Packanack PTO Meeting

October 13, 2009

The meeting was called to order by Kim Ferrauilo at 7:33 p.m.     

Motion made to approve the June minutes by Jane Crank and Nancy Perrine.  Motion approved.

Secretary - Jo Ann Phillips

Nothing to report.

Treasurer - Mary Moran

The checkbook balance as of 9/30/09 is $6,384.44.

The balance appears low because we have yet to deposit any of the magazine drive money.

Second Vice President - Pauline Kaminski 

The first Skate Night went very well.

First Vice President - Jane Crank

Jane met with the class parents, and all went well.  

President - Kim Ferrauilo

Kim would like to thank all of the committees that are already hard at work.

-Thanks to Laura and all of the volunteers for providing refreshment for back to school night.

-Thanks to Pauline for running Skate night.

-Thanks to Dawn and Christine for running the magazine drive.

-A huge thank you to Brandy Rehberger and Leslie Grand for stepping up to chair the Nature Trail, and for a great job getting it cleaned up.  

-Thanks to Lisa Ellis and Jessica Slider, as well as the staff, for a successful walk to school day.

-Thanks to Mrs. Betron who has met with the new art parents.

-Thanks to Jane for all the help with the class parents.

-Kim attended a combined President’s/Superintendent’s meeting in September.  As always, it was very informative.  We discussed the Browse N Shop, which is a “thrift” store run by the Wayne Council of PTO’s.  They are trying to increase the efficiency and the profits.  All monies go towards scholarships.  They are planning a grand re-opening celebration.  Scholarship cards are available for $10, and they will have a new design this year.   The superintendent’s meeting followed and Dr. Sico reviewed the precautions that the district is taking to help prevent the Swine Flu.

-There is an upcoming council meeting on 10/28 at Terhune.  Anyone is welcome to attend with Kim.

-Target has a program called “Take Charge of Education.”  They donate up to 1% of every purchase when you use a designated Red Card.  All you need to do is designate your school of choice. at target.com.  They do send us checks periodically.

Stop N Shop is offering a new program called “A+ Bonus Bucks.”  If you shop there, you just need to register your rewards card, and designate Packanack as your school of choice, and they will donate a portion of your purchases towards our school.  We will register our school soon.

Principal - Mrs. Gagliardi 

-The new recess clubs began last week, and are going well.  There is at least one per grade.  Approximately 4-5 children per class may go at one time.  She is considering asking for parent volunteers at a later date.

-Mrs. Gagliardi is meeting with the website designers to update Packanack’s website.

-The teachers are currently working on criteria for awards assemblies.  We would like to have one assembly per marking period.  They are trying to reward the “whole child,” by rewarding such things as good grades, character, as well as attaining personal goals.  Mrs. Gagliardi would like to have 1 or 2 classes per assembly make some kind of presentation (a play, a poem etc.)  The parents of children either receiving awards, or performing will be notified in advance, so that they may attend the assembly.

-Two student ambassadors were chosen from each of the fourth and fifth grade classes, by the teachers.  They looked for leaders, but looked at many criteria.  Their first assignment was to put up posters for anti violence week and red ribbon week.  They will also take a survey on what is needed for the playground.

-The Halloween parade is all set for Friday, October 30th at 2:00 pm.  The AM kindergartners may come back to march if they like.

-The fourth and fifth graders are writing essays to apply for Safety Patrol.  All who apply will eventually get a turn.

-Peer Mediators are doing a program for K, 1, & 2 on October 21st at 10:00 am

Teacher Reps  

The third graders will all be heading to the Outdoor lab for a lesson in Geology.  The third graders will also be receiving dictionaries this week from the Rotary club.  The fifth graders are already preparing for the holiday concert.  All first grade classes have attended the Outdoor Lab.  The teachers all attended in service courses on Columbus Day.  They were very helpful.  

Committee Reports

Art  

Art Parents are all set. 

Art Exhibit - Dana Bryan and Lorraine Saeger

The art exhibit will tentatively be held on April 16th.

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 last week of February.  The Thursday night of the book fair will coincide with Mrs. Mason’s reading of Dr. Seuss.

Box Tops - Lisa Edmonds and Michelle Pugliese

The first collection was October 9th.  The next collection will be January 15th.

Cultural Arts - Cindy Saypol, Olga Cetrulo, and Maxine Bock

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 

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

Fifth grade day is scheduled for June 18th.  The parent meeting will be held at the end of next week,  They are still finalizing the committee chairs.

