Island Avenue School PTO Minutes
General Meeting held Friday, January 6, 2006
In attendance: Shannon Baker, Kristen Bartosic, Sandra Bizier, Carla Botta, Ann Boyle, Alexis Christina, Molly Cornell, Susan Donoghue, Laura Downes, Karen Ewald, Juliette Fumex, Kim Hastings, Kate Jasko, Ann Marino, Eileen Martin, Julie Ovian, Adrienne Pagano, Heather Pellatt, Rosemary Pine, Lisa Rollins, Susan Ruggiero, Marcia Sampson, Doreen Shirley, Martha Stewart, Lisa Williams
Presidents’ Report
The first IAS PTO meeting of the new year commenced with general introductions of everyone in attendance, following which Co-Presidents Julie Ovian and Lisa Rollins thanked Karen Ewald for the survey she conducted polling parents as to what they’d like to see at future meetings. As a result of the survey, evening meeting times will occasionally be scheduled to accommodate parents who cannot make mornings; meetings will be held in the IAS gym so attendees feel more connected to the school itself; and more guest speakers and open discussions will be a regular part of the agenda.
Business
Treasurer’s Report
Susan Ruggiero reported that the PTO remains on a tight budget, with our current account balance at $4,887. Chairs of upcoming events should speak with Susan regarding anticipated expenses. Talk about whether to hold another fundraiser this winter or spring is ongoing.
Committee Reports
Stop and Shop cards continue to be sold to benefit the IAS PTO. Julie Ovian and Ann Marino are at IAS both before and after school Tuesdays and Thursdays with cards, now available in $10, $20, $25, and $50 denominations, for purchase. This is a great way to contribute to our school; purchasers pay for the face value of the card only and the PTO receives 5% of the amount back from Stop and Shop. The cards make great gifts and have no expiration date. Parents interested but unable to make the sale times should contact Julie or Ann directly. The convenience of selling the cards via backpack express was brought up but since the cards represent cash if lost, this method of sale was deemed inadvisable.
Camp Read a Book, this year’s book fair, begins Monday, January 30, and will run through Friday, February 3. Family Fun Night is scheduled for Wednesday, February 1. Kate Jasko is seeking cardboard tubes (from toilet paper, paper towels, gift wrap) for craft projects; a collection box will be located under the PTO mailboxes on the school stage. Anyone interested in volunteering to work a shift at the fair itself should contact Ann Boyle; plenty of time slots remain open.
Winter Workshop signups are also approaching. Workshops will be held Tuesdays from 3:40 to 4:45, February 28 to March 28 (no class March 21, due to conferences), with an April 4 makeup/snow date. Flyers detailing workshop offerings will go home January 13. The signup deadline is January 25; notifications will be made by February 10.
Box Tops are always being collected! Look for flyers announcing an upcoming contest; the classroom that brings in the most tops will earn a special Theme (Hat or PJ, e.g.) Day.
Program
In anticipation of our upcoming book fair, the PTO invited Sandra Bizier, IAS library media specialist, and Doreen Shirley, IAS language arts specialist, to speak at our meeting. Sandra brought and talked about a number of books that will be available for our children, including:
Audrey Wood, Ten Little Fish, a delightful counting book in rhyme appropriate for preschool through second grade;
Jan Brett, The Umbrella, similar to the author’s well-known The Mitten but set in the rain forest;
Mia Hamm, Winners Never Quit, in which the soccer star, a poor sport as a child, receives a lesson from her siblings on being a team player;
Chris Van Dusen, Camping Spree with Mr. Magee, an amusing adventure story about Mr. Magee and his dog, Dee, all in rhyme;
Laura Numeroff, Beatrice Doesn’t Want To, about a reluctant little dog who discovers the joy of books and reading while at the library against her will;
Bill Wallace (author of last year’s Nutmeg nominee Goosed), A Dog Called Kitty, about a boy severely attacked by a rabid dog who eventually overcomes his fear to befriend a stray;
Megan McDonald, Judy Moody, M.D.: The Doctor Is In!, the latest in the popular series, perfect for third graders now studying the human body;
Andrew Clements, Lunch Money, about an entrepreneurial student who, perceiving that his classmates often carry around spare change, seeks to create and sell a comic strip; and
Katherine Hannigan, Ida B, an emotional read about a young girl homeschooled until her mother develops cancer and the family is forced to make many changes.
The IAS library doesn’t currently own any of these recent releases. Extra copies will be available at the fair for families wishing to make donations to the library and/or classrooms. Sandra will be booktalking these titles with teachers in the coming weeks so that students will be familiar with the books before the fair.
Doreen spoke about reluctant readers, recommending allowing them to read anything (provided themes are appropriate, of course) that will get them hooked on books! Explaining that publishers often assign very broad reading levels to books in an effort to reach a wide consumer market, Doreen cautioned against interpreting these RLs too literally. She instead mentioned three other levels that may serve as guidelines: the independent level, the instructional level, and the frustration level. Parents should buy for their children’s independent level if they want them to read on their own. If a family is reading together, the level is less important—but parents should then select books they will want to read repeatedly or continue to read aloud with their children. Throughout, Doreen emphasized metacognition—thinking about thinking, and making relevant connections—as the goal we should be striving to achieve with our young readers.
The PTO thanked Sandra and Doreen for their insights and presentation of much useful information.
Open Forum
Discussion was initiated regarding the Board of Education survey currently posted on the Madison schools web site asking families about their preferences regarding the school calendar (whether to begin the school year before or after Labor Day, whether to have a full week of vacation in February, and so forth). The survey seems to have been sent to households signed up for the listserv but concern was expressed that it was not made widely available. Meeting attendees were urged to spread the word so as to generate as much input from the community as possible. The deadline for response is January 24, so families who have not already done so are encouraged to go to www.madison.k12.ct.us and respond! Alexis will also prepare a flyer regarding the survey to go home via backpack express asap.
Reminder
The next PTO meeting will be held on March 2. Please watch for flyers announcing time and guest speakers. Thank you!
Submitted by Kim Hastings, 1/9/06
