Merriam PTO N2K (need to know)

From the PTO Board: Neena Arora, Kristina Rychlik, Dianna McNeish, Eleni Digenis-Bury

Week of 1/15/12

1/23 Kindergarten Change Over

1/25 Wednesday – Donuts with Dad/Muffins with Mom (7:45 AM), PTO meeting (8:30 AM) with Camp Fair prep (9:00 AM)

1/26   Thursday – Camp Fair

2/10 to 2/17 Scholastic Book Fair

3/17  Saturday – Save the Date For Merriam School Auction

Camp Fair is less than 2 weeks away on Thurs 1/26

Sign up NOW to help, bake or donate

We need MANY more helpers to make Merriam’s 2^nd largest fundraiser a success! 

Please give just 2 hours, a small donation or baked good

Camp Fair earns approx. $18K from businesses, not Merriam families.  Please help us out!

It’s FAST and easier than ever to view ways to help and sign up!  

No more emails back and forth!  Sign up with a click at our new Camp Fair web site:  http://merriamcampfair.camp7.org/   Click on the Event Volunteer option:

After collecting your email address, the site will display what help is needed at specified times.

Your longtime fair Chairs, Trudy Khosla (8^th yr) and Marisa Olson (5^th yr) are counting on you!

Questions:  merriamcampfair@aol.com  Thank you.

The Community Donations Form for the Merriam Auction went home in last Friday’s mail folders.  For more details go to the New Merriam Auction

website:  http://www.biddingforgood.com/merriamschool

Community Donations are due Friday, February 3.

Save the Date:  Merriam Auction, Saturday, March 17, 2012

The Merriam PTO now officially has a Twitter account! Please keep in mind that this is a work-in-progress, and as of this writing, we have not yet finalized exactly what we will tweet, when we will tweet, and details surrounding how we will manage our account. We don’t plan to send a barrage of information in this way, yet hope it will be helpful for last-minute reminders and other things. You may sign up from a button on our web-site: www.merriamPTO.org . Many thanks to Amy Fedyk for bringing up this idea and doing all the legwork to get started!

Merriam’s PTO now has two School Committee Representatives helping us stay on top of issues.  Many thanks to Frances Cook for attending the January 5^th meeting and providing us with the following summary:

Notes from the APSC and ABRSC Joint Meeting--January 5, 2012

Compiled by Frances Cook for the Merriam PTO

Budget Season Begins

<!--[if !supportLists]-->v  <!--[endif]-->The Superintendent presented an overview of his budget as it aligns with long range strategic goals and NEASC recommendations. Points salient to APS

<!--[if !supportLists]-->Ø  <!--[endif]-->Requests a modest increase in personnel to achieve goal of 1 FTE in each Art, Music and PE at all elementary schools.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->Ø  <!--[endif]-->Requests increase in Classroom Assistants budget of $21, 600 per school over and above additions made at the end of last school year

<!--[if !supportLists]-->Ø  <!--[endif]-->Requests increase in allocation for K-6 ELA Coach, K-6 School Psychologist, K-6 Math Support (locations unspecified)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->Ø  <!--[endif]-->Requests Non-level service budget for capital improvements at Conant and Gates

<!--[if !supportLists]-->v  <!--[endif]-->Important upcoming dates 1/19 APS meeting and Saturday, 1/28 Big Budget Meeting

Other Topics of Possible Interest

<!--[if !supportLists]-->v  <!--[endif]-->Regional School District Study Committee

<!--[if !supportLists]-->Ø  <!--[endif]-->The committee tasked with assessing interest in making the district fully regional reported that it would be making a preliminary report on its findings at the next APS meeting

<!--[if !supportLists]-->Ø  <!--[endif]-->The question was raised about whether or not Blanchard would be included in the school choice list this year or whether the idea would simply be surveyed at the upcoming Kindergarten meeting. I don’t think anyone bit on this, so the question remains unanswered as far as I could tell.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->v  <!--[endif]-->Development of a Comprehensive Athletic Concussion Policy

<!--[if !supportLists]-->Ø  <!--[endif]-->New MA Dept. of Public Health regulation mandates concussion training and reporting protocols be established for all school sporting and marching band activities at the HS and Jr HS level.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->Ø  <!--[endif]-->The committee is considering expanding these protocols to all activities at the school, perhaps even including afterschool or before school programs, Community Ed programs for all ABR and APS students.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->Ø  <!--[endif]-->Parents and community members may have an opportunity to participate in the formation of this policy at next week’s PTSO meeting.

In addition, Saturday, January 28^th is “Budget Saturday.”  This is a public meeting, feel free to attend to learn more about the budget process and recommendations for next year.<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->

News from Community Education:

Lil' Rascal Volleyball

Acton Boxborough Community Education is offering volleyball for children in grades 1-3 on Friday nights from 5-6 P.M.  This is a new offering (Volleyball for Small Fries or also known as Lil' Rascals Volleyball) and will feature the child's parent optionally assisting in coaching her/his child.  The basic elements of the game will be taught while developing hand/eye coordination and basic muscular coordination skills in a fun-filled environment.  Balancing, jumping, hitting, timing, ball tracking, feet, hand and body coordination skills will be geared toward learning the game.  Experienced Junior High School volleyball players will assist in the instructions and demos.  Register now at 978-266-2525.  Classes start February 3 and space is limited.

News from AB Proscenium Circus:  Coming soon, the musical Pippin, recommended for grades 2 and above (see flyer below).

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->