PTA Meeting Minutes 11.15.16

Campbell PTA Meeting

November 15, 2016

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Approximate # of
Attendees
:  
30

I.     Welcome and Introductions:
Nathan Zee, President 

  • Nathan welcomed
    everyone to the meeting and turned things over to Ms. Nesselrode
  • Ms. Nesselrode
    presented Campbell wear from the PTA to the custodial staff as a ‘thank
    you’ for their hard work

 

II.    Family Life:
Dina Berhan, Counselor

  • Ms. Nesselrode introduced the
    topic and provided examples of learning objectives at the K-3 level.  Campbell does not necessarily teach
    specific lessons at the younger grades, but rather meeting the objectives
    is woven throughout the kids’ learning (e.g., “I respect” supports the
    respect learning objective)
  • Ms. Berhan provided an overview
    and specific examples of how she teaches to the 4th and 5th
    graders.  She draws from APS
    guidelines, Virginia guidelines, and has produced a power point she uses
    as a baseline.  Some specific
    discussion points included:

o   Discussions
with kids are targeted depending on specific areas of focus

o   She
ensures parents are aware of when the learning is scheduled to occur and takes
feedback from parents

o   Boys
and Girls may be taught separately (depending on the topic) although the
content is the same

o   There
is a “too smart to start” program that introduces refusal skills (e.g., drugs,
alcohol, smoking) – this is taught towards the end of the year and is expanded
on in middle school

o   Gender
stereotyping may be a future topic that Ms. Berhan can integrate into her
material

 

III.   Outdoor
Learning: Kevan Miller, Parent

  • Kevan provided
    an overview of her outdoor learning experience at a nearby preschool where
    she spends the entire morning teaching kids in the outdoors multiple times
    per month
  • Each class of 3,
    4, and 5 year olds spends two days per month outdoors for the school day
    regardless of the weather/temperature
  • Kevan summarized
    recent research on the importance of kids getting outside including
    articles in the NY Times, Washington Post, National Geographic and
    others.  Some key benefits include:
    • Improved motor
      fitness
    • Improved
      concentration and self-discipline
    • Improved
      distance vision
    • Improved
      cognitive abilities
    • Improved
      critical thinking
    • Lower stress,
      anxiety, and depression
    • Improved social
      skills including empathy and connections
    • Increased
      resilience
    • Increased
      creativity and sense of wonder
    • Increased
      independence and autonomy
    • Increased
      ability to recognize and assess risk
    • Increased
      appreciation for the natural world around us

  • Kevan has seen
    all these benefits first hand over the last three years including happier
    kids overall who participate in the program
  • Kevan discussed
    some of the barriers to more time outside including time constraints,
    proximity to parks/forests, safety concerns, and adverse weather
    conditions – she noted that “bad weather always looks worse through a
    window” and that once outside it’s usually not as bad as you thought
    (especially from a child’s perspective)
  • Kevan encouraged
    parents to try and see things through their child’s eyes and motivate them
    to get outside more – you don’t need a specific goal (e.g., a science
    lesson) – just get outside and do things (including reading outside)
  • Kevan provided a
    list of resources (will be provided electronically separately)
  • Ms. Nesselrode
    provided an update about how Campbell approaches outdoor learning to
    include:
    • Kids are
      reading outdoors during their library time
    • Miss Christy
      takes classes outside rain or shine
    • Community
      Meeting was held outdoors and it was a huge success – we plan to do
      another meeting outside in the Spring
    • 5th
      grade just returned from two days at the Outdoor Lab (canoeing, sleeping
      in tents, etc.) and it was a fabulous experience

 

