This is a wonderful, heartwarming PTA sponsored event where every child at Dike-Newell and Fisher-Mitchell can choose a holiday gift for their immediate family members for just 25 cents a piece!
To make this happen, we need donations of yard sale type items in good condition that would make suitable gifts for moms, kids and especially dads. We also need donations of scotch tape, self sticking gift tags, wrapping paper, and gift bags for odd shaped gifts. Please leave donations outside the office at Dike-Newell. Deadline for donations is Tuesday, the 15th at Dike-Newell. The shopping day for Fisher-Mitchell students is Monday, Dec. 14th, and the Dike-Newell kids will shop on Tuesday, Dec. 15th. You can't imagine the pride on your child's face when they see you open a holiday gift that they choose all by themselves!
We also require at least 25 volunteers to be present during the day of the fair. THIS EVENT CAN NOT TAKE PLACE IF WE DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT VOLUNTEERS!! Volunteer hours on both days are 8:30 a.m. - Noon and 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
All proceeds from the holiday fair will be given in the form of holiday gifts to a deserving family from each school.
Contact Kim Gates, ccordinator of the Holiday Fair at 443-5052 with any questions or to volunteer.
Thank you for making this Holiday Fair a special holiday tradition for our kids!
The Bath Elementary PTA supports the Dike-Newell and Fisher-Mitchell schools through fundraising, advocacy and volunteer efforts.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Sunrise Guide fundraiser extended through Nov. 28th
Scroll down on this blog until you see the bright purple image of this year's cover and read about this valuable green living guide/coupon book, a steal at $20 ($7 of which goes to support the PTA!). Email the Bath Elementary PTA at bathelementarypta@gmail.com to purchase your copy, sale ends Nov. 28th.
Support the Bath Food Bank and trot with your family and friends this Thanksgiving in downtown Bath!
There will be a 3 mile walk/run Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning at 8:30 in downtown Bath. Bring a can of food or a donation (suggested donation is $10) for the Bath Food Bank. Run for food and fun!Register at Inspire Me that morning. A great way to start off a day of giving thanks!
http://www.inspiremept.com/events/turkey-trot.php
http://www.inspiremept.com/events/turkey-trot.php
Monday, November 16, 2009
Exciting PTA Basket Raffle is underway at 8 of the downtown stores to benefit our kids!!
Some of you may remember, and miss, the basket auctions that were held at Dike Newell in years past. This year we thought we'd reinvent this tradition by having downtown businesses create wonderful baskets for us, that will be raffled off at their stores. The PTA contributed $25 towards the value of each basket and the proprietors of the stores generously contributed to the baskets as well, making baskets of substantial value (we'll post the values on our blog www.bathelementaryptablog.blogspot.com when we have them all tallied). Raffle tickets only cost 50 cents per chance, and went on sale this past Saturday, November 14th, at the following stores: Papa Geppettos, Pitter Patter, Magnolias, Now You're Cooking, Bath Book Shop, Marnee's Cookies, Tates, Bath Natural Market and the Maine Maritime Museum. We are deeply grateful to all of these stores for participating in this project, and all proceeds will go to the Bath Elementary PTA to fund projects that benefit our children. The winner of each basket will be drawn on Dec. 15th. Please note: There will be no refunds or exchanges on any of the items in the gift baskets.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
What a terrific meeting we had on Nov. 10th at DN. Thanks to Mikaela Rios for preparing thes notes, and please comment on the topics discussed!
Bath Elementary PTA
11/10/09 Meeting
Dike Newell Library
PTA OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Heidi Tucker, PTA President; Geniene Marco, Fisher-Mitchell (F/M) Vice President; Heidi Franklin, Dike-Newell (D/N) Vice President; Lori Harper, Treasurer; Lisha Wentworth, Assistant Treasurer; Mikaela Rios, Secretary
WELCOME:
Heidi Tucker began the meeting at 6:30pm. She encouraged people to visit the PTA blog at www.bathelementaryptablog.blogspot.com. Heidi and Michael Tucker will look into how to notify via email when the blog is updated. Heidi would like to see more comments on the blog.
SECRETARY’S REPORT:
The minutes of the October 13, 2009 meeting were approved as-is. The minutes are always posted on the blog. Mikaela encouraged everyone to sign in their attendance at the meeting and give an email address.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Lori Harper presented the Treasurer’s Report. Expenses for the month were $443.25, income $14,436.56, leaving a balance of $18,900.65. However, we will need to pay Meadow Farm about $8,000 for their portion of the fundraiser profit.
Lisha Wentworth was introduced. Lisha will be assisting with the Treasurer’s duties until Lori is ready to turn them over completely.
