Mccarthy Middle School

McCarthy Middle School

PTO

9/11/13

Attendees: Moira Malvich, Beth Morrill, Nancy March, Hana Barker, Cathy Ross, Mike Rigney, Kurt McPhee, Donna Martin, Cathy Poisson, Bill Malvich, Laurinda Clemente, Betsy Kehoe, Patty Hill, Georgia Fredericks, Samantha Sager, Annette Bianchi, Dafna Erikson, Betsy Hebert, Kristina Bruce, Kerrie Moore, Nadina Wright, Jennifer Murrey, Linda Adoniou, Arthur Yee, Melissa Nolan, Deb Dorsey, Janine Viarella, Leigh Ann Sciacca, Laurinda Clemente, Bail Burato,

Welcome address from Moira

Call to order at 7:05pm

·  Introduction of new board….

·  Reading of minutes read and accepted

President’s Report:

·  We have a new Facebook page and website

·  New Team starting out and trying hard to work together

Treasurer’s Report:

·  Negative numbers down bottom – did not balance due to getting rid of magazine fund raiser.

·  $14,870 spent on document cameras which wasn’t planned for

·  We still ended up with excess and have a CD $20,000+

·  Budget for 2013 – 2014 is the Board’s best guess

·  We added magazine sale back in budgeted at a previous amount based on sales

·  Council of Chelmsford Schools $ given but never know what to expect so we do not budget for it. We typically get over $3000

·  Expense side – not a lot has changed.

·  Capital Expense - $1800 for installation of 2 new pieces of playground equipment; not in budget since it is a onetime expense. We have excess cash so using as best as we can. (not in budget but we have the money)

Motion to accept budget – Moira and Beth

PTO Continued – 9/11/2013

Page 2

Principals Report:

·  Kurt and Donna team for 5 years (Kurt here for 9)

·  Recess before lunch

·  5th grade off to specialist after lunch for 1st time – working good

·  Wireless has been added throughout the building over Summer

·  (2) full ipad carts were purchased through Stop n Shop $

·  ELA purchased (2) ipad carts

o  Will be readily available to teachers

o  We have more need for devices as we go away from paper to technology

·  Turf field is ongoing – hopes is to be done by end of September – rubberized track may take into October – PE classes will be able to use it

·  Fields will be flattened, grated and able to be used

·  Playground – swings taken down – 2 separate structures for kids – an area will be mulched – a couple of tables and benches, 600lb trash receptacles – really trying to beautify the area. Mid October timing which is later than we hoped.

·  Bathroom remodeling bidding happened over the Summer and will take place this year – Winter time frame

·  New staff – list will go out (more than expected)

·  Student advisory program kicks off Friday – on the children’s schedule – feel safe and connected to staff.

o  Meet with advisors once a week – greetings, activities, service based themes with goal to strengthen relationships between student and adults –grade appropriate

§  Competent, relationships, autonomous, and have fun

o  Groups @ 13/14 by grade - random

o  Whole school in advisory at same time – Friday am

o  May have same advisor for 2 years but still determining that

·  Question that came up around what the kids can do at recess with the playground not ready – kids can bring in balls and Kurt will send out note to parents/teachers on what they CAN bring in

·  4 square and hopscotch may be added

o  We can spend up to $250 if 2 agree and $1000 if all 4 agree.

PTO Continued – 9/11/2013

Page 3

Teacher’s Report: Nothing to report

School Committee Report:

·  Liaison to the school committee – Mike Rigney

·  Every other Tuesday at 7pm – Chelmsford TV. Org

·  Computer to child ratio under 3:1 which is great progress from 7:1

·  Air handling work has been done

·  Solar panels for roof are planned

·  Energy efficiency stuff – ongoing

·  Our district has been selected as a field test site – some of the kids will be taking the PARCC test this year. It won’t be scored individually – both electronic and paper version will be given. If they are chosen to take the PARCC they may be exempt from taking the MCAS, if they wish. 1 of the 2 organizations implementing the common core – what everyone should know on a grade level basis. Will not happen prior to spring. More details to come on who, how long, when, etc.

·  Preliminary report on full day kindergarten rolled out – 1 of only 20 that does not have it in state. We will pursue for entire district. 2 classes of full day at each elementary and 8 at Westlands.. Goal is to be in place next year.

