September 2007 Minutes
Conestoga Elementary PTO
September 11, 2007
Conestoga Elementary School PTO
Meeting Minutes
Date: September 4, 2007
Location: Conestoga Elementary School Library
Meeting Called to Order By: Peg Moore, PTO President
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Attendance: 16 - 4 Officers, 2 Staff Members, 10 Parents
Officer’s Reports:
President: Peg Moore
Thank You to:
1. Clean-up Day Volunteers: Patty Clawson, Eric and Alyssa Dennis,
Trinity Jensen, Wendy Lowe, Scott and Peg Moore, Marilyn Myrtue,
Jean Parette, Mike and Linda Rice, and Mark Weilage.
2. Jean Parette and Ruffner’s Pharmacy for the school magnet
calendar.
3. Scott and Linda Sparks for donating sand for the playground
sandbox.
4. Mrs. Leffler and the highschool student athletes and
cheerleaders who participated in the Cougar Tracks Kick-off
Rally.
Summer Activities:
1. Ten students attended the Mad Science summer camp. This program
will be offered as an after school activity again this fall.
2. Six students attended the Rose Theater summer camp.
3. Thirteen students attended the Lego Robotics summer camp.
4. The PTO had a good turn-out and volunteer registration at the
Back to School Volunteer Table.
5. About 200 people attended the back to school swim party.
Treasurer: Wendy Lowe
1. The PTO account currently has a balance of $16,542. $12,000 of these funds are in short-term CDs.
Principal: Eric Dennis
1. Current enrollment is 322 students. This is about 20 more
students than last year.
2. Thank you to the PTO for the clean-up night. The school grounds
look very nice.
3. The school year is off to a great start. Student drop-off and
pick-up in front of the school is going well.
Committee Reports
1. Cougar Tracks Committee. Speaker: Peg Moore, chair.
The PTO received a mini-grant of $2,500 to implement a pedometer
program at the elementary school. Fourth through Sixth grade
students and teachers will participate by daily logging their
steps. This program was implemented to combat the growing obesity
rate. A recent survey found that 33% of our students are overweight
or obese. This is twice the national average. The PTO will be
selling pedometers for $12 to anyone interested in joining the
program. You can log your steps at www.presidentschallenge.org. Our
sign-on is cougar tracks. Already a pedometer user? You can log
your steps also. Help us reach our goal of walking to Hawaii before
December.
2. Fall Fundraiser Committee. Speaker: Linda Sparks, chair.
September 24 will kick-off the fall fundraiser. Students will be
bringing home catalogues offering food items and assorted gifts.
There is only one order form for both catalogues this year. A Shrek
prize packet will be offered for incentives. New this year is a
Radio Disney party with Sugarbear for students who sell ten items
or more. October 9 has been scheduled for pick-up day.
3. Parent-Teacher Conference Food Committee. Speaker: Jenny Cook,
chair.
Mimi’s pizza will again be offered to parents for pick-up on
conference nights. Mimi’s pizza will supply pizza for the teachers
on Thursday. Jenny will be contacting parent volunteers for
donations for Wednesday night food. The menu this fall will feature
soup and salads.
4. Skate Party Committee. Speaker: Karen Tesarek, chair.
The skate party dates have been booked for SkateCity in Bellevue.
The dates are:
November 8, January 10, and March 11.
5. Book Fair Committee. Speaker: Linda Sparks, chair.
The book fair will be held November 14-16. A Klutz Build-a-Book
project will be offered to parents and students on Thursday night.
Watch for more details.
6. Carnival Committee. Speaker: Trinity Jensen, chair.
The carnival has been scheduled for Friday, April 11 from 5:30 -
8:30. Trinity is
currently seeking a co-chair for this event.
Old Business: None.
New Business:
1. Curriculum grants will again be offered - $300 per grade
level, kindergarten through sixth grade; $100 per special, P.E.,
music, special education, etc. Teachers will be asked to submit
their request to the PTO at least five days prior to a PTO meeting.
Teachers will then be asked to present their request at the PTO
meeting.
2. Field trip grants will also be offered - $250 per grade lever,
kindergarten through sixth grade.
3. The PTO fund-raising goal this year is $15,000 for new
playground/fitness equipment. Trinity Jensen is currently
researching equipment. At this time, the PTO has $2,500 in seed
money for this project.
4. Another fund-raising possibility has been raised by Mr. Dennis.
He has requested the PTO consider funding a mobile laptop lab. A
mobile laptop lab would provide additional opportunities for
students to utilize technology. The lab would start small, with
twelve units, and work up to a complete lab. The PTO requested that
further research be done. A curriculum plan and long range
expectations should be submitted for consideration.
5. Possible fund-raising opportunities were discussed. The fall
fundraiser provides a 40% return. The basket auction and carnival
are on the calendar. A recipe book, original artwork, and bio-mats
will be investigated and discussed at the October meeting for
possible spring fund-raisers.
Announcements:
1. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Conestoga Elementary School Library.
Meeting Adjourned At: 7:53 p.m.
Minutes Complied By: Trinity Jensen
