Archive for June 2014

As we start planning for next school year, we want to take a moment to get input on how the PTA is doing and what we could improve upon.

Please take a moment to fill out the attached survey and return on the last day of school. Alternatively, you can fill it out online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DZQVCHN
Read More

: Campbell PTA Minutes June 10, 2014

Hi everyone,
Here are the minutes from this week's PTA meeting (excerpted below and attached).  Apologies for formatting errors below – for some reason cutting and pasting in google mail does not bring over all of the formatting).  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Amy Yenyo

Campbell
PTA Meeting Minutes

June
10, 2014

6:15-8:00
p.m.

 

I.     General
Announcements

  • A thank you note was read aloud from Ms. Gayle
    (on behalf of the student, teachers and reading team) to the PTA for funding
    the school wide book distribution that occurred on June 10, 2014.

  • Thank you to Melody Kaiser for putting together
    the fabulous yearbook.   They will be delivered
    at fifth grade graduation and go home with the kids on the last day of school.

  • Nathan Zee and Rachel Schroeder are organizing K/1
    play dates over the summer.  If you are
    interested in getting these notices (and have not already signed up to receive
    them), you may contact Nathan at npzee@yahoo.com
     or Rachel at Schroederrachel@gmail.com.   Principle Nesselrode will put this on School
    Talk. 

    II.    PTA
    Officers for 2014-2015 School Year

    The PTA unanimously approved the
    following slate of officers: 

  • Beth Cavey, President

  • Patty Healey, Vice President for Programming

  • Rachael Schroeder, Vice President for
    Fundraising

  • Amy Yenyo, Secretary

  • Eva Clark, Treasurer

Ms. Hill will continue to be the
teacher liaison to the PTA.

III.   Funding
Proposals

The PTA
unanimously approved the following funding proposals:

  • $200 for popsicles at Campbell Special Olympics

  • $1500 for a set of 6 Chrome books for the
    special education team, contingent upon there being no prohibition in
    applicable state or county PTA rules (Eva Clark will check the rules)

  • Up to $1000 for new tricycles and scooters for
    the pre-K classes contingent upon the Executive Board’s review and approval of
    a plan submitted by the pre-K team

  • $650 for the purchase 20 Longman Advanced
    American Dictionaries in paperback for use by 3-5 grade ESOL students (these
    can be used on SOLs)

  • $1000 for the purchase of late summer plants for
    fall harvesting (e.g., tomato seedlings, cover crop, wood mulch, organic
    fertilizer, pumpkins etc.)

    IV.  “The
    Campbell Way” PTA Subcommittee  

  • There is interest among
    PTA members to form a subcommittee that looks into how to maintain and
    enhance the expeditionary learning (EL) philosophy at Campbell.  This group could consider among other
    items: 
    • Education for parents,
      kids and staff on the Campbell philosophy of expeditionary learning
    • Ideas for how to support increased
      utilization of the Wetlands/outdoor classroom in school curriculums
      (without adding burden to the teachers); part of this work could include
      identifying existing barriers to its use and incorporation in the class
      and proposing solutions to the PTA and school staff for consideration
    • The development of an EL based
      curriculum that kids can take on field trips to help augment what the
      kids are learning

  • If you are interested in
    being a part of this subcommittee, please contact president@campbellschool.org.  

V.    Arlington
County Overcrowding

  • Arlington County is still
    considering a number of options, including building a new choice school or
    adding on to existing schools, to address the student overcrowding
    issue. 
  • The PTA decided that we
    should come up with a position on the issue and develop some talking
    points for parents and school staff to be ready for this discussion.    
  • The Executive Committee will develop a
    statement/letter that can be shared with the School Board and others to
    help outside people understand potential impacts on the community and
    culture of Campbell of any proposed changes to building, land and number
    of students. The letter will explain who Campbell is, the school’s
    philosophy and why the school (including the students, families, and
    staff) are tied to this land.
  •  On Wednesday, June 18th, there
    will be a Wetlands walk through with the Department of Environmental
    Services.  Please contact Jessica
    Haney at haneyjessica@yahoo.com
    for more information.  

