PTO

 

 

 

PTO Meeting:  September 15, 2021

Introductions:  All Officers present.  In person meeting. 

Principal Update:  It was nice to start the year off without masks, but it's been a fine transition back to masks.  Safety and keeping kids in school is the goal.

Largest parent turn out in a long time and we were very thankful for that. 

Fundraising Events in the works: 

Candle Sales:  Jessica Burke is looking into a couple of different candle options and will head up candle sales.  We are aiming for candle sales before Mother's Day in the Spring. 

Fannie Mae Sales:  Sara Lahrman is handling and the dates are October 8-22. 

Box Tops:  Last school year, we received $163.30.  Amber Simons is putting together information to send out to parents to show them how to set up the app and how to use. 

Amazon Smile:  In the last school year, we received $69.61.  Parent is working on getting together instructions on how to shop through Amazon Smile using browser and app.  I believe this information will go out the same time as the box tops information. 

Opt Out Form:  This will go out twice a year.  It will go out with Fannie Mae and near the end of the school year.

Read-A Thon:  Parent is looking into this and we will possibly start and information will go out the Friday before Winter Break.  

Movie Nights:  Due to covid, we are looking into breaking movie nights into 2 separate nights.  We may break up the movie nights by grades K-2 and then 3-5.  First Movie nights slated for November (?) and December 3rd.  The next set would be in the spring.  (Mr. Wilson will work on getting approval for the movie nights).  Mrs. Merryman heading this up and will take volunteers. 

SpiritWear:  We are getting in contact to get this going soon.  (Last year, the form went out in October).

Restaurant Nights:  Melissa Williams has set up Hot Box for September 29th and Wings ETC. for the end of October.  Working on getting communication out. 

**PTO board member stated that in the past, we've had really great ideas to raise money but then it falls through when no one takes the lead.  Encouraged the board and parents to present ideas and then follow through with how to make it happen. 

Money needed from PTO:

Teacher Appreciation/Parent Engagement:  The last school year we did a back to school teacher appreciation, teacher appreciation lunch and teacher appreciation week foods. 

Parent Teacher Conference Fall/Spring:  We provide lunch/dinners to the teachers during conferences.  Fall conference date is October 11-14.  Conferences held Virtually.  A virtual book fair will also be held from October 6-19.

Donuts with a dude:   Spring or fall, paid for by PTO

Muffins with a Mate:  Spring or fall, paid for by PTO

Treasurer Update:  PTO funds took a hit last year because we weren't able to do much fundraising.  We've dipped into our savings for the first time in awhile.  We all agreed this is why we have a rainy day fund, but we all need to do what we can to make fundraising highly successful this year. 

Checking Balance:  $1199.48

Savings Balance:  $18,050.55

Teacher Request:

The 4th and 5th grade have requested Social Studies Weekly for the students.  The current text is lacking.  200 subscriptions at 8.15 per student.  PTO discussed the subscription and the added value.

Voted to approve payment for the subscriptions.

Stipend from PTO for teachers.  In the last several years, each teacher has received $150 to use for their classroom.  Due to lower fundraising last year, $100 per teacher was proposed. 

PTO voted to approve this amount.  Total amount of roughly $3600.00

Date of next meeting:  October 26, 2021

 

PTO Meeting:   10/26/2021

Introduction:  All Officers present, except Treasurer Amber Simons.  Amber forwarded financials before the meeting.  

Principal Update:  2nd Annual Trunk or Treat is Thursday, October 28th.  

 

Fundraising Events:

Fannie May Sales:  Orders were submitted last week.  Total gross sales were $35,518.00!!!  15,000 more than in 2019.  HUGE thank you to everyone that participated!  

Movie Nights:  Mr. Wilson submitted a proposal for indoor movie nights for the fall and it was rejected for now.    Megan Simmons will contact some local theatres to see if we can do a movie night, like a restaurant night.  We also talked about looking into a drive in theatre in the Spring.  We will readdress an indoor movie night in the spring.  

Restaurant Nights:  There was Wings Etc. night on Tuesday, October 26th.  Melissa Williams is looking into more.  

Candle Sales:  We will stick with Brown's candles and still plan to do them before Mother's Day in the Spring.  Information should go out before spring break.  

