Walnut Square PTO645 Main Street
Haverhill, MA 01830
United States
walnutsq
2009-2010 PTO Meeting Minutes
Meeting Minutes June 2, 2010
Many thanks to our outgoing PTO volunteers.
New PTO Board Members for 2010-2010
Suzette DiTonno - President
Siobhan Atwood - Vice President
Gwen Miner - Treasurer
Jenn McGonagle - Box Tops & Campbell's Soup Coordinator
Janice Young - Webmaster
We look forward to working together with Parents, Caregivers, Teachers, Administration, including our newly assigned school principal Mrs. Zaino, and the Greater Haverhill Community for the 2010-2011 school year.
We will be reaching out to volunteers this summer to participate in our Back-to-School Clean-up Day where we will plant flowers and spruce-up the grounds in August.
Next PTO Meeting tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 6 at 3:30pm.
Meeting are open to everyone and generally held after school on the first Wednesday of each month; meeting details will be posted to this site and fliers are sent home in backpacks.
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Meeting Minutes May 5, 2010
Principal's Update
* Mrs. Kitsos announced she will be stepping down as our Principal at the end of the school year. She is also the Principal of Whittier Middle School and trying to juggle both schools was very challenging. She let us know that Mrs. Zaino, Principal at Moody, will be our new principal for the next school year. She will attend our June meeting!
* The "all-purpose" room was cleaned out over April vacation and our book fair was held in it! Thanks to Mr. Sargent for cleaning it out.
Visit from the Mayor
* Mayor Fiorentini dropped by unexpectedly to let us know some more information about the proposed meals tax which he is asking the city to adopt. If the tax is added it will benefit the schools directly by helping to restore an estimated $250,000 to the school department budget. He urged parents to come to the next City Council Meeting and support the tax, as well as email them.
Box Tops & Campbell's Soup Winners
* See next page
Little Hands Big Hearts Project
* April - duffle bags for Foster Children (thanks to all who donated)
* May - small stuffed animals, toys and coloring books for Project Smile
The ELMO's and projectors have arrived!
The classrooms need white boards to use them to their greatest capacity. It was agreed to purchase one for each class at a cost of roughly $91 total for all the rooms. The white boards will be purchased next week and installed.
Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week May 3rd - 7th
* Monday – Wednesday the staff was treated to a small token of our appreciation each day. Thanks to Siobhan Atwood for coordinating the luncheon on Thursday which was a big hit! The week ended with an ice cream social for the staff on Friday. Thanks to Sarah Fusco and Liz Kemblowski for helping out on Friday.
Book Fair
May 4rd – 7th. The Buy One Get One Free was a great success. It was held in the new “all-purpose” room. Thanks to Anne Goddard, our fabulous volunteer librarian, for running it and to all the parents that took time out of their day to come help the kids find some wonderful books!
Spring Yard Sale/Festival
* Some people have volunteered but we need a lot more!!
Field Day
* Coming up in June. This is a great day for the kids. More information will be going out towards the end of this month.
Next Year
* We will be holding elections next month for next year’s officers. If you have any interest in holding a position please let us know or come to our next meeting!
Next Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 2nd at 3:30pm.
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Meeting Minutes April 7, 2010
- Principal's Update
- $3 million in budget cuts city wide.
- The "all-purpose" room should be cleaned out and ready for remodeling by the end of April vacation. Volunteers may be needed to paint the room.
- Box Tops & Campbell's Soup Winners
Mrs. Reilly – Jacob T. Mrs. Demarais - Olivia L. Mrs.Brent – Noah Mrs. O’Leary – Jillian
Mrs. Skoglund – Cory
- Little Hands Big Hearts Project
- March - Pennies for Patients for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society the school has raised over $700. The winning class will be announced on Monday!
- April - duffle bags for Foster Children
- May - small stuffed animals for Project Smile
- Butter Braid Pastry / Cookie dough fundraiser raised about $500! This money is being put towards the purchase of new ELMO's and projectors. It was agreed at the meeting to go ahead and purchase 2 complete systems for the school.
