Meeting Schedule and Minutes

January PTA Meeting Minutes

 

December PTA Meeting Minutes

Link here for the December minutes

October PTA Meeting Minutes

Junior Great Book Initiative

Ms. Johnson explained the Junior Great Book Initiative and is requesting shifting funds to cover the cost of this parent reading enrichment program which involves training parents to teach students how to discuss and ask questions. Ultimately, the idea is for parents to facilitate a reading session during the year, possibly as an after school activity.

  • The training session being held at Taylor Elementary is from 9:30 – 2:30 pm on October 25, 2011.
  • The PTA is looking for up to five volunteers to attend from Claremont.

Translations
Alex Guiterman is the new translation committee chair. She has reviewed the school calendar and has identified the year’s events that still need translations and has reached out to the committee chairs to plan for translations ahead of time for those events.

  • The lead time for translations is two weeks.
  • Translations should be sent to traduccionesclaremont@gmail.com and the group will try and turn it around as soon as possible.

 

Social Events

The Parent Teacher Social – Thursday, October 6th from 7-9 pm at the Hard Times cafe in Clarendon.

  • Will feature a complimentary nacho bar and happy hour drink prices.
  • Can park at the Dept. of Health for $2 (Past Hard Times on Highland).
  • Free babysitting from 6:30-9:30pm. MUST RSVP for babysitting.
  • Contact Joanne Burd with questions.

Fall Fun Festival – Friday, October 14 from 6-9 pm.

  • Need moonbounce volunteers and someone to set up the haunted house.
  • $15 cap for families or $5 per child.
  • Food will be for sale.

Fundraising

  • Thanks to all for supporting Sally Foster gift wrap and entertainment books fundraising efforts, with a special thanks to teachers, staff and Alex Guiterman for translations. Every teacher will get a book for free.
  • Prizes – If fundraising envelope was not turned in at table, it will take some times for students to receive their prizes. Forty kids (sold at least $90 in products) will participate in the raffle.
    • Recommendation: Next year, award prizes for students who bring in armchair funds (based on achieving minimum criteria)
      $725 in armchair fundraising. Erica Beardsley will chair.
    • Preliminary results show that we generated over $16K in sales and sold 223 entertainment books. We will generate close to $7K in profit.

Armchair Fundraising

  • Erica Beardsley to chair
  • An additional $725 in armchair fundraising was raised from back to school packet announcement and Sally Foster Fundraiser
  • Discussion revolved around whether Claremont should shift to more of an armchair fundraising approach and forego Sally Foster/Silent Auction type fundraisers due to the amount of work required from volunteers to spearhead and execute such efforts
    • Laura Novak pointed out that armchair fundraisers can be successful but are swayed to those schools with higher incomes
    • Rich Kelly  reminded the group that Sally Foster and the Silent Auction bring in the majority of funds and that we haven’t seen the equivalent from an armchair effort
    • Alex Guiterman stated that this can be an effective tool but there needs to be consistent and overt promotion of it
    • Parents stated that it doesn’t need to be an either/or solution
      • Armchair fundraising efforts can easily be promoted more aggressively without putting a strain on parents. We can add  this to the mix
      • Suggested that we use survey monkey to understand what the broader community is comfortable with
      • Parents also asked that the budget be annotated so they understand where and how the funds are used
      • Need to establish what the fundraising goals of the PTA are and whether we have the funds to accomplish those goals
      • Discussion will go out on Parrots Prattle

Picture Day

  • Wednesday, October 26th is picture day
  • Adrianne Webb will be sending out information soon and will likely need volunteers throughout the day to help organize students

 

Book Fair

  • Christine Walyus is chair.
  • December 5-9 are book fair dates

Silent auction

  • Scheduled for spring
  • Have one parent interested in co-chairing;  need a second co-chair
  • Contact Amber Dungan if interested

Spanish Assistant

  • Warm welcome to welcome Manuel (from Sevilla, Spain) our new Spanish Assistant
  • Will be hosted by the Wallin and Lourdes families

Communications

Homeroom parents

  • Establishing a meeting date, to discuss expectations, etc.
    • Cindy McIntyre, Vicki Kelly, Yvette Delgado are co-chairs for homeroom parents
    • Most homeroom parent slots are filled but if interested, contact the chairs

 

Student Directory

  • Directory will be ready earlier this year

October Budget

  • Budget vs. Actual does not include most current donations (e.g., Sally foster, Armchair)
    Please subscribe/re-subscribe to grocery store if you have not done so
  • Explained how budget process and where expenditures have already occurred (e.g., teachers checks, edukits)
  • Almost all funds go back to teachers, students and staff!

