Program Planning Team Meeting

Lincoln K-8 Choice School

Monday, September 26, 2011

 Lincoln Media Center

MEETING MINUTES

Welcome:  Co-presidents Chris Harmon and Joscelyn Martin welcomed approximately 25 Lincoln parents.

President’s Report:  The PPT meets the 4th Monday of the month during the school year; there is no meeting scheduled in December.  The April meeting is a budget meeting, and is held on a date other than the 4th Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday.

Principal’s Report:  Principal Sonju is in Ghana promoting the zebrafish/InScienceOut project and is also working on establishing a sister school for Lincoln in Ghana.  Stephanie Koenig provided some background about the project and current work being done to replicate the project in other schools in Rochester, across Minnesota, across the country, and overseas.

Committee News and Reports

• Treasurer’s Report:  Allison Robelia has been the PPT Treasurer for several years and is actively seeking someone to take over this responsibility.  Allison is hoping someone can shadow her this year and take over full responsibility beginning in June, 2012 through June, 2014.  Contact Allison or Chris Harmon or Joscelyn Martin if interested.
• AUCTION UPDATE:  Lincoln Auction is Saturday, October 29, 2011!

• Auction chairperson Betsy Schroeder provided the update.
• The Lincoln Auction is the school’s annual fundraiser and takes the place of students selling items door-to-door.
• Funds raised fund PPT activities and Special Projects.  In previous years, Special Projects have included the playground “big toy”, the school sign on Highway 14, smart boards, the sound system and electronics in the gym, and level reading books in the library.
• Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. with the silent auction and bake sale.
• Live auction will start at 2:00 p.m.
• Many committees are already hard at work.  Additional volunteer opportunities include set up on Friday night and clean up on Saturday evening and “poofing” to get items ready for sale.
• The auction committee is still taking donations for auction items.  Contact Betsy at betsyms@charter.net or 250-6137 or Melissa Murphy if you have an item to donate.
• Kids’ activities are planned during the silent auction and a bingo room during the live auction.
• Bake sale donations can be brought to the Teacher’s Lounge (preferably on Friday afternoon, but also on Saturday).

• Special projects:  Special projects are funded by the Lincoln Auction as described above.
• Carnival:  Chairperson Jackie Brown provided an update.  She is still looking for a co-chair to assist.  The Carnival is planned for Saturday, May 12, 2012, from 4-7pm.  Volunteers are needed for a planning committee, and day-of volunteers for set up and clean up.
• Book Fair:  The Book Fair was last week, so there is no report yet.  Chris Harmon will look into getting a report for next month.
• VIE:  Co-chairperson Jodi Kruse provided an update.  VIE has 4 coordinators recruiting parent volunteers.  This year, there is also interest in getting grandparent volunteers.  The first step is to complete an interest form.  Volunteers are currently needed for Picture Day (Wednesday, October 5), and there is also an ongoing need for lunchroom help from Noon-1pm each day (parents can volunteer one day a week, every other week or once a month if this opportunity fits into their schedule).
• Social Committee:  The Committee served 380 people at the Meet the Teacher Picnic this year.

New Business and Announcements

• Picture day:  Wednesday, October 5.
• Early Release:  Friday, October 14.
• MEA:  Thursday and Friday, October 20-21 (NO SCHOOL).
• Next PPT Meeting:  Monday, October 24, 7pm (Mr. Sonju will speak about Study Island and MCA results) (Lincoln Media Center).
• Lincoln Family Auction:  Saturday, October 29 (11am-5pm).
• Lincoln PPT Welcomes Superintendent Mike Munoz:  Monday, November 28, 7pm (Lincoln Media Center).

Other New Business

• Parent Alex Morrissey provided information about Unity Day on October 12, a project to unite against bullying.  Betsy will pass this information along to the Lincoln student council.
• Betsy and some other parents noticed the large number of plastic bags leaving the school recently and looked into purchasing some Lincoln tote bags.  She proposed purchasing 1,000 bags with PPT funds with the Executive Committee’s approval, with all proceeds returning to the PPT budget.  There was broad support for this idea.
• Parent Karen MacLaughlin suggested we look into arranging for uppers students to provide some supervision at the school for the November PPT meeting with Superintendent Munoz is scheduled to speak, and if available publicize this fact to encourage parental participation.  Chris Harmon will look into this further.
• Parent Dani Nikolai presented information about Lincoln’s participation in “Haunted Hallways”, an event sponsored by the Rochester Public School Foundation.  This event runs from October 26-29 in the downtown subways area.  More information can be found at rpsf.org.  The Foundation and the participating school each receive half of the event proceeds.  Lincoln’s area will have a fun, kid-friendly theme and several parents and Lincoln uppers art students are working on the project.  There will be discount tickets available through the school closer to the event.

Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:50 p.m.