PTCO

Mission Statement: To develop a relationship with the Parents, Teachers and the Community that enriches, supports and nutures the children of Columbia Elementary both inside and outside the classroom.

PTCO Minutes
February 7, 2008
6:30 p.m.

Called to Order: 6:35 p.m.

Attendance: Linda Schlagenhauf, David Motley, Tina Moore, Trina Miller, Joel Simmons

Old Business:
Sock Hop: It was a fun night. We made $194.00. The $1 admission fee if a donation of a canned good was made was a huge success We voted YES to purchase a $50 VISA gift-card to the Band as a "thank you". They were great.

Estes Park Trip (5th grade): Students are finishing up their second round of candle sales as a fundraiser. They will begin selling the Pizza Palz coupons very soon. Mrs. Schlagenhauf will ask the fifth grade class to put out flyers around the school to make everyone aware of the fundraisers.

"Let it Rip" Re-cycling Program: This program is off and running. The dumpster is now in the back parking lot area of the school. We will call the Gazette and see if they can put a piece in the paper about Columbia's commitment to the program and alert the community to use the dumpster for their recyclable paper products.

New Business:
Silent Auction: Time to start gathering items for the SILENT AUCTION. We are looking at getting a committee of four to five people to call for donations, gather donations, etc. We will get the book from the Volunteer Coordinator and review the list of parent volunteers. We are looking at doing "classroom baskets" again this year. We need to check on volunteers from the high school to help run the booths.

Room Mothers: Should we start this program next Fall? This might give PTCO a better network of volunteers for each classroom. Example: the volunteer coordinator could have one contact parent for each classroom to help with projects.

Volunteer Tea: We really should dust off this old tradition and get it back into place. What about having the 4th grade students help coordinate this event while the 5th grade students are gone to Estes Park? (April 28, 29, 30).

Mrs. Schlagenhauf: "Snapshot" of Columbia:
CSAP testing to begin soon. The staff will kick-off the "session much like last year.

"Cowboy" program scheduled for April after CSAPs. This is a FREE program that offers positive messages.

FTE coming out soon. District 11 to even out the number of aides that each school receives. The allotment will be based on each school's enrollment. We now have five aides plus special education. We will be reduced to two aides and one special education position. We can plead our case, which Mrs. Schlagenhauf will do. All schools will have the same issue as the new rule applies to everyone.

RtI Program: This is a federally mandated program to be put into place at Columbia Mrs. Schlagenhauf has taken several Columbia staff members to Helen Hunt Elementary to observe their PBS program to see if this is the same type of direction we should go. This program will change the way we help identify special education students. Some interventions are to take place in the classroom (behavioral and education plans). The program we are most interested in rewards positive behavior. Focus will be placed on school-wide rules, standards and expectations. Also, we might start each day with an assembly for all students. This would encourage the students to arrive on time each day and create a rewarding experience for them first thing in the morning.

Requests:
None

Chair Review:

President	David Motley
Vice President	Vacant
Treasurer	Tina Moore
Secretary	Christine Motley
Membership	Vacant
Events Coordinator	Kevin Moore and Martha Lutz
Volunteer Coordinator	Vacant
Aluminum Cans	Community Prep Charter School
Fundraising	Vacant
Publicity	Vacant
School Sign	Vacant
Health Screening	Lynda Dunne
Book Fair	Trina Miller (?)
Box Tops	Vacant

Upcoming Events:
List of month-by-month events available for volunteer. Please call David Motley for ANY lists of members, events, open chairs, volunteer needs, etc.

CARNIVAL	April 25, 2008
SILENT AUCTION	April 25, 2008
Kindergarten TRACK DAY	April 24, 2008
SKATE NIGHT	May 9, 2008
TRACK DAY (Grades 1-5)	May 10, 2008

NEXT MEETING: MARCH 6, 2008

Adjourn: 8:00 p.m.

Attendance: Linda Schlagenhauf, David Motley, Tina Moore , Martha Lutz, Trina Miller, Wendi Kirkpatrick, Veronica Gauna, Robin Sutherland

BookFair … earned $442 worth of books, plus cash = total of approx $900 for Library (Thanks Trina!!)

Kid Power … had 1^st meeting, went well. Had 19 families, may do another in Spring 2008

Martha Lutz … Stepping down from Volunteer Coordinator. (Thanks Martha for all of the years of calling, organizing, gathering members, etc… for us at Columbia . We REALLY appreciate it!!!) Will stay on with PTCO as member and help with events

SOCK-HOP … JAN 18 …. Need: Food, Volunteers to serve, clean up, set-up, sell tickets, decorate

Silent Auction … Time to start gathering items for the SILENT AUCTION will be here before we know it.

Grant Writer .. Martine Vogel agreed to look for grant for Art Teacher! Do we have any other ideas for $$$ ? (Mrs. Schlagenhauf mentioned possible grant for Part-Time Spanish Teacher)

- New requirement …. Parents who attend must be fingerprinted. Columbia will pay for $55 fee to do this.

- Cost for parents to attend trip is $90 … could PTCO help pay? Maybe pay for 4 parents?

VOTED YES to assist with parent cost, if fundraising falls short of the total cost.

Re-Cycling Program … Mrs. Kirkpatrick did a Service Learning Project with her class, and has expanded to start a new program at Columbia called “Let it Rip” … anything that can rip (newspapers, cardboard, catalogs, magazines, etc..) Should be starting in January 2008. Watch for container on Columbia grounds.