VI.  Closing
Remarks

  • The PTA thanks Moley Evans
    for her two years of serving as its President. Thank you Moley for all of
    your hard work!! 
  • Other PTA members were
    thanked for their hard work and contributions. 
  • Maureen Nesselrode, Karen
    Anselmo, and Ms. Hill were also thanked for their support during the year.
  • Congratulations on a great
    year!!

 

doc icon Campbell-PTA-Meeting-Minutes-6.10.14.doc

: Campbell PTA Minutes: May 14, 2014

Campbell
PTA Minutes                                                        May
14, 2014

I.            
Update
on Fundraising

·           
The Wetlands Festival raised about
$10,000 ($8,000 from the silent auction and online sales, and $2,000 from cash
sales on the day of).  This is about the
same amount that the festival raised last year.

·           
The Read-a-Thon raised $4,520.

 

II.            
PTA
Officers for 2014-2015 School Year

·           
Beth Cavey, President

·           
Patty Healey, VP for Programming

·           
Rachael Schroeder, VP for Fundraising

·           
Amy Yenyo, Secretary

·           
Eva Clark, Treasurer

Ms. Hill will continue
to be the teacher liaison to the PTA.

III.      
Funding
Proposals.
 

The
PTA unanimously approved the following funding proposals:

·           
$50 gift cards for each custodian, for a
total of $200.

·           
$100 donation to Long Branch and Potomac
Overlook Nature Centers, as thanks for donating their time at the Wetlands
Festival

·           
 $1,875
for a voluntary teacher training program in Fall 2014 on working effectively
with students with autism

·           
$3,000 for five classroom library kits
($600 each) for grades 4 and 5

·           
$200 for chair sacs to hold classroom library
books

·           
$100 for gift cards for student patrols

·           
$220 for a food thermometer and food
processor for the kitchen

·           
$115 for props, materials, and costumes
for the Campbell musical

 

IV.      
Applying
to Have an Orchard Planted at Campbell

·           
PTA member Christy Przystawik attended a
School Garden Teacher Training in D.C. and met with a tree expert who told her
we could apply to have an orchard planted at Campbell.  Christy requested some help in filling out
the application, which would need to be submitted in Spring 2014.  We need to plan for the space first; Christy will
consult with Pat Findikoglu and former Campbell parent Leslie Mead, who were
instrumental in bringing the Wetlands to Campbell.

 

V.         
Update
on APS School Construction

·           
It’s our understanding that Campbell is
no longer being considered as a site for additional construction.

·           
At this point, it looks like there will
be a new elementary school on the grounds of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, as
well as an addition for Abingdon Elementary.

·           
It appears that there will be a new
middle school in the Wilson Building.

·           
It appears that at Washington-Lee High
School, there will be a reconfiguration of classrooms to add seats.

 

VI.      
Update
on 2014-2015 Enrollment Numbers and Staff Changes

·           
Unlike other schools, Campbell is not
forced to increase enrollment in the 2014-2015 school year.

·           
We anticipate the same staff and same number
of students next year. 

·           
There will three kindergarten classes
and three first grade classes.

·           
Janice Wood will retire at the end of this
year.

·           
Shirley Atkins will retire, and Pamela
Clark will work at Campbell full-time, as both EL Coordinator and the Resource
Teacher for the Gifted.

·           
Frances McOwen is retiring, and Florence
Dale will return to Campbell to teach ESOL-HILT.

·           
George Laumann is retiring, and Morgan Norwood
will become the full-time art teacher.

·           
Erin Pavolko is leaving Campbell to take
a full-time music position at Patrick Henry.

 

VII.   
Standardized
Testing

·           
Standards of Learning (SOL) tests will
be administered from May 19-June 12.

·           
Virginia eliminated two SOLs for next
year; there will be no science or social studies SOLs for fourth grade and no
writing SOL in fifth grade.

·           
Teachers have found that the Interactive
Achievement (IA) tests are helpful in determining what students are
understanding and retaining during the school year.  They have helped teachers identify what areas
need to be reviewed and re-taught.

·           
This year, Campbell kindergartners’ IA
scores beat the APS average.