Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Spooky BINGO is now
SOLD OUT!

If space becomes available, we will post this information on our Facebook page and Blog.

Thank You!

Sunday, October 12, 2014

REMINDER!

Meadow Farms Fundraising packets/order forms are due back on Wednesday, October 15th.  You can return them in your child's backpack (or order online).  All money raised will help support Gorman Fort Banks School!  We appreciate your efforts to help!


Thursday, October 2, 2014

Gorman Fort Banks PTO 
Meeting Agenda for October 8, 2014 

  • Welcome
  • Introduction of Board
    • Co Presidents Kristen Buonopane and Christa Shea 
    • Co Vice Presidents Mariana Babine and Jennifer Gorman 
    • Co Secretaries Lauren Capasso and Crystal DeMayo 
    • Co Treasurers Reena Cash and Gillian Teixeira 
    • According to our PTO Handbook: If any member of the PTO would like to have an item added to the agenda, they can submit a written request to the secretary at least seven (7) days before a meeting.


  • Principal’s Report (Mrs. Pearson) 
  • Treasurer Report (Gillian Teixeira) 
    •  Summary Report of Disbursements and Balance 
  • Volunteer Update (Mariana Babine) 
    • Loop (Sarah Pettee) 
    • School Volunteer help please contact Mariana at mbabine@winthrop.k12.ma.us 
  • Walk to school day (Dawn Sullivan) 
  • Meadow Farms Fundraiser (Christa Shea) update and clarifications 
  • Affiliate programs (Crystal DeMayo) 
    • Box Tops 
    • Labels for Education 
    • Target 
    • Stop & Shop A+ Rewards 
  • In-school Enrichment Activities (Kristen Buonopane and Jennifer Gorman) 
    • March enrichment 
  • Upcoming Events (Gillian Teixeira and Christa Shea) 
    • Spooky Bingo October 26 (200 people max) 
    • Adult only Paint Nite November 7 (100 people max for painting) 
    • looking for Prize and Raffle donation for Spooky Bingo and Raffle items for Paint Nite 
  • Email communication (Gillian Texeira) 
  • Summer reading (Christa Shea) 
    • approximately 200 students participated 
    • special thanks to Twist and Shake for the Free cone for each child that participated 
  • Someone Special Dance 
    •  when and where 
    • need a committee to research it more 
  • Playground Update (Kristen Buonopane) 
  • Open Forum

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Meeting Minutes
September 23, 2014


• Principal’s Report (Mrs. Pearson)
  • Staff scheduling is currently being worked on. 
  • The traffic situation and wrap-around program are going well. 
  • One of the main problem areas is security volunteers (loop and substitutes).
  • Curriculum night had a disappointing turnout.
  • GFB is going paper-free so submit email addresses and check the school web page.


• Treasurer’s Report (Gillian Teixeira)
  • We closed out last year on a positive note ($19k)
  • $7900 for technology grant 
  • The guidelines for the classroom grants have changed and moved back to Feb.
  • General fund is currently at $7200 and $5-6k will be spent on enrichment.


• Room parent (Jennifer Gorman)
  • The drawing will be held after the meeting – please consider volunteering even if you are unable to be a room parent.

• Volunteer Update
  • Loop ( Sarah Pettee): Loop assistance is needed, even if someone can help for 20 minutes after dropping off their kindergartener. Please pass on the word!
  • School volunteers (Gillian Teixeira): We need volunteers for several events. 

• Walk to school day (Dawn Sullivan) Wednesday, October 8
  • The Safe Routes to School Program encourages people to walk to school to increase physical activity and decrease traffic. People can walk in groups or meet at lots (Crest Ave, Veteran’s Rd, George St). This year, we are leaving it up to parents to coordinate. Info is on the school website and Facebook. The bus will run on its regular schedule.

• Meadow Farms Fundraiser (Lauren Capasso)

  • We are starting the fundraiser on Oct 1 and running it for 2 weeks. We are looking at a 40-50% profit margin. We are selling tumblers and a variety of gift/holiday items from another catalog. Online ordering is available. The items will be boxed by child by the company. We were working on a location to store them but the gym or basement may be available now.



• Updates (Gillian Teixeira)
  • Kindergarten social: Aug 17. We gave out freeze pops and waters. It cost PTO under $141. We made $91.
  • Kindergarten Tea: Sept 8. We got some Stop & Shop cards. It cost PTO under $100.
  • Ice Cream Social: We had over 300 registrants and collected over $1000. We are normally billed over $600 but it was only $450 this year due to volunteer scoopers. We raised $550 and hope to do another at the end of the school year.
  • T-shirt Sales: We are working on the forms now and will place the order on Monday. We are doing short sleeve only at this time and may do sweatshirts or long sleeve for the fall/winter.


• Affiliate Programs (Gillian Teixeira)


  • We are collecting box tops and labels for education. Send them into school at any time. Sign up for S&S cards so your food shopping goes towards the school.


• In-school Enrichment Activities (Jennifer Gorman)
  • We will have 5 this year (3 in the fall and 2 in the spring). 
    • October: Domino the Great, Buddies not Bullies
    • November: Museum of Science, Observing Air & Flight  and States of Matter (3rd Grade)
    • December: New England Aquarium Rock Hopper Penguins


• Upcoming Events (Gillian Teixeira)
  • Spooky Bingo Sunday, October 26. Doors open at 2pm. All events will be pre-registered. There is a max capacity of 200 people. We are trying an email confirmation this time around. Let us know if you don’t get a flyer for any event. We need volunteers to set up, break down, do raffles, etc.
  • Adult only paint night is Friday, November 7 at Winthrop Yacht Club. There is a 100 person limit. We are looking for adult raffle prizes.

•  Poster Enlargement Printer (Christa Shea)

The printer will make 24x36 posters to enrich learning. Current cost is $6694 and

this price is only effective until 9/30/14. There is additional $2000 for a 5 year

contract. Viking Pride will donate $2000. There is 1 training included and Mrs.

Pearson will designate someone to use the machine. Voted and approved.


• Open Forum

“Someone Special Dance” – add this to the October agenda