Columbus Gifted Academy PTO

Official website for the PTO of the Columbus Gifted Academy

PTO Meeting Minutes, Oct 14, 2019

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Meeting Date: October 14, 2019, 6:30PM

Meeting Location: Thompson Park playground

 

  • Call to Order – Emmy Partin
  • Welcome and Officer Introductions
  • Treasurer’s Report (Melody Reed)
  • Officers’ Reports

 

      1. President’s Report (Emmy Partin)
        1. The 6th grade teaching team reached out for support getting volunteers for sixth grade off campus visits. These roles would be active volunteers, not simply “chaperoning” and are needed to help monitor small groups of students with specific social/emotional/health needs. More details, dates, times, and directions for how to volunteer from [email protected].
        2. We need help on Oct. 18 and 23 to move our PTO supplies from the air conditioned room where they are now, to our new supply closet. On the 18th we’ll pack, and we’ll move on the 23rd. (Skipped this for confirmation of moving day)
      2. Vice President’s Report (Angie Meeker)
        1. Parent’s Survey – The goal of the feedback is to solicit more feedback from parents about how the PTO can support their time at CGA. A similar survey was sent to teachers. 
        2. Committee Small Groups (meeting together at end of agenda)
      3. Communications Report  (Scott Vezdos)
        1. Volunteers for graphic design

 

  • Mrs. R Report (Not present)
  • Upcoming Events

 

    1. Skating Party at SkateZone71: October 28 @ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Admission is $3, with proceeds of admission benefiting the PTO General Fund. Free ice cream sundae with each paid admission.

      1. Parking Fundraiser: Nov. 2 and Dec. 7 (4 – 10PM)
        Volunteers are needed to collect cash, run the card reader, and hold signs at key intersections. We’d also like to correspond directly with local businesses so they know the lot is available for servers/staff to safely park together on Hop nights. Proceeds benefit the 8th grade Washington, DC scholarship fund.
      2. Read A Thon (Nov. 8 – 17) is our largest fundraiser to date and corresponds with Book Fair. Students are challenged to find sponsors for flat donations to their read-a-thon, and are rewarded on time read, not on dollars raised. The classes within each grade that reads the most gets a pizza party, while students who read over 10 hours are entered into a drawing for a ChromeBook. Other carnival type prizes are available directly through the Read-A-Thon website at the end of event.

 

  • NovemberFest (Saturday, Nov. 16): Novemberfest is a community-building event for CGA that does offer some fundraising opportunities.

 

        1. Events:
          1. Silent Auction Baskets, including teacher experience baskets (Do you have a connection to an item we could add to a basket, or are you willing to coordinate gathering items for a specific themed basket)?
          2. Small Craft Fair: $40 for crafter; $5 for student selling for profit (payable by proceeds), or free to students donating proceeds to CGA causes.
          3. Chili Cook-Off, including ceramic bowl sales to benefit Art class ceramics
          4. Family Photos, at no cost, delivered digitally
          5. Bounce House/Inflatables
          6. Weapons Demo by Actor’s Theater – Shakespeare Fight 
          7. School Off Campus Partner Demonstrations
          8. Small carnival or fall themed games
          9. Band/Music Outside (Do you know a band who could play live?)
          10. Canned/Shelf Stable Food Drive for Pantry (in prep for holidays)
        2. Food: Food Trucks + Grills + Chili, possibly apple/pumpkin donuts, hot chocolate, smores
        3. Communications: Call for Volunteers no later than Oct. 21
          Small print flyers to all families once per week starting Oct. 25
          Posters and inclusion in phone dialers at school starting Nov. 1 – Parent recommended caution on phone dialer, at Devonshire last year Principal was asked not to make announcements that weren’t official school events. We haven’t found that to be the case here at CGA up to this point.
    2. Old Business 

 

  • Spirit Wear will be available at Novemberfest.
  • New Business

 

      1. Prof. McGonigle Mini-Grant Request. Prof. McGonigle has asked for $308.26 to fund additional books and book covers for the library, grades 3-8.
      2. Motion to authorize $320.00, second, approved.

 

  • Announcements/Comments:
  • Small Groups:

 

      1. Fundraising
        1. Brainstorm ideas for auction baskets (collections or themes).
        2. Find contact information for any businesses that match those ideas.
        3. Mystery baskets? 
      2. Hospitality
        1. Writing/Addressing/Stamping thank you notes to Pizza restaurants, and online donations (done)
        2. Requesting food donations for future PTO meetings (needs volunteer)
      3. Communications
        1. If we are going to continue doing parking, we need more appropriate, sturdier (less easy to steal) signage.
        2. Parking A-frame signs (costs, design)
          Parking flyers/posters for area businesses
        3. NovemberFest (posters/flyers/social)
      4. Events
        1. Restaurant Nights, choose a variety around town, call to book various times. Be sure to check the school and PTO calendar first. (needs a volunteer or suggestions)
        2. Food Trucks for NovemberFest (Do you have a favorite you’d like to recommend or a connection at one in particular?)
        3. Membership and Finance/Compliance

 

  • Adjournment