September 2016 Meeting Minutes

• ​Call meeting to order
• Introductions
• The board - Emily, Mandy, Amber, Stephanie
• Our purpose/mission, How we operate - we fund the fun!!  We try to be positive, bring the energy, get things done.
  

Approval of June Minutes - Jenn Deater

• The google drive is open to everybody - this is where you can find the minutes for our monthly meetings.  Log onto: RiverviewPTO509@gmail.com Password: riverviewrocks509.  Everything is on there!!  Our website will also lead you there-www.riverviewrocks.org.
  

Treasure report

• We had a breach in our bank account at the end of last year.  We will pass around the bank account printout, but we will have a clearer account next time.  We have just over $11,500.
  

Teacher report

• Mrs. Maat - Ms. Stickler has some Smartboard requests.  She has a $175 of smartboard things.  Third grade will be able to use this in years following.  Approved. There are 3 or more teacher who also have Mobimax requests.  Mobimax is just a tool that the teachers can use in the classroom that the kids can use at home, and it meets them at their level. It would be $600-$800.  Mrs. Scheible has the request for the Anderson and Girls apple orchard field trips for K.  We have basically 2.5 K classes this year, so we will need two buses this year, so cost will be a little more expensive than last year.  Also, the bus expenses has gone up this year as well.  We want to try to fund field trips without having to ask parents to contribute additional money.
  

Principal report

• Ms. Kent - The school is booming!!  We love our kids, we try to work hard for our kids.  They are going through a battery of assessments the first weeks of school to get baselines on them.  We have 30-40 more kids in the building than last year, so it is tight.  We are really shooting big for the walk-a-thon.
  

Old Business:

• Health and fitness will not be rescheduled
• Cartridges - Cooley was not here, will bring up during October meeting
  

New Business:

• Food Allergy/Safe snack list- We have some parents who are available to let us know more about the food allergies in our school.  Q&A with food allergy experts.
  • There is a hotline available to those who have questions!
  • Italian Ice, Lemonade, and popcorn are items most kids can participate with.  Try to have events without food if possible.
  • Allergies are a legal issue as well as a physical issue.  
  • Restriction of specific allergens for the classrooms is a top recommendation
  • How can we be inclusive for those with allergies?  Consider non food items for parties, open communication with teachers and school.  
• Box tops - Jenn Deater/Amber - We raise thousands of Scholastic dollars a year with this and book fair.  We don’t consider these as fund raisers as this money just goes right back into the school and teachers.  Maggie Ramsey has volunteered to take this over.  We do also have honor students that help us process the boxtops too. Boxtops must be turned in before the expiration date.
• Labels - Becky - this is still phasing out, if you have these you can still turn them in.
• Book Fair - Amber- The packets come home through the week.  We have a great event twice a year.  We have traditionally have an ice cream night, which we will have to revise this due to allergies.  Oct. 24-28 will be our first book fair.  Sign ups will be at the next meeting.  Our evening event will be Wed. Oct. 26.
• Walk-A-Thon - Oct. 8
  • The planning has started.  To get involved just ask and we can put you on  a subcommittee to help out.
  • First letter home already went out.
  • Kick off assembly is Monday the 12th at 8:30
  • PTO members are the eyes and ears of this event!!  We need to know if anyone has questions, confusion, or issues with anything!!
  • This is a ONE ASK event!!  We only ask our parents and community to donate to us ONE time a year!
  • This is the third annual event for us.  It has REALLY worked for us.  We know this isn’t going to please everyone, but we do our best to make the most of our money.
  • We spent 80%+ of our money that we made last year.  We are trying to save toward a shade/pavilion for the playground.  We keep almost all of the money we raise!  This works because we get the teachers, parents, and kids excited about it.  We have bought lots of playground equipment, assemblies, field trips, etc. IT was brought up that we use the money to buy beginning of the year supplies for the teachers.  This was voted against as we are trying to bring fun to the school with playground, field trips, assemblies, etc and the money can be spent on those.  Other parents like bringing that stuff in.  
  • Our theme this year is positivity/Energy bus.
  • We want to know the feedback - the good and the bad.  We need to know what everyone thinks so that we can fix what we can and just get better and better.
    
• Homecoming - Oct. 1
  • Sign up to help with this committee!  Who wants to be in charge of this committee??  They will need to coordinate the float.  There will be a theme.  Megan Knopf will take charge. Rachel and Jody Lee will help.
  • Meet with Renee
  • More info coming
  • Spirit week will be September 26-October 1
    
• Parent teacher conferences
  • We need someone to take the lead on this! We provide the melas for the teachers.
  • Nick Scheible will coordinate.
    
• Bylaws
  • Mandy - We are still working on developing a budget and bylaws.  The google drive will have a copy of the bylaws.  We are doing our best to try to formulate this.  If you have any amendments or thoughts, let us know!  We will most likely vote this in next meeting.