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Ashburton ES PTA Meeting

September 10, 2024

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Agenda

  • Call to order
  • Meeting Minutes Approval
  • PTA Membership Update
  • Events & Volunteer Opportunities
    • MCPS/Ashburton Activities
    • PTA Activities
  • Spiritwear & Clubs Update
  • Movie Night Reminder
  • Upcoming Opportunities to Support Ashburton
  • Regal Movie Ticket Bundles
  • Box Tops for Education
  • Dine out @ Chipotle

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8/22 Meeting

Minutes Approval

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2024-25 Membership Update

  • 326 memberships received as of 9/10/24
    • 297 memberships were received last year by 9/10/23
    • Goal is to exceed 2023-24 membership number of 343
  • $750 in additional donations received as of 9/9/24
    • $1,075 in donations received last year by 9/10/23
    • Goal is to exceed the total of $2,489 received last year
  • VP of Membership position is open
  • Directory updates coming soon
    • Log on in the meantime to check your information
  • There’s still time to become a member!
    • Reminder: memberships renew annually

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2024-25

Events & Volunteer Needs

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Ashburton Elementary

Principal’s Update

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Principal’s Update: Volunteering at Ashburton ES

Parents will learn about:

  • Steps to becoming a volunteer in MCPS
  • Completing Volunteer requirements through MCPS ParentVue
  • School-Based Volunteer Opportunities
  • New: Field Trip Requirements

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Becoming a Volunteer In MCPS: One Time Visits

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The VMS scans the visitors’ driver’s license or state-issued identification

card against the state sex offender registry. The VMS also produces a name tag.

tag that should be worn at all times while in the school building.

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What Should Visitors, including Volunteers, do when they arrive to school?

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What is the Visitor Management System?

Sign into the Visitor Management System (VMS.)

Under the supervision of an MCPS employee:

  • Read a birthday book
  • A special presentation, STEAM Day Activities, STEAM Night
  • PTA School Store and Scholastic Book Fair
  • Large group events (winter concert, instrumental band, etc)

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Becoming a Volunteer In MCPS: On-Going Volunteers

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-Complete the Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect Module (RRCAN)

Step 1

-Sign into the Visitor Management System (VMS.)

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Step 2

Beginning September 30, 2024

  • Classroom Volunteers
  • Lunch/Recess Volunteers
  • Field Trip Volunteers
  • Field Day or other specific activity
  • Room Parent and Celebration Leads

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Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect

RCAN training is required every three years:

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  • 2021-2022 renew in 2024-2025
  • 2022-2023 renew in 2025-2026
  • 2023-2024 renew in 2026-2027

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How Do I Access the RCAN Training?

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Choose Language

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CHOOSE LANGUAGE

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Activation Letters, Forgot Username & Password

Please email Ayanna Upsher

ayanna_a_upsher@mcpsmd.org

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Ashburton Elementary School:

Volunteer Opportunities

Begin Monday, September 30th

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Lunch & Recess

  • Two recess/lunch volunteer per grade-level, per day
  • Sign-Up using the SignUpGenius located in the weekly community newsletter.
    • (Provide opportunities for other parents to volunteer)
  • Each volunteer follows the grade level from lunch to recess OR recess to lunch
  • Volunteers can join indoor recess during inclement weather recess

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Room ParenTs

Room Parents (1 per homeroom)

A room parent is a volunteer who helps out in their child's homeroom class to support the teacher by helping out with:

  • Classroom events
  • Coordinate classroom volunteers,
  • Facilitate communication between the teacher and other parents in the class,
  • Act as a liaison between PTA, teachers and parents.
  • They collect funds from the class to plan for the school celebrations and teacher appreciation.

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Celebration Lead

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  • Fall Celebration Lead (2 per homeroom)

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  • Kindness Day (2 per homeroom)

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  • End of Year Celebration (2 per homeroom)

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  • 5th Grade End-of-Year Celebration (1 per homeroom)

**Note- The 5th Grade End-of-Year Celebration Leads work as a committee to fundraise and plan for the 5th grade celebration on June 11, 2025

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Classroom Volunteers

  • Volunteering in the classroom is at the discretion of the teachers. Parents can email teachers to share volunteer interest.
  • Examples of volunteering include:
    • Preparing project materials
    • Supporting the teacher in the classroom
    • Working with a small group of students
    • Creating a bulletin board
    • Filing/organizing
    • Helping with a project.

