GFB PTO Meeting Minutes

January 14, 2015

• Principal’s Report (Mrs. Grimes)

We received some quotes for the fence ($4-7k).  The quotes are based on a green chain link, 3-4’ and will be installed along the playground where the trees are.  In regards to the Transportation Committee, they’ve reached out to Chief Delehanty and Mr. Calla and all ideas have been exhausted.

• Treasurer’s Report (Gillian Teixeira)

November started with $12,852.  We had $5377 in expenses and deposited $1958.   Our largest expense was Meadow Farms ($4627) and the 2nd payment to New England Aquarium ($334.50).  The largest deposit was for paint night ($980) and movie night ($928).  As of January, we have had $182.71 in expenses and $668.70 for deposits.  We donated $100 to the Mariana Fabiano fundraiser.  We just received the money for the fall box tops totaling $688.70.  All grants were approved from 3 teachers.  If your teacher has not taken advantage please notify them. There is a $150 allotment.

• Volunteer Update

Loop (Sarah Pettee): We need volunteers on Mondays.  Sarah may do a coffee hour after the loop one day with the Dunkin Donuts GC from Mr. Fabiano and Mr. Viscio.

School volunteers (Christa Shea): Email Mariana to volunteer.

• Fundraiser Ideas (Christa Shea)

Yankee Candle has a 40% profit margin.  Otis Spunkmeyer is $16 for 20 pre-cut cookies.  We need to decide if we are doing the calendar raffle because ATC may do it as well.  It cost $1500 to print last year.  We will look into quotes from other companies.  Winthrop Marketplace asked if we do sponsors for the calendar raffle.  We could mix it up with cash prizes and gift cards or services.  Incentive for the class who sells the most? We will look into a smaller raffle packet that includes the link to prizes.  Let’s look into drawing for the month of March.   Unanimous vote to continue the calendar raffle.

• Review of Recent Events

Movie Night (Kristen Buonpane) – Our first movie night went well.  We had 240 people and watched the Polar Express.  The rental company was great.   We made $75.

Math Night (Kristen Buonopane) – Scheduled for 2/5.  Flyers went out yesterday.  We will have math games and skills/strategies.  It will be grade - specific (40 kids per grade).  There will be 4 stations and we are doing a carnival theme again.  

Literacy Night (Christa Shea) - Scheduled for 3/6.  We will split up the centers this year.  Grades 2 and 3 will be in the gym and Pre-K, K and grade 1 will be in the cafeteria.  Online registration will be available.

Family Skate (Christa Shea) – Scheduled for 3/8. Sandra keeps track of the concession sales and we get 25%. The cost is $3 per child and there are no skates available there.  Helmets are required.  We will look for volunteers closer to date.

Someone Special Dance (Doreen Araujo) – The dance has been moved to 4/10. The DJ has been secured and the time reserved is 5:30-8:30 which includes setup and clean up.

• Site Council Update (Jen Gorman)

Fence – Waiting to see if they’re looking for financial support from the PTO.

Afternoon Transportation Committee – Looking for parent involvement.  There are some concerns around parents arriving too early.  There are safety issues due to parking and being on the wrong side of the road.  Possibility of another bus?  ATC promotes Wednesday walk day but that won’t work in the winter.  

Volunteers - Trying to figure out ways to get more volunteers and substitutes. There may be another round of substitute training. If you want to get on the volunteer list, submit an email to Mariana.  They’re hoping to send general emails to parents regarding the need for help once the email kinks are sorted out.  There also needs to be better communication around buses being late.

• Affiliate Programs (Doreen Araujo)

No updates.  Doreen submitted a chance to win 5000 box tops in a Market Basket contest.

• Open Forum

Someone inquired about raincoats, boots, etc. for all of the teachers.  We will look into the cost of large golf umbrellas.  We will also look into a box of hand warmers for the loop volunteers.

• Gorman Giving

Is anyone interested in heading this up? It would be 1 or 2 Fridays a month.