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Meeting Minutes Longfellow PTO General Meeting

September 19, 2016

Longfellow Library Media Center

I. Called to order 7:04pm by Sabrina Tellez Brennan

Quorum met

II. Approval of May General PTO meeting minutes

Motion to approve by Jennie Hill, 2nd by Nikki Richardson; motion passes

III. Principal’s Report (Ms. Dolezal, Ms. Cahill)

One of the largest schools, with PKP we are the largest – we are at 620 students in K-5 &

120 preschoolers.

New curricula:

o Eureka Math (similar to EngageNY that some teachers used last year. This is a

textbook format with workbooks; the whole district is using it)

o Lucy Calkins Writing Units of Study

o Social emotional learning curriculum is Second Step

o Next Generation Science Standards with updated FOSS kits

IV. Second Step Curriculum (Presentation by Social worker Ms. Gulley, Mr. Podlasek, Ms.

Aguilar, Mr. Naber, Mr. Sorensen, Ms. Pines, & Ms. Smith)

Taught once/week for 30 minutes

Tier 1 Support: Classroom wide systems; preventative

Tier 2 Support: Can Small groups

Tier 3: Individualized Education Plans

Core social emotional regulation skills – video overview

o Skills help them learn in a more focused way

o Foundational skills: taking another person’s perspective, managing

behaviors

o Benefits: score 10% higher than those not enrolled

Introducing the K-5 Second Step Program

o It is a universal classroom-based program designed to:

Increase students’ school success

Decrease problem behaviors

Promote social-emotional competence & self-regulation

Program Materials

o 4 units: skills for learning, empathy, emotional management, problem

solving

o Posters, lesson cards, puppets, listening rules & skills for learning cards, unit

cards, song CD, DVD, & teaching materials binder

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o Online resources: digital backpack with home links

Second Step at Longfellow

o Posters: How to calm down, problem solving, voice levels

o Weekly lessons from 8:10-8:40 on Wednesdays.

o Co-teach in all classrooms

o Brain builders or lesson extensions

o Common language throughout the school

Home Links sent out Thursdays in digital backpack

V. Committee Reports

A. Community (Nikki Richardson) 1. Back to School picnic: 260 students got PTO-paid, so came in on budget 2. New Family Welcome Dinner: October 6th 3. School Pictures – everyone got their picture taken; will get two pictures sent

home & then can choose which one you want to buy. Class pictures will be taken in the Spring

B. Treasurer (Stacey Hendricks) 1. Approve 2016-2017 Budget

Fun Run, we are budgeting to make $20,000

Winter carnival budgeting from $9,000 to $12,000

Increase funds for: o Diversity Committee, o Talent Show, o Kumba kids, and o this year we are paying for Reading Tutors to assist with

Passport to Reading (lost the Title I funds that used to pay for this because we did not qualify based on number of low-income families)

Motion to approve the budget Jason Wulkowicz, Jennie Hill 2nd, motion passes.

C. Fundraising (Kiara Armstrong) 1. Fun Run

So far have $950 towards goal of $20,000

Incentive to create the website (get a bear necessity) 2. PAL Parties (Sabrina)

7 adult parties, 5 children parties

Sign up genius going out this week

New parties can still be added 3. Box Tops (Sabrina) – collecting through end of November 4. Dining for Dollars 5. Spiritwear Drive – Available through October 2nd online 6. Other – maybe Mabel’s Labels, fruit, etc

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D. Enrichment Report (Pam Morin Carmichael) 1. ALL program – started this week. 2nd session begins November 1st 2. Thursday Packets/printing – we have a core team of 5 volunteers who print

them for families who don’t have internet access. 3. Girls on the Run – Started today with 15 girls, culminates in 5k run in November 4. Outdoor Science/Nature Play Stations (Michelle) – We have two new parent

coordinators, Heather Vaule & Mary Dojnik. They have already decorated the gated exploration space for fall. It looks great!

5. Reading Buddies – found a parent chair

E. Recording Secretary (Michelle Mangan) 1. Global Read Aloud – The GRA is a grassroots project created and facilitated by a

teacher in Wisconsin. For six weeks starting in October, teachers all over the world read the same book aloud to their students at the same time. Then those classes connect with each other via various technological modes (e.g. Skype, Edmodo) to discuss the books. Last year was the first year our school participated. Longfellow 3rd and 4th grades have decided they will do it this year. The PTO will pay for the books. Other grades are still deciding if they will participate.

2. Landscaping proposal for around the swings – District has come back with questions for us. For now, the Longfellow Garden Club has agreed to plant some flowers around the tree.

3. Artsonia (Kiara) - we have parent volunteers for each grade who will take pictures of students’ artwork & upload to it to online portfolios for parents.

F. Volunteers

Please fill out your High Five form if you haven’t yet G. Communications (Diane Wendt Uher)

If not receiving WHAL, you may opt in by going to the PTO website. Once the PTO receives final list of those opting into D97 communications we will upload that list to the WHAL list.

Longfellow Facebook page managed by PTO; other grade-levels have Facebook pages that are run by individual parents

PTO website – working on overhauling

Coordinate the welcome packet – need people to revise that

Manage PTO email H. Diversity (Marta Ikegami)

This is our second year running as a committee

Workshops – talk about race

Grant for the library to buy books about diversity

Cultural fest in the spring

Dunking for diversity – going to do that again this year & thinking of including fourth and fifth grade students

Let Marta know if you want to be part of the Diversity Committee

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VI. Upcoming Events A. New Family Dinner-10/6 B. Fun Run-10/14 C. Book Fair-10/17-10/21 – Kristi Oltman heads it, Pirate theme for the fall. In addition to

raising money, the book fair provides at least two boxes of books for the library. Volunteering for the book fair is very fun!

D. Halloween Coffee-10/31

VII. Open Discussion

Longfellow parent feels that the Cinco de Mayo PAL party is culturally insensitive & would like to see it changed. She will work with the Principal.

A few additional bike racks in the back of the school were suggested.

Neighbors would like the fence back up in south outdoor gated to deter teenagers from hanging out there; we also need motion lighting back there.

Last day of school, a parent and two students were crossing Jackson at Cuyler & almost got hit twice. It is dangerous, even with the flashing lights. The Village of Oak Park should provide additional safety for crossing.

VIII. Meeting adjourned by Sabrina at 8:34pm.

Next PTO Executive Board Meeting: October 13 at 7pm Next General PTO Meeting: Thursday, January 19 at 7pm, Longfellow Library Media Center Third & Final General PTO Meeting: Thursday, May 11 at 7pm, Longfellow Library Media Center