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Fireside PTO Meeting Minutes
September 13, 2004

Attendance:

1. Firesides new website was launched and it looks great! Thanks to all who helped! The districts website manager gave good feedback.
2. Many thanks to Melaney Ubel for coordinating all the turkeys for the teachers at Thanksgiving time. It was a nice surprise! A few turkeys were donated to needy families.
3. Our school ranking went from excellent to high. We count our students differently now. We used to count students who were in our geographical area but not attending Fireside. Regardless, we have shown tremendous growth. Please refer to the report in the Friday folders.
4. We had four teachers nominated by the Boulder Valley Foundation Impact on Education.
   The teachers are Cathy Finleon, Mark Dayhoff, Anne Turnacliff, and Craig Christopher. All our teachers are deserving and this is a nice recognition for Fireside.

Co-Chairs Remarks: (Jill Andrews and Maia Jourgensen)

1. Our new website needs many digital photos of classroom activities. The website will be updated frequently.
2. We have a Retirement Committee formed to celebrate Craigs service to Fireside and to see him safely off into retirement. We have May 6th set for a dessert night at 6:30 pm. More details to follow. If you would like to help, please contact Jill or Maia.
3. Don't forget movie night is January 28th.
4. Please continue to use grocery certificates and encourage others to use them. Its our easiest way to earn money for the PTO at no cost to you!!!!

Treasurer Report: (Jen Piper)

1. Jonathan Wright needs $81 for folders that can be reused. PTO voted unanimously to approve the purchase.

District Parent Council Report: (Lura Vernon)

1. PTO funding allocation is still being discussed. D.P.C. voted to advise NO.

Fundraising Report: (Joli Lofstedt)

1. We need to market grocery certificates more. They are a huge money maker at no cost to families. Several ideas are being investigated.

Open Forum:

1. We still havent heard from the school board about which Kindergarten math program they've decided on. The vote will be conducted in February.
2. The geography bee was great fun!!

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm

Next meeting is January 10th at 6:30 pm in the school library.

September - October - November - December - January - February - March - April - May 

Fireside PTO Meeting Minutes
January 10, 2005
 

Attendance:

Minutes: Meeting minutes from December 13th were approved.

Principals Remarks: (Craig Christopher)

1. Fireside adopted a few families for the holidays. They responded with a heartfelt thank you.
2. Open house tours were well attended. We had strong interest from Lafayette and Erie.
3. Kindergarten open house is Tuesday January 18th. Please encourage families to attend.
4. We have a new half time custodian helper, Cutberto Diaz. He goes by the nickname Berto.
5. There will be a new report card format for next year from the school district. It will include a significant change in the reporting progress. The teaching staff has started to plan for it and more details will follow this spring.

Co-Chairs Remarks: (Jill Andrews and Maia Jourgensen)

1. We would like to purchase a photo printer for $180 to use primarily on movie night. This includes the cost of paper and ink. Teachers and staff will come up with guidelines for use of the printer in the future. PTO voted to approve the purchase of the printer, paper and ink.
2. Movie night is Friday, January 28th. We still need about 50 volunteers to help. Dinner will be catered by Pasquinis but the pizza will come from another place yet to be decided. The movie will be Shrek 2.
3. We need a volunteer to take over the yearbook for next year. 

Treasurer: (Jen Piper)

1. Thank you to Pam Jackman for collecting the box tops for education. She has made $256 for our PTO!! 

Volunteer Report: (Melaney Ubel)

1. Volunteer sign up sheets need to be more specific with times and actual duties that need to be done for each particular event. Melaney will revise them.

Communication Committee: (Meredith Eddy)

1. The basic format for the website is set and looks good. We could always use more digital pictures. We will be constantly adding to and updating the website.
2. Send Meredith notices of events that can be added to the website. 

Open Forum:

1. We received new playground balls from the soup labels so keep on clipping!!
2. Emma Ruwitch requests $300.88 to purchase two maps for her classroom. Her previous one was broken. PTO approved the purchase.
3. Please keep on purchasing grocery certificates!!
4. If you shop at Play Fair Toys, a portion of your purchase goes to Fireside.

Meeting adjourned @ 7:30 pm.

Next meeting will be February 14th at 6:30 pm in the school library.

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<Sorry, February Minutes are not available>
September - October - November - December - January - February - March - April - May 

Fireside PTO Meeting Minutes
March 14, 2005
 

Attendance:

Minutes: Meeting minutes from February 14th were approved with no changes.

Co-Chair Remarks: (Jill Andrews and Maia Jourgensen)

1. As discussed at the last meeting, $5000 is needed for the concrete for the school improvement project. PTO voted to approve.
2. Approximately $750-$800 is needed for a plaque. PTO voted and approved.
3. Four concrete benches costing ~$2,500 was voted upon and approved.
4. Mr. Dayhoff would like $700 for an end-of-the-year staff party for Mr. Christopher. PTO voted and approved.
5. Susan Jefka would like to purchase four Emacs to replace the outdated ones in the library. The cost will be about $2,800. Can we get a grant or maybe get them donated? PTO will discuss further and vote at the next meeting.
6. There is several PTO board and non-board positions open next year and will be further discussed at the next meeting.