- Teacher Appreciation Week May 3rd - 7th Most of the week is taken care of. Siobhan Atwood volunteered to coordinate the luncheon on the 13th. Janice Young also volunteered to help out with the luncheon.
- Book Fair May 10th - 14th.
- Open Discussion
- Concern was expressed about the many cracks on the hot top. Parents are urged to email any concerns they have.
- It was agreed to purchase cereal to keep at the school for children who sometimes come without having any before they left home.
- It was agreed to set aside $200 for a "Sunshine Fund" that would purchase gifts for Walnut Square students who have suffered a trauma in their lives. The gifts will be sent from the children of Walnut Square.
- Shawn Sullivan has arranged for some mulch to be added to the playscape during April vacation.
Next Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 5th at 3:30pm.
Meeting Minutes March 10, 2010
- Box Tops & Campbell’s Soup Winners
- Little Hands Big Hearts Project
Nickels for Neurofibromatosis - January – Mrs. Reilly’s & Mrs. Brent’s classes enjoyed their ice cream sundae party last Friday and had a great time! A big thank you to Jenn McGonagle, Judy Manzi, and Janice Young, and Suzette DiTonno for dishing out the ice cream and cleaning up!
Soda can tabs for Shriner’s Hospital – February – the school collected two 5-gallon water containers worth of tabs!! The children enjoyed their extra recess this past Monday. A big thank you to Karen Archambault and Siobhan Atwood for volunteering to supervise the children during the recess!
Pennies for Patients (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) – March – runs March 12th – April 2nd
Duffle Bags for Foster Children – April
Collect small stuffed animals for Project Smile – May
- Fundraisers
Calendar Raffle – raised $1200!!
That is almost enough to purchase one ELMO machine and projector.
The Butter Braid Pastry and cookie dough fundraiser ends on Monday. All the profit will be used to purchase new ELMO machines and projectors, ideally we would like to purchase 2 by the end of the year. They cost approximately $1400 each.
- Hungry Caterpillar Field Trip
March 18th Chelmsford 11:45
160 students @ $8 each = $1,280
15 chaperones free (8 teachers)
Buses $60 per hour per bus 47 people per bus
PTO picks up the ticket prices, parents will be asked to pay for the bus
- Dinner Night
Chuck E. Cheese again for Wednesday, April 21st
- Teacher Appreciation Week May 4 – 8
Ideas – Anyone interested in coordinating or helping please contact Suzette
- Spring Yard Sale/Festival - Saturday May 15th rain date May 22nd
More information will go home next month
Yard Sale – Carnival style games -Arts/Crafts – Bake Sale
Basket raffle by class – we will have a parent coordinator for each class this time Mrs. Reilly’s class – Philomena Coyne, Mrs. Brent’s class – Jenn McGonagle, Mrs. O’Leary’s class – Siobhan Atwood, volunteers are still needed for the other classes. Contact Suzette if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.
- Field Day – Friday June 11th rain date June 14th, to be held at Whittier
Anyone interested in coordinating, contact Suzette
Next PTO Meeting scheduled for Wednesday April 7, 2010 at 3:30 PM
Meeting Minutes February 3, 2010
- Budget
- Map Testing for 2nd Graders at Whittier probably after vacation over 6 days
- Box Tops & Campbell’s Soup Winners
Mrs. Hughes - Reagan Mrs. Demarais - Balin Ms. Smith - Adrian
Mrs. Reilly - Patrick Mrs. Brent - Austin Mrs. O'Leary - Michael
Mrs. Skoglund - Ruby
- Little Hands Big Hearts Project
Nickels for Neurofibromatosis - January – $1314.06 Mrs. Reilly’s & Mrs. Brent’s class won!! Proceeds to Neurofibromatosis, Inc. Northeast.
