Treasurer: Kim Gauvin

Secretary: Brenda Brown

Meeting Commencement

Co-President Ann Horgan opened the meeting at 6:36pm with 20 parents and JR Briggs staff present.

Genevieve’s Fall Fundraiser Presentation

Phil Gahan presented the Genevieve’s Fall Fundraiser program. In addition to a detailed overview of the catalog Phil brought a variety of samples for us to review and taste. Highlights of the presentation were:

50% of all products are made in New England.

Genevieve’s makes their own wrapping paper.

School would make 40% on calendars, candles and custom plates and 50% on products in catalog.

Internet ordering is available to out-of-town and out-of-state relatives/customers.

Incentive prizes are available to the children.

Phil would be available for delivery and any questions/concerns/issues that may arise during the fundraiser.

No early commitment contract needed.

After the presentation was given a vote was taken on whether to stay with Katherine Beich for another year or to return to Genevieve’s for the Fall Fundraiser. The vote was to stay with Katherine Beich for the next school year.

We thank Phil for coming in and presenting the Genevieve’s Fall Fundraising Program for the PTO.

Secretary’s Report

Brenda Brown presented the Secretary’s report. Motion was made, seconded and approved to accept the secretary’s report as presented with the following corrections;

. Kristen McDonald’s name is spelled with an “e” and not an “i”.

. The photographer from O’Connor Photography came in to take candid shots “around Briggs” on the 27^th of January instead of the originally planned date of the 17^th.

Treasurer’s Report

Kim Gauvin presented the Treasurer’s report. A copy of the latest bank statement was included in the report. Motion was made, seconded and approved to accept the treasurer’s report as presented.

Old Business

Yankee Candle

The Yankee Candle Spring Fundraiser will begin on March 17^th,2006 and end on March 31^st, 2006. Fran will hold a Kick-Off assembly on Friday, March 17^th for the children. There will be a gift basket, available to the teacher with the highest class participation on display in the front lobby at the Kick-Off and during teacher conferences. Prizes will be awarded to the top sellers of the upper and lower wing classes. Becky Pilsbury is looking for volunteers to come in the week of March 9^th to put the classroom packets together and the week of April 1^st to collate the orders. Becky can be reached at 827-6663 or beckymp411@yahoo.com.

Yearbook

Tracy Poulin gave an update on the yearbook. Several parents have taken and supplied candid shots of the children and events held so far. The grade class pictures, mystery baby pictures and cover designs are in. Tracy will verify with O’Connor Photography on the price originally quoted and report back to the next meeting so that we can set a price and begin taking orders.

Wizards Basketball Game

The Wizards (basketball) game against Ashburnham and Westminster teachers, players and volunteers on Sunday, January 22^nd was another huge success! Thanks to all the volunteers who helped at the various stations throughout the day. We will be making a decision at the June PTO meeting on whether to book the Wizards again for next year!

The profit from the Wizards game was $2,566.11 each for Briggs and Westminster.

Mini Grants

Twenty (20) mini grant applications were received from the teachers, specials and staff and reviewed by the Mini-Grant Committee and Candace Wright for a total of $8,138.20. Three (3) grants were dismissed for PTO approval as they will be covered through the enrichment and budget funds. Of the seventeen (17) remaining nine (9) were supply requests and eight (8) were enrichment requests totaling $6564.11. The Mini-Grant Committee asked the present PTO members to approve the additional amount of 1,564.11 over the initial budget of $5,000.00. A motion was made, seconded and approved to allot the new total of $6,564.11 in funds to approve the mini-grant applications. Kelly Behringer will inform the teachers, specials and staff of their grant application awards. A motion was made, seconded and approved to request a wish list of the school of bigger items in the event that our Spring Fundraiser does well and we are in the position to purchase items for the school. Candace Wright will work on getting this list together for the next few PTO meetings.

PTO Closet

The PTO Closet has been cleaned and all PTO items have been placed in plastic totes. Ann Horgan requested 6 more totes to finish packing up the last of the supplies. A motion was made, seconded and approved for Ann Horgan to purchase 6 more totes. The totes will be labeled FOB/PTO and itemized lists will be attached to each tote listing its contents.

Father/Daughter Dance

A special time was had by girls and their chaperones at the Father/Daughter Dance on Friday, February 3^rd, 2006. Genevieve chocolate flowers and small token toys were sold at the dance bringing in a small profit. Thanks to all parents who helped at the dance and provided delicious refreshments! Consideration will be made next year to keep prices low again and to have families purchase their own flowers for the event.

New Business

Family Skate

A Family Skate event has been set for Sunday, March 5^th from 2:00-4:00pm at the Theodore Iorio Arena Skating Rink at Cushing Academy. Gail Dumont has agreed to “chair” this event. Look for more details soon!

Read Across America

The Read across America program will begin on March 7^th and run through March 10^th. The theme will be the Solar System. BJ’s will be supplying a large cake for the Read across America Kick-Off on March 7^th, 2006. A motion was made, seconded and approved to purchase paper plates for the cake. Volunteers are needed to help decorate the lobby on Friday, March 3^rd around 3:00PM and each morning from 9:00- 10:00 March 7^th through March 10^th to tally the Read across America passports. If you are interested in helping with the program please contact Ann Horgan at 827-4922 or through a note to the school.

Bunny Breakfast

The annual Bunny Breakfast is scheduled for Saturday, April 8^th, 2006 from 8:00-11:00am at Overlook Middle School. Kristen McDonald has begun the initial planning and ordering of supplies. Kristen will provide a list of needed volunteer positions and supplies for the next PTO meeting. We are desperately looking for volunteers to help the day of the event. If interested please contact any of the PTO Board members.

Book Fair

Volunteers are needed for the upcoming Book Fair; March 13^th through March 17^th. If you are interested please contact Lynn Pinsoneault at the school at 827-5750 or Lpinsoneault@awrsd.org.

Mother/Son Dance

Gail Dumont is still working on the details for the Mother/Son dance scheduled for Friday, April 28^th, 2006. We will have more information at the next PTO meeting.

PTO Elections

Letters of interest are currently being accepted for any of the PTO Board positions. Currently open for the next school year (2006-2007) are the following JR Briggs PTO positions; PTO President, 1 PTO Vice-President and the PTO Secretary. Letters may be submitted to the PTO mailbox in the office and are due by April 13^th, 2006.

Meeting Closure

Co-President Ann Horgan closed the meeting at 8:41pm. Thanks to everyone who came to the meeting. We look forward to seeing your return to future meetings and the upcoming PTO events and invite parents, teachers and staff who missed the meeting to attend the next PTO meeting on Thursday, March 9^th, 2006 at 6:30pm. If you wish to be removed from the minutes email distribution please let me know.

Respectfully Submitted,

Brenda Brown