Here, Kitty, Kitty

 

A little school shopping confession: I paid $15 for a water bottle.  Dead serious.  It’s a sip and mist contraption and I hope the woman at Olympia got a commission because she had me at “the water bottle will be 20% off with your coupon”. Well timed on the heels of my son saying “pleeeeeeese? It’s so cooooool…”

Once home, I began to regret the decision when I watched him misting the cat. (which he does more to taunt his sister, than the cat) Not to mention it’s certain calamity for the cafeteria.  Right up there with those squeezie fruits with helicopter-prop covers.

But with school shopping comes the trends and perhaps I can seek some solace knowing it will likely end up in Lost and Found with the Ugg boots and lunchboxes.

No need to make this first blog a lengthy one knowing you are all busy with your own last minute school prep: but here are some things to feature that may be helpful:

-Picture day is September 10

-September 10 is also our first PTA meeting – right at WCS – 6:00pm.  THIS MEETING WILL FOCUS ON A MEET AND GREET, AND WHO WE ARE.  ALL ARE WELCOME!

-WCS Open House is scheduled for September 17, 5:30 to 7:00.

-The PTA will be sponsoring the 2^nd Close Buy Fundraiser with orders due by October 1.  Online and catalog shopping are both available. Look for catalogs in the next week or so.  Meanwhile, for some armchair shopping, here is a sneak-peek for 2015! 2015 Close Buy Peek

-We are also working on another Cyber Safety info night for parents which will coordinate with assignment of the I pads through the MLTI program.

Also an exciting new way to fundraise!: AND IT'S EASY

Do you shop Amazon?  Now you can easily have .5% of your purchases donated to Woolwich Central!  Follow this link – Amazon Smile

In closing, for those who may not know, three of our members took on The Big Mountain Challenge last month!  BRAVO! to Deb, Lanie and Sarah!

On behalf of all of us in the PTA, we wish you a seamless transition to school, and AS ALWAYS reach out to us at Woolwichptc@yahoo.com!

Summer -'s Here!

The breeze is blowing the chimes in my office, as I listen to the kids outside on their bikes.  I'm feeling I can officially claim it's summer!  What is your most telling summer experience of late?

Celebrity sighting! Mrs. Lane and Mrs. Pols at Patten Free Libary last week

It's been a joy looking at every one's Facebook posts - beaches and hiking and baseball games.  And here we are, approaching August! Proof time flies when having fun.

Though school is not in session,  the PTA is still idling away.  Fundraising companies began courting us the minute the year ended and are looking for contracts.   So,  I've been looking over sales history to provide to our Board.  Deanna has set dates for the first Book fair and is working on a questionnaire seeking feedback and ideas. Our secretary, Kristen, has been looking into ways for more "passive" fundraising (through partnerships with retailers and other businesses) and we are all brainstorming on a membership campaign.  We have closed the books (our fiscal year ended June 30) and are transitioning the records to our new Treasurer, Stacy C!   Deb, Lanie and others will be shopping for Teacher Supplies in August.  (after Deb, Lanie and Sarah decimate the Sunday River Tough Mountain Challenge on July 25! - go get'em ladies!)

I'll keep this blog brief, but wanted to give a shout from summer-land and say "We are still here!" Feel free to contact us at any time.  In fact, just this morning I happily responded to an email from a new parent of a PreK student who was looking for ways to be involved this year.  We love to hear from you - new parent, grandparent or otherwise!

Enjoy!
Lorna Ryan, President

Carpe Diem, Carpe Librum!

"Seize the Day, Seize the Book!" seems an appropriate title to this latest post because tomorrow night, at the Woolwich Town meeting, there are two articles on the warrant that relate to the future municipal funding of the Patten Free Library in Bath.

Before you stop reading and close this post; first, ask yourself a few questions:

-Do you or your children check out books, movies or other items in circulation at Patten Free?
-Does your child participate in the Patten Free Summer Reading Program (last summer, over 200 Woolwich children did just that)
-Does your child participate in the RSU's Battle of the Books and use the Patten Free collection/inter-library loan to achieve their reading goals for this event?
-Does your family enjoy the myriad of free offerings at Patten Free? (Read aloud, author's visits, movie night, reading clubs, chess and/or lego club and more?)
-Would you be willing to personally pay $50 or more, per person in your family for a library card?

