Echo Hill PTO Meeting January 7, 2019

1. Echo Hill PTO Meeting January 7, 2019 Happy New Year! Your time is valuable and we appreciate you sharing it with the PTO. Please log your volunteer time for attending the PTO meeting.

2. Introductions • Introductions • Principal Remarks - Mr. Dan Ludwig

3. District News • 2019/20 Calendar changes • Specifically related to Parent/Teacher Conferences • Conferences will be on common nights (Thursday) • All buildings will hold 4 conference nights throughout the year (November and February/March) • There will be 6 early dismissals over the course of the year for conferences • By holding conferences on common nights, the district is able to ensure a safe and secure environment for our families and staff in attendance • More specifics will be in Tuesday’s Echo Hill school newsletter

4. STEM Club • STEM Club Presentation • Katie Merulla, Echo Hill teacher librarian

5. Committee Updates • Box tops: Tracy Budzinski • 3rd-5th grade won the Box Top contest Dec 21 and was rewarded with popcorn during the Polar Express movie • Hy-Vee Receipts: Katie Mohasci • STEM Night: Sarah Schrobilgen

6. Old Business Recap • Perkin’s night raised $271.25 November 15th • Crayola Recycle Program starts this month • Bring in any brand of marker to be recycled • Students will put them in box that will be labeled for marker recycling • There will be 3 locations within school • Thank you to Lindsey Brown for organizing

7. Old Business Recap • Thank from Hailee Hopkins K-5 Vocal Music PTO, I would like to extend a huge thank you for approving funding towards purchasing soprano ukuleles for the Echo Hill Music Room. Students started using the ukuleles in early December and we are planning to continue with them intermittently throughout the remainder of the year. The ukuleles are the perfect size for all elementary ages- even the Blended Preschool students got the chance to hold and strum a ukulele! I included some photos of a third grade class as they began their introduction to the soprano ukulele. These will be wonderful as an addition to our music curriculum and I am excited to explore new ways to utilize them in music class. Thank you again!

8. Financial Report • Perkins Nights $271.25, More matching gift D4C $364.98

9. 2nd grade Boogie Boards $563.75, Reading Counts $1,962.5 Website fee $13.94, Nov Conf Meals 224.26, Popcorn Supplies $42.26, Financial Report

10. Financial Report • There is roughly a little over $13,000 available (after the 5th grade t-shirts is paid out) to spend or put towards a large school request.

11. Request for funds • No requests for funds

12. New Business/Events • Moe’s Southwest Grill– 20% back to PTO • Tuesday, January 8th 5pm-8pm • White flyers went home last week • Movie Night – January 25 Hotel Transylvania 3 • There will be free popcorn and water • Two volunteers needed to pop popcorn on Friday morning or afternoon • Kindergarten Round Up Meeting • Tuesday, January 29 at 6pm.

13. New Business/Events • Tree Ring – New yearbook company • No contract that PTO has to sign • User friendly software program to create the yearbook • All online ordering with 4 week lead time • If a parent misses the school order deadline parents can order later and pay for shipping to their home • Same price as previous yearbooks

14. New Business/Events • Tree Ring – New yearbook company • Parents will need to login and create an account to order the yearbook • 2 free customizable pages for parents to complete for their child’s book • Gives a more personal touch for each child’s yearbook • Additional pages can be added by parents but there is a cost to add pages • No extra yearbooks available for sale in the office

15. New Business/Events • Tree Ring – New yearbook company • Currently collecting pictures from teachers • More details will be sent out in the coming month regarding yearbook order changes

16. Thank you joining us!Please log your time for joining us tonight!