Needham Early Childhood Center

PTC Meeting Minutes

Friday, November 19, 2010

 

Present: Bridget Dangel, Kerry Fitzgerald, Rachel Flanagan, Karen Frascatore, Karen Kajmo, Jen Kruger, Cathy Lombardo, Andrea Longo Carter, Angeline Maughan, Tara Milligan, Raven Register

 

1) Kelly Hurley, NPS Autism Specialist – Kelly introduced herself and explained her role in providing school and home based consultations for preschool-high school students.  She currently consults on 15 ongoing cases and has done about 15-20 one time consultations, in which teachers have requested an observation/feedback.  Kelly explained that her services vary greatly from student to student.  She is a BCBA, specializing in classroom program development, accommodation suggestions/revisions, and home therapy (play, homework routines, etc).  While she primarily helps children with ASD, she is available to help others who may benefit from her expertise.  Parents may email Kelly directly (kelly_hurley@needham.k12.ma.us) although consults are usually arranged through the TEAM liaison.

 

2) Announcements

            a) Thank you – Suzanne Brooks for coordinating a successful Picture Day.  Angeline Maughan and Susan Miller for organizing the Pumpkin Patch.  Jen Kruger for arranging the donation of pumpkins.  Tara Milligan for coordinating the successful Halloween candy drive; 65 pounds of candy were collected.  Melissa Gallagher for running the Office Angels program.  Angeline Maughan and Ken Tometsko for hosting the terrific Parent’s Social.

            b) Parking – Please remember to park in designated parking spaces if available.  No parking in the circle.  Parents, please remember to inform your nannies and grandparents of parking regulations.

·         A parent suggested putting flyers on parked cars/handing out flyers to people during drop-off and pick-up that details the parking procedures at the preschool.  This idea will be discussed with Diane.

            c) Boston Pops Tickets – Purchasing a block of tickets for preschool families for the Boston Pops concert that is part of the Needham 300 celebration was discussed.  If 25 or more tickets are purchased, we can get a 5% discount.  We will determine if there is enough interest in tickets to do this.  Tickets are $25-$95 depending on section.

            d) Letter of Intent – Due by November 22 for students returning next year.

 

3) Holiday Activities

            a) Toy Drive – Concludes 11/23

            b) Holiday Drive – 12/6-12/17

·         Flyer in backpack 12/3

·         All donations are pooled together and distributed among teachers and specialists.  Last year, each classroom teacher received a $225 gift card to Amazon.com to purchase school materials.  Specialists received $75 gift cards.

·         When parents make a donation to the holiday drive, they can receive an unlimited amount of “thank you” cards, informing teachers that a donation has been made in their name.  Jen Kruger volunteered to design new cards this year.

·         PTC discussed giving all staff members (teachers, assistants, specialists and office staff) a small personal gift to thank them.  As long as cost isn’t prohibitive, PTC will do this in conjunction with Holiday Drive.

c) Holiday Staff Appreciation Breakfast – Thursday, 12/16 – Karen Frascatore is coordinating.  Please email Karen (babykk@rcn.com) if you are interested in helping with setup, clean up, or food donation.

d) Mitten Drive – January 2011 – New hats, gloves & mittens for children and adults will be collected and donated to the Needham Community Council.

 

4)  Financials – Please see Budget docyument.  Andrea and Karen announced the budget is in great shape thanks to generous parent donations to the Annual Fund Drive.  PTC agreed to donate $50 to SEPAC to help fund an upcoming speaker.

 

5) Volunteer Opportunities

            a) New Years Needham Buttons – The ECC will sell buttons for $5 each.  The ECC will receive $1 for each button sold.  Rachel Flanagan offered to coordinate the sale of buttons.

            b) Office Angels – Help out with classroom projects for teachers and specialists.  You can come into school to volunteer or work on projects at home.  Please email Melissa Gallagher (melissajgallagher@gmail.com) to volunteer or sign up on the PTC website.

           

6) Helping Hands – PTC is creating a new committee to help preschool families with the birth of a new baby, illness, death in the family, etc.  If you’d like to head this committee, please contact Karen or Andrea.

            a) Current Projects – Angeline Maughan (amaughan@comcast.net) is organizing meals for Suzanne Baker (due with new baby in Dec/Jan).  Raven Register (ravenregister@me.com) is organizing meals for Cathy Lombardo (due with new baby in April).  Michelle Feinberg (twins due any day) declined the PTC’s offer of meals but would welcome anyone who would like to have a playdate with Max.

            b) Stephanie Lowell – The PTC informed families that Stephanie Lowell’s family is accepting donations to CURE, a charity that funds epilepsy research, on behalf of their son, Andy Duthaler.

 

7) Creative Enrichment – Raven and Tara reported all is set with upcoming visits.  PTC discussed the possibility of adding an extra program with available funds.

 

8) Winter Activities

a) Winter Playdate – PTC discussed the possibility of holding this event the last weekend in January or the first weekend in February at the Parent Talk playspace in Dover.  An afternoon (rather than morning) event was recommended from 3-5pm.

b) Know Your Schools – Presentation by Superintendent Gutekanst for preschool and incoming kindergarten parents on January 12 at Broadmeadow Elementary.  Citizens for Needham Schools is organizing an event with basic information about the Needham Public Schools immediately following the Superintendent’s presentation.

c) Literacy Program – Andrea spoke about having an evening lecture for parents to coincide with “Literacy Week” activities at the end of February/beginning of March.  Diane Dunham heard a good speaker at a recent training session who could do this.  The cost would be approx. $250.  The group suggested tabling this until after the workshop being done for teachers to see if it’s a good program.  A survey was also suggested to gauge parent interest.

 

9) Next Year – There will be a high turnover of long standing PTC board members next year so if you have a child continuing in the preschool, please consider taking on a leadership role.  Please see Karen or Andrea if you are interested in being more involved next year, or have a suggestion for someone who would be a good addition to the PTC.

 

10) PTC Policies – The Co-Chairs have created policy documents for the PTC’s financial and communications practices and for Room Parents.  These documents will be posted on the website soon.

 

11)  Next Meeting – December 10, 12:45 pm, Newman Conference Room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                            Submitted by Bridget Dangel, PTC Secretary