March PTA Meeting Notes

President’s Report: China Williams

1. No February Meeting due to snow closure
2. Budget updates
   1. Voted to approve separating Drama Club from After-School Clubs - $1000
   2. Voted to approve adding Grants line for Direct Support - $3000 (CWGC grant for drums)
   3. Voted to add Music Department line to School Support - $4500
      1. PTA to cover remaining $1500 for drums
      2. To place the order once storage is available in the new building
      3. Must spend funds by January, 2017
3. Upcoming events
   1. Scholastic Book Fair (March 16-18)
   2. Literature Night (March 18)
   3. PJ and Sports Jersey Day (March 24)
   4. Safe Routes to School Parent Survey (April 1-25)
   5. Assembly: Christlyez Bacon (April 5)
   6. Westowne Orioles Day (April 10)
   7.  Stream Cleanup (April 23)
4. Wizard of Oz recap
   1. Great job and thank you to all involved
   2. $1500 in ticket sales to be earmarked for next school year
5. Literature Night and Book Fair
   1. Need many, many more volunteers
   2. Book Fair Chair: Thanks, Melody Higgins
      1. Needs new event chair next year
   3. Literature Night Chair: Thanks, Crystal Shelley
6. Safe Routes to School
   1. Meeting tonight in Towson
   2. Walk and Bike to School
   3. Survey regarding transportation
   4. Otto the Auto possible next year
7. Boundary recommendation approved by Board of Education
   1. Westowne’s boundaries remain exactly as-is
8. Skate Night
   1. Thanks to Carey Berlin
   2. Need to follow up on deposit

 
CMS PTSA President: Richard Kidd

1. Increased responsibility, schedule, number of teachers, size of school, expanded community
2. Come to PTSA meetings with questions for access to principal, assistant principal, teachers, fellow parents
   1. Meetings held 2nd Wednesday of month
3. Traditional CMS PTSA activities: 8th grade dance, teacher appreciation events, etc.
4. Offer in-school volunteering in school office, especially lunch room
5. New fundraiser this year: Kooziepalooza, April 14
6. Open board positions for next school year: president, vice president, delegate
   1. Two year term
   2. Elections to be held in May
   3. Contact Mary Peters if interested: purplerocks0830@gmail.com
7. Open chair positions: Straight A Breakfasts, PTA Reflections (creative arts)
8. Contact PTSA: trrakidd@verizon.net

 
AMS PTA Treasurer: Nick Jankowski

1. 6th grade: focus on teaching self-management (I.e. PTA funded agendas) early in year with gradually decreased supervision
2. Students benefit from continued parent participation and oversight, including in PTA
   1. Meetings held 2nd Thursday of month
3. Open board position this year into next: vice president
4. Open chair positions: communications
5. Traditional PTSA activities: teacher appreciation events, art assemblies, afterschool buses for activities (encourages participation)
6. Gradually increased fundraising focus on events versus sales: Fun Run, May 19th
7. Contact PTA: arbutusmspta1@gmail.com

 
Treasurer’s Report: Stacie Lauer

1. $3000 grant from Catonsville Women’s Giving Circle for Music Department drums
2. 5th Grade Committee concession totals for the month (not including cost of goods) $1229.02
3. $150 Chef Paolino
4. PJ Day $168.76

 
Secretary’s Report: Justine Stull

1. 183 members

 
Vice President’s Report: Jessica Brown

1. Box Tops
   1. December deposit: $1104.40
      1. Checks arrive in April and December
   2. Raffle winner in Ms. Claffy’s class: $10 Panera gift card prize
   3. To include Box Tops blurb in monthly school newsletter
2. Giant: approximately $1700
3. Nomination Committee met to discuss and consider candidates
   1. Approved candidates
      1. President: Justine Stull
      2. Vice President: Sarah Fondelier
      3. Treasurer: Stacie Lauer
      4. Secretary: Crystal Shelley
   2. Vote in May
   3. PTA planning meeting help in June

 
Vice Principal’s Report: Ms. McBride

1. Thanks for Wizard of Oz and parent support

 
Principal’s Report: Mr. Palmer

1. No news regarding end of school year dates yet
2. Building updates
   1. Steady progress, missed only one construction day due to snow, first floor is enclosed and roofing over second in progress (to be finished around end of month), brick facade in progress and windows delivered, pictures to be included in newsletter
   2. Furniture orders to begin; will inventory current furniture
   3. Teachers encouraged to dispose of unneeded supplies; bins will be purchased for classroom storage
   4. Staff will pack rooms and county will move items to designated rooms
   5. 4 bonus Professional Development Days to set up new school
   6. Will have two rooftop garden classrooms
   7. Will share Lyons Mill Elementary School renderings with families (possibly at Literature Night)
   8. “Westowne School” sign to be removed and used inside or outside of new building
   9. Memorials to be carefully stored and displayed in building or future gardens
   10. To determine where existing garden pavers will be stored/used
   11. Alumni Night or open house celebration to be planned, in addition to Ribbon Cutting
3. To schedule meeting with 5th Grade Committee to discuss end of year events
   1. To determine if commissioned art is possible as 5th Grade gift
4. Staffing: some new, some leaving
   1. More information to be shared when possible
   2. No retirements
5. Clean Green 15 grant from several years ago; use to be determined
6. Finished MAP testing
7. PARCC testing at end of April through May
8. Science MSA for 5th grade: final year
9. To discuss event schedule and responsibility of PTA versus faculty/staff for next school year

 
Teacher Liaison: Ms. Robey

1. Most classrooms have begun edible gardens
   1. Need nail brushes
   2. Contact individual teachers for remaining needs

 
5th Grade Committee: Tracy Horch and Jen Nyland

1. Concessions profits $1275 so far
2. To schedule meeting with administration and China regarding end of year events and dates
3. Challenge to the Students Speech at end of year event: Mrs. Vogel, retired Westowne principal

 
New business: Katie Reisner

1. Maryland GTCAC seeking nominations for teachers

 
Meeting adjourned at 8:52