Literacy Fund:
Candy Hernandez reported on the Literacy Fund. There is a balance of $3,519.59.
OLD BUSINESS:
Meadow Farm Fundraiser:
We owe them about $8,000, which makes our profit close to $7,000. Delivery dates of products reaching Lori are December 3rd thru 7th. She will disperse them to the classrooms immediately. An update will be in this week’s newsletters.
Sunrise Guide:
Selling is going slower this year. We’ve sold 18 so far and we must sell 26. The cost is $20 and includes 2009 and 2010 books. The deadline has been extended to November 23rd. We will continue to sell them at large gatherings and individually.
OLD BUSINESS, continued:
Bus Behavior Issue:
Pricipal Sally Brown will update us at the December meeting, as to the outcome of an upcoming meeting with the Superintendant and Administrators regarding this issue. PTA would like to pay for whistles for the bus drivers. Sally mentioned developing a bus safety assembly. Claire Berkowitz will get information about the AAA Patrol Program where 5th graders “patrol” the bus. Sally and the PTA would like the information. Heidi will add to the blog an entry regarding contacting your Principal with any bus issues.
NEW BUSINESS:
Annual Holiday Fair:
Kimberly Gates updated us on this year’s Holiday Fair, which will be December 21st and 22nd. Monday will be Fisher-Mitchell’s shopping day and Tuesday will be fore Dike-Newell. Kimberly needs help with setup on Sunday 12/20/09 at noon. She also needs items to be donated. Likewise, 30 – 40 volunteers will be needed on each day. She’ll be sending home a flyer regarding this. Samantha Adams volunteered to provide music for the event. Heidi T. will procure three reams each of red and green copy paper for Kimberly. Heidi T. will email teachers, requesting that if they go to Ruth’s place, they get extra scissors, tape, and wrapping paper.
VOTE: Approved a total of $250 to cover the bus gas, and food for volunteers, etc.
DECIDED: One family from each school will be assisted and receive gifts with about $500 of the profit. $150 will go to the Bath Food Bank. The rest will go to the Principals of each school for their discretionary fund.
DECIDED: PTA will front the $500 to Kimberly on 12/21/09 because full profits from the fair won’t be collected yet.
Downtown Business Basket Raffle:
Mikaela spoke about the fundraising event. A list of businesses donating to the event will be on the blog and Heidi T. will add to the newsletter each week. Samantha Adams will ask Marnee’s cookies to participate.
VOTE: $250 approved for this fundraiser
Fruit & Veggie Grant:
Ellen Beale, food service director for Dike-Newell, applied for and received a grant for $14,000, which will provide fresh fruits and vegetables to students during snack time on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the entire year. We need volunteers to help with food preparation on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 – 3:00pm. If you can volunteer, please contact Heidi T. If parents want to come into a classroom to share a fruit presentation, let Ellen know. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Heidi T. would like to see if volunteers can pass out fruit or veggies to students as they get on the bus, with the instructions to not eat it on the bus.
New PTA Budget:
The PTA Board worked out a new budget. Heidi T. will email teachers with an explanation of the funds available to them. Basically, it’s $500 per grade and there is money for “specials.” The teachers will know the money is available and they can work with their team to decide how to spend it, and then request it from the PTA.
VOTE: Approved new budget, and board will oversee it and approve requests that occur between meetings.
Kindergarten Request:
VOTE: Approved Kindergarten team request for $402 for Chewonki presentation.
VOTE: Approved $160 for Kindergarten team to host a visiting Author. The $62 over the Kindergarten allotment will come from PTA’s discretionary fund.
Candy Hernandez suggested an application request form for funds. Lisha will make a form and keep a file of the requests.
Box Top Program:
Geniene Marco reported that for a one year period (Oct. 08 – Oct. 09), Dike-Newell collected $355 worth of box tops. Fisher-Mitchell (which hadn’t been turned in for over a year) totaled $312. The money goes to each Principal for a discretionary fund to benefit the children. Geniene will be sending information to add to the blog and newsletters regarding an online program called www.boxtops4education.com in which up to 6% of online purchases goes to your school.
Food Drive:
Lisha Wentworth spoke of the Fisher-Mitchell Food Drive. It will run from November 16th through the 20th. It benefits the Bath Area Food Bank. Last year, over 1,000 cans were collected.
VOTE: Approved $50 PTA donation to be used as an incentive program.
Book Fair:
Candy Hernandez mentioned that the Book Fair is at Dike-Newell next week and Fisher-Mitchell the following week. There will also be a family night featuring two local authors.
Principal’s Comments and Public Comments:
Sally Brown thanked everyone for their support in volunteering for the free snack grant program.
