PTO Meeting
November 14, 2017
Sibley Walk-A-Thon!
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Scholastic Book Fair
In Attendance: November 14, 2017
Pasha Quaas - President
Molly Lloyd - Vice President
Jessica Heilman - Treasurer
Heidi Brosseau - Secretary
Others Present:
Scott Sannes - Principal
7 Sibley Teachers
8 Parents/Guardians
November 14, 2017 Minutes:
Motion to approve the September minutes was made by Sara Ailabouni.
Motion was seconded by, Molly Lloyd.
Principal Report: Scott Sannes
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It's great that many of our Sibley teachers also have students here at Sibley!
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After Conferences and MEA we really hit our stride.
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Last year it was proposed that we stop sending the monthly Sibley newsletter. It wasn't being read. It took a significant amount of time and effort to put it together each month. The question now, is, how do you feel about the frequency of the communications you are receiving from Sibley.
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Feedback from those in attendance was positive of this change.
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It's nice to know that when a Sibley email does appear in our in box, it will have a specific need, or focused information to share. That makes it very easy to open and read quickly.
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You don't have to hunt through an entire document to find the information that you're looking for.
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We receive weekly classroom updates from our teachers, letting us know about upcoming events and providing reminders for no school days.
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Please email Scott if you would like to add your thoughts to this conversation. ssannes@northfieldschools.org
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Welcome Melanie Klein, our new Special Education teacher!
PTO & Committee Updates:
PTO thanks...
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the Walkathon Team – Erin Updike, Heidi Brosseau, Lindsey Downs, Mairin Born, and Brian McGonegal!
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all the families who provided meals for teachers during conferences and worked at the fall book fair!
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The teachers really enjoy and appreciate the conference meals. There is something for everyone!
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Jane Marnholtz, for coordinating the Teacher Conference Meals!
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Laura Heiman, for coordinating the Book Fair!
Walkathon Update
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We reached our goal! $15,118.60 was raised.
Coin Drive $2,410.97
Online (net) $2,094.21
Cash & Check (net) $9,813.42
Matching Funds $400 + $400
Total Donations $15,118.60
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Mrs. Heil's class won the coin drive and got a class pizza party on 11/21.
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The new Northfield Schools Wellness Policy does not allow food based rewards. Therefore, the Walkathon Committee will not be able to provide a pizza party for the class that brings in the most during the coin drive in future. You can find the complete Northfield Schools Wellness Policy at https://northfieldschools.org/files/board_policy_533.pdf
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Culver's Ice Cream Tokens and apple/donut coupons from Fireside Apple Orchard should still be alright, as the food is not given to kids at school.
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Principal Sannes will get a pie in his face at the net all-school assembly on February 9th at 2:15 pm.
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In the future, Principal Sannes would prefer to kiss a pig over a pie in the face. :)
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PTO spending plans:
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$2500 for BrainPop
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$400 for Beyond Words
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$400 for Celebrate Math Week
Flexible/adaptive seating ($6-$200 per item)
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Other teacher requests: Maker Space (or small STEAM items like LittleBits), Guest speaker during I Love to Read Month, and read-aloud books to support the new social/emotional curriculum, die-cutter.
Spending ideas:
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The question was raised, How is PTO money is spent?
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The guidelines aren't clear. Some teachers are unsure what the money is for. When they ask for funds to cover things they feel like they always get a no.
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PTO strives to focus its dollars on items and events that help and benefit the whole school, such as the student council.
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Flexible/adaptive seating
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Pasha to work with Stephanie Mahal, to provide options, pricing and recommendations for review.
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Finding space to store these items when they aren't in use will be an issue.
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Principal Sannes agreed that flexible/adaptive seating would be a good option.
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What if there were a chunk of money or a grant for each grade level that they could use to make a larger purchase.
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PTO gives $200 to each teacher and specialist at the beginning of the school year. Teachers could pool this money, or a portion of it, to make a larger purchase for their grade level.
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Could the amount of money given at the beginning of the school year be increased?
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No matter how much is given, our teachers and specialists use it as best they can, getting the most for their money.
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Consider rotating funding for specials, giving them an opportunity to make larger purchases every few years.
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Some schools have started using funds to bring field trips to the students, rather then paying for transportation to get them to outside events/locations.
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The sky runner on the playground needs to be replaced.
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The kindergarteners would benefit from swings that are designed for younger children.
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A third recess cart for the doors off of the skylight commons is needed for all grades to have easy access to a cart.
Additional thoughts regarding the Walkathon:
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Should we suggest a higher amount be donated per student?
