Takoma Park Elementary School PTA Meeting Minutes, February 6, 2018

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Takoma Park Elementary School PTA
Meeting Minutes, February 6, 2018
7-8pm, APR
Secretary: Allyson Piazza

Attendance: 28

Learning to Read – Literacy at TPES

Welcome and updates: PTA President Lia Goldstein

Hours:  Friday, 2/2 9:30am-3:50pm

Monday 2/5 9am-8pm * Storytime with Karen MacPherson 7-8pm*

Tuesday 2/6 9am-3:50pm

Wednesday 2/7 9am-6pm *Storytime with 2 guest readers!*

Thursday 2/8 9am-6pm

Friday 2/9 8:30am-5pm

    • Friday, February 16 – Principal’s Coffee, 3 PM
    • Monday, February 19 – Presidents Day – NO SCHOOL
    • Tuesday, March 6 – PTA Meeting – Health & Wellness
    • Monday, March 19 – Principal’s Coffee, 1 PM
    • March 26-April 2 – Spring Break
    • Tuesday, April 3 – PTA Meeting – Positive Discipline for  Parents (presented by PEP)
  • Updates
    • TPES Treasurer’s Report  – Lia Goldstein
      • Provided Treasurer’s Report showing account activity through January 31, 2018
      • Membership unanimously approved four budget amendments:
        • Re-allocate $1,750 of $2,000 allocated for atrium grow-lights to general unallocated funds; reserve $250 for possible permanent lighting.
        • Increase mailbox fund by $200 to reach all classrooms.
        • The Equity and Inclusion Committee received a Takoma Foundation grant for $2,000; all money added to the Equity and Inclusion funds.
        • Allocate $200 from general funds to pay parent encouragement speaker fee for April PTA meeting on positive discipline
      • Advocacy Update – Lia Goldstein
        • Jamie Koeppel is at the MCCPTA meeting tonight, along with others advocating for our field. All of the funds allocated for 5 identified DCC elementary school playgrounds as a part of the last capital improvement funding cycle were used for Rolling Terrace’s playground. Our playground improvement process will depend on the FY2019 capital improvement budget, which is being reviewed now. Jamie will be in touch with advocacy opportunities to make sure that our school is well represented.
      • Read-a-Thon – Lee Fogel-Anderegg and Maiko Callister, Read-a-thon chairs
        • Kicks off on Friday with a “Where the Wild Things Are” assembly at school
        • The Read-a-thon is the PTA’s largest annual fundraiser, with direct classroom impacts
        • Be on the look-out for different ways to encourage your kids and volunteer opportunities
      • Volunteer Update – Sarah Corcoran, Volunteer Coordinator
        • Check the PTA website for volunteer opportunities, including: Book Fair, Read-a-thon, reading enrichment, TPES/PBES basketball, hanging art for Ms. Hayes, bringing snacks for Mr. Althofer
        • Sign-up Geniuses will be coming soon on the website.
  • Literacy Presentation: Overview of Reading at TPES – Dr. Gadsden and Ms. Woods
    • Download Literacy Presentation
    • Ms. Woods (TPES reading specialist) gave an overview of how literacy instruction at TPES works, including a grade-level breakdown of county curriculum and goals, how metrics are used to guide instruction and engage in additional interventions as necessary, the components of reading instruction (guided reading, literacy centers, and word study), and what families can do to encourage literacy at home (actively read!)