Highland View PTO: Wow! Our kids are SO smart! (Also, help?)

Hello Highland View Families!

Wow!  Thanks so much to all the families and friends that attended, participated in, volunteered at, built projects for, and just plain helped Highland View's STEMfest!  It was AMAZING!

I hope everyone that went, whether your student was showing a project or not, was as inspired and astounded by the variety and quality of the projects as I was!  You could feel the brain cells growing in the gym.

On a different (and very last minute--sorry!) note, does anyone want to help give away books on Monday?  Our next RIF Book Give-Away day is Monday 3/21/2016, and in all the STEMfest hullabaloo, I completely forgot to ask for help giving kids books tomorrow.  It's about one of the most rewarding volunteer opportunities at Highland View (seriously, you're giving kids books!) Let me know if you'd like to help. ( hv.ptorg@yahoo.com , or reply to this email, or call/text (414) 595-6668 )

Thanks again everyone: Highland View is as great as it is because of you!

Aleks Skibicki

PTO February Meeting Minutes

Minutes:  Highland View PTO

Monday 2-8-16

1. Called to order at 6 p.m., 6 people in attendance
2. Minutes from January were reviewed.  It was noted that there is a correction in Principal’s Time from the previous minutes.  The STAR assessment results were given 2/19 or at conferences.  The correction was noted and January minutes were reviewed and approved.
3. Treasure’s Report -Neon Dance Night made over $400.  Attendance was at least 475.  Tallying stopped at the end.  It was a great success and the kids had fun! Treasure’s report was presented and approved.
4. School Board Update- thank you to all for attending the Superintendent candidates meetings.
5. Grant Committee Report - Grant request $62.99 spring bass bow for orchestra.  Amendment to approve a grant up to $126 for a second bass bow.  Approved.  Mrs. Flater will talk to the orchestra instructor to see if an additional bow is needed.
6. Past/Current Events

Neon Dance Night - Students were fantastic and rewarded positive reinforcement for positive behavior.  The students showed great integrity.  For example, $2 was left by a basket and nobody claimed it or stole it.  Therefore, it was donated to the Polar Plunge.  A student turned in $5 that was found.  TV/VCR raffle  were awarded but there were no takers and the leftover TVs will be recycled.  

African American History Month -The goal:  learn the impact African Americans have had on our lives today.  Information will be shared during announcements.  Each grade level picked either social issues, entertainment, or sports.  2/29 is the assembly where each grade level will share. There will also be a performance by an African American dance troupe.  It cost an additional $50 to have the African American dance troupe perform.  There was a motion to approve the additional $50 to support African American History Month.  It was approved.  Ms. Merritt will sing the first verse of Black National Anthem with the older students.

Room Parent Program-  It will be introduced at the teacher meeting with Mrs. Flater on Thursday to get teacher feedback.  In April, Mrs. Flater will give feedback from the teacher’s perspective.  

5th Grade Scholarship Purchase -PTO has a scholastic bank account.  5th grade would like $332 of scholastic money for purchase of books.  There was a motion to approve the purchase of the books.  It was approved.  At the teacher meeting, Mrs. Flater will remind other teachers that scholastic books are available.  

      7)  Upcoming Events

Conference Dinners (2/16) - There was a motion to increase conference dinner budget by $85.  The motion was approved.

Conference Child Care - It helps to have additional help for child care.  It was discussed that their be an age limit due to state regulations.

Read Me a Story Night (2/19) - There will be stations set up, 2 groups. K4-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade.  The first 45 minutes one group will have stories read while the other group is in the gym to create story starters, bookmarks.  The high school National Honors Society Members may be coming to help and 2-3 teachers at each grade level.  The last 15 minutes everyone may be in the gym for milk and cookie.  A flyer went out for students to wear their pjs.   A Sign-up Genius was also created for families to donate cookies and gallons of milk.

STEMfest (3/18) -Students can do a project by their self or with a group.  Participants may receive a 40-60 day to either Milwaukee Public Museum, Discovery World, or Urban Ecology Center.  Metals may also be given to the participants.  There will be fun science projects to do in addition to viewing the participants projects.  One example of a fun science project might be, make your own putty.  Greendale School District’s mascot, the Panther will be roaming around in a science lab coat.  On announcements, students will be able to announce the title of their project.  Posters will be put up around the school advertising the STEMfest.  There was a discussion to change the time of the event to 6:00-7:30 p.m.  The first 45 minutes one group of participants would be showing their project while the second group of participants would be viewing all the projects then the groups would switch roles.  

Qdoba Night Out (2/23) - Need to bring flyer to Qdoba so 10% goes to HV

Papa Murphy’s gives a percentage from anybody who buys from their establishment that day.  We will do that in June.  

Principal’s Time - Showing kindness to others - 2nd graders at an assembly gave a news report and acted out the presentation.  They talked about the ‘Buddy Benches’.  Students talked about how they can be kind at recess to each other.

Valentine's - reminder, no candy with valentines

Change to Dismissal Procedure - 3:30 bell will ring.  Bus students will be dismissed.  30 seconds later, walkers and Bridges students will be dismissed.  The next 30 seconds, parent pick-up students will dismissed.  Teachers will stay on duty until 3:40 p.m.  The changes in the dismissal procedure are an effort to prevent a stampede of students all at one time and to maintain safe environment.  

