Walnut Square PTO

May 3, 2011

Attendees: Alex Alvino, Siobhan Atwood, Gwen Miner, Judy Manzi, Suzette DiTonno, Judy Reilly, Jenn McGonagle, Janice Young, Sara Resillas, and Heather Delle Chiaie.

Box Tops & Campbell’s Soup Labels:

• Box Top Winners for April:

o Mrs. Demaris 300 Jesse

o Mrs. Brent 192 Malaya

o Mrs. Pike 165 Jeffrey

o Mrs. Skoglund 105 Shane

o Mrs. Reilly 65 Ethan

o Mrs. Hughes 46 Olivia

o Mrs. O’Leary 36 David

• Box Top Winners for May:

o Mrs. Brent 205 Olivia

o Mrs. Demarais 110 Trent

o Mrs. Hughes 102 Braedon

o Mrs. Reilly 78 Sam

o Mrs. Skoglund 60 Adriana

o Mrs. Pike 51 Azariah

o Mrs. O’Leary 48 Austin

Drives:

• The Bob Laprel Scholarship Fund collection raised $192
• Little Hands Big Hearts drive for May will be the jump rope for heart. Fliers went home with students today.

Field Trips:

• Scheduled “Wayne from Maine”
• Working to identify other field trips, but it has been a struggle due to cost as well as scheduling.

Field Day:

• The tentative dates are Monday, June 20^th with a rain date of June 21^st.
• Alex will speak to Taylor Rental about having the bouncy house for both field day and the carnival; this may require us to change the dates, TBD.
• We will look into setting a theme for field day, info on this can be found on the internet.
• Sara R has a generator that we can borrow to power the rental equipment.
• Sara R will arrange to have Lowes and Home Depot come for activity of building tool boxes.
• Need other parent volunteers to facilitate the various activity stations for the day. Alex will send out a request for assistance.

Spring Carnival:

• Targeting Saturday, June 18^th
• Will include games, bouncy house, face painting, food
• Will have each class collect items for summer themed baskets for raffle. Suzette will send notices.

Move-up day:

• Planning is complete

Teacher Appreciation Week:

• Luncheon planned for Thursday at 12:20
• A plastic reusable tumbler will be given to each teacher
• Friday we will serve an ice cream bar w/toppings. Heather will come by to help on Friday.

New Items:

• We will be ordering Walnut Square T-shirts for the Kindergartners as well as new students.
• PTO Board – we need volunteers! President (or co-president for next year), as well as Website person.
• It was suggested that we look for ways to keep the kids cool in the month of June, especially where the school year is extended.

o Alex will send out a request to parents who may want to donate bottled waters and popsicles.

o We will check with Mr. Sargent if each classroom can run a fan, if they are donated.

• Mr. Sargent had surgery recently; the PTO will purchase a gift card to wish him well. Alex will pick it up at DD’s.

Next Meeting:

TBD

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March 2011

A brief meeting was held March 9th, 2011 at 3:30 PM

February 2011

Our February meeting was canceled due to weather.

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January 5, 2011

The meeting was called to order by Alex Alvino at 3:30 PM.

Attendees: Alex Alvino, Siobhan Atwood, Gwen Miner, Heather West Smith, Judy Manzi, Suzette DiTonno, Judy Reilly, Jenn McGonagle, Heidi Rask, Heather Delle Chiaie, and Mrs. Bonfiglioli

Treasurers’ Report
• $3169 balance + earnings from box tops (below)

Box Tops & Campbell’s Soup Labels
• Received check for $354
• Box Top Winners for December:
o Mrs. Demarais 193 Trent
o Mrs. Brent 113 Malaya
o Mrs. O’Leary 38 Danielle
o Mrs. Pike 30 Azariah
o Mrs. Hughes 25 Katerina
o Mrs. Reilly 15 Sophia
o Mrs. Skoglund 10 Adrianna

Drives
• Decision was made to not collect soda tabs this year.

o Jen will give what she has to Suzette for Pentucket Lake
o A communication should be sent home to parents not to send in more tabs.

• January will be nickels for NF.
o Jen has setup fish bowls in the classrooms
o Working on a communication flier to be sent home.

• February will be a collection of toiletries, etc for All Saints through Jan Young.
o Alex will contact Jan for a flier to be sent home.

• The PTO has been asked to coordinate a collection of funds for the Bob Laprel scholarship fund.
o Alex will get specifics on the fund from Mary, and work on a communication and timing.
• Discussed a collection of toys for Children’s Hospital.

Calendar Raffle
• We have received many great donations from area businesses.
• We will also send a letter to parents to ask for donations as well, Suzette will send the letter used last year to Alex.
• Planning to sell tickets in March for drawing in April.
• Suzette will also send Alex the calendar template from last year.