Soda can tabs for Shriner’s Hospital – February
Pennies for Patients (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) – March
Duffle Bags for Foster Children – April
Collect small stuffed animals for Project Smile – May
- Calendar Raffle
25 prizes so far
Calendars will go on sale the week of February 8th – $5 per ticket or 3 for $10
Drawings begin March 1st – one prize awarded each day
- Hungry Caterpillar Field Trip
March 18th Chelmsford 11:45
160 students @ $8 each = $1,280
15 chaperones free (8 teachers)
Buses $60 per hour per bus 47 people per bus
PTO picks up the ticket prices, parents will be asked to pay for the bus
- Dinner Night
Planning Chuck E. Cheese again for Wednesday, April 21st
- Teacher Appreciation Week May 4 – 8
Ideas – Anyone interested in coordinating contact Suzette
- Spring Yard Sale/Festival - Saturday May 15th rain date May 22nd
Anyone interested in coordinating contact Suzette
Yard Sale – Carnival style games -Arts/Crafts – Bake Sale
Basket raffle by class – we will have a parent coordinator for each class this time Mrs. Reilly’s class – Philomena Coyne, Mrs. Brent’s class – Jenn McGonagle, Mrs. O’Leary’s class – Siobhan Atwood volunteers are still needed for the other classes. Contact Suzette if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.
- Field Day – Friday June 11th rain date June 14th, to be held at Whiitier
Anyone interested in coordinating, contact Suzette
- Additional Fundraiser added for March selling pastry and cookie dough to increase technology at Walnut Square.
Next PTO Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 3, 2010 3:30 PM
Meeting Minutes January 6, 2010
- Budget
- Box Tops & Campbell’s Soup Winners
Mrs. Hughes – Jonathan Ms. Smith – Christopher
Mrs. Reilly – Jacob T. Mrs. Demarais-Azariah
Mrs.Brent – Katrina Mrs. O’Leary – Bailey
Mrs. Skoglund – Cory
- Little Hands Big Hearts Project
- Winter Coat, Hat & Mitten Drive – We collected several large bags full of children and adult coats, and snow pants. They were donated to Ruth’s House just in time for Christmas. We also received many donations of hats, mittens, gloves and scarves which will be used for kids at Walnut that do not have them.
- Nickels for Neurofibromatosis - January – we will be collecting for Neurofibromatosis, Inc. Northeast.
- Soda can tabs for Shriner’s Hospital – February
- Pennies for Patients (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) – March
- Duffle Bags for Foster Children – April
- Project Smile – May
- Little Elves was a great success. Darlene Trask did a fantastic job! The decorations were beautiful and the children had a wonderful time shopping. THANK YOU Darlene!!
- Holiday Concert - All the concerts were wonderful. To thank Mrs. K for all her hard work the PTO gave her a nice fruit arrangement from Edible Arrangements.
- Dinner Night - December was at Chuck E. Cheese. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We don’t have one scheduled for January. Next month’s will be scheduled during February vacation.
- Abraham Lincoln Visit scheduled for Friday, 2/5
- Hungry Little Caterpillar Field Trip scheduled for Thursday, March 18th
- Calendar Raffle, calendars go on sale the beginning of February, winners names will be drawn during the month of March
- Spring Yard Sale/Festival Set for Saturday, May 15th, rain date May 22nd
- Field Day Set for Friday, June 4th, rain date June 11th
- On Tuesday, January 12th the students will have an assembly with one of the soldiers, Patrick McGonagle, that we sent supplies to back in October during our Troop Drive!
- Concerns were expressed about children playing on the snow banks and throwing snowballs after school.
- Spring Scholastic Book Fair is Buy One Get One Free, during the week of May 10th
- Next Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 3rd at 3:30 PM
Meeting Minutes from December 2nd
- Budget
- Principal’s Update
- the City Council has sent the issue of the bus/drop off zone to the Traffic & Safety Committee for further discussion – if you have concerns or comments please email them to Mrs. Kitsos at bkitsos@haverhill-ps.org
- Box Tops & Campbell’s Soup Winners
- Fundraisers
- Book Fair Great job by Anne! Raised $448.11 Every child in the school got a book and a cinch sack!
