Notes on a PTO Meeting -- September 10, 2024

Johnson PTO Meeting Agenda, September 10, 2024

• Introductions

  • Laura Jordan, Co-Chair

  • Jill McKinley, Co-Chair & Treasurer

  • Bob Howard, Communications

  • Stacey Gearhart, Secretary

  • Kelsey Durrer, Teacher Representative

  • Maelys Chambers, Teacher Representative

  • Jenn Maeng, Sunshine Committee Chair

Our Mission: (Laura)

The mission of the Johnson Elementary PTO is to encourage and facilitate communication among the Johnson family, and to support the teachers, staff, and administrators at Johnson in their mission to help our kids develop the skills and knowledge needed for lifelong learning.

Johnson’s motto is “we are family”—and our family thrives with the participation and contributions of us all.

• Presentation from Principal Mickens

  • Status of School 

    • We are accredited!

    • At or above in reading, math, and achievement gap areas. (This is the green category on slides.)

    • Hoping to see improvement with chronic absenteeism. (We are in the ‘yellow’ category.)

    • This information will be shared with parents through ParentSquare. Feel free to review and reach out to Principal Mickens with any questions. 

    • Staffing / Curriculum;

      • 2.5 reading specialists

      • 1 math specialist

      • 1-2 interventionists (hopefully)

      • Professional learning foci: 

        • Literacy - foundation skills blocks, skills groups

        • Math - fluency

        • Learning targets and success criteria

    • We are Title 1: This is determined by the socioeconomic makeup of the families. Title 1 classification results in schools qualifying for state funding. All schools in the city are Title 1. 

  • Allocation of Title 1 Funds

    • Family events

    • Fund 1-2 part-time interventionists

    • Purchase materials to support student learning (e.g.decodable readers, reading intervention programs, math resources and intervention materials, etc.)

    • Parent Access to meetings and information

      • Childcare is provided

      • Meetings in the evening

      • Slides will be shared through ParentSquare

      • Families can join meeting by Zoom

      • Dinner is frequently provided

      • Meeting times and location will be sent through ParentSquare and can be translated for EL families

  • Curriculum, Assessment & Conferences

    • Reading: HMH

    • Math: Investigations

    • Assessments: Vary by grade level and will be communicated throughout the year

    • Parent conferences in October/November

  • Want to get involved in the Johnson Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) for Title 1? 

    • Be on the lookout for more information on ParentSquare

  • Appreciation for faculty and staff at Johnson!!

• Change Challenge-9/30-10/11 (Laura)

  • Goal of $3,000

  • Rules - All silver coins and cash are positive, pennies are negative points!

  • We will be counting over the weekend and will post updates on Sunday 10/6

  • Winning grades get an ice cream sundae party and to make Principal Mickens into a human ICE CREAM SUNDAE!

• Fall Picnic-9/24 (Jill)

  • Location: Large Playground 

  • Time: 5:00-7:00pm

  • Activities: Games, cake walk, hot dogs!

  • Merch sales

  • Potluck meal, bring a dish to share - PLEASE BRING DISPOSABLE, if possible

  • UVA Athletes will be here to help celebrate and play

• Looking ahead: (Jill)

  • Sneaker Ball 

    • Friday, January 30th, 2025

    • 6:00-7:30pm

    • Activities, games, arts & crafts

    • 4th graders only

  • Silent Auction & Bingo Night

    • March 2025

    • Biggest fundraiser of the year

    • Bingo is free to play 

    • Silent auction is set up down the hallway

    • Food trucks are outside

    • Whole school is invited

    • Raised almost $10,000 last year!

  • Kona Ice Truck & Dance Party

    • April 2025

    • DJ

    • Bring a picnic

    • Play on the playground

    • Final PTO meeting of the year

• Anti-Signups (Laura)

  • Fall Picnic

    • Ex: Mainly set up and break down the day of the event

  • Sneaker Ball

    • Ex: Hang decorations, Dance

  • Silent Auction & Bingo Night 

    • Ex: Set up, break down, solicit donations, etc

  • Share your email address with us if you are interested in participating. 

  • You are not locked in to helping. By providing your email address, you are helping us gauge interest and form committees. 

• Sunshine Committee (Jenn)

  • The Sunshine Committee brings sunshine to our teachers and faculty each month. 

    • Examples

      • In September, we will ask families to donate sweet and salty snacks for the faculty lounge. 

      • Chili Bar

      • Hot Cocoa Bar

      • Valentine’s Theme in February

  • Looking for parents to lead a month. PTO will help.

  • Your responsibility would be: 

    • Pick a theme

    • Create a Sign Up Genius

    • Get the Sign Up Genius to Bob for distribution

    • Work with the PTO to execute for the faculty and staff

  • Sign up to lead a month! 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D48AFAF2CA5FC1-51234960-johnson

• Current fundraisers

  • Regal - New this year!

    • Ticket bundle: You buy two tickets for $30 and the PTO gets $7.50. 

  • Krispy Kreme - 

    • You pay $15 for a voucher to get a dozen glaze donuts at Krispy Kreme. Half of the proceeds go to the PTO. This can be redeemed anywhere, not just in Charlottesville. Easy to gift to family and friends all over. 

    • Made over $200 last year!

  • Chimm Thai-10/22

    • Located on 5th Street (this location only)

    • They donate 20% of your purchase back to the PTO

  • Reminder: Almost all PTO funds go directly back to faculty for their classroom supply reimbursements. 

    • PTO’s Goal for Fundraising: To raise as much money as possible to reinvest directly back into the school. 

    • We reimbursed up to $250/faculty member last year. We are hoping to at least match that reimbursement this year. ($5,500 last year!)

    • We also offset the cost of field trips so that every student can participate and the school is not responsible for this expense. 

    • A small portion of the money goes to providing food at the PTO meetings. 

    • Two years ago, the PTO purchased two refrigerators for the two faculty lounges. 

  • If anyone has any recommendations or ideas for fundraising, please do not hesitate to let us know. We would love to hear your thoughts!

• Meetings

  • General PTO meetings are every other month. 

    • January meeting will take place at the Greenstone Community Center. 

  • The PTO Board meets on the ‘off’ months

• Questions, Comments, Ideas?  Please do not hesitate to contact us at: ptojohnson@gmail.com

THANK YOU FOR COMING!