Friends of Briggs/PTO Meeting
November 17th, 2005
Vice Presidents: Kelly Behringer & Kristin Hayes
Secretary: Brenda Brown
Brenda Brown presented the Secretary’s report. Motion was made, seconded and approved to accept the secretary’s report as presented.
Ann Horgan presented the Interim 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.
J.R. Brigg’s Building Tour
Candace Wright gave parents a tour of the building and answered concerning the building.
The final numbers for the Fall Fundraiser will be presented at the next meeting but look to be around $12,295.00. There are still a few outstanding checks to be cleared.
The evening’s activities, on Friday, October 21st, included approximately 28 vendors. Just over 30 people attended the event and all who went had a good time. The PTO made approximately $750.00.The vendors were pleased with their cash and carry sales and bookings for future parties by the attendees. A suggestion was made to advertise more, next year, around town with posters.
School Address Books
The J.R. Brigg’s Elementary School Address Books are ready to be copied and delivered. Orders will be taken until November 29th. We are looking for a delivery date of December 12th or earlier.
BJ’s Food Drive
Kelly Behringer and Ann Horgan picked up the last donation by BJ’s customers of non-perishable food items and brought it to the Ashburnham Community Church’s Food Pantry.
Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast
The PTO made approximately$269.00 from 49 pre-sale ticket purchases and families who purchased tickets at the door.
Grade Level Raffle Baskets
The teachers and Specials have chosen their themes for the grade level raffle baskets. Letters to the parents for donations have gone out and donations are due in by Wednesday, November 23rd. The date to help put the baskets together is November 28th at 9:00am in the teacher’s lounge if you can help! Volunteers are needed to sell raffle tickets during teacher conferences and “Bring a Loved One to Lunch” lunches; December 12th through 16th. If you can help during any of these times, please contact Ann Horgan at 827-4922.
Applications for BJ’s membership cards, to help support J.R. Briggs, are due back the week after Thanksgiving. Any new membership or renewal during this time benefits J.R. Briggs.
Harry Potter Movie Day
The PTO Family Day at the Movies: Harry Potter and the Quest for Fire is scheduled for Saturday, November 19th with 219 people going. The PTO is looking for future movies, perhaps in January or during February vacation to offer another Family Movie Day!
Becky Pilsbury will look into several possible vendors for a Spring Fundraiser. Becky will ask a representative from Katherine Beich to come to the next or January meeting and present their spring possibilities. Suggestions were made to look into Yankee Candles, Cookie Dough, Chocolate Bunnies and J.R. Brigg’s T-shirts. If you have other suggestions please contact a member of the PTO and we will discuss at an upcoming PTO meeting.
Press Releases for future events
Lisa Westbrook volunteered to create press releases for our future events. Kelly will be sure to get the PTO event information to her two weeks prior to the event.
Wizards Basketball Game
The Wizards (basketball) game against Ashburnham and Westminster teachers, players and volunteers is coming on Sunday, January 22nd at Oakmont High School. Volunteers are needed for several stations that day. If you are interested in any of the following stations, please contact Gay Houghton at: 827-1248 or kootzleska@yahoo.com. Concession Stand, Ticket takers, Set-Up and Takedown, Clean-Up, BJ’s stock run, coordination of baked good donations.
If anyone is interested in this position please send a letter of interest to school to the attention of the PTO Board.
Deanne Smith has volunteered to chair the Bunny Breakfast this coming year. THANK YOU Deanne!!!! She will need many volunteers for this event to be successful. Any one interested in helping with the breakfast can contact Deanne.
BJ’s “Adopt a School” program, which supports J.R. Briggs this year, is not giving out gift cards for the remainder of the year. They had been giving the PTO monthly gift cards since September. They are now taking requests for specific items. Teachers have been asked for lists of items that their classrooms can use. Many have requested tissues, hand cleaners, paper towels etc. BJ’s is also issuing the PTO a credit card for future PTO purchases. There will be two names on the account. Kim Gauvin, as treasurer will be one name and Deanne Smith will be the second name on the account.
The PTO members decided on offering the Mini Grants to the teachers just once this year. Teachers will be given the request forms in December. The requests will be due back in January. The PTO is allotting approximately $5,000.00 for the mini grant program. A committee will be formed to evaluate the requests and allocate the appropriate funds to each teacher or grade. If, at the end of the school year, our spring fundraisers are successful consideration will be given to offering supply grants to the teachers.
The annual Bring a Loved One to Lunch is scheduled for December 12th through the 16th. Forms will be going home soon and will be due back by December 1st. Parents, Grandparents, and special adults will have the opportunity to have lunch with their children! Siblings can purchase a lunch for $2.00 and adults will be able to purchase a lunch for $3.25. The PTO will have J.R. Brigg’s cookbooks and raffle tickets for the Grade Level Baskets on sale during these lunches.
Teachers will be creating wish lists for their classrooms. So that children can “see” the receipt of their gifts, the PTO is suggesting that gift cards be given to the teachers, as an option for teacher holiday gifts this year. Each teacher can then go and purchase a gift to be used in the classrooms.
Co-Vice President Kelly Behringer closed the meeting at 8:10pm. Thanks to all the parents and teachers who came to the meeting. We look forward to seeing your return to future meetings and the upcoming PTO events and invite parents who missed the meeting to attend the next PTO meeting on Wednesday, December 14th. If you wish to be removed from minutes email distribution please let me know.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brenda Brown
PTO Secretary