Wanaque School
PTA Meeting
October 3, 2011
Meeting called to order at 7:09pm.
MAM: Welcome and thank you for coming tonight, so great to see so many people here!
Rob Adams: Seems like the school year is off to a great start. Just a reminder that Wednesday night is our first Community Outreach meeting of the new year, remember this is your agenda where we answer and address your questions and concerns so come out and let us hear your thoughts on things. We will facilitate a discussion on the test scores for the NJ ASK. I want to thank the PTA for supplying voter registration forms, if you are not registered to vote, please take the few minutes and fill out the form, it is a one time thing and then you can vote in April.
Thanks again and have a great night.
Ms. Morales: I will reiterate what Rob said, it has been a smooth transition into this school year, thank you to all the parents for helping your children adjust. Terra Nova testing is this week. Also our annual Halloween parade will be on Halloween at 12:15 for grades PreK through 4.
Q: Do they come in costume?
A: No, as has been the protocol, they come in their regular clothing and change before the parade.
MAM: Some items of business, there is still no chairperson for drama K-1. Without a chairperson we cannot have a production so if you know someone or maybe if there are 2 people who can work together and want to co-chair, please step up. We have had lots of people interested in helping but so far no one has wanted to take on the responsibility of chairing the committee.
Q: Do rehearsals have to be after school? Makes it hard for working moms.
A: Yes, due to the age and other activities going on in the evening we have to limit rehearsals to after school.
Mrs. Spirko has advised that the Square Dance is on and will be March 8th in the Wanaque School gym.
Also, a reminder if you are reserving the gym for an activity be sure to fill out the necessary work orders enough in advance so that the custodians have enough time to prepare. This holds true for flyers as well. Ms. Morales needs some lead time with approving flyers. It is important that you give her enough time to review and approve before you need to copy and distribute at least a day or two.
Mrs. Morrow is putting together a door decorating contest for Respect week. Each door will have a theme and will be decorated in that theme about respect. After that they will be judged and the winning class will get a pizza party hosted by the PTA. I will need a motion to approve this activity:
Motion: Anne P.
2nd: Tina J.
Any opposed? Motion passed unanimously
My last comment is if you are chairing a committee and wish to transition out of it for next year, and know that now, please let us know so we can put the word out and if someone is interested, they can have access to you to shadow or discuss the activity in advance of your departure. Also, please keep good notes in a binder, folder or notebook so that the next chair has the benefit of your experience.
Officer Reports:
President - MaryAnn: (See above commentary)
1st VP - Chris: Just a reminder to update your Stop & Shop cards. Even if you have signed up in the past, you need to re-register your cards and identify the school you want to support.
Also, we have left a questionnaire at the sign in table. Please take a moment to fill it out and give it to one of us, we need your feedback on some new fundraising ideas we had including Yankee Candle, I will pass around the brochure so you can have a look. We could earn 40% of the proceeds for that one. Another is Market Day, so please look it over.
If you are a committee chair for this year, please see us after the meeting and pick up your list of volunteers from Back to School night. If there are people signed up, please be sure to use them. We need all our volunteers and we want everyone to feel like they are important so be sure and utilize everyone who signed up. Please also make sure that they have registered as a PTA member so that they can participate.
We are looking into a Pizza One night, we would get 10% of everything sold and it includes delivery so stay tuned for that date.
Finally there is a Fun Services dinner on October 12th and I believe our fundraising committee will be going to that.
2nd VP - Jason: Happy to see another man here tonight, we have officially doubled the male attendance with him here! I have been talking to some folks on the playground and have come up with some great ideas to get the male involvement. Some things to consider; a tail gate party or a football game and this would consider any male role model in the child's life.
Q: Have you considered a daddy-daughter dance?
A: Also a great idea, we can add it to the list of ideas - thank you!
We are also looking to encourage parents to consider a sugar-less Halloween. Snacks like popcorn, pretzels and even fortune coolies which we gave out one year, pencils anything that does not involve excess sugar will be better for the kids and also help out the teachers!
