Updates from Wednesday's Meeting

Thank you to all of the parents and teachers who attended the meeting on Wednesday evening.  We had a good turn out with some new faces!

Here is a quick recap from the meeting:

• Some successes so far this month:
• The first teacher appreciation lunch went well.  Thanks to all of the parents who contributed.  Stay tuned for when the next one will be, probably sometime near the end of November.
• The teacher picture board is up.  People commented that they really appreciate seeing the pictures.  There are three new teachers and hopefully Melinda will be able to get some new pictures up soon. 
• Laura went over some of the suggestions that came in from the previous month and gave them to the directors. 
• Melinda talked a bit about some aspects of Montessori philosophy with a focus on staying consistent in discipline.  Laura included some links for more reading: http://www.montessori.org/ and http://www.montessori-ami.org/articles1/article01.htm

• Nadien is spearheading the fundraising committee.  She is having a fundraising meeting at her house next Wednesday, October 19th, at 6:30 pm.  Comment here if you are interested in attending and we can get you her contact information.  Even if you can't attend, make your voice heard either by commenting on the website or emailing Nadien. 

• The Harvest Festival is this Saturday, October 15th, from 10-1.  Try to stop by.

•  The teachers at the meeting suggested that parents bring in some extra shoes.  This way, if students are playing outside and get wet/muddy, they can change.  As with everything: LABEL, LABEL, LABEL.  If you haven't checked the lost and found recently, take a peek.  It is overflowing with clothes.

• Melinda reminded us that there is a posted snack chart in each room that shows the snacks/meals for the month. 

• Portside will soon have a texting service for interested parents.  Keep an eye out for the forms in your boxes. 

• There is going to be an outdoor cleanup day coming soon - probably near the end of November or early December.  Melinda and Maureen will keep us posted.

• There is a field trip next Thursday, October 20th, to the pumpkin patch for the early learners.  Forms should be in your boxes.   

• Finally, Trisha Butler volunteered to be in charge of the volunteering committee. 

As always, please feel free to use this blog as a way to communicate, discuss ideas, suggestions, ideas, concerns, etc.  If you have an idea for a post, either comment and I can get back to you or email me: juliegoldman@gmail.com. 

Thanks again for a great meeting. 

PTO Meeting on Wednesday, October 12th

Portside Montessori PTO Meeting on

Wednesday October 12th

October 3, 2011

To:  Portside Parents,

The second PTO meeting will be held at Portside Montessori on Wednesday October 12th at 6pm-7pm in the preschool classroom. Since it is after school hours if you need childcare please email Laura Federico at leschwartz44@hotmail.com by no later than Friday October 7th. Melinda and Maureen have offered to have a teacher or two stay after but we will need an accurate count to do this. If you can’t make it and you want to participate or have questions please email Laura as well.

At our second meeting we will discuss:

*Updates and takeaways from our last    meeting (teacher pictures, teacher lunch, suggestion box and fundraising opportunities)

*Form Committees and discuss upcoming events (ie: clean up day…etc..)

*Review items from suggestion box

*Get updates from teachers and directors

*Discuss One component of Montessori Philosophy

Thanks! Portside PTO

To be added to the email list send us your info or see

our blog at http://portsidepto.blogspot.com/ or on facebook at Portside Parents

   

The Picture Board is up!

 PTO Parents,

Hope all is well. Here is an update for you:

TEACHER PICTURE BOARD:

Check out the great work done by Jasmine on the teacher pictures! It is great to see all their smiling faces when we walk in the door.

TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCH:

Our first Teacher Appreciation lunch is next week Wednesday, September 28th.

The following parents have volunteered to bring food.

• Robert & Kathie-Le Barrett have volunteered to have Boston Market cater the main dishes
• Karen Zanotto is bringing cups and drinks
• Karin Sturgis is bringing a salad
• Natalie Johnson is bring a potato side dish
• Nadien Menke is bringing dessert
• Julie Goldman is bringing a fruit salad
• Some unknown person is bringing banana nut bread - if you posted this on the blog, please post a comment saying who you are.
  

NEXT MEETING:

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 12th, at 6pm. If you need childcare please email Laura Federico at leschwartz44@hotmail.com, or post a comment on the blog, by Friday, October 7th. If you email after that date there may not be room as Melinda and Maureen will allocate teachers for the number of kids who have RSVPd by the 7th. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AS MELINDA AND MAUREEN HAVE BEEN SO GENEROUS TO OFFER THIS TO US WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HELP THEM OUT BY GIVING THEM ADVANCED NOTICE.

Our tentative agenda for the next meeting is as follows:

• Review suggestions/ideas that have come up from the last meeting and the suggestion box

• Updates on fundraiser ideas

• Form committees and have some committee brainstorm time

• Review Montessori approach

• Updates from the Directors

If you have a topic that you would like to see added to the agenda, please email or post a comment on the blog.

Looking forward to seeing you! Hope September is treating you well.

Julie Goldman and Laura Federico

Fundraising committee volunteers needed

At the first meeting of the PTO, many people showed interest in being on the fundraising committee.  Nadien Menke has stepped forward and volunteered to co-chair the committee.  Thanks Nadien!  If anyone else would like to work to help with fundraising or just have their ideas heard, comment here and I will make sure Nadien gets your name.

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon - volunteers needed

At our first PTO meeting, someone suggested that we have teacher appreciation lunches, either monthly or bi-monthly.  We are having our first teacher appreciation lunch on Wednesday, September 28th.  We are asking parents to volunteer to bring a dish for the teachers for lunch.   Special thanks to those who have already volunteered - Robert & Kathie-Le Barrett have volunteered to have Boston Market cater the main dishes, so we just need a few parents to volunteer to bring in some side dishes and/or dessert.  Karen Zanotto has already volunteered to bring cups and drinks and I will bring some sort of side dish.   If you would like to contribute to the meail, please  leave a comment in the comment section along with what you would like to bring!  Thanks.  I know that the teachers will appreciate this.

Welcome!

If you are reaidng this blog, then you are most likely a teacher, parent, grandparent or other caregiver for a student at Portside Montessori.  This blog will hopefully serve as a way to communicate within the group, to share ideas and to plan events.  If you ever have an idea for a blog post or want to write a blog post, send it my way!