- There were approximately 10 parents in attendance, as well as Jessica Peters, Beth Tomlinson and Lauren Brunt.
- Follow-up Items:
Going forward, we will only address follow up items that have a status change since the last meeting.
- Lit Life: Ms. Peters confirmed that the Lit Life personnel will do a presentation on the curriculum. We are waiting for a date and time.
- Lit Life is primarily an approach to literacy. It is similar to Tools of the Mind (TOTM). The math and science components at the first grade level are more teacher-based, following a specific textbook set.
- Ms. Peters was asked if there is tracking based on achievement in the district’s first grade programs. She said there is some, but it is reevaluated often.
- Spanish: We still don’t have a start date for the new schedule or a new teacher. The group discussed approaches to moving the process along. Sarah Cavill agreed to write a letter to Ms. Vega and Mr. Rusak requesting clarification. We were told in the fall by Mr. Rusak that this issue would be resolved in 48-hours.
- Lit Life: Ms. Peters confirmed that the Lit Life personnel will do a presentation on the curriculum. We are waiting for a date and time.
- Field Trips and Assemblies:
The Board of Education (BOE) approved:
- Carnegie Kids (1/28) – The teachers will receive a standard permission slip to give to the students a week or so prior to the trip, with a request for parent volunteers. Students must be on time or early on the 28th, so that the buses can leave on time.
- Jersey City Museum of Art (2/10-2/12)
- Jenkinson’s Aquarium (3/29-3/30)
- Interpretive Center at Liberty State Park (4/21-4/23)
- Jill Sullivan agreed to write up which classes are going on which date.
- Magic Sky and Mad Science have not been approved for a BOE agenda. The Board is reluctant to approve programs that are not offered to the whole district. Several solutions were discussed:
- Could we offer it during the day? There is a block of space being used for science right now, but it is not in a lab setting.
- Could the PTO just outright pay for Magic Sky and charge parents for Mad Science? Do we need to open it up to other kindergartners in the district?
- Does the BOE know what we are asking for? Should we reach out to them and explain that our curriculum isn’t the same as other kindergartens in the district?
- Should we go to the press about science and Spanish and these other issues where there isn’t parity?
- Financial update: Treasurer Kathleen Keilman gave an update on the PTO’s finances.
- The Green Initiatives 50/50 rally brought in $925
- As of December 31, the PTO account had $1948.
- There has been no movement from the business office about accounts and liability.
- Committee Updates:
- Fundraising (Diana Whittles):
- The wine tasting/silent auction is tentatively scheduled for March. There was discussion of feasibility due to costs, volunteer efforts, etc. Sparrow suggests tickets priced at no less than $55. The Hudson Tea community room costs $500. Would ticket sales be the money generator or would it be from wine sales and auction items? Should we open it up to the rest of the community? This is a follow-up item for February.
- Family Fun (Sarah Cavill):
- Movie night will be January 22nd at 6:30 in the Brandt gym. The children will pick the movie. They can wear the pjs during the day and should bring a sleeping bag to the movie. There will be a request for donations of snacks and drinks.
- Enrichment (Rebecca Howden):
- In-school enrichment:
- Music: The children enjoyed the trombonist in December.
- Phys-ed: Devotion yoga is going ahead with phys-ed enrichment this month.
- Jane Lavascoe, author of Casey and Bella Go to New York City will be coming to Brandt to speak to the children in the spring. There will be two assemblies, 40 minutes each. This needs to be approved by Ms. Vega. The author will be distributing order forms, which need to be approved by Mr. Rusak.
- Other ideas for enrichment possibilities include sewing, photography, and architecture.
- Green Initiatives:
- The enrichment committee is going to write up a succinct calendar of events with descriptions of each activity and present it to the teachers. The first activity is worms in February.
- In-school enrichment:
- Fundraising (Diana Whittles):
- First Grade:
There was a discussion of the recent visit to Brandt (1/7) from Superintendent Carter. The group thinks that the presence of two board members and parents from other schools at that meeting was encouraging. Ms. Peters had heard nothing new about the possibility of first grade. However, there will most likely be an announcement about a new superintendent in March, who will begin next fall. Further steps to secure first grade include:
- Talking to the Board members individually.
- Encouraging parents to write their BOE members and Mr. Carter.
- Maintaining a presence at the BOE meetings.
