Friends of Warren School
March 1, 2016
7:00 pm
Warren School – Art Room
Present:
Kristina Daudelin, Melissa Desmond, Meghann Knowles (recording), Angela Rossbach, Carrie Fletcher, Amy Anderson, Joanna Githens, Amy Cassone
Call to Order
- Treasurer’s Report
A. $28.50 was spent to purchase checks for the new bank account and $36.23 was spent on signs for the Holiday Bazaar
B. Deposits - $9 statement fee refund, $100 from Angevine farm and $104.41 from Target Red Card rewards
- Principal’s Report
A. Superintendent’s meeting moved to March 2 at 6pm
C. Brief dental program for 2nd graders being planned.
D. March 5 is the 6th grade pasta dinner
E. March 8 is a meeting to gather parent feedback on the progress reports
F. School play, Peter Pan, will take place at 2pm on March 17 and 7pm on March 18
G. March 18 Goshen, Morris and Warren elementary schools are getting together at Goshen school for a Spanish-themed assembly
H. Conferences are taking place March 22 to March 24. Students in grades 2 through 6 will be involved and will have a few minutes to discuss what their goals are.
I. Book fair will take place during conferences. Kathy Brown will oversee the sale.
J. April 12 Dr. Stone will be available to answer multi-age questions. Questions from students and the parent committee will be discussed.
K. School will be teaming up with the Warren Historical Society for a History Day later in the year.
L. All school field trip to the beach tentatively scheduled for the end of May
- President’s Report
- Old Business.
B. Stranger Danger Program. Resident State Trooper may be willing to give a talk. Would include role play and discussion of various scenarios. Another option is to wait for the “Officer Phil” program/puppet show. He would be willing to come in the Fall.
- New Business
A. Apparel. New school logo has been finalized. Apparel estimates have come in at $8.79 for youth t-shirts, $10.34 for adult t-shirts, $15 for art if printer needs to fix design, $25 for screen print ($50 for two colors), $7.50 reset fee. Total cost comes in at $12.44 for youth t-shirts and $13.69 for adult t-shirts (plus shipping). Christine will order samples (white – 1 child and 2 adult) and do a pre-sale at parent conferences. Can consider ball caps and water bottles next year if the apparel sells well.
B. Next Assembly. The next assembly will take place in April. Angela Rossbach and Amy Anderson suggested another science-based assembly. Science Tellers was mentioned as a possibility. Also discussed the possibility of a night time assembly so that families can attend.
C. Nutrition Event. Instead of doing Food Revolution again this year may do a National Chefs Move to School Day event. National Chefs Move to School Day, taking place on May 8, is an event aimed at fighting child obesity. Can invite a local chef (maybe from Community Table) to come in and talk about nutrition and prepare a meal.
D. Talent Show. “Warren Kids Got Talent” to be held on May 20. Sign-up sheet will go out on April 1 and auditions will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 on April 28. One act per child with a 3 minute limit. After school rehearsal will take place on May 18 from 3:30 to 5:00. Dress rehearsal will be held at 1:30 on May 20 followed by the show at 6:30. $2 door fee and a concession table with popcorn and water. Mrs. Brown will MC the event.
F. 6th Grade Picnic Tables. Mrs. Birdsall has asked if FOWS will be doing anything to replace the picnic tables. She is going to reach out to WAMOGO students and possibly have them come and build new tables with the 6th grade. The 6th grade would purchase some umbrellas and that would be their gift to the school. Melissa Desmond will check with Lowes and Home Depot for possible pallet or material donations.
G. SchoolStore. SchoolStore fundraising packet went out to parents. The school will be able to raise money when families make purchases at merchants such as Barnes & Noble, Sears, Target, KOHL’S and Walmart.
H. Meghann Knowles volunteered to take on the Free Cash Coordinator position.
Adjourned
Friends of Warren School
February 11, 2016
7:00 p.m.
Cancelled due to inclement weather
Friends of Warren School
January 14, 2016
7:00 pm
Warren School – Art Room
Present:
Kristina Daudelin, Melissa Desmond, Meghann Knowles (recording), Angela Rossbach, Kristen Willenbrock, Amy Anderson
Call to Order
- Treasurer’s Report
A. Scholastic Book Fair netted a cash profit of $587.46
C. Holiday Bazaar profit was $1,077
D. Water cooler cost was $946
E. Field trip to James Morris School for African drumming performance cost $333.33
F. Account balance is $5366.63
- President’s Report
A. Nothing to report - Principal’s Report
- New water cooler is getting a lot of use
- Field trip to James Morris School for African drumming performance on January 15. Students from Warren, Goshen and Morris will attend. Following the performance each grade level will do an activity together.
