Locust School PTA Meeting October 7^th 9:30 am

1^st Meeting Minutes

Welcome…. From Nicole Archer, Director

Pass out agenda and sign in attendance

Other sign ups…nominating and interview committees, pta dinner, open executive board positions2011/2012

What’s Going on in Locust

Principal’s Message - Ms. Jean Ricotta 

Great opening to school this year , thank you to the parents for painting the school windows in front of the court yard and getting garden ready , for photo day and organizing the back to school night class lottery.

Safety fire drills 3

Officer Maderazzo coming for presentation on railroad safety

3 bus drills are required for year – have had 1

Joint Primary PTA Meeting will present a proposal for the New Primary Report Card on October 27^th at 6:30pm, Homestead  School

Oct 29^th  storybook character parade will begin at 9:45 am for Halloween

5 grants for field trips have been written to target …by Ms.Ricotta, Mrs. Joyce, Mrs. Polant, Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. Justino

Any Concerns about your child before your scheduled teacher conference contact the school earlier to discuss

Conferences are scheduled for Nov. 1^st, 2^nd and 8th

Teacher Representative - Mrs. Ann Hayes reported a wonderful  beginning of the school year - gave special thank you to the pta for all they’ve done and to the parents of the school for preparing the students as their first teachers  - The locust school teachers have 100% membership in the pta

Director’s Report – Nicole Archer

Thank you to all the class parents for preparing for back-to-school night and the board members for helping to make the start of the school year a great one.

Open Board Positions :

-  interview committee, Lisa Sutherland explainsed the interview committee responsibilities… and added it’s a great committee to be on to understand the process of hiring in the district

                                      - Nominating committee for pta executive board positions , two representatives from each school, nominating people from the pta that would be considered for open positions, quite a few available for next year …

-        PTA dinner sign up for March 24, 6:30 pm at The Inn at New Hyde Park

October is” Bullying Prevention Month”  right now big and important topic…Friday night  on CNN, Anderson Cooper has a special on bullying…worthwhile to see

Joint Primary PTA Meeting  October 27^th,  6:30pm at Homestead on a new primary report card

Box Tops  - Laura Martinkat  sent home flyer for Locust and has a collection box in front on school                                    -Susan Nicholson, also for Box Tops shared a contest  opportunity from Betty Crocker on www. btfe.com with the  chance to win 500,000 box tops for your school – this contest deadline just expired this week but look for future contests  and info on box tops

Stop & Shop A + program - you can earn money for your school  if you shop there please register your card online and click on Locust !  

Committee Reports

Arts and Education…Deborah Sullivan and Lauren Metz…Report on the first Program,   Monday, October 4^th  the children saw Beth and Scott show – children loved it with a focus on character education and kindness

Wednesday Nov. 17^th they will see the next scheduled show …

Curriculum Committee…Kelly Lynch, Maria Papachristos and MaryClare Bohn…Primary school report card will be presented on Oct. 27^th  and Board of Education work session meeting  is Oct. 13^th at 8:15pm If anyone has concerns about curriculum this year please contact the committee - they meet with Stephanie Granville, Curriculum Chair and Ms. Ricotta throughout the year to share concerns and issues.

Discovery Garden Committee…preparing the garden for the new season – plants (mums) and seasonal decorations can be donated to the committee-  volunteer in the garden for Fall decorating with Debbie Brandewiede, Kristina Dalton-Vafeades and Maria Papachristos   passed out donation flyer for mums and decorations

Health and Safety…District Rep – Christine Kilberg  reports about the GC coailition: it’s an independent group in town sometimes partners with PTA on projects, this month they are sponsoring Parenting Workshops every Tuesday of October on child developmental stages, next one is Oct. 19^th at Stewart, 7:30pm –

