Minutes from PGG Meeting on November 1st, 2004
Attending: Alyssa Melnick, Andy Churchill, Sharon Vardatira, Tricia Everett, Carol Bailey, Erold Bailey, Felicia Mednick, Dan Kramer (Facilitator), Deborah Timberlake (Minutes), Nick Yaffe
Treasure’s Report (Sharon Vardatira) : 10/01/04-11/01/04 Total Income was $ 269.00. Expenses were $70.00 and Family Support of $250.00. PGG Account Total as of 10/31/04 was 5,703.65.
Grants: Sharon will look into if any teacher’s are applying for the AAEA Grants, she would be willing to assist in the application process. Last year an AAEA grant partly funded the Story Teller’s program. Discussed having a Grants for Teachers program, similar to Wildwood’s (e.g. awarding 5 $100 grants to teachers.), The general consensus was that PGG already makes funds available to Teachers when there is a need and funds are available.
Recruiting a Fund Raising Coordinator: Would need a volunteer to take on this Role. Can work on Publicizing Fund Raising Activities so that People are aware of what they can do, and who to contact etc. Debbie will develop a list and submit it for distribution through the school. Current fundraising activities include A-Z store, Target Card, Box Tops for Education, Recycling Printer Cartridges, Second Chances Clothing store, Big Y Education Express, Food for Thought Books, and Pennies for the Arts. Can also publicize through the Mark’s Meadow Memo, need to have items in the Monday before the last Friday of the month usually. (However due to Holidays and vacations items are due the Thursday before Thanksgiving and the December Break.) Send items as an email attachment to either Nick or Anita, or drop them off at the office.
Year Book: Nick will look into the Possibility of this being done by the 6th grade class as a Project. He will speak with Dale and Bonnie Wolfman. Last years yearbook was the most successful yet. The feeling was that there would still need to be a coordinator to work with the classes. Carol Bailey would be willing to Assist. The possibility of working on it as an after school project was raised.
Class List: Alisa Brewer is working on the list, there is 100% participation this year! It is being proof read and should be out shortly.
News Letter/ Email: We do not have a PGG newsletter at this point. Items can be submitted to the MM Memo. There is an interest in having a newsletter email similar to the Wildwood Wire, there would need to be individuals willing to take this project on. The Wildwood wire has school information, community activities, teacher wish lists etc.
Principle’s Report: Nick reviewed the Catch A Rising Star Assembly, exploring what it means to be a Mark’s Meadow Student, Rewards were based on Words that epitomize what it means to be a learner, (Determination, Focus, Effort, Potential), Ways to be a Start. Each child is contributing something Special or Unique. The Community Breakfast and Teacher Play will be November 23rd at 9am. Donations for the Robin Konavich Fund will be solicited; these funds are used to promote emotional well-being. Donations towards the cost of the Breakfast would also be accepted. The Breakfast will be done through Chartwell’s, the food will cost $300. The Multicultural Fair needs a committee to work on it, how it can evolve. Nick is seeking Volunteers.
Art Project Fundraiser: Alyssa has researched doing an Art Project with the students. One possibility was an Evening Activity where Children chose an Art Project (E.g. Mug, Pillow, Cards etc), Did the Art Work, and Paid for the Project, with a portion of the Proceeds going to Mark’s Meadow. The other Possibility was for a class to work with Diane Travis in Art Class, for each child in the Class to do a drawing that would become a card. A set of Cards would be Developed and sold as a fundraiser. Funds from this might be shared with the Student Activity fund depending on who ends up doing the work of putting the Cards together. The general consensus was to do a set of cards, that this would not exclude children from participating because of money.
Book Sale Update: Susan Mcquids sister needs to research doing a Book Sale further.
Ha Ha Sisterhood: Sharon was offered 3 weekends in January as possible dates, she will look into this a select a Date. This will be a fundraiser for PGG.
Room Parent Role: Discussion of Room Parent’s having a more active role vs. developing a phone tree to spread information on school activities. Nick will explore with the Teacher’s what they would like to have parent’s do.
Teacher Wish List: Andy suggested having a list of items that Teacher’s would like to have (small items that families might be able to contribute e.g. boxes, paints etc.). This will be added to the Memo.