- Silver Graphics we got a check for $89.50 from the internet sales!
- Dinner Nights Pizzeria Uno night raised $72.97
- December’s Dinner Night is December 30th at Chuck E. Cheese, information will go home before vacation
- Little Hands Big Hearts Project
- Food Drive – November Eileen had a great response!!
- Winter Coat, Hat & Mitten Drive – December collect clean used winter coats to donate to Ruth’s House.
- Nickels for Neurofibromatosis - January
- Soda can tabs for Shriner’s Hospital – February
- Pennies for Patients (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) – March
- Little Elves Shop
- envelopes due by Friday, set up Monday, shop Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday clean up, volunteers needed
- envelopes due by Friday, set up Monday, shop Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday clean up, volunteers needed
- Holiday Luncheon
- for Staff being held Thursday at 12:20
- Holiday Concert
- This is still being coordinated, details will follow once they are finalized
- Abraham Lincoln Visit
- scheduled for Friday, 2/5
- Open Discussion
- Mr. Sargent would like a shed to store the snow blower, if anyone has a shed they could donate please contact Suzette DiTonno. He would also like a more powerful snow blower 8 hp to help clear the walkways.
- Snow removal on the sidewalks on the North Ave and Main Street sides was discussed, any concerns should be directed to Mrs. Kitsos at bkitsos@haverhill-ps.org
- Railing concerns should also be addressed to Mrs. Kitsos, she will forward the emails on to the appropriate town officials.
Next Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 6th at 3:30 PM
Meeting Minutes from November 4th
- Budget – the PTO is doing quite well and has received a lot of donations thanks to the Fall Festival and Krueger’s Dinner Night. Thanks to Darlene Trask we have also received many donations for the Calendar Raffle that we run in the spring.
- Principal’s Update
- Map Testing for Second Grade 11/4 – 11/17
- Site Council Training 11/4 @ Nettle School 6-8 pm
- Mrs. Reilly was nominated for Teacher of the Year by the YMCA!!
- Report Cards are being produced electronically this year – issued 11/17
- Parent teacher conference 11/19 1 to 3 and 4 to 6 (early release day for students, dismissal at 11:45, lunch will be served)
- Box Tops & Campbell’s Soup Winners
- Fundraisers
- Dinner Nights the PTO raised $130 from Kruegers! Next night 11/11 at Pizzeria Uno
- BJ’s Fuel Your Fundraiser raised $65!
- Fall Festival raised $420 dollars! Great job Alex! Spring Festival/Yard Sale we will begin planning in January, basket raffle winners were drawn.
- Little Hands Big Hearts Project
- Troop Drive thank you to everyone who participated, PTO will cover the shipping, should be around $40
- Food Drive runs until 11/23 any non perishable items or gift cards
- Upcoming Drives December gently used winter coats, new hats and mittens, January Nickels for Neurofibromatosis, February soda can tabs for Shriner’s Hospital, March Pennies for Patients, we will look for charities for the months of April, May, and June
- Movie Night with Pentucket Lake
- Thursday December 3rd showing the movie Earth. Please bring a canned good to be donated to Emmaus House.
- Doors open at 6 PM and movie starts at 6:30 PM.
- Thursday December 3rd showing the movie Earth. Please bring a canned good to be donated to Emmaus House.
- Book Fair Runs the week of November 16th to the 20th. Anne Goddard is running it. A request for volunteers was sent out this week. Starbucks has generously offered to donate coffee for the book fair on parent teacher conference day. It was decided to give each child a Walnut Square cinch sack if they spend $5 at the book fair. Each child who completed the summer reading log over the summer and turned it in at the beginning of the year will be able to choose their free book.
- Holiday Luncheon for Staff
- Cherie Rousseau has agreed to chair this event. The luncheon is scheduled for December 3rd with a snow date of the 4th. Volunteers will be needed to help set up, serve and clean up.
- Little Elves Shop
- Runs the week of December 7th to the 11th. Darlene Trask is chairing it. A request for volunteers will be sent out and information for parents will be sent out towards the end of November.
