Weatherstone Elementary School

Welcome to Weatherstone Elementary School

PTA General MeetingSeptember 13, 2011

6 -6:30 p.m.

Weatherstone Elementary School

PTA Board Members

• Beth Satterfield – President• Elizabeth Humphries – Secretary• Kathy Cawley – Treasurer• Nichelle Weintraub – VP of Membership• Jennifer Ellerbe – VP of Parent Involvement• Kira Wolfe – VP of Communications • Michele Counter – VP of Academic Programs• Catherine Smith – VP of Fundraising

Weatherstone Elementary School

WES PTA Initiatives

• 21st Century Explorers– Making smart technology accessible for all

students– 6 smart boards purchased this year– Goal: a smart board in every classroom by 2014

• Outdoor Explorers

• Comprehensive drawing which illustrates proposed uses for school site

• Joint effort between stakeholders to create a dynamic educational school site for the current & future Weatherstone community.

North Greensboro Elementary School, Guilford Co.

Weatherstone Elementary School

What is a Master Plan?

Weatherstone Elementary School

• Address/prevent effects of “Nature Deficit Disorder”• Childhood Obesity Epidemic• Early-Onset Diabetes• Hypertension• ADHD/ADD• Asthma

Why is a Master Plan necessary?Comprehensive, Organized plan endorsed by WCPSS which reflects integration of curriculum beyond classroom walls. • Integrates outdoor learning to meet new DPI curriculum

requirements

Weatherstone Elementary School

What is PTA’s role?

• Support teachers to incorporate outdoor learning

• Engage School Community

• Funding• Master Plan• Implementing phased components

Weatherstone Elementary School

How does it benefit PTA?• Legacy…to pass on for future generations

• Goals for fundraising

• Weatherstone PTA gains recognition as role model for district

• PTA has a tool to connect/engage local community

Weatherstone Elementary School

How is a Master Plan Developed?• Form a Committee

• Weatherstone Staff• PTA members• WCPSS Facilities • CLH Design

• Identify needs

• Evaluate outdoor opportunities available on existing campus

• Develop a theme based on teachers/students interests• gardens (edible/habitat)• world traveler• birds• Dinosaurs

• North Carolina• pets• science• sports

• Designer produces first draft of Master Plan, which will be revised as needed

Harris Creek Elementary School… …Is for the Birds !

Weatherstone Elementary School

Environmental Education Day, 2008

Weatherstone Elementary School

Sterling Montessori Academy & Charter School

Weatherstone Elementary School

Partnership Elementary School

Goal: to create great outdoor environments that engage children in learning and imaginative play

Weatherstone Elementary School

Weatherstone Elementary School

PTA Membership Drive Update

Thank you!– We have over 165 members representing over 35% of

WES families– Members include: teachers, parents, staff, and family– Our goal is to represent at least 50% of the families

attending WES

There is no pressure to do anything more than just join, the rest is up to you!

Why Join?– Your membership dollars help fund school

programs and activities– Your ideas help change and improve our

school. You can help make the decisions!– Your leadership within the PTA requires

membership.

Weatherstone Elementary School

Membership Levels & Gifts

4 levels of Membership– Admiral’s Club: $50– Captain’s Club: $25– Navigator: $15– Shipmate: $7

Join Us – It is never too late!www.weatherstonepta.com

Gifts• Student Directory,

membership card and valuable coupons

• Admiral’s Club: WES car magnet / new RoundWare and PTA coupons. (and a drawing for a $50 gift card!)

• Kindergarten families: WES Kindergarten Rocks bracelet

Thank you for joining, ANY level is greatly appreciated!

Weatherstone Elementary School

Budget 2011-20122010-11 Carry Over Balance

$31k+ Projected Revenue

$79k– Projected Expenses

$100k= 2012 End of Year Balance

$10k

We began the year with a large surplus intentionally, to pay for some big

ticket improvement items that were in the works…

PTA Support Goes to....Accelerated Reader

Campus Improvements

Cultural ArtsCurriculum Support

Hospitality

Science Day

Technology

Clubs

Weatherstone Elementary School

Volunteer Registration

• The volunteer registration system at Weatherstone Elementary School is open on Mondays from 8:00AM-4:00PM through May 21, 2012. However, during this period, the volunteer registration system will be closed on the following Mondays: December 19, 2011, December 26, 2011, January 2, 2012 and January 16, 2012.

• If you were approved as a volunteer during the 2010-2011 school year, you must reactivate your volunteer status no later than October 31, 2011 to avoid the need for a new criminal background check. This will in turn avoid unnecessary costs to the school system.

• All new volunteers must register and have an approved criminal background check prior to engaging in volunteer work. Volunteers may go to any WCPSS site and register through the internet.

Weatherstone Elementary School

Volunteer Opportunities• Accelerated Reader• Chess Club - New• Classroom Volunteers• Boosterthon• Book Fair• International Festival• KITs Program• Media Center Helpers• School Store• Science Night• Spring Carnival• Talent Show

If you need more information about PTA committees, please visit our PTA website or contact me, Jennifer Ellerbe, VP of Parent Involvement.

Weatherstone Elementary School

PTA Communications• New website – www.weatherstonepta.com

– Sharing more information - Calendar of Events , news posts, last minute changes via twitter

– Many forms available online – student directory, membership, volunteer sign up

– Pay for fundraisers and membership via Paypal

• New e-newsletter format – sign up at www.weatherstonepta.com– Released Sunday at noon – plan your week!– Translate into another language – over 20 different languages supported– We save thousands of dollars and lots of trees!

How Does the PTA Raise Funds?

• Family Nights (BINGO on Friday, 9/23)• Boosterthon (COMING SOON!)• Citipass Books (COMING SOON!)• Spring Carnival• Membership dues • Passive, No-Fuss Fundraising– Store Rewards (Food Lion, Kroger, Harris Teeter, Target)– Box Tops and Labels

Weatherstone Elementary School

What Do PTA Funds Go Towards?

All programs not covered by Wake County Schools,including:

– Accelerated Reader Program– Cultural Arts Assemblies– Supplies for Teachers– Student Agendas/Assignment books– Classroom Technology (i.e., Smart Boards)– Playground Revitalization– Teacher Mini-Grants– PTA Website– Teacher/Staff Hospitality

Weatherstone Elementary School

No-Fuss Fundraising• Re-link grocery store reward cards

• CLIP and SAVE LABELS

Weatherstone Elementary School

B-I-N-G-O Family Fun Night

• September 23 – FRIDAY, 6:30 -8 PM• All are welcome!• Dinner at 6:30 PM, Games at 7 PM• Family Special (order by 9/16)- Dinner and BINGO

cards • Or come and PLAY - purchase BINGO cards at the

door that night• Great PRIZES and RAFFLE

Weatherstone Elementary School

Weatherstone Elementary School

• National cultural arts contest with entries in:

- Visual Arts- Literature- Film Production- Photography- Musical Composition - Dance Choreography

• Begins September 27th• Open to all students – PTA pays entry

fees and honors student winners

Weatherstone Elementary School

Thank you parents and caregivers for all your support!