Welcome and Introductions

• The meeting was called to order at 6:06pm by Carrie Houck.
• There were 7 people in attendance.
  • Faculty attendees: Amy Fisher
  • Parent attendees: Sarah Landis, Casey Grim, Brittany Quinnan, Kirsten Myers, Nicole Laughman, Dana Henry
  • Parent- Nicole Matthews was present for part of the meeting; Faculty – Mrs. Janusz was unable to attend, but gave the principal’s report to Mrs. Fisher to share

Secretary's Report submitted by Dana Henry:

• Meeting minutes from the March 9, 2023 meeting were reviewed.
• The meeting minutes received a majority vote of approval. 

President's Report submitted by Nicole Matthews:

• Nothing new to report.

Treasurer's Report submitted by Carrie Houck:

• March
  • Beginning Balance: $31,562.92
  • Credits: $131.21 (Rusty Naill)
  • Debits: $4,009.68 (teachers, Little Caesars, Scholarship Fund, bounce house & DJ deposits for Laps for Learning)
  • Ending Balance: $27,684.45
• The treasurer’s report received a majority vote of approval.

Principal's Report submitted by Mrs. Janusz

• Mrs. Fisher shared Mrs. Janusz’s report
• Project TEAM Glow Party in March went well.
• $3,084.84 raised in Jump Rope for Heart Challenge (gr. 1-4 received Pound assembly as reward)
• March 21 was Paradise’s Night of Music
• Career Day was the end of March
• Penny Wars - over $2,000 district wide was raised; $431.75 was raised at Paradise; gr. 1 brought in the most pennies and won a picnic lunch, which they are doing tomorrow
• Mr. Ron James (first grade parent) gave Good Choices Assembly at the end of March
• Field trips are in full swing: gr. 3 just went to the State Capital; Mrs. Scheeler and Mrs. Moore’s class just attended Friends and Fun Event at the high school; K-2 Stage the Page is happening in the next two weeks; Indian Echo Caverns – gr. 2 on May 4
• PSSAs coming up end of April 25, 26, & 27 for ELA; May 1 & 2 for Math; May 3 & 4 for science, gr. 4 only

Teacher’s Report submitted by Mrs. Fisher

• Everyone liked the egg hunt, especially the coupons
• Faculty meeting tomorrow with all the end of year things

Old Business:

• R&K Fundraiser
  • $4,326.23 profit

• Rusty Naill Fundraiser

• • Raised $130
  • 13 people attended
  • Fun and cute
  • Easy to plan, but not much income

• Volunteer Ice Cream Social

• • May 25 after school at Farmers Field from 3:00-5:00 pm
  • stake out a pavilion, not rent
  • 63 volunteers on the master list at this point
  • Dana will send home paper invites/thank you cards the beginning of May to everyone on the list (sending home with students); No RSVP required
  • student council and Nicole L made an awesome thank you sign that we will hang up at the pavilion
  • Estimated budget: ice cream bars ($3.25 for 12; 10 boxes=$33) and water bottles ($4 for 10; 8 flats=$32) from Aldi (Total cost = $65?); napkins from closet; coolers borrowed from PTO members

• April Appreciation Days

• • School library appreciation day – April 4; $5 gift card to Dunkin with a candy bar for Mrs. Kauffman and Mrs. Good
  • National assistant principal’s week – April 3-7; gift card to Dunkin for Dr. London
  • Paraprofessional Day – April 5; sign in office with basket of candy bars for paras
  • National administrative professionals day - April 26 (Casey will handle)
  • Staff appreciation for April – egg hunt in the media center on April 3

• Scholarship Dinner – Tuesday, May 16 at 6:00pm

• • Still looking for 4 people who would want to go
  • Deadline is April 28
  • Carrie and Nicole will go

• End of Year Treat

• • Nicole will talk to Mrs. Janusz about the treat

New Business

• PSSA Snacks

• • PTO will pay for snacks; total is $325; the budget is $300, but still approved
  • Teachers requested to have the same snack each day instead of a variety set
  • Snacks come through the cafeteria

