Box Tops Challenge Winners at Fisher-Mitchell

Jason "White Shadow" Gibbons visited Mrs. Harrison's fourth grade class.  It was a great time, and a wonderful message about choosing the right path in life!

October 9, 2012 Meeting Minutes

Bath Elementary PTA
Meeting Minutes
October 9, 2012

Number in Attendance: 7
Secretary’s Report
The group voted to approve the minutes from the June and September’s meetings. The minutes can be viewed on the PTA blog.

Treasurer’s Report
The group vote to approve the Treasurer’s report as presented.

Old Business
The Charleston Wraps fundraiser was discussed. This fundraiser continues until the end of the week and there are still more large orders coming in. It is hoped that packages will arrive before conferences so that they may be sent home with parents after they meet with teachers. If not, something else will have to be discussed, like a pick up time.

The Halloween dance flyer was shared with the group. It was suggested that a donation box be available at the dance so people can make an extra contribution if they choose. This is usually a good fundraiser for the PTA and will hopefully do better with the addition of a photo booth. Wendy is working on photo tickets for families to buy at the front table. Not having to deal with money will be a huge help to Wendy and her helpers. There will be three costume contest categories with the winner receiving a $5 gift card to the Bath Book Shop.

New Business
Two new members joined the PTA.

Kate shared some information about grants at Dike Newell with the group. Kathy Henrikson has received a $500 donorschoose.org grant for a teaching easel for her classroom.

The new t-shirts for the schools were discussed. It is the PTA’s goal to build up enough money from sales to be able to provide shirts for incoming students (kindergartners and 3rd grade at FM)

The Book Fairs begins Tuesday November 13th at Dike Newell and on the 16th, 19th, and 20th at Fisher Mitchell. Set up will be the same as last year. Students at Dike Newell can choose a book that is $5.99 or less and Fisher Mitchell students can spend up to $6.99. The reason for the price difference is that it costs more for age appropriate books for the older students. Parents’ night will be on November 15th at Dike Newell from 6:00 to 7:30. Wendy Ulmer will be there to read her book A Isn’t For Fox.

Read a thon letters will go home on the 15th. It is hoped that the change in the date will work well and it will be a better fundraiser for the literacy fund.

Kap Young made a request for the kindergarten group. They are going to Wolfe Neck Farm on October 26th and 30th. They would like to have PTA support to help cover the cost of the trip and reduce the amount of money they request from families. The cost is $6 per person and they are asking for $150 from the PTA. It was unanimously VOTED: to give the kindergarten team $250 to help cover the cost and reduce the amount asked of families to $5.

Principal’s Comment
Dr. Harriman gave the group an update on One Book One School which will actually be called One Author One School this year.


Respectfully submitted by:

Geniene Marco
acting secretary for Christine Walker

September 11, 2012 Meeting Minutes

Bath Elementary PTA Meeting
September 11, 2012
Dike Newell Library
Attended: 14 people

Discussed:

Welcome, introductions – first meeting of the 2012 – 2013 year!

Secretary’s Report - Christine still to get the June meeting minutes to the blog and to the group for October approval.


Charleston Wraps is our first, and biggest fundraiser of the year. Options to check things out online for extended family away. Goes from Sept 24 through Oct 9th. Kate needs help getting the info / catalogs out and into the teacher boxes by next week. Contact Kate directly if you can help with this. Donations can be made in lieu of selling and some families choose to do this.

Treasurer’s Report
List of expenses and income since June 2012.

Current balance as of Sept 11, 2012 - $2, 036.51

It was voted to accept the Treasuer's report.

Reviewed PTA Budgeted money for upcoming year:

Total spending budget: $10,500. (approximate)

Motion to accept the 2012-2013 budget as it stands and voted to accept the budget.

Box Tops Challenges: first challenge starting Sept 17th through Oct 19th; three challenges over the year, money goes directly to the schools, over $2000. earned last year between the two schools. Lots of ways to collect – get everyone involved. Great prizes. Other comments or prize ideas welcome.