- Another district wide multicultural event is being planned for May to blend the schools together.
- January 13 was a Teacher Work Day. Teachers discussed growing the multiage classroom setting.
- Dr. Emily Stone is returning in April.
- A brochure on Warren School/multiage classrooms was handed out. The brochure will be mailed out to residents.
- New enrichment cluster themes will be announced soon.
- A. All School Field Trip discussion tabled.
- New Business
- A. Looking into a Stranger Danger Program with “Officer Phil.” Waiting on a cost quote.
B. New apparel quote for about $8 per shirt and an about $1 more for color. New logo is finalized.
D. Warren Kids Got Talent Show tentatively scheduled for May 20 at 6pm. Will hold auditions. A rehearsal will be held in the afternoon on the day of the show.
E. Kristina suggested hosting family bingo nights.
Adjourned
Friends of Warren School
December 1, 2015
7:00 pm
Warren School – Art Room
Present:
Kristina Daudelin, Melissa Desmond, Meghann Knowles (recording), Angela Rossbach, Amy Cassone, Liz Horn
Call to Order
Treasurer’s Report
A. Balance of the account was discussed and profit from the wreath sale was announced.
B. Remaining balance from the old account has been transferred to the new account.
- President’s Report
A. FOWS will be purchasing signs to advertise the holiday bazaar.
Principal’s Report
- Winter concert featuring the Upper Blended and 6th grade classes will be held on December 2.
- Board of Ed meet and greet will be held at Wamogo on December 2.
- Field Trip to Chapter 126 and the Imagination Museum on December 4.
- Early Release Day on Wednesday, December 9.
- Winning school logo design has been revised and refined.
- The Ukrainian Egg Design cluster would like to donate a tree to the tree raffle being held at the holiday bazaar.
- Kouffin Kanecke Company, an African drumming and dance group, will be performing at James Morris School on Friday, January 15. Morris and Goshen schools have already signed up and Angela proposed that Warren students also attend. Warren school would split the $1,000 fee with Goshen and Morris and would also have to pay $250 for bus transportation. A FOWS vote will be conducted via email
- FOWS will be paying for one hour custodial time for hosting the holiday bazaar at the school. Angela, Michael and Kristina will be donating their time to cover the remaining time.
Old Business - A. We are pricing apparel for the new logo. There will be an order form for apparel available at the holiday bazaar.
New Business
- All school field trip discussion tabled. A vote will be conducted via email to determine what FOWS will cover as far as trip costs.
- Tree raffle ticket prices were discussed.
Friends of Warren School
November 12, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Warren School – Art Room
Present:
Kristina Daudelin, Melissa Desmond, Meghann Knowles (recording), Angela Rossbach, Amy Anderson, Amy Cassone, Liz Horn, Carrie Fletcher, Mary Ellen Birdsall, Kelly Good, Holli La Barbera, Joanne Woodington, Kathy Newton, Kathy Brown
Call to Order
- Visit from Kelly Good, Cafeteria Manager and Holli LaBarbera, Food Services Director.
- Kelly brought some lunch items from the menu for the group to try and Kelly and Holly answered food related questions.
- Student participation is up.
- Kitchen will continue offering samples of menu items to students.
- Discussed cafeteria’s policy of requiring students to take a certain number of components which must include a vegetable or fruit.
- Treasurer’s Report
- Balance of the account was discussed and profits from the Fall Festival, Butter Braids sale and Book Fair were announced.
- President’s Report
A. A 50 minute animal themed assembly has been scheduled for Monday, November 23 at
- The December and March FOWS meetings have been rescheduled and will now take place on Tuesday, December 1 and Thursday, March 3.
- Discussed whether we want to have physical shirts available for sale at the Holiday Bazaar or just take orders for them.
- Principal’s Report
- 7 finalists have been selected from student created school logo ideas. School will vote on Tuesday and a final, polished logo will be created from the winning design.
- School photos will be available online tomorrow and families will have a 1 week to order.
- An anonymous questionnaire will be going out to gain feedback on the weekly email blast.
- Wayne Prescott, the school’s Library Media Specialist, is moving to a position at WOMOGO and Kathy Brown will be replacing him. She will remain with Mrs. Brady in the mornings helping with Pre-K students and will spend afternoons 5 days a week in the library.
