Minutes of Meeting of FMG PTA on November 16, 2023

6/13/2024 8:47 am

Minutes of Meeting of FMG PTA on November 16, 2023

Meeting begun at 7:08 by President Jennifer Rosa

Mr. Slate’s report 

-Year off to good start reports cards ready tomorrow after noon

-next week is early dismissal and delayed opening (2 hrs- new)

-Wednesday early dismissal for Thanksgiving 

-musical at HS- Matilda- purchase tickets via barcode scan on posters- can purchase tickets at door

-iready diagnostic 2 beginning of December

-NJ climate improvement survey- links for parents and community members after Thanksgiving- ask everyone to participate- live until 12/22- 3 focus groups- students, faculty, and parents/community- 12/6 will have students do in homework (extended)- sent home sample questions today- participation is anonymous- check in and see what your impression of the building- what is good and what needs improvement- then will move forward to address concerns and celebrate success

-no place for hate school- made 3rd round- will find out before holiday breaks- teachers have been incorporating the principles- cauldrons for kindness- tickets for kids getting caught doing something good- fast pass for lunch line, homework pass- winning grade won Applebees gift card

-Operation Gratitude collecting through end of November— collecting items for veterans and their animals- grooming stuff- games, food and treats for animals- asking for pictures and bios of veterans that students know

-Wreath Across America stopping at Dayton- thank you cards for that by student council

Bd of Ed report by Jerry Fernandez

- 10/30 last meeting dealt with transferring funds, new hires, retirees

- one key issue- super is calling the chain of communication- flyers on website- will be in super newsletter- few members went to AC conference- one seminar was about communication- parents skip over some steps- go straight to principal instead of starting with teacher- one for athletics, academics, social/emotional issues- under administration tab on school website- includes dos/don’ts- board members have certain steps they have to take before they can respond to concerns- go thru president so can’t respond right away

- Adriana Silva now on Board of Ed, leaving PTA board

Treasurer’s report by Agatha Tiziano

statement of financial position (balance sheet)- $14K, $5K from where we started at beginning of year- expense report shows where money went- this year gifting acs to school, assemblies- income starting to come in now- from school supplies $1400- selling pies ($2100 as of today)- gross have to pay- cost 60%- hoping for 700-800 profit- last had Harlem Wizards- bigger fundraiser every other year

Fundraising report by Deana Conlon

-Pie sale ends tomorrow at 9 am- distributed Monday morning 10-12- if can’t pick up during that time- email her to coordinate

- will have 50-50 during parent teacher conferences both days- parents who are not invited for conferences can come to school to participate

Programming report by Andrea Spiegal

- waiting to speak with Mrs. Cho about future assemblies for rest of year- Slate says Mar-Apri is a bit of lull so a good time to break up with assemblies- before testing starts again

Other matters

• Want to do a fun run- could be in Mar-Apr as well
• All PTAs will be donating to Wreaths Across America
• Half day snack Monday and Wednesday- bring cash- $3 for pizza- $1 for everything else- no school bucks
• 50-50 raffle at musical as well and another table at musical
• Adriana Silva has to resign PTA position when she gets sworn in for Bd of Ed
• Tracey Rinaldi voted in as recording secretary
• Committee sign ups on line- membership toolkit- for field day, half day snacks, 8th grade party
• Reminder by Mrs. Collins re: student council- Tuesday is Friendsgiving- lunch tables competing- cannot have food dropped off- cannot heat up anything- food and decorations- more celebration than competition
• No school 11/23 & 11/14- winter break 12/25- 1/1
• Next meeting at 1/11
• 11/30 SPAG meeting
• HS drama- Clue happening right now
• January nominations for exec board next year- seeking President and VP of fundraising
• If any one has a couch- there’s a lounge that needs one- request from Mrs. Cho
• Mr. Fernandez- 11/20 b of ed meeting- super has office hours at Chisholm 1/23 5:30-7— find on website- making effort to go out to schools- social media is not the best way to get questions answered- misinformation gets spread