Thank you to all who could make it to our PTA meeting tonight.  Due to the Veteran's Day holiday, next month's meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18th in the Dike Newell Library, at 6:30pm.

Minutes from tonight's meeting will be posted soon.

In the meantime...

Our Charleston Wraps fundraiser ends this week!  Get those forms in by Friday, October 17th and don't forget about the link on the homepage.  You can shop online easily, too!  This is our biggest, most profitable fundraiser of the year!

Friday, October 24th is the Hallowe'en Dance!  We are looking for volunteers to bring some snacks we can sell during the dance. Items that can be sold as small individual snacks are best.  All items are sold for 25 cents!  Volunteers are also needed to help chaperone, decorate, sell snacks and photo'booth tickets, and clean up!  The dance runs from 6:30pm - 8pm at Fisher Mitchell School.  Check the flier that went home or contact us for more info!

Are you looking for ways to help out with the PTA, but cannot always attend meetings?!  We know, it's hard to extract ourselves from dinner, after-school activities, younger siblings, and life, to always make meetings.  That's fine! We are looking for volunteers to help with any and all of the events and fundraisers put on throughout the whole school year.  If you're interested in helping with just one thing, that would be great!  Our goal is to have as many families involved as possible throughout the year.
Please contact us at any time with ideas, questions, or if you'd like to help.  bathelementarypta@gmail.com or you can call Wendy Jung at 207-653-5500.

Every year the Bath Elementary PTA works very hard to provide fun events and educational opportunities to our students, while raising money to help support further educational endeavors both in and out of the classroom all year.  This year we are adding several new ways to help support our students and teachers and most require very little effort from you!  In addition to our regularly scheduled events and fundraisers we are adding several options for you to donate while you shop for things you already buy.  Many retailers offer to donate a portion of your purchase back to our schools, all you have to do is sign up, or shop through a specific link provided on the right side of this blog, and the Bath Elementary PTA will receive a donation.  Easy peasy!   Check the links on the side and please LIKE and FOLLOW our Facebook page to stay up to date on what's what.  ====>

Coming home soon.... School Directory forms,  T-shirt and school spirit item sales, and info on how you can recycle ink cartridges and electronic devices and raise money for our schools!

THANK YOU to all who came to our first meeting of the 2014-15 school year!

In case you missed it... Here are the minutes:

Bath PTA

Meeting Minutes

9/16/2014

Wendy Jung called meeting to order at 6:30PM.

Welcome!

2014/2015 Board Introductions

Wendy Jung- President

Eileen Beasley- Vice President, Dike-Newell School (DNS)

Holly Spence- Vice President, Fisher-Mitchell (FMS)

Cheryl Steenstra- Treasurer

Jess Irish-Secretary

Secretary’s Report

The minutes of the June 2014 meeting were reviewed on the PTA blog. One amendment is required, a new position of Chief Information Officer was noted in the minutes. By-laws do not allow new positions to be instituted without Board Approval.

Motion to approve minutes with above stated amendment, Geniene Marco.

Vote to approve amended minutes.

Treasurer’s Report

Reviewed items from 2013/2014 budget

The current budget was developed based on prior year revenue and expected spending per grade level and standard events.

Motion to approve 2014/2015 budget, Geniene Marco.

Vote to Approve 2014/2015 budget.

Old Business

Charleston Wraps

The Charleston Wraps sale is often the largest fundraiser of the year will run October 13^th through the 17th. In past years revenue from the sale has been between three and five thousand. Eileen will be chairing the committee, please see her if you would like to assist.

Halloween Dance

Proposed Date for K-5 Halloween dance is October 24^th to be held at FMS.

Jess will be chairing the committee. Further planning will occur at the next meeting. Volunteers are appreciated and can contact Jess.

Box Tops

The PTA has funded incentives for the Box Tops fundraiser in the past. Money raised from the Box Tops go directly to the school. The PTA is considering changing the challenge from a classroom competition to a school wide incentive with all classes working toward a common goal, possibly a full school trip when the goal is reached. There may be incremental incentives throughout the year.

Over $500.00 was spent by the PTA last year on prizes.

Kathy Henrikson and Sue Harrison will work to expand the Box Tops effort into the greater community by placing collections bins at various local businesses.

