BCE Parent Group Minutes, March 10, 2008
Old Business
1) Hopefully next time we should have our own bank account.
2) Funds request form – Patty typed up a draft, and everyone at the meeting looked over it. Titled, PTO Grant Guidelines, with a list of Guidelines for Application. Proposed is to have three grant periods: fall, spring and a special grant period at the end of the year. Application has form to fill out where applicant states the project goals, objectives, how the project will enrich BCE, how it is unique, and a list of expenses. If people have feedback on the form, they can email Patty. It was moved to accept it basically as is.
3) Potluck Dinner, March 19. Elizabeth Pavlack (651-714-3921), Cathy Gidley and one other are helping to organize it. They need a lot of donations. We started a list at the meeting.
4) Recycling: Cell phones will be accepted at Earth Night. Deborah also sent around a notice for a recycling program that will give us cash for the items, things like cell phones, printer cartridges, dvd players, laptops, etc.
5) Book Fair: Leslie made announcement about that she still needs volunteers and has sign-up sheet (latrone98@msn.com). This fair will be buy one, get one free.
6) BC Parent Newsletter: if you have information to suggest, send it to Traci tschiss2@hotmail.com.
7) Tshirts: logo has seven colors, current printer only has six color machine, so sometimes tshirts have a color missing. Sold quite a few at literacy night. Idea to give Students of the Month a tshirt next year or some other small trinket. Tshirts would be quite expensive. Debate over whether to have nice shirts or cheap, not-so-nice shirts. Some staff members have expressed interest in some nicer clothes with embroidered logo.
8) Earth Night: need volunteers, and there will be a sign-up sheet at conferences. Pizza, pop, ice cream, tshirt. This year entire staff helping to plan for the event. Every grade will come up with an activity. Sherry Laska handed out a list of notes taken from last year’s event. Sherry, Lori Erickson and Mary Romoser on the coordinating committee. Times 5:30-7:00. Mary announced that Valley Branch Nature Center, Maplewood Nature Center will show their new bike, Raptor Center’s Eagle Program, MN Astronomical Society, U of MN Scientists (they will lead hikes), (a DNR Officer who was popular last year cannot come to Earth Night, but Mary is trying to get him to come another day). Donation to Maplewood Nature Center suggested $50, and the Parent Group will pay this. BCE will pay the Raptor Center fee.
9) Spring Fundraiser: will have forms next time for the Walk Around the Pond. Principal will get dates set.
10) BCE Family Picnic, May 30th, 5:00-7:00. Will need staff to work on it since it is a joint Staff/Parent Group event. Also need volunteers for this, set up, clean-up, doing games, serving food. Staff will buy food at Sam’s Club.
New Business
1) “Room Mothers” – Patty will make a sample form. At the beginning of the year, the form will go out asking if anyone wants to be the room mother, room parent, for the year, a quarter, a month, etc.
2) New Parent Group – Gifted and Talented Support/Discussion Group. This is offered through the district but a few parents thought it would be nice to also have a local group to share ideas on, for example, parenting, educating, or being an advocate for GT kids. Harry spoke of meetings from the school district he has attended, and Wendy of the meetings from the MCGT (Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented). Perhaps we can have a local parent group, staff welcome, but not required. Perhaps we can form a discussion group online, though participation might be limited then. Perhaps we can take turns going to meetings and report back locally.
3) Other Business:
a) a staff member is taking her own time to do the yearbook. For next year we will look for a yearbook volunteer for next year.
b) Lymes disease. Call to educate the teachers about the disease, because if kids get the disease there can be severe educational and physical repercussions. There is curriculum on the topic that could be used to educate staff and parents. This seemed to be of interest to most people at the meeting.
c) One parent brought up the concern that children who did not complete their homework were made to finish it during recess. The repercussion for not finishing homework is often to not get to go to recess. With the younger kids, it is primarily the parents who are at fault, but the child is punished. No other consequence to replace missing recess was suggested, but because of obesity problems, the necessity of physical movement for learning and the inability for very young children to complete homework on their own, it was still voiced that this is not an appropriate consequence. Peggy Thomsen was one staff member (not present at meeting) who volunteered her name as a staff member who does not think taking away recess is an appropriate consequence.
Next PG Meeting – April 14th.
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