March 2022

Attendees

Juliana Aloia, Leanne Bloom, Carla Garrido, Camilla Markarian, Lauren McBride, Sophia Rana, Brenda Rodriguez, Fay Serafica, Brianna Staudt, Mechtild Stenhårt, Daphne Uviller, Andrea Williamson, Liz Zammit

Agenda

  • General Greetings and hellos (2 min)
  • March Treasurer’s Report (5 min Bri)
  • Square One Art (2 min Lauren)
  • JP Book Fair Update (5 min, Annie/Nina)
  • Community Wardrobe Update (Elissa/Daphne/Sophia, 5 minutes)
  • SHMS Movie Night Update (Brenda/Sophia, 3 min)
  • Staff Appreciation Luncheons Update (Juliana, Andrea 5-7 minutes)
  • Committee & School Updates: JP / Morse / WI / MS / HS / Heads Up / SNC / Rivertown Parents / DEI (3 min each)
  • Questions and Comments

Notes

  • March Treasurer’s Report (Bri) –
    • Food truck -$900 in budget, can we have food trucks on Math night? Still need chair
    • $10K still available for arts programming – 
  • Square One Art (Lauren)
    • K – 5th grade
    • Art is already collected and sent to Square One
    • Next week handing out catalogs in schools
    • End of April, all of the orders will come in
    • Lauren might need assistance to sort through orders, sort and drop to classrooms
  • JP Book Fair Update (Sophia, Annie/Nina on site at JP)
    • $7,000 in sales so far
    • Families excited to finally be back in the building for the book fair
  • Community Wardrobe Update (Daphne/Sophia)
    • New home, JCC!
      • Beautiful space, but far
        • ITAV (It Takes A Village) – can they offer free rides to JCC?
        • Bus lines available that stop 2 stops from JCC
      • Proof of vaccination required
  • SHMS Movie Night Update (Brenda/Sophia)
    • Event can be moved indoors to MS auditorium
    • On 4/29
    • Dunk tank rental for fundraising
    • Snacks and food available at movie night
      • Food not allowed in auditorium
      • Food only available outside?
    • Kids are voting for either Shang-Chi or Free Guy
    • Can other screenings for students in other schools take place in the MS auditorium?
  • Staff Appreciation Luncheons Update (Juliana, Andrea)
    • MS set for 5/2, WI 5/4, Morse 5/5 (chair Julie Fiore, co-chairs Liz Fitzpatrick and Erica Mulherin)
    • JP & HS TBD
    • Grade Reps finding chairs for the luncheons
    • In addition to staff appreciation luncheon, The Foundation would like to organize breakfasts for staff appreciation leading up to The Foundation Benefit
      • 5-6 breakfasts scheduled
        • bagel/coffee truck? Sponsorship ideas welcome
      • Timing might coincide with the National PTA staff appreciation week
  • Committee & School Updates: 
    • JP (Sophia)
      • Joint Math Night & food truck – JP & Morse
      • Firming up dates and finding chairs
    • Morse (Liz)
      • Book Fair coming up
      • Grade 1 trip around the community
      • Indoor recess toy drop off drive
        • Board games & supplies kids can use to play with indoors on rainy days
        • Donation box in front of school
        • Mini-grant deadline – can it be moved up to November?
    •  WI 
      • Mini-grants deadline – Fall preferred
      • Bringing back Field trips – 
        • 4th graders had field trip last week
        • 5th grade to Boundless Adventures
      • Green house – can parents volunteer?
      • Theater program – In-school theater experience for all students
        • Do they need to apply for mini-grant?
        • For next year
        • Working with Music Hall – 2 week after school program
          • More info TBD
        • Seeking more student engagement for program
    • MS 
      • 5/13 theater performance
        • Josh Lewis, district parent, leading 
      • Six Flags Great Adventure – class trip
      • Possible Open House for parents, walking tour of school who have not been inside the school yet because of covid
    • HS (Mechtild)
      • PTA Member sign up for HS ready
        • Form for HS parents available
      • PTA will be present at staff meeting on 4/6
      • Not enough communication from HS about college application process
        • Parents need more guidance and information 
        • Can guidance counselors provide more information to parents?
      • How is the HS reaching out to Spanish speaking community about college prep?
        • Can Spanish speaking alums who are in college now come and speak to families about their college experiences?
      • How can the PTA advocate in the HS towards equity in college preparation for students?
    • Rivertown Parents 
      • *add info about college prep workshop (see Brenda’s email)
    • DEI (Fay/Sophia)
      • Share Dr. Ron Gonzalez’s presentation with board
      • Can we have a student voice in the PTA from the HS?
        • Work with HS student government
  • Questions and Comments
    • BOE Meeting discussion on FLES (Liz)
      • BOE plans on keeping FLES for K-2
      • 3rd – 5th grade will move forward as an after school program, will not be part of regular in school curriculum
      • Is there available to all students for after school, transportation?

Action Items

  • Movie Nights – Can other screenings for students in other schools take place in the MS auditorium?
  • Joint Math Night & food truck – JP & Morse – Firming up dates and finding chairs
  • Mini-grant deadlines – Fall preferred for Morse & WI
    • Provide mini-grant applications earlier in the year for these deadlines
  • How can the PTA advocate in the HS towards equity in college preparation for students?