October 2008 PTA Meeting Minutes

PTA MEETING – October 2, 2008

General Meeting – 7:00pm

Welcome & Introductions - PTA President, Terri Canter, introduced herself and welcomed everyone.  We went around the room and had everyone introduce themselves.  There were 32 people in attendance.  (See separate sheet)

Administrative Update

Mr. McCoy, Principal – The staff enjoys the birthday gift bag from the PTA.  

The POPS program is off to a great start.  There were 3 parents there on Monday and 1 parent there today.  

Parents assisted staff with the vision and hearing tests at school.  

Cradlerock will set up table outside of Giant to sign up parents to PTA and get people in community to support Cradlerock by signing up for Giant Bonus Bucks for Cradlerock.  

The fundraiser this year was a success and he thanked parents for their participation.  Cradlerock has purchased a trophy case with proceeds from last year’s fundraiser.  The trophy case will be here in November.  

Cradlerock received a grant for the middle school to buy 18 LCD projectors.  The school purchased 8 so there are a total of 26 new projectors.  Next year the lower grades should be eligible for the grant.  Also next year there is a grant available from Target for which the school will apply.  

Cradlerock has a $5,000 grant for the Bridges chess program. 

The Halloween parade will take place on October 31, 2008 at 1:40pm for the lower grades.  The upper grades will not participate. 

4^th Annual Turkey Trot will take place this year.  May have to conduct turkey trot on separate days for the lower and upper schools.  Parents can run too, but will not receive the prize.  The Continental Society provided the gift cards.  

New Cradlerock backpacks are available for sale for $10.  They can be purchased in the front office.  Profits will go toward the school store.

Community meetings will start @ Guilford.  The administration is taking Back to School Night to the community.  The goal is to increase parent involvement.

November 17 is American Education Week.  

He praised the PTA for the solid showing of members at the PTA meetings this year.      

Budget Review – Updated copies of budget were passed out.  No changes recommended.  Copy of budget attached to these minutes.  

Committee Reports 

a)  Ms.  Eubanks – Fall Safety Fair will be held on Saturday November 8, 2008 11am – 3pm.  The Masons will be coming to do Child ID packages.  Also trying to bring in vendors along with the police and fire depts.  Fair is open to the community and the Cradlerock feeder schools.  Parents must be there!!  It’s totally free!!

b)  Membership – Trisha Ovide – $3,285 dues  321 PTA cards.  128 staff members, 193 parents.  Barbara Christensen won the PTA prize for the lower school.  

c)  PTA Website – Ilana Bittner absent – www.cradlerockpta.com.  Members of the Board of Education are up for election/reelection.  They will do a forum at Cradlerock with other schools invited to participate.  The person running for the open seat works with the cluster of schools and will attend the forum.

d)  PTA Council – Rick Whitaker – Updated us with handouts (see attached).  rick_whittaker_nsi@yahoo.com  

e)  Motion Monday/Birthdays – Jill Looper- Showed the meeting the gift bags given to the teachers for their birthdays which includes a card that says Happy Birthday from the PTA.  Motion Monday will start on Monday October 6, 2008, this is the 3^rd year.  Kids walk ¼ mile lap.  Last year Ms. Logan’s class won.  Participants get a certificate and a pencil.  CA donated free coupons plus 150 pedometer.  HC Recs and Parks donated 100 water bottles.  The top staff walker will receive a 1 hour massage.  There will be a top winner in each grade.  Prizes may include a small trophy.  Jill contacted Toys R Us and Dick’s for gift cards.   

f)  Cultural Arts – November 5, 2008 Spinny Johnson, former Harlem Globetrotter, will be at Cradlerock discussing bullying.  Also looking to change the movies the children watch during indoor recess to more education videos or videos with movement/dance.

g)  Spirit Wear – Terri Canter gave report for Chair- October 17^th the flyer will go home for ordering from October 20 – 31^st.  The orders will be here before the end of November.  There is a new vendor this year which includes tye-dye t-shirts. $9 for kids t-shirt to $30 for adult hoodie.  Parents can pay with PayPal.  Will do another spirit wear order in the spring.  

h)  Restaurant Night – Terri Canter -  We had one of the most successful restaurant nights at the Green Turtle.  The PTA made $859!!!!  Our biggest check ever!!!  Next restaurant night is at Fuddruckers on Tuesday, October 21^st from 3 - 9pm.  Each restaurant night has a drawing for a $15 gift certificate.  PTA is looking to do ZPizza and possibly partner with Smoothie King.  Dominique Atkins is the owner of Smoothie King and she is a partner with Owen Brown.  

A parent suggested that we may be able to do shopping days at Walmart or Target.  

i)  Staff Dinner – Dinner provided to staff during Parent/Teacher conferences on November 24^th and 25^th.  The front office covers the first night and the PTA covers the second night.  We are looking for a theme for the dinners.  We will do this again in February (the 25^th and 26^th).  

j)  POPS – Angie Woolverton -  POPS has been successful but still looking for volunteers to help in the halls.  The PTA now has its own communication box.  

k)  Market Day – Becca Brennan – Next Market Day is October 9, 2008.  We need every Cradlerock Family to order at least one item.  Kathy Fatig’s Girl Scouts helped distribute the food last month and were recognized for the help.  It was greatly appreciated.  They may come and help again.  Also Entertainment Books are available for sale with a competition between pods for selling the most books.  

Other Suggestions/Comments:  A car wash which would be ok as long as the county is not under any water restriction.  The 4^th grade students really appreciate the 10am snack break.  It helps get them through to their late lunch at one.  

Meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm.  Next meeting will be November 6, 2008 at 7pm.