PTO Calendar                                                             Minutes from PTO Meeting 3/4/04

In attendance:  Karen Edwards, Sharon McHale, Mike LaPointe, Sharon LaPointe, Ross Joel, Lisa Sandstrom, Kris Monnes, Peggy Mantz, Bonnie Redderoth, Judi Houpert, Ann Michele Wieczorek, Patti Joel, David Sebastianelli, Suzanne Ruffee, Bonnie Slim, Bonnie Schneider, Liz Wallack and Dr. Ellen Rosow

  Welcome from Ross Joel

  1. Kudos to all on the decision to move ahead on the mural.  It was the absolute right decision.  It looks great.  Thanks to all those involved in making this beautiful work of art!
  2. Financial Planner that had been scheduled to speak will not be rescheduled due to time constrictions.
  3. At the April 29th meeting Mike Aparo has requested time to speak to the PTO.
  4. The Election Day Bake Sale was discussed.  It was originally hosted by Morley, than MEDC took it over.  Discussion evolved over who should host it in 2004.  It was decided by vote that Morley would take the bake sale back because the children will be in school and the MEDC staff will not be there.  It was also discussed that this would be an opportunity to have additional  “security” on site while school is in session and voting was taking place.
  5. Upcoming calendar events:
    1. Conference Week – Snacks provided by Room Parents
    2. Pond House Event – 4/2/04
    3. Kindergarten Registration – 4/8/04
    4. PTO Meeting – 4/29/04  (Nominations and Elections)
    5. Staff Appreciation – 5/3/04
    6. Morley Breakfast – 5/14/04
    7. Final PTO Meeting – 6/1/04
    8. School Picnic – 6/3/03 (Raindate: 6/8/04)
    9. Teacher’s Lunch – 6/18/04
  1. Last Day of School – 6/25/04  (*unless we get another snowdate than 6/28/04)
  2. Town Wide Elementary School PTO Event 3/9/04.  Two members of the PTO are invited to attend and share ideas!  Sharon McHale may attend with Sarah Raskin.
  3. PTO Elections are coming up!! And, the PTO is really in need of people to step up to the plate and volunteer.  All positions for the board need to be filled with the exception of the Treasurer.  Please talk this up on the playground;  positions must be filled soon.  Elections are on 4/29 and installation of PTO positions will be on 6/1/04.
  4. Thank you to Judy Houpert for spearheading the Morley School PTO Incorporation!  It was a great deal of work and we are very appreciative!!
  5. The PTO gave a  $100 donation to the WH Cooking  event to sponsor the Teacher’s Fund and $100 donation to Hall High’s Post Graduation Party. 
  6. Patti Joel spoke to the Morley Float for the 150th Anniversary of West Hartford.  She has spoken with Deta Reid regarding ideas for a float and they have come up with the following themes:  small community, vintage cars, picket fences, kids carrying books or flowers, red wagons, etc. Brenda Sebastanelli has offered to help on this, but we are still in need of someone to steer this committee and take off with this venture.  Anyone interested please see Patti Joel for more details.

  Fundraising Report:

1.      There are no Spring fundraisers planned as of yet because of the last push for the playground fundraisers, i.e. the Buy a Brick and Pond House Event.

2.      Discussions continued on Spring fundraisers to include the notecards again.  Not a big money maker, but everyone enjoyed them last year.

3.      RockCats game was talked about.  Choices of dates are as follows: 6/18, bleacher seats or 6/25, regular reserved seats.  The choir will not be singing this year so if we do this again, Morley would not reserve as many seats as in previous years.

4.      Wolf Pack game was a success.  81 families participated in this event.  Great turnout for 1st year!

5.      We will be changing wrapping paper vendors for next year.  Morley will be using Sally Foster.  It is a year commitment so we can see how the sale progresses, see if there are better results.  The profit margins are the same with either provider.

  Programming:

  1. Bingo Night was a success!  Not a seat in the house, and thank you to all the  parents who donated toys!
  2. Pond House event is coming up on 4/2/04.  The committee has been formed, invitations are out and the first ticket sales are starting to come in.
  3. Just a reminder to all the Executive Committee:  please bring in your bottles of wine and or wine accessories.  Last year this basket brought in $800.00 in revenue.  Please turn in your wine/accessories to Judy Houpert.
  4. Teacher donations will make a big difference in our revenues as well.  Please encourage teachers to make creative donations for the auction.  All donations will be very appreciated.

  Playground Committee:

  1. Sharon LaPointe presented the playground plans. Plans will be posted on the PTO board in the Courtyard.  These plans are the result of the hard work and good ideas of the LaPointes, Mike Aparo and the input of our kids.  Thank you for all your efforts!
  2. Playground construction will begin 2 weeks after school ends.
  3. The Buy a Brick Sale is running with success.  We still need to make a push for bricks.  Would be great as a gift for a teacher, as a class memento, sale ends on 3/26/04!
  4. All proceeds of the Brick Sale go to the playground.  Labor to install the bricks has been donated by the Town of WH.

  Treasurer’s Report:

  1. We are in good shape.  $14,000.00 in our checking account!
  2. Balance sheet attached for review.

  Picnic Committee:

David Sebastanelli reported that he is in desperate need of help for the Picnic.  Not receiving a lot of response for his call for committee members.  Anyone interested please call David directly.

  Dr. Ellen Rosow’s Report “The State of Morley”:

  1. Kudos to Mike and  Sharon LaPointe and Mike Aparo for all their work on spearheading the new playground, what a  great team!
  2. Thank you to the Kid’s Fund, Dieta Reid, our artist in residence and all the parents, children and staff that helped to make the Morley Respect and Responsibility Mural a reality.  It is truly a work of art!
  3. Thank you to Peggy Mantz and Lisa Sandstrom for capturing the creation of the mural on video and photos.  They followed the process from beginning to end and we will have a documentary to enjoy for years to come.
  4. 3/5 is our Special Friends/Dr. Seuss Day.  Please be sure to have your child bring a special friend.  8:35am-9:00am will be reading in the classroom.  A special presentation will follow in the auditorium highlighting a power point presentation on our Smart Board, poetry readings, artwork and the choir will share some selections with the group.
  5. The Superintendent of WH schools presented the school budget on Tuesday.  He’s holding the budget to a 6.1% increase for 2004-2005.  There are no eliminations of staff or programs.
  6. 3/25/04 will be General Discussions regarding the budget and a vote will take place on 4/7/04 to adopt the budget.  It is very important that this budget gets adopted and not go to referendum.

  Other notes:

  1. Liz Wallack would love to see notecards come back as a fundraiser.  She thinks they would be a great teacher’s gift.  Also, a brick in a teacher’s name would be super.
  2. Our very own Cow, from the Cow Parade, is coming to Morley on 3/12/04!  There will be a special assembly in it’s honor.  The artist who created it will join us as well as the Cohen family.

 

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted by Ruth Lawlor for Sarah Raskin.