In February, 2015, the town received a petition signed by over 180 Woolwich Residents, asking the select board to move the approval of the Patten Free Library Budget from the May town meeting, to secret ballot in June (the same evening we will vote on the RSU school budget).  You may have signed this petition.  This letter by the Woolwich select board does a good job of explaining the result of that petition. http://www.wiscassetnewspaper.com/article/woolwich-town-meeting-chance-voters-decide/52356

The PTA was asked to learn more about this issue, as our mission includes advocating for children and furthering the educational advancement of students in our school and community.  On one hand,

healthy debate is not only harmless, but beneficial.  If numbers at town meeting are historically low, why not put the issue out to voters when more people are likely to show up at the polls?  But as always, the devil is in the details.

Earlier op ed pieces have suggested that citizens who opt to purchase a library card (should the municipal funding not continue) would be "paid back".   The warrant, as currently written, is requesting zero funding to help off-set any reimbursement program.  It simply does not exist. Here is the link to the warrant.http://www.woolwich.us/resources/pdfs/town_warrants/Warrant-15-4.pdf

Currently, a family of 4 would pay $200 per year (expected to go up should municipal funding cease) thereby limiting only those children whose families have the financial means for continued full access to the Patten Free collection and beyond.

The cost per capita for this year's funding request from Patten Free is $16.50.  Other op eds have compared this to the cost of a large pizza - for me, my weekly coffee habit.

$50,688 is a chunk of change. No question.  If other cost centers in the Town are being short-changed as some suggest, then certainly, democracy must work is course and look deeper into "why".

Even our PTA has been known to be fairly conservative on some Financial Requests; we did not approve $50 for playground toys last autumn (it should be noted we approved over $7000 in other requests during that same, and subsequent meetings- and members opted to donate the playground items)  The point is that as an organization, acting as custodian of funds raised by our Woolwich school community, we understand the need to debate where the money is allocated.  Sometimes the results of those votes are not popular.  But this is democracy as well.

The message we hope to relay here is to not assume that there is another mechanism in place to assure our students (and siblings) continued use of Patten Free in the future.  Be informed,  be comfortable with your decision, and attend tomorrow night's town meeting if at all possible.

Thank you for reading, and, as always, emails are welcome: woolwichptc@yahoo.com

Meeting Minutes from March 2015

Here are minutes from our March meeting: Going strong! Write us anytime at woolwichptc@yahoo.com.  Thank you for all your support!

Meeting Minutes-Woolwich Central PTA

March 12 2015

In attendance-Lorna, Jason, Sarah, Debbie, Lanie, Beth, Kristen, Dena, Amy

Meeting Called to order-6:05

PTA Stickers passed out.  To assist custodian, please try to remove if you see them anywhere they should not be.

Approval of February Minutes-forgot to mention Pre-k family night

and the possibility of having a dance for middle school.  Accept minute adjustment.  All in favor

For future meetings, put business/action agenda items at the end of meeting.  All agreed

Cyber Safety- Brainstorming on content, format, dates, etc.

Date?  April, May or June

Audience-?  kids? or just parents.

Sagadahoc Sheriff Dept. willing to come. Can share problems they see and struggles. Deferred to crime lab in Augusta if the case is severe.  Special Agent with Maine Computer Crime Lab had info - possible power point presentation and cases. (9 year old, free access, pics all over the internet) Laws not keeping up with technology-No age discrimination on charges.  Have to focus on intent of picture.  Give Panel Questions ahead of time.  Ask for statistics. Methods for open dialogue with our kids parents can use at home.

 RSU 1 Technology Director can speak to MLTI Ipad policy and use –Effectiveness of firewall etc.  Community Educator from SASMM (Sexual Assault Services of Midcoast Maine)  Good resource from Mrs. Buchan.

-proposed panel of people Q & A?

-set presentation?

-open it up to the entire RSU 1?

-pro-active positive approach-try not to shock and awe

-what parents can do at home- how to filter and what to filter-how to put blocks. Youtube

-Knowledge on what is going on today and how to have a conversation for future things coming up.  How to deal.  Digital footprint-education on what goes on there (web servers), stays on there.

