Central Park School for Children - Parent and Partners Organization

Central Park School For Children PPO

Parents & Partners Organization

Minutes - 18 January 2005

Announcements

Major theme for all work groups is that we need more volunteers across the board
Meeting will be held at the school on Wednesday, January 26th at 2pm to discuss ways of helping families honor their commitment of four volunteer hours per month.

Treasurer

As of end of 2004, PPO closing balance was $2,189.98
Net revenue of $493.42 since September
Beanie Babies fundraiser made $476.31 and counting. Half goes to us and half to the Pennies for Change Thrift Store.
We have a new form to separate PPO fundraisers from general school fundraisers.

School Board Rep

School board is talking to possible consultants to work on our Capital Campaign for fundraising outside the school. Funds for this consultant will come from outside the school’s operating budget.
Board is putting together an evaluation process for the school to evaluate school goals, staff positions, etc.
Sunshine Fund monies in excess of goal will go toward Outdoor Learning and Play
We need a volunteerism system for tracking and recruiting volunteers. This becomes important information when we apply for grants.
Renovations for the second floor are on track or slightly ahead of schedule.
The school loan closed well
The Central Park School for Children Foundation now owns the building – separate from the school.
We have been invited to apply to work with the research team of Dr. Mel Levine. If chosen, teachers would receive continuing education and work with staff on research.
During intercession the staff will visit a school with a similar philosophy in Charlotte that has been in operation for 25 years.

Teacher Rep

School is currently working on creating its crisis plan – creating a lock down situation in an emergency.
Carolyn Kirkland’s regular meetings, "Conversations with Carolyn," are where all are invited to have discussions about happenings at the school.
Zee feels we need a better plan for all school recess on rainy days, perhaps setting up “zones”
If a parent does not wish for the educational videos to be an option for their child on rainy day recesses, they should tell the teacher and speak with their child about that not being a choice for them.
Dress appropriately for weather!! Our children will go outside in all kinds of weather. Extra hats, scarves and gloves will be available in the purple bins in the great room. If you have any extra to donate please put them in the purple bins.

Media Center

Center has been cleaned up and looks like a real library!
Teachers, staff, children and families must take care to keep the media center clean and organized.
Carolyn purchased over $3,000 worth of merchandise for $400 and a few more boxes of good quality book were donated.
2 laptop computers will be up and running in the media center soon.
Carolyn plans to build a loft in the spring for a quiet reading area.
Volunteers are needed for re-shelving and organizing books
A proposal was presented for a software program for tracking books. The system was recommended by Carolina Friends School. The total amount is $1,900.00. If anyone would like to see the proposal, contact denise.haviland@duke.edu

Fundraising & Marketing

Sunshine Fund is up to $10,886.00 less expenses bringing us a net of $10,464.57. (Our original goal was $5,000.00).
Glaxo gave an additional $500.00
Almost 60% of families contributed, 100% of staff and 100% of board.
We would like to sell school t-shirts and are looking into design possibilities and companies to print them. Any suggestions are welcome.
We would like to create and sell all-occasion cards as a fundraiser made from children’s art.
Next year a possible silent auction.

Class Parents

Contact list is in place for inclement weather early dismissal

Social Events

February 10th, 6:60 – 8:00 pm will be the school’s open house. Volunteers needed to help freshen up school, give tours and provide refreshments.
Media Center Reception to official open our refurbished media center – TBA
March 10th next teacher appreciation day. Teachers have voiced that they enjoy the luncheons.
April 16th is a tentative field day for the school
May 26th final teacher appreciation day of school year.
July – first day of school year – morning coffee to welcome new and returning families.
July – the first Sunday after the new school year begins – school potluck picnic at Forest Hills Park
Next Social Events meeting is Thursday, January 27th 11-12.

Curriculum Enrichment

Discovery boxes are still being created. We currently have one on clouds, one on magnets and one on shells. All are welcome to create a discovery box for the school on whatever subject interests you. Boxes will be stored in media center.
Last quarter’s turnout for the Tall Tale Tellers was wonderful and we will ask them to return.
Please be on the lookout for any talented performers we can invite to the school (preferably the free kind).
Discovery boxes are available for loans at the museum of Life and Science.

Need more volunteers for writing and recruiting art and articles.
In an effort to make the newsletter more relevant to what’s going on at school, there will be a once-a-month interview with Carolyn to close any communications gap and keep parent in the loop.
Would like to publish more work from the children – encourage your child to submit creations to newsletter.
Possibility of a self-contained creation center in media center for newsletter submissions by children

Outdoor Learning & Play

Volunteers from Legacy (community service program) installed planter boxes and picnic tables.
Some parents and grandparents came to plant azaleas
Marcia revealed the wonderful plans for the Old North Durham Park that we would like to see implemented. Dept. of Parks and Rec. have another plan in mind that includes a soccer field that is so big it leaves little room for playground equipment or other recreational area. Their field would accommodate two youth soccer fields. 10 percent of Durham homeowners were surveyed on what they would like more of in public parks –The first seven were: walking, childrens’ play, hanging out, picnicking, outdoor events, wild life viewing, eating lunch- all of these would be accommodated by our proposed plan. Soccer was #13 on the list.
We are working to find the best person to deal with for getting our plans implemented.

It Takes a Village

We are working on organizing parents to take care of each others’ kids so they can volunteer in school. Right now there are 4 moms
Only preschoolers please – infants would need more help.

Communication & Technology – no rep present.

Strawberry Day

Saturday, May 14th in Durham Central Park
Event will combine hands on fun with entertainment and cakes (of course)
Each teacher will do some activity with the class on that day
Volunteers needed!!!

*Next PPO School Business Meeting -Tuesday, April 12th at 7pm in the great room*

Central Park School for Children
724 Foster Street
Durham, NC 27701
919-682-1200
info@centralparkschoolforchildren.org

© Copyrighted 2005 by Central Park School for Children