Attendees: 22 people
I. Welcome and Introductions- Megan
II. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes- Jody
III. Treasurer's Report and Grant Update- Desiree
Desiree reported that there has not been a lot of financial activity since the last meeting. We are still awaiting the check in the amount of $339 from the Honeygrow fundraiser.
Monthly online donations are between $100-$150/mo.
Ms. Lili reported on the United Way grant. It has about $1,000 remaining. We have about $600 of estimated future expenditures which will leave about $400 left to spend by the end of the month when the grant closes out. There is a slide deck of all of the features of the learning gardens.
V. Committee Updates- Various
There have been a couple of minor changes. All classes have a homeroom parent! Thank you!
A survey will go out to the PTO’s list to see what people are most interested in. This will help the PTO prioritize our efforts on those initiatives that are most likely to get the best response. The school will help send it out to the full school community. Ms. Becker said she really liked the Snowflake Dance and Service Learning Hour Saturdays. She would like to consider bringing those back. Denise raised the idea of a Bingo. They will add those to the fundraising committee’s survey.
If anyone has any connections/are regulars anywhere, please let Austin know. If there is anyone whose kid will be at MHES beyond next year, please let us know.
Vanessa has been coordinating this and doing a great job. We are 100% staffed! Thank you for everyone volunteering. Please remember to sign in with the school to help Ms. Lili track the hours. If you didn’t get to volunteer, there will be another Book Fair in the Spring.
Whats App has been a successful communications tool. Amanda created the facebook group for PreK and has about ⅓ of the size of the similar WhatsApp group. Amanda reached out to Mr. Gopal to learn best practices for translating school communications to Nepali.
MedFest Nov 2nd. (Rain date is Nov 3) They still need volunteers.
Monthly family
Please consider joining the committee that is aimed at determining the needs and ideas of all families to grow and diversify the PTO. Ms. Lili said the school will be hosting a listening session for Nepali families at the school in early November. Jen Will-Thapa will do a Pop-up flower sale around the holidays.
VI. Old Business- Jody
VII. New Business- Megan
The INSPIRE Community Project drafted a plan to get community feedback and revise a plan based on that input. A pathway between the school and the rec, traffic and safety concerns were raised in those conversations. This was done because we’re a 21st Century Building and done in conjunction with City Planning Commission. They will do two presentations about their final plan.
VIII. Principal's/Staff Report- Administration
Ms. Waller reported that they will merge Literacy and Math night to be an Academic night on 11/21. Math night activities will be on one floor and Literacy night type activities will be on a different floor. This will free up time to have a multicultural night in the spring. She asked the PTO to contribute prizes for the evening. She asked for PTO support for shaping Multicultural night as well. It will likely include performances, crafts and more to represent all cultures that we have at MHES. In the past different classes worked on making bulletin boards about different cultures. Then they had passports and students got a stamp from each of the boards they were assigned and it was something the kids really liked.
She reviewed the upcoming days that school is closed or early release.
Fun Run will be on 10/17 which is also an early release day.
Upcoming days off because of PD and Election. Up to $17,300 raised for the FunRun to date (a $2,000 increase since the afternoon announcement) A parent asked if they could donate through the school’s venmo. Yes, that is an option.
IX. Announcements
X. Open Forum
XI. Adjournment
Thursday, November 14 | 6pm | Hybrid | Community Room, Zoom |