PTO Minutes for April 9, 2007
In attendance:
Allyson Yandow, Allyson Downing, Diana Schwaigert, Lynne Baechle,
Sheila Royer, Lisa Hebert, Moira Daly, Rick Ebel, Donna Sullivan McDonald, Carol
McQuillen, Joanna Pecor, Barbara Lawrence, Lisa Kunin, Roz Saunders, Dora
Sudarsky, Monica Ostby, Nancy Hellen, Connee Keetle, Janet Stambolian, Margo
McCray, Linda Norris
Allyson Yandow called the meeting to order.
1.
Meeting minutes: Moira Daly
The minutes of the March 12 meeting were reviewed.
Lynne Baechle motioned to accept the minutes as summarized.
Sheila Royer seconded. All
were in favor, none opposed.
2.
French and Spanish Clubs : Monica
Ostby
French club will be extended one week this term due to
cancellations from teacher absence and school snow days.
Spanish Club is operating at all three South Burlington elementary
schools for grades 3-5. Each school
has five weeks of instruction. The club has made more in tuition that it has paid in salary.
The goal for next year is to offer instruction to all grades for as many
weeks as French Club. The format
will also be different in order that students can build on existing skills
rather than beginning at an introductory level each year.
French or Spanish will be offered each term (fall and spring) to all
grades in order that there is the option to have a second language throughout
the school year. Enrollment is
expected to increase, and classes will have to be capped at 35 students.
As such, another Spanish instructor is being sought.
Monica and Rick Ebel approached Joanne Canning, interim
co-superintendent, in an effort to explore availability of instructors and
funding for the program. Currently,
the program is funded by a fee of $25 per student and a donation of $500 from
the PTO. The PTO contribution would
need to increase to $1000 if classes were to double.
Further details will be worked out at an upcoming meeting among Monica,
Rick and Joanne scheduled for May 23.
3.
Orchard School Directory: Monica
Ostby
Next year’s input forms for the school directory will
include a request for parents to provide email addresses.
Inclusion will be optional, and access may be limited to the
PTO for committee chairs to use when communicating program information.
4.
Enrichment: Dora Sudarsky
The African drum and dance troupe, Jeh Kulu will be
conducting a residency at Orchard during the week of April 16.
Each class will participate during gym and select class time.
Students will make costume accessories (tie dyed sashes in art class,
rhythm makes in music) for use in the all school performance on Friday, April 20
at 1:15 in the gym. Parents and
families are invited to attend.
5.
Drama: Roz Saunders and Lisa
Kunin
The drama committee recently held a wrap up meeting.
Seventy nine children from the 4-5 grades and 62 children from 2-3 grades
participated in the performance. Roz
Saunders took the opportunity to thank the many parent and teacher volunteers
(over 90) who helped with various phases of the performance.
Not all were captured in the program, and therefore a list will be sent
out with an upcoming PTO newsletter. Lisa
Kunin presented details of the drama budget, which is just over $10,000.
A portion of money raised from the production will be returned to the PTO
general fund. (The final amount will be determined once all outstanding
invoices have been paid and a final budget established).
The extra money spent on makeup this year was felt to be a worthwhile
investment as it was better quality, and can be reused in upcoming performances.
Next year, the committee may
consider mandatory training for volunteers assisting with makeup.
Adding acoustic panels to the gymnasium to improve sound quality for
future performances is being considered. Reducing
rehearsal time and possibly duration of the production were also discussed for
next year. There was also
discussion about moving the performance to the high school, but it was felt that
the school gymnasium remains the best environment and atmosphere in which to
hold productions. Next year’s
drama production will be Peter Pan, and Don Wright has agreed to return to run
the show. Production dates are
January 24, 25 & 26, 2008.
There was a request from Stowe Elementary School to
borrow one of the costumes. Lynne
Baechle motioned that Orchard lend the costume to Stowe Elementary school.
Allyson Yandow seconded.
6.
SLIMY update: Carol McQuillen
Carol is eager to hire an intern to help in managing the
school gardens over the summer. Despite
whatever model is established that may include more involvement from Orchard
families and/or Parks and Recreation, someone needs to oversee garden
management. Flyers will be sent
home seeking input from families regarding their participation in garden clubs.
$1500 has been requested from the district to help support maintenance of
the gardens, and a response should be forthcoming prior to the April break.
An anonymous donor has also approached Carol to help in supporting the
gardens. Teachers present spoke to
their use and the value of the garden spaces in their curricula.
The upcoming SLIMY tag sale is another significant revenue stream for
funding. Because SLIMY remains a
subcommittee of the PTO, PTO approval is necessary for funding the intern
position.
Theresa Donovan motioned that the PTO approve $2800 for
funding a summer intern. Allyson
Yandow seconded. Lynne Baechle
abstained, all others were in favor.
Fundraising for the front of the school garden
surrounding the 50th anniversary of Orchard is ongoing.
Another flyer will go home in Friday folders to encourage families to
donate. While the budget has not
yet been reached, Carol, and other SLIMY members, are confident money will be
raised. Carol and Rick will meet
with the site developer and the majority of the site work will be done when
students are on break. Recording of
the history of Orchard by fifth grade classes is ongoing.
Students involved in the project are considering developing a
time capsule to be buried in the garden. May
22 is the date for the dedication.
7.
Lake Champlain Lake Monsters Fundraiser:
Donna Sullivan-Macdonald
Orchard will be allowed to sell tickets for the June 25
game and additional games during the season and receive 25% of ticket sales.
Flyers will go home in May.
8.
Skate Night: Lynne Baechle
Lynne Baechle and Maggie Holt will hold a wrap up
meeting on April 18. Skate Night
raised approximately $1200, which is slightly down from last year.
It was felt that fewer families participated this year, perhaps due to a
conflict with a middle school social. The
raffles were successful, though next year perhaps a list of items will be posted
on the school website as a means to generate more revenue.
Maggie Holt has indicated she will remain involved, but will not serve as
co-chair next year.
9.
Barnes & Noble Fundraiser: Allyson
Yandow
Barnes & Noble has approached the PTO regarding a
summer fundraiser. Options include
hosting an event at the store or, preferably, sending home vouchers for students
to use through the summer. Allyson
will pursue this further and report back.
10.
It’s My Artwork Fundraiser: Lisa
Hebert
Projects are in production and should be returned
shortly. This raised $2000!
11.
Leveled Library in recognition of Mrs. King:
Rick Ebel
Mr. Ebel presented a wonderful scrapbook that Karen
Villanti compiled for Mrs. King as a souvenir of the Leveled Library that was
established in her honor upon her retirement last summer.
12.
PTO Promotion within South Burlington:
Rick Ebel
It was suggested that each school have a bulletin board
at the city offices promoting school activities to city residents.
There being no further agenda items, Allyson Yandow
motioned to adjourn the meeting. Allyson
Downing seconded, and all were in favor.
Page created by PTO Secretary Lynne Baechle and Orchard Library/Media Specialist Donna Macdonald.
This page last updated: 05/30/07.