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Volunteer Opportunities: Field Trip (NEW)

Volunteers who are chaperoning a field trip (during the day, within the 50 mile radius, etc.) DO NOT need to be fingerprinted if they accompanying an MCPS staff member to supervise students. (Example: A teacher has a group of 30 students in their class and 2 volunteer chaperones. The teacher and each volunteer chaperone are responsible for 10 students each, but the group stays in the same general area.

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Volunteer Opportunities: Field Trip (NEW)

Volunteers who are chaperoning a field trip (during the day, within the 50 mile radius, etc.) DO need to be fingerprinted if they are SOLELY responsible for a group of students and will not be accompanying an MCPS staff member.

(Example: A teacher has a group of 30 students in their class and 2 volunteer chaperones. The teacher and each volunteer chaperone are responsible for 10 students each, but the groups separate leaving the volunteer chaperone by themselves to supervise the students.)

Parent’s Action Item: Complete the Required Fingerprinting:

There is a fingerprinting fee of $62.50

Volunteers/Chaperones/Volunteer Coaches, please click here.

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Volunteer Dos & Don’ts

Dos

Don'ts

  • Volunteers are to sign in and out of the building using the Visitor Management System (VMS).
  • Volunteers must refrain from taking photos or videos
  • Use adult restrooms in the main hallway
  • Seek out staff if you have a question.
  • Refrain from using your cellphone when working with students
  • Report to your volunteer location, no side trips!
  • Have Fun!

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  • Volunteers may not access confidential student or personnel records, and should otherwise respect the confidentiality of students.

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  • Volunteers may not discipline students, but should report behavioral problems to the supervising staff member.

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  • Volunteers may not work alone with students unless they have completed the appropriate fingerprinting

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Q & A

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Star Store

  • Leads: Ana & Dan Nunes
  • Teaches money management
    • Pencils, erasers, etc., sold at-cost
    • Max $1 per student
  • Friday Mornings, 8:30-9:15am
  • 2 grades per week
  • 3-5 volunteers per week

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“Ashburton Cares”

Community Service Committee

Mission

Lend a helping hand to our neighbors while ensuring the success of our TQ Stars!

Event Ideas

MLK Jr. Day of Service Activity

Helping parents/staff organize Kindness Day Resources

Earth Day Cleanup Project

Contact

Lead - Robyn Minchik

robyn.minchik@gmail.com

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  • October 19, 3:30 - 6:30 pm
  • Lead: Vijay Nagarajan
  • Haunted Hallway Lead: Bill Mellema
  • Set up, concessions, amusements, prize table, Haunted Hallway

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Fall & Spring Book Fairs

  • November 11-15 & March 31 - April 4
  • Leads: Mia DeMezza (miademezza@gmail.com) & Rebecca Mellema (rebecca.mellema@gmail.com)
  • Volunteers needed for set-up, sales, student assistance & breakdown
  • You may begin setting up your child’s Scholastic eWallet for the fall fair with this link.

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  • January 24, 6:30 pm
  • Volunteers needed for check in, concessions and prizes

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Thurs, February 27, 2025

  • STEAM night
    • STEAM related hands-on activities
    • Students present their projects and are “interviewed”
  • STEAM week is parents come to classrooms to present - organized by school

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STEAM night hands on activities

2024: Group art project, neuron craft, balloon powered car, engineering challenge, double helix candy, extra DNA from strawberries, candy chemical structure, math game, sound wave experiment, microscopes, capillary action, robotics display, skittles science

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STEAM student projects K-5

108 in 2024, >180 students

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We need your help to keep STEAM night an Ashburton tradition for years to come

  • Helping organize STEAM night since 2018 and have current 5th and 4th graders
  • Expanded to include lower grades, added the hands on activities and obtained support of the PTA
  • We need a new STEAM team :)
  • Volunteer interviewers in STEAM related fields
  • Contact us:

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Thank you Ashburton PTA!

