Harmony PTA

General Membership Meeting Minutes

December 18, 2013

These minutes document the Harmony PTA Board meeting which was held on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, beginning at 6:30p.m. These minutes were prepared by theSecretary of the Board.

The General Membership was provided with an agenda, a November 21, 2013–December 18, 2013 Treasurer’s Report, andthe November meeting minutes.

Board Participants

Title / Board Members and General Membership / Present
President / Kathy Reed / Yes
Vice President / Elizabeth Webber / Yes
Treasurer / Jim Widzinski / Yes
Secretary / Cindy Hayden / Yes
Principal / Mr. Eric Stewart / Yes
Standing Committees
Fundraising / Ginny Skrobialowski / Yes
School Rewards Programs / Ashby Snare
Events Committee / Kim Trombly / Yes
Spirit Wear / Kelly Ambler
Special Committees and Coordinators
Communication (The Hornets’ Nest) / Carol Bailey / Yes
School Store / Jim Widzinski / Yes
Website / Jim Widzinski / Yes
Constant Contact / Jim Widzinski , Kathy Reed / Yes, Yes
Volunteer Coordinator / Susannah Ruttle / Yes
School Clubs / Tracey Downing
Loudoun Education Alliance of Parents (LEAP) / Tracey Downing
Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC) / Brittany Baldwin / Yes
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) / Deana Czaban
Student Council Association (SCA) Liaison / Henry Thomas
Student Council Association Representatives
General Members
Jim Hepner
Samantha Berman
Jackie Robertson / Yes
Yes
Yes

Agenda

  1. Call to Order, President
  2. Opening Ceremony
  3. Approval of Minutes, Secertary
  4. Report of the Treasurer
  5. Report of the Principal
  6. Reports of Standing Committees
  7. Reports of Special Committeesand Coordinators
  8. Old Business
  1. New Teacher Grants Awards – Follow Up
  1. New Business
  1. The Hornets’ Nest –Communications Strategy (Carol Bailey)
  2. Winter Party Plans – (Kim Trombly)
  1. Announcements
  2. Adjournment, President

Minutes

Approval of Minutes

Minutes November meetingapproved.

Report of the Treasurer

  • Jim Widzinski provided a copy of the Treasurer’s Report dated November 21, 2013 – December 18, 2013. Our balance on hand is $28,226.44. Total income for this reporting period was $1,153.50 with $821 coming from the school store. Total expenses for this reporting period were $2,025.65.
  • Quiet month with income generated from Spirit Wear and the School Store.
  • Teacher reimbursements are still on going and being submitted.
  • The PTA has paid out one teacher grant awarded at the November PTA meeting.
  • Harmony PTA has surpassed last year’s membership total.

Report of the Principal

  • The school was named a "Schools to Watch," an award developedto identify high-performing middle-grades schools. The programis in 18 states and in the last ten years only300 schools have been selected and honoredacross the country.Mr. Stewart thanked the Harmony teachers and community for all their support.
  • Harmony just hosted the Woodgrove High School Fine Arts department. They performed for the 8th grade. Everyone enjoyed the concert.
  • January 3rd, 6th, and 8th will be Eighth grade course selection for next year. Scheduling for the other grades will start once the Eight grade is done.
  • Harmony will host Fifth graders from our feeder schools on January 6th. They will be given a tour of the school and the band will perform for them. This is to help them make their scheduling choices for next year.
  • Fourteen turkeys and a number of gift cards where given to needy families in our school community to help with the holiday season.
  • The chorus and guitar concerts were wonderful. The band concert will be tomorrow evening December 19th.

Reports of Standing Committees:

Fundraising

  • The Fall Fundraiser raised approximately $10,000 this year.
  • The only problem that arose from the fundraiser was a woman in Purcellville that did not receive her stuff. Her check did not clear so Ginny Skrobialowski will contact her and let her know we will continue to keep an eye out for the check.

Events Committee

  • Four dates provided for Winter Party; January 17, January 24, February 7, and February 14. After discussion Friday, January 24th was chosen.
  • Kim Trombly was given a $1000 budget.
  • The Winter Party will be in the cafeteria or the gym from 7pm – 9pm.
  • Ginny Skrobialowski will ask Bobby Zoldos if he will DJ the event.
  • Special edition of the Hornets’ nest to be sent out Friday, December 20th asking for volunteers to form a committee to plan the Winter Party. Kim will re-evaluate after break whether there is enough people and time to plan a Winter Party to be held January 24th.
  • Jim Widzinski proposed that instead of having a Winter Party on January 24th the PTA had a more family friendly event such as a Bingo night. The discussion was tabled until after Kim receives the results from the volunteer request.

Reports of Special Committees and Coordinators

Communications (The Hornets’ Nest)

  • Carol Bailey came to the meeting to discuss how to make the Hornets’ Nest more effective. Should the Hornets’ Nest continue to be once a week or change to once a month.
  • After discussion it was concluded that Carol would create a survey parents that receive The Hornets’ Nest what they would like to see. The survey will be sent out via The Hornets’ Nest after the break.

School Clubs

  • The Chess Club and the Science Club will both start in January after the break.
  • Special Hornets’ Nest will be sent out before Friday, December 20th with sign up information for these two clubs.

Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC)

  • Brittney Baldwin advised about the October and November meetings of MSAAC. There was not MSAAC meeting in December. Delegates were encouraged to attend the CAMPUS meeting on making college affordable on December 11th.
  • The October meeting provided Cyber Bullying Information and resources for parents and delegates. For further information you can go to the MSAAC web page at:
  • The November meeting addressed the search for the new Superintendent, MSAAC’s survey to provide input into the search, best practices for student learning and advocacy, and an update on the Annual Measurement Objectives (AMO’s) by Dr. Tyler. For further information go to the MSAAC web page at:

Student Council Association (SCA)

  • Kathy Reed to invite Shelby Jones (SCA President) to the next PTA meeting.

Old Business

  1. New Teacher Grant Awards

-One check has been issued to Karen McClellan for the Grade Math Program IXL in the amount of $1000.

-The grant agreement requires monthly progress reports from the recipient. This will give the PTA quantitative and qualitative information on the program.

-PTA would like to get testimonials from students and program leaders providing likes/dislikes, pros and cons of the program.

-PTA would like to track how many students where actually involved in each program

New Business

  1. The Hornets’ Nest – Communications Strategy (Carol Bailey)

See Special Committees and Coordinators/Communication (The Hornets’ Nest)

  1. Winter Party Plans – (Kim Trombly)

See Standing Committees/Events Committee

  1. Odyssey of the Mind/Ms. Berman

-Ms. Berman came to the PTA to ask for a total of $400 for Odyssey of the Mind. Harmony added a second team on the build a car problem and asked for $100 to reimburse the parent that paid the additional registration fee. Ms. Berman asked for $300 to pay the registration fee for the 5 teams to attend the regional competition in March. PTA denied the request as going forward Odyssey of the Mind will be considered a club or extracurricular activity and is not financially supported by the PTA. However, financial scholarships are available for families needing financial assistance. Families in need can contact Beth Richardson, Harmony’s Parent Liaison.

  1. New Superintendent Search Committee

-The School Board has invited all the schools in the county to send people to be a part of the committee to find a new superintendent. Schools in the district are asked to provide the name of one licensed staff member, one classified staff member and one parent that would like to participate. All names provided to the School Board will be placed in a hat and randomly drawn to make up the committee. There will be a 3-4 day commitment in March from any parent that is interested. Jackie Robertson volunteered to be the parent representative from Harmony Middle School for the New Superintendent Search Committee.

  1. Woodgrove Graduation Night Celebration

-Harmony PTA will contribute $500 to Woodgrove High School’s Graduation Night Celebration.

  1. Budget Priority Survey

-Kathy Reed encouraged everyone at the meeting to take part in the budget survey.

Announcements

NEXT PTA GENERAL MEETING – The next general meeting will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2014at 6:30 pm inthe Harmony library.

Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at8:00 pm.

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