| September 2009 |
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PTO Meeting Minutes 9/15/09
Opening Prayer led by Mrs. Bouillard
Board introductions and Remarks: Roy Dahrouj introduced the board and thanked everyone at the meeting for supporting the PTO. He reminded everyone that parents need to be involved all year long and not just for the first meeting of the year. Roy Dahrouj, Presiden Kim Ayotte, Vice President Stacey Renaud – Public Relations Deb Tolson – Treasurer Mary O’Coin – Secretary
Introduction of Teachers and staff and Remarks: Mrs. Brouillard. Mrs. Brouillard introduced all the teachers and staff and stated that this was a “dream team” and full of dedicated and quality people.
She went on to inform the group of the Fall Appeal that takes place the last weekend of September. At all local parishes a student/parent of Trinity Catholic Academy speaks or appeals at their church’s mass to request that parishioners donate to the school fund using their Catholic School envelopes the weekend of September 26-27. Each parent/student pairing is given direction sheets before making their appeal.
Mrs. Loin spoke about the New Math Program for the 7th grade. This will be the first year for a two part set of Fundaments of Algebra. Part 2 takes place in 8th grade. Benefits of new math program:
The importance of collecting all items for fundraising was reviewed. The school collects Box Tops, Hood caps, Coke Rewards, Ink cartridges and soup labels. Also participates in local grocery store programs.
Last year over $1000 was received for Box Tops. An AV stand, 2 DVD players and boom box were received from Campbell Soup labels. Big Y has over 1,062,430 Big Y points for TCA at this time. Stop n Shop has a new program with receipts. Target offers a % to a designated school for using their credit card.
All of the above goes into the general budget and subsidize expenses.
It was mentioned that the staff did not take a raise this year. This made it possible for the tuition to only be raised the standard increment of $100 rather than a higher amount.
Treasurer’s Report: Currently has approximately $3400 to start the school year.
NEW BUSINESS: Planned events for September and October: 9/14-28 : Magazine Drive – Pam Morse, Chair – Pam stated she needed help with this program. It takes about 1-2 hours a day during the drive to reconcile the magazine orders and payments. Mrs. Brouillard reminded parents that the Magazine Drive is part of the $250 required fundraising per family. If a family opts to pay the $250 rather than participating in the drive and calendar sales their child(ren) are not eligible for prizes or relaxed dress code Fridays. It is up to the parent to explain to their child why they are not eligible. The magazine portion is $150. Out of dress code Fridays begin in October. If a family sells $300 worth of magazines they receive 20 coupons to be used on Fridays. If there is more than one child in the family, the coupons need to be shared by the children. If a family sells $400 worth of magazines, the children of the family will have automatic out of dress code Fridays and no coupons are issued. If family sells magazines, but only sells $200 worth, $100 goes toward the fees requirement and the family will be billed in the spring for the $50 not met. If they sell $300 magazines, they have met their $150 fee requirement for the magazine drive. There is actually a 60/40 split with the magazine company and the school, however the school allows for a 50/50 credit for meeting the fundraising fee. Speaking more on the required fundraising, Winter Calendar sales (Lottery Calendar) was mentioned. This the $100 portion of the $250 requirement. For every 10 calendars sold at $10/each an 11th is free. Again, if a family does not want to sell the calendars or magazines they can opt to pay $250 and not receive these items when distributed at the school. The calendars have cash prizes for a month. Amounts range from $25 to $500. A list of winners will be available through the brown envelope when it is over. Again, the 10 calendars sold or $100 raised is credited toward a families fundraising fee. If the family sells more than 10 calendars and did not meet their magazine fundraising fee, it will be credited. Calendars are done in house and are a dollar for dollar credit. The sales of magazines and calendars are budget items and raise up to $20,000 from Magazines and $17,000 from calendars. That is a very large portion of the budget. A question was asked about the Golf Tournament – those proceeds go to the endowment fund.
Terracyle: A new fundraising idea has been introduced and Rikki Ruffert explained what it is. Terracycle recycles used drink pouches, snack bags, cookie wrappers and makes them into usable school equipment such as book bags, pencil boxes and back packs. The school receives $.02 per wrapper placed in a recycle bin. It is an easy way to make money on trash. 9/19 – 20: Fall Appeal/Dioceses of Worcester 9/26 – 27: Fall Appeal at masses that weekend. 10/2: Fundraising Friday begins 11:45-12:15pm - Kim Ayotte Kim explained that the PTO will be sponsoring fun/themed items on Fridays for purchase for $1. Instead of trying to remember when there is a bake sale for the 5th grade, or ice pop sales for the kindergarten class, this will make it easier for parents and children to remember to pack an extra $1 on Friday to support a class trip or project. Teachers will not be required to raise their own funds for their class’s trip or project. This will help defray some of the costs associated with those events. However, it will not eliminate the need to pay for zoo tickets, Plimoth Plantation tickets, special event entrance fees. It will however, help in reducing some of those costs. Volunteers are requested to work from 11:45am-12:15pm on Fridays. Anyone willing to sign up for any Friday during the school year will be welcomed. Please contact Kim Ayott 10/4: RRI Fun Run – Maura Powers, Chair – Have about 90 shirts ordered with approximately 60 children participating in the run. Be sure to have your child, if participating, wear sneakers with their uniforms on Tuesdays and Thursdays for training. 10/5 : Blessing of the animals – 1:00 service, 1:30 animals arrive for blessing 10/8: Safe Environment Class for CORI participants (7pm). CORI Forms are available at the PTO meeting, main office and prior to the class. If a person has already been CORI’d by TCA they are not required to attend this class again. All parents wishing to participate in any class activity or school function as a volunteer must be CORI’d. If you are unable to attend this class please contact Mrs. Brouillard. If you are participating as a chaperone for the Apple Orchard trip 9/25, please have your CORI paperwork in the office prior to the 25th. Reminder: CORI’s are not transferable. If you have CORI’d by another school or church, you still need to be coried at TCA. 10/8: Class pictures (in full uniform) 10/9: Formal pictures (out of uniform) 10/14 : Anointing Mass – held at St. Mary’s. 10/24: Harvest Dinner – Mrs. Olson - Still need donations and servers. Has a list if anyone is interested. 10/30: Haunted House – Ms. Casey with Student Council. 6-7 pm. Need parents to help with games. 8-10pm is the dance for 6-8 grades. Special Events and Fundraising Committee lists looking for volunteers:
CLEAN THE SCHOOL - Germ Brigade – Kathi Grenier Every Wednesday the school will be wiped down with disinfectant to help keep our children healthy. Volunteers are needed to help for about 1 hour starting at 3pm. 1 or 2 parents from each classroom would be helpful. Mrs. Brouillard reminded that common sense was necessary to help keep everyone healthy this year. Frequent hand washing, desk top cleaning, flu shots and H1N1 vaccines for the children when available. Rule for flu… must be fever free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school. Must be asymptomatic. No heavy cough, extremely runny nose/congestion, diarrhea or upset stomach, please! New Business:
Next PTO Meeting 11/4/09 Mark your calendars for all the PTO dates: 11/4/09, 12/15/09, 1/20/10, 3/15/10, 5/5/10, 6/1/10 |