New Business:

Annual membership sign up and dues reminders. You can participate in PTA if you’re not a member, but non-members cannot vote.

Halloween Dance: 6:30 – 8 p.m. on Oct 19th – a D-N and F-M family event, at F-M gym, costumes welcome, prizes for categories and DJ (lights, disco ball, fog). Photo booth by Soggy Dog Designs (with interns) - $5. per print (all proceeds donated to PTA). Need volunteers for set up, clean up, decorations. Healthy snacks / popcorn – cider, apples, pretzels - need donations of food for the dance (Christine will work on this). Need chaperones, volunteers to sell tickets, sell concessions. Flyer for the dance should be ready to distribute two weeks prior to event (Holly working on). Selling glo sticks. Set up starts at 5 p.m. Price: $3. per child or $10. for large family. Reminder to keep music appropriate and volume low – not too loud.

Open House at Fisher Mitchell (tomorrow night from 6-7 p.m.) and Dike Newell Schools (Oct 19th from 6-7 p.m.): info for the PTA tables, do the best that we can with ‘manning’ the table for the duration. Geniene manning the F-M PTA table tomorrow night. PTA missed the Kindergarten Open House for PTA info. Suggestion for a donation box on the PTA table and sign up sheet / registration sheets – dues/memberships, like us on Facebook, maybe a survey / questionnaire to assess how folks are interested in supporting the PTA.

Calendar reviewed. All fundraisers already approved by Superintendent.

Teacher request: Mrs. Kennedy – needs bookcases / cubbys in the hall outside her room. Labor and installation is free through the high school contact. Wood for the project is the only charge - $100 - $150. Discussion. Maybe materials can be donated? In lieu of materials not being donated, it was voted to pay for supplies up to $150.

Principal’s Comment: neither Principal present at tonight’s meeting.

Public Comment:

T-shirts: designed t-shirts for Dike Newell and Fisher Mitchell – want to have them to offer to sell and make money, and use for prizes, etc. Mainely Embroidery can do the shirts for a good price. May spread to hats and sweatshirts, winter hats, etc. Can we have a few as samples to show, pre-order forms, etc. Pricing discussed. $8.00 per kids t-shirt. $10.00 for adult t-shirts. These can also be offered as prizes for Halloween Dance, challenges, etc. Put in order now to have some ready for the dance, parent nights, bulletin boards, etc.

Fruit / Veggie Grant: starts next week at D-N, needs volunteers / helpers, F-M has a coordinator. Parent volunteers at F-M are in great shape. Sally Brown (Principal) is the contact for the volunteers for Dike Newell School.

Next PTA meeting is at Fisher Mitchell School on October 9, 2012 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

June 12, 2012 Meeting Minutes

PTA Meeting Minutes

Fisher-Mitchell School Library
June 12, 2012

Attended: 9

  

Discussed:

 

• Welcome, introductions

 

• Group reviewed last month’s secretary’s report (available online / blog); approved.

 

• Treasurer’s Report was reviewed by the group; approved.

 

We had a very successful year of fundraising and gave over $10,000 in support to our schools.

 

Discussion by the group on the vision for the Bath Elementary PTA, the direction of the group; how to build membership and recruit volunteers for events and activities with our students / schools. Several ideas were brainstormed, including a PTA Newsletter, increased PTA involvement in current school activities to bring awareness during usual school events, access the preschool families and students, personalized face-to-face contact / phone calls to families, offer parent services / workshops / trainings as part of our regular PTA meeting to discuss PTA items as well as educate families with needed resources and information (i.e. bullying, parenting supports, area resources, etc) and having an information table / presence at the upcoming Kindergarten events in the summer / early Fall.

 

Old business included:

 

Reports on the success of the 5th grade dance! A great time was had by all, and the 5th graders received t-shirts to celebrate their ‘graduation.’