PGG Meeting Dates: December 2nd, and Tentative Dates for January 5th, February 7th, March 1st, April 6th, May 2nd, June 7th.
The Facilitator for the December 2nd meeting will be Felicia Mednick. Please email any agenda items or feedback to Debbie at Deborah.Timberlake@Verizon.net. If you are willing to take Notes for this meeting please let me know, I will be working. Thanks, Debbie
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Minutes from 10/26/04 PGG Meeting on Fundraising
Attending: Alicia Brewer, Alyssa Melnick, Bonnie Wolfman, Sharon Vardatira, Ian Boyd, Tom Flittie, Jackie Churchill, Felicia Mednick, Dan Kramer, and Deborah Timberlake
Special Meeting held to discuss fundraising and goals for the current year; Sharon Vardatira facilitated this meeting. The net income for 2003-2004 was $6,410.93 from fundraising. Last month there was $5,464 in the PGG account.
- The following table shows income from 2003-2004, and projected income goals for 2004-2005
03-04 04-05
Recycling: 2,243 2,000 Brown Envelope fundraiser: 1,991 2,000 Scholastic Book Fair: 695 700 Yard Sale: 685 ----- Used Book Sale: 537 550 (with plant sale) Box Tops: 130 (? Same) Pennies for the Arts: 189 300 Credit Card Income: 41 40 Art Fundraiser: ----- 50 Ha-Ha Sisterhood/ Ice Cream Social: ----- 200
Discussion: Sarah Swartz is considering coordinating the Scholastic Book Fair, Ian will talk with her about what is involved in this. This would not happen until latter in the year.
An alternative to the Scholastic Book Fair would be a proposal by Susan Mcquaid’s sister, who is considering coordinating a book sale fundraiser that also solicits donations from local businesses, and running the sale as a side venture, being compensated with a percentage of the proceeds. Alyssa will look into this further."
Box Tops for Education are being collected in the Family Office.
Circus Smirkus is a fund raising venture that holds the potential for raising 4,000- 6,000 Dollars. It is Hosted by an Organization, for a minimum of 4 presentations, it requires a large sum of money in advance to bring the show in, and would need a group of people to work on it. It would be a summer activity. Tom has looked into it, and will research it further. It is no longer being sponsored by Habitat for Humanity, and Tom will look into why, as well as the time and money issues.
Pennies for the Arts: Sue Vegiard’s Class raised most of the money last year. Dan and Debbie will look at how this program can be more successful. Mary May sent information on a Puppet Show as a suggestion for the use of this money, which was approved ($125).
Recent Fires on North Pleasant Street have affected families at Mark’s Meadow; People will follow up with Yaldira Brown to provide support, which has been $250 in the past.
Sharon will look into AAEA grants, and is willing to assist with the application process.
Plan:
Activity Date People Accountable Recycling Year Round Tom
Brown Envelope Early to Mid Feb Tom
Scholastic Book Fair April Ian will talk with Sarah or Equivalent Swartz & Alyssa will talk
with Susan McQuaid
Use Book Sale May ? Tricia Everett & Sarah Stookey
Box Tops Ongoing Jackie Churchill
(sent out in March)
Pennies for the Arts Year Round Dan Kramer & Deb Timberlake
Community Programs Year Round Need to Recruit Coordinator (Target Credit Card, A to Z, Food for Thought Books, Big Y)
Art Fundraiser ASAP Alyssa Melnick
Ha-Ha Sisterhood Jan Sharon Vardatira and Betsy
? (Jenny Fabrizi to coordinate Ice Cream)
Circus Smirkus Summer 2005 Tom
or later
F/U AAEA Grant Sharon
MA Cultural Council & Need to Recruit Amherst Cultural Council Grants
Agenda for next Meeting: Recruiting a Fund Raising Coordinator, Room Parent Role, Grants for Teachers (akin to Wildwood), PGG meeting dates in 2005, Running the School Governance Council Election (Balloting, Counting Ballots, Timing of SGC elections) Yearbook, Class List, Newsletter/ email, Art Project update, Book Sale, Time at end of Meeting for New Items.)
The next meeting will be facilitated by Dan Kramer (or Debbie Timberlake). Please email any agenda items to Deborah.Timberlake@Verizon.net. Next Meeting is on November 1st at 6:30 PM, Child Care is Available