• Gaga ball pit/recess equipment

• • PTO bought recess balls and basketballs for the school ($300-400)
  • Considering buying a Gaga ball pit for the school; cost is $2,000 or less to buy one
  • Conversation about having to “train” the kids to use it safely; rules from Mrs. Bortner, a slow roll out of who can use, starting with gr. 4 first maybe?
  • PTO will talk more with Mrs. Janusz and Mrs. Bortner

• May appreciation days – Nicole M will take care of these

• • Principal’s Day – May 1
  • Lunch heroes appreciation – May 5
  • Nurse -May 10
  • Speech language pathologist- May 18
  • Also… teacher appreciation week is May 8-12 (see teacher appreciation notes)

Committee Reports

• Yearbook-Kayla Zellers

• • Submitted to be printed
  • Carrie, Nicole, and Holly proofread
  • 425 copies ordered (students and staff all get one)
  • Next year is last year for contract with LifeTouch; can renew contract or shop the yearbook contract around with other businesses

• Teacher Appreciation-Tara Bryan/Dana Henry – May 8-12

• • Passed around a flyer for families about student led activities during teacher appreciation week, flyer for teachers about PTO led activities for teacher appreciation week, and a draft of the email that will be sent to families by grade level of activities and teacher favorites; everyone approved
  • Sign ups for teacher appreciation week -volunteers and food donations will go out in the last two weeks of April
  • Coffee truck for teachers – Monday, May 22 in the morning, starting at 8:30am
    • Given some funds from Believe Kids (Laps for Learning fundraising company) to thank teachers and staff for helping/supporting PTO fundraisers
    • On My Grind coffee truck
    • Menus were passed around: hot drinks, cold drinks, smoothie of the day will be strawberry banana
    • Parked in Rocket Riders lot; will arrive at 8:00am; start serving drinks at 8:30am till finished
    • $300 for 50 drinks; $6 for each additional drink
    • Staff will be encouraged to pre-order through a google form; Dana will also hang flyers by the mailboxes and in the staff lounge with the menu and a QR code to the google form to pre-order; walk up orders can also be made on the day of for staff who are able to get away
    • Volunteers will be used on the day of to run orders to the staff; can use side rocket riders door to go in and out of the building

• Spring Book Fair-Carrie Houck -May 9 & 10

• • May 8 set up the book fair in the library (Carrie, Jenna, Robin W)
  • Volunteers
    • Teacher sign up for book fair will go out through Holly tomorrow
    • May 9 (classes signed up between 9:00am-3:00pm)
      • 3 people needed: 9am-12pm
      • 3 people needed: 12-3pm
    • May 10
      • Any students that still need to attend can come down in the morning from 9am- 12pm; Carrie and Robin will staff, no volunteers needed
      • Evening hours before and during curriculum fair, followed by clean up:
        • Curriculum fair 6:30-8:00pm; Book fair 5:30-8:00pm
        • Volunteers: 5-7pm- 4 people needed; 7-9pm -5 people needed

• Laps for Learning-Nicole Matthews & Carrie Houck – May 19

• • Nicole talked to Angel to get prizes set
  • 2 bounce houses have been reserved – small obstacle course and slide
  • DJ is booked
  • Gift basket for highest earner of summer fun ($100 value); instead of $100 amazon gift card
  • Looking for teacher volunteers for human ice cream sundaes (wear old clothes, PTO provides ponchos, tablecloths on ground, shower caps)

• Courtyard-Dana Henry – work day April 29

• • 4 families signed up to help
  • Some plants donated
  • Weed, install pavers/bird bath/etc, plant plants, put down mulch
  • Grant will be submitted at the end of April for furniture, gardening tools and storage, and more plants for next year

Welcome and Introductions

• The meeting was called to order at 6:02pm by Nicole Matthews.
• There were 9 people in attendance.
  • Faculty attendees: Julie Janusz
  • Parent attendees: Nicole Matthews, Nicole Laughman, Sarah Landis, Dana Henry, Brittany Quinnan, Casey Grim, Tara Bryan, and Carrie Houck

Secretary's Report submitted by Dana Henry:

• Meeting minutes from the February 9, 2023 meeting were reviewed.
• The meeting minutes received a majority vote of approval.