Ms. Johnson Update

  • Adjusting to having the school increase  of an additional 60+ kids – total is now 584 kids
    • An example is having to split ice cream availability due to the increased student body
      • 3rd-5th have ice cream on Tuesday’s and K-2nd on Friday because it is too difficult to get all the students through lunch line given the new numbers
      • Thanks to PTA for accomplishments already achieved thus far, especially monetary gifts to teachers
      • Reminded PTA of two communications tools available to parents
        • Principal’s newsletter is back for this year
        • “This week at Claremont” which outlines the week’s school activities

CCPTA Update –  Laura Novak

  • Brings together countywide PTAs, superintendent and school board and meets once per month and is open to all
    • October 17th is next meeting at 7pm.  Brainstorming meeting begins at 6pm on topics such as Outdoor Education, enrollment capacity, etc.
    • There is a meeting October 5th at 7pm at Washington-Lee about capacity enrollment
    • Upcoming Events
      • Reflections
        • A national PTA program designed to promote the arts (photography, dance, writing, etc) based on a theme
        • This year’s theme “Diversity Is…”
          Due Date: October 21, no exceptions
        • Contact Michael Swisher for questions or visit the website (claremontpta.org)
  • Eat, Live and Be Well – October 11th
  • Walk/Bike to School – October 5th
  • Arlington Fun Ride (sponsored by APS) is 10/8

 

  • Schools have named learning cottages – Claremont’s is Cassita

September PTA Meeting Minutes

First PTA meeting 2011

PTA Introductions
President – Sarita Bhargava
Treasurer – Rich Kelly
Corresponding secretary – Clair Sassin
Social VP – Courtney Holmes
Fundraising VP – Amber Fundraising
Communications VP – Karen Hendren
Recording Secretary – Beth Connors

Goal

The goal of the PTA is to foster community, create connections, advocate, fundraise and to have fun with your child during the school experience. The ultimate goal is to have your children love to learn and love coming to school.

Budget Review
Rich Kelly presented the budget income and expenses.  The PTA approved the 2011 budget. Reviewed grant process.

Social
Fall fun festival October 14th – Needs lots of volunteers

After school enrichment on PTA website
17 programs, can sign up online
First come, first serve, 8 week program
Need volunteers for 1st week of enrichment
Email Courtney if you can help
PALS and Math Buddies in Fall – you will be contacted if your child is eligible

Grounds Committee
Reviewed what has been completed thus far and what is forthcoming
1st garden day is this Sunday September 18 from 1-6
Can sign up for list serve and Facebook page. Claremont PTA Grounds Committee

Fundraising
Thanks to Jeanine Raymond for Edukit and Christine Walyus for chairing the book fair.
Reviewed how entertainment book and Sally Foster are being sold this year
Entertainment book is $30 and Claremont gets $15
Sally Foster catalog is going out on Sept. 15
Fundraiser ends on September 30th
Can also go online and get books or sally foster products for any area in the country

Translations
Everything is translated into Spanish here. Need volunteers to help translate

Reflections
Reflections is national PTA contest dedicated to promoting the visual arts
Theme this year is “Diversity means…”
Deadline is October 21, 2011

List Serve
Please sign up for the Claremont list serve on the website. www.claremontpta.org
Parrots prattle is not moderated, pta list serve is and is for pta/school business only.

Mrs.  Johnson/Mrs. Burnett Update
Spanish Exchange Teacher
Need someone to host the Spanish Exchange Teacher

Back to School Night
Please no children. If you do bring them they are in the gym, but no program. September 21 at 7pm.

Superintendent’s New Strategic Plan
Instill love and learning and become good citizens
5 goals
Highly engaged and challenged
Recruit good teachers
Good learning environment (school)
Pay attention to whole child
Close gap

Questions
Parent wonders if we can stream pta meeting via Youtube or something simila

 

November 1st Minutes

December 6th Minutes

January 3rd Minutes

February 7th Minutes

March 6th Minutes

April 10th Minutes

May 1st Minutes

June 5th Minutes