2010-2011 PTA General Meeting
November 9, 2010 6pm-8pm
Meeting Open – Deena McCloskey
6:25-6:35pm
- Thank you to all who helped with Fall Fest and the script program. The Fall Fest County Store raised over $300 and we have 140 people signed up in the eScript program.
- In addition to Teacher Appreciation Week in May, the PTA organizes monthly teacher appreciation to say thank you on a regular basis. Each month there is also a snack provided and a sign-up sheet for volunteers to bring snacks for the rest of the months this year was passed around the meeting.
- We currently have room parents for all 17 classrooms. Thank you!
Parent Leadership Project - Andre Canty
6:35-7pm
- Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle (CPPS) is a national grass roots non-profit organization focusing specifically to SE Seattle, which came out of the school assignment program (SAP) last year where very few people participated in the reassignments from the south end. Parents reached out to CPPS for help in communicating South end issues in the district and partnered with CPPS and applied for a grant. A $100,000 grant was awarded to CPPS Seattle; the grant’s focus is to involve Parent Participation.
- Parents are the most underutilized resource that a school has, CPPS is trying to meet parents where they are to build up their skill level to increase participation in advocating for their children by building a network of parent leaders with knowledge of practical skills who can move through school system to help schools by generating an expectation through shared ideas; local, state, national.
- Feeder Patterns - draw upon south east elementary schools feeding into middle schools and high schools.
- Components – Building a common knowledge base among families and communities. Providing parent leadership/advocacy training for parents across the network of feeder pattern schools. Producing parent-developed advocacy tools.
- Action Steps –
· Identify parent/community leaders across feeder pattern clusters.
· Share resources with groups currently conducting parent training.
· Partner with local education groups to share models – Powerful schools, Rainier Beach Coalition, SSIA, Campana Quetzal.
· Partner with city wide groups to define leadership outcomes – SPS FEAT Program, PTSA, Schools & Family Levy.
· Design and produce parent leadership/advocacy training.
· Product parent developed advocacy tools.
· Produce and use video to develop parent leadership communities and build advocacy agendas for each pathway.
- Goals – improve community understanding for school programs and performance.
· Parents connect prior to middle school transitions with other assigned to the same middle schools.
· Empowered parent leaders impacting change through practical knowledge and share knowledge with other parents at school or in
the community.
· Sustainable school level parent leader ship communities.
· A more powerful voice for parents and community members concerned with improving school quality.
· A snapshot of the real educational system as we see it as parents, and take skills to make the system better for future children to make choices around education and interfacing with the system.A Telling Your Story sheet passed around.
Looking for stories around your educational
experiences for the video.
- Q: How will the $100k grant sustain the program?
A: One large organization is looking at program
and possibly fund program in future years. Self
perpetuating as children / families progress in the
education system.
Contact Information
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Call for volunteers to participate.
Appx 24 hours (3 Saturdays) for volunteers.
- Playground Safety Discussion – Deena,
Cambria
7:00-7:15pm
- Existing Younger Children Playground - The existing equipment on the lower grade playground is in disrepair or missing and is not ADA compliant or appropriate for children under 5.
· Cambria spoke to the lack of district funding, at most schools PTA funds the playground. Cambria to provide more information at the
next PTA Board meeting.
· Cambria met with the equipment provider and has a catalog. We will need new pieces that are more age appropriate.
· Need to write a grant for funding more or new equipment ($75K appx. – keeping part of exiting playground).Volunteers needed
· Cambria called for volunteers to help get a Dept of Neighborhoods grant, additional auctions money and planning. We need to have Letter of Intent in by Feb for a Dept of Neighborhoods Grant; she would also like to reach out to the neighboring Synagogues.
· Cambria will propose a plan at the next PTA Board Meeting.
· Deena noted that we can match granting with dollar amt for hr worked, which will count toward part of the contribution – works out to appx $20/hr.
· May be able to move equip around or spend a small amount of exterior grounds funding to keep playground safe and functional until can replace.
· Peg Arsenault is also looking into organizing a late spring fun run to raise playground funds, we are looking at sponsors, tie in with fitness awareness. Peg Arsenault to continue looking into a fun
run.
- Bullying on playground - The PTA Board met regarding concerns of bullying on the playground and have taken suggestions.
· One suggestion is to bring in more volunteers for the lunch hour recess (11:25 – 12:30). Mrs. Morningstar will do a quick orientation for all recess volunteers. Volunteers and Mrs. Morningstar
· Update on GHES active policy: during lunch recess the IAs and Support staff on playground, not teachers.
· Ray Robinson will be out there as much as he can and the Dad’s in Class group is taking an initiative to come up with non-competitive games for recesses to help organize play.
· IAs and Support Staff do keep track of happenings on the playground and do remind kids of the school Code of Conduct.
· Each class has come up with ideal recess to reinforce code of conduct referencing Kelso’s Choice and Steps to Respect. There is also a recess buddy system in place.
Indoor recess concerns – parents expressed that they feel the children get enough media already and are concerned about showing movies during indoor “Rainy Day” recess. Can we look into if the gym can be used during part of the indoor recesses or part of the covered playground? Need to check schedule.Deena will pass concerns along to Mrs.
Morningstar
Principal’s Report – Chris Morningstar
7:15-7:25pm
School Testing Reports – the reports came out
today, they can find on line and Mrs. Morningstar
left copies on the PTA table.
- · Staff is analyzing why scores dipped over last three years. Maybe partially explained by new testing, but this is not an excuse, the staff are still looking at possible reasons.
· Identify Readers and Writers Workshop to increase skills in those two areas, feel this could be a key to raise scores.
· Score analysis will be shared with parents once it is complete.
· GHES considered a Level 2 School, the Level 1 schools get extra funding from the district.
Student council – the student council is underway. Students from classrooms meet every other week. Officers have been elected. Pres, VP and Secretary. They meet with classrooms to get school wide issues to discuss at council meetings.
Readers and Writers Workshop – this program is being implemented this year; research shows that by implementing this program student achievement will improve. Thank you from Mrs. Morningstar for the help getting the program
running at Graham Hill.
Tutors – the tutors are in full swing and busy. Trying this year to keep the student to tutor ratio lower.
New Teacher Position – there is a new teacher position at the 1st grade level. The position opened yesterday, with a 1-week period to review applications.
Title 1 Funding - fee and reduced lunch numbers will come in January.
Student Teachers – it was noted that some classrooms have Student Teachers, why don’t all teachers have them. Student Teacher placement a is initiated by colleges, not the teachers.
Student Assignment Plan – no new information on the student assignment plan. Enrollment is in March.
Treasurer’s Report – Ethan Broga
7:25-7:30pm
Budget – an updated budget available, see Ethan. The budget is now in QuickBooks.
Tax Return – has been completed for the year. Any concerns, ask Ethan.
Fundraising goals status – we are close to target on Chinook Books – just $1k to go to meet goal. No catalog sale this year, a little too late to order and pricing issues, another company will customize items for our school, seeds, books, etc. Need to order prior to school year end to be ready to start early next fall.
Upcoming Calendar of Events
7:30-7:35pm
- 5th grade Outdoor Education – Nov 15-17
- Parent Teacher Conferences – Nov 20-24
- PTA Board Meeting – Nov 30
- 1 hour early dismissal for Winter Break – Dec 17
- Winter Break – Dec 20-31
PTA Teams Action time
7:35-8pm
Auction - 3/26 at Georgetown Ballroom. KidsCo agreed to do on-site daycare. Next week Najat will get all volunteers together next week to organize. Theme is Rockin’ Rodeo.