Read Across America - (meeting Friday to gather more information) We Read Challenge (like the ice bucket challenge), challenge everyone to read 3 books then they challenge another 3 people to read 3 books.

Polar Plunge (2/28) - Polar Plunge Bears can be purchased until 2/26

8)  Announcements

GEF Cheers to Education (2/26) - Food from all over the area, culinary arts students will be providing as well

School Board Candidate Forum at next PTO meeting - Each candidate will introduce himself/herself.  Parents are welcome to talk to the candidates after the PTO meeting.

Bruce Paprocki Distinguished Volunteer Award - Recognize volunteers who go above and beyond.  People should write letters to the PTO Executive Board and Mrs. Flater.  Letters in should contain:  Who are you, who are you recognizing, and why.  The selection committee will meet in April.  We would like to include teachers on the committee.  

9)  Meeting adjourned at 7 p.m.  

Highland View PTO: Meet the Greendale School Board Candidates--and MORE!

What an amazing week!  I sure hope spring has sprung! Springing forward though, here are just a few big deals for the week coming up:

First:  Don't forget that all the candidates running for Greendale's School Board (and therefore running to decide the future of your child's education) will be at the PTO meeting Monday March 14th at 6:00 in the library.  After PTO business is concluded the candidates will stick around to meet you and answer your questions.  The PTO will provide light refreshments.

Second:  Highland View STEMfest, wow!  70 students have put together 50 projects highlighting science, technology, engineering, and math.  Everyone's invited to come join the fun this Friday March 18th 6:00-7:30 PM in the gym.  Whether your student made a project or not, there is something for everyone, and the first 200 students to come will receive a floppy calculator do some mathematizing on their own!  

Second, part B:  Except for the Mathopolis demos, there's no staff for the super-cool-yet-totally-easy activities at STEMfest.  If you can help out at STEMfest and work a demo with the kids that would be AWESOME.  Please sign up here!  If you're not quite sure what you'd be getting into, I'll have examples of the various activities at the PTO meeting on Monday (make silly putty, program your friend like a robot, and make electrical circuits with conductive play dough) so you can see for yourself that they're exactly as easy as I'm promising!

Third:  Did I mention we have a PTO meeting coming up on Monday?  

Fourth:  Two super cool book fair links.  (By the way, the Book Fair's this week 3/14-3/18!)  Cheryl can always use help with the fair, whether that's ringing students up, helping them find a just-right book, or reminding them (gently) that mom probably didn't give them $20 to spend on erasers and doo-dads. Check to see where she needs you at the sign up page here.  The second cool link is one I don't remember seeing before:  a place to shop the book fair online.  There are books by category, and I asked the teachers to put their wishlists online too (keep checking back if they're not up right away--I just discovered that feature today!)  That link is right here.

That's it for now!  See you soon!

Aleks Skibicki

Left your Chick-Fil-A flyer at home? Just flash this on your phone!

Hello Highland View Families!

If you don't have your Chick-Fil-A flyer with you next Thursday 3/17 for Highland View Dines Out night, here's one you can show right on your phone!

Thanks for your support!

Aleks Skibicki

Highland View PTO: STEMfest and Book Fairs and Yearbooks? Oh My!

Hello Highland View Families!

Three bits of sweet sweet PTO action for you all:

1) STEMfest, wow!  I am so excited to see all the awesome STEMfest projects the kids have been registering and announcing these last couple of weeks.  STEMfest is going to be AMAZING!  For the S-T-E-M demonstrations at STEMfest we'll need a few parent helpers.  (Don't worry, you'll have all the materials and instructions and know-how ahead of time!)  

We need

• someone to help make electric circuits with kids using a conductive play-dough, 
• someone to make abacuses (the ancient Egyptian calculator!) with the kids,
• someone to help kids make their own silly putty,
• someone to show kids how to play a coding game using their brains as computers, and
• someone to help demonstrate simple (but fun!) math games for the kids.

Sign up to be a part of STEMfest here!

Also, if your student registered for STEMfest, expect an email today or tomorrow with details about project displays, timelines for the event, space availability, etc.
 

2)  Book Fair!  The Spring Book Fair is coming up March 14-18th, and Cheryl could use help!

Mostly we'll need cashiers during the three selling times:  8:00-8:45 AM, 11:30-12:45 PM, and 3:15-4:00 PM.  It's pretty easy--just zap books and give change.  You may need to help students figure out how much they can afford with the money they were sent with.  You may also choose to gently prompt students to choose books instead of $20 of erasers and toys.  If there are multiple parents at any given shift, it would be great to have a parent circulating to help answer questions and find things for the shoppers.

We'll also need a cashier during STEMfest on the 18th, and hopefully some help cleaning up and tearing down the Book Fair afterwards.

Sign up for the Book Fair here!

3)  Yearbooks!  We're still looking for pictures.  Especially (but not ONLY!) if you have pictures from:

• The first day of school
• First graders having fun,
• Third graders having fun, and
• Family Dinner Night.

Please upload them to the Highland View Yearbook Website here.  

Our Community Image Upload Site Access Code Is: MBHRJL

All pictures are welcome.  Remember, the Yearbook's only as good as the pictures that are in it!

Thanks so much everyone!  (Seriously, thanks a million.  You make all the awesome things at Highland View possible.  )

Aleks Skibicki