- Ashley Johnson will be working at the school as a Math Specialist 2 days a week.
- New Business
A. Kathy Newton proposed a possible author visit. She asked for funding ($225 for two sessions) to bring Christine Ieronimo, author of “A Thirst for Home”, to the school in March. A story of water across the world, the program would bring students a more multi-cultural view of the world. Motion was made by Kristina Daudelin to fund the visit. Motion passed.
C. Holiday Bazaar. The Bazaar will be running from 10am to 4pm on December 12. Location to be determined (Community Center, Firehouse or School). 8 vendors have been secured so far and we are looking to secure 2 more. In addition to the vendors there will be hot cocoa, poinsettias, soup, parent donated baked goods, tree raffle made from donated items and a Secret store. Student council will have a gift wrap station to wrap presents for donations (using donated gift wrap). Santa is also a possibility.
D. TerraCycle. The school is looking at bringing the TerraCycle program back to the school. The school would collect non-recyclable items (such as toothpaste tubes) and would get money for sending the items in to a company that repurposes things into items like purses.
E. All School Field Trip Payment Discussion. Tabled until the next meeting.
F. Water Cooler Station Discussion. Angela Rossbach proposed the addition of a chilled water station similar to those found in WOMOGO, Morris and Goshen schools. The fountain would go in the hallway across from the cafeteria and students and faculty could use the fountain to fill their water bottles. She asked for $945 to fund the purchase. Discussed that filters would need to be replaced periodically ($166 for 3 filters) but it may become a school cost that can be worked into the school’s budget. Tabled until the next meeting.
G. The idea of a school store that is run once a week by 6th graders was discussed.
H. Amy Cassone asked for $150 to purchase a part to repair a tent that she donated to FOWS to use at the Fall Festival. Not enough members were present so the vote will be conducted over email.
Adjourned
Friends of Warren School
October 8, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Warren School – Art Room
Present:
Kristina Daudelin, Melissa Desmond, Meghann Knowles (recording), Angela Rossbach, Joanna Githens, Amy Anderson, Kristen Willenbrock, Alyssa Krasowski, Amy Cassone, Lexi Mease-White, Liz Horn, Carrie Fletcher, Nathalie Brodhead
Regrets:
Barbara Dinicola
Call to Order
Approval of Minutes
- Treasurer’s Report
A. Melissa Desmond discussed the school district’s request that Friends of Warren School (FOWS) open its own bank account. FOWS funds have always been kept with the school’s account/funds. We will be filing our own 990 forms with the IRS. Two people will be counting the money before deposits. Motion was made by Melissa to open the account (with Melissa Desmond and Kristina Daudelin being the authorized signers on the account). Motion passed.
C. Profit from the Back to School Carnival was discussed.
- President’s Report
A. 50 students signed up for the Pumpkin Decorating event. 100 sugar pumpkins were donated and $33 was spent on crafts. Motion made by Kristina Daudelin to donate $60 in donuts and cider. Motion approved.
B. Motion made by Kristina Daudelin to donate the leftover pumpkins and craft materials to be used as prizes for the sixth grade games at Warren Fall Festival. Motion approved.
D. The school will be teaming up with Goshen Center School and James Morris School to get discounts on school assemblies.
E. A “Crime Scene” themed assembly, “The Great Cat Caper”, is scheduled for October 28. Future assembly themes may include exotic animals, science of light/lasers, game show, Sciencetellers.
F. Kristina Daudelin announced that she has been hired by Region 6 to work 5 hours a week in the kitchen. She will be there to prepare homemade dishes. We will alert parents that there are new, healthier selections on the menu. Volunteers are welcome in the kitchen if anyone would like to donate time to chop vegetables on weekday mornings.
- Principal’s Report
- A staff meeting was held to discuss ways to make sure students have enough time for both lunch and play/recess. Solutions were discussed.
- Samples of hot lunch will be given to students so kids can try dishes.
- The practice of students going up for seconds during lunch was discussed. School is checking Federal laws. A form may go out asking parents if they approve their child getting whole second lunches and/or additional servings of a component of the lunch.
- Multi-age expert Dr. Stone will be at the school October 13 and 14 to meet with teachers and parents. A parent discussion will be held on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:30 p.m. The Wamogo National Honor Society will provide child care during the event.
- Parent conferences will be held the week of October 19.
- The school wide field trip this year will take place in late May or early June and will focus on beach science/oceanography. Hammonasset Beach is a possible location.
