Soule School PTA and Volunteer Orientation Minutes

Meeting Date 9/10/07

6:30pm-8:30pm

 

Attendance – Anna Parrill, Kellie Annicelli, Cherie Smeltzer, Marianne Harris, Christine Cochran, Jennifer Gulezian, Tara Hailey, Kristina Greene Laurie Morgan, Noreen Fantasia, Joan Harper, Patricia Siracusa, Susan Stanganelli, Rita Holden, Sasikala Maheswaran, Joan Kurr, Sharon Morton, Diane Reilly, Koreen Donahue, Tracy Hoover, Joanne Casazza

 

I.                    Introductions were made of board members, staff members and parents present at the meeting.

II.                 Volunteer Orientation; Joan Harper and Noreen Fantasia

A description of each event and volunteer opportunity was presented.  This included the Welcome Back Picnic, Fall Fundraiser, Holiday Parade, Enrichment Events, Hospitality Events, Fundraising Committee, Reflections Committee, Pizza Bingo, Holiday Store, Cocoa with Santa, Cultural Festival Movie Night, Ice Cream Social, End of the year Breakfast, Red Ribbon Breakfast, Calendar Raffle, Yearbook Committee, Staff Appreciation Week, Classroom Support, Room parents, Risograph, Publishing Center, Die Cut Machine, Resource Room, Recess Volunteer, Signboard, Photographer, Read-a-thon, Funding factory, Field day, Raffle committee, Baking committee, Membership drive and Box tops.

General Information was also provided regarding confidentiality while assisting in the school, how to be fingerprinted as all volunteers must, where to sign in when volunteering and how to track your hours.  The volunteer hours are very important to qualify Soule PTA for the annual Blue Ribbon Award.  To submit hours please sign in at the front desk as a volunteer and log how long you spent at the activity.  If you have any questions regarding volunteering please contact Noreen Fantasia at 898-3229 or Joan Harper at 898-5735. 

 

III.               Library Volunteers – Cherie Smeltzer

The children have library once per week and volunteers are needed to check in books from the week prior, assist in re-stocking the shelves, assist children with finding a book to take out, and assist children on the computers.  Training will take place 9/21/07 or can be arranged by Mrs. Smeltzer.  This is a fantastic was to get involved with your child’s class.  Please contact the school and Mrs. Smeltzer if interested. This is a weekly or bi-weekly commitment.

 

IV.              Budget Update – Kristina Greene and Laurie Morgan

Our balance forwarded to this school year is $3,711.08. 

A budget of $17,405.00 was approved unanimously by the attendees. 

Items of notice – Enrichment Events was motioned and unanimously approved by the attendees to raise the budget from $2,500 to $3,000. 

 

 

V.                 Outstanding Issues – Marianne Harris

A.     Motion was made and unanimously approved by all attendees to amend the by-laws and raise the PTA membership from $4.00 to $5.00.

B.     The School has purchased a stencil of The United States and there will be a map painting event September 22nd & 23rd in the playground.  The paint was has been purchased with a discount thanks to Tara Hailey.  A flyer will be sent out to seek more volunteers with the painting and we hope also to add Hopscotch and Four Squares as well.

C.     Heather Aldrich and Joan Kurr will start a Book Club for parents more information to follow.

D.     Marianne Harris and Sue Perrault will investigate interest in a parent support group. 

E.      Discussion on assisting families affected by the fire on Tiffani Road.  There will be a giving tree at Meet the Teacher night 9/26 for anyone interested in donating gift cards.

F.      We will be contacting local corporations seeking a Corporate Sponsor.  Places of interest; Shaws, Home Depot, Lowes,  and BJ’s.  If anyone knows someone please contact Marianne Harris or Anna Parrill.

G.     The 94th Annual PTA convention is November 2nd&3rd at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester New Hampshire.  Anyone interested in attending please contact Marianne Harris.

 

VI.              Membership Drive – Christine Cochran

 

This year our membership board will be “School of Fish” themed.  Christine and Marianne are working on the cut-outs.  We have 40 memberships to date.  Look for your name on our PTA member board outside of Room #1. 

There will be a PTA Membership table at the Meet the Teacher night and a member of the Junior Honor Society will manage any new memberships.

 

     VII.             PTA website – Christine Cochran and Tara Hailey

 

Christine as last school years media secretary has also designed the new PTA website.  Please look for it at http://www.souleschoolpta.com/ - There you will find a calendar of events, volunteer opportunities, membership information, and the PTA minutes.  Tara Hailey will now post the PTA minutes as well as interesting school related issues.  Discussion of a message board was made and we decided on posting a frequently asked question section.  This may include tips on getting your child to bed, getting homework completed, getting your child organized, and other school related topics.

 

VIII.         Fitness Fundraiser – Joanne Casazza

 

This year the children will all receive a water bottle filled with water before their event.  The children have a choice between jumping rope, soccer, basketball and walk/jog to earn money for the school. The children will have people sponsor either a flat rate or a dollar amount per goal.  The top money raiser will receive a prize of Salem Athletic Club passes. Volunteers are needed to fill water bottles, organize events, and log children’s progress.

 

IX.              Principal Matters – Anna Parrill

 

Yes, we got the Blue Ribbon Award!  A special thanks to Joan Harper and Noreen Fantasia for all their hard work with submitting Soule’s application. Also, thank you to all of our volunteers during last year’s school year.

 

The school is in need of some new walkie-talkies.  Kellie Annicelli will look into which brand is the best quality and let the PTA board know.  The need is for 10 but 12 would be ideal.

 

A new early release program will take effect this year.  Volunteers will have a list of parents to call in the event school is dismissed early. 

 

There is an interest in a parent involvement committee – additional information to follow.  The school is also starting new leadership roles for the students. Some leadership roles will be with the elderly in the community.  Soule will sponsor a Special Friends day this year so grandparents, aunts, uncles or special friends can visit the children in the school.

 

Soule will also sponsor math days where you can visit and sit in on a lesson of everyday math.

 

X.                 Upcoming Events

 

9/26  Meet the Teacher Night

9/26  Picture Day

9/27  Fitness Fundraiser

10/16 – Next PTA Meeting 6:30pm in the library.

10/19  Red Ribbon Breakfast