Rama RoadElementaryPTA

Meeting Agenda

Tuesday, December 9, 2014, 6:00pm

  • Name Badge Lanyards
  • Nametags
  • PTA(w/VIC) Sign-In clipboard
  • Book Fair Volunteer clipboard
  • Handouts: budget, calendar, membership forms (if needed)

All around Introductions (name, years at Rama, grades of children)ALL

School wellness plan, Achieve 225 and Healthy Schools InitiativeLorree Riley

School is involved in general wellness program provided by federal grant. Some children have been issued pedometers, lots of enthusiasm about this. Survey at the end of last year to ask staff what they would like as wellness support. Many of ideas came from that. Longitudinal studies, funding comes over time if we are compliant. Achieve 225 more structured games and learning of new skills. Staff incentive ideas requested. NC state insurance program to offer a 15 week program here on site. Other possibilities mentioned.

Some concern about pedometers’ reliability. Some teachers advising kids to log pedometer numbers in case numbers lost with reset. Quality of pedometers varies.

Financial Report - Budget vs. ActualLaura Caldwell

Copies distributed; attached to minutes also.

$35,000 budget for year; idea to bring in money to spend on school.

$14000 taken in so far this year, putting us ahead secondary to Fun Run success

Pass thru items for school store, book fair.

$8000 spent so far

Teacher Supplements: each teacher has $100. Spend it!

Also money set aside for recess equipment this year and no one has used it. Above programs provided some so that may be why. Buy pedometers?

Increase budget requested for teacher luncheon secondary to cancellation for La Posada to cover expense.

Approved unanimously.

Other ways to spend money discussed

$10000 available for investment. Laura recommended having teachers determine what investments to make. Will put together a request form for teachers to use to request funds for use in the school. Invest more money in Ramafest? Field trips? Anniversary Celebration? Continuing Education? Forms to be distributed and requested back for vote at PTA meeting in January. PTA meeting is Tuesday January 13, so will need to turn forms in prior to that for discussion. Some concern about narrow timeframe.

Marquis: Robin has spoken with vendor. Cost to retrofit would be 5-8,000, retrofit would not work well. Robin does not recommend. Full replacement more like 15,000.

Open House last month: small turnout but lots of teachers. Lots of one on one time with families. Child care was provided. Should advertise this so people know they can come with children.

Some confusion about label, and calling it an Open House. For current or prospective parents. What would we call it??

Make booth available at school events for information

Quarterly meet and greets adding to the schedule. First was late getting out. Will be Sunday afternoon at Rama Road park.

Breakfast in park this summer.

Idea for second open house during the day? Discussion? Possible? Potential to offer these during Literacy Nights when staff and children are already there?

Valentine Dance: family event, ticketed, $5 per person with $20 per family max. food provided by PTA, beverages provided by churches. Volunteers needed to decorate, do ticketing, take tickets at door, etc. Scheduled for February 6.

Ramafest: some discussion about need for more volunteers, need for volunteer manager. Discussion about having meeting to plan: EJ, Robin, Victoria, Laura volunteered. Some interest in having meeting in December. Concern about giving volunteers a break, a meal.

50th year celebration proposal (Food truck, movie? Date? Coordinators?)Caldwell

Denny

50th year in this building; school originated in 1889 in corner home which is now someone’s personal home. Great piece of history right here. Neat opportunity to get a grant to buy that property as a development asset for the school. Prior administrations and PTAs have kept great records. Actually the 125th anniversary!

Food Truck Rally event the Friday night before Rama discussed. Set up in bus parking area, targeted for neighbors. Someone suggested showing Sound of Music which is also 50. ?need for porta johns? Need for building access for movie viewing? Question about beverages on school property. Discussion about targeting Rama alumni. Robin knows someone who was in the first class in this building, on board at East. Local dignitaries? Building being open might be nice to for alumni. Need to schedule for feed truck availability. Impact on Ramafest crowd the next day?

Need for patrolmen during event as PTA investment. Hourly tours of school? Building could still close early, but might attract. Port a john might be helpful for next day as well. Lots of excitement. If want to show movie, Doug Caldwell looked into need for licensing, unless CMS has one already. Lighting in parking lot? Notify Blackwell if we do movie, so music can be incorporated for kids. Doug and Marie Price committed to help with food trucks, etc. Rain date reviewed.

This year was first year for Thanksgiving meal. Successful!

Calendar

Christie Kelley

December

11Grade 2-3 Winter Program, 6pm,

Book Fair open until 8pm

12N.U.T.S. Day (No Uniform To School),

Staff Appreciation Day (PTA snacks)Just did lunch

18La Posada dinner, 6pm CANCELLEDtransition of leadership made this challenging

19Class Winter Parties, 1:30pm

22-2NO SCHOOL – Winter Break

January

9Staff Appreciation Day (PTA snacks)

13PTA Meeting, 6pm

16“COLLEGE” N.U.T.S. DAY

19NO SCHOOL – Martin L. King Jr. Day

23NO SCHOOL – Teacher Workday

25PTA Meet & Greet – Rama Rd Park 3-4:30pm

29Science Fair & Math Expo + dinner, 6pm

30Achieve. Celebrations 9am K-2, 10am 3-5

Severe Weather: if we need to use delay, we will. If we need an early dismissal, will do that also. PTA has been very helpful with this, by locking down school and releasing kids one at a time. Extra hands appreciated! Used as runners, worked very well.