August 2020 PiE Meeting Minutes

PiE meeting 

Tuesday, September 8th at 7 pm on Zoom

Attendance: Jenny Wilkinson, Kristin Niebur, Aubrey Gardner, Mary Hong, colleen, Amanda Webb, Heather Caulfield, Jessica Mason, Althea Beagley, Julie Zack, Becky Alford, Kim Gordon

Welcome to the new school year! 

• Introduce Steering Committee- everyone turn on their mic and video and say hello and ages of their kids

• Vote on Steering Committee (Jenny to use the poll feature on Zoom)

• Nominated for Co-Chairs: Kristin Niebur and Jenny Wilkinson-Voted in Unanimously

• Nominated for Treasurer: Aubrey Gardner - Voted in unanimously

• Nominated for Secretary: Mary Hong - Voted in Unanimously

• Thank you to Aimee Frost and Jim Goldsmith for many years of service to PiE and HCS!  Once Aubrey has signing privileges from the bank, 2 gift certificates from Good Times will be purchased. 

• Focus for the year: helping kids, school, community however we can

• Please send in your ideas for PiE this year? 

• What we have in the works:

Creemee coupons from Papa Nick’s for kids Tuesday, 9/15, and Thursday, 9/17. A flyer will go out in The Viking Friday.

• Spirit wear site - Tanya Jones has spearheaded this in the past and is interested in doing so again this year.  - Kristin has emailed the administration to verify we can set up a table at the school for people to pick up spirit wear.

• Pumpkin sales (early October) Full moon Farm have donated pumpkins in the past. Kristin has emailed the administration to verify we can set up a table at the school for people to pick up pumpkins.

• Meadow Farms fundraiser (early November) formerly Genevieve’s

• Our intention for this year’s fundraisers is to have no touch payment system: square, Venmo, or checks

• Survey-Questions to generate interest for parents to get involved. This survey will go out in the next PiE E-Newsletter.

• Update of the budget- Money is currently distributed to field trips, grants, food insecurity, 

• Monthly meetings via Zoom: second Tuesday at 7 pm

• SUGGESTIONS ON WHO TO INVITE AS A GUEST SPEAKER?

• Leah Costello-pediatrician, Counselor

Question: What is the history of the backpack program

Answer: There is a Food closet for snacks, vacation snack bags for backpacks, etc. Because the USDA is funding a free lunch program,  PiE’s focus could be on hats, coats and clothes for the school nurse Shelly for her to distribute?

Question: Is there anything for the outside education space.

Answer: There was a general question from the administration and the kindergarten teachers to create an outdoor learning space. This request was promoted in Front Porch Forum and through the listserve. The kindergarten team has requested to table this and come back to it in a few weeks.

Colleen offers her expertise and resources in this area of professional development for educators with this project.

Please add your name and email to chat or email HCSPiE@cvsdvt.org if you would like to be added to our listserv

Next meeting: 10/13/20

 PiE Meeting Zoom Minutes 8/26/20 7-8:45

In Attendance: Jessica Mason, Kristin Neibur, Jenny Wilkinson, Aubrey Gardner, Julie Zack, Amanda Webb

 Introduction of Steering Committee:

Co Chairs: Jenny Wilkinson & Kristin Neibur

Treasurer: Aubrey Gardner

Secretary: Mary Hong

• ·       Our goals for this unusual year-
•       Help school with whatever they need- Continue to reach out to teachers needing help with outdoor classrooms.
• Focus on staff appreciation- Kristin suggests lunches, chocolates, etc. These can be promote on social media  

·       Fundraising

o    Meadow Farms: Kristin will spearhead

      Send Flyers to kids attending hybrid model. emails to remote learners 

• Option 1: send money in to school ship to school.
•   Option 2: digital flyers, digital payment, ships to buyers home, but they need         to pay shipping.
•   Option 3 flyers home, digital payment, ships to buyers home, but they need             to pay shipping.

o   Pumpkin Sales- Jenny has a lead on someone to lead this, she will reach out

    "free money"- Box Tops, Amazon Smile, etc.

•      Mary will ask Libby to post a link in The Viking for a volunteer to lead this.

