Vinal School PTO Meeting Minutes

January 16th, 2025

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Welcome from Susan Davis (President)

In School Enrichment:

Recent: 

  • `Author Visit from Lisl Detlefsen on 11/22

    • Sold over 100 books! Made ~$500 for the PTO.

    • Had to partner with 4 different publishers. Next authors perhaps

  • Grade 5 Book Bee

    • PTO provided $1200 to help replace books for the Book Bee in the library / have additional copies

    • First round was the first week in Dec.

    • Low Volunteer handout, but went well. Final round will be in the spring.

  • Teacher Snack Cart

    • Stocked at the beginning of each month as a way to say thank you to the teachers!

    • Mrs. Keefe noted that the cart def boosts morale!

Upcoming

  • 1/23 - 1/24 Crocodile River Music

    • We will have them for 2 days of African drumming and dance

    • Norwell Cultural Council is funding $1000 towards the event!

    • There will be an art instilation alongside the event (thank you to Danielle Shepard for driving to Worcester to pick up the art!)

  • 5/21 Corey the Dribbler - Harlem Globe Trotter alum - with the 4 R’s 4 Success! This will be funded by the money raised by the Dads hockey game!!!

  • 4/4 Balloon Talk STEM Assembly with hot air balloon demos

  • 5/5-5/9 is Teacher Appreciation Week

  • 5th Grade Send-Off in the works - kick-off end of Jan!

  • Celebration Books are still available - celebrate your child’s birthday with a book to support the libaray!

Community Events:


Recent: 

  • Vinal Gift of Giving event - thank you to the amazing volunteers and all those that donated.

Upcoming:

  • Fitness Class for Parents

  • Spring Stay & Play - May - this one will be a normal day, - 3:20 to 5:00 - date TBD

  • Field Day

Fundraising

Recent:

  • Jan 4th was the Cole vs Vinal Dads Hockey Game! They were able to raise $19,655!!!

  • Huge shoutout to the Dads that volunteered and led the event! It was an amazing event with great leadership.

  • The Norwell swag was a success - we will do another this spring

    • If anyone wants to help run the spring one, please contact!

Upcoming:

  • Vinal Pickleball Tournament - Thank you to Katie Neefus for helping to run!

    • Coed fun event - looking for late March

  • Square 1 Art

    • Mrs. Holmes workes with kids to create artwork that parents can then purchase on various items (Catalogs arrive at the school in approx April)

    • Ordering deadline will be April 18

    • Looking for a new volunteer to shadow this year to take over for next.

Treasurer

  • We have $67k across our accounts

  • Fun Run: $26 k

  • Hockey Dads will be $~10k

  • 3200 for

Mr. T’s Update

  • New Bleachers are installed

  • Author visit was a success - kids connected to it!

  • Dec we kicked off inclusive schools week - will be presenting to school committee later this month.

  • Second round of bus expectation meetings

  • iReady diagnostics will be complete by tomorrow

SEPAC:

  • Parent Rights brought by federation - disctric bringing rights for IEP of 504 - online next Wed

  • Feb 4th at the Library - What is offereed for services for students around reading? Parent Forum about reading - what Norwell offers and what teachers are certified. Expanding to Middle and High School.

Other:

  • Last week in Jan Vinal will present to the school board.

    • Kids will present what the PTO has been up to

  • 2025-2026 School Year PTO Board Member Openings to be Announced: 

    • Fundraising

    • Enrichment

    • Finance