·  Hazing incident at HS – ongoing police investigation, not for public record – no further comment

·  Survey from summer – over 60% wants to start after Labor Day but @ 60% staff prefers prior. Spring vacation: 38% skip to what we have, 33% prefer abandon Feb and April and combine in March, 20%+/- said drop Feb and go with April. Staff prefers to stick with what we have.

Enrichment:

·  Enrichment at McCarthy is the “incoming” field trips that the PTO supports. The other outgoing field trips are run by teachers

·  5th grade – MOS Electromagnetism, Audobon Ark, Drumlin Farms, Barry

·  6th grade – MOS motion, speed & velocity

·  7th grade – hasn’t had much in the past years but we are looking into something that might be interesting for them. TBD but possibly play or performance

·  8th grade – Usually support Quebec Trip

PTO Continued – 9/11/2013

Page 4

Fund raising:

·  Gift Wrap Program underway

o  Coordinator is Leanne

o  Catalogues just came in

·  Family Fun Night – Oct 30th

o  Coordinators: Cathy Ross & Beth Morrill

o  Ice Cream – Badminton

o  Soup fund raising is going to be added

·  Book Fair – Oct 28th – Nov 1st

o  Night Book Fair on Family Fun Night (October 30th)

·  5th / 6th Grade Social – Oct 25th

·  School Fun Night TBD – Roller skating, Ice Skating

o  Cathy Poisson will coordinate

·  Fall Recycle Day – Nov 9th (one in Spring, too)

·  Magazine timing will be @ February time frame

·  Scrips – Gift Cards Fund Raiser – On going

o  Georgia Fredericks will coordinate

·  Box Tops

o  Samantha Sager will coordinate

Meeting adjourned at: 8:29

Next PTO Meeting is: October 2nd

Meeting Sign In – September 11, 2013

NAME / HOME TELEPHONE / CELL PHONE / EMAIL
Annette Bianchi / 978-250-1531 / 978-821-3760 /
Cathy Poisson / 978-250-9603 / 978-807-6101 /
Hana Barker / 978-256-2646
Dafna Erikson / 781-248-4579 /
Betsy Hebert / 978-250-4501 /
Kristina Bruce / 978-455-1414 /
Georgia Fredericks / 978-758-6234 /
Kerrie Moore / 978-250-5211 / 781-264-3790 /
Nadina Wright / 978-250-2343 / 978-250-2877 /
Jennifer Murrey / 978-944-4931 /
Patty Hill / 978-250-8084 / 978-430-3767 /
Linda Adoniou / 978-256-2334 / 978-758-41055 /
Betsy Kehoe / 978-256-9617 / 978-8666-6380 /
Samantha Sager / 541-890-0159 /
Arthur Yee / 978-250-2339 / ?
Melissa Nolan / 978-256-8659 / 978-621-0752 /
Deb Dorsey / 978-250-4573 /
Mike Rigney /
Leigh Ann Sciricca / 978-256-4069 / 617-240-5246 /
Laurinda Clemente / 978-337-6892 /
Gail Burati / 978-244-0172 / 978-799-1526 /
Cathy Ross / 617-594-7881 /

Volunteer Information

Name / Phone / Email / Event
Nadina Wright / 978-250-2343
978-502-7755 (Cell) / / Ice Cream Social
Nights & Weekend Events
Jennifer Murray / 978-944-4931 (Cell) / / Days, Some nights & weekends
Cathy Poisson / 978-250-9603 / / Anything
Dafna Erikson / 781-248-4579 / All Social Events
Georgia Fredericks / 978-758-6234 / / SCRIPs
Deb Dorsey / 978-250-4573 / / Unsure but contact me when needed
Betsy Kehoe / 978-256-9617
978-866-6380 (Cell) / / Anything
Janine Viarella / 978-250-1301
781-799-0444 / / Where I can
Michael Dunn / 978-263-3703 / Faceinjar@aol..com
Christi Nickerson /
Paula Rowe / / Socials
Ann Marie Fyten /
Judi Reilly /
Stacey Scott /
Jennifer Dunn /
Wendy Segal /
Sheila Doherty / / Gardening
Shannon Provost / 978-394-9320
B. Ramsden /
Mike Farah /
Shihua Wang / 978-256-3921 / / 5th/6th Grade Social
Celene Gribbon / 978-256-1909 /
Linda Corfield / 978-256-0403 /
Kiranmai Chaturvedula / 978-761-5696 /