Open Forum:

Dr. Sherri Williams, Mr. Christophers boss, made a presentation about the selection process for Craig's replacement. Parents who attended, broke into groups to prioritize the characteristics we all would like to have in a new principal. We then shared them with Dr. Williams. Several parents offered their time and experience to be on the Parent Committee which will help interview potential candidates. The attending parents voted democratically for three parents: Lura Vernon, Adrian Samaniego, and Rebecca Fisher. There will be a community forum on March 31st at 6:30pm. We would like to see at least 100 parents attend.

PTO meeting was adjourned at 6:30pm. Dr. Williams presentation ended at 8pm.

Next meeting will be April 11th @ 6:30 pm in the school library.

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Fireside PTO Meeting Minutes
April 12th, 2005
 

Attendance:

Minutes: Meeting minutes from March 14th were approved with no changes.

Principals Remarks: (Craig Christopher)

1. Thank you to Elise Graninger for her support with the Destination Imagination teams and also with the Science Fair.
2. Suyapa has accepted an offer for a new position within the school district.
3. Shauna Chaverri is the new half time secretary and cashier. She is also bilingual.
4. Our new principal has been selected and will be Pat Heinz-Pribyl. Craig hopes to get her to Fireside soon to introduce her around.
5. Our music teacher, Jennifer Brown, is taking a year leave-of-absence to work on her Masters degree. She will have a replacement for next year and all programs should continue. 

Co-Chair Remarks: (Jill Andrews and Maia Jourgensen)

1. We still need many volunteers for Mr. Christopher's Dessert Night. Please contact Melaney Ubel if you can help set up or clean up.
2. The new concrete courtyard and middle round bench have been finished. We are still waiting for four trees to arrive. Three are Ash trees which are being donated by the Pineview Nursery and one flowering pear tree will be donated by the City of Louisville.
   The trees should reach 40 feet in height and will provide great shade for waiting parents.
   We are also waiting for the arrival of four concrete benches to go around the new concrete courtyard. The benches will be colored to match the color of the schools bricks. The school district will grade the yard for us.
3. Our PTO has been asked to donate $100 to the Paint the Snow Plows community project. Six schools get to paint one snowplow in the summer. PTO voted to approve.
4. There is a lot of grant money for schools out there and we need to be more diligent in applying for them.
5. The Math-a-thon is set for next week.
6. We have many positions open for next year.
7. Fireside Fall Feast is in place for next year but we are looking for volunteers to take over for the following year.
8. We also need a Movie Night coordinator or maybe we could do a dance. All ideas are welcome and will be discussed at the May PTO meeting.
9. Lisa Corboy and Cathy Heely will do Staff Appreciation week. National Teacher Appreciation week is May 2nd to the 6th. Ideas, themes, and volunteers are welcome.

1. Susan Jefka would like to purchase four eMacs for the library at a cost of $2800. PTO voted to approve.
2. Fourth grade would like to purchase 70 books for their colonial curriculum. This would allow all the students to have their own. The cost is $266. PTO voted to approve.
3. Dean Stankovic requests $3.85 for each of his students to get a weekly reader subscription for next year. Should PTO pay for ALL the students in the school? Should PTO create a fund for all teachers to request money from? PTO will check bylaws about creating a fund to cover these non-payments. Further discussion will continue at the next meeting.
4. Jill Ritchie and Maryann Schafer would like to purchase Lucy Caulkin's writing support program. It would supplement their writing program and provide specific daily ideas. The cost would be $270 plus shipping. PTO voted to approve the purchase.
5. Mr. Lang would like to buy computer software to help in Performance Math. This would be for all the third graders and it will help the students to track their own progress.
   He can get it here in two weeks so the current third graders could start using it. The cost would be $200. PTO voted to approve the purchase

District Parent Council Meeting: (Lura Vernon)

1. Dr. Garcia said school start and stop times will not change next year.
2. Mesa Elementary is flipping their recess and lunch times. Recess will be first and then they will eat lunch. The kids seem to be more ready to learn after they eat. It will be interesting to watch if it works for them.
3. Open Enrollment stratification: The conclusion is that O.E. increases stratification. The school district can restrict a school and/or the number of O.E. students it can accept. About 700 students open enrolled outside of the district. 

Open Forum

1. Next years budget will hopefully have some new line changes.
2. Before the school year ends, we need to ask for volunteer crossing guards to start next year. A flyer will be sent out in the Friday folders.
3. Kindergarten screening is May 11th. Jill and Maia will write a welcome letter to the new kindergarten parents to tell them of the volunteer opportunities.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Next meeting will be May 9th at 6:30 pm in the school library.

September - October - November - December - January - February - March - April - May 

Fireside PTO Meeting Minutes
May 9th, 2005

Attendance:

Minutes: Meeting minutes from April 12th were approved with no changes.

