Essex Fells School, Media Center

EFS PTA General Membership Meeting June 3, 2015 Essex Fells School, Media Center

In Attendance Tricia Faloni, Carolyn Goldman, Nicole Skopak, Brenda Cioce, Lucinda Davis, Christine DiGiovanni, Tara Thompson, Bethany Buccino, Laura D’Avella, Barbara Lopez, Carol D’Alesssandro, Kim Coughlin, Amy Zinn, Colleen Toth, Michele Gadaleta, Kerry Criqui, Lisa Massaroni Teacher Representative: None present

Called to order at 2:07pm by Carolyn Goldman, PTA President May Minutes were approved with a motion by Barbara Lopez

Teacher Wish Lists The teachers have submitted their wish lists mostly including books, posters, and classroom supplies and the board has approved them. Carolyn called for a motion to approve funds in the amount of $8000.00 for teacher wish lists. Tricia Faloni made a motion with a 2nd by Kerry Criqui. A vote was taken and unanimously in favor: Motion Approved.

Circus The school Safety Committee has decided to bring the Big Apple Circus to the school, instead of having the students travel to Queens on school busses. The circus will come on Monday, June 15th. The PTA will purchase pizza for the students for lunch using approximately $600 that would have been paid to Frank Anthony’s for Monday pasta lunch. The PTA will also provide popcorn, ice cream and bottled water.

Olympics Thanks to Tara Thompson for ordering and sorting shirts. Tara reported that the shirts will be distributed to the students the morning of the Olympics. Mrs. Gadaleta invited all parents to attend the Olympics and said she will put such in the WAAG. Lisa Massaroni is manning the food table and is asking for volunteers to donate snacks and fruit and to help man the table. The Pre-k Olympics will be held on Thursday, June 11th. Parent volunteers are not needed.

Treasurer Report Amy Woods is closing out the books for the year. If you have an outstanding Myfooddays payment, please make a check payable to The Essex Fells PTA. You can mail or drop off your payment to Amy Woods, 202 Forest Way, or drop it in the PTA mailbox at the main office. If you have to be reimbursed for expenses incurred on a PTA committee, please complete the reimbursement form found in the WAAG with your receipt attached, and drop it off to Amy or in the PTA box. Apparel Thank you to Kimberly Derr for coordinating the apparel sale. We will have another run including the faculty before the end of the year. Myfooddays is closed so it will be manual check/cash sale.

Lunch Ordering Carolyn Goldman suggested exploring a company called No Fuss Lunch to provide hot lunch for next year. It is an online company created by moms who cook the food. The food is all organic, nut free and GMO free. There is a large menu to choose from and parents can order lunch a month in advance or up until 8pm the night before. Each lunch is individually wrapped and they send one person to deliver and serve. This program would eliminate the need for such a large lunchtime committee however, we can still keep parents involved to come and help serve and clean up. Using this company would address the lack of variety in lunch and committing to 6 months of lunch at a time. It would also cut the PTA out of money collection, as parents would pay the company directly.

End of the Year Gifts All teachers and staff members will be receiving TD bank gift cards for the end of the year gift.

6Th Grade The 6th grade class has not earned enough to cover the cost of the chairs that have already ben purchased as the 6th grade gift to school. The PTA board has agreed to cover the cost of the chairs in the amount of $3000.00. Carolyn asked for a vote to approve funds in the amount of $3000.00. A vote was taken and 11 in favor: Motion Approved.

2015-2016 Board Members Brenda Cioce will take on the 2-year term as treasurer. Carolyn asked for a motion to approve Brenda Cioce as treasurer. Tricia Faloni made a motion with a 2nd by Amy Woods. A vote was taken and unanimously in favor: Motion Approved

Committee Sign Ups Class Mom and committee sign ups are displayed in the back of the library. Please take a look and sign up where you can. If you sign up for class mom please be aware that the board would like class moms to attend PTA meetings to help keep the lines of communication open.

Principal Report Mrs. Gadaleta thanked the PTA for all of our hard work this year. She noted that our hard work pays off for the kids in the things that we purchase. Mrs. Gadaleta invited all parents to attend the Olympics. She also reported that Move Up Day will be on 6/16/15 and all grades will move up to the next class to meet the teachers and see the classrooms for about 45 minutes. Move Up Day for incoming kindergartners will be held at 2:00pm. Meeting adjourned at 2:25 by Carolyn Goldman