Brandt Kindergarten PTO

Hello fellow PTO members!

I’m Diana Whittles. My son Patrick is in classroom 307, Ms. Tregenza’s class. I’m on the Family Fun Committee as well as the Fundraising Committee.

I would like to fill all of you in on the specifics of the PTO's Election Day bake sale, as well some guidelines on what to bake and how to volunteer.

Brandt is a popular polling place, so we will have tables set up for the entire day, November 3rd, from 6 am-8 pm. In the morning there will be breakfast-y baked goods: muffins, croissants, pastries, coffee and tea. In the afternoon and evening we will be offering the more traditional bake sale items: cakes, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, tea and hot chocolate.

We are counting on all of our tireless, super generous parents (both PTO and non-PTO) to help us make this bake sale the roaring success I know that it can be.

If you have an item that you do better than anyone else or a regional or ethnic baked good or sweet that you would be willing to make, we would love to include it on our table! Of course, you don’t have to bake if you don’t want to — store-bought treats are welcome as well. If the item you want to make is spoken for, please come and talk to me.

On Tuesday morning, October 27th, we are going to have a table set up like the one we had for the Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse fundraising, where you can sign-up to bake, sell or provide supplies. We will also have a small bucket on the off-chance folks want to donate cash rather than bake or donate supplies. When signing up for an item, please be as specific as you can: “Cookies” should be “chocolate chip cookies” and “cupcakes” should be “yellow cupcakes with chocolate icing.” I’d also ask that you legibly print your name and classroom number down so if I need to find you I can.

Feel free to email me with what you are making or bringing and I will add you to my list.

I would ask the classroom mothers to gently guide your fellow class parents to the table on Tuesday and if anyone has any questions point them in my direction.

BAKE SALE GUIDELINES:

Our sale is TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd at Brandt School. We are asking everyone to please drop off supplies, and all baked goods to the school on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd between 2-4 pm.

While our children are off school that week the school will be open.

We will be stationed in the cafeteria.

Our bake sale is going to run from the time the polls open till they close, so it’s important that we have plenty of items.

IF YOU ARE BAKING:

• Please don’t cut or slice any of the brownies or cakes or pies. We will take care of that for you.
• Please include a little note with the name of what you’ve made and a little description about it so we can make a sign for the sale. If it has unusual ingredients let us know! That can often be a wonderful selling point.
• Please keep everything nut free.
• If you want your dish, plate or containers or other loaned supplies returned to you, please let us know.

IF YOU ARE ASSISTING WITH THE SALES THE DAY OF:

• You are welcome to bring your children with you but please let us know in advance. We will have a small area set up for them with art supplies and books and just want to be sure we have enough items for everyone.
• We are looking to have 4 people per shift and each shift will last 2 hours. If you are able to work longer than 2 hours please let us know.
• The polls are open from 6:00am to 8:00pm.
• Shifts are first come first choice.

Again thank you so very much for your help and support with this sale.

We couldn’t do it without you!

If you have any questions, concerns or need more information please feel free to contact Diana Whittles either by email: Vittin@optonline.net or by phone (201)683-7581.

PTO Info

Hello Parents!

I hope you are all finding your kindergarteners settled nicely into their school routine and anticipating many fun fall and holiday activities. The PTO has met several times and is very busy taking on new initiatives, tackling existing issues, and planning fun events that will continue to make Brandt’s kindergarten program a wonderful place to learn and grow for our children.

The next PTO meeting will be held on November 9th, from 7-9 pm in the Brandt cafeteria. We encourage all parents to attend and welcome all points of view. If you would like to be sent reminders about upcoming meetings and events, please send your email address to sarahcavill@gmail.com

To view all of the minutes from previous meetings, please go to http://brandt-pto.blogspot.com/

If you are interested in joining a PTO subcommittee, or helping out with one, there are still spots available. For a list of committees, please contact jillsullivan1@gmail.com or speak to Principal Vega who will be able to direct you to Jill or Sarah.


Upcoming Events


Rooftop Pumpkin Patch:
Hay bales and pumpkins will decorate our rooftop play area, creating Brandt’s own pumpkin patch. The children will decorate the pumpkin they “pick.” Thanks to the class parents and Ms.Tregenza, for organizing this great activity. Wednesday, October 28, during recess.

Halloween Party:
Costumes! Games! Treats! Our Halloween spooktacular will take place in the Brandt cafeteria. Volunteers will be needed, so please speak to Jill, Sarah or your class parent about what you can contribute. There will also be a sign-up sheet next week at pick-up and drop-off. Friday, October 30th, 1-2:30.

Thanks and have a happy autumn!