·       Our plans for next few weeks:

o   Organize an ice cream truck: Jess (Thanks Jess!)

     Jess will Contact The Scoop & Lake Champlain Chocolates for Monday, Sept 7th in early evening, afternoon? Or first Friday the week of school. Alternative to ice cream truck: coupons to Papa Nicks to keep it local.

o   PiE signs: Kristin contacted Deb at the front office. Kristin will email Tim directly to hang up PiE signs at school entrances for first day.

o     Staff Appreciation: Instead of breakfast for staff, Kristin delivered Chocolates delivered to teachers and staff as welcome back.  

• ·   PiE survey to families? 
•     Jess and Mary will update and send out to to email list and advertise in newsletter and The Viking.

•       Reaching out to new families
•        Class parent/grade parent-ask for emails from classmates’ parents
•  Reach out to Libby to put in a link in The Viking.

• Next Meeting: Mary will reach out to Libby to advertise in The Viking “Back to            School PiE Pop In."

•   Monthly PiE meetings Choose Tuesday for Zoom meeting 7-8

•   2nd Tuesday is HCS Board meetings. Invite staff to invite to meetings such as Guidance Counselors and Leah Costello/Tallman

 

February 2020 Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes: February 20, 2020, 7:00-8:00pm

Attendance: John Pontius, Aimee Frost, Mary Hong, Aubrey Gardner,Kristin Niebur, Jim Goldsmith

Agenda

Family Dance - Friday, March 6th “Space is the Place”

• Baskets- Aimee will connect with Deb L. about getting baskets
• Help with “Light Snacks”
• Mary will Contact: Good Times and Papa Nicks re: pizza donations, Cabot, Lantman’s for veggie platter
• Finalize coordination of younger kid activities
• Mary will contact Megan Cluver & Jackie Loomis at Hinesburg Nursery School to request play materials such as Legos, cars/ramp. 
• John will ask Student Council for volunteers to head this night of the dance.
• Other:
• Promotion: Kristin will continue to advertise on social media, Mary will add to next eNew letter, Please spread the word!
• John will put up tape in front of gym doors to avoid kids going outside and in front of bathrooms. 
• John will get Aimee a school iPad for store set up by next week and verify the password for her. 
• Cash box and change will be needed for advance ticket sales. 3 cash boxes would be helpful.

Transition Planning

• A small group of parents will meet on 3/9. The purpose of this meeting is to generate ideas for the PiE steering committee moving forward- Contact Mary Hong if you would like to join this meeting maryhong09@gmail.com.
• Aimee has a lead on a treasurer.
• Jim will compile a monthly to do list of the treasurer position
• Mary will add a description of web designer & president positions to eNew letter
• Mary has volunteered to continue as secretary

Snack Pilot

• Rachel Kring has volunteered to write a SCHIPS grant for the snack pack program- this Grant is due April 15th (Thank you Rachel!)
• The snack program is featured on the PiE web page, but a, “donate now” button is not working.

PiE Directory

• The goal is to have this compiled by the end of April

Spirit wear

• Idea to promote quarterly with signs in the school, on social media and in the Enews Letter. Order date deadlines need to be set for 2020/2021

Upcoming Activities

• March 6th- Family Dance
• March 19th- PiE Meeting
• April 16th- PiE Meeting
• April-Distribute PiE Directory
• April/May & June- Lake Monsters (Jamie Cudney to lead)
• May 4-8th- Staff Appreciation, 1 week of activities (Aubrey Gardner to lead)
• May - Retiring Staff Book Dedication

PiE’s mission is to develop and nurture a partnership between families and Hinesburg Community School so that the parents/guardians and teachers may cooperate in the intuectual, physical and social development of each child. Hinesburg Community School 10888 route 116 Hinesburg, VT 05461

September 2019 Minutes

PiE Monthly Meeting

9/17/19

HCS Flex Space

7-8:30 pm

Meeting Minutes

In attendance: Aimee Frost, Suzan Locke, John Pointus, Jim Goldsmith, Jenny Wilkinson, Jamie Cudney, Mary Hong, Anita Howard, Aubrey Gardner, Julie Zack, Doug Stewart, Kim Gordon

Notes from our Principals:

·         PR for meetings

o   Aimee will put the sign out on PiE meeting week to remind parents.

o   Add PiE meeting announcements in the Viking

·         PiE grants:

o   Suzan and John be involved to preview grants before they go to the committee to set aside those that can be addressed through school funds.

o   Melissa will send Suzan and John the details of what information is needed on the grant application. Applicants will be expected to contribute a detailed written explanation on the application in leu of coming to the PiE meeting.

