Home News Events Directory PTA Get Involved About Us Login

February 5, 2008

Irvington PTA

February 5, 2008

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Location: Irvington School Library

 

1. January meeting minutes approved.

 

2. Standing Rules were distributed, changes were shared and there were no concerns addressed.  Standing Rules were approved.

 

3. Auction Update

Auction will be held on March 7th at 6 pm at the Melody Ballroom.  The Melody Ballroom is a great venue.  The majority of the large details are complete. There are some great class projects.  Sponsorship is up this year. Procurement from local businesses is more competitive this year, so we need to focus on our school community.  What things can each of us offer so we can supplement the business donations?

 

We still need volunteers to help with the auction.  Email or call Irma at imurauskas@earthlink.net or 503-493-2219 if you are able to help.  There are many people needed and anything you can do would be appreciated.

 

4. There will not be an Arts Night this year.  There are people who are willing to help, but someone needs to be the organizer.  If you are interested, speak with Kris Anderson.

 

5. Teacher Appreciation week in May needs a coordinator. Call Caitlin Krause at 503.287.5973 if this is something you can help organize.

 

6.  People signed up to volunteer at the PTA Clothing Center on Monday Feb. 11th and also set up Jungle night on Friday Feb. 8th.

 

7. The Irvington Home Tour has graciously offered our school the opportunity to run the café at the Irvington Club during the tour.  Our school will be able to keep all of the proceeds.  Tori Gilbert offered to coordinate- THANK YOU!!!

 

8.  We will need an Arts Committee Co-chair for next year.  Speak with Jill Grenda (503.287.0812) if you are interested.

 

9. Treasurer’s Report- see attached.

All is as expected and is going well.

 

Discussed the money allocated for the library from the special appeal from the 2006 auction.  The older grades have media needs.

 

10. The fourth grade class will go on an overnight field trip to learn about the Oregon Trail. The PTA approved funds in the amount of $2,069 to cover some of the costs of the trip. The students will also do some fundraising. The trip is scheduled for April 22nd and 23rd.

 

11. There will be a meeting with Superintendent Carole Smith on February 19th, 2008 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Rigler School.  This meeting is a district wide meeting to discuss the K-8 implementation.  27 schools will be involved and will provide formal testimony. Irma will deliver Irvington’s testimony.  The information provided to the superintendent will focus on infrastructure, program integrity (rigor and staffing), and student support (including counselors). Schools have expressed a variety of frustrations with the transition.

 

Kris will work on getting information from parents with students in grades six and seven.

 

12. Ms. MacLeod reported that full day Kindergarten including EAs will be funded for one more year. It is unknown about the other staff currently funded by Title 1.

 

13. There were some concerns expressed about the program for middle school students.  Ms. MacLeod shared her goals for next year. They include:

  • full time math and science teachers
  • 8th grade algebra.
  • possibly sharing teaching time with other schools to increase rigor in math for students who need it
  • determining PE needs for older students
  • career pathway exploration for 8th graders
  • high school transition planning for students

14. Facilities Assessment distributed.  Irvington School is not in bad shape and is rated in the TOP FIVE best buildings.

 

15. Traffic assessment from the PDOT visit was distributed. PDOT will work with Irvington School to find ways to improve safety around the schools. The city may be able to provide us with some bike racks. 

 

16. Scrip gift cards now include Panera Bread and Café, Best Buy, REI and Kmart.  Wild Oats will no longer participate.  Consider using scrip when making large purchases such as refrigerators at Sears. Not very many people are ordering.

 

17. Staff is excited about the new improvements to the garden. There may be a few spots available to community members.  A volunteer to coordinate the garden is needed. Speak with Cathy Percich if you are able to help.

 

18. The Spell Down club has started meeting on Thursday mornings for students in grades 3, 4 and 5.  There are about 30 kids involved

 

19.  Run For the Arts- After doing research it makes sense to use the current organization.  Our school is third in the district for profits. There is a possibility to save 1500 by doing our own t-shirts.

 

20. The Black History Month Celebration is February 23rd from 12-3.  There are further details listed on the poster in the school.  See Renee Bolland if you are able to help with the event.

 PTA CommitCommittee UpdatesFebruary 5thVisual ArtsMargaret Snow-Benoit began her curriculum for grades 1 and 2 in January.  All the classes receive an hour a week art instruction with Margaret and will continue to do so until the second week of May.  For parents of those grades, I would encourage you all to sign up to help your child's class with an art class or two.  Margaret needs at least one parent to help with each class whenever possible.  It's an interesting and fun way to spend a volunteer hour, and you will be amazed by the creativity of your children!  See your child's teacher for more information if you haven't already received information about this opportunity in a Friday Folder.  We compete with many other schools for Margaret's time, so she would like Irvington to let her know by spring break whether we would like to reserve some of her available days for next year.  Unfortunately, this deadline is prior to the PTA's budgeting process for next year.  However, Jill will be talking with Cynthia and the teachers for grades 1-3 over winter term to try and get an idea about how much art instruction from Margaret they would like to have if given the budget for it.  Kara Sisk, a local artist and art teacher, will be teaching the Kindergarten Art curriculum that will begin spring term and run for 6 consecutive weeks.  The Kindergarten teachers will be trying a new format for art instruction this year: Kara will come to each class one day a week during "choosing time" and offer art instruction in a smaller group as one of the choices available to the students.  This format change is intended to address the difficulty of getting all of the kindergarteners to the art room and keeping them all engaged for an hour in a structured an art activity.  Jill will be keeping in touch with the teachers in regards to how well this new format works and how much art instruction they would like for next year.  Art room improvements (your art $ at work): PTA arts funds were used recently to purchase 3 new rolling art drying racks for contract art providers to use.  Since there are so many classes taking art right now the 3 new racks filled up immediately and 2 more are on order!  These racks are in addition to the fixed shelving dedicated for ceramics drying that was added by Gayle Steinberger to the boiler room earlier this year--also paid for by the arts budget.  Performance Arts Dance and theater are on track.    