Sarah Cavill – PTO co-chair
Jill Sullivan – PTO co-chair
Kathleen Keilman – PTO treasurer

1. Attendees signed in, providing all contact information, and were directed to the donation bag for the Hoboken Shelter that will be at all meetings. There were approximately 16 parents in attendance, as well as Edith Vega.
2. PTO Blog:
• a) The blog will continue to post the meeting minutes, as well as upcoming meeting dates, and school events.
• b) The blog cannot be password protected in a manner that makes it easily accessible to all parents.
• c) Parents who do not want their names included should contact Sarah Cavill or Jill Sullivan.
• d) There will not be photos on the blog.
3. Finalize Committees and Expectations:
• a) Most of the committees are finalized, although there are many spots still open on the Start-Up Task Force committee.
• b) There will be 15 minutes at the end of each PTO meeting for groups to get together, but committees also need to meet outside of the PTO meetings. This will keep projects moving forward.
• c) The committees will be expected to pick a committee chairperson who will brief the PTO at each meeting on their committees’ progress.
• d) When organizing events for the Brandt Kindergarten, the committees should go through PTO chairs Sarah and Jill, who will coordinate with Ms. Vega. This will help avoid overlapping events or conflicts with other school activities.
• e) The class parent committee will help coordinate with the teachers about assistance needed with Brandt Kindergarten events, such as volunteering, baking, sign-up sheets and classroom activities that coincide with an event, like the holiday food drive. They will also coordinate events within their own classroom.
4. Halloween Plan:
• a) The Halloween party will include all five kindergarten classes and will be held in the cafeteria on Friday, October 30th, from 1-2:30.
• b) Parents and siblings will be invited.
• c) Volunteers will be asked to bake, decorate, bring decorations and other items and run the party activities. There will be sign-up sheets at drop off and pick up, which the Family Fun committee will coordinate with the class parents and teachers.
• d) The Family Fun committee will also talk with Mr. Scott about the children creating decorations for the party.
5. Thanksgiving Food Drive:
• a) There will a box in each classroom decorated by the children, for collecting non-perishable food items.
• i) This will coincide with an afterschool event coordinated by the PTO for the Brandt kindergarten which might include a movie night and snacks, after the children make placemats and sandwiches for the Hoboken Shelter or similar. This is a follow up item for the November agenda.
• b) The Food Drive is just one component of a “Community Service in the Classroom’ objective that the Enrichment committee would like to encourage. Other projects could include recycling bins in the classroom, a toy drive, a ‘pjs and book ‘drive, and collecting toiletries for local nursing homes.
• i) The Enrichment committee will also coordinate with teachers about ways to communicate these efforts to the children that are age appropriate and comprehensive.
6. Follow-Up Items from 9/21 Meeting:
• a) Spanish Teacher:
• i) Vanessa Falco contacted Assistant Superintendent Rusack about Brandt getting a Spanish teacher that isn’t also the principal. She scheduled a meeting with him to further discuss the issue. This is a follow up item for the November agenda.
• ii) Ms. Vega has established Thursday as the Spanish day.
• b) Schedule comparison with other schools:
• i) Michal Prevor contacted Wallace and found out that they have Spanish two days a week, as well as science lab. They split their art and music, with each being taught for half of the year. Michal, Ms. Vega and other PTO members will contact Calabro and Connors about their schedules. This is a follow up item for the November agenda.
• c) Chartwells:
• i) Billing will take place at the end of the month and menus will be available. Further concerns about the quality of the food will have to be taken up with Chartwells by the Enrichment committee.
• d) Pick up and Drop off:
• i) Most parents seem satisfied with the system. There was discussion of having every Friday of the month a day that parents can go to the classroom for pick up a bit early. Allowing the parents to see the classroom. This is a follow up item for the November agenda.
• e) Uniform survey:
• i) Many in the district have received a survey about the uniforms, but Brandt parents have not. Ms. Vega is going to look into this.
• f) “Lockdown Drill”
• i) There was discussion of creating a security procedure like the one at Wallace. Ms. Vega said that she was working on this.
• g) Tools of the Mind:
• i) Jessica Peters was not able to attend the October 5th PTO meeting, so further discussion of a Tools seminar for parents or a Tools presentation was moved to the November agenda.
7. 7. Additional items:
• a) PTO treasurer Kathleen Keilman will be setting up a PTO bank account and simple procedures for reimbursement, etc.
• b) The children will be attending the play Lily’s Plastic Purse at the Monroe Center. Dates and cost TBD.
• c) Fundraising ideas were discussed and they included ‘Smencils,’ box tops and a silent auction.
8. The next PTO meeting is November 9th, 7-9pm.