So many were interested, that it was broken into 2 sessions with 16 in each.

Treasurer’s Report – Allison

  1. Made $650 from Whaler’s Game
  2. It was suggested that next year the 3rd chorus sing at a game to draw a bigger crowd.
  3. Also suggested that PTO look into local football and baseball games for next year.
  4. Allison created a fundraiser survey for parents to be distributed after the Spring Fundraisers have ended.

Old/On-going Business

  1. February minutes were approved.
  2. No update on BoxTops/Labels. Mrs. Kullgren’s class won for February with over 900.
  3. Lunch/Recess volunteer program working well, with only a few issues. Parents need to follow procedures.
  4. R.A.T. – school read almost 3000 hours for weeks 1-3. Board will be updated today. Nearly 50% participation rate. Assembly is on March 15.

New Business

  1. Spring Book Fair – End of Feb there is a Fingerprinting date for Volunteers
  2. Sign-up genius, flyers and gift certificates are ready.
  3. Every staff member will receive $5 GC
  4. Flyers/volunteer requests will be for Book Fair Kickoff and Bingo Night
  5. All For One contest by grade - the grade that raises the most will earn a book per class for the entire grade.
  6. Online book fair set-up. We will earn Scholastic dollars for online sales.
  7. Theme is story laboratory. Volunteers will wear lab coats.
  8. Breakfast is Wednesday and will be open Monday (4/1) evening for conferences.
  1. Bingo Night – Kohl’s is providing 5 volunteers. We will sell Hot dogs, pizza, chips, baked goods, drinks. Contest for best bingo markers.
  1. Science Fair–May 16 at Sarah Noble. It was suggested that JPS and Northville each take a turn paying for everything since HPS included both schools for 2 years. Then, the 3 schools will share costs. Becky to make suggestion to other schools.
  1. Jen stated that the PTO Board for 2013-14 needs to be submitted to Town Wide in April. Asked that Board Members think about whether they will continue on in same positions, move to new ones or step down.

Grants:

Next PTO Meeting: Monday, May 6th – 1:30 and 7:00 PM