- Reaching out to pre-k parents and encouraging them to speak out about their desire for first grade.
- The next PTO meeting is February 1st, 7-9pm
- Attendees signed in, providing all contact information. There were approximately 10 parents in attendance, as well as Jessica Peters.
- Follow-up Items:
- The rooftop playground: It’s up. It passed final inspection and the kids are using it.
- 1st grade letter: Sarah is managing the petition and will work with class parents to get a petition signed. This is a follow-up item for January.
- Bike rack: It is in limbo, because of concerns about liability issues related to children riding their bikes to school. Ms. Peters will continue to follow-up.
- Tools of the Mind (TOTM) and Lit Life Presentations:
- The December 2nd TOTM presentation at Wallace for pre-k and k parents was attended by about 40 parents, which included 30 parents who were new to the district and 10 families that are already enrolled in pre-k and k.
- Lit Life is the curriculum for 1st grade. Ms. Peters will help us pick a date for a presentation with Jennifer Lopez, who organizes Lit Life’s training. This is a follow-up item for January.
- Spanish: We still don’t have a start date for the new schedule and there is some question as to whether there will be an entirely new teacher, or if we will still be doing the swap with Wallace. Once Ms. Vega has the new schedule and teacher information the parents will. This is a follow-up item for January.
- Financial update: Treasurer Kathleen Keilman gave an update on the PTO’s finances. No change from last month in the account. There will be expenses for the raffle and holiday party. Kathleen generated three forms — one for vendor checks, one for reimbursement of out of pocket expenses, and one, a cash receipt for putting money into the account — and is now requesting these to streamline the movement of money in and out of the account. Sarah will put these on the blog, until then they can be requested from Sarah, Jill or Kathleen.
- December 15th Board of Education Meeting – these are all follow-up items for January (Jill):
- All of the event proposal forms have been completed — including cost and curriculum specifics — and been approved by Ms. Vega and Ms. Peters. Ms. Vega will submit these for Board approval.
- We are requesting $11,700 dollars. Ms. Vega spoke with the business manager, who suggested using overflow from the curriculum budget for our account line. This is managed by Ms. Peters, who found $10,600 for us. This should make getting approval for the remainder much easier.
- We are hoping for strong attendance at this meeting, since it will be the meeting in which specifics about 1st grade are discussed and possibly voted on.
- Buses: We have tentatively scheduled buses for all of our planned field trips. The Carnegie Kids trip is going to cost slightly more, because we will need a private bus or buses in order to take the entire kindergarten class at once. It was suggested that the enrichment committee talk to Carnegie Kids about spreading the trip over several days. We also have a bus held for a May/June event, should one arise.
- Committee Updates:
- Fundraising (Vanessa Falco):
- A 50/50 rally that will raise money for enrichment activities for the kindergarten class has begun. Tickets have been dispersed and there will be several days of booth sales as well. The goal is to raise $2000, with $1000 going to the winner.
- Tentative plans for further fundraising include a wine tasting and silent auction at Hudson Tea building with Sparrow Wine & Liquor, in February or March. Tickets between $30-$50.
- Family Fun (Sarah Cavill):
- The Holiday party will have games, crafts, dancing and snack. It will begin with a concert by the children, who are learning holiday songs from Mr. Scott. It will begin at 12:45 on December 18th. Volunteers are needed.
- Enrichment (Emily Barere and Rosemarie Pullano):
- In-school enrichment:
- Music: A trombonist will speak to the children and play for them on December 21.st
- Phys-ed: Devotion yoga has agreed to come to the school and do a yoga class with the children. She will cover all five classes individually, but spread it over two days. The owner would like a flyer in the children’s folder or a mention in the PTO newsletter. We will need Mr. Rusack’s approval for this.
- Green Initiatives:
- Rosemarie and Emily spoke about the ‘Green Initiatives’ service project that the enrichment committee has developed for the children. In developing this project the committee sought to create an initiative that included responsibility, charity, stewardship and social awareness. The project will be age appropriate and something the children can empathize with and understand. There are many tie-ins through the curriculum; it’s hands on and the kids will be able to see the results. It is also a subject the teachers can discuss easily.
- The enrichment committee will be making a calendar of events with descriptions of each activity and presenting it to the teachers.
- In-school enrichment:
- Fundraising (Vanessa Falco):
- The next PTO meeting is January 11th, 7-9pm
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