Annette Cook, co-president, called the meeting to order. Ten people were in attendance.

SECRETARY’S REPORT: Lori DiMatteo distributed copies of the January PTO Minutes. A motion to accept the minutes was made and carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Carol Flanagan distributed the Clayville Elementary School PTO Income and Expense Summary for January 1 through 31, 2005. Beginning balance was $9,935.85 and ending balance was $7,486.64. A motion to accept the report was made and carried.

CORRESPONDENCE: Melissa Bauer reported that we received an approval letter from the superintendent of the PTO’s programs and fundraisers for this year. We also received several thank you notes. One of them from Mrs. Gould for the donation to the Scituate Scholorship Foundaton in her son’s memory; thank you notes were also received from teachers for the holiday luncheon, and from Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Ratcliff for their holiday gifts.

TEACHER REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT: Stephanie Mikkelson said the teachers received nearly 20 cases of books from the Scholastic Book Fair Points hosted by the PTO, as they had ordered several boxes of "bruised books" for their classroom libraries. She indicated that the teachers were pleased with the books they received.

OLD BUSINESS:

Used Book Drive: This program is called the RIF Community Reading Challenge sponsored by Met Life and runs from Feb. 3 - 28. Lori DiMatteo mentioned that North Scituate has approximately 1,000 books left over from their book drive that they would like to donate to us. Mrs. Ratcliff said that we could accept them and then sort through them and we would keep all the appropriate books for the classroom libraries. Leftover books that we don’t use from the 1,000 books from N. Scituate will be donated to charity.

Sweetheart Dance: Lori Tait reported that everything is going along as planned and is all set for February 12.

Spirit Day, February 18: This month it will be "Wear Your Favorite Animal". It was suggested that students do not dress up as an animal, but that they wear something with their favorite animal on it.

Met Life Reading Challenge: Julie Pelto-DiMeo reported that the challenge started on Friday, February 4, and that this year Met Life is requiring ten separate activities in order to qualify for the program. They include having readers from a number of community categories such as policemen, fire fighters, elected officials, and volunteers of organizations/associations, grandparents and parents, just to name a few. Other activities include the used book drive, buddy reading, Camping Out with a Good Book, Wednesday, February 16, and the RIF distribution, which will be rescheduled to Fri, the 18^th. We may have the Providence Bruins come and talk about the importance of school and staying in school.

February Classroom Award: This award will go to the classroom with the highest participation rate for the reading journals submitted for the RIF Community reading challenge during the entire month of February. 

In-House Cultural Arts Program: The PTO is currently looking to schedule and fund a third in-house program in the cultural arts category. Mrs. Andrews mentioned a successful cultural arts dance program from the Pawtucket School Department that visited Clayville School years ago. The cultural arts coordinator at North Scituate has agreed to share their files with us for our review.

SKILL Program: Carol Flanagan reported for Lisa Cerullo and Leeann Walsh. The program is going well but needs some additional volunteers to chaperone and sign the children in and out of these programs. Lisa and Leeann have been calling on the same people and would like to give them a break and get some new volunteers involved. There is the possibility that several classes taught by Rhode Island College students will be offered again this semester. Plans are being discussed with the college. Also, a garden club in Scituate is very interested in helping our school improve the courtyard. The work will begin in the spring. We hope to have students help with this project.

The teachers have commented that the list of students enrolled in SKILL programs is helpful.

PRESENTATION: Mrs. Andrews gave a presentation based on the book "The Seven Keys to Comprehension", written by Susan Zimmermann and Chryse Hutchins. The PTO suggested purchasing this book to keep in the Parent Resource Library. The PTO found the presentation very informative. Mrs. Andrews offered to present more information on the Seven Keys if there is parent interest.

NEW BUSINESS:

Friendship Writing contest and Prize Luncheon, Feb. 11: Two student’s names from each class in grades 1 – 5 will be drawn/recommended by teachers for a Valentine Luncheon. Annette mentioned that a parent expressed concern about the potential for hurt feelings if the prize luncheon was held in front of the other children. In response, Mrs. Ratcliff has decided to hold the luncheon in the library this year.