 

This year, the PTA is able to offer summer camp scholarships for a total of 113 weeks of camp! This is tremendous coverage for our students.

 

Nominations for the 2012-2013 PTA Board include:

 

• Kate Foye, President
• Holly Spence, Vice President DN
• Wendy Jung, Vice President FM
• Geniene Marco, Treasurer
• Christine Walker, Secretary

 

These nominations were voted on and approved.

 

The PTA Board will meet during the summer to prepare for the school year.

 

New business included:

 

Discussion of the Fisher Mitchell Playground – there is some funding available to address some of the structural and equipment needs of the current playground, however, this is not enough and more needs to be raised to appropriately address these needs. Discussion by the group about general fundraising efforts and ideas for this purpose. More information is needed about who is acting as the point person / group for this effort.

 

Group reviewed upcoming year’s event calendar; adjusted dates to better fit some of the activities.

 

Activities include Box Tops Challenges, Fundraisers, Book Fair & Read-a-thon, Screen Free Week, Coin Drive, Teacher Appreciation Day

 

Announcement of a new ‘Fruit and Veggie Grant’ for the Dike Newell School next year; this grant requires that the children access either a fruit or vegetable daily. While this is a fabulous opportunity, it presents a challenge with how to ensure that there are enough volunteers daily to prepare the food. Ideas to address the need for staffing this include accessing the culinary students at the Voc School, approaching Churches and the Senior Citizen center, collaborating with the Wellness Committee to recruit volunteers, Access Health Maine (through MidCoast Hospital). The PTA plans to ask DN for more details about the grant.

 

Fundraising ideas for next year included:

 

• Chocolate fundraiser – sells very well historically
• A directory of students
• Play Day / Carnival Day
• Food / vending booth at fair / carnival
• Spirit day within the school (monthly? Annually?)

 

This Friday night (6/15/12) there is a Gymnastics Gala at the YMCA at 7 p.m. Donations welcome, t-shirts will be sold. All are encouraged to attend.

 

 

 

 

Parent Social for 5th grade parents @ BMS on Friday, June 1st, 7-8:30 pm in the Home Economics room.

Congratulations to all the 5^th grade graduates of the D.A.R,E program!  With the guidance of Corporal Marc Brunelle from the Bath Police Department students were taught how to resist peer pressure and live productive, drug and violence-free lives.  Now it’s time for parents to hone their tips and tools to keep kids safe!  In anticipation of your child’s transition to Middle School, the staff of Mid Coast Parents Connect (www.midcoastparentsconnect.org ), the parent campaign of Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA), (www.midcoastcasa.org) will be hosting a “Parent Social” in the Home Economics Room at the Bath Middle School, to coincide with the 5^th grade dance.  We’ll be serving FREE coffee and snacks (did someone say chocolate covered strawberries?) and we’ll have a raffle drawing for Subway gift cards, as we recognize that having a family dinner together is a great way to connect with your child.  We’ll also have info. on after school activities in Bath that your incoming 6^th grader might be interested in.  So avoid extra driving and come by to see us and meet new parents while your child dances the night away!  FMI, 373-6958.

Bath Elementary PTA Meeting Minutes, May 8, 2012

Kate Foye opened the meeting at 6:30, substituting for President Geniene Marco.  There were 12 members present.  Both the Secretary and Treasurer’s reports were presented and approved.  

Old business included the upcoming Fifth Grade Dance to be held on Friday, June 1^st at BMS from 6-8 PM.  There will be a DJ that evening.  Kids will receive t-shirts designed by Wendy Jung and made by Mainely Embroidery.  Bob and MJ Warren and Mae’s Café will donate funds to help with the cost of the t-shirts.  Other RSU 1 PTA groups will donate as well.  Heidi Tucker offered to provide water and coffee from Mid Coast Hospital for parents that evening.  Kate reported that the Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts have been organized for Friday, May 11^th.  Many parents will contribute items for the celebrations at both elementary schools.

