Island Creek Elementary School

Parent Teacher Association

Minutes for Meeting

February 7, 2006

Attendees: Mikell von Kolnitz, Scott Taber, Lona Taber, Toni Jones, Doug Jones, Richard Klein, Zena Balderado, Rene Villatoro, Jan Ithier, R. Singh, Ronald Crevecoeur, Stella Centanni, Reina Villatoro, Margaret von Kolnitz, Jud von Kolnitz, Liz Dunn, Kim Krentz, Carol Valent, Meredith Leech, Kerry Donovan, Melissa Pikul, Sarah Weller, Kevin Brugman, Lesley Jacobi, Sharon Shrader, Jeanne Igo, Marsha Porter, Steve Wallen, Lisa Dale, Cindy Harlow, Angela Turnbull, Cherie Rogers Mazyck, Janette Pai Kim, Liz Townsend, Susan Owner and Michael Macrina

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 by Jeanne Igo, PTA President.

Dr. Owner welcomed and introduced the First grade team.

The PTA enjoyed a wonderful strings concert conducted by Michelle Keenan.  She reminded us of the strings concert on Thursday, February 16^th at 7:00.

Dr. Owner introduced Kerry Donovan, the art teacher.  Kerry told us that Art Night will be held on March 2^nd from 6 until 8 pm.  The gym will be set up as a museum with art from each student.  Kerry asked for help at 3:30 and 8 pm in moving art stands.

Jeanne Igo passed around the sign up sheet for the Struble family for the month of March.  The PTS has organized meals for the family three times a week since September.  Another thank you letter from the Struble family was also passed around.

Ways and Means

• The Red Hot and Blue restaurant night was a huge success with great turnout. ICES got $700 from the event.
• Magnets and collectibles are still available.
• The time is coming near for the supply lists to be sent to the company for school supplies next September.  Teachers are reminded to start thinking about their lists.
• A contract was signed with Lavender’s for gift wrap sales next year.
• The Ways and Means committee is always looking for volunteers to help out, especially next year.

Education

• The Reflections winners won the “Cluster Five Award of Excellence.”  They were Hank Von Kolnitz (Literature), Megan Von Kolnitz (Music), and Shannon Murphy (Visual Arts)

• The extension of the flex programs are pending interest from the parents/students.  If sufficient interest exists, the extension will be for up to 2 Spanish classes and 1 French class for 8 to 10 weeks each.  The reason for extension is so that the kids will qualify to go to Level 2.  The students need 30 hours of instruction to proceed to Level 2.

• Mad Science starts the week of 2/13/06.  There are two classes (they are not both on Wednesday).

• The CAPS committee announced that Nana Puddin’ will be performing on February 8^th and a Harriet Tubman performance will be on February 24th.

Community Outreach

• Cindy Harlow reported about the Sock Hop to take place this Friday, February 10^th.  We will need help at volunteer tables.  There will be more that 450 people coming to the event.  Dr. Owner said that capacity may be an issue and we should consider moving the dance to the gym.  It was decided the dance would be moved to the gym and the food tables would be in the cafeteria.  Students should bring a pair of socks for admission.  There will be a raffle held and all proceeds will go to the Struble family.
• The newsletter deadline is this Friday.  Please send your articles to Liz Townsend.
• Kevin Brugman welcomed any submissions to the website or for a slide show.
• Volunteers are still needed for the Sock Hop.
• The spaghetti dinner will be help sometime in March or April.  The date has yet to be determined.
• The PTA membership is going along smoothly.  Please feel free to join anytime.

Treasurer’s Report

Marsha Porter reviewed the budget to date.  Gift wrap has made up for some shortfalls.  The box tops are all set and are ready to be sent off.  The remainder of the money set aside for Colonial Day should be linked to other Social Studies activities.  The end of the fiscal year is June 30^th, please have all receipts in so the last checks are written around June 15^th.  There is currently a $1237 surplus in our budget, and there was a discussion about where we should allocate the money.

Dr. Owner asked the PTA to talk to the Science Committee about science allocation on materials and supplies.  She also asked for $500 for support of a group of at-risk students school-wide and accelerated readers in 6^th grade for supplies and materials, about 60 students.  There was a motion by Margaret von Kolnitz to approve this and it was seconded by Kevin Brugman.  Lastly, Dr. Owner suggested some surplus money might go toward a fund for Smart Boards.  The cost for one Smart Board is about $5,000.  There will be a demonstration for this equipment in April.  There will be a Read-A-Thon later on in the year with the proceeds going toward Smart Boards.

There was a $500 grant submitted by the Math Committee for a “Math Minutes” incentive for paper and a button-making machine.  The Grant Committee will make a decision on this grant after it has been reviewed.  Dr. Owner asked for a form to make the grant application process easier for teachers to let them know exactly what the PTA is looking for when approving grants.  Jeanne Igo said we have been using a form for the grant application process, and Marsha Porter said she would send it to Dr. Owner. 

New Business

Hayfield Secondary School has sent us a letter asking for a donation to their all-night graduation party.  We will be sending in that donation soon.

We are looking for some people for the nominating committee for next year’s PTA.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15.