Read-A Thon:  We'd like to do this but unsure of what all it entails.  We are going to email the person that organized it 2016 and get more info.  (Jackie Wilson).  

SpiritWear:  The company has had a slow response time.  There will be shirt options, a sweatshirt option and a mask option.  These were sent home on Friday, October 29.

Box Tops and Amazon Smile:  Flyers went out to students last week.    Please spread the word and encourage parents to sign up and add the app.  

The Homestead:  We are looking at selling Cinnamon Rolls for pickup the week of Christmas.  Megan is gathering more information and then we will decide.  

 

Recent and Upcoming Expenses:  

Parent Teacher Conferences Fall/Spring:  Meals were provided for fall conferences totaling $389.39.  Conferences were spread over more days so meal planning was a bit different then in years past.  

4/5 grade study materials approved from last meeting:  Paid out $1654.45

Teacher Stipend approved from last meeting.  Paid out $3800.00

Donuts with a Dude and Muffins with a Mate:  We are going to rethink these and push to spring.  There are more things to consider like limiting people in the school and having individually packaged treats.  

Teacher Requests:  $100 for 1st grade Christmas fund.  Voted and approved by PTO.  

Miscellaneous payout for IRS expense:  $160.46

5th Grade Field Trip:  Spring

 

Finances:  

We received the following checks:

Exploration Acres:  $50

Hot Box Pizza:  $281.42

Street Shop Boutique:  $75.00

Wings Etc. Donation from Wea Middle School:  $106.40

Amazon Smile Rewards:  $31.99

 

PTO Account Balances:  

Savings:  $1180.18

Checking:  $12050.84

 

Next PTO Meeting:  December 1, 2021 at 5:30pm.

 

PTO Meeting:   1/10/2022

Introduction:  All Officers present, except Treasurer Amber Simons.  Amber forwarded financials before the meeting.  

Principal News:  Updated us on the new third grade position and a maternity leave for fourth grade.  We still have openings for bus drivers and teacher aides.  

Mr. Wilson also briefly discussed the memo that went out Monday afternoon regarding the child that brought an airsoft gun to school.  He encouraged parents to discuss with their kids how important it is to speak up when they see something.  

Fundraising Events:

Spiritwear:  Profited $708.  We are looking to work with a new vendor for fall of 2022 and have something ready to hand out at back to school night.  

Movie Nights:  Still postponed for now.

Restaurant Nights:  No current restaurant nights scheduled but will get more on the calendar. 

Candle Sales:  We will stick with Brown's candles and combine with cinnamon rolls from The Homestead.  The flyer will go home on March 28th.  The main purpose of this fundraiser is to help offset the cost of the 5th grade field trip.  Estimated trip total is around $4500-$5000.  

Optout Fundraiser from the Fannie Mae Sale:

The opt out fundraiser brought in $862.00.  

Box Tops and Amazon Smile:  Please spread the word and encourage parents to sign up and add the app.  We discussed that many of us like Amazon smile because you never have to do anything after the initial setup for Wea to get a percentage of sales.  (except when it's renewal time).  

**How to use AmazonSmile using the Amazon app on your mobile phone:

Open the Amazon Shopping app

Navigate to the main menu (=)

Tap on Settings and then select “AmazonSmile”

Select your charity and then follow the on-screen instructions to turn ON AmazonSmile in the mobile app.  Once AmazonSmile has been activated in your app, future eligible app purchases will generate a donation for the charity you have selected.

Recent and Upcoming Expenses:  

Parent Teacher Conferences for Spring:  Set for the week of March 14-18th.  (Week before spring break).  We will want to provide for 2 evenings of food.  The teachers present expressed that boxed lunches are usually a good option.  

Donuts with a Dude and Muffins with a Mate:  We are going to rethink these and push to spring.  There are more things to consider like limiting people in the school and having individually packaged treats.  

5th Grade field trip:  Spring

Finances:  

We received the following new checks since the last meeting:

Wings Etc:  $114.73

Amazon Smile Rewards:  $24.59

 

PTO Account Balances:  

Savings:  $12051.14

Checking:  $18523.40

 

Next PTO Meeting:  Monday, February 7th at 5:30pm.