HALL MIDDLE SCHOOL
200 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA 94939
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Larkspur/Corte Madera

Henry C. Hall Middle School PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD MINUTES

Meeting of Tuesday, September 18, 2001
1:15pm • Hall MUR

Meeting called to order at 1:20pm.
Board members present: Ann Arabian, Bob Cone, Karen Deist, Nicole Muserilli, Jeannie Perry, Diana Putterman, Becky Reed, Barbara Solomon, Susy Vrouvas, Susan Wirta
Board members absent: Shawn DeMont, Kathy Grey, , Liz Krakow, Anne Morrison, Rebecca Sarokin

1. PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

2. MINUTES
   A motion was made to approve the minutes from the last executive board meeting from on May 10, 2001 and the last general meeting of May 17, 2001 by Becky Reed. Susy Vrouvas seconded

3. TREASURER’S REPORT — Karen Deist
• We have a 3-month CD for $6000 and a checking account with almost $5000, so we are starting the school year with a surplus of about $10000. We need to decide what to do with this. (Mr. Cone said he has many good ideas for this extra money)! This amount was set aside last year because we thought that due to construction, we would not have use of the school kitchen. This has now changed and if we get a good bid, construction would start around April 1, 2002 and the kitchen would be closed on that date.
• We have written only 3 checks so far this year, 1 each for honor roll ice cream and summer reading ice cream and then one for the hospitality breakfast. No deposits have been made yet.
• Expenditures from last spring were reviewed, see attached.

4. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
   
1. Lunch program — Ann Arabian for __________?
   There are 160 children signed up for TJ’s lunches on Mondays. Anna and two servers will be here next Monday morning . Tuesday will be Bagel Day. Tuesdays will alternate between bagels, burritos, deli sandwiches and probably chow mein. We’re not sure about the chow mein yet. Wednesdays will be pizza day. Kathy Cummins and Anne Gilberg painted, cleaned and organized the kitchen last weekend. It looks fantastic!
2. Chalk Festival — Ann Arabian for Catherine Ghirarduzzi
   The chalk festival will be on October 7 from noon-4pm. We need a few more volunteers for the afternoon. Katherine will have flyers and posters advertising the event. The Hall band will perform at noon, there will be bagpipes at 1:30, a twister contest, bubbles blowing. Should be a fun time.
3. Membership Update — Ann Arabian for Lindsey MacCrae
   As of today, 73 families have joined the PTA giving us $1565. Our goal is $3700.
4. QSP Magazine Sales — Ann Arabian for Marlene Foster
   On October 11, there will be an assembly which will explain the magazine sales. There will be 4 turn-in dates. These will be in backpack mail. Volunteers will be needed to help out with this program. This usually raises $10000-$12000 for student council. They use this money for dances, parties, pumpkin carving, Renaissance fair, ropes course, donations, new student luncheon, etc.
5. Parent Ed — Ann Arabian for Benna Norman
   Benna is attending meetings with reps from other Marin middle schools. The object of these meetings is to come up with topics about middle schoolers. She will keep us informed. These meetings may be combined with other schools.
6. Dance Chaperones
   The first 7th/8th grade dance will be October 26th. Jeannie Perry will advertise for chaperones. The hours for the chaperones are 6:45-10:00pm. Dick Whitley from the Larkspur Rec is in charge of the chaperones.
7. Emergency Phone Tree
   Bonnie Kaiser is working on the emergency phone tree.

5. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT — Bob Cone
1. We have requested $11,575 from the PTA. Requests are as follows:
   

   $ 4,250	Classroom Supplies ($250 each teacher)
   $ 700	Video Camera & Accessories
   $ 275	Egyptian Artifacts Assembly
   $ 1,500	Scanner and @ Digital Cameras
   $ 4,500	Poet-in-the-School
   $ 350	Color Printer
   $11,575	TOTAL with $425 remaining

   
   The 7th and 8th grade math books weren’t state adopted so we couldn’t use state money for these books. We felt they were the best we could buy even though they weren’t on the list so we went for them anyway. We are requesting $250 per teacher from the PTA and the Hall budget gives each teacher $250. This makes a total of $500 for each teacher to use in their classroom.
2. Discussed monetary needs after our construction is complete. The cost covered are for structures only. Anything not attached i.e. curtains, volleyball nets, etc. will need to be paid for in addition. The construction probably won’t be done until 6/02.
3. Discussed what we do for new children entering Hall that didn’t go to Neil Cummins. The children are introduced by their teacher, there is a buddy system, a new children’s lunch. We have this year 8-9 new 6th graders, 3 new 7th graders, and 2-3 new 8th graders.
4. The school had their first fire drill today. Discussed the importance of these drills.
   We will have an earthquake drill and a lock down drill. If it’s between classes, they are to go to their next class. If its before school, they go to their homeroom class, at recess, they go to their 3rd period class, at lunch, they go to their 5th period class, after school, they go to the closest classroom.
5. If children are worried about their parents flying while they are at school, its ok with the school if their parents call school to say they have arrived safely.
6. The dirt pile in the back is dirt from construction at Neil Cummins. We will be needing it here.
7. There is something called The National Board Certification for Teachers. Ususally we have 1-2 teachers a year interested in going for this certification. It’s a very rigorous program almost like doing a thesis. This year we have 6 teachers interested in doing this. They are Ms. Smith, Mr. Pankler, Mr. Nelson, Ms. Shaner, Mr. Stoeckley, and Ms. Thuessen,
8. We are offering a zero period Art class with Laura Jane Coats. She is paid for by an art grant from last year. It is a six week class and the children are notified about it in class.
9. On October 5, we’ll have the Student Council election assembly. Candidates will do petitions to run, give speeches at the assembly and then the school will vote. The top vote getter gets their job choice. This way no two children are running against each other for office. The Student Council is made up of officers, class reps and three adults. They are Ted Stoeckley, Heather Henderson, and Dick Whitley from the Larkspur Rec.
10. Verita Green will not be returning this year as counselor due to health reasons. We are looking for someone else.
11. Thank you to the PTA for the blue tables for the 6th and 7th graders.
12. No after school drama groups planned so far this year.

6. OPEN DISCUSSION
• Jeannie Perry — Would like to do Safe Routes to School Program. On October 2nd will be International Walk to School Day, followed by Wednesdays after that. Would like volunteers for the 1st Wednesday of every month to give out cougar cards. Would like some form of collecting information to see how many children participate in this
• Absolutely no skateboards at school. Children leave them around and others trip over them. Somehow they don’t put these away in the same manner that scooters and bikes are put away. Scooters are allowed. Children need to take these to the bike area, close them and then store them in their lockers.

Next meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001 at 1:15pm.
Meeting adjourned.

Submitted by Susy Vrouvas, Secretary

[minutes approved at Executive Board meeting of Oct. 16, 2001]