Calvin Coolidge School
Minutes of the P.T.O.
September 12, 2007
http://www.wyckoffschools.org
The
meeting was opened with the flag salute and Marni Scanlon welcomed the
membership
at 9:19am.
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Upcoming Events for September |
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Looking Ahead to October |
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19th |
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Newcomers Tea 9:30am |
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3rd |
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PTO Meeting 9:15am |
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20th |
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Class Parent Tea 2:30pm |
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5th |
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Gift Wrap Sale Ends |
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25th |
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School Picture Day |
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8th |
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Back to School Night grades K-2 |
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27th |
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School Picture Make-Up |
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10th |
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Back to School Night grades 3-5 |
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27th |
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Gift Wrap Sale Begins |
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13th |
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Wine Tasting |
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16th |
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Book Fair (teachers only) |
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17th- 18th |
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Book Fair |
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25th |
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Harvest Festival 3:15pm |
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26th |
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Harvest Festival (rain date) |
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30th |
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Gift Wrap Sale Pick up |
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31st |
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Halloween Parade |
PRESIDENT'S REPORT: MARNI SCANLON
The following were presented as the PTO Executive Board.
President Marni Scanlon
1st V.P. Megan Aylward
2nd V.P. Jill Sussman
2nd V.P. Valerie Steiner
Treasurer Nancy Zanki
Secretary Marni Hess
Co-Treasurer Economy Shop Bernadette Raguseo
Co-Treasurer Economy Shop Mary Allain
Past President Stephanie Racioppi
.
Please note the following changes in the calendar : The October 3rd PTO meeting time is being changed from 7:00pm to 9:15am. A new evening meeting is being set up for Monday, November 12th at 7:00pm. The November 7th meeting is canceled.
Babysitting: Presently we do not have babysitting during PTO meetings due to a lack of space. We will communicate when babysitting becomes available again.
Events: Please note that Back to School Night will be in two nights. Ocotber 8th will be for grades Kindergarten through Second. October 10th is for grades Third through Fifth. Also please check our website for events throughout the year. http://www.wyckoffschools.org/coolidge/pto/pto2002/ptohome.html
Thank you, to: Kathy Scaglione and
Jeanine Rossi for Field Day. Laura McGowan,
Mr. Famularo and Mr. Keith for distributing the school supplies under abnormal
circumstances. Stephanie Racioppi and Christina Gori for working endlessly all
summer on our new school playground.
Theme Day: This years' theme is “World Festival”. Each classroom will be transformed into another country or culture. Please step up to help Melissa Milbank make this the best, and most fun day of the year for our children. Anyone interested please contact Marni Scanlon or Megan Alyward.
Playground Partners: This committee is still in need of a chairperson. Playground Partners will still be run on Tuesdays and Thursdays during recess. Please contact Marni Scanlon or Megan Alyward.
Kidz Art: There is a new after school art program being offered this year called Kidz Art. The first session will run from 9/25-10/22 Tuesdays after school in the gym. The Kindergarten program will meet from 3:30 Ð 4:15pm. Children in grades 1-5 will meet from 3:30 Ð 4:30pm. The cost for this program is $95.00. If you cannot attend this session, we will have ongoing sessions scheduled throughout the school year. To register please return the registration form (sent home in the Friday packet) back to the school with a check, in an envelope marked KidzArt, or register online at www.northjerseykidzart.com.
Coolidge Cookbook: We are in need of recipes for our cookbook. It doesn't have to be one you made up yourself. You can submit any recipe that you enjoy to cook or eat. Please send it to school (in a envelope marked Cookbook) or by email to the address below. We are having a “Name the Coolidge Cookbook Contest”. The winner will receive a free cookbook. Please enter by September 28th. We are also selling advertising space within the cookbook. A 1/2 page is being sold at $40 and a full page is $75. Please contact Stacey Frenkel or Diane Clarke, if you or someone you know would like to advertise, has a recipe or questions. You can also email us at coolidgepto@wyckoffschools.org
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT'S REPORT: MEGAN ALYWARD
Coolidge Directory:
Please hand in the information for the directory by Monday, September 28th. There are 50 families missing from the directory. Families that are not included will have their child omitted from the class list. This omission will cause problems for parents using the list to send out mailings.
Volunteer Sheet: This Sheet is for parents would like to be part of a committee. There are many opportunities to be involved. Please check your child's Friday packet. You can send it back to school, email to coolidgepto@wyckoffschools.org, or contact me, by September 21st.
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT'S REPORT: VALERIE STEINER AND JILL SUSSMAN
Wrapping Paper Sale (Innisbrook): This is one of the most important
fundraisers of the year. The sale runs from September 27th through
October 5th. The pick-up date is scheduled for October 30th. Our school makes 50% profit on everything sold. Our goal is to raise $8000 this year. In addition to the usual incentives, we are offering a “cool dude” for the first ten items sold per student. You will be receiving information in a upcoming Friday packet. You may also register your child on
http://www.innisbrook.com/NewIcom/homepage.cfm our school number is 101301. Using www.innisbrook.com is a great way for out of town relatives to
order.