Family Support Discussion- Opportunity to generate balance of filling a unique need but not duplicating what is out there. Does not have to be a monetary donation but community supports.

1.    Food insecurity-Meal balance due. Available for families who are eligible but not applying for free and reduced lunch.

a.    Getting the word out to those who may qualify for free and reduced lunch.

b.    Support is available to assist parents fill out forms for free and reduced breakfast/lunch.

                                         i.    Hinesburg does not qualifies for grants because of number of free and reduced lunch.

c.    District is addressing food issues would need to coordinate.

d.    Backpack program- Hunger Free VT is the contact –

Steps to take:

                                         i.    Focus is for families in need over the weekend.

                                        ii.    Parents would coordinate (pack bags, distribute to teachers) and a staff would distribute to students in need.

                                       iii.    Suzan and John will meet with teachers, school social workers, school counselors, and Deb to support identifying families in need.

                                       iv.    Mary will put a request for parent volunteers in the Pie enews letter to recruit volunteers to organize bags, food collection to spearhead this as a trial.

                                        v.    Aimee to alert Rachel Kring with this plan.

                                       vi.    Fairfax elementary school has rolled out a similar program-(research is needed to identify point person and inquire how this program works).

e.    Feedback from Rachel Kring-there is a gap during summer, they have volunteers

f.     Summer lunch program-could Hinesburg be a location (Research is needed to identify contact person)

g.    Next steps- John and Suzan will describe to staff the number of free and reduced lunches and come to the next meeting with numbers.

  Next need-Nurse Shelly requests hats, boots, mittens as the weather gets                          colder.

a.    Challenges include ranges of sizes and space to store items.

b.    Suggestions to meet need:

                                         i.    Leftovers from Friends of Families clothing swap.

                                        ii.    Jim will pursue roundup at Lantman’s.

3.    Equitable support for siblings who don’t qualify for funding of activities. Anita can contact sources for food.

Other ways PiE currently supports families in need:

1.    PiE partners with the Hinesburg resource center and contributes funding for vacation meal bags.

2.    STAR fund used for scholarships, sports, music instruments and other student interests that they would not participate because of financial constraints.

a.    Coaches, teachers, request funds to co- principals for various items.

b.    Gift cards to stores are purchased for families around the holidays.

Community Event Discussion-

In leu of the harvest dinner which was a community event, PiE would like to do a

Best Attributes of Harvest Dinner included:

·         Drew in families for older students.

·         Community partnered with the school earlier in the fall, the seasonal food was delicious.

·         Unified arts- students made food from scratch and center pieces, helped in kitchen and served.

·         Exposed younger HCS kids to club activities (CVU Jr. Iron Chef)

·         Not marketed as a fundraiser which made it more low key.

Ideas:

·         Move Jr. iron Chef for the fall and hold a Community Dinner in the fall-Students coordinate pot-luck.

·         Poll email list by voting on activity in November e-news letter.

·         Students to participate in and most likely to help.

Fall

o   Trunk or treat with a dance following

o   Election day bake sale 11/6

o   Fun run in the spring or fall

o   Student organized pot luck

o   Waffle breakfast is no longer occurring - Jr. Iron Chef make breakfast

o   Rock paper scissor

Winter Jan-Feb

o   Coffee house music night (CVU Jr. Iron chef could provide food) students provide music

o   Talent show

o   Spring April

o   Empty bowls-community artists donate bowls, community members buy bowls and fill it with Chili.  Maybe as a kickoff to “backpack” project.

o   Coffee house music night (CVU Jr. Iron chef could provide food) students provide music

