Northglade Montessori PTO Page

This meeting was different from most others in that our focus was to establish meeting norms and a vision for the PTO.
*The norms that were established and that will be revisited are: knowing the timing, knowing the agenda ahead of time, listening to and respecting others, having everybody participate, making all feel welcome and knowing how we take turns (do we raise hands, go around in a circle?).
*We broke into small groups and discussed three questions: Why does the PTO exist at Northglade? What is the role of the PTO? What should the PTO be working on?
*After small group discussions we came together as a whole group to collect and organize ideas.
*The main ideas we’d like to focus on are: Community and well-being; focusing on the needs of the child and the family; finding out what teachers need in terms of volunteers and PTO support; etc.

*During school improvement we talked about all of the different ways that our students are tested each year and how that affects curriculum.
*Those yearly tests are: DIBELS, SWIS, MEAP, Gates, CogAT, Performance Series, IOWA and Benchmark Assessment.
*This year there will be new, higher cut scores for MEAP which will drastically reduce the number of students who are Proficient or Advanced on these tests.
*During PTO we elected a new VP- Hether Frayer.
*Our Bazaar is next Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 2:00. We have volunteer forms still coming in. Kids made things to sell at the after school Craft Club this week. Kids will get an early run-through of the bazaar where they can purchase gifts for their family members. Money should come to school in an envelope labeled BAZAAR so teachers know who is shopping and so that it only gets spent at the bazaar. Tickets are 50 cents each or you can purchase 12 for $5.00.
*Rebecca Joyce would like to host a Science Fair in the Spring with help from a teacher if people are interested.
*Fundraising ideas for next year are: popcorn sales, plant sale for Mother’s Day, hula hoops, a fun run and a raffle. Our school qualifies for lots of grants so one parent is looking into writing a grant that would provide “NORTHGLADE ROCKS” t-shirts for ALL students.
*Another note will be coming home requesting the names of more volunteers.
*Montessori Night is still uncertain. All teachers are willing to participate and demonstrate Montessori materials in their classes for families, but they need to let us know when they’d like to do it.
*Our next meeting is January 19 at 6:00 and is going to be about 90 minutes instead of 60. Please join us in coming up with our vision for PTO.

*We need a vice president for this year
*The position of secretary will be open next year
*Fundraising is for FIELD TRIPS
*Other schools have done a “Non-fundraiser fundraiser” where each family donates around $15 for expenses and doesn’t have to sell anything. This seems like something to try.
*Fundraising Committee Updates: popcorn sale, Fall Fun Run, plant sale and hula hoops are all things that have been discussed.
*Our holiday BAZAAR is coming up quickly. We will probably do a bake sale and possibly Craft Clubs after school on Nov. 30 and Dec. 14 so kids can make something to sell. 4-5:30. We need volunteers to help with crafts and crowd control.
*We need to make sure that we always have food and child care for our meetings.
*Shelly Meyer is willing to coordinate Boxtops for Education this year.
*A “Taste of Northglade” has been suggested. Maybe a potluck, tastings and voting?
*Once the bazaar is over we need to start planning Montessori Night. We’d like to make it festive and “carnival-like.”

*We had our first after school Stay and Play event. This was a big success and we’d like to do it again in the future.
*Our Fall fundraiser was not as successful as in past years. About 7 students participated per class, but we did receive about $400 in donations that go straight to PTO. We don’t have exact figures yet but should by the next meeting.
*We’d like to have a Fundraising Committee to help find 3 or more choices for fundraising next Fall. The choices should be expected to raise at least $5000 so we only have to do one fundraiser for the year and so that we can do all that we have done in the past. We had several parents who showed interest that will soon be meeting with our PTO president.
*Our new playground will not be installed until June of 2012. There were lots of reasons for the delay, but mostly we have been waiting on bids and board approval. The two lowest bids are being reviewed and once board approval has been reached the equipment will be purchased and stored on Northglade’s property.
*Teachers have agreed to help host a Montessori Night to educate families about Montessori materials. A possible date is in February during “Montessori Week.”
*We are looking for donations from parents for conference meals for teachers. A note will be coming home with students shortly. We also need volunteers to set up and clean up during this time. Our themes for the meals are ITALIAN for Nov. 15 and BAKED POTATO, SOUP AND SALAD BAR for Nov. 17.
*Mrs. Doonan will collect information from the volunteer form that was sent out yesterday. She will organize this information and give it out to event coordinators as they need it. We are also looking for sororities, students, etc. who need volunteer hours to help with school events. If they plan on volunteering for more than one event they will have to be cleared through the office.
*Work has begun on organizing the Holiday Bazaar. It will be held the week of Dec. 19. It will be open to the public on Wednesday, December 21st after our Holiday Concert. Vendors may rent a space to sell their goods (such as Avon, Tupperware, etc.) and we will also be selling baked goods, donated crafts, etc.
*We think our school needs an email address for people to send questions or comments that they’d like addressed.
*We will have an ongoing Popcorn Fundraiser where parents can purchase buckets of popcorn for class snacks and birthday treats.
*Our next meeting is November 17th, during evening conferences. Please try to join us before or after your child’s conference.

