September 2024 PTO Meeting Summary // La Minuta de la Reunión PTO de Septiembre 2024

Participants

Presentation Slides

Meeting Details

Welcome

• Meeting called to order 6:34 pm by Anana PTO President Angela Golden
• Icebreaker: What is a great concert experience that you’ve had (or that you would like to have)?
  • Usher, Pitbull, dreams of seeing Justin Timberlake, FT Island, Switchfoot, Queen, Savage Garden, Sugar Maple Music Festival, Aventura, Tom Petty Tribute Festival, NSYNC, Wood Brothers, kids’ performances, Blades of Steel Metal Fest, Maxwell, Jill Scott, Red Rocks concerts, Imagine Dragons, Chris Isaak

Principal’s Upate

• Anana Elementary is welcoming many new staff this school year
• Priorities for this school year
  • Safe and happy classrooms
  • Students feel welcome
  • Supporting rigorous academic learning
• Baseline testing will be used to identify individual needs of students
  • Goal is to meet unique needs of each student so that they can graduate college, community, and career ready
• Thank you to PTO Vice President Chelsea Thomason for joining the CREW leadership team meeting in August
• Title funds to support the school
  • Act 20 state legislation
  • Students below the 25^th percentile for reading will have individual reading plans
  • Partnerships between the school and parents/guardians at home
  • Teachers will share more information
• Celebrate Smiles Mobile Dental Care will be at the school; will provide dental care for those who request it and follow up care
• Principal Elliot will be out at the end of the month for her wedding! There will be two principals filling in while she is out.

President’s Report

• Vice President Chelsea Thomason took the lead to organize a calendar of events for the school year
• We will continue ad hoc staff funding requests this school year
  • Staff may request up to a total of $100 during the school year
  • Between March and May 2023, the PTO funded $1,100 in ad hoc funding requests that were used toward things such as classroom supplies, field trips, and the World Kindness Day event
• We’ll be introducing a new fundraising opportunity this school year
• Starting in October, we will have guest speakers (e.g., teachers and staff) at our PTO meetings

Treasurer’s Report

• Recent Fundraising
  • Anana Dash Sponsorships ($1,650)
  • Platinum-level Sponsors ($500): McDermott’s Service and Repair and Envision IT
  • Gold-level Sponsors ($250): Preiser Family in Honor of Michelle-Nelson Schmidt
  • Silver-level Sponsors ($100): Prairie Hills Neighborhood Association, Matt Winzenried Real Estate Partners, Orthodontic Specialists of Madison, Mendota Springs Dentistry
• Recent Projects Funded
  • Staff Welcome Snacks
  • Back to School Night Ice Cream Social ($331.44)
• Upcoming Expenses
  • Anana Dash
  • Staff Grants and Ad Hoc Staff Funding Requests
  • Family Engagement Events
• BoxTops for Education is an ongoing fundraiser. As of the meeting, we have raised $20
  • Download the app, scan receipts (or upload digital receipts)
  • Friends and family can also support the PTO using the app
  • One member asked about how BoxTops for Education information can be shared more widely with the school community. The PTO has a pinned post on Facebook and can repost it. It could also be included on ClassDojo or in the Family Newsletter.
• One member mentioned a promotion being sponsored by Isthmus Eats, a meal kit delivery service. In the month of September, you can place an order and $20 will be donated to the PTO.
• The PTO Board is the point of contact for fundraising ideas. Contact [email protected] or talk with Angela, Chelsea, Miranda, or Erin with any ideas.

Upcoming Events

• Event Calendar
  • This year the PTO Board is providing an event calendar to every student
  • The calendar includes large events (e.g., Anana Dash, Science Night, Bake Sales) and no school days
  • Students should receive the calendars in their classrooms
  • The calendar is printed in English on one side and Spanish on the other
• Anana Dash
  • This year’s Anana Dash fun run for students and staff will take place on Friday, October 11, 2024 (Rain date: October 18)
  • Students and staff will spend 20 minutes completing laps (e.g., running, walking, rolling)
  • Prior to the event, students will collect pledges
  • There will be an all-school prize if we meet our fundraising goals
  • We’ll need help from 8:30 am to 12:15 pm on the day of the Anana Dash
  • Please sign up to help at the Anana Dash at https://bit.ly/AnanaDash2024
  • Check out last year’s Anana Dash video!
  • There will be a packet stuffing session at Elver Park (alternate location in case of rain is 7425 Timber Lake Trail, Madison, WI 53719) on Sunday, September 22 at 1 pm – please join us if you can!
  • Initial field setup at the school will take place on Thursday, October 10 at 5:30 pm – please join us if you can!
  • This year’s Anana Dash shirt will have the same design as prior years. The PTO Board discussed changing the design this year but decided against it due to time constraints. One member suggested that in the future a student inspired design could be considered (e.g., design contest for students). This suggestion will be considered for future Anana Dash fun runs.
• Election Bakesale
  • Tuesday, November 5
  • Note that there is no school this day
  • We need volunteers to provide baked goods and to work the booth
  • Sign-up Genius will be coming soon!

Committees

• The PTO Board is planning for committees again for this school year; stay tuned for more information.
• Last year we had four committees: Family Dance, Family Movie Nights, Communications, and Family Engagement. The Family Movie Nights did not take place last year.
• Last year, the event-based committees worked very well
• Last year the communications committee focused on creating flyers and posters for key events; the PTO Board is considering whether a committee is necessary for this purpose or if members can volunteer to help with these types of requests on a more ad hoc basis. Other ideas would be reorienting the communications committee to be more aimed at membership or outreach

Questions and Discussion

• Question about emergency drills
  • Teachers will share all procedures with students by the end of the month
  • Following “I Love U Guys” Foundation approaches (Home ♥ The “I Love U Guys” Foundation)
  • Lockdown drills will be communicated to families two weeks in advance; there will be one each semester
• Anana families will receive an email regarding the MMSD referendum
  • This referendum will directly impact Anana Elementary
  • The information session held on Back to School Night was recorded; the link to the recording will be included with the email from MMSD
  • Currently, Anana Elementary doesn’t have a secured entrance. This referendum includes adding a secured entrance to the school

Meeting adjourned ~ 7:29 pm