Packanack PTO Meeting

November 10, 2009

The meeting was called to order by Kim Ferrauilo at 7:30 p.m.     

Motion made to approve the October minutes by Mary Dudek and Nancy Perrine.  Motion approved.

Mrs. Gagliardi introduced our Board of Education liason, Franco Mazzie.

Secretary - Jo Ann Phillips

Nothing to report.

Treasurer - Mary Moran

The checkbook balance as of 10/31/09 is $31,072.04.

The balance appears high because we have yet to pay out any of the magazine drive money.

Second Vice President - Pauline Kaminski 

Nothing to report.

First Vice President - Jane Crank

Nothing to report. 

President - Kim Ferrauilo

Kim would like to thank all of the committees that have been hard at work.

-A huge thank you to Brandy Rehberger and Leslie Grand for getting the nature trail ready our annual Halloween Parade.

-Thanks to all of the school photo chairs for picture day.

-Thanks to Mrs. Betron, Karen Tizzano and all of the Art Parents who did a great job getting the Nature Trail decorated for Halloween.

-Thanks to Mrs. Mason, Mrs. Adamo, and Heather Clark for organizing the Reading Awards.

-We held the Magazine awards ceremony, and it was a lot of fun.  The magazine drive is all wrapped up here at school, but you can still order subscriptions on-line throughout the year.  Please see our website for details.

-Kim attended a PTO council meeting on 10/28 at Terhune.  Please see the Wayne Council of PTO’s website at www.waynecouncilofptos.webs.com,  for the minutes.  

-There is a meet and greet with the new interim superintendent on November 11th.

Franco Mazzie explained that the board is forming a new budget committee that will be comprised of township residents.  Anyone who wants to be involved can be involved.  No one will be turned away.  The goal is for residents to be involved in the budget process from the beginning, so that there may be a greater understanding amongst the community.

Principal - Mrs. Gagliardi 

-Mrs. Gagliardi explained that the township is prepared for an outbreak of H1-N1, should that occur.  Purel has been purchased for all of the schools.  Masks have been purchased as well, as a precaution.

-The school began the “chain of complements” this week.  The goal is to “connect” the whole school.

-Thursday folders will begin this week.  Almost all notices will go home in these folders.  Please return the folders no later than Monday each week.  

-The Food Pantry collection will be held thru the PTO this month. 

-We are hoping to have a lock down drill and an evacuation drill this month.  During an evacuation drill all children will go to IHM.  We cannot give parents prior notice of these drills, as it would be a safety violation.

-Conferences are coming up at the end of the month.  Please come prepared with questions for your children’s teachers.  The teachers are also having conferences with each child prior to the parent conference.  They will review their report cards with them, and set individual goals for them for the next marking period.

-The recognition assemblies have been put on hold for now.  We are still working on the criteria for the awards.  We will aim to begin these in September.

-We have created an edible garden committee.  We are trying to get a grant from either Lowe’s or Home Depot, to plant a vegetable garden in the spring.  The garden will be open to the community.

-Visitation day is November 19th.  Schedules went home detailing each classes daily schedule.  No siblings please.  

-The Talents show committee has met and we are looking at having it the second week of February.  We are trying to secure the gym at one of the high schools for the event.  The talent show is for 4th and 5th graders.

-The Holiday Boutique is December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

-The winter concert is on December 15th.  The chorus and the band will be at 9:45, and the band will perform for the parents at 1:45.

-Jerry Eastman, who is a retired science teacher, has been meeting with all of the first grade classes.  They have been working with butterflies, and they will have a release ceremony soon.

-On Veterans day the we will say the pledge of allegiance at the flag pole.  Scott MgGrath will come in uniform that day and will speak with the children in regards to the veterans.  Any child who is in scouting may wear their uniform if they wish.

Teacher Reps  

The children had a great time during the Halloween parade and parties.  Thank you to the nature trail committee and to the Art Parents.  Sgt. Pavlak came and gave the teachers updated training in CPR, the heimlich maneuver, and the defibrillator. 

Committee Reports

Art  

Art Parents are all set. 

Art Exhibit - Dana Bryan and Lorraine Saeger

The art exhibit will be held on April 23rd.

Beautification - 

Ellissa Betterbid and Fran Kishfy have offered to chair this committee.  

Book Fair - Suzanne Beiser and Mary Moran

The book fair is scheduled for the week of February 22nd.  The Thursday night of the book fair will coincide with Mrs. Mason’s reading of Dr. Seuss.  The theme of the fair is “Book Fair Diner, All You Can Read.”

Box Tops - Lisa Edmonds and Michelle Pugliese

The next collection will be January 15th.  Mrs. Kruzely’s class won the first collection.

Cultural Arts - Cindy Saypol, Olga Cetrulo, and Lisa Kudisch

They have booked all of the shows for the year.  They are as follows:

October 26th - An anti-bullying and positive self image demonstration.  

December 10 - Mexico beyond Mariachi

January 11 - Peter and the Wolf

March 1 - School House Rock Live

April 26 - Earth Day 

They are trying to find one more program for April to coincide with the Week of the Young Child.