*Welcome back to school!
*Our first PTO meeting of the year was wonderful. We had a great turnout and everyone was able to meet our new principal, Ms. Dale Kelly
*Open House was a success!
*We are still waiting to find out when our new playground is going to be installed. The money is there and bids are being accepted until Wednesday. Our swings however need to be fixed/replaced immediately. A parent has offered the money if we can make it happen. If all goes well, our playground should be installed before winter.
*Many of us have been dealing with this issue for YEARS and are feeling deceived regarding bond issues. Some feel that they will not be voting “yes” on future bond issues.
*Our main fundraiser of the year is underway right now. Money and orders are due October 4th. We are hoping that each student will sell at least 5 items. That will help insure that we have enough money for field trips, classroom supplies, etc.
*Our PTO president broke us into groups and we did some brainstorming as to how to improve PTO and certain PTO activities. Our three topics were: Parent Education, Holiday Bazaar, and Field Day/End of the year celebration. Lots of wonderful ideas were shared. Three parents/families volunteered to head those activities as well.
*Other possible fundraiser ideas for the year are making Hula Hoops and Square One Art.
*Our PTO vice-president is stepping down due to a conflict with meeting dates and times so the position is open for anyone who is interested
*We hope to see YOU at the next meeting on October 20, 2011 at 6:00 in our library. A light meal and childcare will be provided.

*Our wonderful principal, Mrs. Flora Harrell, is retiring. We will be having some sort of open house for her directly after our Spring program on June 2, 2011.
*The PTO is buying a gift representing the entire school family and will present it to her at the end of the performance.
*Field Day is June 14th (a half day). We need about 20 volunteers to run it and set it up. A note will be coming home with students shortly.
*Field Day will consist of “old-fashioned” games such as tug-o-war, sac races, tag and 3-legged races. All classes will participate and then have a picnic lunch on the playground.
*Hula hoop fundraiser for next year is in the works.
*Having a plant sale for next year around Mother’s Day is also a fundraising option.
*This was the last PTO meeting of the 2010-2011 school year!

*Our spaghetti dinner was a great success. We even received $80 in donations!
*We have just received a check from Box Tops for Education for $150.
*Field Day: This will be held on June 14th, during school hours, if weather permits. We are planning activities such as kickball, sack races, tug-o-war, hula hoops, etc. We need parents to help run each activity.
*Teacher/Aide Appreciation Week is next week. We are looking to have Qdoba cater lunch for all staff on Wednesday, May 4.
*We’d like to continue our same fundraiser next year since it helps us to bring in the necessary $5000, but we’d also like to consider Original Works and/or Hula Hoops as supplemental fundraisers during the year.
*June 15th will be the 5th grade celebration and “clap-out.”
*The last PTO meeting of the year is on May 19th at 6:00. We will be voting to fill the executive board positions at that time. Olivia Harris-Evans would like to continue as Treasurer, Susie Shaw will continue as Secretary and Tianna Harrison would like to also remain as PTO President. We are not sure if we need to fill the role of Vice-president or if Mr. Corla will continue.

*Conference notes for food donations are being sent home soon. Please help provide meals for our teachers during this busy time.
*We have 9,895 Labels for Education through Campbell’s.
*Mrs. Waller is going to get popcorn from the movie theater for monthly winners of the Box Tops for Education competition. She will also reward past winners.
*Our Spaghetti Dinner is April 14, 2011 at 5:00. This is a free event but donations will be accepted. Join Ms. Freyer in the gym after the meal for music and homemade hula hoops.
*There is a Playground Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 15, 2011.
*Rebekah Blesing is our school contact for getting the word out about our upcoming millage renewal. This money is not an increase, just an extension, and is used for teachers and students. The vote is May 3, 2011.
*Our school website is now going to be listed on all PTO notes.
*We’d like to encourage recycling throughout the entire school, especially in regards to Earth Day. We are looking into ways to present information to our students and teachers so that they will come on board.
*Ms. Freyer is making hula hoops and is curious to find out if people would want to have a school function where you can make and decorate your own hula hoop for a cost of $10. These will be on display and out for trial during the Spaghetti Dinner.
*Party Time Jumpers will rent a jumper for $100. We may rent one during Field Day or for another school event.

*We’d like to give a special “Thank you” to Mrs. Waller for presenting THE STAMP GAME to parents at PTO last night. We look forward to many more teacher presentations at future meetings.

*Our current vice-president resigned and the position was filled by Mr. Corla
*Literacy Night is March 2, 2011 from 5-7:00. We need volunteers to possible sell popcorn (unless E2 is going to sell something for Sherman Lake)
*We changed the date of the next PTO meeting to March 10, 2011
*Kindergarten Orientation is March 23, 2011
*The Spaghetti Dinner will be April 14, 2011. We need volunteers to help set up, greet families and clean up. Olivia Harris Evans is the coordinator for this event
*Conferences are the week of April 18. We will be sending home a letter to families in March asking for donations of food for teacher meals
*We’d like to have a MONTESSORI NIGHT, where teachers present Montessori materials and lessons to parents and students. If it does not work out for this school year, we will try to coordinate it with Open House in the fall.
*Game Night has been canceled for Feb. 24 and will end up being an activity during the school day at the end of the year. It will basically be a Field Day with games and activities for all students on either Friday, June 10 or Monday, June 13
*Mrs. Waller will check with Kalamazoo 10 regarding donated popcorn for the monthly winners of the Box Tops competition. Four classes currently need to be rewarded. Mrs. Callahan continues to count, mail in, etc. Box Tops. We have earned roughly $600 on this so far this year.
*Jennie Barry volunteered to do Campbell’s Soup Labels for Education. She will contact Campbell’s to find out our account number, balance, etc.
*We are looking for alternatives to selling cookie dough, etc. for fundraisers next year.