Highland Elementary PTO Meeting Minutes
November 16, 2020
Welcome: Gwen Rinaldi welcomed attendees to the meeting.
Principal’s Remarks: Dr. Etlen reviewed the adjusted start date for hybrid learning, his team is working very hard on social distancing and safety procedure plans. He has met with focus groups of parents and teachers regarding how the year has been going, and will shortly have a focus group with 5th and 6th grade students. Parent teacher conferences are next week, with half days for students before the Thanksgiving holiday. Report cards will not be available at the conferences, they will be posted to Skyward December 14.
Treasurer’s Report: Cost incurred from ordering additional planners. Have gotten low response on membership fees. Received $1400 from the school picture day last year, $188 from Elevation Burger, and $315 from Riviera D’Italia fundraiser.
Agenda Items
Iron Hill fundraiser November 24 at the Huntingdon Valley location for lunch or dinner, flyer has being sent out on Skyward.
Share and Care: This is the last week of Share and Care, with a drive thru drop off scheduled Friday at 4:30 pm in the bus loop. Mrs. Heuer has collected donation from staff, and some donations were received via Venmo as well. Christina is requesting all FB admins promote the drop off on Thursday.
Dec. 5 there is a Drive-In Movie fundraiser at Penn Valley Cinema in Huntingdon Valley, from 7-9 pm and featuring The Greatest Showman. There are 62 car spots, with 24 already sold. Concessions may also be ordered online at the same place as ticket sales. Not limited to Highland people, feel free to share the link. We get 30% of ticket sales if we sell more than 30 spots.
Family Fun Night: The PTO wants to thank Linda, Colleen, and Mrs. Skinner for their hard work on family fun night, it was fun and worthwhile.
Virtual Craft Market/ Shop: Beth Iula and Natalie Black have sent out flyers.
Thank yous for Teachers: Denise Novick has posted on the Highland page, asking grade level admins to remind parents also. Kids can make cards and notes for teachers and drop off with their Care and Share or Adopt A Family donations, or to a bin outside of the school by 11/30. Will get distributed to teachers thanking them for all their hard work this difficult and overwhelming year.
School Supply Grab Bags: Erin Kelly is bringing zip locks with school supplies to the school office for any parents to pick up if their child needs. The bags have pencils, crayons, etc. Donations of supplies are still very welcome.
Jaclyn Cromedy is seeking to set up a car wash fundraiser, if anyone has connections to a local owner/manager.
Adopt A Family: Flyer going out this week, accepting any gift card donations now thru December 9. There are multiple ways to donate, as listed on the flyer, including an Amazon list of gift cards. Bags with gift cards and dental health items will be distributed thru the office.
Gwen proposed the coordination of Zoom meetups for parents (by grade level) and students (by class, possibly Wedsnesday lunchtimes) to get to know each other a bit better, commiserate, and share tips. We will need parents with clearances to run each group, possibly room parents? You can renew a volunteer badge by contacting HR, they will issue new cards with same pictures.
Some discussion occurred about virtual field trips or assemblies. Please send any contact info to Dr. Etlen (cc Ms. Allen) if you have a particular recommendation.
Dr. Etlen approved teacher snack supplies from parents if they are individually wrapped, can be delivered to the office.
**Please join us for our next meeting on January 11 at 630pm.