…Locust Rep – Kelly Boccafola  invited anyone with concerns to let her know – battery recycling is  in front   of school – GC initiated worldwide family day of play with no electronics –joined National PTA & Nickelodeon  and the pta was able to promote this on very short notice -  Health & Safety  page on the GC pta website worthwhile to see…health awareness night has speakers sponsored by the pta …This November Health Awareness night presents…John Halligan– Ryan’s Story  on Nov. 17^th   at 7:30pm at the High School – a presentation to students will be given that day at the Middle School  - Garden city has many levels of anti-bullying programs…at every age it is necessary to teach and promote strong character  and no tolerance for bullying appropriately in order to make a difference and protect children

For the Primary schools - hoping to intiate a water safety class in spring through the Red Cross

Inclement Weather…sign  up with Jen Feingold, she has a schedule that will be emailed – you are scheduled based on the day you signed up for  - If the day is 34 degrees and under or bad conditions the children will stay inside for recess-  The office will notify the parent who is on the schedule

Library…Book exchange Fridays – sign up with Christine Alkin she has a schedule that has been emailed out to those who have signed up

Membership…Eileen Read not here today sent report, no raffle winner- next week will be announced and membership down over last year- need more men joining - If you haven’t paid they are still accepting dues through March  -At gcpatch.com there is a great article about men in the pta 

Photography…Karen Haggerty and Marie Gaven reported that photo day went very smoothly -should get children’s pictures back soon  - Nov 5^th is photo make up day

Reflections…Carol Manning – This year’s theme is “Together We Can…” due oct. 29^th box to hand in entries in the front of schoolReflections is a great opportunity for the children to be creative and have the experience of entering a contest.  There are 2 ways your child can participate- The first is the Theme Search.  The National PTA is looking for a theme for the 2012/2013 Reflections program.  The student who submits the winning entry weill receive $100.  The deadline for this entry is October 8th and it should be dropped off in the Locust office.  The second way to participate is by submitting a piece of work for this year's theme.  The theme is "Together We Can...." and entries can be in the form of Literature, Visual Arts, Dance Choreography, Photography, Film Production or Musical Composition.  At this level, you mostly see Literature or Visual Arts.  The deadline for this entry is Friday, October 29th.  All entries should be dropped off at the Locust office.  Entry forms went home in the backpacks, but can also be downloaded off the Garden City website. If you have any questions, please contact Carol Manning.  Celebration in April at Hemlock

Site Based…Kerry Kern explained that the group meets to discuss concerns at Locust – she can be contacted if you have any concerns you would like discussed – her info is available on the website

Sportswear… Will be selling at the Meeting – Cash and Carry items available – deadline for orders is October 13^th

Staff Appreciation Luncheon…Sheila O’Malley, Planning for the Spring and will give opportunities for sign ups as it comes closer

Questions???

 ipad for hemlock ?

Ms Ricotta explained that locust will get 5 smartboards coming  2 are permanently mounded in the school currently- she is working for one in every classroom  -all the $ raised helps for each school to add new things ie: box tops and stop & shop funds have been  allocated to add things for the garden or new classroom items such as rugs in the past.

Ms. Ricotta has written a Grant for a video conference  “fieldtrip” at the stewart school’s 21^st century classroom

Gail Madigan explains that pta Has considered ipads  and other technology additions for the schools but only through the support of fundraisers can we make things happen…sportswear, plant sale, pta dinner

School Nurse Report…Mrs. Lisa O’Gara

Thank you for getting in immunizations…next physical 2^nd grade.

Things Nurse Takes care of  in Health office:

Child sick keep them home not to spread disease-work can be made up for the amount of days out  please keep them home the appropriate number of days for their symptoms/illness

Contact you if child becomes ill in school.  Make sure office has your current information with up to date phone numbers

Email your message or phone the nurse to notify the school that your child is sick

Infectious diseases..strep throat = 3  in september and  1 in october

No lice currently in the school– bed bugs not reportable but it is always helpful to share any information that can help lessen the sharing of such things

Pennies for patients will take place to raise $ for children cancer ward at Winthrop

Hearing and Vision screening will begin next week

Please provide Safe footwear  - please wear sneakers !

Next Locust PTA meeting Nov. 18^th  9:30 at locust