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

The first meeting was on October 9th.  Sodexo will now charge $2.50 per replenishment instead of the current 4%.  They are trying to get all of the nutritional information on the website.  This would be especially helpful for parents of food allergic children.  They will start having soup specials on Thursdays.  They will be having a “pie” sale in the elementary schools, for delivery Thanksgiving week.  They will also be having Sushi on Fridays.  Kids would have to sign up in advance, and each portion would be $2.50.  They will also be having a rotating smoothie station.  Each school will get it about 4 times a year, on Wednesdays.  The current school lunch is $2.00 and includes a meal, drink and a dessert.  Kara will be giving a talk on nutrition at an upcoming PTO meeting.

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.

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.

Hospitality - Laura VanderMay   

Laura committee provided refreshments for the Nature Trail cleanup on 10/18.

Ice Cream Social - Melissa Corso and Valerie Runz

Nothing to report

Kid Stuff - Kim Depetris and Lisa Kees

Books will be distributed on November 2nd, and the sale will run through November 13th.

Liason to Board of Education - Cindy Saypol

Dr. Sico resigned.  Please go to the BOE meetings to express your views on any pertinent issue, especially while they are interviewing for a replacement.  We need a new literacy program.  We are currently using a program that is 11 years old.  The Board of Ed needs to hear the opinions of parents.  The Wayne Council of PTO’s is a great source of information.  

Magazine Drive - Dawn Reynolds and Christine Ohngemach

The final numbers are not in yet.

Media Center - Heather Clark and Lisa Tooman

The reading awards ceremony will be on October 22nd.  Reading under the stars will also be that same night for grades 3,4, and 5 at 7:00 pm.  The trophies for the reading incentives were $301. above the budgeted amount.  They are a 20th anniversary edition.  80% of k-5 participated.   We took a vote (motion made by Heather Clark and Kim Depetris) to take the additional funds from PTO funds, not from the Library budget.

Membership - Melissa Corso

Parent forms are all completed.  The teacher forms were received, and will be processed soon.

Nature Trail - Brandy Rehberger and Leslie Grand

A four foot wide path was cleared through the area that was previously covered with ragweed.  Thanks to the volunteers over the first weekend in October, we were able to put the weed barrier down and covered that section with mulch.  The next clean up day will be Sunday October 18th.  At that clean-up we will focus on the classroom at the entrance to the trail.  The weed barrier and the mulch needs to be put down there as well.  We could still use volunteers!  The total cost of the clean up was less than originally thought, it was $1550.00 total.  They would like to somehow use the trail to tie in with Earth Day as well.  They would also like comments and/or suggestions from the teachers on what they would like to use the space for.

Publicity - Nancy Perrine

Nancy is trying to get into the classrooms to take pictures of the children.  If you take any pictures at school events, please send them to Nancy.

Reading Incentives - Heather Clark

See Media Center.

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.

School Spirit - Shannon Papa and Paula Healy

All orders are in, they should be delivered in three weeks.

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

Fall photos will take place on October 15th, with retakes on November 24th.  The fifth grade photo is at 9:00 am sharp.

School Store - Jennifer Dimas

See Old Business.

SPA - Denise Emolo 

SPA would like to have a disability awareness day.  They would like to do this over the course of a 3 year span.  We are considering doing this.  They had training for the bus drivers on assisting children with special needs.

Sunshine - Kim Konopinski

The PTO sent Mrs. Sita flowers for her birthday on 10/12.

Talent Show - Jane Crank and Kim Ferrauilo

Nothing to report.

Technology -Joanna Moore

The PTO will sponsor an after school keyboarding program at a cost of $15 per student.  

Thursday Folders - Theresa McGrath and Valerie McGrath

These folders are still not in yet, they should be in soon.  They are still in need of volunteers.

Walk A Thon - Valerie McGrath and Marybeth Dring

Nothing to report

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

Kim spoke about a dinner that she attended regarding drug awareness.  It was an excellent presentation. 

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.

For now, the school store will remain as is.  The teachers will discuss the reward program, it can always be implemented later.

Jessica Parker suggested a raffle for a parking space at pickup.

New Business

The PTO holiday party will be held in December.  A date and location will be decided.

Meeting Adjourned:  Motion to adjourn made by Heather Clark and Nancy Perrine.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jo Ann Phillips