Lactaid Milk Available at Lunch Time

Is your child lactose-sensitive? Chartwells, our school's lunch provider, will keep Lactaid in stock if you provide a doctor's note to keep on file with the School Nurse. This is a terrific alternative to the juices and humdrum water currently available at the school. Please allow a few days between sending your child's doctor's note in to Nurse Feely and when the milk will be available.


According to the American Academy of Pediatrics' site HealthyChildCare.org, "juice consumption should be no more than a total of four to six ounces a day for children aged one to six years. This amount includes juice served at home. Children ages seven through twelve years of age should consume no more than a total of eight to twelve ounces of fruit juice per day." Click here for the Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs report.

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Setting the Agenda for October 6th Meeting

We're setting up the agenda for our next meeting on Wednesday, October 6th at 6:30 pm. Please submit your agenda requests to Marcie (at symbol) craftraft (dot symbol) com or post in the comments below by Saturday, October 2nd. Thank you!

Minutes from September 15, 2010 Meeting

GORMAN FORT BANKS’ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PTO MEETING MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2010

BOARD MEMBERS:  Co-Presidents: Marcie Moline and Dawn Manning, Co-Vice Presidents: Cindy Silva and Jill Dorr, Treasurer: Jodee Harris, Co-Secretaries: Jackie Drevos and Kristen Fainga’a

Co-President Marcie Moline called the PTO meeting to order and invited Mrs. Pearson to share her report.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT:

Mrs. Pearson welcomed everyone to another school year.  She discussed the past Summer Reading initiative program that took place over the summer.

Mrs. Pearson also addressed PTO’s wish to have teacher participation at meetings.  Mrs. Pearson expressed that it is impossible to have teacher representation at morning meetings as that would require a substitute teacher to cover the teacher’s classroom in order to attend morning meetings.

Mrs. Pearson also expressed there is great need for volunteers!

                  VOLUNTEER REQUESTS EXPRESSED AT THE MEETING:

·       Carolyn Gagnon followed Mrs. Pearson by asking for morning volunteers to greet and assist with morning drop-off.  2-3 volunteers are needed per day from 7:45-8:00 AM.  A sign-up sheet was circulated.  Please contact Carolyn Gagnon or a PTO member if interested in volunteering.

·       Marcie Moline spoke on behalf of Jill Dorr.  5-10 volunteers are needed to retrieve the messages left on the Absentee Hotline voicemail starting at approximately 8:30.   This volunteer position allows parents to bring younger siblings and ensures the safety of our Gorman Fort Banks students.  Please contact Jill Dorr or a member of the PTO if interested.

·       Dawn Hurley expressed the need for Library Volunteers as well as volunteers for the upcoming Scholastic Book Fair.  Library Volunteers also allows you to bring  younger siblings to join you.  Book Fair cashier volunteers are needed on September 27, 28 and 29.  Please contact Dawn Hurley or the PTO board if interested in helping. 

·       Carolyn Gagnon also expressed the need for Friday morning volunteers to substitute in the classrooms from 10:00-11:30 AM Please see Carolyn Gagnon if interested.

PRESIDENTS’ REPORT:

Marcie Moline circulated a sign up sheet requesting parents to specify the areas they are interested in volunteering.  Cara Huberman will create a master list highlighting parents’ requests.

Marcie invited Cara Huberman to share her idea of having an ice-cream social.  Cara shared the idea of having an evening ice-cream social in conjunction with the fall book fair.  A vote was taken to post-pone until the spring. 

FUNDRAISING:

Marcie Moline invited Shannon Girard and Cara Huberman to share their ideas for fall/spring fundraisers. 

                  Shannon Girard offered the following three ideas:

·       Crazy About Cookies:  selling cookie dough

·       Keeping It Local:  Have local vendors sell goods at a vendor fair to benefit school

·       Kids Artwork:                  In collaboration with the art teacher parents could have their child’s artwork scanned onto various products: mug, mouse pad, wallet etc

Cara Huberman:

·       Good Earth Candle Company of Rowley: selling candles

·       New England Coffee Company of Malden:  selling coffee and tea

·       Harbor Sweets of Salem: selling gourmet chocolates

·       Maine Maple Products, Inc: selling maple products

PTO members expressed appreciation to Cara and Shannon for their research and diverse options. 

*It was voted to sell cookie dough.  Details to follow.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

                  As of September 15, 2010 the ending balance was:

·       $7493.60

o   $542.00 was raised during Spring Clothing Drive

o   -220.00 deposit to Oochworld

UPCOMING EVENTS:

·       OOCHWORLD:  Friday, October 8, 2010 for grades 1-5

o   An anti-bullying program by Brett Outchcunis, please visitwww.oochworld.com

o   Cost is being shared by Fort Banks and Cummings schools

·       SPOOKY BINGO:  Friday, October 22, 2010

o   Students come dressed in school appropriate costume.  Improvements will be made to allow for better sound and visuals.

o   Tickets will be sold in advance

ADDITIONAL ITEMS:

·       Room parents were selected at the end of meeting.  Room parents were later notified.

·       It was expressed to hold a clothing drive.  Christine Bernstein will look into logistics and dates.

·       Members expressed the possible need to create a fundraising sub-committee.

·       Carolyn Gagnon voiced the need to hold limited detailed discussions/comments to specific committee meetings.  This will help keep PTO meetings on target and time sensitive.

·       Marcie Moline asked for a volunteer to assist with updating the PTO blog to keep families informed.  Nikki Tsiotis graciously offered to help.

o   www.fortbankspto.blogspot.com

Please contact Dawn or Marice with any ideas, comments or feedback:

                  Marcie:  marcie (at sign) gmail (dot symbol) com

                  Dawn:   kmanningfamily (at sign) comcast (dot symbol) net

Next meeting October 6, 2010 at 6:30 PM in the school cafeteria.

                                   

PTO Agenda for Wednesday, September 15

Setting the Agenda for our First PTO Meeting

Our first PTO meeting for the academic year is Wednesday, September 15th at 8:30 am in the school cafeteria. It will be chock full of information and volunteer activities for the year. If you have agenda items for this upcoming meeting, please submit them in the comments no later than Saturday, September 11th. If your request does not make it into the September 15th meeting agenda, please feel free to contact the PTO Executive Board to discuss your request.

Kindergarten Tea for Parents and Guardians

Friday, September 3rd, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. is an opportunity for pre-k and kindergarten parents/guardians to get an overview of information that should be given to the school (i.e. access to nurse, lunches, etc.). This is also an informal opportunity to meet one another.