Earth Day - Lisa Ellis and Jessica Slider

Nothing to report

Field Day - Kim Cardinale, Mary Dudek, and Janine Finnegan

Nothing to report

Fifth Grade Day - Kim Depetris and Lisa Kees

They had their first meeting.  They have chosen a theme.  DARE will begin in February.  The fifth grade photo was taken.

Family Fun Night - Fran Kishfy and Lisa Kees

The tentative date is May 7th.  This is Fran’s final year, and she needs a replacement.  

Food Advisory Committee - Kara Mc Connell

Nothing to report.

Food Bank - Julie Monsen

Food Donations will be needed in November.  Each grade will be asked to donate certain food items.  All food that is donated goes directly to families in Wayne.  Julie needs a replacement for next year.

Giving Tree - Stephanie Rivelli and Mary Dudek

Letters will be going home the 3rd week of November.  Please try to return them before Thanksgiving.

Holiday Boutique - Jill Hamza and Karen Tizzano

The holiday boutique is December 1-3.  Children will be able to purchase gifts for friends and family.  Volunteer forms will be going out soon.  They are also in need of volunteers for the set-up and the clean-up.

Hospitality - Laura VanderMay   

Nothing to report.

Ice Cream Social - Melissa Corso and Valerie Runz

Nothing to report

Kid Stuff - Kim Depetris and Lisa Kees

Books were distributed this week.  Please take a look at this year’s coupons, they are slightly different from last year.  

Liason to Board of Education - Cindy Saypol

Feel free to contact Franco Mazzie at fmazzie@wayneschools.com, with any concerns that you may have regarding Packanack school, or the board of education.

Magazine Drive - Dawn Reynolds and Christine Ohngemach

The final numbers are not in yet.

Media Center - Heather Clark and Lisa Tooman

Nothing to report

Membership - Melissa Corso

All PTO volunteers must be checked against the membership roster.

Nature Trail - Brandy Rehberger and Leslie Grand

Many thanks to all of the families that came out to help clear the nature trail, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Schweighardt.  We are not done yet though!  We are planning to do a compost pile.  Four teachers have used the trail so far.

Publicity - Nancy Perrine

If you take any pictures at school events, please send them to Nancy.  Great job on the bulletin boards, the kids love them!

Reading Incentives - Heather Clark

Nothing to report.

Safety - Lisa Dell Antonia, and Pauline Kaminski

Nothing to report

Scholarship - Kim Konopinski

Nothing to report.

School Directory - Marita Bellias and Linda Carlucci

The directory is almost done, they are just waiting for a picture of Mrs. Gagliardi.  They will look into adding the teachers email addresses to the directory.

School Spirit - Shannon Papa and Paula Healy

Sales for the fall sale were down, so they will look into doing a spring sale as well.

School Photos -Mary Kay Cerciello, Lisa Del Antonia, Theresa Mc Grath, Judy Salmanson

School Pictures came back today.  Retakes will be on November 24th.

School Store - Jennifer Dimas

The school store is open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

SPA - Denise Emolo 

Nothing to report.

Sunshine - Kim Konopinski

Nothing to report

Talent Show - Jane Crank and Kim Ferrauilo

Nothing to report.

Technology -Joanna Moore

Forms for the after school keyboarding program went home.

Thursday Folders - Theresa McGrath and Valerie McGrath

These will begin this week.  Almost all notices will be sent home in these folders.  Please return these folders empty, no later than the following Monday.  Any notice needing to go home in the folder must be copied and ready to go by Wednesday morning at 10 am.  We will need 550 copies of notices going to the entire school.  If a notice is going to the entire school, they do not need to be parceled out. 

Walk A Thon - Valerie McGrath and Marybeth Dring

We need to choose a charity for the event.  

Wayne Alliance - Marie Lowe ( as reported by Kim Ferrauilo)

Nothing to report

Old Business

Gifts to School - Mrs. Mason gave us a list of items that she needs.  We will review the list and decide what to purchase.  Mrs. Gagliardi suggested small video cameras for use in the classrooms.

The student ambassadors are taking a survey of all students asking them what they would like the PTO to spend the money on.

The PTO Holiday party will be held on Wednesday, December 9th at 7:30 pm at the Packanack Golf Club.  It will be $32. per person. 

We will be registering for the Stop N Shop A+ Bonus Bucks program, which runs now thru March 25th.  Simply register your rewards card, and a portion of specific products purchased will be given back to our school.  Please check it out at stopnshop.com/a+.

New Business

If you are interested in being involved with the PTO, there are many open positions for next year.  Please contact Kim  Ferrauilo at kferrauilo@optonline.net

Wayne Township offering the H1-N1 shot.  Please check the towns website to make your appointment.

Happy Birthday to Mrs. Gagliardi, whose birthday was on November 3rd.

Thanks to Franco Mazzie for coming to the meeting tonight.

Meeting Adjourned:  Motion to adjourn made by Lori Kohles and Nancy Perrine.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jo Ann Phillips