marlboroschool.net

Come for a Social Inclusion update from Francie. Stay for the business portion, if you wish!

Agenda:

• Update from Francie on Social Inclusion work
• Discussion of Summer Program idea

Business Portion:

• Treasurer’s Report
• March Reading Challenge, March 8th – April 2nd
• TV Turn Off Week, April 19th – 25th
• Spring Fundraiser
• Teacher Appreciation Week, May 3rd – 7th

Parents & Friends (P&F) Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

7pm MES Library
Attendees:  Pam Bullock, Cathy Cunliffe, MiKaela Simms, Julianne Mills (treasurer), Vanessa Redfield (secretary), and Francie.
Discussion about Social Inclusion work
* Francie updated the group on the social inclusion progress:

• how that looks different in each classroom
• the preview/review process around recess
• Kim John Payne’s Nov 12th presentation
• increased communication about social inclusion process with part time staff
• a brief description of the “put-down diet” that the Social Inclusion Coordinating Group (SICG) is currently doing

  Read more »

7pm
Attendees:  Susanne Shapiro, Gretchen Webber, Julianne Mills, Tami Purcell, Vanessa Redfield, Kate Morgan, Sparrow Stevens, Carie Kowalski and Francie.

Woo-hoo!  Nine people!!

• The first part of the meeting time was social, allowing new and existing parents to chat and get to know each other a little better.
• The group brainstormed ideas around two things:  Fundraising Ideas and What Do You Want to See P&F accomplish this year? Good ideas and good conversation.  Some parents will follow up to collect more information around their ideas before our next meeting.  Our hope is to add one more spring fundraiser.  P&F will also continue to look into the ideas presented around what parents want to see P&F accomplish.
• For the Sugarbush fundraiser:  Julianne will help with the up-front paperwork and Cathy C will pick up and distribute products to MES families.
• For the Wreath Sale fundraiser:  Susanne will lead this again this year.
• Francie gave an update of how things are moving forward with the Social Inclusion work with Kim John Payne (KJP). KJP will return on November 12th this year for another parent night presentation.  The idea of having buddy families for families who are new to MES was an idea supported by all; what this will look like will develop over time.
• A core group (Francie, Julianne (Treasurer), and Vanessa (Secretary) approved a $300 request from David for the 5/6 class trip to Cap Cod.

Next P&F Meeting: tbd

We had a great group of parents turn out Tuesday night, new and existing families were represented!

Parents had a chance to chat and get to know each other a little better.

Then the group had a brainstorming session around:

1)   Fundraising Ideas

2)   What Parents Want to See P&F Do/Accomplish

Great ideas and conversation!  From these ideas we hope to add one more spring fundraiser and hone in on what P&F should offer for family/social events. Thanks to all the parents who turned out and shared their thoughts. Stay tuned to Friday Notes for our next meeting date in October.

Minutes from our meetings can be read on the website.

Thursday, May 14, 2009
7pm MES
Attendees:  Julianne Mills, Vanessa Redfield, Susanne Shapiro and Francie Marbury
Please respond to any part of these minutes by contacting Vanessa at 348.9899 or vredfield(at) hughes.net

1.    Once all approved expenses have been paid this year, the P&F funds balance will be $1,403.33.

2.    The Back-to-School Potluck will happen again this fall.  MES held this event for the first time this school year.  It was a great way for students and families to re-connect with teachers and classmates and to meet new families joining MES.  Stay tuned to Friday/Summer Notes for the date and time.

