President's Report January 2014

I hope everyone's break went well!  (Especially the two bonus days courtesy the polar vortex!)

There are just a few PTO projects I've been working on over break.

1)  The election/polling places issue.  We've taken quite a few early steps on this project and more are on the way.

First of all though, thanks to everyone who took the school schedule survey put out by the school district.  Of the four options parents were given concerning elections in schools (do nothing, move polling locations, reschedule students, provide village staff to manage traffic) switching election locations was far and away the most common choice.

On to where we are in the process:  Several Highland View parents spoke at the School Board meeting in December, and shared our concerns.  The PTO also approved the letter and sent it to members of the Greendale School District administration and the Greendale School Board.

We're on the agenda for College Park's January 15th PTO meeting, as well as the January 30th meeting of the Canterbury PTO where we'll ask them to get involved too.  We'll also be talking with members of the Greendale Teachers' Union on the 15th to see how they can be involved, since this is an issue that affects faculty too.

We're also planning on attending PTO events at all three schools with a table to collect signatures and postcards from families to deliver to the Greendale Board of Trustees who ultimately decide where election polling places will be located.  We'll also work on getting families to Board of Trustee meetings to continue to apply pressure and show the Village Board that this is an important issue to school families and staff.

2)  On a lighter note, I met with several 3rd grade students to make a brainstorm list of ideas for winter equipment for the PTO to purchase so the kids have something to play with during winter.  The next step is to narrow the list by safety and by pricing then to actually by the equipment.  The list we came up with is below, feel free to let us know if you have other ideas!

Sleds
Pulling sleds (for moving snowballs, like sleds with ropes or sledges)
Snow block/brick makers
Snow shovels
Small shovels
Hula hoops
Chinese jump ropes
Plastic balls
Wiffle balls and bats
Buckets
Containers with lids
Skip-its
Snowman kit (with plastic facial features a la Mr. Potato Head, like plastic carrots for noses, etc.)
Tug of war rope
Books
Benches
Dividers/plastic walls/fences
Snow slide
Snow sculpting tools (like sand rakes and scrapers, etc.)
Cardboard boxes
Snow snakes (Toys that slide across the snow)
Plastic animals
Bowling set
Hand helicopters (not the remote control ones—ones you spin between your hands and they fly)
Snow molds (different shapes, like the old fashioned jello molds)
Plastic igloo
Fort builder

3)  Musical lunches.  After a couple month break, tomorrow (1/9) is our next musical lunch at Highland View.  We'll be hosting a harpist, so that should make for a great dining environment for the students!

PTO Discussion on Polling Places and Student Security

Tonight we'll discuss parent's concerns about having the schools wide open during election days, compared to the effort devoted to student security during the rest of the year.  This discussion comes in response to several parent's voiced concerns and the school boards inclusion of the question on a recent parent survey about school scheduling next year.

We'll discuss the following letter, and vote on whether to send it to the district school board and administrative staff.  We'll also discuss other options available.  The next school board meeting is next Monday (12/16) at GHS in the Library, and if you consider this an important issue, we would appreciate you attendance there too.

Letter to the Greendale School District:
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December 12, 2013

Greendale School District

6815 Southway

Greendale, WI 53129

Dear Greendale School District Administrators and School Board,

With the anniversary of the tragedy in Newtown Connecticut upon us, the safety of students, their teachers and school administrators is on many parents’ minds.  While we are confident that safety is a priority for the district, and confident that generally the students are in as secure environment as possible, there is one glaring issue of concern:  election days.

We would like to express our appreciation to the district for including this issue in the recent school schedule survey that was made available to parents online, and are very happy to see that the school district is looking into closing this distressing gap in school security.  We also hope the school district understands the urgency and significance this is due.  It’s safe to say that if the events in Connecticut had happened on a Tuesday in November, this would already be solved. 

In the school schedule survey, three options were presented to parents:  1) Request that the Village of Greendale move voter polling locations, even if this inconveniences some residents; 2) Arrange the calendar to have days off for students on known election days; 3) Assign Village staff to manage voter traffic in the schools on election days.  As a PTO we would like to recommend the school district prioritize the first two options.   No matter what Village staff are managing traffic, the simple fact is that if the doors are open, anyone can get in.  Furthermore, separating the polling from the students’ school days will not only make it safer for students, but will also make it easier for staff to do their job of educating and developing our future without having to worry about or cater to strangers in the classroom.