The PTA arts committee needs to solicit a replacement for Laura Grimes as arts co-chair.  Conversations (beginning with Cynthia and staff) will need to start soon about what arts programs will be wanted for next year:  what's working? what do we want to continue? what do we want to change? how much money is available? how much money does each program require? how do programs meet long-term goals? what should those long term goals be, exactly?  The new arts co-chair should be in on those conversations so they can carry things through from start to finish.

 Grounds Committee School dumpsters located along 14th Avenue have been shifting further and further out of the "zone" defined by the fences and are now ending up sort of out "on" the playground space.    On a related note we have noticed that the chain/lock that had traditionally secured the entrance to the grounds (from vehicular access) is no longer being drawn back/locked across the entrance following trash pick-up/hauling. The

vehicular entrance is, consequently, accessible the entirety of the weekend.   PPS is addressing both of these issues with the hauler and we should see immediate change for the good.

 

Tech Committee

 Tech committee met with PPS information technology department to discuss Irvington School’s technology needs and how those might be addressed with possible PTA funding.  Principal Macleod also announced that the Arnerich + Messina award will procure 1 Elmo document camera + 1 in-focus machine for each grade level for a total of 7 sets (camera/in-focus).  PPS suggests that Irvington: 
  • Be sure we’re clear on direction Irvington wants to move --- the school’s mission should drive the technology; technology shouldn’t drive the schoo
  • Update all teachers’/administrators’ computer systems
  • Perhaps PTA funds can complete the above Messina gift with a cart (to hold all the equipment), lap top (connected to the equipment), wireless access point (WAP), + security system so that each mobile “set” is complete.  In this way, teachers need only wheel in the system, which is already all connected + ready to use. 
Tech committee also discussed mobile computer labs with PPS representatives.  Due to space issues, scheduling issues, power/wiring costs, and having 2 floors to our school, mobile labs may be useful.  Mobile labs have 30 computers contained in a lockable rolling cart.  The system takes about 10 minutes to set up + pack up.  Teachers evidently love them + PPS will train teachers how to use them.  Also, there are no changes in power/wiring needs.  Complete mobile lab costs about $40,000 (13” screens, no peripherals, cost similar for Mac/pc but Mac a bit more).  Security system extra.  PPS does not cover replacement costs from theft unless evidence of breaking + entering. Irvington gets about $10,000 from PPS every year in IT refresher funds - can be used for hardware, infrastructure, etc.  PPS is working toward providing each school with desktop management software.  This will be complete in 2014.   

Site Council, 1/21/08

 Open House:  Jay and Cherie provided updates on plans for the upcoming Open House for families of incoming 6th-8th graders (Jan. 31, 6:30-8:00pm in the library), including their discussions with 6th and 7thgraders about the information and questions they would like to be addressed.  Announcements have been made in In Touch and a flyer is ready to be sent home with 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students.  Cynthia has requested contact info from the district for neighborhood 5th grade students currently attending other schools and will notify them of the upcoming open house. Feedback/Questions provided by 6th and 7th grade students:
  • How will space be created for the 8th grade classes?
  • Will there be mixed age classes?
  • Will there be a choice of electives for 8th grade, or pre-determined enrichment classes as it is now?
  • The current schedule creates too much time with the same students rather than opportunities to mix with all students within a grade.
  • Would like more routine each day (M/W/F and T/T schedules and homeroom)
  • Like having more study time built into the day, hence less homework.
  • Like strong relationships with teachers – and that teachers know the students well
  • Generally like school-based service (except when assignments are “boring”), arts, and PE (although some would prefer daily PE)
Topics Cynthia will address at open house:
  • Advantages and disadvantages of mixed age classes and when they might be utilized.
  • How “highly qualified” requirements ensure that upper grade teachers will have endorsements for the subjects taught.
LEAP Program for TAG students:  Margaret Greer has made arrangements for the pilot program using the Saturday Academy LEAP program to supplement TAG support.   Starting in Feb.  TAG students in several grades will participate in a computer class during their regularly scheduled TAG time.   The costs for the pilot program are being paid out of Irvington’s nominal TAG funds, but other funding sources will need to be identified in order to offer these classes in the future. Leadership Update:  Cynthia, Dick Cherry, and Karen Barker are continuing their work in the district provided Leadership program.  They are focusing on reducing Irvington’s achievement gap in math.  The leadership program helps leaders focus on the problem to develop a true understanding of its nature and then developing solutions designed to address the problem in a systemic way.    Counselor Project:  Cherie provided an update on her required project – she has created study groups of kids not meeting benchmarks and is providing directed support to help them reach benchmark. Kindergarten Round-up:  discussed previous commitment to rethink kindergarten round-up based on feedback of prior years events.  Kris will organize a small committee of parents, teachers and Cynthia to discuss and plan this year’s round-up (Feb. 12)

Last updated by lmeilinger on Oct 24, 2008 at 01:34 PM

All items purchesed from Amazon after clicking on one of the links below help fund Irvington's school programs