* Bingo for Books rescheduled for April 2, 2009 (6:30-7:30) Thank you to all who donated books!
*Scholastic Book Fair scheduled for April 13th & 14th: Will be buy one get one free
* Fund raiser representative from MeadowBrook Farm will present at next PTO meeting
* Teachers requested Literacy bags for study buddies. PTO approved $200 allocated
* Request for donation from PTO for Ken Toporowoski Benefit. Mrs. Toporowoski was a previous teacher at Memorial School; pending
* Treasurer’s report reviewed
* Spaghetti Dinner scheduled for April 30th. Flyer has been sent home. Please support and get tickets early; only 250 tickets available, one seating, and $5 cost.
* School Council working on getting a school sign, if they can not secure funds request for PTO assistance, members will work on getting bids and quotes.
* Road Trip Across America: Thank you to all parents and students for attending.
* Memorial School information can be accessed at Community Network Website. Please take time to view this informational website at www.communitynetwork-wspfld.com

Respectfully submitted, Karen Ross

Be more than a part of your child’s educational experience, help us to create it!
Attend the next PTO meeting

Meeting February 11, 2009
Minutes for Memorial School PTO

* Field Trip information from teachers due beginning of March. Student charge $5 per field trip
* Read Across America to be held in March. Books purchased and delivered to teachers. Stuffed animals from Kohls will be distributed to students.
* PTO to sponsor ($75) to Mr. Udall to participate in WSPE Spelling Bee- approved
* Hospitality: Large coffee pot for PTO/school event purchased $48
* Bingo For Books will be held March 26th, 6:30-7:30. We are collecting books so send them in. Box is located in front entrance
* No Treasurer’s report submitted (absent)
* Awaiting $570 from Beatlemania
* PTO members to bake and make snacks for Bingo for Books
* Road Trip Across America (Family night event sponsored by PTO) will be held February 26th
from 6:00-7:30. There will be baskets to be raffled thanks to Memorial School teachers!.Come join in on this educational adventure. Snacks, raffles, and prizes to all.
* Little Caesars fund raiser generated around $450. Thank you to all who ordered
* Scholastic Book Fair in April will be buy one get one free. This is a non-profit event. The book fair will be held April 14th, 15th, and 16th
* Annual Spaghetti Dinner will be held April 30th. UNICO and community police will be assisting. Volunteers needed to decorate. Mrs Hession will be donating an original work of art for the raffle. Thank you Mrs. Hession! Donations are welcomed.
* Memorial School information can be accessed at Community Network Website. Please take time to view this informational website at www.communitynetwork-wspfld.com

Respectfully submitted, Karen Ross
Be more than a part of your child’s educational experience, help us to create it!
Attend the next PTO meeting
March 11, 2009
5:30 pm

Minutes for Memorial School PTO Meeting
January 14, 2009

PTO officers in attendance were Jen Fleury, Kerri Jackson and Jeff Bergeron. Secretary. Other signed-in PTO members in attendance were Christine Drouin, Karen Ross, Principal Jeff Udall, Mercedes Ordonez, Jamie Deenihan, Kathy Huffman, Terri Ann Boardway, Liz Blaser and Whitney Weldon. Kerri Jackson read the minutes from the October meeting, followed by Treasurer Jeff Bergeron giving the Treasurer’s report. These two reports can be found on separate documents for detailed information.

Principal Udall gave his report highlighting the recent anonymous donation of $500.00 earmarked for an ice/snow cone machine to be used for the PBIS program. It was agreed that this donation should be made payable to Memorial PTO for ease of their purchasing power without the need for district pre-approval. Principal Udall also commented on the success of Fall parent-teacher conferences and praised the staff for their flexibility in accommodating those appointments.

Slim Goodbody, a recent program that cost the PTO $745.00 was lauded and revisited. The next scheduled enrichment program, “The People Could Fly” with MaryJo Maichack, has been scheduled for early 2010 at the cost of $750.00.

