These are the bulleted topics I presented at the PTA Meeting tonight:
• Elin Kordahl will receive her award October 8th at a banquet downstate for Oregon Librarian of the Year!
• Record High Number of kids enrolled here this fall – currently at 348; highest numbers at 30 and 31 in 4th and 5th; we now have the brand new Half-Day K class; children continue to register!
• Record Low Number of staff working here – budget cuts meant that we lost Half-Time Music, Half-Time P.E., and one full-time Educational Assistant
• Campaign Successful! – The last-minute budget cuts can’t hide my gratitude for the Annual Campaign results from last spring, which helped save one half-time specialist; if we wouldn’t have had those funds, we would have lost three half-time positions.
• Lunch Schedule needs changes – I’ve been watching our lunchtime closely, and I will be making changes in it very soon to allow students more time to eat. I may have to revert to “Eat first, then Recess”.
• Lunch Supervision – I am asking PTA to provide me a list of parents willing to come help supervise on the playground at lunch-time. We’ll be asking the parents and the staff to do the supervision, and have the Conflict Managers concentrate on conflict management. Once I get the names of the volunteers, we’ll invite them to a training with me at 10:00 to 11:00 on Monday, Sept. 27th; trainees get their own volunteer badge!
• Pick-Up and Drop-Off – I appreciate the help PTA members gave us on directing traffic; there are new parents, though, who continue to think they should park their cars in the drop-off zone in the morning.
• Skills and Assets of our children - Write your wishes for “What I’d Like Maplewood to Teach Our Children” on the giant poster in the main hall.
• Late Calls/Late Arrivals –Late calls in the day can be unsafe; please make your after-school plans as early as possible and send a note, or at least make a phone call early in the day. Also, please aim for early arrivals (“Ready at Eight” means children ready to begin instruction, not just walking in the door).
• Music Program – We’re going to convene people to give advice on what we can provide children, given the loss of our music program. We are looking at music lessons that could be provided after school for a fee, with subsidies available.
• Lost and Found – The pile grows again! Write your name on the inside labels of clothing, so we can help your children recover clothing that they forgot somewhere.
• Thanks to the PTA for helping host the New Parent Meeting – It was good to see that enthusiastic new group of parents!
• Thank you for Everything! We can’t adequately express our gratitude for your kind words, patience, offers to help, money donations, and volunteer time!
• Dates -
o Next Tuesday 9/22 - Two Hour Late Opening; school will open doors at 9:50.
o Thursday 9/23 – Back to School Night : Used Book Sale opens at 4:00;Field will be available for picnics if you like; Open House begins at 6:30
o Mon 10/4 - Hearing Screenings for K and 1st graders
o Tues 10/5 - Picture Day
o Thurs 10/7 - Walk to School Day, and next PTA meeting
o Thurs 10/7 - TAG Screening of all 2nd graders
o Fri 10/8 - NO SCHOOL- Statewide In-Service Day
o Weds 10/13 – Two Hour Late Opening
o Fri 10/15 – Carnival
o Weds 10/27 – Grandparents Day in afternoon (Gray M.S. is in a.m.); activities are to be determined. We have traditionally done a music performance, but this year, we have no music teacher!
o Tues 11/2 – Picture Retake Day
o Weds 11/3 – PTA Meeting
o Fri 11/5 – NO SCHOOL – Planning Day
o Mon 11/22 thru 11/24 – Parent Teacher Conferences