Dinner Nights
• Suzette will work to coordinate the next dinner night. (Feb vacation week)
• Alex will find something for March
• It was suggested to find something in Haverhill for improved attendance and convenience

New Items:
Capri Sun collection
• Heather is coordinating
• Working to put together a communication to explain the program to parents (terracycle.com), targeting to have it completed by Monday.

Student Contact Directory
• A directory has not been created for this school year.
• It was confirmed that in the past Suzette had created it.
• Suzette will send Heather D. the letter she sent asking parents if they wanted to be included, as well as the format for the directory.
• Heather will create this for distribution.

Donations of girl’s sweatpants are needed (larger sizes)
• Alex to send email asking for donations.

Can we coordinate another in-house field trip?
• Possibly through Historical Perspectives?
• Suzette will see what other presentations they have, similar to Abraham Lincoln.

We would like to coordinate a Field Day in the spring
• Suzette recommended Alex check with Charlene Gagnon, as she was helpful last year
• Need to plan activities (6-7 events) and secure parent volunteers.

Discussed setting up a spring event/fundraiser.

Taylor rental offered to help with games/activities. Targeting May?

Next Meeting
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:30 p.m., Walnut Square School
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December 1, 2010

The meeting was called to order by Siobhan Atwood at 3:30 PM.

Attendees:
Alex Alvino, Siobhan Atwood, Gwen Miner, Keryn Smith, Tanya Bonfiglioli, Heather West Smith, Judy Manzi, Suzette DiTonno, Judy Reilly, Jenn McGonagle, Michele Cloyd

Welcome & Introductions
· Quick introductions were made

. Alex Alvino was voted in as PTO President for the remainder of the school year

Treasurers’ Report
· $3,654 to spend to date

· We made $376 from the pies.

. We made $1,014 from the fall festival. Some money was spent already on playground and recess supplies.

Box Tops & Campbell’s Soup Label Winners:
o Mrs Brent 378 Rose

o Mrs Hughes 259 Keegan

o Mrs Demarais 250 Kaleigh

o Mrs Pike 215 Azariah

o Mrs Skoglund 136 Brendan

o Mrs Reilly 116 Troy

o Mrs O’Leary 36 Wesley

Little Hands Big Hearts
In January Jenn McGonagle will do Nickels for Neurofibromatosis

Little Elves Holiday Shop
· Shopping will be December 6, 7, and 8

· Information and envelopes will go home Friday, December 3.

. Volunteers are needed to help on the shopping days.

Giving Tree
Inside the school, the Giving Tree has a wish list from each teacher.

Holiday Luncheon
· Michelle Cloyd and her husband volunteered to cater the luncheon
· Lunch will be Tuesday, December 13

Terracycle
In January, Heather Smith will set up collection boxes for Capri Sun drink pouches. These can be mailed to Terracycle and the school will earn money.

Square One Art
In the Spring, art pictures will be made by students in art class. These can be printed on a variety of products (mugs, bags, shirts, magnets) and sold by Square One. The PTO will organize order forms to go home to parents.

New Flag
Alex will ask the mayor about donating a new flag to the school. Siobhan volunteered to help purchase a new one.

Next Meeting
January 5, 2011 at 3:30 p.m., Walnut Square School

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October 12, 2010

The meeting was called to order by Suzette Ditono at 3:35 PM.

Welcome & Introductions

· Quick introductions were made

Treasurers’ Report

· $3000 to spend to-date

· Paying for Helen Keller Thursday

Box Tops & Campbell’s Soup Labels September winners:

o Mrs Skoglund 551 Kaden

o Mrs Demaris 315 Trent

o Mrs Brent 222 Gabriel

o Mrs Hughes 184 Cameron O.

o Mrs Reilly 142 Sophia

o Mrs Pike 25 Reagan

o Mrs O’Leary 0

Yankee Candle Fundraiser

· We expect the delivery in 2-4 weeks. Mrs DiTono is awaiting confirmation.

· Need volunteers to help unload the truck, sort, etc.

MCM Pie Fundraiser

· This fundraiser came faster than expected.

· Letter came home explaining the timing.

· Orders Due 10/22, Delivery expected 11/22. Need volunteers to sort delivery.

Fall Festival

· Scheduled 10/16/10. Rain date of 10/23/10 if necessary.

· Waiting on basket content, due today

· No bounce house is available, will focus on games, Haunted House, and bake sale.

· Need volunteers to help setup before and break down afterwards.

· A lot of baked good for fund raising can be dropped off Friday or Saturday – please wrap individual servings for sale.

Little Hands Big Hearts

· Troop drive is next, communication went out.