And while adjustments can be made to the 2014-2015 school calendar, we would also like to urge the school district to look into what can be arranged for the three election dates remaining during the current school year (12/17/2013, 2/18/2014, 4/1/2014) all of which fall on days when students are in class. 

We understand there are many demands on your time and resources.  We also feel that the safety of our students should be a priority amongst those demands, and thoroughly appreciate your continuing resolution to share that priority with us.

Thank you again for considering this issue.

The Highland View PTO

Agenda for Dec. 9th 2013

Highland View PTO

Monday Dec. 9th, 2013

Agenda

1) Welcome

2) Review Minutes, Nov. 11, 2013  2 Minutes

3) Treasurer’s Report   3 Minutes

4) Past Events    5 Minutes                                                                                                         

•All The World 

5) Upcoming Events   5 Minutes

•Sock Hop   

6)Updates  5 Minutes

• Book Fair

•Spirit Wear   

7) Winter playground equipment  10 Minutes

8) Voting At Schools (Discussion and approval of letter to school district) 10 Minutes

9) Fifth Grade Playground Equipment 10 Minutes

10) Principal’s Time  

Draft Minutes For November 11, 2013

(To be approved at the PTO meeting Dec. 9th 2013)

Highland View PTO

November 11, 2013

Minutes

Twelve individuals were in attendance.

Aleks Skibicki welcomed members and asked everyone to introduce themselves.

The minutes of September 9, 2013 and October 14, 2013 were approved.

The treasurer’s report was approved.

Past Events

Garden Championship: Over 600lbs of produce was grown in the gardens.  Highland View brought home the trophy.

Family Dinner Night: The evening was fun.  We fed 60adults and 54 children.  The net income totaled $373.31.

Fun Run/ Walk:  Raised $1400.  It was mentioned that maybe a hour later start time next year could help with the turn out.

Box Tops: Katrina Cooper cut and counted the box tops which totaled $3,000.00.

Art to Remember: The items in productions should arrive on November 27^th.

Fall Fundraiser: Pick up Wednesday at 6:00 pm. Good profit expected similar to last year.

Current Projects/Upcoming Events

Fun Fair: Question on why the date was move to March verses May was addressed.  The games will be done in house this year.  Teachers will Purchase bikes again this year. Ideas were being thrown around such as classroom baskets, Donations, Spring concert seating.   

Around the World: Students have been doing skits to promote the event during morning announcements. Souvenir will be given to students who turn in stamped passports. Three performances scheduled.  Mrs. Flater will read the book All The World to the students.  The book will then be raffled. We will have a craft and resding room for the kids to visit.  Maybe 5-10 volunteers needed.

Latin Dance:  Approved $341.25 for the latin dance for 4^th and 5^th graders.

Game Club:  $255 approved for Game Club.

Updates

Bruce Paprocki Volunteer Award: Add line to procedure document that states that “The PTO may choose not to give the award in any given year.

Musical Lunch Program:  Harpist to perform on November 21^st.

Spirit Wear: Everyone agreed to get the spirit wear order forms out sooner than later.  We will use the same form as College park. We may have another spirit ear sale in spring.

Kilowatt Challenge: HV electricity usage is down 7.7% and is in the lead!

Applebee’s: Dave Braun to look further into a pancake breakfast fundraiser.

Free Fundraiser: Flyer was viewed by everyone and looked good.

Bounced Checks:  PTO needs a procedure in place on how to handle bounced checks. Cheryl Kelly will start looking at banks to transfer the checking account into the name of HV PTO.

Teacher Wish Lists: PTO is in need of teacher wish list.

RIF: Distribution could be on December 16^th or it may be later.  Cost $1400 this time could mean less expense next time.

Principal Time

Positive behavior ticket pulls have started.  Some of the prizes are extra recess, lunch with teacher of choice or Mrs. Flater, read in or game with Mrs. Flater.  The kids walked to the high school to watch the marching band.

