Friday, October 5, 2012

Meeting Minutes for October 4, 2012


PARENTS AS PARTNERS
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Facilitator: Kelley Charland, 881-5816

ADL Parents as Partners links:
·         Our page on the ADL website: http://www.ccsuvt.org/adl/parents-as-partners/
·         Blog you can subscribe to: http://adlpap.blogspot.com/ (announcements and news)
·         Knowledge base: https://sites.google.com/site/adlparentsaspartners/kb (how-to docs)
·         School calendar in Google format: https://sites.google.com/site/adlparentsaspartners/calendar

Attendees: Kelley Charland, Laurie Singer, Nancy Bissonnette, Chris Catterton, Suzette Ptovin, Elizabeth Logan, Tracey Williams, Paul McLaughlin

WELCOME – Introduction/reintroduction of attendees.

FINANCIAL REPORT: As of September 27, 2012, we have $3588.72.
$26.78 was earned from the Target “2012 Take Charge of Education” program-1% of purchases goes to a designated school when a Red Card is used. Approximately $1350.00 was earned on sweatshirt sales prior to expenses.

PRINCIPAL’S ADDRESS
·         Feed My Starving Children Event update: The program has increased the number of meals they’re planning on thanks to getting more volunteers than expected.
·         We’re gearing up for NECAP week (next week). As with last year, we’ll have no classes and no homework and will provide some physical activities to get the kids going before the test.
·         Tour d’Essex will cap off NECAP week, and it’s taken off with activities throughout the school. (For example, math classes are calculating speeds, and history classes are researching historical sites in the Village.) There’s still room for more parent volunteers to join in the fun. There’s a motivational speaker. We’ll end up at the Tree Farm for lunch, and a surprise ending for the day.
·         The 8th grade NECAP writing assessment will be on the following Monday. They’ll be taking the test on their mini-computers.
·         We’re on a school improvement plan this year to address a “check mark” we received on our score last year. It starts with a self-assessment which we’ll use to assemble our new plan. We should have our new plan available in November for discussion with parents.
·         Our 7th-8th graders are doing a great job with the new mini-computers (the “minis”). We want to move toward a plan where many kids can take the minis home for weekends and vacations. Part of this will involve a parent meeting to understand what’ll be involved in doing that (expectations, technical how-to, internet safety). We continue to explore ways to take advantage of collaboration software.

ROLLING CALENDAR:
October:
8: 6TH Grade Audubon Field Trip
9-11: NECAP Assessments
12: Tour d’ Essex
15-26: CCSU Climate Survey offered
15: NECAP Writing Assessment (8th grade only)
16: Student picture make-up day
17: Student-led conferences 3:30-9 pm
18: Student-led conferences 8am-3pm **No classes for students
19: No School
18,19: Feed My Starving Children Event at ADL
22-26: Red Ribbon Week (like a spirit week)
26: Dance at 7 pm

November:
6-8: Scholastic Book Fair
8: Band Concert
16: Dance at 7 pm
19-23: No School
30: End of Trimester 1 (talent show moved to Dec 7)

Dance dates: 10/26, 11/16, 12/14, 1/25, 3/8 (8th grade only with EMS and Westford at ADL), 4/5, 5/10
The November dance will be a little fancier, but not a mini-prom. You don’t need a date. Kids shouldn’t spend big bucks on clothes.
PaP dates: 11/1, 12/6, 1/3, 2/5*, 3/7, 4/4, 5/2, 6/6 with School Report Night *please note that 2/5 is a Tuesday

FOLLOW-UP BUSINESS:
Ø      All volunteer slots are filled! (except for G.A.S.P. in the spring)

Ø      Teacher Team Reps:
Team Nova-Catherine Parlante
Team Alchemy-Alda Norcross
Team Discovery-Kathleen Legg
Teams Infinity and NRG-Jamie Caron
Ø      Parent Team Reps:
Team Nova-Jen McGovern, Dorothy Dickson
Team Alchemy- Christine Guimmo, Wendy Johnson
Team Discovery-Patty LaRose-Kent, Lisa Young
Team Infinity-Jo Goff, Liz Levine
Team NRG-Lisa Harrison, Rhonda Forcier

Ø      Snack Cart Volunteers:
Monday-Patty LaRose-Kent
Tuesday-Carol Hutcheon and Wendy Johnson
Wednesday-Renee Dezotelle
Thursday-Cathy Shearer

Ø      Concert Refreshment Volunteers:
Lynne Turer, Alison Hertle-are instructions clear on the Knowledge Base?

Ø      Sweatshirt Sales:
Renee Dezotelle, Elizabeth Logan-I know that as of Tuesday, September 25, 2012 there were orders for 45 sweatshirts! Great job, ladies!

Ø      Scholastic Book Fair Coordinators:
Christine Catterton, Tracey Williams, Dorothy Dickson(mentor only). Chris will not be able to work the actual Book Fair as she has to be out of town. I have given Chris and Tracey a list of Book Fair volunteers to get help to cover all the “shifts”. Is any other help needed at this time?

Ø      We will coordinate volunteers for GASP at the start of 2013.

Ø      How was attendance at Open House and how did the first dance go?
Open house had good turnout, but it could have been better.
The first dance was wonderful! 235 kids in attendance.

NEW BUSINESS:

Ø      The UA/PE team is holding a schoolwide event on Friday, October 12, called the Tour d’ Essex. After listening to a motivational speaker, all students and teachers will bike, walk, skateboard or roller blade various historical routes through town and meet up for lunch. A musical performance will take place when they return to ADL. Melanie Cote asked Parents as Partners to consider donating toward the expense of the motivational speaker. She was looking into Michael Eisen (see his video on YouTube). I thought an amount of $400 towards his speaking fee, which ranges from $1000-$2000 was reasonable and sent out an email to all parents for whom I had an email address since time was of the essence in our response and we did not meet until tonight. After receiving about 20 replies, all of which were in favor except one, we have donated this amount to his speaking fee. The team was very grateful for our support. This event will be held this year instead of the American Heart Association Fund Run, however the students are currently raising money for the American Heart Association as they have in the past with the Fund Run.


ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION?


WAYS TO EARN MONEY FOR ADL:

Ø      Please go online and register or reregister your Price Chopper Advantedge card for this school year. The website is www.pricechopper.com and you need to click on the consumer link in the Tools for Schools section of the website.

Ø      We are again taking part in the Hannaford Helps Schools program. Please be on the lookout for the cash register slips that can be placed in our bin at the storefront this fall until just before the winter holidays.

Ø      PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONTINUE TO TURN IN BOX TOPS TO THE FRONT OFFICE! THANK YOU!

Our next meeting date is November 1, 2012, at 6:30 pm. Thank you!

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