Any

o   Italian night-dinner theme night

o   Waffle breakfast is no longer occurring - Jr. Iron Chef make breakfast

o   Trivia Night (location at NRG)-pay for a table- pot luck and drinks- winning table gets a prize

o   Movie night in the gym (family or babysit)

o   Rock paper scissors event

Next steps:

Voting-deadline, open list on idea, would be willing to help

Upcoming Activities

·         Friday 10/19 PiE Staff Grant Application

·         10/26 First Box

November 2019 PiE minutes

PiE Meeting Minutes

11/21/19

7-8:30

Attendance: Aimee Frost, John Pontius, Suzan Locke, Rachel Kring, Kristin Niebur, Jim Goldsmith Jamie Cudney, Melissa Levy, Emily Raymond

Agenda Items

1. PiE Grants

• 10 proposals totaling $7,600, funding amount is $3500

• Process-Mellissa and Tanya look over applications then the list is brought to the administration for the final recommendation

• Geography software Ann Pius (digital tech) $239.00 - Admin to fund

• Art manipulatives Rebecca Gove $300-Will ask for items FPF and/or admin funding

• Snowy day Lisa Stanton $700
• Science set Mary Muraski $500 - 50% of cost funded by other budgets

• Ukuleles and supplies Danielle Sertz $1469
• Cash register play money, air hockey toys, graphic novels, marble run Vicki Nelson $350-Will ask for items via FPF

• Puppets in Education Vicki Nelson $750
• Concrete ping pong table Anne Broussard (HCS parent) $400
• “Crankie” Kerri Wallis $800
• West African Drummers Anika Luna $1500

• Funding decisions Totaled $3500
• Vote by PiE members approved the following Grants:
• Snowy Day, Science set, Ukuleles, Puppets in Education

• Suggestions for 2020/2021 year: Add to guidelines: 
• For parent requests, recommend they partner with a staff member to submit grant
• Reiterate that grants are more likely to be awarded when they impact more students or last more than one year (like supplies or curriculum investments) 
• When announce grants inform teachers of full amount of grant money available

2. Snack program-

• Snack drive is up and running! (thank you Jamie) 
• Suzan and Jim passed on that there is support from the superintendent
• 7&8 take on a project to learn about themselves.  A group of 7th grades focused on a food drive. Half of the money went to buying food, the other half went to a cash donation to the Hinesburg Food Shelf. 
• Program will start with families who receive support from social worker then add more 
• Direct Ask letter 
• Jim passed out a sample letter 
• The timing of the letter could go out anytime with the goal of getting the letter out before the 2019-year end.
• Where the donation money goes- Suzan will reach out to the accountant on how to logistically get invoiced
• The money could go into a PiE account OR
• Direct to the school to a “snack program” account. Food would be bought by Deb Bissonnette and invoiced. 
• Could this be a sustainable funding source?
• Other options are using thea reserve in the PiE account that could be used as “seed money”
• Melissa volunteered to research grant sources as well
• Next steps-
• Suzan and John to review letter language
• Want to emphasize that the money raised stays in Hinesburg
• Before sending need to figure out how the money is received and how snacks are purchased (Susan will run this by the accountant)
• Form a Committee of parents (Rachel Kring) and school member (Deb Bissonnette) to could plan allocation of money/snacks
• Start in January

3. HCS Spiritwear Sale

• 34 pieces were sold. The sales ended 11/17 to be sure the items would be received in time for the holidays.
• There will be a second sale in the New Year

4. Fundraising Projections

• Projecting to raise $13,600
• As a group, PiE is trying to get away from fundraisers orders and more toward events
• Would like to add another fundraiser:
• Raffle idea that has been successful in other schools within the district
•  Kids buy tickets to do things with different tasks (play basketball with a teacher, eating lunch with a teacher)
• Requires staff details such as: when would this take place-after school?
• Aimee will reach out to Shelburne and Williston

5. PiE directory-When to get this going?

• Projected timeline: Late winter/ early spring 
• Suzan and Jim relayed that the concern is that with the new computer system the information may not be accurate.
• Work is being done to complete this project.

6. December PiE meeting- 12/19 location and time TBA