Spring Bulb Fundraiser, February 28: We will hold this fundraiser again this year along with a Coffee Cake Sale to offer a variety. The fundraiser will last two weeks. We will check with Cristoline to see if they can postpone delivery of the cakes until the end of April so that they will be fresh for delivery in time for Mother’s Day.

Feinstein Food Drive, March 11: As a Feinstein School, we are required to hold two food drives each school year. The PTO is proposing a food drive to begin on March 11 and running for two weeks to end just prior to the Pennies for Patients collection. We will coordinate with Ms. Colvin who is the Feinstein Coordinator for the Clayville School.

Fundraiser Breakfast, April 9: The PTO is coordinating a fundraiser breakfast. All proceeds will help fund the playground enhancement project. The menu ideas have been given to Fredd Ferry, who is a food distributor, and he will supply the cost for materials/supplies for the PTO. A penny social will also be held during the breakfast. We encourage all parents to help in seeking donations for this event.

PRINCIPAL’S COMMENTS: Mrs. Ratcliff reported that everyone is very busy at the school this time of year. The school is getting visited by the state. Mrs. Ratcliff has provided them with folders with information including our SKILL programs, School Improvement, newsletters and other things the school is doing.

The state will be conducting new assessments next year. This year’s State Assessments have been waived. However, Scituate will be doing their own assessment this year to prepare students for this change.

This month our school has been focusing on Friendship-Respect and Kindness. Mrs. Ratcliff read some past essays, poetry, and alphabet acrostic readings, to help make children aware of the characteristics of friendship. The emphasis is on respect, kindness and the qualities of friendship and not so much on winning the contest. Each classroom received the Book of the Month called "Jessica". This book becomes part of the classroom, promoting community and school culture.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: At the Superintendent’s meeting, it was reported that no official decision has been made on the part of the Commissioner of the Board of Education as to whether schools will have to make up the snow day that resulted from the Governor’s "state of emergency."

NEXT MEETING, MARCH 8: A member of the Scituate School Committee will be asked to come to the meeting to provide information regarding the proposed New Middle School Construction project.

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Lori Tait called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. There were 7 people in attendance.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Carol Flanagan distributed two Income and Expense Summaries. The first is dated November 1 – 30, 2004 with an ending balance of $9,806.02. The second is dated December 1 – 31, 2004 with an ending balance of $9,935.85. The first quarter summary covering the period September 1 through November 30 was also presented. Carol mentioned that the PTO donated $50 to the Scituate Scholarship Foundation in memory of Mrs. Gould’s son. Lori Tait made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report which was seconded and carried.

CORRESPONDENCE: Melissa Bauer said that the PTO received many thank you notes from teachers for the teacher’s holiday luncheon that was held December 21. Carol Flanagan gave a special thank you to Melissa for giving so much of her time in helping at the luncheon.

Annette Cook reported that we received only one response to our memo postponing review of the bylaws, which was a request to put the bylaws back on the immediate Agenda. Annette phoned this person and they were unable to come to a resolution and the person requested their PTO membership money back. This request has been honored.

Scituate School district has accepted an anti-bullying report form which will be required to be filled out to report any case of the act. This will enable the district to keep records of any and all incidents of bullying.

Melissa added that a major article in the Newsletter this month refers to bullying.

Due to the snow fall this evening, there will be no report on the Columbia Institute or from the Teachers Representative and Principal. We discussed that in future cases of inclement weather, we could and should meet on the Thursday of the same week.

At the February PTO meeting 2^nd grade teacher, Mrs. Andrews, will make a presentation on the Seven Keys of Comprehension. All parents will be invited to attend.

Armed Forces Mailing: Annette reported that over 64 letters and cards were sent by priority mail to the troops. In addition, two huge boxes were sent filled with a variety of items such as snacks, meal replacement bars, Gatorade, games, decks of cards, and note paper.

Festival of Lights: Several teachers suggested that any future festival of lights assembly be held later in the month of December, separate from the event.

In-House Programs: Lori Tait mentioned that an Anti-Bullying Assembly with Jedlie is scheduled on Jan. 20. Lori talked with the PTO president of Hope Elementary regarding an in-house program on the Underground Railroad, but it applies to the 5^th grade curriculum only. We will continue working on scheduling one more in-house program.