Finally, we are looking into getting a book binding machine for the school. The cost is about $200 and the binding is about $.25 per bind. Kids love to see their work dressed up and they are very proud of their work too so this might be a great way to encourage them to do more and to build their own library!
Treasurer - Wendy: Nothing to report.
Corresponding Secretary - Karen: Nothing to report.
Recording Secretary - Yvette: Kindergarten tees came in and were distributed the day before their first trip. Unfortunately there were 2 little ones without their shirts. If you are a kindergarten parent or know one, please remind them to send their kids in their shirts for school activities. It is important for keeping track of the kids and it is also important for the kids to feel like they belong.
Standing Committee Reports
As always, if you are interested in being on a committee, please just say the word, even if you want to develop a new committee, we welcome every new idea!
Drama K-1: (See above commentary)
Drama - 2nd - 4th: We had our first meeting with Erica and we chose a play called “45 minutes to Broadway”. There were 3 potential shows and the other two seemed to be too far over their heads and required more of them. This has lots of parts for boys and girls and will be a lot of fun. Letters will be going home with the kids in the next little while.
Drama 5th - 8th - Sue H., Diane V., Anne Marie F.: Last year's production was a great hit and we really loved working with Denise the director. We talked with her about putting together a workshop and a show that would be for the whole year. From October through June. They would learn about auditions, singing, dancing, backstage activities like lighting and scenery, and all areas of drama. December they would start preparing for the play.
Q: What if the kids only want to do the play and not the workshop?
A: Well of course the children who participate in the workshop will be given the better parts as they have been involved since the beginning, but the other kids can still try out.
There are a few plays to choose from, we are leaning towards “Little Shop of Horrors” but we have to see what the costs involved are for the rights.
The workshop would be 2 days a week, Tuesday and Wednesday for 2 hours each, it is a 44 hour program. Denise said she would not raise her fee. We thought we would charge $100 per child for the combination of the workshop and the production and keep the idea that if you volunteer a certain amount of time you would get $20 back.
I spoke to my son and asked him if he had a choice between this program and the Glee Club and he chose to wait for this program so I think the kids will really like the idea as well.
We would like to get started next week.
MAM: This sounds like a good idea, but we have not received any of the details about the workshop and we need to sit down with Ms. Morales and work out the details. Academic support is using the gym on Wednesdays so we will have to discuss this further. Let's take it off line and we can bring more information to the group. There are a lot of questions and concerns I think we need to work out.
Cultural Arts - Chris S.: I have sent an email out to all the teachers with some ideas about assemblies and asking them for ideas as well. I have also put together a book with all the ideas organized by curriculum relevance so I am waiting to get some feedback from that.
Fundraising - Trish A.: Money for the Fall Fundraiser is due in October 18; everything will be in by Thanksgiving. The Wendy's night was pretty successful, we made about $377, we are going to do a Pizza One night as well, more info and dates to come.
Holiday Shoppe - Anne P.: As was mentioned, we are headed to the Fun Services dinner on 10/12 so look at the items. Please remember if you signed up to help, we depend on the volunteers very heavily for this event as the kids really need the help. Please don't sign up if you cannot do it.
Holiday Bazaar - Julie C. 12/3 is confirmed. We already have 7 contracts in and paid - we have room for about 60 so the letters have gone out and we are expecting to see the steady flow coming in as it has begun.
Box Tops for Education - Wendy: The first submission will be November 1st, please get the box tops in, be sure and mark the envelope or baggie with the teacher's name so it gets credited to the right person. The class with the most handed in will get a snack voucher, this will be done 4 times throughout the year. Then the class with the most overall will get a pizza party at the end of the year. Hurry and get them in for the first contest!
Bingo - Anne P: The date for October 14th this is changed from the 28th and December 16th. Please remember there are no drop offs, parents must stay with their children and the time is from 7-8:30 in the evening.
Tricky Tray - Sue M: We are confirmed for March 24th at Lakeland, more information to follow.
