Wednesday, September 20

Introductions and Updates

School Council update
- Mr. Hawes (3rd grade parent) and Lori are on School Council
- Topics: getting teachers more involved in School Council
- Meetings will be right after school or on half-day Wednesdays
- More info to come in October newsletter
Outdoor Classroom update
- Trying to increase use of outdoor classroom
- There will be extended day program (3rd grade) using the outdoor classroom
  - Focus on connecting and beautifying the space
- Ongoing maintenance of space is needed, sign up will be started
- More ideas for ways to use the outdoor classroom are needed
  - Science demonstration?
Finance update
- Approximately $23,000 in budget
  - Expenses this year so far: student and teacher t-shirts, educational program memberships

Room Parent organization and communication chains (PTO Liaison: Lori Jacobs)
Candy Wars, Trunk or Treat (Madeline, Dana, Kim)
- Trunk or Treat: October 20, rain date of October 27 (5:00 – 6:30pm)
- Candy Wars start in the school, parents send in candy, grade that brings in the most candy wins a prize (last year was pajama day)
Online pop-up Merrymount merchandise store (College Hype)
- Parents will be able to order directly from this online store
PBIS carts and recess bags
- Susan has lists for recess bags (coming in Google doc)
- Teachers generating new ideas for PBIS
Book collection for the vending machine – will let the PTO know if books are needed, not needed at the moment
Clothing donation bin – the school is paid by the weight of the items in the bin
Fun Run prep (Meaghan and Lori)
- Fun Run kicks off November 7
- Boosterthon sends a representative to school, they are receptive to feedback
- PTO gets all the students a small prize
- Room parents can help to generate excitement among the parents in their class, take pictures for the PTO website
Custodian and World Occupational Therapist day gifts
- Kim took care of all gift card purchasing for recognition days for the year

Working through benchmark assessments for students
EDI committee will be working on themes for each month
Teachers have signed up for Wellness Committee, generating ideas
Community Engagement Committee – how to build community (thinking of Veterans’ Day)
Band demonstration for 4th and 5th grade coming up, Strings demonstration for 2nd and 3rd grade coming up
QPS has new opt-out form for photography, can be found in newsletter
QPS Art Exhibit will be coming up
QPS has partnered with UMass Boston for those interested in becoming a mental health provider (reduced tuition available)
Looking for lunch attendants
Picture day: October 10
Extended day programs begin next week, every student was accommodated

Any questions? Ideas? Concerns?
- Making sure all links in newsletter are active
- Aspen will be active for Kindergarten soon