Principals Remarks: (Craig Christopher)

1. Thank you for the wonderful staff appreciation week. Cathy Healy and Lisa Corboy did a great job along with all the other volunteers.
2. Thank you to the PTO for funding the Retirement Tea. Many B.V.S.D. administrators were present and the Fire Choir did a great performance!
3. Thank you so much for the Friday night event! The last month of his career has been phenomenal. The courtyard dedication was beyond his imagination. The past 16 years at Fireside have been the best of his life. Its been full of wonderful memories of children, events, and staff members. He is the luckiest person he knows!! Thanks to the PTO for all their support for himself and the staff. Fireside is a unique place! He will definitely come back to visit and of course, help Pat with her transition.
4. Emma Ruwitch is retiring this year. Karen Donohue will take her place in first grade. Interviews have started for a fourth 1st grade teacher and for a half time special ed. person.
5. Craig has met with Pat. She's thrilled to soon be a part of Fireside. Shell be here for the Fireside Festival. Craig will help her as much as she needs to get the school ready for next year. Her official start date is August 1st.
6. We have a part time Kindergarten position open.
7. Cathy Finleon would like to use her award money towards creating a long needed resource library for the teachers. It would contain multiple copies of readers at many different reading levels. Right now, a teacher may have only four copies of one book when they need six or more. This would centralize everything. The school district may be able to provide the carpenter, but would PTO be willing to fund the cost of supplies? At this point, a location for these shelves has not been found. The teachers will form a committee to help plan it and come up with the cost. We will address this further at the next meeting.

Co-Chairs Remarks: (Jill Andrews and Maia Jourgensen)

1. The Fireside Festival is set for Friday, June 3rd. Please sign up to volunteer as we need many helpers. We will also have a cake to celebrate our new principal.
2. Maryann Schafer suggested a day set aside for volunteers to help spruce up the school grounds. Trim, rake, weed, and pick up stray garbage. A day will need to be decided upon possibly around the start of school. It will be announced for all to know and help!
3. We still need a parent volunteer to take over attending the District Parent Council Meetings. They meet once a month in Boulder.
4. We also need volunteers to do the Labor Day Parade and make t-shirts.
5. We need a volunteer to run our Movie Night or perhaps change it to a dance?
6. We have many new parents volunteering for next year. PTO voted to approve their new positions and WELCOME!!
7. We will need to advertise the Fall Feast at the Labor Day parade. Last year we had crayon packets with the information printed on them.
8. Our new Crossing Guard Coordinator will be John Kelin. We still need guards to sign up now for next year so they will be in place in time for the first week of school. We will have a volunteer sign up table at the Festival.
9. PTO bought many school supplies for the Free & Reduced Lunch kids last year. Jill and Maia had to double the amount they thought was needed. Extra supplies from other parents are always welcome.

Treasurer: (Jennifer Piper)

1. The Math-a-thon made ~$8,000 in total.
2. Jill, Maia, and Jennifer will check the PTO by-laws about adding a line(s) to the budget. The PTO has a discretionary fund line that could be broken down into something more specific.

Fund Raising Report: (Joli Lofstedt)

1. The Grocery certificates made about $6000 this year. Lori Commander manages the account and said it is an increase from last year but still only about 10% of our community is using them. She will be selling certificates at the Fireside Festival.
2. We will also be participating in Pizza Pals with Old Chicago. We can buy 500 certificates at $6 each and sell them for $11. The certificate is good for a pizza worth up to $19! Further information about availability will be coming soon.
3. We can also purchase and sell bracelets fashioned after the Lance Armstrong bracelets. Ours would have Fireside stamped on them.
4. We will be selling Fireside sweatshirts along with the t-shirts next year.
5. We do plan on having the Math-a-thon again next year.
6. The wrapping paper fund raiser was quite successful so well have that again and maybe combine it with the Gold C and Entertainment books.

Volunteer Coordinator: (Melaney Ubel)

1. Melaney would like to give teachers pies instead of turkeys next year at Thanksgiving time. Great idea!
2. A table will be set up at the Fireside Festival for volunteers to sign up for next year.

Communication: (Meredith Eddy)

1. The final page of our website is just about done!
2. We will need to post the new school supply list on the website.
3. Send Meredith ANY school news or accomplishments that can be put into the newspaper.

Open Forum:

1. PTO presented Craig with a beautiful, framed picture of a falcon. The picture was provided by Lisa Dierauf who works for the Boulder County Parks and Open Space. The PTO thanked Craig for all his support and vast knowledge. He came to every meeting and has always been open to help and contribute in any way. Craig, you will be greatly missed!!!!!!!
2. Angie Anderson suggested that the PTO sponsor an evening to present political issues that affect us all. (ex. TABOR) An evening where both sides of an issue are presented would help inform parents. A discussion ensued about possibly creating a small committee of four or five members to decide, anticipate, hash out problems, and then recommend to the PTO which political issues to present. Further discussion is needed.
3. How about PTO sponsoring a night to showcase Fireside parents who have a home business?
4. Thank you to Jill and Maia for all the planning and organizing they did for the new courtyard! It was a job very well done!

Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Have a great summer everyone!

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