 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meeting was called to order at 9:20am. 27 were in attendence; great turn-out. THANK YOU to all those who attended.
The following PTA Board was in attendance:
Peggy Farrington, President
ABSENT: Debbie Martin, VP of Committees
Traci Scarduzio, VP of Membership
Jeanette Krauss, Treasurer
Lisa Ruvo, Corresponding Secretary
Shelly Black, Recording
Secretary
Van Wyck Info:
Mr. Shuchat and Mr. Dehey showed an informative presentation
on the Van Wyck Junior High. He views additions to Van Wyck as the
most viable solution to the expanding population in our area. It
is anticipated that Van Wyck will be going from 1450 to 1600 students over
the next few years.
--This construction will *ONLY* happen if the
March 11th vote referendum passes.
--He showed a new wing connecting the 6th grade wing
to the area where the elevator currently is to create a couryard.
--Also, a technology/new library/media center and gym
with locker rooms for 6th grade will be built to the left in the front
as you face the school (beside and behind the auditorium). Tech and
library will be moved to this new location and former library will
be class rooms and tech rooms will become new cafeteria.
--Another cafeteria and 'warming area' (to cut down on
the long lines but there will be no new kitchen) will be added across from
the existing cafeteria (on the right) for more space for the kids
to relax and eat their lunch.
--Teachers will be added to keep class sizes near 26-29
students. If Meyers 6th graders are moved to Van Wyck, that would
be 13 teachers moving to Van Wyck with them.
--The modulars will be gone.
--Process to add this space will be at least 3 years
to complete (approval, bid... thru opening rooms to students); it may be
that the priority is the classrooms in the back wing and that section could
be complete sooner.
--BOTTOM LINE: $380,000 is the median home price
in East Fishkill in the present market; to pass this referendum, taxes
on the median home would be an additional
$74 per year spread
over 5 years. Please VOTE.
To accommodate students next year, another lunch 6th grade
period will be added at 9:36am or 2pm (one was added last year at 1:20pm
for 6th graders). Snack/breakfast period for 6th grade can be adjusted
accordingly. Sixth graders are more isolated in their own 'wing';
gym class is grade specific. All grades are mixed on the bus and
somewhat in the cafeteria. There is scientific backing, and a large
percentage of schools across the US that agree, that to have 6th grade
- 8th grade grouped together is best for the kids.
Please e-mail: Steven.Shuchat@wappingersschools.org if
you have any questions. If you would like to have a tour of Van Wyck,
please e-mail or call to make an appointment.
A flier was passed out.
Master Plan meetings:
Initial public meeting will be Wed Jan 30 7:30
at Wappingers Jr. High. Then another Feb 13th at 7:30pm.
At Van Wyck February 20th at 7:30pm there will be another meeting.
There will be a Coffee
Talk at Fishkill Plains on Feb 28th. The vote
on these referendums will be March 11th.
Principal's Report: Mrs. Epstein was absent.
Teacher Liaison: Mrs. Plambeck was only able to stay early on in the meeting. Nothing was reported.
Treasurer's Report: Bank account balance is $9037.
PTA membership: Please sign up and support our PTA! There is a membership form available on the website at: http://www.wappingersschools.org/Plains/PTA/membershipForm.html. You get a discount at Liberty Mutual for PTA members and some stores in Hopewell will give a 10% discount for showing a PTA membership card. Peggy will have to get a list together of participating stores.
Programs: We had the frisbee Spinning Bees, Science and Magic was last Friday, Black history month stories with Queen Ner. These are all funded thru PTA with some reimbursements from BOCES.
Yearbook: Andrea Corbet needs specific pictures
of events! Field Day, Science Fair, Winter Concert 2007, Fault Line, Thinking
Green, Butterfly Garden... Getting away from 'Where's Waldo' style
of cut out faces. Please send in pictures to school ATTN:
Yearbook and Event name or e-mail: dreacorb@optonline.net.
March 1st is deadline!! Yearbook After School club will
help lay out the pictures.
To lower the cost per yearbook to the students, Bake
Sales will be held in on Tuesdays in February and March. Also,
Otis Spunkmeyer fundraiser will be for the benefit of the yearbook. Bakers
are needed!
Candy Bars: Candy Bars will be sold for Drama Club fundraiser.
After School Clubs: Registration form and descriptions/schedule are available online from the e-mail distribution list. They will run February 11th - March 17th. Jan 27th is the deadline for signup! Sewing, Knitting and one of painting classes are being cancelled due to low enrollment. Students in need of community service are greatly appreciated for club helpers.
Butterfly Garden: Dianne Aquilino and Nicole Devenchinzi(3rd grade teacher) will be working on this near the 5th grade wing. Mrs. Devenchinzi will have some grant money to contribute.
Talent Show: Kathy Rattigan, Chris Spafford are running it this year. The only Van Wyck date available is April 11th (Friday before spring break).
PARP: Memo will be coming home explaining PARP which will be held the 1st 3 weeks in March. Kim Busche is organizing.
Teacher Appreciation: Debbie Calabro is organizing this in May.
Science Fair: 5th Grade Fair will be held March 15 at John Jay. For younger kids it will be at Fishkill Plains during Open House. The organizer is Cheryl Migitz.
School store: Debbie Martin will hold School store January 29th during lunch periods. Erasers, pencils, folders, ... and various school supplies will be available for the kids to buy. Send $3 or $4 to buy a couple of things; most expensive item is $2.75. Year books from last year will be available at a much discounted price. Numbers are limited; first come first served.
Box Tops for Education(Karen Feldweg) and Campbell's Labels for Education(Sherri McNamara): Goldfish, Capri Sun, Splash juice lids are some of the items we are trying to save. A complete list is available on the Campbell's site http://www.labelsforeducation.com/
Directory: Traci Scarduzio sent it out.
Parent Info Center: PTA bulletin board is located outside the APR over the copier. Please check it out for current info.
School Spirit Wear: Some examples are hanging in the hall across from the APR door. Please send in the form with your order form and payment in an envelope marked SPIRTWEAR.
Holiday Shop: We are collecting things for next year's sale. If you come across items that would be appropriate, buy them and submit a PTA reimbursement form. Items are being stored (locked) on the stage. Keys and Locks for PTA cabinets will be held by Tina Burke at the Main Lobby Welcome Desk.
Committee Folders: If you run a committee, we would love for you to put together some notes(what worked, what did not) to be put into a folder which can be handed to the Committee Chair that will run the Event the next and following years. This is standard practice in other PTAs and we would like to adopt this for our school. Send Shelly (SDBlack@us.ibm.com) any notes and she will link to them from the Event Descriptions and Volunteer Sign-up Sheet that are already on the website for easy access and filing. See the Holiday Shop notes as an example.
Family Fun: Feb 8th is tentatively set for BINGO. We need volunteers to make this happen. Please contact Shelly SDBlack@us.ibm.com if you are interested in helping.
Please encourage neighbors/friends/other parents to come to the meetings.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:00am.
Next Meeting: Feb 22, 3:40pm