The Teacher’s report was voiced by several teachers. Positive reactions to Slim Goodbody were heard. Also, the benefits of the new Terra Cycle drink pouch redemption program was discussed: Memorial School receives $0.02 per drink pouch returned.

Members of the PBIS team spoke of an upcoming PBIS chip redemption event. Additionally, PBIS has not scheduled Spring chip events and opened a conversation with the PTO about potential ideas and the possibility of the PTO sponsoring a month’s event.

Whitney Weldon reported that the 4th grade applied for a $200.00 bus grant from the Massachusetts Arts Council. This award will be applied to their annual fieldtrip.

Sandy Goller, communicated with another teacher, for her need of funds to buy baskets for the 12/10 Holiday Luncheon. It was decided at the previous meeting that a total five baskets would be made, each grade contributing to one basket. Treasurer Bergeron cut a check.
A theme list follows:

Grade 1 basket: school supplies
Grade 2 basket: arts & crafts
Grade 3 basket: winter
Grade 4: breakfast
Grade 5: Italian

Jen Fleury began the President’s report with news of the Meadow Farms Fundraiser. The invoice was received and a confirmed delivery date of 11/23/09 was given. Volunteers for distribution day were requested. Besides Fleury, Liz Blaser volunteered, as did Kerri Jackson with availability after 3 PM and Jamie Deenihan, who would be available after school.

Memorial’s Movie Night and Can Drive was to be held the night after the PTO meeting. Special thanks to Principal Udall, Christine Drouin, Kerri Jackson, Jane Legarda, Terri Ann Boardway and all their children for setup and take down of that event. An estimated 125 persons were in attendance and enjoyed the evening’s show. Likewise, many boxes of non-perishable food items were donated to the Parish Cupboard. The cost for this movie night was less than $40.00.

Upcoming Fundraisers: Little Caesar’s fundraiser has been tentatively set for directly after Winter Break. Fleury to check in with chair Sharon Wainczak.

The Spaghetti Dinner has been arranged with UNICO for 3/11/10. Fleury to check in with chair Shelly Sprandel.

Chairperson updates were not fully available, as many chairs were unable to attend this meeting. In Wainczak’s absence, PTO members discussed February as a favorable date for Road Trip Across America. In Deborah Harper’s absence, the PTO was in favor of placing a car wash ticket sales table at future family events.

Old Business news included an overview of October’s Westside Parent Group meeting and the two proposed after school programs.

In New Business, nominations were sought for the open office of PTO Vice- President. Fleury nominated Terri Ann Boardway and that motion was seconded. An open hand vote unanimously voted Boardway to the position.

Memorial School scheduled a Santa visit for Thursday, 12/17/09. Santa will visit each classroom and distribute a gift. Boardway and Fleury presented the idea of a spiral bound notebook, imprinted with the Memorial School stinger. A local company gave a price quote of $437.50 for an order of 250 notebooks with plate fee. Jill Fortier, in absence, gave a creative contribution and alternative to offset-printing : A digital design to be color copied en mass. After a brief discussion, it was decided to stay with a single supplier and contract Fry-Kamket to make the notebooks entirely in-house.

The floor was opened for discussion to the PTO at large. Weldon told the PTO about a harpist available free-of-charge for concert performances. The PTO expressed interest in acquiring the harpist for a date in the last week of May.

Boardway presented Zumba classes (Latin dance-type exercise) as an idea for a parent/teacher program. PBIS members jumped on this idea and asked if, “Zumba classes could also be given to kids?” That conversation sparked an idea for a future PBIS chip redemption event.

A PTO member asked if Memorial School collected cell phones for recycling, in addition to ink cartridges. Principal Udall indicated that Alice Tolpa was the person with that information. UPDATE: Mrs. Tolpa CONFIRMED that our school collects both ink cartridges AND cell phones for recycling.

Craft Night has been slated for 12/15/09, from 6-7:30 PM. Fleury to fill out a building request form and to contact Goller with hospitality needs. Craft Night chairs anticipate needing at least 10 volunteers to man the 5 craft stations.