PTO Minutes for September

PTO NOTES & NEWS FOR SEPTEMBER 2012

The PTO has received almost $2000 IN DIRECT DONATIONS!  Thank you to those who have donated!  Anyone can donate to the PTO at any time and your donation is 100% tax deductible.

The GENEVIEVE FUNDRAISER kicked off yesterday.  Sales will go until 9/25 and pick-up of gift wrap will be on 10/23.   80% of profits go directly to the teams, 10% goes to UA and the other 10% goes to the PTO.  This is your team's main fundraiser for field trips, special class activities, etc.

The PTO is also selling BUY LOCAL COUPON BOOKS.   These books contain coupons for over 200 local businesses.  The books cost $20 and the coupons are good from now through September 2013.  Interested?  Contact Randy Sweeney (sweeneyrs@gmail.com). 

The HANNAFORD HELPS SCHOOL program has begun and runs through 12/1.  If you shop at Hannaford look for the "Hannaford Helps School" logo on specially marked foods.  You need to buy 4 of each designated food to earn points then you will receive a separate receipt when you check out.  Please put receipts either in the kiosk at the Shelburne Road Hannaford or in the box in the school office.  We make at least $1000 on this every year!

PRICE CHOPPER TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS program - if you shop at Price Chopper you need to enroll your card at www2.pricechopper.com/toolsforschools) school code - 15260.  Our school earns points on what you spend and we are able to buy school supplies at the end of the year.

The SCHOOL DIRECTORY is almost done!  Information is being updated and local businesses are buying ads that fund the printing of the directory.  

We agreed to allocate money for another VISITING ARTIST PROGRAM that would potentially benefit K-5 graders with an integrated arts program through the Flynn Center.  We will vote officially on this in October.  More info. on this program to come!

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:

David Kelly, Bob Miller and the SCHOOL MAINTENANCE TEAM did a phenomenal job improving the school this summer - a complete building cleaning, new carpets in the C and administrative wings, new flooring in the kitchen and custodial spaces, asbestos removal and new office spaces were among the many things they worked on.

SUMMER SCHOOL was very successful giving students an opportunity to get a jumpstart on their school year.

TABLE TO FARM:  Beginning the 1st day of school all students have been sorting their waste into composting bins, recycling bins and garbage.  Parent volunteers are there every day to support this effort.  Interested in helping?  Contact Cathy Townsend (cjovt@yahoo.com).

The FEED program was busy over the summer utilizing the garden bounty by making pickles, salsa, pesto and processing and freezing vegetables.  This week all students are making Garden Tomato Sauce and will be taste testing it during lunch on Friday. 

Teachers attended lots of PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT this summer.  Topics included Common Core, bullying/harassment training, technology integration and mindfulness workshops.

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT is at 773.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

• Walking Wednesdays:  Every Wednesday in October (meet at the town green and walk to school!)
• Newberry Cup Bake Sale:  October 13
• UA Curriculum Night:  October 23
• Genevieve Gift Wrap Distribution:  October 23

HELP WANTED:

• Newberry Bake Sale - helpers and bakers C:  Dawn Fragola (Dawn.Fragola@vtmednet.org)

THANK YOUS:

• Rita Daley & Teresa Shuptrine for our beautiful PTO bulletin board!
• Sarah Vincent and the Teacher's Breakfast chefs and helpers
• First Day Greeters
• Leslie Borrok and Lisa Merrill for figuring out the School Directory!
• Everyone who filled out a PTO volunteer form

Next meeting:  Tuesday, October 9, 6:00pm

Pizza & babysitting provided!