PTO Meeting Minutes 12/12/23

Neff Elementary PTO -- Quarterly Meeting

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 6:30pm in person

“I want to call the meeting to order, time is 6:30___”

1. Welcome & Introduction:  

   1. PTO Board:  Rachel Levine, Whitney Tsakonas, Katie Warner, Lori DeTemple, Kelsey Danz

   2. Attendees: Steph Gerber, Kisha Johnson, Sarah Bowers, Olivia Cordero, Ruth Wagner

1. Approval of minutes from last meeting—October 10, 2023

   1. Motion to Approve: APPROVED!

1. Principal Report:  Travis Bash

   1. New Club at HS-New Teachers of America: Melissa Diehm, Club Liaison, students will be available to volunteer at the school and PTO events. 

   2. Time Capsule: Neff’s turn to present at the school board. Neff’s contribution will contain a booklet with a page from each class to list their favorite things. The last page will be a picture of the whole school. 

   3. Teacher of the Month: Mrs. Rose will be honored at the school board meeting along with her 4th graders who will be presenting what they are doing with their kindergarten buddies

   4. Next week, early dismissal - annual bring a book to life assembly. Teachers are acting out a book and then will end the assembly  with a school wide sing-a-long. Hoping to have someone record it for future viewing.

1. School Board Report: JoAnn Hentz 

   1. Not Present-will remain the representative for Neff

1. Treasurer Report:  Lori DeTemple

   1. Last year at this time, had approx. $2k more

   2. Raised $13,338 from Lion’s Quest

   3. Restaurant Nights have cleared over $100 each. 

   4. Bowling- made approx $200

   5. Springfest shopping completed on Black Friday for prizes to provide at Give and Get event.

   6. Looking into Money Market account to possibly earn interest on savings. 

1. SLAC (Superintendent’s Lay Advisory Council) Report: Kisha Johnson, Rachel Levine, Lori DeTemple

   1. Kisha Reports: Short meeting, talked about demographics and state assessment data. SLAC minutes will be posted to PTO website. 

   2. PSSAs and Keystone exams: Goals and benchmarks

   3. Reorganization with School Board Representatives due to new members being voted in. 

   4. Talked about how to address the increase in student enrollment. 

   5. Discussed recess time and an increase in outdoor/fresh air time, particularly the Landis Run/Middle School age groups. 

1. PTO Update: Rachel Levine

   1. Passive Fundraising

      1. Yearbook- Hannah (not present) - 95 sold at this time; Post was made about sharing photos to be added

      2. Restaurant Nights:  Sara

         1. Mod Pizza - $165.20 (20% in sales)

         2. BJ’s Brewhouse - $103.50

         3. Upcoming at Chipotle - $100 (33%0

         4. January 8th - Sandwich Factory, All Day

         5. Feb 5- Mick’s (possibly looking to combine with a Movie Incentive or PTO movie event). Rachel will reach out to contact at Penn Cinema

         6. March - Mod Pizza

         7. April - Primanti Brothers

Looking for more connections for additional restaurant nights- Nothing for May to date. Possibly try Knight and Day Diner by reaching out to Neptune Diner

1. Fundraisers

   1. LION’S QUEST- recap

2. Upcoming Events

   1. Family Fun Night 1/23/24 at Urban Air

      1. RACHEL: Blanket $5 off if bring a flier which will be $22-$5 per kid. Starts at 4:00; Only at the door-need to say from Neff. They will give 20% of the funds. Volunteering will involve marketing. Kisha making Flier, Olivia will follow up with Urban Air contact for marketing info

      2. Ask about having a PTO Table

   2. Talent Show! 

      1. Whitney, Erin, and Lori are chairing:

      2. Flier will 

      3. Jan 16 auditions

      4. Rehearsals Jan 30

      5. Feb. 1 is show night

      6. Need a Teacher liaison-Ms. Bash will handle this

      7. Need Parent volunteers for both shows (night & day), and rehearsals (6 for each performance).

      8. Stage Crew is 4th Grade only, need to sign up ahead of time

   3. Spring Fest Update

      1. Lori-Shopping completed, 

      2. email out for Bounce Houses

      3. New year is when donation requests will go out

      4. Keep it to one dessert truck so that can sell more with concessions stand.

      5. May 10 

3. Volunteer Update

   1. Event Chairs - what do we still need to cover

      1. Still needed for BINGO

         1. Steph Volunteered

      2. Roller Skating- March 23 - Melissa is chair

   2. Food Drive

      1. Olivia-looking for feedback

   3. Pottery Night

      1. In the future, considering possibly doing it a week or two earlier before Thanksgiving so that parents can pick up pottery at Parent Teacher Conferences instead of being sent home.

      2. Possibly choose additional items that could be targeted towards older siblings and grownups 

Next Meeting:  February 13, 2024

Adjournment—I move that we adjourn the meeting at 7:16__