PTA Meeting Notes for April 2023 meeting
April 20, 2023
Members Present: 17
Introductions
Principal’s Update (Corey)
Thank you to Brian Bray and the Rotary Club for the purchase of several trees to be planted soon.
> Working with the district to do some stump removal and then we will get the new ones planted.
> Lots of new trees will be planted including a couple of “Appleton Apple Trees!”
Book Fair Update
50% of the sales stays in our library
The Reading Nook that we are sitting in was purchased by the Appleton PTA!
$12,000+ already this year!
Corey – For perspective – we used to have numerous fundraisers that only gave Appleton between 10-20%. So now, Spell-A-Thon gives us $100%, and Book Fair gives back 50%. That’s WAY Better!
Sheila Vrooman is a hero for Scholastic Book Fair!!
May PTA Meeting is important – We will be talking about dates for next year and getting the committee set for Carnival 2023
Financial Report (Brooke)
Not much going on this month!
We finalized the audit from last year
$56,000 in the bank at this time.
Aquas Boards (7 more) will be purchased and installed this summer
Question from a parent – What is the average PTA budget in this valley?
Corey – It varies according to the different areas. Some schools have a very involved PTAs and others do not have that. We are at the top-end for public schools in the Grand Valley. When Corey arrived, we averaged about $6,000 per year for our PTA budget.
Committee Updates (Art Heritage/Restaurant Nights/Community or Business Sponsors)
Ice Skating Fundraiser - Krissy & April -- $10 admission and 50% comes back to Appleton. Does not include the skate rental. May 7th (Sunday) for 2 hours.
We need more hype about this type of event. Something in the Tuesday Folder, or kids write a note about it to their parents, etc. How about a label on each kid’s shirt?
We have talked about putting one of the large TVs out in the front lobby – We could “advertise” upcoming events like this one.
This is only our second activity event (we did Get Air early on and it wasn’t very successful). If we can build it up, maybe more families will participate.
“Red the Rink!” -- We need to advertise this and get our kiddos there to have some fun!
New Agenda Items
Joy Zeller – Tomorrow after school, we have the tie-dye with teachers’ event and we need some parents to help set up this event.
We need to have tables set up. (Todd can do this!)
Joy &/or Kelly – We need to have the dye here and ready
We need somebody to help decorate the Teacher’s Lounge for Appreciation Week and to help make a flyer. Please reach out to April if you can help. Teacher Appreciation Week is the second week of May!
PTA Bulletin Board – Anyone willing to update the board? Get us out of winter?
Open Items
Summer Learning Program Prizes
April has an update from Sarah on potential of getting Rowdy (CMU Bull) to come.
Rowdy Wranglers – CMU is not in session when we normally do this. We wouldn’t be able to do this until after the 21st of August if we want the Wranglers to be here
Sarah’s Dad could bring him to Appleton prior to the 20th of August for a couple of hours.
We need to get this on the schedule soon!
Sarah was going to follow-up on getting Rowdy to come for a visit/Brooke was following up on a snow cone truck and Kelli mentioned talking to someone at FCA about a connection with a pro athlete.
Updating playground equipment - No closer than last month!
We could start saving for this targeted purchase!
Wendy – Loma Elementary got a Colorado Matching Grant to help pay for this. Corey will call the Loma Principal and ask some questions about how this worked for them.
Decodable books We need more time before deciding on ordering more books. We won’t come back to this item until we have more information from the curriculum department.
Addressing future volunteer needs Board in discussions on this. (No updates for this meeting)
This will be a priority at the May meeting!
Business Sponsors No updates other than the committee plans to have details finalized by the last PTA meeting so we can get a vote before we head into summer.
Pre-packaged school supplies (April looking into – no updates for this meeting)
Other Ideas or Thoughts
Corey – We've had two meetings here about the proposed boundary changes. Between 21 Road and 22 Road – Would these kids go to Redlands MS or still to Fruita? They are talking about the North side of L Road and the East Side of our boundaries also.
The board needs to reduce the number of students going to Fruita. So, changes need to & will be made.
They will be working to “Grandfather in” some students and provide bussing for a certain amount of time
The purpose of all of these changes are to make FMHS a true 9-12 high school and to make FMS a 6-8 school (like all of the other middle and high schools in the valley)
If you need info from this meeting, contact Corey Hafey and he can give you the meeting notes
> Lots of fun things happening from now to the end of the school year!
Upcoming Dates to Remember
Tuesday, April 4th – Thursday, April 20th: State Testing
Monday, April 10th – Friday, April 28th: Book Fair
Wednesday, April 26th: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Kindergarten Open House & 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM BINGO Night
Thursday, May 4th 6:00 PM: Kindergarten Music Program
LAST PTA Meeting of the School Year: Thursday, May 18th, 2023
Monday, May 22nd 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Field Day
Tuesday, May 23rd: 5th Grade Graduation