New Business

Yankee Candle

A fall and spring sale of Yankee Candle will occur as a new fundraiser. The first sale will run October 30^th through November 14^th.

School Directory

A voluntary school directory will be created for easier communication between parents.

Wendy will start the directory, but is looking for volunteers.

Planet Green

Planet Green is a fundraising and recycling initiative. The PTA will receive reimbursement for any items returned to Planet Green. Boxes will be held in the school for recycling of used ink cartridges, cell phones, etc.

Holly Spence will be chairing. If anyone knows of a place boxes can be placed in the greater community, please contact Holly.

Other Fundraising

A direct PTA donation link will be set up through PayPal.

PTA supporters who use shutter fly and tiny print can sign up to have Bath PTA receive a portion of the proceeds each time they order.

T-Shirts

The PTA will be selling school T-shirts and other items through an online school store. Discussion regarding the possibility of a physical school store occurred, this item will be explored further.

School T-shirts will be available at the Halloween dance.

Requests

Planetarium

Sue Harrison requests $900.00 for a traveling planetarium in-school field trip (North-Star Planetarium). The experience is for all children at FMS and can be tailored to the curriculum of each grade. The event is tentatively planned for November.

Motion to approve request for funding of North-Star Planetarium at FMS, Candy Hernandez.

Second, Geniene Marco.

Vote to approve request for funding.

One Book One School

Joan Newkirk spoke regarding 2014/2015 one book one school program at FMS.

A $3000.00 grant was received from the King foundation All students will receive a copy of the book..

This year’s book is, Mystery of Pine Lake by Tamara Wight.

The presented program to run from January 26 to February 13, 2015.

PTA funding will not be required, but Joan requested assistance with the surrounding events.

Book Fair

Candy Hernandez reported that a book fair will be held at each school the weeks before Thanksgiving. PTA and literacy fund combine efforts and funds to ensure every child receives one free book. All books are ordered through the Bath Book Shop. Wendy Ulmer has published a new book that is being considered for the Lupine Award. She will be present for the parent night. Candy is requesting someone chair the FMS book fair. The chair will need to solicit volunteers for the Friday, Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving break. The FMS librarian will assist the parent volunteer. Eileen will chair the FMS book fair.

Kindergarten

Ms. Wetzel requests PTA funding for the Kindergarten trip to Wolfe’s Neck Farm. The cost of the trip is $3 per child, approximately $300. The trip will occur the week of October 20^th. Each child will be requested to pay a fee to share the cost, but all children will be covered regardless.

Motion to fund $300.00 for the Kindergarten trip to Wolfe’s Neck Farm, Candy Hernandez.

Second, Cheryl

Vote to approve.

First Grade

Kathy Henrikson requests PTA funding for a first grade trip to Maine Wilderness Park. The trip meets Next Gen curriculum standards.

Maine Wilderness Park is $3.50 per person for a total of $308.00.

The first grade class also requests PTA funding for a pond unit trip to Lisbon in the spring. The cost will be approximately $264.00.

Both trips will total $572.00, Kim Burgess reported to the first grade teachers that the bussing will be covered for both trips by the school. An attempt will be made to encourage the kids to raise funds.

A question was raised regarding whether students can be asked for field trip funds. Requesting funds from students does not appear to be against policy based on recent events within the district.

Candy motioned to approve $572.00 for the two first grade trips.

Second, Geniene Marco.

Vote to approve.

Principals’ Comments

Ross Berkowitz, Fisher-Mitchell School

Potential plans/goals for the 2014/2015 school year at FMS are;

Bring back potlucks to the school as community events.

Considering Safety Patrols, they are common in other regions but not the Northeast, researching how FMS may participate.

Considering a K-5 book drive that would require PTA promotion. Morse High interact club could potentially lead the drive. The books could be used for the book bank, school store, teacher’s libraries, etc.

Public Comment

Wendy reviewed a list of other potential fundraisers throughout the year.

The PTA is always looking for input on fundraisers and community building events, please let us know your ideas!

Meeting adjourned 7:35

More information to come soon!

Next Meeting:  TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14th, 6:30pm, @ FISHER MITCHELL SCHOOL LIBRARY.