Little Elves Holiday Shop

· Targeting December 8^th & 9^th.

· Donation from Mrs Donais has arrived, will review contents and determine what else is needed.

Calendar Raffle

· Heather Smith has put together letters to hand-deliver to local businesses

· Emails & letters were sent to many other large businesses, sports organizations, etc.

Playground Equipment

· Some donations received – chalk, jump ropes.

· Could use more nerf products, will use PTO funds to purchase additional items.

Dinner Nights

· Michelle Cloyd volunteered to coordinate Chuck E Cheese’s event for Winter vacation.

Holiday Luncheon

· Michelle Cloyd and her husband volunteered to cater the luncheon
· Targeting Wednesday, 12/15, will confirm.
· Mrs Reilly to get thoughts on menu from teachers.

Next Meeting

December 1, 2010 at 3:30 p.m., Walnut Square School

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September 15, 2010

The meeting was called to order by Suzette DiTonno at 3:30 PM.

In attendance

Gwen Miner, Katie Dinges, Mrs. Reilly, Judy Manzi, Jenn McGonagle, Heidi Rask, Siobhan Atwood, Heather Delle Chiaie, Keryn Smith, Tanya Bonfiglioli, Heather West Smith, Ashley Mailioux, Michele Cloyd, Mrs. Donais, Suzette DiTonno

Welcome & Introductions

· Attendees introduced themselves

· Secretary position is vacant, need volunteer. Heather Delle Chiaie volunteered for this position on the Board.

· President position – Suzette would like to turn over the position of President, and would be willing to assist and mentor the new volunteer. There was no volunteer during the meeting. Everyone was asked to consider this important role, and to contact Suzette with any questions.

· The meeting schedule was discussed and we may look to move the PTO meetings to Tuesday afternoons, or alternate between Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We may meet less frequently than each month depending on volume of activities at the time.

Library Volunteers

· Ann Goddard is looking for volunteers to assist in putting books away. Any times during the day would be welcomed. Please contact Ann if you would like to volunteer or email the PTO.

New Principal

· Mrs. Donais joined the meeting for introductions. She is splitting her time between three schools this year, but keeps an “open door policy” and welcomes any questions or concerns. She will return any email the same day, and it is best to reach her by phone or in person at the Whittier School. Tim Maroney is her assistant here at Walnut Square.

Treasurer’s Report

· Our treasurer shared our current fund report, there were no questions.

Box Tops & Campbell’s Soup Labels

· Jenn McGonagle will be sending a letter explaining the program this week

· This will be handled the same as years past, where the children will write their name on the back and a monthly drawing will be done for fun and prizes.

Yankee Candle Fundraiser

· This is currently underway and historically has proven to bring in sizable funds.

· Volunteers will be needed at the end of October to help unload the truck and arrange the merchandise by classroom.

Fall Festival

· Alex Alvino has offered to run this again this year, it will be held on a Saturday this fall.

· Volunteers are needed.

Little Hands Big Hearts

· We plan to continue these collections each month for various charities and organizations.

· Volunteers are needed to explain the program details to the classrooms.

Little Elves Holiday Shop

· Volunteers are needed to help the children select gifts, and for wrapping/labeling the selections.

· Suzette will complete the shopping.

· Mrs. Donais has a box of items that she will donate as gift items. ~ Thank you!!

Calendar Raffle

· The Raffle is held in the Spring, but we were successful in obtaining donations when we started in September and asked ahead of other schools.

· Heather Smith volunteered to send letters to local businesses requesting donations.

· Suzette will provide her the list of businesses who donated last year, and the letter that was used.

New Business

· Playground Equipment

o We are in need of new play ground equipment.

o The PTO agreed to fund the purchase.

o The suggestion was made to see if parents/guardians would be willing to donate “gently used” or new equipment.

o Heather Delle Chiaie will draft a letter requesting donations.

· Dinner Nights

o We will continue to plan dinner nights where a percentage of the proceeds are given back to the school.

o Chuck E Cheese’s is easy to coordinate, Suzette will take the lead.

o Katie Dinges volunteered to coordinate with Krugger’s again this year, and maybe Oriental Garden

· Helen Keller Presentation

o The same group who did the Abraham Lincoln presentation also does a Helen Keller presentation in October.

o We will look to have them present at Walnut Square school

· Verizon Employees school donations for volunteer work

o Mrs. Donais learned recently that for Verizon Employees who complete 50 hours of volunteer work, Verizon will donate $750 to their school.

o No action was discussed, however this may be an item to explore further and communicate to parents in our community.

Next Meeting

October 12^th, 2010 at 3:30 p.m., Walnut Square School

Thank you to Heather Delle Chiaie, our new volunteer Secretary, for providing these meeting minutes!