Newsletter - Karen B: The decision to continue with a printed newsletter is still in the air. We need to know if there was an impact. We compared membership numbers from last year to this and there is no difference. Seems as if the newsletter did not influence parents to join the PTA.
Q: I received the newsletter and I think it as very informative as a new, incoming kindergarten parent. I knew about all the activities and events coming up and was better able to manage my calendar as a result.
A: This is also something to consider. Maybe it is most beneficial to incoming parents and we limit distribution to them?
Reading Program - Kathy D.: Not in attendance
Membership - Lisa A.: We are at 166 families. Please get your membership forms and checks in ASAP; please be sure the check is secured to the form so we don't lose anything! Make sure you write legibly too, your email address is very important and it must be legible. Remember it is $7 per member. If more than one of you in the house want to join, the other members' fees should be noted in the donations section. Each registration we receive requires us to send a portion to the NJPTA and unless the second person is going to be on a committee, be at meetings to vote or hold a position, it is not necessary for them to join, but the donation is gratefully accepted.
Field Day - Michele A.: Not in attendance
School Pictures - Diane V.: Pictures went very well; re-takes and graduation pictures are 11/22. Graduation re-takes are 1/29 and Spring pictures are 3/27.
Town Picnic - Donna B.: The cool weather worked against us as we were selling Italian ice, the rain also kept lots of people away. We are thinking that next year we would do a game with a prize as the goldfish table seemed to be very busy all day!
School Apparel - Sue B: The order form is on the website, it will also be going home in backpacks.
Back to School Picnic - Lisa K.: Despite the change of date and the weather, we had 71 people at the picnic which is great. Most came at the gate because it was a fast change but it was terrific. The kids got to swim and take part in all the activities. Thanks to Lisa A.'s company for their generous donation of the ice cream for everyone.
Old Business
Fundraising - Lori S.: Kids' Stuff books are still available to order this week. Sale is going great and e will continue to offer this next year as well. Reminder, it is $25 per book and 50% comes back to the PTA.
Halloween dance - Karen B.: The Halloween Dance will be held on October 28th. I had a lot of volunteers sign up so that is great. Since the PTA hosts 2 dances, the first half of the list will work with me on the Halloween Dance and the second half on the Spring dance. For the Halloween dance, costumes are optional with all the same rules, no weapons or masks and they must be tasteful. We are asking the volunteers to dress up as well.
8th grade committee - unchaired: Il Palazzo has reported booking dates in June already, Haskell has a chairperson and is working on their activities, we need to get someone in that position right away as there is a lot to do and things need to start now.
5th Grade: (Comments from Karen B.) There are few activities for this grade as they are somewhat a forgotten class. When I had a 5th grader we did a fun night and it was a lot of fun, games, DJ, prizes, raffles - if someone wants to get involved, this is a great thing to do and I have all the information for the asking. Mr. T. is also always looking for ways to reward classes for working with him on respect and anti-bullying efforts. He is great to work with and always has great ideas too.
Planners - Joy G: I need to make a motion to increase the budget for the school planners by $25.00. We needed to pay for expedited shipping due to Hurricane Irene.
Motion: Joy G.
2nd: Jen R.
Any opposed? Motion passed unanimously.
New Business
Angela: I am knew to this school district but wanted to share an idea they are doing in Ringwood and having success with. It is called Taste Test Tuesday (see attached). One Tuesday a month the kids are asked to try something new and usually it is some sort of healthy food like a vegetable. The school nurse is involved in order to avoid any allergic reactions to anything and it is a great way to introduce things that kids might not try at home but would if their peers were doing it.
Q: Sounds like a great idea, but my child is always complaining that there is not enough time to eat as it is
A: There are things we would have to work out, for now here is the information and we can talk about how we might want to try it out.
MAM: If there is no other business, our next meeting will be November 7 at 7pm right here in the library.
Motion to adjourn until November 7, 2011
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Motion: Wendy D.
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2nd: Tina J.
Meeting adjourned until November 7, 2011
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Respectfully submitted October 6, 2011