THIRD PRESIDENT'S REPORT: MICHAEL ANDRULLI
There are great things going on in all of the classrooms already. If you have any need to contact me, please stop by my classroom or email me at mandrulli@wyckoffschools.org.
TREASURER'S REPORT: NANCY ZANKI
Financial Reports from May 29, - July 31, 2007 were approved, as well as, July 1, - July 31, 2007. The 2007-2008 budget was passed by the PTO.
SECRETARY'S REPORT: MARNI HESS
June minutes were circulated and approved.
When attending a PTO meeting please sign yourself in on the attendance list. The minutes from the previous month will be circulated, please initial any area that might quote you. * The PTO Minutes are electronically posted in advance of receiving the paper copy. Please check the WEB site for more current information.
CO-TREASURER'S REPORT: MARY ALLAIN & BERNADETTE RAGUSEO
The Economy Shop volunteer sign-up
sheet was circulated. This is the 60th year of the Economy Shop. This is a non-profit organization run by the PTOs of all 5 schools in Wyckoff. Last year it raised $83,000. $48,000 in support for our schools, $6,720 was given to Coolidge. Four executive positions of the Economy Shop are being held by Coolidge Parents. Debbie Diaz and Elizabeth DeGregorio are Co-Presidents. Kristi O'Connor, VP in charge of Volunteers and Karen Oesterle, Secretary. Thank you Coolidge for your support. If you wish to volunteer, please contact me at 201-670-1413. See our website to learn more about the Economy Shop.
http://www.wyckoffschools.org/coolidge/pto/pto2002/HDIGIexp/eEconShop.html.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Hot Lunch: Jackie Piemonte
We have changed our hot lunch vendor to Simply Gourmet. This was primarily due to the fact that they will individually wrap, label, and deliver your child's lunch directly to the classroom. This is important on days of inclement weather when the children will have to use the gym for mid-day fitness. They will also list your child's allergies directly on the label. Your children will receive a well-balanced meal that includes fruit or vegetables. The food will not be fried but baked and meets the national guidelines for nutrition. Each meal costs $4.25. This program is offered on Monday and Fridays. No refunds will be offered if your child does not like the food, snow dates or is absent. Please check an upcoming Friday packet for more information.
WEF: Barbara Sharer
The Family 5K Walk/Run is October 13th. Flyers will be sent home. The school with the most families signed up will receive $500. Please check the WEF website for information at http://www.wyckoff.org/
Grocery Gift Card Fundraiser: Helene Garland
This is a new fundraiser this year. Turn your monthly grocery budget into a gift card for yourself. Give us a check for what you would normally spend on groceries each month and we will give you a gift card in that amount. Spend it as you like, they do not expire. Our school will receive 5% back. The participating grocery stores are A&P, Kings and Shop Rite. A flyer has been sent home with an envelope attached. If you are too late to participate this month, please feel free to send it in next month by the deadline (printed on the envelope). We will send a new envelope every month. Please contact me with any questions.
Class Parents: Annie Tubbs & Karen Stanley
Parents will be called if they are picked to be a class parent. Individuals who were not class parents last year will be picked first, if no else from your child's class has volunteered you will then be eligible. Those who are picked please be available September 20th at 2:30pm for a class parent tea. Sorry no babysitting will be offered.
Great Books: Tricia Grover
We are in need of two more parents to be trained for this enriching experience. Please contact Tricia Grover if you are interested.
Harvest Festival: Leslie Donato & Arlene Schaeffer
The Harvest Festival is being held on October 25th, rain date the 26th. Please volunteer to paint pumpkins or help with one of the activities or provide a baked good (nut free please). Also any Eisenhower student wishing to fulfill their community service obligation can volunteer as well. Please contact Leslie, Arlene or sign up using the volunteer form.
Newcomers Rep: Donna Jackson
Newcomers please feel free to join us at a Newcomers Tea on September 19th at 9:30am. There will be food, coffee and tea. Babysitting will be offered.
Book Fair: Marni Hess & Anne O'Reilly
Please volunteer to help out at the book fair this year. It is a great opportunity to be present during the time of your children's class visit, and contribute to the success of the fair. A flyer with more information about the Book Fair will be sent home soon. If interested please sign up on the volunteer sheet or email us at coolidgepto@wyckoffschools.org.
Mathletes: Dan Plotnick
This after school program is scheduled run Wednesdays 3:15-4:30pm, for grades 2-5. This is not an instructional program. We are in need of parent volunteers. Please contact Dan Plotnick or Ming Chow.
Fifth Grade Reps: Lynn Bruggemann, Jeanine Rossi & Maria Russo
Pizza Lunch: Pizza lunch is being offered as of Wednesday, September 19th. Please make sure to send back the order forms by 9/14. There are opportunities to serve pizza lunch. To volunteer please contact one of the Fifth Grade Reps.
Autumn Tastings (Wine Tasting): This event being held at the St. Nicholas Church, on October 13th at 7:30pm. The Wine Seller of Ridgewood will be there to introduce the selection. Light food will also be served. This is an adult only event. A list of wines for purchase will be sent home. This is a great way to order gifts for the holidays.