- Local Author Christine Ieronimo, may be coming to the school to discuss her book “A Thirst for Home” and her experience adopting a girl from Ethiopia.
- Students will be visiting Chapter 126 in Bristol for a 2 hour program that includes wheelchair sports and playing games while blindfolded. Lower Primary students would go the nearby Imagine Nation Museum.
- Old Business
Fall Festival Update. FOWS will be at the festival selling donuts, magnets and apparel. There will also be face painting and baseball pitch. Wamogo students will be doing the face painting and will use leftover face paint from the Back to School carnival. - New Business
- Harvest Dance will be held on Friday October 30 from 6-8 p.m. in the gym. A sign up sheet will go out asking parents to sign up to bring food and drinks (pies, vegetable tray, fruit plate, water cider, popcorn, chips). There will be no charge and students will be allowed to wear costumes.
- The book fair is running concurrent with parent meetings 10/19-10/23. Book fair profits traditionally goes to the school library. FOWS will not be able to get a cut of the library’s percentage unless sales hit $2200. Sales under $2200 will result in a higher percentage return but it will be in Scholastic Bucks. Discussed ways to further promote the book fair and online component.
- Discussed the possibility of reducing the number of annual fundraisers.
- $25 Stop and Shop gift card was purchased for Scott for National Custodial Day.
- The upper blended, 5th grade and 6th grade students have been learning about the evolution of logos over time and have begun to draft their own school logos. The 10 or 15 will go to vote and the winner will work with an artist to turn the design into a finished product.
Friends of Warren School
September 3, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Warren School - Art Room
Present: Kristina Daudelin, Melissa Desmond, Angela Rossbach, Amy Anderson, Kristen Willenbrock, Alyssa Krasowski, Amy Cassone, Lexi Mease-White, Meghann Knowles, Liz Horn, Perry Githens, Barbara DiNicola, Carrie Fletcher, Nathalie Brodhead
Call to Order
1. Treasurer's Report Balance of the account was discussed. Final bill finally came in from All Star for last year's school field trip and it was lower than expected. Lexi Mease-White brought funds from the Scholastic Book Fair last spring to be deposited.
2. President's Report
A. Motion was made by Kristina Daudelin to order Face Paint Kits for the carnival and Fall Festival. Seconded by Liz Horn. Motion passed.
B. Cookie Dough fundraiser to run in October. MCM Fundraising will give a 1% discount
C. Cynthia Warshaw is working with Alisa Wright and the ASAE program to spruce up the school garden and asked if Friends would be willing to donate the mining table that was used at the Fall Festival last year. Motion passed.
3. Principal's Report
A. The teachers all convey their gratitude to FOWS for all they do to support the staff at Warren School
B. Mr. Ruiz is the new Spanish teacher. Students are being immersed in the new foreign language program in the district. Grades K - 2 receive Spanish lessons two times per week and Grades 3-6 receive lessons three times per week. Students appear to be enjoying Mr. Ruiz's presence in the school.
C. Art teacher Laurie Sweet has been named the Region 6 Teacher of the Year and is one of 16 finalists in the State
D. A new e-blast format was launched with "buttons" to make links easier and a format that works better with mobile access.
4. Old Business
A. School Carnival: Tru Value of Litchfield is donating the dunk tank again. We will be renting a sno cone machine and the cotton candy machine. Volunteers are needed to help man the areas. Games to include Gaga Pit, Sack races, Pie eating contest, Face Painting.
B. Bike Raffle will be held at the Carnival. Students can pre-purchase tickets and presence at the carnival is not required.
C. Apparel: Current stock will be available for sale at the carnival. Voting on two design ideas will be held at the carnival.
5. New Business
A. Scholastic Book Fair: Book Fair was a huge success last spring. Scholastic is asking whether we will be doing one or two book fairs this year. If we commit to two we will be able to host one as a buy one get one free sale in the spring. Motion was made to hold two fairs this school year. Motion passed. Parent volunteers will be needed to help run the fall book fair which will coincide with the parent teacher conference days.
B. Fall Festival: Continue with apple cider donuts again this year. Increase to 1800 from 1200 purchased last year. We will also continue with the pitching booth, sale of the car magnets and face painting. Tents may be needed and a volunteer sign up will go home with students.
C. Science based all school assembly: Mobile Ed has a few programs available (Crime Scene Science, Great Cat Caper, Fingerprint analysis). Crime Scene program is available at a discount for October 23. This date is not a good one for the school. Voted to see if Mobile Ed would work with us to rearrange the dates and try for the Crime Scene program.