Announcements

Next PTO Meeting December 9, 2013

Meeting Conclusion

The gift for most parents at the meeting was given to Miss. Karnowski.

The meeting was adjourned.

Fundraiser Order Pickup

The pick-up date for school fundraiser orders is 

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20th!

All orders will be available in the gym after school until 6:00.  If you can’t make it, please give someone written authorization to pick up your order for you.  If there is absolutely no way for you to get your order on the 20th, call or email Aleks Skibicki ( 414-423-1224 kwaterk1978@yahoo.com ) ASAP so we can make arrangements.

If you can arrive earlier to help set up, we’ll start getting the pick-up ready at 2:30.  We’d appreciate any help we can get.  Just call or email to let us know to expect you.

October 14th Minutes

Highland View PTO

October 14, 2013

Minutes 
(Approved 11/11/2013, Technical Amendment 11/13/2013 pending approval*)

Eleven individuals were in attendance.

Aleks Skibicki welcomed members and asked everyone to introduce themselves.

The minutes of June 10, 2013 were approved.

The treasurer’s report was approved.

Current Projects/Upcoming Events

Family Dinner Night: Menu established as soup, salad, dinner rolls and cupcakes.  Milk, Coffee, and water to drink.  Most items needed are being donated.  Concerned about the amount of participants.  Magician performance starts at 7:00 pm to 7:45 pm.

Garden Championship: The date for the event is October 16, 2013 at Greendale High School. Event will be county fair style. There will be games and cake.

Step Up/Run Walk: The run walk is set for October 20, 2013.  Highland View took second place for the highest amount of participants registered.  College Park took 1^st place.

Around the World: Will cover in the October meeting.

Updates

Battle of the Books: Very happy to have 73participating students! $350.00 needed to provide students with either a $5.00 gift card for Barnes and Noble or Scholastic Book Club.  It is more beneficial for the RIF program to provide the $5 for Scholastic Book Club.  Would need to have a Spring Book Fair.

Fall Fundraiser: Approximately 80 Families participated deadline was October 11, 2013.

Bruce Paprocki Volunteer Award: Kristin Settle said this award was approved by his spouse.  The cost of the Plaque is about $100.00.  Still need to put together a sustainability plan.

Neil Gaiman Visit:  Still In process, waiting on update.

Handy Helpers:  Nothing new to update 

Musical Lunch Program:  Mrs. O played her flute to a variety of music.  The kids really enjoyed it.  October 23^rd a Professor from Alverno College will be coming performing Blue Grass music.

Art to Remember: Looking at an Early November delivery date.  Orders due by October 23, 2013.

Spirit Wear: Aleks said it is ready to go.

Panther Paws: Have started and the kids are excited.

Fun Fair: Question was asked if the teachers would still make the donation to purchase two bikes. Mrs. Flater will look into.

Florentine Opera Assembly 

They will not charge extra for the whole school.  Did say that the performance is aimed to entertain the younger students.

Restaurant Fundraiser Night

The individuals are to contacts these restaurants about a possible fundraising night in which the restaurant would donate a percentage of the proceeds to the PTO.

Panther Pub- Jason P

Outback- Shawn

Mc Donald’s- Tracy F

Apple Bees- Dave B

Principal’s Report

If Floretine Opera is presented to the whole school space could be an issue.  The fun run walk raffle basket is “Snuggle with a Good Book”. Contain gift card, coffee and mug.

A safety walk was done with the police chief, Dr. Tharp and Bryan for drill preparations.

Will look into an additional bike rack.

Announcements

Next PTO Meeting November 11, 2013

DJ Needed for the Sock Hop.

Meeting Conclusion

The gift for most parents at the meeting was given to Miss. Karnowski.

The meeting was adjourned.

*Technical amendment:  In the Principal's Report, the last word was corrected to "rack" from "rake."  
Original sentence: "Will look into an additional bike rake."  
Amended sentence:  "Will look into an additional bike rack."

Highland View Spiritwear is available now!

Spiritwear is here! The order form will be going home this Friday (11/15/2013) but if you want to see it in color, here you go:

You can return the form you get from school, or, if you click on the image above to enlarge it, you can print that and send it back to school.

Just be sure to return it before November 22nd.  And make your checks out to "Highland View PTO."

Thanks!