Aluminum Cans….. Have help on the way!! “ Community Prep Charter School ” wants service project, will collect and drop-off our cans at recycle center, bring $$ back to us.

S.A.R. Report … (received from State of Colorado ). Took 10 tests, results are in: “Up” in 5 categories, “Down” in 5 catagories. 3^rd Grade really soared! 4^th Grade scored dropped. 5^th Grade Split … up on 2, down on 2.

D11 report shows great achievement, however, the State card shows “Average” and “Decline”

Not happy with these statements, not a true description of our progress. Scores are up, attendance is up, gains are up. Having meeting with D11 on remarks.

Bonus for Columbia … approx $3,370 to be used for school. Any ideas on how we want used? Staff has been asked and will submit ideas, PTCO should also submit ideas, if any. All ideas should be in writing.

Site is age-appropriate. Benefit of site, student can research topic and get list of books in our own library. Easy for kids to use. Can use site from home (login: srcolumbia)

List of month-by-month events available ….. please call David Motley 578-7874 for ANY lists of members, events, open chairs, volunteer needs, etc…

Next meeting: (February 7)

Attendance:

Bonita Walker, Brandy Martin, Trina Miller, Julie Shaw, Linda Schlagenhauf, Wendi Kirkpatrick, Veronica Gauna, Christina Motley, David Motley, Robin Sutherland, Martha Lutz, Leah Bitat, Tina Moore

Old Business:

- Purchasing tables or benches for outdoor lunch or snack seating was discussed. Tina Moore will price benches that match the ones in the front of the school. Linda Schlagenhauf is not sure if they are needed at this point.

- The Ice Cream Social/Open House went very well this year. More volunteer forms, parent contact numbers and e-mail addresses came in than any other year!

- Recognition of Annette Gentz was discussed for all the work she has put in and continues to put in to the beautiful garden in the front of the school. Ideas included a stained glass marker inside the window, or a stone in the garden. Tina Moore will check into options and prices.

- Time of PTCO meeting will be changed from 6:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month to 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month.

- Entertainment book sale is on and going well. Jeannie is also selling books in the front office.

- Health screening day is coming up and Linda Dunn (not present at the meeting) is in charge. Martha Lutz will look into getting more volunteers.

- “Think First” is a program put out by Memorial Hospital that encourages students to wear helmets when riding their bikes. David Motley is the contact for this. Linda Schlagenhauf will talk with Mrs. Kautza about bringing it in during teacher collaboration time on a Friday afternoon.

- A Discovery Toy fundraiser was presented by Leah Bitat. It will be incorporated during the Kindergarten potluck later this month.

- The Kindergarten potluck date was set for Thursday, September 27 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the gym

Principal’s Report

- The bronze medal for Mr. Simpich is ready for hanging. Linda Dunn will help with the arrangements.

- The new art teacher, Deborah Rams, has been hired with the financial support of the PTCO. She will teach art to all students every Friday, and will begin this coming Friday.

- Class numbers are holding steady and the teachers are pleased that there are no longer grade level combinations.

- DIBELS testing on all students has been completed. Julie Shaw presented a wonderful visual display of test results in order for teachers to get a clear picture of where each student is academically and can closely monitor progress and growth.

- MAP testing on the computers will begin soon and includes testing for math and reading at one hour per session. Results are immediate. Spring and Fall testing is required; Columbia will also test mid-year to best monitor student needs and growth.

- Other school improvements this month: library is up and running, science lab is being used, new student chairs have arrived, and the extra classroom is being set up for a science room for younger grades.

- SIP (School Improvement Plan) is going to be a “living document” this year, used and reviewed on a regular basis. Columbia will be focusing on writing achievement this year.

The Ice Cream Social is scheduled for the 15th with the initial gathering to occur in the gym. We are hoping to have the Girl Scouts assist with tours. Martha will host a booth the night of the ice cream social to give out volunteer information.

This Saturday (Aug. 4th) a small coalition will meet at Martha's house at 9 am. This is a continuation of a program originally spear headed by Linda Schlagenhauf earlier this summer to canvas the neighborhood in an effort to increase awareness of the school. We will also take this opportunity to invite families and community members to the ice cream social event. Anyone interested is welcome to join us. We will only do this for an hour or so, therefore, spread the word if you can.

A highlight of the highlights came when the PTCO came to a unanimous decision to financially support an art teacher if the opportunity arises. This is still in the very early stages. However, with the right circumstances there may be a possibility of having an art teacher one day a week. I feel that this was an important decision to pre-approve some funds that may needed. I think this would be an incredible asset to an already enriching environment offered at Columbia.

During the meeting it was discussed that we might help with the purchase of outdoor benches or picnic table for snack time. I would like to brainstorm some solutions. One thought that I had was to approach the Boulder Street Church to see if they might participate in a joint effort. Can we possibly purchase kits at Home Depot to assemble. Do we have to go through the school contractor that assisted with the front landscaping approval. Would Martin Vogel's spouse be able to assist with the project. These are things to think about and we will look into options prior to the next meeting. Please come with your ideas and input.

We will again attempt to recruit as many as we can to evenly distribute the weight. We still have some important roles that need to be filled.

Other items that were discussed and will be posted on site at Columbia. I believe a copy will be sent to all interested parties via email. I would like to expand this email list as much as possible in the coming month. So again if you know of others please forward this email to them.