Orchard Farms PTO

Executive Board in attendance: Lisa Gargaro, President, Wendi Barricelli, Vice-President, Mr. Dennis Charpentier, Principal and 2nd Vice-President, David Gargaro, Treasurer, and Laurie Thies, Secretary.

Meeting was called to order at 7:32PM.

Secretary’s Report: Laurie Thies reported that this year’s holiday shop will take place on Wednesday, December 10th and Thursday, December 11th in the library. We will be looking for volunteers to help with that event. One parent suggested collecting dollars similar to the Turkey Dollars for Thanksgiving. It was pointed out that it may get slightly confusing to do it in conjunction with the holiday shop and it was recommended that the dollars be collected as part of the upcoming toy drive. Jadra Catauro, Sunshine chairperson, said that she would include information about the dollars in the notice she will send home regarding the toy drive.

Vice-President’s Report: Wendi Barricelli reminded everyone that the Wine Tasting Night is November 20th. Tickets are still available. Anyone interested in attending should contact Wendi.

Wendi talked about a book fair brochure that the students can take home before the holidays. They can order for the holidays and the school will get some of the profit. It was suggested that we try it this year in addition to the book fair held in the spring. She passed around one of the brochures and most people agreed that it sounded like a good idea. Wendi will send the brochures out soon.

Entertainment books are still available to anyone who hasn’t already purchased one with their PTO membership. They make nice holiday gifts for family members. Lisa Gargaro would like to send out a book to everyone who hasn’t already bought one. She recruited several volunteers to meet at her house on Saturday morning at 8:30 to get the books ready to send out.

Principal’s Report: Dennis Charpentier stated that the report cards will be going home on Friday, November 14th.

The school received a grant for $1,000. He will use $600 for a new projector and $400 for 6th grade reading material for the library.

Treasurer’s Report: David Gargaro presented the budget. He explained the income and expenses. The school brought forward $12, 930 from last year. It was suggested that the amount allotted for the 6th grade graduation be changed from $800 to $1,100 to be more in line with what was spent on the last two 5th grade graduations. Lisa Gargaro made a motion to change the amount, and Wendi Barricelli seconded the motion. It was approved by a majority vote.

President’s Report: Lisa Gargaro mentioned that the sign for the entrance to the school has been approved. She expressed her thanks to Nick Mattiello for helping to approve the state grant for the sign. It will be white with a red stallion and blue lettering.

Lisa typed out a list of what the PTO spends money on. It is posted in the display case in the foyer of the school.

Orchard Farms will be celebrating their 5th birthday. Lisa wanted to do something to acknowledge the occasion. She had been thinking of combining it with some sort of family event.

Lisa stated that a 6th grade parent was interested in organizing social activities for the 5th and 6th graders at Orchard Farms. Some parents were concerned that they were not being included in the decision-making process. Lisa said that she would notify the parent and ask her to contact Dennis Charpentier with her ideas. The topic will be put on the agenda for December’s PTO meeting and the parent will be asked to present her ideas to the group that night.

Lisa addressed concerns that were written in an anonymous letter from an Orchard Farms parent. She stressed that the PTO does not unnecessarily spend money. She also justified why we have many of the social events outside of the school.

A survey was sent to all the families of Orchard Farms asking which social events they felt were most important to them. Dawn Ferrot reported that the father and daughter event was most important to the majority of families and all the other events were less important. Lisa Gargaro made a motion that we have one family event this year in lieu of the mother and daughter event and the father and son event that were previously scheduled to take place this year. Colleen McGee seconded the motion. It was approved by the majority that we will have the father and daughter dance and a family social event this year. Steve Kostecke will post a notice on the website asking for volunteers for the social committee. Lisa Gargaro will meet with the committee and report the ideas for a family social event at the next PTO meeting.

Committee Updates

After-School Activities: Lisa Levin said that the after-school activities are going well. Several people commended Lisa on the excellent job she is doing and on the interesting selection of activities that she has organized. Lisa mentioned that the after-school activities made a $666 profit. She plans on running a winter session, but is going to eliminate the spring session due to previously low enrollment.

Box Tops: Barbara Smith-White said that Orchard Farms collected 5,329 box tops. The 2nd graders won the contest. Barbara sent in a total of 13,000 box tops, because we had a lot left over from the end of last year. We should receive a check for $1,300. A new flier will be sent home soon. It was suggested that we earmark the box tops money for something in particular for the school, such as curtains for the stage. The issue will be put on the agenda for the next PTO meeting.

CEAB: Rhonda Perrotta stated that the next meeting will be on December 1st in the Cranston East library. The CEAB is also hosting a reception for all of the PTO presidents. Rhonda said that compared to other PTOs in the Cranston school district, we are more organized and involved.

Cultural Arts: Diane Shelhart is looking into having Len Cabral, the storyteller, come back to the school for another presentation.

Ice Cream Sales: Ice cream sales have been going well. All 2nd graders will get free ice cream on Friday, Nov. 14th for winning the box tops competition.

Social: Stacy Calvino received the list of her committee members. She will contact everyone on the list soon to have a meeting.

Spirit Wear: Spirit Wear brought in $462 from the open house. Information will be sent home soon selling the merchandise at discount prices before the holidays. Pamela Payne and Sandra Zayat would like to get rid of the current inventory and order some new merchandise.

Sunshine: CCAP is coming on November 19th to pick up all the food items that were donated for the food drive. Jadra needs volunteers on November 18th to help make baskets. If you are interested in helping, please contact Jadra. Jadra mentioned that she is thinking of having another food drive in February when the food banks are short on supplies.

VICS: Colleen McGee offered to be the VICS representative. Karen Fargnoli, the previous VICS representative, was at the meeting and offered to meet with Colleen to inform her of the expectations.

Website: Steve Kostecke explained that the website is updated daily and encouraged everyone to visit the site at www.orchardfarms.org. Steve asked the committee chairpersons to notify him with any information before it is sent home, so that he may post it on the website.

Yearbook: Connie Manzi is getting the picture CDs from the school photographer so that she will have pictures to put in the yearbook.

The next PTO meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17th at 7:00pm.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:40pm.
Laurie Thies
PTO Secretary