Also, SAG positions are still open if anyone is interested.
The meeting ended around 7:45pm.
NEXT MEETING:
Next Meeting is December 8th at the Fisher-Mitchell Library.
NUMBER IN ATTENDANCE AT MEETING: 16
11/10/09 Meeting
Dike Newell Library
PTA OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Heidi Tucker, PTA President; Geniene Marco, Fisher-Mitchell (F/M) Vice President; Heidi Franklin, Dike-Newell (D/N) Vice President; Lori Harper, Treasurer; Lisha Wentworth, Assistant Treasurer; Mikaela Rios, Secretary
WELCOME:
Heidi Tucker began the meeting at 6:30pm. She encouraged people to visit the PTA blog at www.bathelementaryptablog.blogspot.com. Heidi and Michael Tucker will look into how to notify via email when the blog is updated. Heidi would like to see more comments on the blog.
SECRETARY’S REPORT:
The minutes of the October 13, 2009 meeting were approved as-is. The minutes are always posted on the blog. Mikaela encouraged everyone to sign in their attendance at the meeting and give an email address.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Lori Harper presented the Treasurer’s Report. Expenses for the month were $443.25, income $14,436.56, leaving a balance of $18,900.65. However, we will need to pay Meadow Farm about $8,000 for their portion of the fundraiser profit.
Lisha Wentworth was introduced. Lisha will be assisting with the Treasurer’s duties until Lori is ready to turn them over completely.
Literacy Fund:
Candy Hernandez reported on the Literacy Fund. There is a balance of $3,519.59.
OLD BUSINESS:
Meadow Farm Fundraiser:
We owe them about $8,000, which makes our profit close to $7,000. Delivery dates of products reaching Lori are December 3rd thru 7th. She will disperse them to the classrooms immediately. An update will be in this week’s newsletters.
Sunrise Guide:
Selling is going slower this year. We’ve sold 18 so far and we must sell 26. The cost is $20 and includes 2009 and 2010 books. The deadline has been extended to November 23rd. We will continue to sell them at large gatherings and individually.
OLD BUSINESS, continued:
Bus Behavior Issue:
Pricipal Sally Brown will update us at the December meeting, as to the outcome of an upcoming meeting with the Superintendant and Administrators regarding this issue. PTA would like to pay for whistles for the bus drivers. Sally mentioned developing a bus safety assembly. Claire Berkowitz will get information about the AAA Patrol Program where 5th graders “patrol” the bus. Sally and the PTA would like the information. Heidi will add to the blog an entry regarding contacting your Principal with any bus issues.
NEW BUSINESS:
Annual Holiday Fair:
Kimberly Gates updated us on this year’s Holiday Fair, which will be December 21st and 22nd. Monday will be Fisher-Mitchell’s shopping day and Tuesday will be fore Dike-Newell. Kimberly needs help with setup on Sunday 12/20/09 at noon. She also needs items to be donated. Likewise, 30 – 40 volunteers will be needed on each day. She’ll be sending home a flyer regarding this. Samantha Adams volunteered to provide music for the event. Heidi T. will procure three reams each of red and green copy paper for Kimberly. Heidi T. will email teachers, requesting that if they go to Ruth’s place, they get extra scissors, tape, and wrapping paper.
VOTE: Approved a total of $250 to cover the bus gas, and food for volunteers, etc.
DECIDED: One family from each school will be assisted and receive gifts with about $500 of the profit. $150 will go to the Bath Food Bank. The rest will go to the Principals of each school for their discretionary fund.
DECIDED: PTA will front the $500 to Kimberly on 12/21/09 because full profits from the fair won’t be collected yet.
Downtown Business Basket Raffle:
Mikaela spoke about the fundraising event. A list of businesses donating to the event will be on the blog and Heidi T. will add to the newsletter each week. Samantha Adams will ask Marnee’s cookies to participate.
VOTE: $250 approved for this fundraiser
Fruit & Veggie Grant:
Ellen Beale, food service director for Dike-Newell, applied for and received a grant for $14,000, which will provide fresh fruits and vegetables to students during snack time on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the entire year. We need volunteers to help with food preparation on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 – 3:00pm. If you can volunteer, please contact Heidi T. If parents want to come into a classroom to share a fruit presentation, let Ellen know. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Heidi T. would like to see if volunteers can pass out fruit or veggies to students as they get on the bus, with the instructions to not eat it on the bus.
New PTA Budget:
The PTA Board worked out a new budget. Heidi T. will email teachers with an explanation of the funds available to them. Basically, it’s $500 per grade and there is money for “specials.” The teachers will know the money is available and they can work with their team to decide how to spend it, and then request it from the PTA.
