Meeting+Minutes

PTA GENERAL MEETING MINUTES WED., NOVEMBER 26, 2008 6:30pm The November PTA General Meeting began at 6:42 pm. Simone Cedeno, PTA president welcomed all parents who were able to attend the day before Thanksgiving.

__Secretary’s Report__
The minutes of the October meeting were read. No amendments were made. The minutes were final.

No updates at this time.
 * __Treasurer’s Report__**

__Principal’s Report__

 * 1) The final draft of the Quality Review is in. We received a Proficient rating.
 * 2) Supt. Beverly Wilkins was at the school November 25 and rated our school as Good.
 * 3) The Fall Ball has been rescheduled for December 12. We currently have a D.J. and staff that volunteered to serve, chaperone and cook food at cost. Donations are needed for paper goods, juice and food and are greatly appreciated. Parents are not allowed to attend. We are looking to have a dance for the lower grades.
 * 4) Picture Day is December 3.
 * 5) Budget Cuts – By last week Friday we had to cut $75,000 from our school budget. Last year we had to cut $72,000 and we were prepared for this year’s budget cut. Part of the cut, $55,000, was absorbed from the Technology teacher’s salary, which is vacant since we have not found a qualified replacement as yet. An email was sent to all principals and districts regarding the open position. The remaining $20,000 was from the lost of students. We are preparing for next school year’s budget cut of $186,000.
 * 6) Please support the uniform policy even during these cold winter days.
 * 7) Student Council Elections took place. Brooke Shields is the President and Shemar Andries is the Vice President.
 * 8) The Playground Initiative and the auditorium upgrade are still scheduled to occur.
 * 9) Saturday, December 6 is the Parent ELA Workshop.
 * 10) The community service projects we participate in are March of Dimes, Penny Harvest, Jump Rope for Heart, Hoops for Heart, Hats On (cancer awareness) and the Math-a-Thon (St. Jude’s Research Hospital).

__Other Business__
¨ The Fall Ball is scheduled for Friday, December 12 from 5 pm – 8 pm. The tickets cost is $10. It is for grades 3-5. Please dress to impress. ¨ Picture Day is Wednesday, December 3. It is the parents’ choice to have their child wear uniform or not. Please send exact change with your order form. The 5th grade cap & gown pictures will take place early 2009. The pictures will be available before they go on Winter Recess. The next PTA General Meeting will be held December 17, 2008. The meeting adjourned 7:20 pm.

PTA GENERAL MEETING MINUTES WED., OCTOBER 29, 2008 6:30pm

The October PTA General Meeting began at 6:41 pm. Simone Cedeno, PTA president welcomed all parents in attendance.

__ Secretary’s Report __
The minutes of the September meeting were read. No amendments were made. The minutes were final.

__ Principal’s Report __

 * 1)  The after-school program has started for 100 students – 50 girls & 50 boys – in the 4th and 5th grades. The girls are taking African & Modern dance and poetry. The boys are taking African dance and drumming. The program is for 15 weeks and will end in February and they will do a presentation.
 * 2)  The school’s Quality Review took place and lasted 2 days. We were given two weeks to prepare. The reviewer visited 10 classrooms for 20 minutes each. He spoke with teachers on how they use data, students, a group of parents and the principal. We were given a preliminary finding of A Proficient School. He had wonderful things to say and was impressed with the students’ expressions.
 * 3)  The Fall Ball, for grades 3-5, was postponed until November due to insufficient time preparation. A notice will be sent home with the new date.
 * 4)  For those parents that will like to join the Volunteer Corps, please see Mrs. Francis, Parent Coordinator. Parents are needed and we welcome any time you can expend.
 * 5)  Please speak with your children about proper use of the bathrooms, especially the boys. They are playing and vandalizing the restrooms and inappropriately using the urinals.
 * 6)  November 3 is the Student Council Elections for grades 3-5. Parents are welcome to attend.

