Parent Support Council Meeting Notes

Jan. 15, 2015

Mrs. Peters started the meeting.

Richardson updates:

Richardson was named a celebration school. What does that mean? The state takes into consideration several factors: Test scores, MMR (Multiple measurement ratings), student growth, overall proficiency, closing of race based achievement gaps. Richardson is Title 1 school. The award indicates which schools are the top title one schools. Richardson was Celebration eligible last year (think of it like a nomination). We are performing within the top 25 in state. A school team has to submit an application explaining to what would you attribute the school’s success? It was submitted in Oct. A school has to demonstrate that they have a plan and that you can you can name what you can attribute success to. Dec. 15 the superintendent notified Mrs. Peters about the honor. 140 school submitted their plan and 22 were selected. Staff had some treats to celebrate. The honor is an affirmation of the work being done. Test scores are the tip of the iceberg and there is a lot that happens “under” it with staff and students.

On Jan. 00 the district held a talk about race. The equity committee sponsored the town-hall type meeting. Mayors, parents, police chiefs, legislators, superintendent, school staff and students attended and an outside facilitator was brought in. One topic dealt with, “How does race impact you work, life, student life?” It was a very powerful evening. Several students spoke reflecting our diverse community. This meeting was a good start to get the conversation started. Hearing the students speak made Mrs. Peters proud to be in this district. Some students were AVID students. This is a program to help kids realize they can go on to post secondary education when they might not have considered it before. AVID has been going for 4-5 years. AVID is also part of other districts.

(The session was not recorded)

  • Upcoming events: Grades 3-5 will have their community night Jan. 22
  • Choir performs in Feb.
  • Kindergarten registration night Feb. 17
  • Conferences happen first week of March
  • MCAs will happen in April-May. Will be electronic—including reading.

Push box tops! Totals will be posted on Wednesday. 6176 since the beginning (Oct 15) Seeing lower numbers right now but some kids may be holding them for a final push. Ask family members! Labels for education – we have a lot of points. We can do via prepaid cards at $250 a piece. These funds will help with classroom supplies and teacher needs.

Budget is tight. Each grade has $1000 for activities and field trips. Bus drivers are $27 per hour and busses are $1.70 a mile. We need to look at all the things in the budget and decide on some top priorities for next year. Some outside enrichment activities that PSC funded, include the drummers and Koo Koo Kangaroo. PSC also funds Scholastic news for 4th and 5th teachers to use. Teachers say this is an important tool for their classroom. PSC also provides some Comet scholarships and students got to the Science Museum 2x a year to take classes for SAIL. The coordinator gets some scholarships form Equity and then PSC gives $350 for it. Teachers are looking for funds for Young Authors as well – they may need to go to Equity. Music and Phy Ed get some funding and PSC funds the MCA snacks to help students during testing time. This year teachers were given $60 per classroom as opposed to $80 last year. Ms. Kelly, the admin assistant, needs new folding machine so the funds came form PSC. We also fund Math masters, school patrols, birthday books ($300-400– next year we can pull form book fair.) Field trip to state capital is cancelled this year because of the construction project. The 5th graders take a river cruise and they get $400.

Some field trip this year:

  • Big River journey
  • Afton Apple Orchard
  • Pinehaven
  • MN History Center
  • Center for Book Arts

Some ideas for enrichment at the school vs field trips:

Can the zoo come in? Or other people come in for events.

We will be looking for budget help for next year in identifying priorities, what are the teachers’ priorities?

I Love to Read Month:

Jenny is revamping this to freshen it up this year. In the past, kids would get slips and record for prizes. She is trying a fun BINGO this time. Families take it home and complete the card. There will be 2 winners per grade and prizes will be from book fair. She also came up with fun theme days. Classrooms will have contests to win/choose books for book rookery. The classroom that raises the most will get a popcorn party. We also have an author, Douglas Wood, coming in March – kids will create some signs to welcome him. Jenny will create an “I love to read month” calendar with themes and the ice cream fundraising night indicated.

Other thing to look into: READ posters with celebrities. Staff and students with I love to read books. Sometimes these can ordered for free. Mrs. Peters said we could hang them up in the school

PSC is looking for a new volunteer coordinator committing to up to 6 hours a week. You schedule the time within the week. She had a call from North High with an offer to have Honor society /student councils volunteer for things like the carnival and book fair. Another ebent coming up is Screen Free Week. This usually includes a craft day, talent show (we need an MC) and open gym night.

Volunteers are also needed for the teacher appreciation meal and book fair during conferences. Please check the volunteer sign up link.

The carnival is the First Friday in May (May 1st)

New this year will be a Teacher dunk tank: Raffle top sellers in each grade get free throws. The committee is also looking into a photo booth. We can’t have bouncy house, etc. due to district rule changes.

For our March meeting we will have some one from Equity come and speak. The Cultural Celebration Night is Feb. 26

We are thinking of potential service projects for the students to work on. Could we help fund the toy shelf with pennies for toys? Could we give North Haven cards or placemats to deliver to shut-ins? Could we have a Grandparents day event? Student leadership did a toiletries drive and it was very successful. We are looking for some ideas around reaching out to community through the classroom. Could we make blessing bags? One tradition is students handing out May Day baskets to the neighbors.