PTO
Minutes for November 13, 2006
Attendees: Connie
Keetle, Trish Warshaw, David Warshaw, Gayle Eustis, Mary Dichard, Deidre Riehle,
Phyllis Marcell, Donna Sullivan-Macdonald, Rick Ebel, Carol McQuillen, Allyson
Yandow, Lynne Baechle, Lisa Herbert, Moira Daly
Pricipal Ebel welcomed the attendees, and introduced the first item for the evening.
Internet Safety Awareness:
Donna Sullivan-Macdonald, Orchard School’s librarian,
presented on computer access in the school.
Donna reviewed Orchard’s home page, which she maintains.
The website provides a
Google safe search and links to many kid-safe search engines,
as well as others that should be used with adult supervision.
Each grade has websites that are pre-selected for students to match the
classroom curriculum. Some
classrooms have their own websites.
Mike Vining, District Network Services Technician,
discussed web access across the South Burlington school district.
Each of the five buildings the district maintains has a proxy server,
which copies any webpage onto the server and filters its content.
Websites are rated a score based on certain words and/or names, and are
potentially denied if content is deemed inappropriate.
Mike also discussed many computer safety measures parents can install at
home.
South Burlington Police Internet Crimes Investigating Officer Gregg Jager discussed intenet safety for children. Officer Jager devotes approximately half of his full-time job to educating the community about Internet safety. He advised parents to be aware of what their children are doing on the Internet. Many social networks, like MySpace, are appealing to children and teenagers, and may be a vehicle for inappropriate interactions and behavior. Officer Jager provided several handouts and resources for parents, including NetSmartz (www.NetSmartz.org), compiled by the National Center for Missing and Expoited Children, that provides information on child and teen safety on the internet, online safety tips, as well as an internet safety quiz for parents. Additional resources include:
Officer Jager can be reached at gjager@sbpdvt.org.
All speakers agreed that the Internet is a wonderful resource for information, and one that kids are eager to explore. Unfortunately, it can also come with risks such that parents should be well-informed of their children’s use of the Internet to prevent potential exploitation.
SLIMY’s Proposal for the Front Garden: Carol McQuillen and students
SLIMY student representatives Zach Dichard, Alex Warshaw,
Teeta Keetle, and Hunter Riehle, presented the fourth proposed design for the
front garden. Features of the
garden include a solar-powered fountain, Panton rock that will be arranged to
create a seating area for approximately 24 students, a statue or boulder,
plantings that will include ornamental grasses, perennials, and possibly two
lilac trees. A natural stone
pathway through the garden will be wheelchair accessible.
The space will be available as a classroom space, similar to current
project rooms, and will incorporate standards of the curriculum, including
geology and life sciences. The students expressed their feeling that the garden will
provide a positive first impression for visitors to the school, as well as
creating a legacy for the students involved in the project that will remain
after they leave Orchard. Further,
in celebration of Orchard’s 50 anniversary, a UVM student will be involved in
gathering the history of the property that at one time was an Orchard.
The plan for the proposed garden is currently on display in the Orchard
lobby.
Estimated cost for the garden is $7400, including $5600
for stone work to be provided by James Bennet, stone designer. (This price reflects his costs for the project, for which he
is otherwise donating his time). Additional
costs are for plantings and statuary. There
is a March 30, 2007 deadline for fundraising for the project.
SLIMY needs PTO approval to go to the District Development Office
regarding fund raising for the proposed garden.
Lynne Baechle, PTO co-vice-president, indicated the PTO
has been approached by other groups within the school regarding funding various
projects. The point was made that
SLIMY is not asking for funding from the PTO, rather permission to approach the
district with a fund raising proposal.
Allyson Yandow motioned for the PTO to approve SLIMY
approaching the district with a fundraising plan for the front garden.
Lisa Herbert seconded the motion. All
present were in favor, with the exception of Lynne Baechle, who opposed the
motion.
Meeting Minutes: Lynne Baechle, PTO Co-Vice President
Lynne Baechle motioned that the minutes of the October
11 PTO meeting be approved as summarized. Lisa
Herbert seconded the motion. All
present were in favor.
Treasurer’s Report: Lisa Herber, PTO Co-Treasurer
Lisa Herber, PTO co-treasurer, presented the budget.
The projected revenue from the Pizza Uno night was $300.
The actual amount raised was $558.15.
This event was such a success that Monica Nygaard-Ostby, parent
coordinator, has been approached by Unos to do another fund raiser. A
date of December 12 was proposed. Money
raised will support the library. Donna
Sullivan MacDonald discussed using the money to finance a classroom ceiling
projection system, similar to the one in the library classroom, in Melinda
Tate’s classroom. The goal would
be to eventually have a ceiling projection system in each wing for all
classrooms to use. Estimated cost
of the system is $300-$400.
The election bake sale yielded over $900 for the PTO
general fund. A suggestion was made
to approach The Other Paper to publish a letter of thanks to South Burlington
voters who voted at Orchard and helped raise this money.
Mr. Ebel will explore this.
Spanish Club: Monica Nygaard-Ostby
Monica Nygaard-Ostby has a contact who may be available
to conduct a Spanish club at Orchard. This
would be modeled after French club. Monica
is proposing piloting the project in the spring, and will send out information
to parents in the new year. Lynne
Baechle made a motion to proceed with the Spanish Club.
Allyson Yandow seconded the motion.
All present were in favor.
Textbooks:
Melinda Tate, 4/5 teacher, had approached the PTO in
October regarding assistance in funding the purchase of a writing resource book.
Allyson Yandow motioned for the PTO to give the 4/5 teachers $1500 to
fund half the cost of the books. The
4/5 teachers will raise the balance. Phyllis
Marcell indicated the 4/5 teachers would consider fund raising ideas and
approach the PTO for approval to go to the district for additional fund raising.
Gym Shades: Rick Ebel
Mr. Ebel obtained two quotes regarding shades for the
gym, which will include vertical blinds with a valence. The bids were $3405 and $3373.
Lynne Baechle made a motion that the PTO spend no more than $3500 for
shades for the gym. Allyson Yandow
seconded the motion. All were in
favor. Mr. Ebel will determine
which company to retain.
Bottle Drive: Phyllis Marcell
Ms. Marcell discussed the bottle drive, scheduled for
December 2 from 9-12. The money
raised will go directly to a contact in the Congo.
Students in the 4/5 wing will go door-to-door in their neighborhoods with
a notice for residents to leave bottles at their door for the children to pick
up on December 2.
Book Fair: Donna Sullivan Macdonald
Donna Sullivan Macdonald indicated the selection
received for the book fair was not as anticipated, and has called Scholastic in
hopes of obtaining a greater selection.
Page created by PTO Secretary Lynne Baechle and Orchard Library/Media Specialist Donna Macdonald.
This page last updated: 02/20/07.