__ Fundraising __
Funds are raised and used for needed programs in the schools. We need your suggestions on fundraising ideas, techniques and strategies. Any ideas you come up with please let the PTA members know. Some ideas suggested were: Spring Fling Dance, school pictures, raffle tickets, $1 chocolate sale, bake sale, food sale, PTA dues, local businesses, corporate and retail sponsorship.

__ Other Business __
¨ CEC – The Community Education Council meetings for District 18 are held every 1st Monday of the month. All parents are invited to attend and you are informed about district and school happenings and parent can voice their opinions or concerns regarding their school. A notice is sent home to all parents every month. ¨ Fifth grade applications for middle schools are out now. Please send them in early and follow-up. ¨ A question was raised if our school participates in Community Service? Must ask Mrs. Spellman, who had to leave the meeting early. ¨ UFT Parent Conference is Saturday, November 7 at the Sheridan. Notices went home. Check the UFT website. ¨ A parent suggested less homework on PTA nights so more parents could attend. ¨ Refreshments will be served at the November PTA meeting. The next PTA General Meeting will be held November 26, 2008.  The meeting adjourned 7:38 pm.

WED., SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 6:30 PM **
 * PTA GENERAL MEETING MINUTES

The September PTA General Meeting began at 6:38 pm. Simone Cedeno, the new PTA president welcomed all parents and thanked them for coming out. She informed them that the PTA advocates for parents in communicating with the teachers and gave out her cell phone number and email address so they can contact her if necessary. She introduced the new PTA Executive Members, Sharon Greenidge, Treasurer and Nicole Campbell, Secretary.

__Principal’s Welcome and Report__
Mrs. Spellman welcomed new and old parents and updated the parents on school policies and events.
 * 1) This is a Uniformed School Monday to Friday.
 * 2) School hours are 8:00 am – 2:57 pm Monday to Thursday (includes Extended Morning) and 8:37 am – 2:57 pm Friday.
 * 3) We need parent volunteers in the morning for breakfast or anytime you have available. The Volunteer Workshop and Orientation will be held on October 8, 9 am – 11 am.
 * 4) Ifetayo Cultural Organization, a fee-based program, will provide after-school support to grades 4 and 5 two days a week. We want to see how the arts make a difference academically. They will get 1-hour instruction in the arts and ½ hour to journal their experience. She will meet with them on October 10 and they are making a presentation this evening to the parents.
 * 5) We received a C on our Progress Report for the 2007-2008 year, down from a B the previous year. We are good at identifying Level 1 and 2 needs, but need to work on maintaining those in Level 3 and 4. We are going to provide more support and added enrichment activities
 * 6) All students now have been invited to attend the Extended Morning.
 * 7) Mrs. Spellman also explained the difference between the SOAR and Javits Gifted Programs. The SOAR program is academic based with an emphasis on reading and math and scores are looked at. The Javits program is not academically based but is more art-based.

__School Leadership Team__
Ms. Janice Sydney-Smith spoke on the purpose of the SLT. It is made up of teachers, parents and the PTA and its purpose is to determine the school’s educational direction in its overall vision, goals and priorities and the strategies and resources used to achieve them. All parents are invited to attend the SLT meeting, which are held twice a month on a Friday from 7:30 am – 8:30 am.

__Langston Hughes Volunteer Corps__
We need parent volunteers to provide support in the morning at breakfast, at lunch, after school at dismissal and in the classrooms. All who would like to assist can speak with Mrs. Francis, Parent Coordinator, and attend the Volunteer Workshop and Orientation on October 8, 9 am – 11 am. Whatever time you have available will be appreciated.

__Ifetayo Cultural Arts Organization__
Ms. Renee Smith spoke and showed a video about what their organization does and how it increases student’s personal and academic achievements. They will provide an art-based enrichment after-school program for students in grades 4 and 5 that will include African dance and drumming. Those attending will also journal their experience in the program. They also provide classes at their site in East Flatbush for ages 2 to adults and are currently doing registration. She gave out materials to those interested. Simone thanked all parents again for the wonderful turn out and encourage the parents to check their child’s book bag for school notices that are sent home about school or class activities and updates. The next PTA General Meeting will be held October 29, 2008.  The meeting adjourned 7:40 pm.