Jessy Maggard

General Meeting December 10, 2019 – Minutes

Executive Board Members

President, Jessy Maggard
VP Programs, Deirdre Weber
VP Membership, Ari Willey
VP Hustle, Amanda Besore
Treasurer, Becky French
Financial Secretary, Dani Reich
Recording Secretary, Holly Wood

In Attendance
Jessy Maggard, Amber Barrett, Tara Tobin-Rabatin, Becky French, Deirdre Weber, Ms. Hackmiller, Dani Reich, Diana Schaller

Welcome/Introductions

Recording Secretary, Holly Wood

• Approval of minutes from November 12, 2019 meeting
  • Approved following discussion and elaboration of event changes to be more inclusive. See open discussion below. 

Open Floor Discussion

• Tara requested an elaboration of the following statement from last month’s meeting after stating there has been confusion as to what all-inclusive means in reference to gender. Request that all events be more culturally responsive. Inclusive to all regardless of gender, race, ethnicity (11.12.19). 
  • This statement was clarified to state that events such as our annual father/daughter dance and mother/son event be gender inclusive. That if a boy wishes to come to the dance with his mother or father figure he may. And, also that if a daughter wants to come to the mother/son event with her mother or father figure she may.
  • It was also repeated that historically no one has ever been turned away from either of these events for not being father/daughter or mother/son. 

A Message from our Principal, Sue Hackmiller

• MAP testing taking place now, rather than after winter break as it has been in years past.
  • This is wrapping up.
• Schoolwide winter holiday events to take place next week such as pajama day and sing-a-long day. Due to space limitations these are for students only, no outside visitors.
• Tree placed in the lobby by PTA is currently being decorated by students with ornaments/tokens representing various culture’s holidays.
• New 3rd grade teacher, Megan Hart. Replacing Mrs. Paladino (Simonsen).
• New LBD teacher to start after winter break. Replace Mrs. Hughes

President, Jessy Maggard

• Staff Events
  • First 2 went well, online sign ups made things a lot easier and the shopping by our team was good
  • Next 2 had a lot of people wanting to sign up after registration closed. We stuck with our deadline and rules. This is the only way these will work and have volunteers doing the shopping.
  • Once events are all complete, we will review with staff to see if they will continue for next year.
• Raffle
  • Disney Tickets came in. We will raffle off 12 of them in 3 baskets with 4 each. Tickets went on sale $20 each at DWS and will be on sale until the 19th. Drawing will be held at 8am in the office on Dec. 20th via Facebook live.
  • The remaining 8 tickets will go in a volunteer raffle. We will draw for 4 sets of 2 tickets to anyone who volunteered this year. Drawing also possibly to be on the 20th, TBD
• Chairs in shed – does the school want them? These are left over from silent auction and received no bids. Jessy got approval from Rebecca Maniago that we could donate to the school. School accepts. 
• Open Executive Positions 2020-2021
  • President
  • Financial Secretary

Treasurer’s Report, Becky French

• Reminder of procedure for reimbursements. All forms and check requests are picked up from the reimbursement folder each Tuesday at 8:30am. Checks are mailed or returned to the reimbursement pick up folder by Friday.
• Becky motioned to approve the budget, Dani approved, Amber 2nd.

Committee Reports

• Donuts with Santa, Meagan Kilkelly (Recap Report by Jessy Maggard)
  • Event went well. It was nice having the crafts all together in the gym. Visitors enjoyed the music very much as well. The use of Inter-State studio for photos was a nice change. Photos were ready by Monday for purchase. 
• Father Daughter Dance, Tara Tobin-Rabatin
  • Selected a DJ, asked for approval to reserve. All in favor.
  • Decision was made to serve only desserts
  • Dance time set to be 7-9pm on Friday, Feb 21
  • Theme: Boots & Beauties
  • Tickets will be sold online in January
  • Ideas were suggested for decorations, lighting, favors including possible flower truck
  • Event will be open to any parent/guardian/adult family member + student of Harmony 
• SBMD, Amber Barrett on behalf of council rep Jared Barrett
  • Next SBMD meeting is Monday, December 16th at 2:45pm.
    • 1st reading of draft bylaws and policies
    • Approving school improvement plan
    • Questions, please reach out to Jared Barrett at barrettjared@gmail.com 

Questions

One question concerning classroom parties. Tara asked about teacher’s birthday parties. It was clarified that only 2 parties are to be held per year, winter and valentine. It was suggested that birthdays can be recognized by students making cards, but not a party.

