Columbus Gifted Academy PTO

Official website for the PTO of the Columbus Gifted Academy

Columbus Gifted Academy PTO Meeting Notes: September 21, 2015

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Meeting Minutes

Columbus Gifted Academy PTO

Date: 9/21/2015

Location: CGA Lunch room

Meeting Called To Order By: Eve Hathaway

Time: 6:38 p.m.

  • Board Vote:
  1. President gives background on the historical context of the Interim Board
    1. Daniel offered motion
    2. Valerie seconded
    3. Motion carried
  • Administrator Report: Mrs. R –
  • Our house is a very, very, very fine house
      1. More than 200+ people including, Board members, executive directors and armadillo attended Open House
      2. Positive feedback and support given from community on the experience of the scholars so far
      3. The active parents and community is appreciated by staff and scholars
    1. Chromebooks have begun to arrive
      1. 3rd graders started MAPP testing
      2. We were first school to receive chromebooks today through parent and admin advocacy.
    2. MAPP Testing
      1. Had some 3rd grade meltdowns, it’s due to the questions they don’t know, please help convey to students, if they don’t know answers they don’t know it is okay
      2. We have 2 testing facilitators on staff to personalize instruction based on the results
    3. Alex Math Curriculum is coming on board district wide
    4. Interim Reports being entered in, mailed on the 29th middle schoolers, elementary will receive via backpack that same day. Only in the 3rd full week of school not many assignments to grade
    5. Off campus visits have begun in full swing
      1. Upcoming field trips
      2. Oct 2, middle school at Cols Zoo, engaging in observations, help develop app while there, Tailblazer app, some coding involved
      3. Oct 5th and 8th – COSI
    6. SAVE THE DATE
      1. No school friday
      2. Sat oct 10, cardboard challenge,
      3. Monday Oct 12th School Photos
      4. PTO Meeting 3rd Monday of each month

Officer’s Report

  1. President: Eve Hathaway
    1. Coolers are okay to go home
    2. Fundraising
      1. Working on what is going to be the most successful fundraising efforts, goals moneywise, what we are going to spend it on, presenting events, budget etc. at the next meeting
      2. (2)Bookfairs approved in conjunction with Parent/Teacher Conference
        1. November 16th & 18th and February
      3. Read-a-thon Approved as well
        1. Before the 3rd grade reading guarantee
      4. Parent Volunteer Sheet (look online)
        1. All kinds of things listed for please email [email protected]
        2. Doesn’t have to be a long term commitment
        3. Gillian will be coordinating parent volunteers
  2. Treasurer’s Report
    1. going to be available online
    2. total $2277.42 earned
      1. $83 contribution
      2. Membership dues
      3. Online fundraiser
      4. Bake Sale
    3. Expenses
      1. Office expenses
      2. Websites
      3. Fund the cashbox
    4. Among the things a concern – how much money spending this year and how much will carry over
    5. Questions? Email at [email protected]
    6. Finance Committee open invitation to join for interested members
    7. 501(3)(c)
      1. monies have gone toward getting business incorporation,
      2. budgeted $575
        1. waiting on the info back from the state before we can apply for the IRS designation, no certain timetable for when the IRS will confirm that designation
  3. Vice President
    1. Thank you for the Bake Sale, so much variety and so much was raised thank you for everyone who helped out
    2. Still accepting membership forms
      1. Grandparents, other family members welcome
      2. Membership form Live on website: ColumbusGiftedAcademy.com/Membership, online payment available as well
    3. Always looking for volunteers for committees
  4. Communications Committee
    1. Central place for PTO information is on the website
    2. Other ways PTO will communicate:
      1. Facebook Page: Facebook.com/CGAPTO
      2. Parents Group is not PTO related, it is maintained by and for parents and community
      3. [email protected] calendar for Google users
      4. Twitter: @CGAPTO
      5. Flyers home to scholars
      6. Bulletin Board outside the Office
      7. Robo dialing
      8. Email listserv
    3. Once the mascot and colors picked the website will be updated to look more spiffy :0)
  1. Committee Update
    1. Fundraising committee
      1. 2 approved fundraising
      2. still in need of a new chair, contact CGA PTO if you have experience
    2. Safety Patrol
      1. Still needs volunteers
      2. And for events maximizing parking and safely
    3. Clothing Closet
      1. Gently used donations of regular and seasonal clothing items
      2. Flyer forthcoming
    4. Activities
      1. Fall Festival
        1. Event committee with food trucks, in early planning stages, Saturday, October 31st
        2. Evening, no OSU game, Trick or Treat on Thursday
        3. Motion to approve it as an event
        4. Voted, motion carried
        5. $250 Budget approved for Fall Festival
          1. Motioned and vote carried
  2. New Business:
    1. Mrs. Crosby, 4th grade teacher – Momentum, dance instructor, fundraising the money to pay for program
      1. Planned Fundraisers:
        1. Key Collective
        2. Sun catchers – selling
        3. Walk-A-Thon Oct 23rd
        4. Selling Sports Cups
        5. Looking for grants needed help
        6. All 4th graders participates
        7. Momentum online, powerful program
        8. Important to have the arts represented in curriculum
        9. $50/child for 60 students
    2. November 18th Biz Town all day event, need tons of parent volunteers not just 4th grade
    3. DC Trip Mid-November first deposit May 23rd – 27th, taking the 8th graders, need funds
    4. Middle School doesn’t have lockers or cubbies, no place to securely to leave their things
      1. Looking at 2 Lowe’s grants for the year to help support those efforts to buy cubbies or lockers
      2. Also looking into what the district has available to give
      3. Also seeing where lockers can be stored according to fire marshall
    5. Girl Scouts will be sending information home to families

Meeting Adjourned At: 7:48 p.m.

Minutes Compiled By: Terreece M Clarke, Secretary