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Many of the donations that come in are for the suggested amount. By raising the suggested amount we could increase the amount we raise.
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There is concern that by suggesting a higher amount, families that are unable to donate at that level will simply not donate at all.
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Families with more then one student at Sibley may find it hard to donate the suggested amount.
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The time of year could be a factor in how much is being raised. It happens so early in the school year, just after back to school shopping and just before the holiday shopping season begins.
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The time of year is tricky. It might be nice to move our biggest fundraiser to the spring.
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If the planning could happen in spring and be finalized in summer, the Walkathon could come together and run more smoothly.
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The Walkathon, start to finish, has had too many breaks in between the event, the final numbers, the coin drive class reward, the all school reward. Teachers need to talk it up to get the kids excited about it at each step along the way.
Additional ideas:
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Amazon Smile
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Why isn't it being promoted?
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While Amazon Smile is in NO WAY intended to drive business online and away from Northfield, that is how some understand it.
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If someone is shopping on Amazon anyway, they may as well do it with Amazon Smile, which helps support our community by supporting our school. The goal is not to push business to Amazon but rather, to capture the small percentage of dollars that would otherwise be lost.
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Is there any opportunity for fund raising with the Northfield Chamber of Commerce?
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Trying something new such as a Readathon.
Book Fair Recap – Ann Hehr
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What was new? The book bins for the teachers were a great new feature of the book fair! They really streamlined that aspect of the event. Easy for teachers, easy for parents, and volunteers didn't get pulled away to help find books from a teacher's list.
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Each teacher received $20 in Scholastic dollars for their classroom.
The Book Fair's total Scholastic dollars raised for our media center is $3736.88. (Over half of the total book fair amount!)
Sibley T-Shirts
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Order forms went out Monday, 11/6 and were due on Wednesday, 11/15.
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They will be delivered before the holidays in time for gift giving!
People really like the ringer tee option.
Trash to Cash Fall Contest – Heidi Brosseau
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Overall the contest brought in a little over 12,000 pieces of trash!
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Mrs Haar's 4th graders won the extra recess, bringing in 1,836 pieces of cash earning trash!
Yearbook Cover Contest - Erin Updike
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The cover contest goes out to the 5th graders this week so they can work on it over the Thanksgiving break.
Entries are due by 11/24
Teacher Wish List – Kathy Klein
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Email went out to teachers on Friday, 11/10
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The items will be posted by the office the Monday after Thanksgiving for families to select from.
Community Book Drive with Northfield Promise Reading Team – Pasha Quaas
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Fliers will be sent home with kids after Thanksgiving. Books will be collected form December 4-20.
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2400 books were donated last year.
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Used books can be donated, and new books (for ages 5 and under) will go to clinics to be given to children when they come in for their well-child check ups.
This book drive is in conjunction with the other elementary schools and Prairie Creek.
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Learn more at https://northfieldpromise.org/
Financial Update – Jessica Heilman
Financial Snapshot 11/13/17
Current Cash Balance $31,557.53
Less Reserves $2,500.00
Less Yearbook Payment $2,000.00
Proposed Available for Expenditures $27,057.53
Closing and Comments:
Erica Ness – Girls on the Run is coming to Northfield! Information will come out through Community Ed for girls in grades 3-5. Girls on the Run is a transformational learning program for 8 to 13 year-old girls. They teach life skills through dynamic, conversation-based lessons and running. Girls will train together to run a 5K. You can learn more at https://www.girlsontherun.org/
Some final thoughts about PTO:
Promote PTO! Please point out events and items/supplies that are there because of our PTO. Our students today are the PTO of tomorrow!
We are very fortunate. So many schools struggle to have their students' basic needs met. We have funds available to use on items that go above and beyond the basic needs of our students, and we are able to come together to make decisions about how this money is best spent. Thank you Paula Baragary for reminding us of this important perspective!
The Next PTO Meeting
Ellen Haefner, Licensed Family Educator, will present at the January meeting!
Childcare is provided!
Tuesday, Jan 9, 2018, 06:30 PM
Sibley Media Center
Sibley Elementary School PTO
Sibley PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) prides itself on its involvement in a number of areas. From organizing activities, to coordinating volunteers, to raising much-needed funds; we are a vital and integral part of the school. We welcome all parents to join the PTO. We think you will find it not only fun, but also a great way to meet other parents.
Email: pkquaas@yahoo.com
Website: https://northfieldschools.org/schools/sibley-elementary/volunteer/
Location: Sibley Elementary School, Maple Street, Northfield, MN, United States
Phone: 507-645-3470
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/153408978349958/