Wappinger PTA council

RCK

November 4 2010

Meeting started @7:05

present: officers/ Stacey Lee , Kelley Lewis, Joe torres,Tammy Windheim, Ann Fadgen, Peggy Farrington,[schools: Brinkerhoff,Fishkill,Gayhead, Vassar/Kinry, Myers, Oakgrove, Wappingers jr high, Ketcham district and chairs; Mary ann Moran, James Parla, K walsh, Gina Mann.

WELCOME

PLEDGE

  • Minute approve with corrections
  • Superintendent report:
  • working on race to the top initiative , filing all documents to set up teams
  • Marco Pochintesta is finalizing response to intervention program which is federal mandated which is to provide better training and guidance for teachers for recognition and dealing with an act for intervention with a child.
  • Working on curriculum map: this is subject based by subjects that will map guideline from k-12 .It will map content, skills, assessment resources for each grade. It will help for any new teacher coming into a grade to be on same level of others it will all be in the computer. It will help with state test to see if students do poorly on a test to look at what was being taught and see if the map was need changed to teach something. Will help separate by one grade to the other where you leave off and start next. Hope to have it finished by June to implement for following year.
  • positions shave been filled for director of technology by Darrin Lolkema who was at Boces as director of services which is good because he supports our system. Also Mr. Broas from highland is now in charge of facilities. Mr. Daily has been replaced by Lauren Guerrero from John Jay will be the new assistant principle.
  • Mrs. Walsh announced that sheaf and evens will be having a joint meeting on November 9 for title one schools, She hopes to call app. 40 parents to help get them involved. Suggested to put it on the Google group, in future and maybe now get some flyers posted. The also will be a meeting at the district office with Todd mensch on ais students in math many have had letter sent out to parents. This will help them to give them ideas for how to help from web help and other resources.
  • Teacher report:
  1. Mrs. Moran reported that the teachers union is offering a grant for schoolsfor bullyingprogram. She also announced that they are doing the baby hats again. The deadline is Feb 1 2011 but really want as many hats that can be made. There is a pattern if need can be crocheted knitted however.
  • Gina Mann spoke [she is family engagement rep for N..Y. PTA. ] and has been thefuse that started passport going in this district . It falls under family engagement to help families work through different challenges with students, parents and school. They the first session at Meyers and had someone to interpret for many Spanish parents which really helped to get them involved in the session and they can make sense of what was being taught . There were 20 plus parents and seems like new parents come as well as repeater. Would love to get this in all schools. Warning about email going around that gets password from face book and gets emails please try to use different passwords this is the new way for them to get into everything.
  • RCK had the car show and had a great turnout! Hopefully about 2000.00 Many clubs were involved and they hope to give the 25.00 fee from clubs back [that was a commitment fee] the clubs did very well for themselves too making anywhere from 100-500.
  • Joe Torres said sonic has card they are offering free but it offers 15.00 in coupons on the back. It is free but you can sell them for a minimalcost. It needs to be ordered, suggested to do a pre order if interested call Joe or email.
  • Concern about policy for an interpreter for any parent who has a meeting and needs an interpreter. The case brought forward they are friends and knew to ask that family for help but this raises issues about future language barriers. There could be issues if it is a no district person may need to sign off. General consensus is there should be people in the district who can help with translating for parents. It may be school by school need. District should look with in to see what personnel could help in cases . It should be something that the district can offer and should.
  • Joe Torres brought in the letter about the reclassification. He sent al letter to ask what classification was given if a parent did not respond to the letter. He call Mr. Freidman didn’t mean to give him the run around. The question is who makes the decision on the classification. Info came when Charlie was getting info for new computer system.
  • Charles Simone from Barnes and Nobel
  1. have book fairs for schools but at the Barnes and Nobel
  2. no set up involved
  3. it includes on line sales for about a week
  4. many schools have booked or will be booking this is year round
  5. book it get an id which you use for collecting sales posters provided
  6. Line up events to help draw parents and students: band chorus, game show, teacher reading session, spelling event .art show, caricature drawings, Irish step, and ballroom. Barnes and Nobel is filled with ideas to help draw people in.
  • Gayhead announced new wellness chair and for the first time candy drive they received over 400 in candy
  • Grandparents day at Vassar had a great turnout and donation with serving over

Meeting adjourned 8:28 pm