Read more »

Tuesday, March 17, 2009
7pm MES Library
Attendees:  Cathy Cunliffe, Julianne Mills, Vanessa Redfield and Francie Marbury (Susanne Shapiro-ill)

Please respond to any part of these minutes by contacting Vanessa at 348.9899 or vredfield@hughes.net

Read more »

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
7pm MES Library
Attendees:  Julianne Mills, Vanessa Redfield, Susanne Shapiro, and Francie Marbury

Please respond to any part of these minutes by contacting Vanessa at 348.9899 or vredfield (at) hughes.net

1.  P&F funds balance is $4,242.59

2.   So far for the 2008-2009 school year, P&F monies have been approved for the following items, programs, and events:

•    Judy’s Room—Metal Fraction Circles with wooden stand for fraction understanding and configuring fraction equivalents

•    Three upcoming Brattleboro Music Center Concerts for grades K-8

•    An upcoming Mad Science Assembly for grades K-6

•    David’s Room—Partial payment toward equipment for on-going Marlboro Community Interviewing project and a contribution toward the upcoming class trip to NYC

•    Staff Appreciation Week—We will plan some fun and food to show our teachers and staff how much we appreciate all they do for our kids.  Happens in the spring.

•    TV/Screen Turn-Off Week—P&F will host some engaging activities to help encourage us to keep the screens off and have some fun together!  Also in the spring.

•    Junior High—Contribution toward their upcoming class trip to Washington, D.C.

•    Book donation to MES Library in memory of Jesse Lopata

3.    The final profit from the Wreath Sale was $699 (correction from the $677 previously reported).  Thanks to Susanne Shapiro for managing this fund raiser and to Sara Coffey and Stephanie Shiman for managing the kids’ craft session!!

4.    P&F wants to offer a cyber-space info session with our own Pam Burke, techie guru extraordinaire.  We will find out if there is enough interest among MES parents and move forward with plans, if so.  Look for more information on this in this/upcoming Friday Notes.

Have an idea to share or a topic you would like to discuss??
Contact Vanessa, and we’ll put it on the agenda!

Next Meeting is Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 7pm in the MES Library.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
7pm MES Library

Attendees:  Julianne Mills, Vanessa Redfield, Susanne Shapiro, and Francie Marbury

Please respond to any part of these minutes by contacting Vanessa at 348.9899 or vredfield (at) hughes.net

1.  P&F funds balance is $4,242.59

2.       So far for the 2008-2009 school year, P&F monies have been approved for the following items, programs, and events:

·         Judy’s Room—Metal Fraction Circles with wooden stand for fraction understanding and configuring fraction equivalents

·         Three upcoming Brattleboro Music Center Concerts for grades K-8

·         An upcoming Mad Science Assembly for grades K-6

·         David’s Room—Partial payment toward equipment for on-going Marlboro Community Interviewing project and a contribution toward the upcoming class trip to NYC

·         Staff Appreciation Week—We will plan some fun and food to show our teachers and staff how much we appreciate all they do for our kids.  Happens in the spring.

·         TV/Screen Turn-Off Week—P&F will host some engaging activities to help encourage us to keep the screens off and have some fun together!  Also in the spring.

·         Junior High—Contribution toward their upcoming class trip to Washington, D.C.

·         Book donation to MES Library in memory of Jesse Lopata

3.      The final profit from the Wreath Sale was $699 (correction from the $677 previously reported).  Thanks to Susanne Shapiro for managing this fund raiser and to Sara Coffey and Stephanie Shiman for managing the kids’ craft session!!

4.      P&F wants to offer a cyber-space info session with our own Pam Burke, techie guru extraordinaire.  We will find out if there is enough interest among MES parents and move forward with plans, if so.  Look for more information on this in this/upcoming Friday Notes.

Have an idea to share or a topic you would like to discuss??
Contact Vanessa, and we’ll put it on the agenda!

Next Meeting is Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 7pm in the MES Library.

The Parents & Friends of MES Annual Wreath Sale is Happening Now!!

Please place your order for Christmas wreaths by filling out and returning the bottom section of this form along with a check made out to P & F. All orders must be turned in no later than Monday, November 24th.
These wreaths are made by a local craftsperson and come with a red ribbon. You will be responsible for picking up your wreath(s) at the Marlboro Post Office on Saturday, December 6th from 10 AM to 12 Noon.
For more information you can e-mail shapirosh (at) aol.com

Order forms are available in the school office.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008
7pm MES Library

Attendees:  Pam Bullock, Julianne Mills (Treasurer), Vanessa Redfield (Secretary), Susanne Shapiro (Chair), and Francie Marbury

Please respond to any part of these minutes by contacting Vanessa, P&F Secretary, at 348.9899 or  vredfield (at) hughes.net

1.  P&F funds balance is $2, 482.26

2.  Mimi Brill, Grace & Isobel’s mom, is creating a phone tree for school closings due to snow, power outage, etc.  She will include every family on the class lists.  If you do not want to be called, contact Gail Chaine at 368.7621 by Monday 11/17.  Thanks, Mimi!

