MOUNT VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL PTA

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

2007-08

October 15, 2007

CALL TO ORDER: 7:08 p.m.

ATTENDANCE:

Dia Hernandez – President, Tracy German – V.P., Liz Roberts – V.P., JoAnn Kohler – Treasurer, Sandy Mann – Recording Secretary, Tammy Lightner – Corresponding Secretary, Lorraine Miano-Fike – Delegate, Mark Norman – Delegate,  Debbie O’Byrne – Asst. Principal, Linda Rafferty – Co-Chair Magazine Drive, Donna Augustino – Magazine Drive, Cathy Lein – Staff Appreciation, Timothy Guy – PBIS/ 8^th Grade Team Rep, Suki Nam- 6^th Grade Activities, Susan Kelley – 6^th Grade Activities,  Brian Walsh – 7^th Grade Team Rep, Gayle Gavazzi – 6^th Grade Team Rep, Elanna Binder-Taylor – Membership Committee, Anita Koehler – Volunteer Coordinator, Wendy Vlahos – 8^th Grade Activities, Lori Ferraro – School Support and Interaction, Jeanne Furman.

MINUTES:

There were no objections to the September minutes and reading of the minutes was waived.  Motion was made and approved to accept the minutes as written.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT:

Traffic - Dismissal time traffic issues still persist.  We are still getting a lot of emails from parents that pick up is slow.  The traffic light is blinking now.  Mrs. O’Byrne was told by police to call them a half-hour before we want someone there to direct traffic.

7^th Grade Homework – 4-5 parents have called to stress their concern over the quantity of homework in 7^th grade.  Some students are doing 3-4 hours a night.  Not sure if it is last minute projects.  Mrs. O’Byrne will take it back to the 7^th grade team to discuss.

Parent Outreach Support Committee – Follow up to discussion last month.  Jeanne Furman spoke of getting some parents of special needs kids involved to help start this committee with some brainstorming of some ways to get started.  This committee could help teachers, special needs students and their parents feel connected to the school.    After discussion, Ms. Hernandez suggested that the interests of Special Education support & outreach to parents, might be partnered with Laura McDonald’s recent suggestions regarding MVMS becoming a Howard County Connections Asset school, and could also include outreach to the non-English speaking parents.  She mentioned Young Hahn, who is a liaison to the Korean parents at MVMS who don’t speak English.  Ms. Hernandez proposed that she email all three parents and facilitate their introductions to each other, so they could begin to discuss the activities their committee might facilitate.  After consideration, the board agreed it should be set up as a sub-committee of the School Support and Interaction committee.

TREASURER’S REPORT

The September Treasurer’s Report was reviewed. 

Income included: $1952.22 membership dues, $ 532.23 Escrip and Box Tops, $2.30 miscellaneous, and $8,333.87 Magazine Drive.

Expenses included: $23.08 School Spirit Activities, $190.00 PTA Dues (county), $150.00 PTAHC Scholarship, $120.98 Teacher Team Support, and $70.00 Insurance, bonding.

***  special note – we are looking for a batch of deposit tickets that were received by the school but did not make it to JoAnn Kohler.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT:

Not present.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S REPORT:

The Principal/PTA President meeting will be held on 10/16/07.  Both Mrs. McKinley and Mrs. Hernandez will be attending.

Sky Flyer Day will be November 1^st.  This is our first PBIS reward to students.  They will turn in some of their Talon Tokens to attend.

American Education Week is November 12^th – 16^th.  We have set up scheduled visitation days for each grade:  11/12 – 6^th Grade, 11/13 – 7^th Grade, 11/14 – 8^th Grade.

Spirit Team is working on lots of great ideas.

We will be starting Morning Drop In’s – help with organizing notebooks, lockers etc.  We are asking the PTA to partner with the school to help pay for the certified teacher (the school has some funds for this).  The motion was made to include this in After School Activities at same level as last year.  A motion was also made to support Chess Club.  Both were unanimously approved.

We are looking for parents to help with Sky Flyer Day by pushing cart around and giving out treats/push up pops.