-Provide child care. ?  Good way to let parents know that it will be adult content.  BRCTC provide child care?

-8th grader with parent chaperone?

No Charge!

Treasurers Report  Checking account Balance XXXXXXX

December Book Fair Paid

Box Tops-check coming in from box tops 715.50

K-Wolf Neck to be paid

4-State House Trip

4-Chop Point bus

5th grade tabled because of cost.  Asking $500 but was $670.  Follow up to be sure we approve correct amount.

6th grade-$500 for Mt. Blue-touch base with teachers on what is needed for funds

Box Tops-Race Car-first week of May

Dena-Arrowsic Town Hall Box Tops

Stacey- SQUARE ART-April 6th the book will go home with your child’s artwork.  April 14th collect orders.  You can order online shipped on the 17th   May 7th items are ready

Art work about done.   Art room fundraiser put on by PTA

BookFair Dena will shadow Karen on running April Book Fair.  Most likely will be willing to take over but will at least be able to know how it is run.   BOGO

FAN NIGHT-Books using Scholastic Dollars.  Will put in a basket and do a free raffle.   2 Bikes.  Wellness basket. Dena will put together basket.

Carafe of coffee for FAN

night. 

Motion to buy 6ft tablecloth with WCS logo for $45.00. Vote-all in favor.

Kristen-check on Gelato Fundraiser

Meeting adjourned-7:20

Not your Momma's PTA?

So last week we became custodian of 3 office boxes of PTA records dating back to the 50's.   Having this time capsule literally dropped in our lap was well-timed and has provided  excellent material for a fresh new blog post.

In recent weeks, the PTA board and a handful of members were talking about the reality that within the next few years, nearly our entire board and some of our most active members would be moving on as they follow their children to High School.  Conversation led to ways in which we could bolster membership involvement, including a means to excite members for roles on the PTA Board.

What could explain a membership that shrunk throughout the school year? Are we not doing enough to inform?  Are we doing too much?  Are we welcoming? Is there any lingering image that only the stay-at-home Mom has time to be involved?

Not exactly. Our board and our most active members are made up of a nurse, a childcare provider, a fisherWOman (who is also a nurse), a manager of a busy medical office, an owner of an 11-year-old cleaning company, a Mom of 4 with a 20+ year career in retail, and two office managers of family businesses.  These jobs do allow some flexibility to attend to school and PTA-related business - but the trade-offs include working Holidays, nights and weekends, days that begin in earnest at 6:00am, may or may not end after the kids go to bed, and working with the spouse.  (sit with that last factoid for a minute...:)

So what about those vintage PTA records?  Before combing through all the minutes and ledgers and fundraising records, one might think yes, things have changed.  Both parents work.  The world is a busier place. Sports consume the schedule.  Gone is the age of Betty Crocker.

But here's the thing.  From 1952 to present, the same challenges existed.  As well as the positive ways in which the PTA served as a pillar to school and community.   As it turns out, men often held at least 50% of the officer roles from the 50's through the early 80's.  The primary female membership came later.  Also, when Woolwich was a community school, it was common for the Superintendent and School board to attend meetings and work with the PTA on getting information out; anything from building needs, school budget and (ironically) teachers attending meetings to give an "enlightening preview" of the MEA Testing (Maine Education Assessment- 1977).

Another quote from minutes from 1997 "The focus of the meeting was to open communication between the PTC and administration.  Why is our group so small? What are the areas we need to focus our attention on?"

A few hours pouring over old documents may not be enough to reach a real conclusion.  But it's enough to show us that even though the PTA may have been small with respect to active members, there is evidence of more collaboration between administrators, school board, teachers, town and community.  All had a hand in informing parents and enhancing the educational needs of students.

We have decided to make it our primary goal for 2015-2016 to let the entire Woolwich community know that we welcome anyone.  From making ourselves more visible, surveying people for what the PTA can do for them, and reconnecting with administrators and teachers.

These are challenging times, but exciting times.  We will do our best to continue what we have been doing for the school and for the students, but do want your ideas and your involvement.  We need them.  Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 9.  We will have a budget update, and more detail on our May parent night: topic of Cyber Safety. And as always, email us at woolwichptc@yahoo.com.  Here's to Spring and a fabulous wrap to 3rd quarter!