D. Warner Theatre productions: discussed trying to arrange another all school theatre production trip this year in conjunction with the Warner programs like Charlotte's Web last year. Need teacher input.
E. Picnic table enrichment project: The picnic tables in the garden are in need of replacement. Discussed FOWS supporting an enrichment program that the students would participate in to design and build new tables for the garden.
F. Harvest Dance: Friends will be hosting a harvest dance for the school families on October 30 from 6-8. There will be no fee for entry but we will have a donation bucket available. DJ will be provided for free. Refreshments will be served.
G. Open Comments: Nathalie Brodhead discussed the district STEAM program and approach. The district is going to be joining the statewide Invention Convention again this year. Additionally, Nathalie is asking for volunteers to help in the school cafeteria to work on food prep, etc to try to bring fresh/homemade foods back to the menu.
6. Adjourned
Friends of Warren School
August 13, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Warren School - Art Room
Present: Kristina Daudelin, Melissa Desmond, Angela Rossbach, Liz Tanner- Horn, Sue Carpenter, Barbara Dinicola, Kristen Willenbrock, Amy Cassone
Regrets: Nathalie Brodhead, Carrie Fletcher, Kit Lundberg, Amy Anderson
Call to Order
1. Treasurer's Report: Balance on the account remains steady from the end of the school year with estimated balance of $2,258.18. Official invoice from the bus company for the school field trip is outstanding.
2. President's Report:
* Pre-K and K Bus Orientation scheduled for August 24, 2015 - FOWS would like to have a presence and provide small refreshment for incoming students; Kristen Willenbrock will decorate refreshment table
* Teacher room set up - Teachers appreciated help last year before the school year started. Decision to help teachers after bus orientation on August 24.
* First fundraiser of the school year - Butter Braids and Cookie Dough - will run for sales from October 1 - October 19. Forms will arrive mid-September. Final orders will be due October 29 and orders will arrive at school for pick up on November 4 at 2:00.
3. Principal's Report:
* Principal Rossbach expressed how excited she is to be at Warren School and how she is looking forward to working with the students and staff here. Learning will be student centered. Enrichment programming will take place one day per week and students will have the option to move around to a different center in the school for the enrichment so they are attending something they are interested in and spending time learning with other students of like interests.
* Maker's Space is moving to the library and the library has been updated with new carpet and paint, the partial wall has been removed and the library has been opened up; there will be a new lego wall added to the space and additional items for the Maker's Space will be ordered
* Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2015 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
* Principal Rossbach would like to host parent gatherings in a casual atmosphere on a regular basis. Discussed alternating monthly with a daytime meeting and evening meeting
4. Old Business
* Back to School Carnival - scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2015 from 4:00 p.m, to 6:00 p.m. Admission cost will include hot dogs (provided by Tammy Fischer), water, cotton candy, sno-cone, popcorn. Litchfield Tru Value has agreed to donate the use of the dunk tank again this year. Biker's Edge agreed with Barbara DiNicola to donate a Specialized bike at cost ($125.00). Motion was made and passed to purchase the bike with Friends funds and raffle at the carnival (Barbara/Kristen)
* Apparel Update - Barbara was able to gather samples from FatCity in New Milford of some shirt/sweatshirt and sweatpant options. Decision was made to stick with a grey color for the apparel and work towards changing the school color from green to maroon/red to coordinate with the Wamogo colors. Design was left as open to come up with some formats. Possible contest to determine new design was brought up.
* FOWS pin board in the parent pick up hall was discussed. Principal Rossbach agreed that FOWS can have the left hand side of the existing pin board in the parent pick up hall and Liz Tanner-Horn is working on information to have up on the board for the start of school.
5. New Business
* Stop & Shop A+ Rewards Program - Friends will sponsor a contest with the students to give them an incentive to bring family members' loyalty card numbers into school. Michael Gabriel-Deveau has agreed to register and enter all card numbers gathered. A collection sheet will go home with students on the first day of school.
* FOWS first day packet - agreed that we should send an informational sheet about FOWS home with students on the first day to include directory form, Carnival ticket order form and Stop & Shop collection form
* A to Z Directory - Melissa worked on obtaining information from the company over the summer. Cost would be $2.00 per family. Decided as a group to stick with our current format and try to make it available electronically as well.
* Open House/School Apparel Sale - discussed having order forms available at Open House for pre-orders on apparel
Adjourned