General Nash Home and School Meeting - Minutes
Thursday, February 16, 2017 2:00 p.m. Nash Library
President's Welcome
January 2017 minutes approved
February:
16 Math Night
17 School Store for Grades 2 and 3
20 No School - President's Day
22 Wacky Hair Wednesday (Foundation February event)
24 Nash School Spirit Day (Foundation February event)
24 School Store for Grades K and 1
24 Nash Basketball Blast - 5:30 p.m.
27 Millionaire Monday (Foundation February event)
*27 NPSD Diversity Forum - 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Penndale Middle School
28 Tropical Tourist Tuesday (Foundation February Finale Assembly)
*28 NPSD Diversity Forum - 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Pennfield Middle School
27-3/2 Book Fair - Happy Campers Theme!
(A letter was sent home last week announcing the Foundation February events for our school.)
March:
2 Book Fair Family Night - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
2 Dr. Seuss Spirit Day
7 Drama Club (Grades 1 & 2) Performance - 7:00 p.m.
9 H & S Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
17 Jumpin' Jacks Night - 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
21 Crazy Sock Day - World Down Syndrome Day
22 Drama Club (Grades 3 & 4) Performance - 7:00 p.m.
23 Drama Club (Grades 5 & 6) Performance - 7:00 p.m.
24 Mother/Son Event - 7:00 p.m. at Nash
27 No School
Treasurer's Report - Steph Sharkey
-We are not holding a spring fundraiser due to the fact that our earlier fundraising efforts were so successful.
-We are looking for approval to raise the amount for the General Nash Scholarship Fund from $500 to $800 this year. We have been successful raising funds for this scholarship because of the Nash Basketball Blast in 2016 and with the t-shirt sales for the Nash Basketball Blast this year. Motion approved.
-The Daddy/Daughter Dance was a huge hit this past week! This event is a social event/ break even, but we have approximately $900 left after all of the bills have been paid. This amount was achieved through the generous donations of many food items, games and decorations by our Nash families. We are looking to buy a gift for the school using this dollar amount. One of the ideas that we would like to explore would be to purchase a "Buddy Bench" for the Nash playground (other schools in our district have these.) Motion approved.
-We are also looking for approval to purchase interchangeable signs for inside of the school. These are also in other schools in the district (Hatfield Elementary and Bridle Path Elementary are two examples.) Mr. Winkle has already secured approval from the Towamencin Fire Company for the signs to be placed in the building. These signs would be paid for using unexpected funds that were discovered in our budget. Motion approved.
-Another item that Mr. Winkle has included on a wish list for our school would be monitor display screen to be placed on the wall outside of the nurse's office that could be used to display school announcements, photos and other information. This would be visible from the vestibule area near the office when parents enter the school. When asked about who would be responsible for its upkeep and maintenance, Mr. Winkle did not have an answer at this time. We will be researching this possible purchase to get more information regarding cost, but Mr. Winkle indicated that he may be using funds from his principal's account to purchase this instead of asking for H & S funding for it.
-It appears we may also have a surplus from the Winter Carnival which is also a social event/break even. This is due to the fact that the committee did not need to purchase as many prizes since they had a lot left over from last year. We are looking at using the surplus to purchase materials to replace some of the carnival games that are starting to show wear and tear.
New Business
-Follow up information from January H & S meeting with NPSD school board members
-A handout was provided with the information. There was some more discussion on the use of Chromebooks.
-Purchase of signs to be placed inside the school -Approved
-Kindness Rocks community project for February
-The students at Nash made cards for the first responders in our community and these cards were delivered to the Towamencin Fire Company, the Towamencin Police Department and the Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale.
-Olympic Day t-shirts
-We are looking at offering t-shirts for families to purchase for their children to wear on Olympic Day. The shirts would be in the colors for the team that the children is placed on. The shirts will be available in youth and adult sizes, are moisture wicking and the cost will be approximately $10 (Adult XXL would be priced slightly higher). We are going to ask the fifth and sixth grade students to come up with a design for the shirts and we will have Mr. Burns choose the final design from the ones that are submitted. More information will be coming home about this.
-Review of Social Media/Internet Safety Night (see handout)
-We are looking at holding a follow-up event to our Social Media/Internet Safety Night from January. Laura Boquist shared that both Dr. Dietrich and Dr. Landis expressed interest in meeting with the parents on this topic and so we are going to look into the possibility of having the event held at the ESC. The possible dates that we are looking at are Tuesday, April 18 and Monday, May 1.
Coordinator's Reports
-Science Explorers -This is a new after school activity for all grades. The theme will be "Super Duper Product Sleuther" where the students will do scientific research in teams. The program will run for five weeks (Wednesdays) in May starting on May 3 and running through May 31. The cost will be $82.00 per student. More information will be coming home about this program.
-There will be two H & S Board positions available for 2017-2018: president and communications and we will be looking to find candidates for these positions by the April H & S meeting.
-We are also looking for a Volunteer Coordinator for the 2017-2018 school year as well as a coordinator for the Spring Zing and a co-coordinator for the Daddy/Daughter Dance.
-Laura Boquist shared with us that the Coordinating Council, which is an umbrella group of all of the North Penn parent groups, is dwindling in attendance. The group is looking to reduce the number of meetings each year. This group has been a place where the parent groups can come together to problem solve and share ideas. They have typically had a variety of guest presenters at their meetings. Their next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m.
-We received our first check for the Impact Thrift collection bin and the total was $218.20.
Open Forum Q&A
-A parent asked a question about the Daddy/Daughter Dance being open to other adults for the girls to invite (ex: grandparents, uncles, etc.) The flyer that went out for the event indicated that this event is open to others and not just the fathers.
-There was also a question about the possibility of having a formal dance for the 4th-6th grade students next year. It was decided that it would be difficult to pull something like this together (getting coordinators, volunteers, etc.) and that this might be something that is already being held for the students at the middle school level.
-A parent asked if the district has any plans in place for next school year if Green Lane Road is still closed due to the ongoing turnpike construction. A question was also asked about the possibility of a bus being provided for the families who live in the Towamencin Condominium neighborhood and if this would be starting sometime this school year or if it would start for the new school year in August. There was also a question about the role of the crossing guard at Bustard Road and Liberty Bell Drive if a bus was being provided for the children in that neighborhood. Mr. Winkle shared that a traffic study is being done by PennDOT on Bustard Road and Liberty Bell Drive. Once the study is done, the information will be shared with the township and the school district. Mr. Winkle indicated that more information should be coming soon about this.
Our next Home and School meeting will be held on March 9, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.