Hunters Woods PTA Minutes

Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences

May 2, 2007

The regular meeting of the Hunters Woods PTA was held on May 2, 2007 at Hunters Woods Elementary School. PTA President Maureen Becker called the meeting to order at 7:40 pm.

Minutes from the April meeting were read, corrected and approved.

Correspondence :

The PTA received two Thank You letters from the staff regarding the great Staff Appreciation Week.

President’s Report:

Mrs. Clara Johnson had her retirement party and a farewell session at school on Monday, her last day. She received a broom made from the school gardening project and a Remembrance Brick at Lake Anne through the Reston Historic Trust.

Maureen passed the Committee Chair List for next year and requested help in filling open positions.

Treasurer’s Report:

Deborah passed out copies of the budget. The Budget will no be given in June but will be sent out to all parents in the June Tuesday folders. The July Budget Planning meeting will be announced at that time.

Teacher’s Report:

Mr. Adams noted all the work that PTA members do during the year that makes such a difference at the school. He complimented all the effort the PTA members put into the school.

Committee Reports:

Cultural Arts:

Mr. Ware stated that the Blue Jupiter, an a cappella group, which did a concert at the school. Next year, he would like to get the same group to perform and to hold workshop for the students.

Mr. Block had a concert with Rocky & the Cavemen, a Middle Eastern group, which stayed after school and worked with a group of children.

Mr. Ware stated that he has some money left in his budget and he will be seeking out opportunities or activities for the K-3 and 4-6 grades that are not likely to be available during the student’s everyday life.

Bingo:

Christine Gambrel is looking for volunteers to help at the door, with prizes and during the bake sale. Susan Sather and Marina Matthes volunteered to work out the flyers for the Bingo night.

Snickerdoodle:

Maureen stated that the Literary magazine needed a new group of volunteers to take over or it will not be produced next year.

After School Activities:

A discussion was held regarding the PTA Standards that govern the After School Activities. A motion was held to form a PTA Standards Task Force to develop and to present a set of standards that all PTA after school activities would have to follow to improve the safety of the participants and the general administration of these activites.

Questions that the Task Force will be working on are: a definitive statement of the administrative process, early release questions, student/instructor ratios, activity rosters, etc. Mrs. Toatley requested that the Task Force look into dealing with an automated phone system for the notification of parents in the case of school closings.

Outdoor Beautification:

It was reported that the project to make an accessible garden area was completed with the help and expertise of Mr. Ware and many other teachers and parents.

The Gaelic Gardens fundraiser raised over $145, which was spent on the 6 th grade sculpture garden project.

Catherine Linberg thanked the PTA for all the mini-grants to support this committee’s projects.

Principal’s Report:

Safety in Spring! Mrs. Toatley requested that all students be required to wear tennis shoes to school vs. sandels. A dress code notice will be forthcoming in the Tuesday folders.

Mrs. Toatley thanked the PTA members responsible for the wonderful Book Fair this spring. The children and staff appreciated all the gifts of books that were made possible by the PTA.

There will be some staff changes to be announced soon. Mrs. Wartha will be retiring next year and there are three other teachers leaving on maternity leave.

The fourth grade classes will be held in the outside trailers next year.

Mrs. Toatley was very thankful for all the participation in the Science Fair this year. Ms. Kelly reported that 146 projects were submitted this year. She thanked everyone for their support and participation. There was a general discussion on how to help the students with their presentations. It was suggested that funds be budgeted to provide each Science Fair Participant with a free poster board to present their project.

Mini-Grants:

Eleven mini-grants were proposed during the meeting. Copies of all mini-grant applications are attached. Each grant was discussed, motioned and voted upon. Each grant was approved and the total expenditures for the attached grants is $5143.00.

The next PTA meeting will be held June 4, 2007 at 6:00pm at the PTA President’s house, where there will be a changing of the Committee Chairs. See the agenda for other upcoming events and dates.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15pm.___________