VOTE: Approved new budget, and board will oversee it and approve requests that occur between meetings.
Kindergarten Request:
VOTE: Approved Kindergarten team request for $402 for Chewonki presentation.
VOTE: Approved $160 for Kindergarten team to host a visiting Author. The $62 over the Kindergarten allotment will come from PTA’s discretionary fund.
Candy Hernandez suggested an application request form for funds. Lisha will make a form and keep a file of the requests.
Box Top Program:
Geniene Marco reported that for a one year period (Oct. 08 – Oct. 09), Dike-Newell collected $355 worth of box tops. Fisher-Mitchell (which hadn’t been turned in for over a year) totaled $312. The money goes to each Principal for a discretionary fund to benefit the children. Geniene will be sending information to add to the blog and newsletters regarding an online program called www.boxtops4education.com in which up to 6% of online purchases goes to your school.
Food Drive:
Lisha Wentworth spoke of the Fisher-Mitchell Food Drive. It will run from November 16th through the 20th. It benefits the Bath Area Food Bank. Last year, over 1,000 cans were collected.
VOTE: Approved $50 PTA donation to be used as an incentive program.
Book Fair:
Candy Hernandez mentioned that the Book Fair is at Dike-Newell next week and Fisher-Mitchell the following week. There will also be a family night featuring two local authors.
Principal’s Comments and Public Comments:
Sally Brown thanked everyone for their support in volunteering for the free snack grant program.
Also, SAG positions are still open if anyone is interested.
The meeting ended around 7:45pm.
NEXT MEETING:
Next Meeting is December 8th at the Fisher-Mitchell Library.
NUMBER IN ATTENDANCE AT MEETING: 16
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Incredible new opportunity for the kids of Dike Newell to get more fresh fruits and vegetables into their diets/day!!
If you see Ellen Beal, Food Service Director for RSU1, be sure to stop and thank her for the incredible work she has done to secure a $14,000 Fruits and Vegetables Grant for Dike Newell! Here's a bit of info. from Ellen on the grant:
The goal of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program is to increase children's consumption of fruits and vegetables by providing a fresh fruit and/or vegetable snack 3 days a week at school for free. This program is administered by USDA and State Child Nutrition Program...The FFVP is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service through State Child Nutrition Programs. Schools have to be more than 50% free and reduced to apply for these grants. This is a great opportunity for the children of Dike Newell School to have a morning snack of fresh great quality fruits and veggies served to them in an atmosphere of learning.
Now here's what you can do to help administer this wonderful program: Volunteer!! We need help preparing the fresh snacks on Tuesday & Thursday afternoons, 1:30-3 pm at the Dike Newell cafeteria. If you have time to donate, we have fruits and veggies to chop! Please email bathelementarypta@gmail.com and we'll get you on the roster to help.
Do you have other ideas about other ways we can share these fruits and vegetables, beyond the 3 snack days? The grant is very generous and we have resources beyond the 3 days of snacks to get the food into the school. The veggies and fruits just need to be served raw, and cannot be dipped in anything or coated with anything. Just their yummy, natural-selves. Do you have a favorite specialty fruit or vegetable you want to share with your child's class and/or all the classes at the school? Just email Ellen with your idea and she can make it happen! Her email is ebeal@rsu1.org.
Thank you, Ellen!
The goal of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program is to increase children's consumption of fruits and vegetables by providing a fresh fruit and/or vegetable snack 3 days a week at school for free. This program is administered by USDA and State Child Nutrition Program...The FFVP is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service through State Child Nutrition Programs. Schools have to be more than 50% free and reduced to apply for these grants. This is a great opportunity for the children of Dike Newell School to have a morning snack of fresh great quality fruits and veggies served to them in an atmosphere of learning.
Now here's what you can do to help administer this wonderful program: Volunteer!! We need help preparing the fresh snacks on Tuesday & Thursday afternoons, 1:30-3 pm at the Dike Newell cafeteria. If you have time to donate, we have fruits and veggies to chop! Please email bathelementarypta@gmail.com and we'll get you on the roster to help.
Do you have other ideas about other ways we can share these fruits and vegetables, beyond the 3 snack days? The grant is very generous and we have resources beyond the 3 days of snacks to get the food into the school. The veggies and fruits just need to be served raw, and cannot be dipped in anything or coated with anything. Just their yummy, natural-selves. Do you have a favorite specialty fruit or vegetable you want to share with your child's class and/or all the classes at the school? Just email Ellen with your idea and she can make it happen! Her email is ebeal@rsu1.org.
Thank you, Ellen!
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