Montessori
System
Curriculum/Programs
About
Us
Latest
News
Press
Releases
Parents
Teacher's
Profile
Location
About
the BVI
Tuition/Fees
Activities/Calendar
Awards/Recognition
Testimonials
FAQ's
History
of CHMS
Contact
Us
Links
Site
Map
Home
PARENT'S SECTION - PTA
MINUTES OF PTA MEETING NOVEMBER 3, 2004
PRESENT: A. Dick-Read, Y. Gordon-Wide, T. Hayward, J. Maree, S. McDonald, J. McIntyre, K. Morgan, P. Morgan, M. Pringle, S. Stout, E. Wilkinson, A. Woodruff
APPOLOGIES: T. Thompson, M. Donovan
The meeting commenced at 7:10
In the last meeting we agreed to buy four computers, PTA funding $1700 directly and borrowing $1500 from the school until the PTA can refund them. The checks will be written tomorrow and ordered as quickly as possible.
The PTA has completed paying for the new fence around the school.
J. McIntyre gave a briefing on the Quiz Night. The date of the Quiz Night has been changed to November 27 so not to conflict with other events on the island. Now the band named The Murphy’s Ranch Elementary Band (which is made up of adults in spite of how the name sounds) can play afterward. Although this is the weekend of American Thanksgiving, nothing major on the island seems to conflict. The teams can have any number up to eight people. The cost is $15 per person. $5 is going to pay for lasagna and $10 profit for the PTA. There is a possibility of a donation from the bar if the receipts are high. Raffle tickets are out and so far have brought in $200. A necklace has been donated from Colombian Emeralds and so there might be an auction and perhaps one other item (please let J. McIntyre know if you have any items). Volunteers are needed to assist in helping with this event please contact J. McIntyre or S. Fay. Advertising is planned in the three newspapers events section, Limin’ Times, and Channel 3. There may be an ad a week in advance in one of the papers to get more people to attend. P. Morgan will write a press release. The next Quiz Night has not been planned yet, but Graham at the Limin’ Times has an event list for the island and will be consulted for possible dates in the spring. The total cost of this event so far is $12 for the purchase of raffle tickets. The funds from this event will go teacher training.
Y. Gordon-Wide gave a briefing on the progress of the Tea Towels. The tea towels have a self portrait of all of the students and staff printed on them. After researching the cost of printing them in Tortola, the US and England, they found it would be least expensive to have them done in England at $3.50 per unit. This was supposed to work because a volunteer was going to bring them back so there would not be a shipping cost, but it didn’t work out and the towels are still in England. If anyone knows a person coming back from London in the next two weeks and can carry all or part of the towels with them, please contact Y. Gordon-Wide as soon as possible. So far, $44 has been spent on Fed Ex and over $700 has been spent on printing. E. Wilkinson reminded the PTA if we needed courier services for letters to England, we should check with Trust Companies to try to get a discount. If all towels are sold and free shipping can be arranged, the profit will be about $1200. As over $700 was borrowed for printing, Y. Gordon-Wide will be asking parents to pay in advance for their tea towels by next Friday.
The Curry Night is scheduled for February 11, 2005. Y. Maree is looking for volunteers to help him plan. P. Morgan offered her assistance as last year the school staff organized this event.
Ideas were put out for ways to make money with little time. Some ideas suggested were a pasta night or wine tasting at a different location from the school such as an art studio. P. Morgan is researching these.
Y. Gordon-Wide, S. McDonald and A. Dick-Read gave a briefing on the Arts Festival. They are working on a new title/ mission statement for the Festival. They are considering “Caribbean Art Festival presented by Century House Montessori School”. There are several reasons behind the change: Some of the public were under the impression that the Arts Festival was only a children’s events or only for people interested in supporting the school. Additionally, A. Dick-Read explained that he was organizing a new group of Caribbean artists that would be happy to participate in this event. Some other ideas the Art Festival Committee suggested are: making this a two day event, having a kid’s area so that parents would be able to spend time shopping without worrying about their children (P. Morgan was concerned with the liability issue this could cause), writing an article for the Welcome Magazine, and getting more school’s on the island to participate by having an area for student art. If parents have any comments, further suggestions or want to volunteer, please contact Y. Gordon-Wide, S. McDonald, A. Dick-Read or P. Morgan.
The VISAR Sale is November 13. A. Woodruff stated that, as of yet, there have been minimal donations and very few volunteers to staff the event. If any parents have donations or want to volunteer, please call A. Woodruff.
P. Morgan stated that the Stop and Shop is scheduled for December 11. The teachers are organizing this event as a fun day for the children with a fun dip, craft table and many other exciting things.
Discussions about other possible fundraisers, including the Parent’s Auction and the Book Fair, have been put off until the next meeting.
P. Morgan stated that the Montessori Lecture Series is beginning November 9 with a presentation by D. O’Doherty and S. Maduro about Pre-Primary stages of development. It will include expectations of children, teachers and parents at this level. It will also include explanations of the activities and materials in the classroom. Parents are encouraged to attend to help them understand what goes on in their children’s classroom.
Open House is December 3 at the school. Parent volunteers are needed to make refreshments and greet parents at this event. Please contact P. Morgan.
A. Woodruff stated that there is currently no treasurer for the PTA and this is causing some trouble as there is no one to oversee the accounts and write checks. A. Woodruff will keep the checkbook until someone can be found to fill this post.
P. Morgan suggested ideas for PTA funds. She has spoken to a software company who will sell the school rites for Montessori software that will suit children from age 3-12 for the new computers at a discounted rate of $900. Also she suggested the PTA to fund a parent library with books about Montessori education. Some parents suggested that if money could not be found for the software, asking parents for a monetary contribution could be planned. In addition, P. Morgan offered some of the funds raised at the Stop and Shop, although it is not a PTA event, for the software.
M. Pringle closed the meeting by thanking everyone working on the fundraisers for their hard work. He stated that he wanted more parents to come to all of the PTA meetings as a place to bring their input about the school. He finally stated that he would like to see more staff at the meetings as parents would like to have their input about the school as well. P. Morgan noted that one teacher was on the PTA committee and that teacher represented the entire staff.
The meeting ended at 8:40. The next PTA meeting is December 1st.
Activities Calendar I Articles I Friday Notes I Working Towards Responsibility I Home Responsibilities I I Elementary Curriculum Guide I Casa Curriculum Guide I PTA Meetings