TEAM REPORTS:

6^TH GRADE TEAM:

Mrs. Gavazzi reported that Social Studies quarterly assessments are scheduled for October 30^th.  National History Day projects are off to a great start.  Science assessments will also occur on October 30^th.  We will have a review session before.   We will have Meteorologist as guest speaker on October 31^st.  GT Science projects are due on October 22^nd.  We are looking for gift cards to use for Bingo on Sky Flyer Day.  We will partner with a school in Africa again this year.  We want to remind everyone that the extended absentee policy is in place.  Please send in a letter in advance of absence to the Principle and Guidance office.  Work can be found on the website.  We will be addressing academic integrity with the students (expectations of students, copying homework etc.)

7^th GRADE TEAM:

Brian Walsh reported for 7^th Grade.  First Quarter Assessments are coming up.  They will be staggered.  No more than 2 on any one day.  Also, we will be introducing Academic Honesty during class time.  This is a school wide iniative.

8^TH GRADE TEAM:

Tim Guy reported for 8^th Grade.  The Reading/English/Social Studies teachers are asking parents to encourage reading over watching T.V.  Core rotations are up and running.  We are accomplishing a lot.  8^th Grade MSA is on 11/6.  We are looking for volunteers for PBIS.  We are trying to get them off of trinkets for Talon Tokens.  We would like to do more raffles/drawings for bigger stuff.  To do this we are asking for donations of gift cards etc.  We are especially in need of volunteers on Fridays during the 2 hours of lunch to take Talon Tokens.  Student Government is getting started.  They will meet once a month.

RELATED ARTS:

The Band and Orchestra students will be going to the BSO to hear a rehearsal on October 18^th.  15 Mt. View students were chosen for the G.T. Band.  The custodians are requesting a new welcome mat with Mt. View logo for front entrance.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

MEMBERSHIP:  Elanna Binder-Taylor reported that membership sign ups are going fine.  We are up to almost 400.

FUNDRAISING:

Magazine Drive – Tracy German reported that we had about $31,000 in magazine sales.  The committee will be meeting with the rep about some changes for next year.

Spirit Wear – Sales were at about $3,400  as of last week.

Yankee Candle – this fundraiser will run through October 27^th.  Delivery is expected around December 8^th.

Coffee – this fundraiser is up and running.  Place orders online.

Box Tops – Fall collection was sent in.

SCHOOL SUPPORT & INTERACTION:

Volunteer Coordinator - Lori Ferraro reported that the volunteer schedule is out.

SIT Team – Brenda Twigg cannot do SIT this year.  We are looking for someone to attend the meetings.  They are held after school on Thursdays – not every month.  The first meeting is October 25^th.

DELEGATES REPORT:

Marc Norman reported on the information presented at the October PTA Council meeting. Discussion topics included:

1.      Coat Drive – Coats will be collected at the next meeting on November 5^th.   The Mt. View Spirit Team is sponsoring the coat drive at the school and will collect coats the last week of October.  We will have a friendly competition between the grades.  Falcon time teachers will collect coats then the spirit team members will come around to collect, tally and put in bins.  Our goal is 500 coats school wide.  We will have some reward for all if we reach that goal – party in café or falcon time tailgate etc.  The coats should be clean.  They are also accepting large and extra large sweatshirts.

2.      The Homewood School and ARL both made presentations.  Homewood serves about 1% of county students.  They don’t have a PTA so we have been supportive in the past.  They are asking for this again.  ARL has a staff of about 30 and are also looking for support from our PTA.  Also looking for industry mentors.

3.      There will be an Open House the week following Thanksgiving.

4.      There is a Facilitator Leadership Program being offered.

5.      The library made a presentation of their services.

6.      Executive Leadership Training will occur next week.

7.      There was a presentation on CERN (Community Energy Response Network).

STUDENT SUPPORT ACTIVITIES:

6^th Grade Activities –  Cathy Terrill has helped Susan and Suki get started.  The first 6^th grade activity is a movie (The Bee Movie) on November 2^nd.

7^th Grade Activities -  Not present.  Adventure Park outing is scheduled for Friday.

8^th Grade Activities – Wendy Vlahos reported that they would like to do a ballot polling of the students during lunch to see what they would like to do this year.

Cultural Arts – Not present.

After School Activities – Golf activity is still in follow up, also will check on Chess Club.

OLD BUSINESS:

There was no old business to discuss.

NEW BUSINESS:

We need to check the date of the next PTA meeting.  It is scheduled on a half day.  Dia will review and change if needed.

MEETING ADJOURNED 8:38 P.M.

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