- Open Discussion
- The PTO was approached by Cottage Gardens located at 935 Amesbury Road, Rte 110 in Haverhill, 978-457-6003. If you purchase any greens (trees, wreaths, garland, poinsettas, etc.) for the holidays from there, mention that you read about it in your Child’s Walnut Square School Newsletter and 5% of your sale will be donated back to the PTO.
Next PTO Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 2nd.
Meeting Minutes from October 9th
- Box Tops & Campbell’s Soup Winners
- Fundraisers
- Yankee Candle sold over $6000 in product we receive 40% , products should be in before Thanksgiving.
- Innisbrook sold over $3000 in product we receive 50% products should be in by the end of the month. We still need to pay shipping so we do not have the total raised yet from either fundraiser but it should be around $4000.00
- Dinner Nights
- October 21st Olivia’s/Krueger’s
- November 11th Pizzeria Uno
- December 30th Chuck E. Cheese
- Silver Graphics This will be put off until Spring.
- BJ’s Fuel Your Fundraiser $5 profit on each BJ’s membership sold or renewed. Fliers will go home in the next couple of weeks.
- Fall Festival Scheduled for Saturday, October 24th rain date October 31st. Information going home this week. The PTO will be selling squirrel mascots that have been donated by Darlene and John Trask as well as cinch sacks that were also donated.
- Little Hands Big Hearts Project
- Backpack Drive assembly on Friday at 10 AM. 60 back packs collected.
- Troop Drive begins Friday ends 10/30 list of items needed chex mix, peanut butter crackers, nuts, trail mix, snack foods, fruit cups, AA batteries, white socks
- Giving Tree the Giving Tree did not do as well as in years past and the PTO agreed to supplement the wish lists of teachers with a budget of $200.00 total.
- Field Trips
- In house Field trip the Fossil Lady is coming on October 21st, PTO agreed to cover the costs of $325.00.
- 2nd grade wants to go to Strawberry Bank, PTO agreed to pay for the buses, estimate $300
- School wide field trip in March for Hungry Little Caterpillar in Chelmsford
- Movie Night with Pentucket Lake Pentucket Lake will be hosting a movie night on Tuesday, November 10th. (There is no school on Wednesday, it’s Veteran’s Day) Walnut Square families will be invited. The kids can bring their sleeping bags and “camp out.” Movie still to be decided. Families will be asked to bring a non-perishable item to donate to a local food pantry.
- Open Discussion
- Ms. Eileen in the lunch room is concerned about not having enough lunches on days when children forget to bring their lunch. Mrs. Atwood offered to pick up some supplies at BJ’s.
- Hot top has been patched on the playground by the city.
- The concrete in front of the school will be repaired by the contractor that cracked it, in the near future.
- Staff Holiday Luncheon planned for Thursday, Dec. 3rd with a snow date of Dec. 4th. Cherie Rousseau will coordinate this.
- Lil Elves shop was scheduled for December 6-10th. Darlene Trask has been coordinating this. There will be some exciting changes this year!
Next Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 4th at 3:30 PM
Meeting Minutes from September 9th
- Welcome & Introductions
- Budget
- Fundraisers
Packets went out 9/25. Delivery before Thanksgiving, catalog available online
Innisbrook
Packets went out 9/25. Delivery before Thanksgiving, can purchase online.
- Dinner Nights
Volunteers may be needed to hand out fliers…
- Collecting Capri Sun Pouches
- Library & Book Fair
- Lunch Menu Orders
- Little Hands Big Hearts Project
- Backpack Drive
- Troop Drive
- Giving Tree
- Open Discussion
Suzette will look into lining up child care for the next meeting.
Parents inquired about the nurse schedule at Walnut this year. They were encouraged to contact Barbara Costello the head nurse for the Haverhill School System with any questions.
Copyright 2010-2011 Walnut Square PTO. All rights reserved.
645 Main Street
Haverhill, MA 01830
United States
walnutsq
