PEEBLES ELEMENTARY PTA

MEETING MINUTES

Monday, November 14, 2006

The meeting was called to order @ 6:00 PM with the following members present:

Secretary’s report

The minutes from the October 3, 2005 meeting were reviewed.  Motion to approve minutes was made by Lisa Weismann, seconded by Kim Gavel.

Administrative report

Mrs. Bjalobok spoke to PTA members present about the issue of jackets at recess.  Mrs. Bjalobok would like to observe the procedure first.  Right now it is a judgment call by lunch assistants and there is a difference between age groups.  If first and second graders wear a coat to school, the coat goes to recess.  The assistants are not as strict for grades 3, 4, and 5.  There is the issue of 3^rd – 5^th graders requesting to go back to the room to get their coats.  Then they are unsupervised in the halls.

Mrs. Bjalobok is looking into changing the peanut table to provide a safer environment.  There are some allergy issues to be dealt with.  Mrs. Bjalobok will be gathering all of the information before any changes are made.

To help keep energy costs down, one switch in the hallways has been turned off.  Students have not mentioned it.  Kindergarten and DART will stay at 70 degrees.

As the weather gets colder, Mrs. Bjalobok requested that parents and guardians be aware of children coming to school in short sleeves.  Please let Mrs. Bjalobok know if children are feeling cold. 

The PPC meeting will be held on Monday, November 21, 2005 from 2:30 – 3:15.  The agenda will include computers new websites about education and math.  Please RSVP to Phyllis if you plan on attending.

Treasurer’s Report

Susan Dougherty reviewed current balances.  A hand out was provided listing current account balances.

Susan stated that we not paid any invoices yet.  We should have a true reading of our money situation by the January 2006 meeting.

Old Business

Courtyard:      4^th Grade Cub Scouts pulled weeds and cleaned up the courtyard.  It was noted that the scouts did not pull up perennials; these were killed along with the poison ivy. 

Kevin Sanguini, is helping us to earn his Eagle Scout rank, but volunteers are still needed to help.  We will most likely plant perennials and shrubs for low yearly maintenance.

Mrs. Bjalobok thanked the PTA for the purchase of  Purell for all of the classrooms.

Halloween Parade:     Spectators triple parked in the back of the building.  Everyone was cooperative and understanding.  The parade route went well.  Parents have requested that the parade circle two times next year.  Mrs. Bjalobok was pleased that all cars were parked by the time the parade took place.

Parking:          There have been many double parking issues and two fender benders.  Also, people have been parking in the handicapped spots when they should not be.

Mrs. Bjalobok is working diligently with the transportation department as well as Central Office Administration to solve this problem.  The transportation department has been out five times to assess the situation as well as Central Administration.  The circle has been painted yellow with no parking stencils on the pavement.   There is no room left to expand, no side streets.

Right now, Central Administration and the NA transportation department are working on coming up with a parking plan.

School Pictures:         Thank you to all of the volunteers who came on Picture Day to help our  students look their best.  The retakes will be done on Thursday, November 17, 2005.  The Spring photos will be taken on Thursday, April 20, 2006.

New Business

Teacher Excellence Awards: Nomination forms can be picked up in the school office.  It is nice if nomination comes from a student.

PSSA:             A presentation will be given to 3^rd & 5^th grades to tell them what the PSSA is and why they take it.  Parents should be receiving a packet soon.  All scores were shared as well as our ‘Do your best” motto.  All PSSA practices are just like the test.  We are still working on the homework issue.

Diversity Contest:     All students are encouraged to enter.

Prepaid Gift Cards:  Please remember to check the scrips website (www.glscrip.com) for a list of over 500 participating vendors.  Forms will be in every Thursday envelope.  Gift cards will be available the following Thursday.  There will be a table in the lobby from 2:30 – 3:15 to pick up any cards you have ordered the previous week.  NO CARDS WILL BE SENT HOME IN BACK PACKS.

Committee Reports:

Fund Raising:  Diane Pieton updated us on the EPI orders.  As of November 14, there are 11 orders awaiting delivery.   Diane also showed members present an example of the school supply “get ready for school kit” EPI sells.  Because EPI did not submit the sales tax, the PTA is responsible for this. 

Diane reminded us that the wreath pick up  is on Friday, December 2^nd in the school lobby.

Vendor Fair:  Lesa Chang reported that the vendors were happy with the sale and the bake sale went well.  A few vendors wanted the names and numbers from the tickets deposited into their baskets.  We did not do that this year because we did not let customers know that up front.  Most vendors had a sign up sheet at their tables for customers interested in their products.

For those parents interested in contacting any of the vendors, we will list the names and phone numbers of the participating vendors in the next issue of Tiger Tales.

PTA newsletter:         The deadline for articles to be published in the next issue of Tiger Tales is Friday, December 9, 2005.  Please have any items to Theresa Zweig by then.

Tiger Shop:     The last Tiger Shop before the holiday break is Friday, December 9.

Book Fair:      The half-price book fair will be held on the evenings of Wednesday, December 7^th and Thursday, December 8.  The fair will take place form 3:00 – 7:00 only.

By holding this ½ price book fair, Peebles PTA will earn $400 toward the Spring Sale.

TAG:   Starts this week.  Sue Sullivan volunteered to take the last open slot for First Grade.  TAG runs from November through January this year.

Year book:      Order forms are due by Thanksgiving.  Orders cannot be taken after that.  In order to be proactive, Mrs Bjalobok said there needs to be a letter sent this Thursday to all students.  The letter should list everyone who has already ordered a year book. 

SPLC:             Info on redistricting will be discussed.  All district residents are invited to a meeting on Thursday, November 17.  The district wants to have feedback in advance.  Nothing has been decided as yet.  There will be another meeting in January.

PSSA results for third grade 93% reading and 95% math

NASD 4^th in the State

PSSA scores for  grades 3, 8, and 11 all rank in top 10 in the State.

Market Day:  Profits have increased over last year at this time.

Directory:       Bonnie Acuff did a great job on the directory. There were a few forms handed in late so not all changes were able to be made.

Holiday Store:            The Holiday Store this year will be held on Thursday, December 1^st and Friday,  December 2^nd.  The set up will be Wednesday, November 30^th.  Please note there will be no evening shopping. 

If you have items to donate, please contact Ruth Wu.

Hospitality Luncheon:           The teacher luncheon will be held before the Winter Break this year.

International Festival:           We are in need of a parent volunteer to organize the committee for the basket raffle this year. 

Art Show:        Mrs. Cech has requested a parent liason to begin organizing the volunteers for this year’s Art Show.  Sue Sullivan accepted that position.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 PM.  The next meeting scheduled for Monday, January 9, 2006 @ 9:15 AM in the lunch room.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Dougherty & Diane Cebulski