February 2, 2009

AGENDA
Gardiner Elementary PTA
Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Present: Helen Wright, Serena Nestor, Karen Montell, Jen McKenna, Tony Theberge, Al Ghoreyeb, Paula Bourque, Ellen McGuire, Veronica Babcock, Katherine Kollman, Liz Brodie, Christy Gould, Karen Moody, Tiffany Awley, Tony Veit (Secretary)

I. Welcome/Introductions
II. Minutes from Last Meeting
a. Motion to accept: Paula
b. 2d: Veronica
c. Motion carries
III. Treasurer’s Report.
a. 2 book fairs: paid off
b. Current balance: $11, 215.03
c. Motion: Paula; discussion
d. 2d: Liz Brodie
e. Motion carries
f. Re-issue of voided checks. Several checks to teachers at $50/ea. (written 2007), and a $200 check on Jim Brunett Scholarship Fund (11/07) were never cashed. Do we reissue or void these checks? Discussion.
Motion to a) void checks to teachers, and b) reissue Scholarship fund: Paula
2d: Veronica
Motion Carries
g. Do we want to track a budget along the school year or calendar or what? There is little tax impact on this time process.
A. Treasurer will work on 2009/2010 school year budget, based on past year's spending.
IV. Principals’ Reports
a. Karen Moody
A. LER book fair: 2/20 12:30p
B. 100th day of school: breakfast (next Friday) 2/13/09: 90 parents RSVP’d so far
C. $650 in box tops, paying for Monmouth Theater (Three Little Pigs)
D. Considering a holiday bazaar at LER, similar to the annual bazaar at Riverview
E. 2 music shows (rather than 1) scheduled for May 21, to avoid overcrowding/heat
F. Chewonki v. rainforest. Chewonki has been cancelled in favor of Pony Express, which will bring rainforest animals for the 2d grade. There are some financial savings to this. Chewonki will still present for Kindergarten and 1st grade.
1. Motion: Paula: approve payment of Pony Express; discussion
2. 2d Christy
3. Motion passes
b. Al Ghoreyeb
A. 5 new students/school growing, lack of space.
B. Liz Hall: still out for medical reasons, will be out indefinitely
1. Schools/GEPTA arranging food or gift cards
a. Motion: Subway gift card $25: Paula,
b. 2d Ellen,
c. Motion carries.
C. RVCS assembly (already scheduled) at 8:45 am Thursday 2/12/09 will include bookswap/readathon kickoff.

V. Committee Reports
A. Family Fun Nights:
a. Winter Carnival: Katherine Kollman: 3/14/09 (Saturday) 5p to 7p (setup from 3p to 5p)
b. Ice Skating Night: Katherine Kollman: 2/28/09: 2:10p to 4:10p; privately rented at Ice Arena ($200, normal $400). Skate Rentals are $1. Only 36 pair of children’s skates there. Adult must accompany children.

B. Reading Incentives
a. Paula Bourque: Read-a-thon: 2/12/09 8:45a at RVCS, 2/11/09 possible at LER.
i. Teachers can earn books for class, certificates for kids, pens, or trophies for 1,000-plus minutes of reading.
ii. LER: character cutouts, choose author
iii. Discussion re: process for rewarding incentives: every class can win books and a popcorn party by making to their goal.
iv. Karen Moody: Form for teachers to determine goals. Paula will provide
v. “Thank you” bags for teachers who participate: less than $25 to be disbursed per teacher.
b. Paula Bourque: Bookswap: Sun, Feb 15, 2-3 pm, 3-4 Author’s Reception/talk
i. Sorting 2/12/09 6pm at LER. Forms going out to students for used books today. Announcements will occur at school
ii. Book boxes:
1. Onsite at LER.
2. Al Ghoreyeb will bring book boxes to RVCS.
iii. Motion: cardstock for bookmarks:
1. Paula,
2. 2d Ellen,
3. motion carries
iv. Next meeting will review how to “up the ante” for prodigious readers.
C. Fundraising
a. Karen Montell: Colley Hill Candles. Handmade in Hallowell. 50% ($6 to PTA ea. Small candle). Every 10 you sell, you get one.
i. Liz Brodie will coordinate committee meeting (over February holiday) to review.
D. Playground
a. Helen Wright: Raising funds: matching grant: Jeff and Allison Wells are looking into this.
b. Helen Wright: Pancake Breakfast: Sat April 4 @ Applebee’s. 6 people committed already. Show up at 7:45a. Starts at 8 am. To 10 am (last seating at 9:30 a). $5 per person ($3 to PTA, $2 to Applebee’s). Menu: Juice Water Coffee Pancakes.
E. Book Fairs: Liz Brodie: - April 9-16 @ RVCS and Apr. 30-May 14 @ LER (same day as music shows)
F. Volunteers: Helen Wright and Jill Jamison met with Al. Seeking feedback from the teachers. Helen will follow up with Al.

VI. Old Business
VII. New Business
A. Marie Tarrio: request for shelving for classroom for leveled reading. Concern re: purchase of shelving for individual teachers. Perhaps best supported by school, or provide to community areas (such as library).
B. Scholarship donation on behalf of Mr. Francis Whalen
a. Father to Jim Whalen (Gym Teacher) and Beth White (teacher) and grandfather to Joe White (teacher)
i. Transportation Director for SAD 11 for 11 years.
ii. Options:
1. GAHS sport boosters
2. David Atkins Scholarship fund
iii. Motion :Paula: table pending more information: discussion,
iv. 2d: Liz Brodie:
v. passes
C. Second grade Rainforest Program in place of Chewonki; need to allocate another $116 (savings offset regarding cost reduction of Pony Express)
D. School bd meeting 2/5/09.
E. Paula reviewed $600 option for Johnson Hall-supervised production for students. No transportation other than parents is associated with this. Concerns that some kids will not be able to attend.
a. Motion: Paula: look into time/cost/availability of this; discussion
b. 2d Liz, motion carries.
c. Possibility of email vote to finalize any support for this program.
F. Tony T.:
a. Bowl for Kids: Contact Tony Theberge for information.
b. Looking into grant for bicycle helmets, information requested from Brain Injury Association of Maine.
VII: Motion to adjourn: Paula,
2d: Liz Brodie,
motion carries