New business included the adoption of Charleston Wraps for the fall fund raiser.  The PTA received a bonus from the company for signing up early.  The slate of officers nominated for the upcoming PTA Executive Board consists of Kate Foye, President;  Holly Spence, Vice President DN; Wendy Jung, Vice President FM, Geniene Marco, Treasurer;  Christine Walker, Secretary.  The voting will occur in June.  PTA volunteers will help serve lunch for the second grade step-up day at F/M on Thursday, June 7^th.

Dr. Harriman commented on several happenings at F/M.  There will be an all school field trip to Reid State Park on June 8^th (rain date June 13^th).  At this time the sea creatures from the school’s touch tank will be launched into the ocean.  Box Top funds have been used for this trip.  There will be an Award Recognition Day at F/M at year’s end.  For next year’s One Book/One School event Chris Van Dusen will be the featured author/ illustrator.  The PTA will again help with funding for this event.  The F/M Garden Club under the direction of volunteer Anita Derr will have a plant sale on Saturday, June 9^th.  Several members of the club have approached Dr. Harriman about having a bake sale at this time too, and she’s encouraging them to organize this. 

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Heidi Tucker discussed the $10,000 grant from the Davenport Foundation to support summer camps for our elementary students.  Under the direction of Gretchen Brinkler and Heidi, 113 kids will be going to local camps this summer.  Some of the kids will be able to have a second week if all applications aren’t returned in time.

The meeting ended with some discussion of the current budget situation.  Parents are encouraged to attend the upcoming meetings and let their opinions be known about the budget.  The meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.  The last PTA meeting of this school year will be held at FM on Tuesday, June 12^th, beginning at 6:30 PM in the school library.

Screen Free Week: April 30-May 4

April 10, 2012 PTA Meeting Minutes

            President Geniene Marco called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.  There were 10 members present.  Both the secretary and treasurer’s reports were presented and approved.

            Candy Hernandez discussed the Read-a-Thon.  Participants in both schools read for over 1400 hours and about $2500 was raised.  Next year’s Read-a-Thon will be held in the fall to lessen competition with other fund-raisers and reading promotions.

            Catherine Buotte spoke about the plans for Screen Free Week, April 30^th- May 4^th.  The evening events are as follows:  Monday Bingo Night, Tuesday Science/ PE, Wednesday Maine Maritime Museum, Thursday Science/PE, and Friday YMCA. 

            The annual Fifth Grade Dance will be held at BMS on June 1^st.  Wendy Jung stated that T-shirts will be designed and ordered for all of the RSU 1 fifth graders. There will be a DJ and food at the dance.

            New business included the upcoming election of PTA Board officers, Teacher Appreciation Day which will be on Friday, May 11^th,  the  Davenport Foundation donation of 70 tickets to the August 20^th MSMT production of Sleeping Beauty, and the RSU 1 budget deliberations.

            The meeting adjourned at 7:50.  The next PTA meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 8^th at Dike-Newell School in the library.

March 13, 2012 PTA Meeting Minutes

President Geniene Marco welcomed everyone to the meeting.  There were 10 people in attendance.  The Secretary’s report was approved.  The Treasurer’s report approval is pending due to Kate’s absence.

                Old business included discussion of the recent dance in February.  It was deemed a success and people offered suggestions to make the next dance even better.  The environment needs to be cooler, have better bathroom access, and a concession area with more space.  Ideas were exchanged to make these improvements for the next dance.  The second Box Tops Challenge is under way with the prize being a trip to the Maine Maritime Museum for a 90-minute presentation for the lucky classroom winners at each school.

