Fair Haven Pta General Meeting

FAIR HAVEN PTA GENERAL MEETING Friday, April 17th, 2009 11:30 AM Sickles School – Art Room

AGENDA Meeting Called to Order Pledge of Allegiance Approval of February General Meeting Minutes (available at meeting) Treasurer’s Report President’s Report Executive Board Reports BOE Reports Faculty Reports Old Business New Business: Election of Nominating Committee Announcements Speakers: Sergeant Sherri Lambert & Patrolman Steve Schneider - “How to Keep Your Children Safe” Adjournment of Business Meeting ************************************************************************************************* ********************************** Fair Haven PTA General Meeting Minutes Friday, March 20th, 2009 Sickles School – Art Room 11:30AM

For the names of those who attended, please see the sign-in book kept with the minutes. The meeting was called to order by President, Carrie Marxen, at 11:35 AM. RECORDING SECRETARY’S REPORT: The February minutes were accepted as distributed. TREASURER’S REPORT: (Tina Joyce) February Treasurer’s Report: Opening Balance: $47,634.68 Cash Receipts: $31,505.00 Cash Disbursed: $9,729.92 Ending Balance: $ 69,409.76 PRESIDENT’S REPORT: (Carrie Marxen)  Thank you to the Chairs, sub-committee chairs, volunteers, administrative staff, parents and merchants who all made a contribution to our Luncheon. It was a great day! Even in these tough times, we were able to achieve our goal and raised $23,000. Money for the Luncheon goes to pay for all the programs that directly support our schools. Over the next couple of months, we have several events that are benefiting from your donation dollars.  Upcoming PTA sponsored events include: Understanding Challenges Day, 5th Grade Social Dance and Etiquette, The Art Show, 4th Grade Art Appreciation, Sickles and Knollwood Book Fairs, 5th Grade Babysitting and First Aid course, Staff Appreciation and Sickles Art Day!  The PTA also paid for 3 8th graders to go on the Washington class trip, who were unable to. We have also made a monetary contribution to the 6th Grade Stokes Trip, the 8th Grade Dance and the RFH Post Prom event. All in an effort to help defray the costs and help give the kids the best experience possible. These are just some of the programs we sponsor.  Also-the following fundraisers will round out the year. Spring Used Clothing Drive, Note Cards, Sickles and Knollwood Book Fairs-which help fund our school libraries, and House Tour! PRESIDENT-ELECT’S REPORT: (Amanda Stevens)  The Board of Education Candidates Forum is scheduled for April 14th at 7:30 in the Knollwood APR. There is one candidate running unopposed for one two-year term seat - Andrea Bakst (Incumbent). There are 5 candidates running for three, three- year term seats – Dawn-Marie Ciardiello, Katy Frissora (Incumbent), Debra Harms, Mark Mancuso (Incumbent) and Lynette Sheehan. I need two volunteers to act as timers for the responses during the questioning period and two or three more to help screen questions that come in from the floor. Please let me know if you are interested in helping out.  We are starting to fill in Committee Chair Positions for the 2009-2010 school year. Open positions for next year are advertised in the April Newsletter. Things are going very well and we are thrilled to already have some key positions filled for next year. Art Appreciation Grade 4: Thank you to all those who have volunteered. At this point we are set on the number of volunteers and look forward to this day which is scheduled for April 17th. It was suggested that the budget be increased for next year. TCSP: An application was submitted by Betsy Koch and was approved March 19, 2009 by the committee. The application is for a total of $147.61 toward Science Supplies from Flinn Science Catalog to simulate the transmission of a virus. Mrs. Koch plans to use these supplies to mimic the exchange of body fluids, such as sneezing, in the classroom. This activity is aligned with NJ Standards and supports the 8th grade study of Bacteria and Viruses. Since Mrs. Koch teaches the entire 8th grade class this purchase would benefit 115 students. Staff Appreciation: Staff Appreciation week is scheduled for May 4-8. We are looking for someone to oversee Knollwood. We really need you to find us the following: 2 people to be in charge of the raffle (1 for Sickles, 1 for Knollwood). This involves printing up raffle tickets, getting raffle prizes (through donation or solicitation) and conducting the raffle at each school during the luncheon. 2 people in charge of decorating for the luncheon (1 S, 1 K). It is a Mexican theme because it is Cinco de Mayo. The language teachers at both schools have offered to give us music CDs and some table cloths. Sarah has lots of Mexican sombreros that we will use as table centerpieces. These volunteers need to add flowers, and let their creativity take over. There is money in the budget for them. We also need lots of runners at both schools on the luncheon day to help set up buffet, organize food deliveries, and clean up. We need one person at Sickles to help set up/ clean up breakfast at Sickles on Friday May 8th. We also need luncheon & breakfast food and supplies, raffle item donations ($10-15 value) and manpower! RECORDING SECRETARY’S REPORT: (Kim Browne) Family Fun Activities: We had a very successful Family Bingo night last Friday, 3/13. Our next and final event is the Family Fun Water Park Outing at Keansburg’s Runaway Rapids. The date of the event is June 18 with a rain date of June 19th. Details including