3.  Are you interested in sharing your email address so other parents can contact you?  If so, initiate an email to Vanessa at vredfield (at) hughes.net and I will share it with the P&F group.
Please note:  Some restrictions of email use:  a) use the blind carbon copy when listing more than one email address, b) do not send any joke-of-the-day-type emails, and c) do not add these email addresses to your bulk email lists.  Next fall, we will add an email field (with these same restrictions) to the class directory list.

4.  At Kate Morgan’s (Zev’s mom) suggestion, we are investigating the idea of having a Variety Show-type fund raiser in the future.  Is there any interest out there to participate, or do you know of a local group/person that would perform for free??  Let us know!

5.  The SugarBush Farms Sale was a success.  We made $731.37 on this fundraiser.  THANK YOU!!  Products will be sent home with the students on Monday.  A big thanks to Cathy Cunliffe (Wes, Calvin, and Max Lyons’ mom) for coordinating this!!

6.  The Wreath Sale is now underway!  22″ and 30″ wreaths available.  Order forms have already been sent home with the students.  Please have all orders turned into MES by Monday the 24th.  There will also be a craft session occurring at the Meetinghouse School during pick-up time on Saturday, December 6th 10am-12pm at the Post Office.  Stay tuned more information!  Any questions, please contact Susanne Shapiro at 254.2570 or shapirosh (at) aol.com.

7.  In reaction to a recent National Public Radio (NPR) report, the P&F group Tuesday evening had a great discussion about keeping a positive social climate high on the list of priorities at MES.  We talked about what each classroom is doing to support students in feeling good about themselves and their school environment.  Stay tuned for more information on a positive social school environment… P&F is investigating ideas like having an outside speaker come in and talk at a P&F meeting and having our own Pam Burke inform us about keeping our kids safe in this age of technological gadgets and communication.

Have an idea to share or a topic you would like to discuss??
Come to the next P&F meeting or email your thoughts to
Vanessa, and we will put it on the agenda!
Thanks!

Next Meeting is Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 7pm in the MES Library.
Please come, share your ideas, listen and meet other parents!

Parents & Friends (P&F) Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
7pm MES Library

Attendees:  Julianne Mills, Vanessa Redfield, Susanne Shapiro, and Francie Marbury

Agenda items and discussion points follow:

1.    The main roles of P&F

P&F supports MES teachers and students by supplying funds to pay for items that are beyond the means of the regular school budget and/or that cannot be met by other means.  P&F funds are raised through two major fund raisers (the Sugarbush Farms sale and the Wreath Sale) plus additional smaller fund raisers like the Garden Seed sale, box tops for education collection, and Price Chopper and Hannaford grocery receipts.  It was decided at this meeting that we will focus on making current fund raisers more successful versus adding any new ones.

P&F provides funding for programs such as the Brattleboro Music Center’s Music in the Schools program and the Windham County Orchestra and assemblies such as Mad Science.  P&F has contributed to the playground equipment, the Field Research programs in the 5th/6th grade and Junior High, and special items for individual classrooms (like the worm bin in Ellen’s room).

Every spring, P&F supports TV Turn Off Week with fun and games to encourage social interaction and Teacher Appreciation Week with goodies and treats for MES teachers and staff.  We have received positive feedback about the New Year’s Eve/Back-to-School Pot Luck Dinner held for the first time this year on the Monday evening before school started.  We hope to make that an annual tradition.

Room parents are an extension of P&F.  These parents are the cornerstone of communication within each classroom.  If a teacher needs information communicated among the other parents, has a request for help or materials in his/her classroom, etc., Room Parents usually use a “phone tree” type system to make that happen.

