Bloomingdale Avenue School

General PTA Meeting Minutes 10/13/21, 7pm

Nicole

Welcome, Pledge, Board Introductions

Mrs. Murphy Updates:

Introduction of Mrs. Cascone, Speech Teacher and Miss Bagniewski as Teacher representatives for the PTA this school year.

COVID Update/clarification

• Per Superintendent email; If your child is sick/has a positive test, they must quarantine (siblings as well) for 14 days. This is dependent on the level of the region, if levels go down- this changes weekly- quarantine time goes down.

• Please communicate all illness with Mrs. Laxo

• It is not mandatory to quarantine after travel, but it is recommended. There will be no home instruction for voluntary quarantine, only for those students who test positive or are in close contact

Communication/Interaction

• PTA meetings, in person events are KEY to a tight-knit BAS Community

• Please reach out with any questions, get familiar with all teachers, specials teachers and who to direct specific questions to. Phone/in person correspondence is better for larger issues, email works is good for quick notes to the teachers

• School and PTA are streamlining communication this year via email blasts (less frequent with more information) and the BASPTA website

School goal of Whole Child Development

• This year school is seeing more issues with the independence of the students.

• Parents are encouraged to guide children to advocate for themselves while at school (ie. Speak up when they have to use the bathroom, pack own backpacks and snacks, etc.)

• This year with full day school is a first for ALL BAS students and with this comes new experiences

President Updates:

Special Recognitions/Thank you’s:

School Supply Kits – co chairs Meredith Goldblatt & Claire Henderson

Spirit Wear Sale – Christine DelRe

Walk/Bike to School Day – Nikki Savino Mulcahy

5K – Chair Laura DiChiara and her team Meghan Cuthbertson (sponsorships), Laura Holcomb (ad marketing), Catherine Venditti (print marketing), Nikki Savio Mulchay (social media), Sanjeevanee Vidwans (t-shirts)

Member at Large position – Jen Jurkowich

Where PTA $ have gone so far this year:

• Refurbishment of the library (special thank you to Mr. Nick for painting)

• Small Welcome Back $10 Amazon gift card for our Teachers

• Mums for the exterior of the school

• Lunch for our custodians for Custodian Appreciation Day

• Outdoor recess kits (4 kits total, mesh bags filled with outdoor activities) that will be delivered to the school within the next 2 wks.

Why join the PTA? To fund all the experiences that enhance our children’s classroom experience! As well as Teacher/Staff Appreciation & beautification both inside & out. Just a reminder to be a class parent or other volunteer as a chair, must be a PTA member. Link is on our website as well in our communication emails.

Gratitude for Teachers & Staff – major focus of our PTA $’s last year, will continue to plan small gestures throughout the year (in addition to Teacher Appreciation week in May). Courtney Byrne will give more details as to what’s planned for immediate and in the upcoming 1-2 months.

Adding in Fall Spirit Week – week of 11/15 (leading up to Spirit Day on 11/19 – which is also the holiday boutique). More details to come!

Lawn Signs – “Thankful for our Teachers & Staff”; look out for ordering information coming soon; will be put up the week of Thanksgiving

How to stay up to date? Website (www.bas.com), Monthly Email Blasts, Remind – Thanks to all that have signed up – can still sign up (send text to @basptak, @baspta1st, or @baspta2nd to 81010)

In need of Lunch Aides throughout the district- 2 hours per day; $25 per hour. Will help facilitate a smoother experience for lunch & recess for our kids; Please click here to see the flyer and volunteer – Preview attachment Lunchroom Assistant Flyer.pdfLunchroom Assistant Flyer.pdf162 KB  90% of BAS Lunch Aides have returned but other schools in the district are still in need.

Standing Rules – Taking place of By-laws (which are now standard across all NJ PTA’s); Rules passed unanimously at 10/13 meeting

Here’s the link to view: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aUYG-ukWq3x_cfe6Y22asHy-Px7iVRX0/edit

Claire, Treasurer Update:

Membership information, budget must be approved every year at the first PTA meeting

– Budget for 2021-2022 was reviewed and approved unanimously at 10/13 meeting

– Current: 156 members $1,560 – $624 = $948

– Donations as of 10/13 $3,434 (13 $100 donors, 2 $75 donors, 14 $50 donors)

– 2021-22 Estimate:  Revenue $28,460 – Expenses $27,440 = Net $1020

Nikki, VP Update:

Upcoming Events, Thank you to all volunteers this year!

• Informal ‘Playground Playdate’ 10/15, stay and play if your around and bring $ in case the ice cream truck stops by (approximately 3pm)

• 5K Update (Laura)

  • Record high sponsorship in only 1 month including 3 Elite sponsors and 1 Super Elite sponsor

  • 314 runners signed up as of 10/13

  • Advance registration is now closed, but sign up day-of is an option

  • More volunteers along the parade route are welcome, still in need of a photographer

  • Thank you to the team of volunteers

• Pretzel Sale

• Pumpkin Picking/Decorating- more information closer to the date

• Trick or Trunk (Benee)

  • Still in need of trunks and volunteers

  • BAS time slot to trick or treat is 6-7pm

  • No bathrooms/water distribution this year

  • DJ Confirmed

  • 10/20 bins will be available outside the office for candy collection- in need of a LOT of candy this year from both schools

  • Thank you to the team of volunteers

• BAS Halloween Parade- confirmed for 2:15. Students may not wear their costumes to school in the morning, they can either go home for lunch and change or change at the school (going home is recommended)

• Holiday Boutique (Claire Henderson)

• Kindness Day & Cranford Family Cares Collection- further information closer to the date

• STEAM Night- further information closer to the date

Update on Class/School Directory- must opt in-to the directory via google form

Benee, Recording Secretary Update:

Website is updated on a regular basis and includes all information, flyers, links related to BAS happenings. PTA meeting minutes will be added to the website this year

Courtney, Corresponding Secretary Update:

• Teacher & Staff recognition will continue throughout the year

• Week of 10/4 Halloween candy was dropped off for the teachers’ lounge and coffee for the front office staff

• Push this year to acknowledge the Specials Teachers since they often bounce around the different schools; specific gifts/notes are being planned targeted towards what they teach

• Thank you lawn signs will be back closer to Thanksgiving

 

Julie, Class Parent Update:

Class parents joined a call the week of 10/13 to discuss the school year

Christine, Monthly Email Blast Coordinator Update:

Spirit Wear sale not only has BAS merchandise but Cranford blankets as well

Using S’more this year to enhance and streamline information to the parents

Member Questions:

• For families new to Cranford, is there a way to explain more about the goings-on at the school so they have a better understanding of our events, etc. How can we help them be better informed about things they may not know about?

  • Document with blurbs about each event is being generated to help inform all families

• Request for the teacher Wish Lists to be sent again this year

  • PTA will request

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