                New business included the scheduling of the Fifth Grade Dance at the BMS cafeteria on Friday, June 1^st from 7:00- 8:30 PM.  There will be a DJ and free t-shirts for the kids.  All RSU 1 fifth graders will be invited to attend.  Wendy Jung offered to shop for the new camera needed at F/M School.  The PTA voted to fund the camera up to $200.  Screen Free Week will be April 30^th- May 4^th to lead into the May Fair weekend events in Bath.  Sarah Bingham asked that some of the activities include RSU 1 students and families outside of Bath.  It was suggested that the Maine Maritime Museum night and a Friday night at the YMCA could include students/families in Bath and the rest of RSU 1.  Other evening activities for Bath kids will be a Bingo Night, Science Night, and Fitness Evening.          

                Susan Cyr thanked the PTA for its concert purchases which helped make the kindergarten concert such a rousing success.  Nancy Harriman brought a giant thank you poster from F/M students for the PTA support of the recent One Book One School project.  Sally thanked Susan Cyr for the excellent concert and the entire D/N staff for its commitment to literacy in our school.

                Sarah Bingham informed the PTA about a $3,000 grant to improve the F/M playground area and encourage healthy eating for students.  Holly and Christine shared an idea they have to provide incoming kindergarten parents at D/N with information they’ll need.  They discussed asking the kindergarten teachers to list 10 things they’d like all parents to know.  Sally supported the idea and will meet with Holly and Christine for planning.

                The meeting concluded at 7:35 PM.  The next meeting will be at F/M School in the library on Tuesday, April 10^th beginning at 6:30 PM.

Mobil Food Truck Dates

The Bath Elementary PTA would like to share important information provided by Bath's Mobile Food Truck

Below are delivery dates through the end of October, 2012.

Note: Each truck is the last Tuesday of the month. 
Tuesday, April 24th
Tuesday, May 29th
Tuesday, June 26th
Tuesday, July 31st
Tuesday, August 28th
Tuesday, September 25th
Tuesday, October 30th

WE REQUIRE EVERYONE TO ARRIVE CHEM FREE

TIME: 2:00-4:00 

LOCATION: Grace Episcopal Church 1100 Washington St: Go north on Washington three blocks past the 4-way stop at North St. Just after you pass the church turn left on Edwards St, which leads to the parking lot. The Food Truck will be in this parking lot. There will be plenty of room to park in our parking lot. THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ASKED. If you need food you are welcome to come. Please bring something to put your groceries in…IT WOULD REALLY HELP.  

Join us in the church after 1:30 for a warm beverage and a snack while you wait.

Bath Elementary PTA Meeting Minutes, February 13, 2012

            President Geniene Marco welcomed everyone to the meeting at 6:30 PM.  There were 10 people in attendance.  Both the secretary and treasurer’s reports were accepted. 

            Old business included discussion of the upcoming dance to be held at F/M from 6:30- 8:00 on Friday evening, February 17^th.  Popcorn, goldfish crackers, punch and water will be served.  There will be prizes and raffles during the dance.  Decorations from the Ocean Soup week along with good tunes will liven up the event!  The Boxtop Challenge is going very well at both buildings.  Friendly competition among classrooms is making this fund raiser a lot of fun.  The winning classrooms will be able to enjoy a trolley ride.  Upcoming challenges will have a trip to the Maine Maritime Museum as a prize and a free book at Bath Book Shop.

            Susan Cyr, music teacher at D/N School, requested funding for costuming for the kindergarten concert in March.  The PTA approved up to $150 for costumes.

            Nancy Harriman reported that the One Book One School Ocean Soup project has been amazing.  The kids have participated enthusiastically.  Artists and scientists will be on hand for the culminating event on Wednesday and the week will end with the annual Beach Day celebration in the cafeteria. 

            Claire asked Dr. Harriman about the status of the school budget.  Nancy said that there was a budget retreat for administrators today and news about the budget should be forthcoming in March.  The PTA looks forward to a presentation by administrators which will answer questions about the budget and its impact on Bath’s elementary schools.

            The meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM.  The next meeting will be at D/N School on Tuesday, March 13, 2012.