Annette will call the Cultural Arts Coordinator at Hope and North Scituate Elementary Schools for additional ideas on an in-house program.

Heather Arnold mentioned that she is involved with Swamp Meadow Community Theater and that’s another good idea for an in-house program.

Outerwear Charity Drive: Generous Clayville families collectively donated over 9 big bags. The newsletter contains complete details.

Holiday Shopping Workshop: Lori Tait reported that this event went well and was well organized. We are very excited that the chair people, Jean Snow and Karen Nolan, have agreed to chair this event again next year provided that the event can remain early in December. Carol Flanagan mentioned that the money received this year is considerably lower than last year due to more items priced in the one to two dollar range.

$25 Monthly Classroom Awards: In January, a $25 award will be given to the classroom with the highest percent participation on school spirit day, January 28, Backwards Day. Melissa will type a note to the teachers asking them to count the number of participants.

In February, we will give the award for the Met Life Reading Challenge participation.

Playground Committee: The PTO Board is gathering information right now on what we currently have in our playground and our space available and comparing it with that of Hope and N. Scituate Elementary Schools.

Parent Resource Library: Annette reported that all books are cataloged and a letter is ready to go out to families. A child may come in with a note from his/her parent requesting a book and the librarian would check the book out for the parent. There are approximately 50 books. The availability will be according to the Librarian’s schedule which is Mon. through Wed.

SAFE: SAFE is funding the bullying program for Jedlie on Jan 20. Because we booked the program on the same day as Hope Elementary School, the cost of it was reduced to $350 from $600. The PTO pays for the program up front and then SAFE will reimburse the PTO.

Veteran’s Day Essay Contest: Five dollar gift cards to a book store were presented to one student from each class. Pens were given to all the students who participated, but they broke on the same day. RI Novelty agreed to a partial reimbursement to the PTO of $20 without us gathering all the pens and broken pieces.

Valentine’s Day Essay Contest: There will be a Valentine’s Day Essay Contest on how to be a good friend. Heather mentioned that last year some kids felt left out as they watched the winners eat their pizza lunch in front of them. We talked about some possible alternative prizes like a gift certificate to the Newport Creamery for the winners and one friend. Last year the PTO spent $24 on this project.

SKILL: There will be an open meeting held in the spring to offer families a chance to give their ideas for SKILL.

NEW BUSINESS:

Ladies Sweetheart Dance, February 12: Lori Tait reported on the Ladies Sweetheart Dance, February 12^th. There is a committee of 7 people. The committee chose this traditional format based on last year’s survey, when the idea to have a luau theme tied with the more traditional spring dance theme. The committee chose to have the dance in February because it is a far less busy time than in the spring.

RIF Reading Challenge: Feb. 3 – 18 is the reading challenge and scoring will be based on quality not quantity. There will be a "Family Campout with a Good Book" from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on February 16 when a child and a family member can set up a tent and read a book and have a snack.

Food Drive: Miss Colvin will run another food drive for the Feinstein project. There will also be another drive, Pennies for Patients.

Spring Fundraiser: We are looking for a chair or co-chairs for this fundraiser. The PTO decided to use the bulb catalog again this year because of its success last year and simplicity.

Teacher Allocations/Field Trips: The PTO is giving each teacher $80 to be used for field trips. This idea came about when the Board was informed at the beginning of the year that there was no budget for field trips. The teachers can use the money for an in-house program instead as a last resort or if not trip is planned.

Public Comments: Annette reported that the PTO Board has been meeting once a week to review the new bylaws recommended by last year’s bylaw review committee and this has been productive. There are only 4 sections left to review and the Board is ahead of schedule. A sample Bylaw Review that will be distributed to families was circulated to attendees.

Lori Tait mentioned that Hope Elementary has a program called "Read me a Story" which runs from Jan. through June. The teachers pick on or two time slots for a reader and a Mom schedules other Mothers to come in and read to the children from January to June. However, the Board felt that there may not be enough parent participation.

Next meeting will be held on February 8 at 6:30 p.m. Mrs. Andrews will give a presentation on the Seven Fundamentals of Comprehension.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m.

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