Announcements/Upcoming Events

• Class Holiday Parties, Friday, December 20th (various times)
• Next PTA Meeting, Tuesday January 14, 2020 at 6:30pm in the Cafeteria

Meet adjourned @ 10:18am

General Meeting November 12, 2019 – Minutes

In Attendance
President, Jessy Maggard
VP Programs, Deirdre Weber
VP Membership, Ari Willey
Treasurer, Becky French
Financial Secretary, Dani Reich
Sue Hackmiller, Tara Tobin-Rabatin, Mitch Goss, Amber Barrett

• Approval of minutes from October 8, 2019 meeting. Dani approved, Ari 2nd

A Message from our Principal, Sue Hackmiller

• 53 staff to attend hospitality CQ Cruise. 
• Diversity and Inclusion speaker to come meet with Harmony staff this month
• Request that all events be more culturally responsive. Inclusive to all regardless of gender, race, ethnicity. 
• Purchasing more books for the guided reading room and 3-5th book groups. Allowing every child to have a copy of the book. 
  • PTA asked to help support this purchase with raised funds. Becky confirmed availability of funds. Ari motioned to approve $9200 towards the purchase of the books in need. Becky approved, Dani 2nd.
• Board requested to offer incentive to staff for attending thursdays skating party. Suzie suggested and approved a jeans pass. Jessy to send email to staff.

President, Jessy Maggard

• Sensory Path Update – We do not have approval for all halls. Proposing to test out the paths in 1 hall. Ms. Hackmiller to update modification request and let us know the outcome.
• Staff Events – First 2 are next week, registrations for those close this friday. No complaints about the new online payment. Much easier and less paperwork!  
• Special Education Recess Equipment – Is there anything we can buy specifically for them? Question came up about it and the equipment we tried to get last year from parents. Would like to see if we can do something from “educational enhancement” fund. Response was good and we will do something. Jessy to talk with Mariam Applegate, special education representative, to see what we could do. Also suggested by Tara to look into Minds In Motion program. Will gather information and present next month.
• Book Drive / Classroom Book Donations – Reminder. Books being collected indefinitely. Collected books are for classroom libraries and book swap to be held after the new year.
• Raffle – We will be getting 20 Disney tickets again this year to hopefully raffle at DWS. Arrival date unknown.
• Coupon Books – Asked if wanted to sell at DWS. Too much already going on. Fundraiser is closed.
• Sensory Friendly Time at Events – It was brought to my attention that we should consider branching this out a bit. We have many students throughout the school that could benefit from the quieter time. We could just give those flyers to teachers and they could hand them out to those families as they would know best who to give them to.

Treasurer’s Report, Becky French

• 2019-2020 Harmony PTA Budget – October
• Becky motioned to approve budget. Ari approves, Amber 2nd. All in favor.

Committee Reports

• Donuts with Santa, Meagan Kilkelly
  • On track and planning going good.
• Father Daughter Dance, Tara Tobin-Rabatin
  • Boots & Beauties theme. 
  • Looking at serving BBQ for dinner vs Pasta. 
  • DJ almost confirmed
  • Photographer & Photo Booth are confirmed
  • Adjustments need to be made to invite to be more inclusive. Allowing any adult to accompany a child. Event is not exclusive to just “Father/Daughter”
• Room Parents – Remind of planning upcoming holiday parties. If there are any questions, please reach out to Amy Keller. 

Announcements/Upcoming Events

• Papa John’s Pizza Night, Thursday November 7
• Family Skate Night @ Champs, November 14 from 5-7:30pm
• SBMD Meeting November 25 @4:45pm. Open to all.
  • Revising entire list of bylaws and policies
• Donuts with Santa, Saturday, December 7th 9am-12pm at Harmony
• Next PTA Meeting, Tuesday December 10th at 9am in the Cafeteria