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  • March 29, 6:30 pm @ Cabin John Ice Rink
  • Lead: Stephanie Chin (stephychin@hotmail.com)
  • Volunteers needed for check in

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International Night is a celebration of the incredible cultural diversity at Ashburton, consisting of two separate events:

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  • International Performances and Fashion Walk Assembly - TBD
  • International Night - Friday, April 25, 6:00 pm

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For more information, please contact Leena Shepherd shepherdleena@gmail.com

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International Performances and Fashion Walk Assembly

  • Held at Ashburton APR, during school
  • Students can sign up to perform. Must represent a country/cultural heritage, can be a dance, song, or instrument, can be individual or group
  • Students can also participate in the Fashion Walk by dressing in traditional attire

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International Night

  • Held at Ashburton in the parking lot, weather permitting
  • Open to all families, no entry cost
  • Country Tables, Ashburton Passport activity, Souvenirs, and International Food Trucks

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We need parents to host country tables at International Night!

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Plan ahead…This is a great opportunity to showcase your family's background and to teach others in our community about the many cultures represented in our school. Show off your traditional attire, customs, photos, maps, currency, food and other items...it’s fun and easy!

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  • May 31, 4-7 pm
  • Lead: Taylor Frazier McCollum (tayloredforlife@gmail.com)
  • Committee volunteers needed for event planning, silent auction donation recruitment, class basket & teacher feature logistics and more!
  • Day of event volunteers needed for set-up, ticket sales, concessions, prize table and more

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How to Get Involved

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Ashburton Club Hub

www.ashburtonpta.org/clubhub

Leads: Hani Saberinia-Claise, Diane Strauss (Cheng)�Email: ashburtonclubs@ashburtonpta.org

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Types of clubs:

  1. Teacher-led clubs (Wednesday’s)
  2. KAST (Kids Are Scientists, Too!) - partnership with WJ (monthly, Thursday’s)
  3. Fee-based clubs & enrichment activities - registration info on Club Hub

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Club Hub:

  • Benefits
  • Variety of offerings
    • NEW: LEGO, Jewelry Making, Chess & Teams Format
  • Club Hub table at Back to School Night - Thurs, Sept 19
  • Registration Disclaimer
  • Reminders to your children - room number, etc.

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Ashburton Club Hub

www.ashburtonpta.org/clubhub

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Dismissal & Pickup Reminders for Fee-Based Clubs*

  • Start times vary based on provider (3:30, 3:45)
    • Exception: Yellow Brick
  • Check registration/enrollment email for details
  • Designated adult pick up at DOOR 24 - front of school by gym doors
  • Careful driving through
  • Teacher-led clubs & KAST dismiss from front �doors

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Spirit Wear Update

Leads: Caroline Ostro, Hani Saberinia-Claise�Email: spiritwear@ashburtonpta.org �

PTA Spirit Wear T-Shirts

  • Youth sizes XS - L
    • M is sold out
  • Only $10 each! - Quantities low!
  • PTA fundraising proceeds: 100% of sales after production costs
  • Sold at school-wide events & online: https://www.ashburtonpta.org/spirit
  • Selling on movie night - Fri Sept 13!

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Online Vendor (1st Place Spiritwear)

  • Adult & youth sizes
  • Variety of style, design options - Mr. Roth’s TQ Star on apparel!
  • PTA fundraising proceeds: 10% of sales
  • Sold online & mailed direct: https://1stplacespiritwear.com/collection/44024
  • 30% off SALE & free shipping $75+ to Sept 24
    • No code needed

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Advance ticket sales and �ALL pizza sales close TONIGHT �@ 11:59 pm!

Friday, September 13 @ 6:30 p.m.

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  • Regal Movie Ticket Bundles are $30 & include two Movie Tickets redeemable at any Regal location nationwide
  • 25% of all ticket sales will be donated to our PTA
  • Campaign will open on Thursday, September 26 and close on Friday, October 25
  • Any one in the US can participate - be sure to share with your friends and family nationwide!

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Thank You!

Leslie Zirkin, PsyDv