2.    Filling of Roles, Term Length and Frequency of Meetings

It was decided by those in attendance that P&F will meet every other month.
Upcoming meeting dates are as follows: November 11th, January 13th, March 17th and May 19th.

The following one-year roles were established and filled by parent volunteers:

Chair- This person will serve as the main liaison with Francie, be the main contact person for P&F, and run the P&F meetings.  Filled by Susanne Shapiro.

Treasurer- This person will collect funds, make bank deposits, reconcile bank statements, and give a report of these activities at each meeting.  Filled by Julianne Mills.

Secretary- This person will take minutes at meetings and provide communications for Friday Notes and the MES website.  Filled by Vanessa Redfield.

3.    The Request Approval Process for asking for and receiving P&F funds

A teacher can fill out a Teacher Request form for P&F funds (available in the Front Office) describing his/her request and then place it in the P&F Mailbox in the Front Office.  The P&F Chair will periodically retrieve these requests and notify Francie, the Treasurer, and the Secretary for discussion and approval.

Any other person (parent, friend, instructor, etc.) requesting funds may approach Francie directly and in confidence to request funds.

4.    Relationship between P&F and Marlboro After School Program (MASP)

In order to avoid duplicate fund raising and fun! raising efforts, the P&F Secretary will include the MASP Director in all P&F communications.  P&F and MASP will continue to have separate fund raising and fun raising events, but offer support of each other where and when it makes sense to both groups.

5.    Upcoming Events and Fundraisers

Sugarbush Farms Sale (Vermont cheeses, syrup, sausages, etc.).
Great gift ideas for family and friends.
Information and order forms will go home the week of October 20th and should be returned to MES by Friday, November 7, 2008.
Purchased items will be ready to go home with students on Monday, November 17th.
Contact person:  Cathy Cunliffe, 464.1153.

Wreath Sale
Information and order forms will go home the week of November 3rd and should be returned to MES by Tuesday, November 25, 2008.
Pick up date for wreaths is at the Marlboro Post Office, Saturday, December 6th.
Contact person:  Susanne Shapiro, 254.2570

There will also be a craft session at the Meetinghouse School during the wreath pick up times.  More information on this will follow as the Wreath Sale approaches.

6.    Budget

The current balance of funds is $2, 455.13.

The P&F group that met on September 23rd decided that P&F funds are available for request for two main purposes:
1) For teacher requests for items, research, programs, etc. within individual classrooms and/or for the good of most/all classrooms (like the music and science assemblies), and
2) For general scholarship money to help individual students pay for school-related costs including, but not limited to, winter sports, instrument playing, field trip costs, after-school care, etc.

Next Meeting is Tuesday, November 11 at 7pm in the MES Library.
Attendance doesn’t mean you have to commit to a task!!
Please come and share your ideas and meet other parents!

P&F is all of us!  This organization includes parents, teachers, and other friends of the school.  Its main purpose is to provide a means by which parents can meet other parents and teachers to deal with issues of mutual concern.  P&F sponsors fundraisers (box tops, wreathes, Sugar Bush Farms, and garden seed sale) whose proceeds benefit the school in a variety of ways.  Often there are family social events and community education opportunities put on by P&F.  Every fall parents volunteer to be room parents and help with communication about school events throughout the year.

In the recent past P&F has supported the Brattleboro Music Center’s Music in the Schools program which brings in three excellent concerts every  year.  They have also contributed to the new playground, to the Field Research program in 5th-6th grade and Junior High, and to individual classrooms for special items that are beyond the means of the regular budget.  Every spring P&F supports TV Turnoff Week and, during Teacher Appreciation Week, recognizes the work of the teachers through various tokens of appreciation.

Susanne Shapiro, Brenda Kennedy, Susan Kunhardt, Cathy Cunliffe, and Francie Marbury met on January 8th to discuss P&F activities and finances. The following is an accounting of income and expenses for 2007.

Read more »