Packanack PTO Meeting

February 9, 2010

The meeting was called to order by Kim Ferrauilo at 7:06 p.m.     

Motion made to approve the January minutes by Jane Crank and Judy Salmanson.  Motion approved.

Secretary - Jo Ann Phillips

Nothing to report.

Treasurer - Mary Moran

The checkbook balance as of 1/31/10 is $18,500.48.  This years magazine drive numbers came in and we were under $1,700.00

Second Vice President - Pauline Kaminski 

The next skate night is March 12th.

First Vice President - Jane Crank

Jane went to the president’s meeting for Kim.  Membership lists for next year should include the students first and last name, parents name(s), and address.  Board of Education candidates night will be held on 3/3.  They encourage everyone to attend.  This is where next year’s B of E candidates will be announced, and questioned.

President - Kim Ferrauilo

Kim passed around many thank you cards that we received.

As always, thank you to everyone who has been volunteering their time for the PTO.  It is  greatly appreciated.

Kim attended the Council meeting.  Some key points were:

-The Wayne Alliance is looking for members.  Their meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of every month at the health office.  They provide lunch!  The annual Basketball game will be on April 23rd, at Wayne Valley.  

-The Children’s cultural workshop has a record high 320 students.  

-In conjunction with SPA, Randall Carter held “Disability Awareness Day.”

-Summer Camps will now be available to young children with disabilities.

-”Ryan’s Story” will be available to parents and children on March 11th.  This is the story of a young boy who was continuously bullied, and ultimately took his life as a result.  His father now speaks to students to raise awareness of bullying.  

The B of E members spoke about the upcoming budget.

Principal - Mrs. Gagliardi 

“Literacy By Design”  will go before the Board of Education on Thursday night for approval.  It looks like it will be approved.  If so,  it will be implemented and ready to go for September.  The teachers will have a 2 day workshop on it, plus workshops over the summer and an additional workshop before the first day of school.

Mrs. Gagliardi put in a proposal to the Board of Education to approve a $5000.00 grant application for us to submit to Lowes for our edible garden.  We will be looking for parent volunteers.

Randall Carter held a Disability Awareness Day.”  It was an entire day of experiences for the students.  They wore goggles to address vision impairment, they were asked to paint without using their hands, and they copied a letter from a mirror to address dyslexia.  These are just some of the examples of what was done.  It was a great day and we are hoping to have it here at Packanack on May 27th,

Read Across America is March 2nd.  The entire school will read for 45 minutes in the morning.  Parents are invited to come in and read to their classes.

Dr. Seuss pajama night will be held on February 24th.  Grades K-2 are invited to come and attend this event.

The “It’s a Girl Thing” talk will be held for all 4th grade girls and their mother’s (or guardians) on February 25th at Ryerson school.  

The “It’s a Guy Thing” talk will be held for all 4th grade boys and their father’s (or guardians) on March 24th at Ryerson school.

Mrs. Dickens’ (3rd Grade) last day will be February 26th.  A permanent sub has been hired.

The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade awards assembly will be held on June 17th, in the morning.

D.A.R.E graduation will take place on March 26th at 9:30.

In regards to placement for students for next year.  Below, the process is listed.

-Mrs. G will get teachers together and each child will be ranked by their reading ability.  The goal is to form a heterogeneous grouping for the most diverse learning experience.

-Next, Mrs. G. will meet with all of the specialists and they will take a look at the groupings.

-Mrs. G will do the finalizing.  She cannot take requests for teachers.  She will listen to requests in regards to your child’s personality, and any personal reasons that you may have, but please do not request a teacher.

Teacher Reps  - Mr. Christie and Mrs. Schweighardt

Report Cards went home today, February 9th.  

All teachers went over the report cards with the students.  Officer Phil came to school to talk about safety.  

Mayor Vergano and Councilman Schweighardt came to speak to the 3rd graders.

On March 31st, the police officers will be here to collect DNA from the students, at the parents request.  Forms will go home.

Roger Hawkins was awarded educator if the year.  Mr. Christie attended the awards dinner.

The 3rd graders will be going to Ellis Island on April 20th.  The 4th graders will be going to the Bronx Zoo on May 20th.

Their will be an Internet Safety program for the 4th graders on May 31st.

Committee Reports

Art  - Suzie Betron

The Art Exhibit is set for April 30th.  We are considering doing a silent auction for each piece of submitted art.

Art Exhibit - Dana Bryan and Lorraine Saeger

Notices will be going out shortly regarding the Art Exhibit. 

Beautification -  Fran Kischfy

There is $300 to spend in the beautification budget.

Book Fair - Suzanne Beiser and Mary Moran

The book fair is scheduled for February 22nd - February 26th.   The theme of the fair is “Book Fair Diner, All You Can Read.”  Dr. Seuss pajama party will be February 24th.  Flyers will be sent home this week.  

