Sept 17th PAWS Meeting

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

8:11 PM

  • Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge: Butterfly Garden
  • Natasha - Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge
  • People for pollinators - common space to partner up all items are provided by the gov't they just need the space to plant! It's a new program that was started this year.
  • Would love people there to help put it in
  • Can provide education along with the garden
  • Monarch butterflies have declined by 90% in the last 20 years
  • All of the seeds will come back year after year.
  • It would encourage the native pollinators to come back year after year
  • How big of an area
  • Anywhere from 5x5 to 2 acres
  • We could do the grassy area by the stairs
  • See below for more info
  • Next Steps
  • Confirm space and get back to Natasha
  • Kill the grass in fall
  • Seeding - Nov & Dec
  • Planting - April - after the frost…..
  • Outdoor workshop for teachers, parents, volunteers if you are interested in learning more
  • available in June - free of charge
  • They can come back and talk to the kids - example discussion insects in 2nd grade
  • Updates on playground
  • We tried to get a slide on the hill and we were not able to get it in a cost effective manner
  • We can't have swings, circle/swing - all a no/no
  • Geodome - can't do since medical people can't get in if a child falls
  • We DID get some that are allowed
  • District will pay for the labor & concrete slab
  • We need to pay for the item and the rubber cover above the slab
  • We do receive free freight and 20% off retail
  • There is a 3-4 week turn around to get the item from the retailer
  • Location will be needed to confirm
  • Jumble Gym - We will confirm pricing/quote and see if we can get movement for this year

  • Backstops, upper playground near the trees - very unsafe
  • Trees are either dead or dying - taking them all out and blacktop it again
  • Would like some trees put back in for some shade
  • Mr. Nichols is working with the district
  • Update on fundraising
  • Box tops & Labels for Education update
  • THANK YOU EVERYONE for collecting them!
  • Prizes for the winning classroom - K-2 and then 3-5
  • Make sure you ask grandparents, cousins, neighbors etc
  • Target Red Card - make sure you have your card attached to the school
  • 1% goes directly back to the school
  • Money last year was used for playground items - jump ropes, balls, etc
  • Buffalo Wild Wings Sept. 28
  • CeCe's - closed so we are doing Buffalo Wild Wings
  • All day!
  • Just make sure you mention you are from Windsor and 10% of all sales will come back to us
  • Butter Braids coming soon
  • Extremely successful last year - coming back this year
  • October for the sales - will deliver in Nov right before Thanksgiving
  • They freeze great and are a great seller
  • Fun Night planning starting in October
  • We will need donations again, please let us know if you have any sort of connections
  • Please let Meggon John know if you would like to help out
  • We will need lots volunteers not only for the games but the set up etc.
  • Update from Mr. Nichols
  • Electronic sign - They are working on it right now
  • Kindergarten has moved to 2 classes instead of 3
  • Ms. Greene has gone to a different school and Ms Mitchell has moved up to 1st grade
  • Music has moved into the old conference room
  • MAP- Measurement of Academic progress - 1 of 2 schools selected
  • New assessment that will be used along with Iowa Assessment
  • Fall and Winter - taking it instead of SRMI - they will take both in the spring
  • Computer test base - it will adjust to their questions that are asked - easier if they miss, harder if they get it right per question
  • Iowa Assessments
  • School in Need of Improvement
  • Math - met annual goal
  • Reading - need improvement
  • We improved in each area from last year
  • Chapter 62
  • FASS Assessment - K-3
  • End of 3 in 16/17 - if they are substantially deficient, they will be required to be maintained in that grade
  • Please contact Mr. Nichols with any questions
  • Reading - only for testing
  • Needs for the school
  • Computer lab is VERY in need
  • They are hand-me-downs from a technology upgrade
  • District replacement - turn over plan 8 year - up in 16/17 for new ones
  • Even devices in the rooms
  • Each class have 7 tablet/computers in the room
  • Some have iPads/desktops
  • Grants are available and are being researched. Please contact Meggon if you would like to assist in grant writing.
  • What do you as group expect/want from PAWS?
  • How do you like to be communicated to?
  • What else have you seen other PTA/PTO’s do?
  • What suggestions do you have?
  • What ways would you like to help?
  • PRIZES!!
  • We will be doing a raffle each PAWS Meeting. Each Parent/Caregiver attending the meeting can enter the raffle. You must be present at the PAWS meeting that your name is drawn in to win the prize.
  • Each month it will be kept and you can build upon your entries. Example: if you attend the first PAWS meeting – 1 entry. Attend the 2nd PAWS meeting – 2 entries in the bowl
  • Each month the prize will be different.
  • Bonus Topic
  • Whole foods will donate a grant for things to plant - potentially get it for the raised beds that we have on the lower playground.
  • Facebook - make sure you LIKE our facebook page for school/PAWS updates