Little Harbour PTA

Meeting Minutes

Date: November 16, 2015

Attendees: Libby Giordano – President, Aimee Raymond – Vice President,

Heather Franas – Secretary, Charlie Grossman - Principal

6 Parents/Guardians, Kate Arruda (3rd Grade Teacher)

Absent: Denise Croteau - Treasurer

Meeting Called to Order

Approval of Minutes

  • Libby Giordano moved to approve meeting minutes from October 19, 2015 meeting. Aimee Raymond seconded. Minutes Approved.

Guest Speaker - Assist. Superintendent George Shea

  • Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)
  • 1st time in Portsmouth for 3 – 8 grade
  • Science still remains with NECAP
  • Much harder and different than NECAP which had fixed proficiency
  • Computer assessed
  • Adaptive questions as students progressed that adjusted individually to each student’s answers.
  • Required keyboarding
  • Required more stamina from students and felt ‘grueling’ at times.
  • Required a ‘higher level of thinking’.
  • Scores are close to those of NECAP though we cannot compare.
  • SBAC scores for NH nationally are: 4th grade – 4th in the nation, 6th grade is 8th in the nation.
  • LHS average was higher than the state overall.
  • Q&A
  • Will this be used to see where there may be gaps in the children’s learning?
  • Yes. We can look at trends of learning in a very useful way. All the results are broken down into very specific topics
  • Are you, as administrators, happy with the change to SBAC?
  • So/so. This test is hard, and a challenge getting used to the new computer format. The children needed to use the keyboard, and so took some children much longer to answer questions, especially in writing. However, the children worked really hard and were engaged. It was a big learning curve. We will be much more prepared this year.
  • What’s the Win for my kid?
  • The win is more information for the teachers. Each part of the test can be drilled down, filtered and organized any which way, to see where some students lacked and others succeeded. Each teacher has her own class scores to examine.

Principal’s Report

  • School Meetings
  • The Climate and Culture Committee is doing a fantastic job with the monthly School Meetings
  • Lead by Music Teacher Gina Connely
  • At each meeting:
  • A value or important social quality is highlighted.
  • Respect, Dignity, Gratitude
  • One grade level is asked to present something related to this value, such as a song or skit.
  • Meetings are different than other assemblies
  • Children are taught audience etiquette
  • These group value discussions lead to the Golden Rule – and so no longer doing the SEAL Award.

President Report

  • Charleston Wrap
  • Will be here on Thursday before noon on large pallets.
  • Will need helping hands to bring in and distribute.
  • Sold approx. $12,000, so LHS looking to receive close to $5,600.
  • Scholastic Book Fair
  • Going great
  • Need volunteers.
  • Kathleen Slover volunteered to run the Ice Cream Social on Thursday.
  • Pie Guy
  • Here on Thursday
  • Raised $578.00
  • Deb Klein to distribute
  • Pancake Breakfast - $2,555.81
  • Election Day Bake Sale – 1,400.00
  • Healthy Try it is this Thursday – Potatoes from our garden!
  • Directory
  • Going to the printer on Tuesday and hopefully distributed on Friday
  • $1,679.00 so far, with more coming in. Less printing and website maintenance.
  • Spaghetti Supper / Silent Auction
  • Kathleen Slover has volunteered to coordinate the Dinner side.
  • Still need Co-coordinator.
  • Tracey Melchoir is coordinator for the auction.
  • Still need Co-coordinators to help
  • Waiting to hear back from a couple of people.
  • Special Night Out at Margaritas in January
  • All in agreement to proceed
  • Dates given: Jan12, 19 or Feb 2
  • Libby to confirm date and coordinate with restaurant.
  • 15% of bill goes to LHS when presenting a flyer.
  • Winter Dance / Camp Expo (Need date)
  • Who is Wellness Committee?
  • Need to find them and start this process.
  • Scheduled executive meeting for further discussion of treasurer surplus for Dec 14 @ 9am.

Treasurers Report (See attached)

  • Audit is done.
  • Will be getting final pieces together for submittal.
  • Great job and Thank you to those 3 who volunteered for the task.

Secretary Report

  • Membership numbers - 128

Meeting End

Notes taken by: Heather Franas

Minutes written by: Heather Franas

Little Harbour School PTA

Treasurer's Report11/16/15

Starting balance 8/1/15 (beginning of fiscal year) $38,201.50

Today's Balance on Hand (Bank account- outstanding checks), $42,337.40

Total Outflows 8/1-11/16: $18,040.09

Total Inflows 8/1-11/16: $22,175.99

Spending

1. Expenses trickling in from last year's budget...... $8178.45

2. Grade Level enrichment...... $3673.09

3. School Wide enrichment ...... $481.00

4. Teacher Supply...... $376.67

5. Misc. (printing, taxes, etc.)...... $2789.10

6. Specials enrichment...... $695.34

7. Expenses for fundraisers...... $1846.44

Income

1. Fundraisers...... $17620.16

2. Membership Drive...... $2850.00

3. Field trip parent contributions...... $490.00

4. Last year's fundraiser trickling in...... $358.73

5. Misc. (Start up cash being re-deposited etc.)...... $857.10

The taxes for last fiscal year have been filed.

The audit for last fiscal year is complete.

Annual Dues to NH PTA are sent in.

Hurray!

Submitted by Denise Croteau, Treasurer since 10/29/14