IV.  Title I – What is
It: Maureen Nesselrode, Principal and Wendy Pilch, Title I Representative

  • Wendy provided
    an overview of the Title I Program to include background, statistics,
    requirements, and benefits
  • At the Federal
    level, at least 40% of the students must qualify for Free and Reduced
    Meals (FARM) for a school to be eligible for Title I status
  • In Arlington
    County, the threshold is 55% of students in the FARM program – Campbell
    consistently runs at 58-60% FARM students
  • 98% of Title I
    funding at Campbell is used for salaries – increases the number of
    teachers
  • At least 1% of
    the funding must be used for parent/family involvement
  • 8 schools in Arlington
    exceed the 55% FARM threshold: Abingdon, Barcroft, Barrett, Carlin
    Springs, Campbell, Drew, Hoffman Boston, Randolph – Patrick Henry recently
    left the Title I program
  • Benefits of
    Title I resources include teacher training, supplemental materials, summer
    programs, additional reading and math support
  • At Campbell, we
    receive the following specific benefits:
    • Anne Oliveira
      (math coach) is funded ½ time from Title I
    • 2 extra reading
      specialists are funded from Title I
    • Test
      Coordinator ½ time position is funded from Title I
    • Translation
      equipment was purchased with Title I funds
    • Professional
      development
    • Math tutoring
      in 3rd and 4th grade
    • Note that we
      cannot purchase furniture with Title I funds
    • Ms. Nesselrode
      coordinates with the PTA to optimize how funds are applied
    • Bottom line:
      Title I funds are key to Campbell’s resourcing plan

 

V.    Treasurer’s
Report: Jenny Morris , Treasurer

  • As of 10/31,
    we’ve had ~$19,000 of income and ~$19,000 of expenses.  Specific details discussed were:

o   October
income included pledge drive donations, amazon, movie night, Project Discovery
and Odyssey of the Mind

o   October expenses included movie night, Project Discovery, Outdoor Classroom Coordinator,
K/1 chairs, PTA meeting expenses

o   Project Discovery enrollment was higher than projected so
both income and expenses are higher than budgeted.  The budget is based on making a small profit,
so there will not be a new vote on increasing income/expenses for project
discovery in the budget as long as income and expenses are generally equal –
same for Odyssey of the Mind (4 teams instead of 2 teams, so we are doubling
the projected income and expenses)

o   We have a similar budget situation with Campbell wear – we
have sold much more Campbell wear than projected, so our income and expenses are
higher than budgeted, but they are still canceling each other out as expected

o   Our VA PTA dues payment was mailed in November (due December
1st)

o   There were no questions from attendees on the budget status

 

VI.  New Business:
Nathan Zee, President

o   The
second half of tonight’s meeting was successfully streamed live on Facebook –
all in person attendees acknowledged they were being displayed on Facebook

o   Project
Discovery ends this week for Thursday classes and the week after Thanksgiving
for Wednesday/Friday classes

o   Principal’s
Chat this Thursday at 8am – interactive activities are planned

o   The
Wellness Committee will meet on Friday, December 9th after Community
Meeting at 8:30am

o   Apple
Tasting was a huge success

o   Socktober
sock donations were well received

o   Cyberbullying
discussion will be held on December 15th at 8am – led by Ms. Berhan
and Ms. Decker

o   The
Latina Moms group has been officially renamed to “Parents Building Commitment”

o   Heads
up that we will be collecting used sports items at the end of winter

o   Reminder
to write your child’s name on Campbell wear

o   Be
on the lookout for information regarding Tiny Prints / Shutterfly for holiday
card orders

o   Picture
retakes are tomorrow (11/16) – bring your old pictures

o   Conversations
are ongoing regarding concerns about potential impacts from the Presidential
election (immigration, LBGT, etc.)

 

VII. Closing: Nathan
Zee, President

  • Next meeting is
    Tuesday, December 20th
  • Reminders:

o   Please
review Barbara Martinez’s fundraising email

o   A
big ‘thank you’ to those who have contributed towards the pledge drive – it
closes at the end of this week (11/18)

o   Please
make sure you use the Campbell Amazon link (affiliate) when you do your holiday
shopping