FSES-PTA Meeting #4 Wednesday, March 5, 2014 Minutes Welcome PTA President, Suha Kocabal, called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. Approval of January 15th, 2014 Minutes Suha Kocabal made a motion to approve the January 15th, 2014 Minutes and Monica Roncskevitz, Vance Gore, and Helen Miller seconded - Motion passed. FSES the PTA and FF County Budget Action Plan Update Vance Gore gave an update on the FSES PTA budget that finances were in a good shape. Kim Detwiler has brought in $2,000 in spirit wear sales. With the final check cleared from one of the sponsors for FS 5K run, the total amount raised reached to $32,500 which is well over the $15,000 that was anticipated. Many thanks to Kristie Helfrich for her work on the fundraiser. The Armchair Fundraiser is still lagging behind our target. So far $14,000 has been donated, well short of the $25,000 target. To aid donations, there is now an online donation option on the PTA website. The donation button now allows Armchair Fundraiser donations through PayPal or a major credit card. On the Fairfax County budget front, Vance reported on his meeting with Supervisor John Foust and representatives from Kent Gardens Elementary School. Supervisor Foust vowed to support schools, but did not believe the ability to fully fund the 5.7 percent requested by the FCPS. He expected the board to approve a higher percentage than the 2 percent proposed by the county executive. He thought the state government might also contribute more to the budgets of school systems such as Fairfax County. Vance urged the PTA and members to write to their House of Delegates member and state senator and push for increased state funding. Tulay Soylu, Recording Secretary 1 Centennial Preparations Kim Todd gave an update on the Centennial preparations and the goal. The mission of the FS Centennial Committee is to celebrate the school’s presence in the McLean community for the past 100 years with an emphasis on education and responsibility to the community. Proposed timeline (subject to final approval) will be as follows: in March, 2014, Public realtions contacts will be generated, press releases will be written, and a social media plan will be created. In April, 2014, an official public relations campaign will be launched in advance of spring events. In May, 2014, new 100th Anniversary spirit wear will be sold at the spring carnival. In June, 2014, the announcement for the events coming in the fall will be sent home with Wednesday folders. In August, 2014, Centennial logo will be displayed at open house and we will sell Centennial spirit wear. In September, 2014, the Centennial Celebration Festival will take place in addition to the ice cream social. In October, 2014, there will be a Centennial Fun Run. In Spring 2015, there will be a Spring Carnival, Centinennial Gala and the Auctions Currently there is a need for a “Social Media Manager“ and if you have any ideas or suggestions you may email Kim at [email protected]. Membership Update On behalf of Miriam Baskies, Monica Roncskevitz gave an update on the PTA membership activity plans and the ways to reach out to the new parents starting from kindergarten. At the beginning of the school year, there will be a special gathering to inform especially the Kindergarten parents about the PTA activities and encourage them to join the PTA. After School Programs Update Helen Miller gave an update on the after school activities. Overtime athletics after school sports programs of Friday Sports Spectacular, Friday Go Long Flag Football, Friday Cheerleading and Jump Rope are ongoing classes that take place on Fridays between 4.00-5.00 pm. The Minecraft, Lego classes and Chess are ongoing classes as well. POP Golf After School program for grades K-6 will be on Thursdays between 4.00-5.00 pm and it will start on April 24st. Helen also gave an update on “whiz kids“ after school program. One of the “whiz kids“ program is “Media Minds“ and it is for grades 3rd through 6th. Student will learn about advertising, journalism and photography. Another program of “whiz kids“ is called “Animal Planet“ and student will explore safari, and they will study whales, sharks, and species of the sea. Animal Planet program is for grades K-2nd. Both programs are on Wednesdays between 4.00-5.00 pm and will start on April 23rd (6 weeks). Update on Upcoming Activities International Night, March 7th Veronica Scozia gave an update on International Night. It will be in the cafeteria and over 17 countries will be hosting tables. The countries participating include; Australia, Brazil, Canada, Tulay Soylu, Recording Secretary 2 Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Portugal, Sweeden, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United Staes. There will be food from all around the world, and music will be played. Muffins with Mom, March 13-14 Veronica Scozia gave an update on the Muffins with mom event. The flyers were sent home today with the Wednesday folders. It will take place from 8.30 to 9.00 on Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14, 2014 in the cafeteria. It will be fun, we are expecting all moms. Doughnuts with Dad, March 27-28 Monica Roncskevitz gave an update on the Doughnuts with Dad event. The flyers went home today with Wednesday folders. It will take place from 8.30 to 9.00 am on Thursday, March 27 and on Friday, March 28, 2014 in the cafeteria. It will be fun, and we are expecting all dads. If you have children in both groups, you could pick one day for each event and bring all the kids. FS Carnival May 4th Suha Kocabal gave an update on Carnival. Sissi has been working on the event for organizing fun events for the day and detailed information will be sent in the coming months. New Business Parents discussed the PTA board selection and election process for next year. A JBF and KIT will be sent out to parents to seek candidates for all the positions. A Nominating Committee will be formed and the new board members will be selected by them and the slate for next year presented at the May PTA meeting. The new board members will be voted in at the PTA's June meeting. Principal’s Report Mrs. Quigley informed that a local famous Author, poet and teacher, Kallie Dakos, will be visiting Franklin Sherman ES on March 21, 2014. She will be giving three presentations to K-1, 2-3 and 4-6 in the Library. Ms. Dakos is also selling her books and will autograph them too. An order form is being sent home in the Wednesday folders if your child is interested in buying some of her books. Checks can be made out to FSES Library. Mrs. Quigley also said that a new special education teacher and our new Spanish teacher started working this month. Mr. Gomez is an excellent elementary educator and native speaker. Our teachers are preparing our 5th graders for the writing SOL test and they are in excellent shape. Based on the county calendar, the end of the school year is going to be on Tuesday June 24th, 2014, if we do not have any other snow days. Meeting Adjourns Suha Kocabal made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 p.m., Monica Roncskevitz, Vance Gore, and Helen Miller seconded - Motion passed. Tulay Soylu, Recording Secretary 3