registration procedures will be coming soon. Babysitting Class: Babysitting class April 29th and May 6th from 3-4:30. Flyers went out this week Community Action and Awareness: Sergeant Sherri Lambert & Patrolman Steve Schneider will speak on “How to Keep Your Children Safe” at our April 17th meeting. Sickles Book Fair: We are ramping up the One for Books effort this year in conjunction with Movie Night and the fair. There will be grade raffles as well this year, plus a school wide one too. The Movie Night raffle will be drawn that night; while the others will be drawn at the end of the fair. Third grade has been asked to create posters to promote reading/book fair theme. Posters due by April 15th. We also have about 20 8th graders helping out during the fair. A few classes still need one or two more parents. Randi has been working on this portion and we'll be in touch with you/class parents for slots that still need to be filled as we get closer. We've asked that parents commit to a full hour or more. Sickles Art Day: Almost all craft leaders are assigned and supplies ordered. Volunteer forms will go out shortly. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY’S REPORT: (Sue Hodgkiss)  Thank You cards went out to our 2 guest speakers from last week.  Note cards have been ordered for next year.  Congratulations went out to the Talamage family on the birth of their baby boy. Science Club: We have 2 more meetings left this year. A 3rd grade parent is needed to run the committee next year. It can be done with one chair person & some dedicated helpers. If someone is interested in running it next year, I would like to invite them to one of the last two meetings... Tuesday, March 24 and 31 from 11:30 - 12:30 in the Sickles art room. Cultural Enrichment: The Cultural Enrichment Committee has scheduled two assemblies for the month of April. On the 13th, the Franklin Institute will present a fascinating program about flight, in which assorted flying objects will demonstrate the forces of flight. On April 24th, costumed interpreters will share artifacts from the Battle of Monmouth with the sixth graders. TREASURER’S REPORT: (Tina Joyce) Fifth Grade Social Dance: Social dance starts Mon 3/23 and runs 3/30, 4/13 and 4/20. Time 3:45 to 5PM. Art Show: Still looking for volunteers. They are in need of shoe boxes. Please drop off @ 65 Third St. Plans are moving ahead. Show 4/16 6-8PM Parent Book Group: With his signature wry British wit, Sir Ken Robinson offers readers The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. Find your path and encourage your children on their own journeys. Join us for inspiration and discussion on Tuesday, April 28, 1:30-2:30, in the conference room at Sickles. Please contact Kate Appezzato [email protected] with questions and future title suggestions. Used Book Exchange: The used book exchange is being changed to a book drive. Books will be donated to Bridges for Books. It will be the same week as the Knollwood and Sickles Book Fair, April 20-24. We are putting together the materials to publicize now and will set up bins in the office and near the Book Fairs. Note Card Fundraiser: The flyers went out to Knollwood this week and will go out to Sickles next week. VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT: (Cathy Alescio) Clothing Drive: “The Spring Used Clothing Drive begins on April 1st and ends on April 24th. We can accept your used wearable clothing (men's, women's and children's); shoes and accessories (belts, handbags, scarves, ties, hats); soft household items (bedding, curtains, tablecloths and towels); stuffed animals and SMALL toys. Please put all items in plastic garbage bags and drop off on the front porch at 18 Browns Lane, Fair Haven. Additional drop-off will be at Sickles School during the evening hours of the Sickles Book Fair on Tuesday, April 21st. Questions, please contact Donna Ridgeway 842-8625” House Tour : The House Tour is June 3, 2009. We have secured our 8 homes. We will be mailing our ad journal solicitation letters next week. We have reduced the advertising rates this year, due to the economy, but hope to increase participation overall. We will be offering families a chance to sponsor the tour, with reduced cost ads. PTA backpack flyers will begin the week of March 30, and will continue, along with email blasts, throughout April and May. If anyone has a business in mind to solicit please contact Lauren or Kathryne ASAP. Luncheon : The Luncheon took place on February 28th at the Sheraton, Eatontown. The event was well attended and it seemed that a good time was had by all. We are pleased to say the PTA raised just over $23,000 at the Luncheon this year. We'd like to thank all of our donors, attendees, committee chairs other volunteers who made the day possible. BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT: (Kathi Cronin) No Report FACULTY REPORT: (Roseanne LaBracca)  The Specials Teachers want to thank the PTA for the Flip Cameras. OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: None ANNOUNCEMENTS:  The calendar has changed at the end of the year because of the snow day. Last day of school is June 19th. Single session days are scheduled for June 17, 18, 19th.  Next PTA meeting is Friday, April 17th at 11:30 am in the Sickles Art room. We will have two speakers from the Fair Haven Police Dept-Det Sherri Lambert and Ptl. Steve Schneider to discuss safety programs in town. Sponsored by the PTA Community Safety and Awareness Committee. Meeting adjourned by President Carrie Marxen at 12:05 PM.