Box Tops - Lisa Edmonds and Michelle Pugliese

We collected $667.10 from the last collection.  Mrs. Najjar’s class won this collection.  The next collection is in April.  The cumulative standings are posted on the web site.

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

The next performance is March 1st,  School House Rock Live.  On April 28th we will have the Earth Dome.  

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, Lisa Kees and Pauline Kaminski

They met with Mrs. Gagliardi on January 28th to review everything.  The yearbook is progressing.

Family Fun Night - Fran Kishfy and Lisa Kees

The tentative date is May 7th.  They are meeting next week to get the ball rolling.

Food Advisory Committee - Kara Mc Connell

The full name of this committee is the “Heart and Wellness/Parent Food Service Advisory Committee.  The nutrition star visited all elementary schools.  The ingredients website will be done in April.  All nutritional and food allergy information will then be available on line.  It appears that all schools are unhappy about how the children are treated during lunch.

Food Bank - Julie Monsen

Nothing to report.

Giving Tree - Stephanie Rivelli and Mary Dudek

Mary and Stephanie are looking for replacements for next year.

Holiday Boutique - Jill Hamza and Karen Tizzano

We are in need of one additional volunteer to chair this committee for next year.

Hospitality - Laura VanderMay   

They will provide the cookies and milk for the Dr. Seuss reading.

Ice Cream Social - Melissa Corso and Valerie Runz

Nothing to report

Kid Stuff - Kim Depetris and Lisa Kees

Has been completed for the year.  Valerie Mc Grath has offered to take this over for next 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

They are meeting with Metro next week to set up next years program.

Media Center - Heather Clark and Lisa Tooman

Nothing to report.

Membership - Melissa Corso

Nothing to report.

Nature Trail - Brandy Rehberger and Leslie Grand

Nothing to report.

Publicity - Nancy Perrine

If you take any pictures at school events, please send them to Nancy.  

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 school directory is completed and has been distributed to all families.

School Spirit - Shannon Papa and Paula Healy

The may be doing a spring sale.  

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

The spring photo date is April 27th.  Sibling pictures will be available.

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

Technology -Joanna Moore

Nothing to report.

Thursday Folders - Theresa McGrath and Valerie McGrath

All is well.  Thanks to the aids for helping to stuff the folders.

Walk A Thon - Valerie McGrath and Marybeth Dring

The date is set for May 14th.  Marybeth will ask Coca Cola to donate the water.  Some suggestions were made for a charity to donate to.  It was suggested to choose a charity where the children could sees a video about who they were raising money for.

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

Their grant was approved for 2010.  Mark Dubois is the chairperson.  The DARE program continues to thrive.  Wayne Alliance meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month, at noon.

Old Business

Gifts To School

-The Cargo net that Mrs. Collins wanted for the gym is not compatible.  Instead,  Mrs. Gagliardi and Kim would like to get a pull down screen with a DVD projection player.  We would be able to watch the videos that we take with the new video cameras that were purchased with the Parker donation.  They feel it would be a great way to pull the whole school together.

Mary Moran made a motion to purchase this system with the earmarked money in the “improvements to school” budget, as long as it is $5000.00 or under.  Janine Finnegan seconded the motion.  Motion approved.

-With “miscellaneous” money, we were asked to purchase 30 t-shirts for the peer mediators, student ambassadors and the talent show stage crew.

Jane Crank made a motion to buy the t-shirts as long as they are all together under $400.00.       Jo Ann Philips seconded the motion.  Motion approved. 

  -The Student Ambassadors have requested recess items.  

Mary Moran made a motion to give the student ambassadors $500.00 to spend on their wish list.  Jane Crank seconded the motion.  Motion approved. 

New Business

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

The selection process for Fifth Grade Day chairs is as follows:  It is open to current and past PTO presidents first, then current executive board members, then general membership.  The committees are open to any fifth grade parents.

The nominating committee is in the process of being formed.  We will have a committee by the March meeting.

If you are not returning to your committee head position next year, please try to find a replacement,

Open Discussion

Jane Crank asked Mrs. Gagliardi if your child’s current year teacher would have input in regards to the placement of the students for next year.  Mrs. Gagliardi assured her that they would.

The following people were in attendance for this months meeting:

Kim Ferrauilo, Jane Crank, Janine Finnegan, Mary Moran, Mary Dudek, Fran Coom, Jo Ann Phillips, Melissa Corso, Lisa Edmonds, Kara McConnell,  Joe Christie, Nancy Perrine, Judy Salmanson, Brandy Rehberger, Laura VanderMay, Lori Kohles, Barbara Corbett, Therese Potter, 

Liz Devins, Nancy Brillo, Pauline Kaminski, Dana Bryan, Kim Konopinski, Deb Murino, Celeste Gagliardi and Bev Schweighardt.

Meeting Adjourned:  Motion to adjourn made by Mary Moran and Mary Dudek.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jo Ann Phillips