Media Center: Lynn Bruggemann
There are volunteer opportunities to help out at the media center. Please contact Lynn or sign up using the volunteer sign-up sheet.
Website: Marni Hess
After your flyers have been approved please email them to me so I can advertise your event. I accept word documents, pdf's, quark, illustrator, photoshop files. If you are unsure of how to send it to me, please email me at coolidgepto@wyckoffschools.org.
Playground Committee: Christina Gori & Stephanie Racioppi
Bricks are still being sold to fund a stage and landscaping around the new playground. We would also like to fix the broken items in the upper playground as well. The bricks sold at the end of the last school should be arriving in November. We would like to send out a huge global “thank you” to everyone that volunteered to install the new playground! Special “thanks” to, Mr. Famularo and Mrs. Borelli, for their participation in the installation. To John Simonson, for preparing and cementing footings, at a moment's notice. To Elizabeth DeGregorio for feeding our volunteers. To La Strada and Three Chicas for donating food. To Dependable Mulch, for their donation of mulch.
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT: MR. FAMULARO
We welcome the following new staff members to the Coolidge Community: Ms. Andrea Smith (4th grade), Mr. Dan Pochini (Physical Education), Ms. Karen Meyer (Resource Room) and Mr. Peter Hemans (Night Custodian). Best wishes to Mrs. Britting as she moves from fourth to fifth grade. Mr. Andriulli will serve as the Third VP of the Coolidge PTO.
The custodial staff and teachers are to be commended for their efforts to get the school ready for the first day. Construction officials have informed me that our new addition will be completed by early December 2007. Thank you parents for your continued flexibility and patience during this time. We all eagerly look forward to the completion of this project, as we all will benefit from the much-needed space.
On behalf of the students and staff of Coolidge School, I would like to thank the Coolidge PTO for their generous donations as part of our Wish List. With funding from the PTO, students have received numerous items including computer equipment, whiteboards, art room enhancement and guided reading books. Also, a huge thank you for the purchase of our brand new playground. It was amazing to see over 35 parent and teacher volunteers help install this equipment in 90 degree temperature on a Saturday afternoon in August. Students are already enjoying the new equipment as part of our Midday Fitness program.
Construction fencing is still temporarily blocking access to our side parking. Therefore, until further notice all student drop-off will take place in the front circular drive. Please drive carefully as safety is our top priority.
As you know, there currently is no parent parking during drop-off and pick-up. Carpooling and walking to school is encouraged. Please be respectful of our neighbors living on all of the side streets adjacent to Coolidge School. Parents must abide by all parking and traffic regulations on these streets.
2007-2008 School Theme
Our school theme for this year is Manners Matter. Throughout this school year the entire staff of Coolidge School will be supporting the notion that manners really do matter! Through daily lessons, school wide assemblies and daily interactions with students, students will be provided with concrete reminders of what good manners look and sound like. Each month we will focus on a different situation during the school day in which it is important for students to show manners. For September, we will be focusing on what good manners “look like” in the classroom.
Our fifth grade Safety Patrol team is now in place and will assume responsibilities this week. I am proud of this dedicated group of fifth grade students who have accepted this leadership role at Coolidge School. Safety Patrol students, under the leadership of their advisor Mrs. Perry, will help make Coolidge School a safer place during line-up and dismissal. Best wishes for a great year!
Reading instruction continues to be an area of emphasis for the staff of Coolidge School. Teachers are taking part in intensive professional development in this area to remain abreast of new research in the field. Next week we welcome our literacy consultant, Shelly Klein, for her first visit to Coolidge School of the year. Teachers are taking part in professional study groups in the area of literacy instruction and will be using faculty-meeting time for discussion and research. As a staff we are committed to being life-long learners and are excited about changes in reading instruction. More specific information and updates will follow throughout the year.
The Wyckoff Schools Elementary School Code of Conduct was distributed to all students last week. Parents have been asked to read over this handbook carefully and complete the Code of Conduct Scavenger Hunt with their children. For learning to take place, a school climate must exist that promotes a commitment to maintain and sustain high educational standards and the development of appropriate attitudes and behaviors.
Students in grades 1-5 take part in Midday Fitness each day for 20 minutes prior to lunch. During this time, students are provided with various choices of activities to take part in depending on grade level. These activities will support the goals and objectives of physical education and align with the New Jersey Core Content Standards in Physical Education. Students will always be able to choose to play on the playground if they want. Although fitness and movement is encouraged during this time, students are still provided with choice and flexibility. This year our physical education teacher, Dan Pochini, along with several aides, supervises Midday Fitness. We are proud to report that we have more than doubled the number of adults per student supervising student play. Furthermore, we have successfully created a more structured environment while still allowing student flexibility and choice. I am confident that this formula will create a safer and more pleasant play experience for our students while minimizing injuries, conflict and disciplinary problems. The increased emphasis on fitness and health is also necessary in a time period when 35% of the children in the United States are considered obese.
Respectfully Submitted,
Marni Hess