August 2014 Meeting Minutes

General Nash Elementary School Meeting Minutes
August 19, 2014

Welcome
Welcome to the new board members for the 2014-2015 school year: Karen Lindsay, President and Jenny Platt, Vice-President

Our returning board members are: Laura Boquist - Controller, Shannon Snyder - Communications, Susan Zima, Treasurer and Kelly Magee-Greene, Secretary

Thank you to our departing board members from 2013-2014 school year- Ishani Desai, Maria Strohl and Tiffanie Stanton

June Minutes were approved

Upcoming Dates were reviewed:
August:
19 - Home and School Meeting
26 - Teacher breakfast at Nash
28 - New family orientation

September
2 - First day of school and Kindergarten orientation
3 - Market Day orders due online by 11 pm
5 - Spirit Day - Blue and White
9 - Market Day pick-up
11 - Home and School meeting
16 - Fall pictures and Back to School Night
19 - Activities Fair and Family Picnic, 6:30
25 - No School
26 - Homeroom Parent Tea and Coordinator Round-Up; 9:15 in cafeteria

New Business:

  • We still need coordinators for these events:

Spirit Wear

Spring Zing

Holiday Shop
Mom and Dad events
Book Fair Family Night

Shadow for Walk-a-thon

If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer, please contact Shannon Snyder at [email protected] or any board member!

  • Budget approval - The proposed budget was approved for the 2014 to 2015 school year. Total income is estimated to be about $22,000; total expenses are estimated to be about $25,000. We will have to add a fundraiser to cover our expenses. The social events (ex. Winter Carnival) are not intended for profit.
  • Directory Update - Lauren Shive and Maria Strohl are coordinating this. They are going to update the summer directory (which was on-line) to include the 20% of families which are not currently in the directory. An e-mail will be sent to current families to update information. We are hoping to have another on-line directory available by the end of September. (Directory is password protected). This year only, a hard copy will also be sent home. Positives for the on-line directory include the ability to update new families, class changes, and staff changes. Also, you can print out any page from the directory at home.
  • Fundraiser Review - Fruit of the Month is a new fundraiser this year to run from Fall to Spring. We are joining other schools (Pennfield, Hatfield ES, possibly Walton Farm) to meet our minimum order requirements. Deliveries will be directly to Nash for our parents. Orders are on month by month basis, so you can pick and choose which months you would like to order. Hoping to start this in November. Walk-a-thon - Our major fundraiser will take place in October. Chocolate fundraiser will take place in early Spring with a delivery in March. We are also looking at running a concurrent fundraiser with the chocolate (did this last year). Possibly a flower fundraiser (possibly potted plants - parents reported difficulty with the type of flowers we had last year), or Yankee Candles. Delivery for this would be closer to Mother's Day.
  • Facebook Page - Home & School runs a closed Facebook page. You need to request to join it. There is a link on npenn.org and a link will be sent out via Constant Contact.

Principal's Report

  • A crossing guard will be on duty at Liberty Bell Drive and Bishopwood Blvd (in front of the school) for this school year only due to the increased traffic from the bridge construction. The guard will be on duty four hours per day. He/She will be there during Kindergarten dismissal/arrival as well.
  • A map of the USA was painted on our blacktop over the summer. Thanks to H&S, specifically Tanya MacGregor and Traveler's Insurance.
  • Looking into an electronic newsletter from smore.com which can be sent to multiple outlets (FaceBook, Website, etc).
  • The first newsletter will be sent through e-communications
  • Class lists will be posted on-line and on the school on Thursday, August 21st, around 4:00. Spirit Wear will be on sale at that time in front of Nash.
  • New Staff for this year:

Miss Allison Costello - 4th grade teacher (this class was an addition after our meeting)
Miss Lindsay Pichaj - K pm
Mrs. Sandy Brady - nurse
Mrs. Kirsten Slater - Learning Support Teacher
Mrs. Amy Walter - Autistic Support Teacher
Miss Jessica Denton - Speech Clinician
Miss Jill Beck - Speech Clinician
Mrs. Molly Beer- English Language Learner Teacher
Mrs. Deb Opdyke - Special Education Assistant
Mr. Francis Shervinski - Special Education Assistant
Miss Emily Bacon - Learning Support Assistant
Mrs. Teresa Vitelli - Technology Assistant
Miss Laura Raffaele - Strings Teacher
Mrs. Donna Till - Kitchen Supervisor

Mr. Jared Quigley - 2nd grade, Long term substitute for Dana Andreacchio

Coordinator Report

  • Giant - has electronic box top until August 31st, info on Giant website. New this year - once your register your card, it does not need to be re-registered. Points can be split among schools if you have kids at multiple schools.
  • Hospitality is planning Welcome Back Breakfast for teachers. They need baked goods on Tuesday, Sept. 26th. Contacts are Christine DiPippo, Amy Sanfelice, and Kristen Mallitz.
  • Spanish - still need to determine what rooms will be available for Spanish club.
  • Envelopes - The first communication envelope will go out Wednesday, September 3rd. Depending on the number of flyers, we may do a second envelope the following week. Going forward from October to June, we will send out communication envelopes twice per month (schedule TBD).
  • Activities Night and Welcome Picnic - Activities night will have tables set up with all the activities available at Nash and also from outside organizations (such as LaCrosse). Great night to find out about various clubs and events going on at Nash! 6th grade will be doing a hoagie sale for food. Possibly a sign up genius for desserts will be sent out.
  • Campbell Labels - one more batch to count and send out in October.
  • NPage - Calendar is on their page on Npenn.org. Their events are spread out to different nights this year to avoid conflicts with any one school. Super Saturday is scheduled for March 14th.
  • Spirit Wear - Magnets are $5, Water Bottles are $12 or 2 for $20 ($10 at Nash events). There will be order forms for shirts available at New Family Night.

Next Home & School meeting, September 11, 2014 in the Nash Library at 7:00pm.