September 2011 Meeting Minutes

Below you will find the approved minutes from the September 2011 PTC meeting. We'll post October's "to be approved" minutes later this week!!

PTC MINUTES

September 12, 2012

Present: Terry Pond, Chele Condello, Amy Morris, Jose Miranda, Bridget Miranda , Don Margeson, Darcie Jones, Janet GrosJacques, Denise Zahradnik, Gary Etchemendy, Tonya Beard, Dawn Parks, Leslie Tegen, Karla Smith, Patty Vega, Michelle Unwin, Sandie Haller, Katie Wampler, Jessica Smeedma, Alexis Whalen, Nicole Arritola, Dani Proctor, Deborah Dean, Carey Thompson, Diane Clingerman, Wendy Mallow, Julie Smedima

Meeting called to order at 6:01 pm by Terry Pond.

Color Me Mine: Ron Baumer from Color Me Mine – each person that comes in for the National Pinwheel for Peace Day program in the studio that designates for Forest Ridge, $5 from each will come back to the school. This summer visitors raised over $100 for the kindergarten classes. Color Me Mine willing to fire clay projects for the classes, and provides art projects for classes, help with auction items, etc.

MINUTES FROM MAY AND JUNE MEETINGS: Minutes for the May 2011 and June 2011 meetings were distributed. Don Margeson made a motion to accept the minutes for both May and June, subject to name spelling corrections. Alexis Whalan seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously.

BUDGET REPORT:

Terry Pond gave budget report for this month. Detailed suggestion on the Instructional support portion of the budget designated at the end of last year ($10,000) was proposed to include a Parent Resource Library (with input from Gary Etchemendy and Darcie Jones) on a variety of parenting topics, training parent volunteers (could include paying for a substitute for a half-day to cover a teacher who spends time training their parents specifically on how to best assist students during directed academic time in class – reading, writing, etc.), After School/Supplemental Family Enrichment Programs, Teacher Support (at the discretion of school administration to provide additional support to the teachers since other funds are no longer available through the district), Contingency (based on needs that arise that we are unaware of at this time).

Actual carryover beginning balance from end of last year is $9670.07, which has a difference of $1538.99. These monies need to allocated in the budget. Suggestions included storage shed and savings towards future “large” purchase items. Suggestion to contact Keizer Storage to donate storage space that would be more secure. Subject will be re-visited after Jog-a-Thon and research on storage options.

JOG-A-THON REPORT: Amy Morris reported that $1000 has been donated from local businesses to underwrite purchase of t-shirts for all the students. Some of these community partners/sponsors will also be on campus the day of Jog-a-Thon encouraging the students. Jog-a-Thon team hopes to continue to encourage community spirit this year. Committee is looking for anyone who may have a contact with the Athletic Department at McNary to see if they have high school students to come and run alongside the students to encourage them as well. Team has committee heads for each key Jog-a-Thon area. Volunteers are still needed for Jog-a-Thon day – lap counters, volunteer refreshments, and packet assembly. (Sign-up sheets were circulated.) All prizes at this point have been donated. Kick off assembly is Friday, September 23, 2011. Jog-a-Thon is October 7, 2011.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT UPDATE: Alexis Whalen reported that Family Fun Night is Thursday, May 3, 2011.

ANDIE ANDEEN VIDEO: Miss Andeen prepared a video recap on the choir concert tour around the community from last fall. PTC field trip funds were used to help make this event possible. It can be viewed at http://forestridgetv.blogspot.com.

YEARBOOK UPDATE: Diane Clingerman reported Tree Ring Yearbooks program. There is no upfront cost to the school and no limit on the number of books. Parents go in and design the pages of the yearbook they choose to include. Everything is earth-friendly and they plant a tree for every book sold. The cost for a 20-page yearbook is $8.25 each, if we start program before September 25^th. Question raised about deadline for submitted information and pictures. Diane wanted to bring the information to PTC to approve before proceeding. Darcie Jones made suggestion that PTC consider purchasing some extras to be distributed at the discretion of the school staff for students who are not in a position to purchase a book.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT: Gary Etchemendy asked Darcie Jones, our school counselor, to come to the meeting. Darcie was the first counselor for Forest Ridge when the school began and is on staff this year splitting her time between Forest Ridge and Clear Lake Elementary. Darcie’s strategy is to be available to the students as much as possible and confessed she is learning new ways to do that well since she is splitting time between the two schools. Her hours at Forest Ridge are Monday afternoons, and all day Tuesday and Thursday. Email is the best way to communicate with her because she gets that regardless of which building she is in. Phone calls are also a good way to communicate. Gary Etchemendy reported that he assists at Mary Eyre on Monday afternoons in addition to his responsibilities here this year. Darcie Jones being available here Monday afternoons helps with administration support in the building while he is there.

Reading report:

K – Highest percentage of readers in the district

1 – 10% or more gain

2 – 10% or more gain

3 – over 80% met AYP goal

4 – over 90% met AYP goal

5 - 7% gain for Forest Ridge; OLE maintained over 90%

Significant teaching style changes and the RAH (Read At Home) Program are both significant parts of these successes that continue to grow at each grade level.

Math: (adjusted new standards)

3 - FR – 16% gain

4 – gains of over 27%

5 – FR 12% gain; OLE 3%

Science

10% or more gain

Writing

2^nd (FR) and 3^rd (OLE) highest scores in the district

Denise Zahradnik and Janet GrosJacques presented on reading strategies for kindergarten. Kindergarten begins tomorrow. Gary shared that Kindergarten is one of the hardest grades because students come in at such different levels – some knowing no letters and not reading at all to some who come in reading above grade levels. They thanked PTC for their involvement and support to make the purchase of the new classroom rugs possible.

Gary reported on school budget change updates. Library is staffed with Instructional Assistants providing some read alouds for classes, and checkout of books and simple library instruction. They are working on a schedule of times that parents can come to check out books for their students. It should be in Thursday Thoughts this week. In order to help with other diminished IA hours, lunches were combined to not use their hours for lunch coverage. Additionally, Gary reported on the change of recess being before lunch instead of after, and that teachers come to the cafeteria to help with wrap up of lunch time.

NEW BUSINESS:

Katie Wampler reported we are registered for Walk, Ride & Roll Day on October 5, 2011. Street coordinators are almost all contacted. Detail information will be in Thursday Thoughts and Facebook page.

Chele Condello reported on suggestion of monthly themes for PTC meetings and supplemental programs that coordinate with those events. It grows what Rob Coiner envisioned last year to have monthly coordinated events to support students, teachers and community Encourages and supports goals of community, teacher support, (suggested schedule distributed)

IRRIGATION UPDATE: Irrigation was installed this summer. The track did have to be cut in one section to run the water lines to the center of the track area. It is to be repaired prior to Jog-a-Thon.

Sandie Haller talked about setting the PTC as a non-profit organization and we are looking for someone who can answer some questions on the process. If someone knows an accountant or contact that may be able to assist with that, please contact Sandie Haller.

Diane Clingerman raised issue about 5^th grade field trip changes from last year and making adjustments to provide a different trip for this year’s 5^th grade class. Gary reported that based on the school district mandate of field trips being more educational. Gary suggested that parents come up with some suggestions and meet with him and the 5^th grade teachers to discuss options.

Meeting adjourned at 7:24 pm.