Tavelli PTO meeting

May 8, 2007

 

The PTO meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. Paula Metcalf, President of the Tavelli Parent Teacher Organization.  A sign-in sheet was passed around.

 

I. Approval of Minutes:  Dawn Dorsch approved.   Bev Bachman seconded.

 

II. Treasurer’s Report:  Given by Crystal Long, Treasurer of the Tavelli PTO.

Crystal handed out the budget information and said that the 1st budget column is what we have spent so far this year.  At the end of the year this will show the rebates (ie. Target $359.60) individually.  For General Mills we budgeted $700.00, but actually made $594.31.  Escrip will contain the amounts for Safeway (% of bought rebate) and Macy’s.  Barnes & Nobel was $112.81 which was good for not much advertising, just coupons in the Thursday notes.  The second column is the budget projection for next year.  Dawn asked about retirement gifts, and Crystal replied that $100 was given to the music teacher.  Crystal said that Hospitality was not used this year, but that part of the Track fund was used.  Multicultural Event went to lots of different things.  It went to books for the Kindergarten orientation, and Crystal said she has notes on this.  Dawn said that Cathy got money for the summer school tuition, and that the receipts will come later for the 6th grade party.  Paula said that they close the budget one week after school, then Crystal said that the final budget is closed one month after the next meeting.  Dawn said that she would put in the notes that all receipts are due by a certain date.

For volunteer gift certificates, see Karen Yunker.

 

For next years budget, Crystal said that it needed to be looked over.  Instead of the smaller fundraisers, a larger fundraiser, The Walk-a-Thon is going to be held.  Gold C will be sold out of the office instead of each student receiving a copy. The funds were raised for the back to school folders.  Title 1 was raised.  Dan Lawler had said that the teacher allowance was fine.  Lynne asked for how many years, and Crystal replied that it wasn’t known.  Also that CSU is helping the cost of the field trips.  Lynne said that the Read-a-Thon is aiming for $4000.  Dawn went back to the Multicultural Event and said that since this next year is not the multicultural event, but also not other visiting artist (since new music teacher), so what would the funds be used for?  Bev said to not count on for next year.  Crystal asked about the Track, and Bev said that the new track will be installed one year from now, next summer, complete with a new baseball diamond.  It will be an artificial turf (also district paid).  Other things to help with erosion are slated for this summer (which district also paid for).  Paula said that it is an estimate of 2 years before we can do anything with the track.  Crystal suggested hiding the track money in the budget.  We voted on this to be kept in the reserve. Paula asked about Odyssey of the Mind and said that since there are no takers it could be taken off of the budget.  Bev said to leave it in the budget, as this is a great program.  Dawn said to keep it in, and will vote later on whether to take it off.  Dawn said that a Coordinator is needed, plus coaches.  Bev said that it is lots of work, but that the kids get a lot out of it.  Paula asked if Bev could do a write-up?  Bev replied that the person who should do this is Jane.  Dawn asked about the Little Shop of Physics, and Paula said that they just needed to pick a date.  Dawn said that January is good.

Dawn summarized to 1) take out the multicultural event, and leave a note to revisit, and 2) take out the Character Ed and half that as Paula got a lot donated and they will reuse the banner (next year, however, a new banner will be needed).  Dawn asked about Albertsons, and Crystal said that over $2000 was made.  Paula said that Albertson’s will match what they gave us last quarter for this quarter, and that they will have to send a note to parents to use their Albertson’s cards once they are reestablished (maybe at home).  Dawn asked have we paid for the Dream Team, and thought to roll this over to the Fall discussion.  Crystal said to talk to Rob Deakin.  Crystal said that the playground equipment is the only disposable money.

 

III. Committee Update:

Barnes & Noble Fund Raiser: There will be more involvement next year with Barnes & Noble and it will be at Christmas time, which should be an active time for book buying folks and those wanting to help Tavelli.

 

Wellness Fair: Dawn said that the Wellness Fair should be removed from the budget spreadsheet, as it is not meant as a fundraiser.

 

Several Positions Open:  Vice President position still is open as well as other committee positions.

 

IV. Special Guest

A.  5th Grade Teachers and Special Ed

1)  5th Grade  The 5th grade team is comprised of 4 teachers, 3 of which were present and 1 was home with a baby.

Trent Baatz said that he teaches Math, Reading, etc…(see handout).  He has a great pacing chart to keep the kids moving.  There are 4 lessons per week with curriculum spirals.  He said he sometimes teaches kids things that they are not expected to know.  He said it is intensive with 1 hour of homework every night.

Deb Buggle teaches Reading, both open court and accelerated reading.  Next year the AR will be online, and kids will have access to the full bank of tests.  She demonstrated the access to skills tests and literacy.  Next year is the transition year.  Is color-coded now to speed up the process.  She said that writing is narrative, expository, and persuasive.  The grammar program is basic skills.  dLi is the Daily Language Practice in CSAP format.

Karen Hancock teaches Science in 4 quarters of environment (in fall while can still plant), levers & pulleys, variables, and landforms (with a field trip up the Poudre river in the Spring).  There is a parent meeting in December for 5th graders called “Fertilization and Birth”.  They do CSAP for the 5th graders (“lots”).  She also teaches Social Studies and covers the reconstruction, explorers, Colonial America, etc…  The Open Court series has American Revolution, Civil War Unit, and New Frontiers.  She closely intertwines these with the curriculum.  She gives the 5th graders a packet, which helps for transition.  She uses flash cards.  Kids must know all of the States by the first day.  Since 6th grade teachers rotate, kids must have responsibility and keep track of their things, keep track of assignments, etc…  Planners are provided in 6th grade.

 

2)  Special Ed

Lynn spoke for Special Ed.  They try to keep kids with their peers.  They have 1 Resource Teacher (Brenda) who works with kids 30 minutes per day, and they have 2 others.  They also get kids from other districts (Laurel, Putnum, Wellington, Irish).  They “help them to be accepted in class”.  She said Tavelli is great at how they integrate special ed kids with others, and that the “teachers are awesome”.  Bev added that the teachers here are comfortable with the diversity.

 

B. Bev for Dr. Lawler

1)  Tavelli Web Site

Looked at site under => Programs => Going Beyond

Needs assessment.  98-99% - level 3, tier 3  Highest need.  Our biggest need is Math.

                                95-97% - level 2, tier 2  Look at performance in class

                                90-94% - level 1, tier 1  Objective is to keep kids growing.

More definitive as we move up in grades.

Math – Tavelli kids can g to Dunn in morning from 8-8:45

Kids need to show the processes – how they got the answer.

Paula asked about the 6th grade transition, and Bev said that it will be 3 to 4 years to do this as they consider 1) boundary changes starting with high school – everything staff, students down to supplies, and 2) then the moving stage.

 

 

8:37 p.m. Meeting Adjourned

PTO Meeting notes

Jill Williams PTO Secretary