Mark Hopkins Elementary PTO

General Meeting

August 20, 2024

1. Call to Order:   Amber did so at 6:00.
2. Introductions:  Heidi Wagner, Alissa Powell, Kourtney Frye, Kyle DeBoer, Amber Pearson, Lindsey Gorzalski Hocking, Chelsey Kinney, Ashley Garza, Sherry Affatica, Annelise Blomdal, Emily Ghyln , Melissa Jensen, Jaime House, Melissa Childs, Nicole Walton, Chelsey Lewis, Amy Fielding, Devon Neisen, Felicia Reed, Mila Gates.

1. Principal’s Report:  

1. Hopkins was projected last year for 342 kids, but we are at 371 currently.  Hopkins was given an additional staffing point at the end of last year.  We are excited to keep growing.
2. Staff members: 69 (including bus drivers)  
3. 2 things we are working on this year:  New math curriculum (Reveal Math).  Staff will be getting professional development time to get together and discuss the new curriculum.  Next, they are working on communication becoming a priority.  How and what should staff be sharing with parents so that we are not inundated parents with too many emails.
4. It’s been a great start to the year so far.  We have been grateful to expand the community, and we encourage parents to call or email with any questions or concerns.  Mrs. Wagner and Ms. Powell are always happy to meet in person as well.  
5. Mr. DeBoer talked about Movement Matters and sign ups for that will be coming home soon.  It’s an after school program to encourage body movement and mental health.  He also talked about The Stride on October 27th.  It’s a great LPS fundraiser and community event.  He will be seeking adults to help with the Hopkins booth at The Stride.  Last year we won an award for the amount of our community members that attended.  He is also trying to create an evening event for families around mental health this fall and he also welcomes any feedback and emails from parents.

2. President’s Report: Amber Pearson:  

1. PPC (PTO Presidents Council) Update:

1. First PPC Meeting will be held in September

2. Welcome and Introduction to PTO
3. What would you like to see at the school and from the PTO:

• Concerns of kids not being able to play on the playground right after school.  Mrs. Wagner will look into letting students play until a specific time when High Hoppers comes out for their outside play time.  A parent voiced that at their old school a SACC member would blow a whistle to let families know that they needed to vacate the playground.
• Loves the small close knit community, would love to see after school gatherings
• Know more about how the school is doing and get news from the school
• Would like to see more parent involvement
• Open communications
• Would like to see more community events
• Appreciates all of the newcomers and hearing their feedback, and would also like to see more parent involvement
• Learn more about the school, and community opportunities
• Looking forward to getting to know other families
• Volunteer opportunities and to help with planning of events

1. Amber wants our PTO to be inviting and she would like to have lots of open communication and feedback.  

3. Vice President’s Report: Vacant
4. Marketing/ Communications: Sherry Affatica: Working on the Frog sticker for the Hop-a-Thon, and a letter about upcoming dates. Asked parents when/how they would like to get PTO emails.  Attendees would like communication a week before fundraisers as well as night before and/or morning of.    
5. Secretary’s Report: Chelsey Kinney  

     i.  Asked everyone to sign the attendance sheet.  

6. VIPS Report: Ashley Garza

1. I Love to Read - Starts the beginning of September.
2. Please tell parents to call Carlah at the front office if they are not getting emails.  Hop-a-Thon volunteer emails will be coming out soon!  Might need to ask teachers to link the volunteer sign-up in their weekly emails if we don’t get enough interest.  
3. Parents would like to get emails as far in advance as possible when there are events and volunteer opportunities coming up.  
4. Might need volunteers for vision and hearing screening.  Mrs. Wagner said a local church might want to help with that and she will get more information soon.

7. Treasurer’s Report: Lindsey Gorzalski Hocking:  

1.  Working on wrapping up the last school years funds.
2. We have an approved budget and next month we will look at the budget and adjust it as need be, especially after the Hop-a-Thon.  
3. This year we also now have student fees.  In the past the PTO covered all student fees, however this year we wanted to use the PTO funds for assemblies and field trips, as well as dinners and lunches for staff members throughout the year.  

