PTA Minutes

Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences

November 2, 2005 

The regular monthly meeting of the Hunters Woods PTA was held on November 2, 2005 at Hunters Woods Elementary School . PTA President Cathy Uhrig called the meeting to order at 7:42 PM . Minutes from the October meeting were read and approved as corrected.

Correspondence

The PTA received a thank-you note from the driver of bus #57, thanking the PTA for Bus driver Appreciation Week.

President's Report

Cathy Uhrig thanked Mary Malzhan, Eleanor Weis, Dana Kennedy, and Rick Uhrig for doing a great job with After-School activities. Mary Malzhan is considering adding more classes and is looking for feedback from parents. Cathy also thanked Elysa Katz for working hard on HONK, Rozanne Silverwood, Karen Berube, Maureen Becker and Susan Brownsword for doing Snickerdoodle, Karen Berube for Apparel sales, and Joan Burkhart and Jane Kolb for the great job on the Sock Hop. Furthermore, Cathy thanked Shashi Kuppa for helping with the Homeless Mini Walk, Joan Lynch and Maureen Becker for Café/Custodian and Bus Driver Appreciation, Blakely Meyers and Eleanor Desai for the Fall Harvest Festival and Nicole Irving for typing the monthly minutes. Cathy also sent out a great Thank you to all the Photo Helpers, Office and Library Helpers and all of the Room Parents.

Cathy also reported that the PTA is looking for people who are interested in helping low income families in Ward 7 prepare their tax returns. JC Nalle, our partnership school, would be benefiting from these tax services.

There are still openings for the following positions: After School Activities Chair and Parent Education.

Cathy reported that Steve Hockett was awarded Principal of the Year for Fairfax County . Also, the school needs volunteers to help set up for the Thanksgiving Luncheon on November 18, 2005 at 9:30 AM. The Lost and Found will be cleared out on November 11, 2005. Nancy Mamros offered to help count the money for Jump Rope for Heart. The School supply kits were great and the PTA has decided to do them again next year. Also, make sure you sign up for KIT at hwpta.org link. Please remember to send Kelly Midura a synopsis of your upcoming event to post on the website and use your forwarder e-mail address. There were 803 visitors to the site in October.

Anyone interested in helping with vision and hearing screening on Nov.9 and Nov. 10, 2005 can sign up or contact the clinic.

Cathy announced that the Forest Edge PTA called and asked if Hunters Woods wanted to join them on April 1, 2006 for a fun skate night at Skatequest. We have to guarantee 125 skaters. The cost will be $4 per person including 2 hours of skating and skate rentals. Hunters Woods agreed to join them.

Cathy Uhrig announced that Coldstone Creamery called to offer to do a fund-raiser. Hunters Woods would get a percentage of the sales, so we decided to do it and Cathy will set up a day in the spring.

Treasurer's Report

Susan Brownsword distributed the Budget Report through October 31, 2005 . She also reported that there was not much activity to the budget. The money from the Gift Wrap fundraiser has been deposited. The report will be filed for audit.

Teacher's Report

Karen Egan reported that everything is going fine. She informed everyone that the teachers are getting ready for parent teacher conferences. She also talked to the staff about supplying cookies for dessert during the Carrabbas night, and the staff agreed to help. Karen also wanted to thank all of the parents who continuously volunteer in the school, and take out time for our Hunters Woods students.

Committee Reports:

Yearbook: Cathy Uhrig reported for Joan Burkhart that Yearbooks will cost $16 and that the orders are due on Nov. 29, 2005.

Outdoor Beautification: Catherine Linberg announced that she will be receiving pumpkins for the compost bins on Nov.8 and Nov. 9, 2005 between 8:00 am and 9:00 am . Also, Catherine is looking for volunteers who want to help plant bulbs on Nov.12, 2005 between 9:00 and noon . The popcorn that was grown at the school will be raffled off during the Fall Harvest Festival.

Fall Harvest: Blakely Meyers reported that everything is going well, and that the cake decorating forms will go home next week. She also reported that there will be a raffle for the popcorn that was grown at Hunters Woods School.

Gift-Wrap: Nancy Mamros reported that the gift-wrap will be distributed during the parent-teacher conferences.

Book Fair: Nancy Mamros reported that she still needs volunteers for the Book Fair, Dec.12-16, 2005.

Sweet Shoppe: Micki Moravitz reported that the Sweet Shoppe is scheduled for Dec.14, 2005. She also needs volunteers to bake for the teachers. Please bring the baked items to school between 8:30 am - 10:00 am.

Carrabbas Dinner: Angela Irwin reported that the strings group will perform during the Carrabbas dinner on Dec.1, 2005. She is also looking for volunteers and for people who would be willing to take pictures during the event. Angela also needs help with typing up information for a master list, to include all who are attending.

Directory: Susan Sather reported that all of the information submitted has been added to the database. Every family has been assigned a number, which can later be used to help the volunteer coordinators.

6th grade Luncheon: Maureen Becker reported that there will be a big meeting on Nov.16, 2005 regarding the planning of the 6th grade luncheon. The tentative date for this event is June16, 2006.

Principal's Report: Olivia Toatley reported that the chorus had been invited to sing at Tyson's Corner, and maybe also at two senior centers in the area. Olivia also reported that they need some help in the cafeteria, because the behavior of the students is getting out of hand. Mrs. Toatley also informed the PTA that they may serve desserts to Freddie Mac during their annual Holiday dinner as a Thank you for supporting our school. She also announced that free Fall Harvest Festival tickets will be distributed to needy children. There will be no dance concert for the 4th graders on Nov. 15, 2005 . It will be rescheduled.

Unfinished Business: The Birthday gift cards for Headstart are still being discussed.

New Business:

Darrell Grant asked for a minigrant for $300 for pedometers. Susan Sather made a motion to give Mr. Grant $300 to purchase pedometers. The motion was seconded and approved.

Pat Small asked for a minigrant for $66 to pay for nametags and portfolios during a pyramid peer mediation meeting. Catherine Linberg made a motion to give Mrs. Small $66 to purchase the items needed for the peer mediation meeting. The motion was seconded and approved.

The 4th grade team asked for a minigrant for $500 for their Colonial Day celebration.

Deborah Lannen made a motion to give the 4 th grade team $500 for the Colonial Day celebration. The motion was seconded and approved.

The 4th grade team also asked for a minigrant $300 to help buy supplies for their Opera.

Maureen Becker made a motion to give the 4 th grade team $300 for their Opera to buy supplies. The motion was seconded and approved.

Karen Purdy is looking for donations for the silent auction which will be held on March 31, 2006 . She is also asking everyone to bring in their used printer cartridges. A collection box will be placed in the pod outside of the computer lab, and cartridges will be taken to Staples, where we will earn $1.00 for each one.

The next PTA meeting will be held on Jan.4, 2005 at 7:30 PM at the school. See the agenda for other upcoming events and dates.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM .