PTO Meeting October 7, 2024
Welcome from Meredith
Attendees
Meredith, President
Ellen
Anthony
Kyle, Beverly Airport Liaison
Michelle
Maggie, Secretary
Sarah A
Jennifer Cummings, 4th Grade Planning
Alexa
Sarah Simmons, communication director
Nathan (Ryal Side Civic Association)
Chrissy Melo, PTO Website
Megan Hart
Ashley, Treasurer
Trunk or Treat Planning Committee
Ellen H coordinator
Group met right before this meeting–thank you to everyone who attended!
Bev Ed Update
Grateful to Ayers for piloting a Bev Ed booth at a school event
Positively received – attendees surprised to learn unknown details (ie. Honor a Teacher is open any time of year)
Updates from/Questions for Mrs. Hart
Kids have settled especially beautifully
Curriculum Night Feedback
Please fill out the feedback via link included in today’s update (Was it helpful to have two sessions? Was Open House style well-received?)
Dedication Ceremony for King Playground – Bob’s family will be there 🧡
Drop-Off Trouble-shooting
Signs ordered to help direct family; Megan in constant communication with Todd & BPD to determine how traffic may be impacting.
Work to Rule
Megan is not a member of BTA & not participating in negotiations.
Expecting no change for children’s school day
Only change for families would be that no teachers would return communication outside of their contractual hours.
Includes all teachers except for Mr. Barry (covering Ms. Reagan’s maternity leave)
Treasurer update
Please see sheet on PTO website for a clear breakdown.
Net: $65K – $50K(playground) = $15K current balance
Updates from Rachel Abell
Wednesday is SISL
School committee meeting afterwards
People can speak for up to 3 minutes.
Sign up in advance by emailing
Show up at the library & sign up at the podium
Negotiations October 14th, October 30th
Standing Committee on Finance
Adding 2 At-Large seats for School Committee: please reach out to Rachel for more details
Enrichments planned so far…
- November 13th: Planetarium
- December: Storyteller presenting about some African cultures
- February 12th program: Rob Surrette (speed artist/muralist & motivational speaker; going to gift one of his works of art)
- March 27th
- Grade-level archaeology enrichment
- Whale enrichment for the younger grades
- Possible fundraiser “Day at the Airport”
- Afternoon enrichments in the works
- Theater 2nd session upcoming
- Hammer & Stain: $30/kid
- Talking to Artcie again re: monthly Monday program
- Suggestions welcome
Gifts
Custodians were gifted gift cards (Dunks + Tsorro)
Sales
$700 during Ryal Side Day
Special NOTE
Patio is under way in the back of Ayers – if you’re there with your families, please stay off
World Kindness Week
Kindness Day – November 13, 2024
What could we do?
Teacher Support
- Get the word out about what’s going on with contract negotiations = middle ground
- not too political
- not just offering support
- Thursday night letter-writing night for families to show support to the teachers
- Being a realist: how do we support families in case of a strike?
- Coordinate bagged lunches
- Food staff coordinate with us?
- Setup playgroups
- Inter-class phone tree
Room parent coordinator – any update?
UPCOMING EVENTS
Fall Frolic
Trunk or Treat – $10 tickets (Capped at $40 per family)
- Details to come tomorrow
- Pizzas
- Concessions
- Trunks with games/face painting, etc.
- Multiple entry pointsElection Day Bake Sale
Book Fair – November 19, 20, 21 – breakdown afternoon of the 21st
Raffles for Wednesday night would be fantastic
No parents during the school day
Cookie Fundraiser
Pictures in the Park – need some volunteers for October 19th
Comedy Night – Steve Sweeney, Johnny Pizzi, Caricature artist;
Venue TBD – asking Franco for Jan/Feb/March
Saturday night
$35/40 a ticket
Rotary
Would they paint the lines?
UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS
Fall catalog – currently in mailboxes 9/16-10/7
Cookie dough fundraiser – awaiting Rebecca’s Free Cookies to reply
Pictures in the park –
Bench fundraising
Goals for this year?
Open forum for questions/discussions