3. Fundraising Reports:

1. Southglenn Street Smarts Program (Kristin):  

1. Program started on August 1st and will run through April 30, 2025.  
2. Last year we won the $1,500 prize and were able to purchase gift cards from Qdoba, Parry’s, Chick Fil A, and Dairy Queen.  These cards will help fund prizes for the Hop-A-Thon as well as staff conference meals.
3. This year we have an opportunity to earn 25,000 points if we would like to participate in the Christmas Parade, and also earn points at other sponsored events.  Southglenn is also offering space to hold events (Flyer with more info to come).
4. As of August 15th we are ranked #1 in the Southglenn Street Smarts Program with 27,675 points
5. Southglenn is running a back to school special.  Receipts can earn 10x the points per $1 spent from select stores.  Promotion is running through September 30th.
6. The first Southglen Event where we can earn extra points is the Chalk Art Festival where we will earn 1,000 points per person who attends, if they submit a photo of themselves with all of their family members.

2. Spirit wear:

1. Spirit wear site is currently up and running, First Place Spirit Wear.  We have signed an agreement with them and with all sales they will return 10% to the school on a Quarterly basis.  They will also provide us with a bulk quote for spiritwear moving forward.  The agreement we have with them is that we will advertise the site at least once a month through newsletters and social media.  The website is currently up and running through the PTO Membership toolkit page and the school is currently adding it to their weekly emails.

3. Restaurant Nights: (Chelsey Kinney): The first Restaurant nights will be:

1.  August 28th- Andy’s Frozen Custard (4-8pm)

2. September 18th- Bad Daddy’s (5-9pm in restaurant only)

3. October 8th- Mici’s (all day)

4. Hop - A - Thon: (Amber Pearson) - Hop-A-Thon is tentatively scheduled for Thursday September 26th.

1. Items needed: Donation level prizes, large prizes, lap tracking system, Export of students from Infinite Campus (to set up the donation pages).
2. Student T-Shirt Sizes, can we have the list from the teachers by August 22nd?
3. Mr. Troth, the new gym teacher is interested in helping out this year.
4. Emily would like to help coordinate with Ashley and Amber.
5. Chelsey and Kristin can help sort the shirts again this year.

5. Square 1 Art (Amber Pearson) - Amber would like to connect with Ms. Caven, the new art teacher, to see if she would like to participate in the Square 1 Art fundraiser.  Ms. Caven has mentioned to Heidi that she would like to do it earlier in the year to maybe have everything ready to purchase for holiday gifts.  Amber will contact her soon.  
6. School Supply Kits
7. Moo-La from Longmont Dairy

4. Hopkins Events

1. Hopkins Movie Night: Inside Out 2.  Friday September 13th or the 20th as possible dates.  Will have popcorn, and Amber will order Glow Sticks.  Amber is contacting Kona Ice to see if he can come as well.
2. Fall Conference Meals:
3. Boo Ball (Need Confirmation of Coordinator - Ashley?):  Need Confirmation of Date to see if Kona Ice is available.  Friday October 25th from 4:30-6:30pm, so that High Hoppers kids can attend. Mrs. Wagner will talk to staff about how they want to do Halloween this year in the classrooms.  Most district schools seem to be moving away from holiday celebrations and doing more seasonal celebrations in the classroom.
4. LPS The Stride: (Need a Parent Stride captain): Date: Sunday October 27, 2024
5. Fall Parents night out: What does the team think about this?  Great idea for parents to meet one another at the beginning of the year.  Most attendees liked this idea!
6. Yearbook- (TBA): What is the status of the yearbook for this year.  We can go through Van Gogh again this year to make the yearbook. We are still deciding if we will have a parent group design the yearbook this year, or staff members.  Melissa Jensen mentioned that she is available to help out.  
7. Teacher appreciation meals throughout the year:  Will know more about what we can do once we have the funds from the Hop-A-Thon.
8. Spring Conference Meals:
9. Science Fair (Mary Paddock):
10. Kindergarten Info Night:
11. Spring Talent Show: TBD   
12. Staff Appreciation Week (Need Coordinator):
13. 5th Grade Party (Lindsay will co-coordinate):  5th grade teachers requested to pick a date early, as well as a place (pool?).  
14. Spring Parents Night Out- (Need Coordinator) 
15. Staff Gift Wrapping (Need Coordinator)

IV.   Adjournment:  Amber did so at 7:25.