President's Report submitted by Nicole Matthews:

• Not a lot to share at this point; busy part of the year coming up

 Treasurer's Report submitted by Carrie Houck:

• February
  • Beginning Balance: $26,232.29
  • Credits: $5,573.83 (Amazon Smiles, Little Caesars fundraiser)
  • Debits: $243.20 (kindergarten readiness, etc.)
  • Ending Balance: $31,562.92
• The treasurer’s report received a majority vote of approval.

Principal's Report submitted by Mrs. Janusz

• Snowball fight went well
• Glow party in the gym for the Project TEAM reward next week during P.E.
• March 21 – night of music; vocal concerts for grades 1-4
• Jump Rope for Heart – close to $6,000 raised; will be an assembly with Pound on March 31
• Penny Wars start March 27 (runs for one week)
• April 6 – Choices Assembly by Ron James (parent)

Teacher’s Report submitted by Mrs. Fisher

• Mrs. Fisher was not at the meeting.

Old Business:

• Fourth Grade Graduation – May 31

• • There will be a graduation celebration this year
  • Carrie will be the chairperson
  • Tara and Casey volunteered to help

• March Appreciation Days

• • Mr. Barnes – PTO gave him a candy bar and thank you card
  • Maintenance workers – PTO gave a bowl of candy bars and thank you card
  • Staff – bingo boards for staff to fill out, bingo prizes of scratch off tickets and chocolate

• Officer Nominations

• • Nicole – continue as president
  • Carrie – continue as treasurer
  • Vice president open for now; publicize to school
  • Dana – continue as secretary; shadow president
  • Sarah L – co-treasurer

New Business

• April appreciation days

• • School library appreciation day – April 4
  • National assistant principal week – April 3-7
  • Paraprofessional day – April 5
  • National administrative professionals day - April 26
  • Staff appreciation for April – egg hunt in the media center on April 3

• End of year treat for students

• • Last year we did ice cream popsicles for all students; discuss more next month

• Scholarship dinner – May 16

• • Paradise PTO donates $500 for the Spring Grove Scholarship Fund
  • We also sponsor a table at the dinner for $250
  • We can send 4 people to the dinner; think about who would like to attend

• Dana put together a s’more with Holly about end of year dates and open officer positions for parents
• Volunteer ice cream social -May 25 after school

• • 35 different volunteers at this point from PTO events; more after Laps and Teacher appreciation week
  • Include classroom volunteers
  • Ice cream at Farmers Field and bottles of water
  • Hang a thank you sign, invite volunteers and their families
  • Decided not to reserve the pavilion, just go early to stake out the space
  • Nicole L can make a thank you banner for student council to paint/decorate

Committee Reports

• Yearbook-Kayla Zellers

• • Deadline for dedications and activity pictures is moved to March 14

• Teacher Appreciation-Tara Bryan/Dana Henry – May 8-12

• • $431.65 left in budget
  • PTO sponsored days: Tuesday (sweet treats), Wednesday (Cinco de Mayo themed luncheon), Thursday (salty treats), raffle baskets all week of donated items
  • Student sponsored days Monday through Friday: Monday-wear homeroom teacher’s favorite color, Tuesday – homework paper for special area teachers, Wednesday – give a teacher a hug or high five, Thursday – wear tie dye to honor resource teachers who tie us all together, Friday – Make thank you cards or pictures for your teachers

• Spring Book Fair-Carrie Houck -May 9 & 10

• • Nothing to report

• Little Caesars Pizza-Nicole Matthews & Carrie Houck

• • Total profit: $2,076

• Laps for Learning-Nicole Matthews & Carrie Houck – May 19

• • Talked to Angel from Believe Kids
  • Pick prizes within the given budget of $700
    • 5 credit level – turn a teacher into a sundae; dixie cups of toppings
    • 10 credit level – lunch of some sort
    • 15 credit level – bring a friend to the lunch
  • Will also give up to $100 for teachers
    • teacher appreciation to show that PTO acknowledges the extra work they do
    • Idea - coffee truck on the morning of May 19 (Laps for Learning day)
  • Goat key chains this year
  • Kids will bring own water bottles; PTO provides popsicles for treat – Brittany
  • Bounce house - Carrie

• Curriculum Fair – May 10