Braeside Elementary PTO - General Meeting

January 24, 2025 / 9:00am



  1. Call to Order
  2. Principals Report - Jamie Kahn 
    1. Family Engagement Survey Results
      1. Overall families are pleased with the district and with Braeside. 
    2. Student Engagement Survey Results

student engagement ratings were above 4, which is great-lots of positive feedback! An overall 12% increase from student engagement from last year, all levels increased on the self actualization portion of the survey. 

Worked on aligning goals for staff and students: 1. Will work on keeping students' attention throughout the school day. 2. When tasks are difficult, students will continue trying. 3. Teachers will give useful feedback.

  1. iRead
    1. HP library kick off tomorrow 

iread kick off tomorrow at the HP Library. 2nd-5th grade daily recess reading. Not offered for kindy-1st grade since not everyone is a full reader yet, they will have regularly scheduled recess. No advance sign-up necessary. Can read on their ipad, this will be monitored. No 30 min reading time offered during class time, only during the recess reading and at home. Bingo reader winner will receive a Braeside blanke. 5 recess reading sessions will receive a croc jibbitz. 

  1. 1/31 (readable clothing), 2/7 (pjs) & 2/14 (wear red) spirit days 
  1. Spring Music Concerts
    1. March 6- 2/3rd grade + chorus @ 6pm
    2. May 15- 4/5th grade @ 6pm

Fundraising idea at concert: will look into this as a possibility. 

  1. SEL Screener
    1. K-5 teachers screen 2/3-2/14
    2. 3-5 students self report 2/6

social/emotional wellness screener will take place between Feb. 2nd-Feb 15th- this is completed 3 times a year. An email will be sent as a reminder, parents are able to opt out. 

  1. Move to Green Bay over the summer

A year and a half will be spent at Green Bay. Once plans are finalized, the PTO presidents will be shared. All families will be offered to tour at Green Bay. Everyone qualifies for bus service. Reach out to Jamie with questions. 

  1. President’s Report 
    1. Approval of November Minutes 

Approved 

  1. President’s Council Notes

Braeside is partnering with Sherwood and Ravinia to write notes to the ILP students so that they continue to feel part of our school. 

  1. iRead
    1. Saturday, January 25 
    2. 9am-2pm Highland Park Library 
      1. 10:30 & 12:45 Professional storytellers
      2. Various teachers reading, crafts, etc
        1. 11:40am, principal from Braeside will read 
  2. Book Match 

Run by Mrs. Weissman. Students had t-shirts made, they’re  very excited about it. 

  1. VP - Administrative 
    1. Braeside Skate

Chuck a puck game. Prizes are White sox tix and wolves tix as prizes. Michaels food truck with drinks and a bake sale. Spirit wear will be sold- beanies with patches. 

  1. Valentine’s Day Classroom Service Project

Partnering with the Eisenberg foundation. Will put together kits that are similar to the service project in the fall. Room Parents have reached out to the classroom teachers to ensure a time to come in and volunteer. 

  1. 5th Grade Promotion

Meeting on feb 6th as a committee, will have an update after that meeting. Will do something during the school day with their class and teachers. 

  1. Yearbook & Yearbook Cover Contest

Today is the last day to submit their yearbook covers. 

    1. VP - Ways and Means - Allie Davidson, Nikki Brown, Cate Gilespie
      1. Holiday Hugs for V-Day 

 

  • Partnering with Painted Penguin to sell ceramic valentine inspired pieces to paint. An email with directions will go out later this week. 

 

    1. Sweet Treats

Fundraiser is going really well. Possibly selling items to benefit the 5th grade gift at the chorus concert. 

  1. Square 1 Art

Art classes have already started working on the project, everything is going well. 

  1. Spirit Wear

Selling hats at skate night 

  1. Braeside Bites

Feb 4th pieros pizza and march is Lou’s 

  1. Bobcat Birthdays
  1. Treasurer’s Report 

Amanda is in the process of closing the books. Venmo is now up and running as a payment option. 

  1. Other New Business
  2. Adjournment
  3. School Supplies Update: 

Educational Products Inc. will most likely be our school supplies vendor. Delivery process is awesome, they can pick the day of delivery and many different ways they can support on the back end. Will send samples of everything. Sale for returning families in May/June. New families will have an opportunity to purchase later in the summer. Supplies can be sent directly to the school. 

 

Braeside Elementary PTO - General Meeting August 30, 2024/ 9:00am

  1. Call to Order

Introductions of committee members. 

  1. Principals Report - Jamie Kahn

This year, Open House was held a week earlier as a way  for parents to feel “in the know”, it appeared to be a good fit and was successful. For those parents who were unable to attend, Teacher information and presentations were shared in this week's Bobcat Bulletin. 

 

The PTO provided lunch for staff on Monday’s in-service day, staff were appreciative of the provided lunch, snacks, and beverages, thank you. 

 

The school year is off to a great start, kids have fallen into a routine, know what to do and where to go. Students are doing great! 

 

MAP testing is next week on Tuesday (9/3) and Wednesday(9/4). This is an adaptive test, with each correctly answered question, questions become more challegenging. MAP testing helps teachers lesson plan, determine which students need extra support or advance placement. 

 

Feedback from the parent engagement survey found that parents would like more classroom communication. Thus, building wide, teachers will send emails twice per month sharing curriculum updates and information. The creative arts and P.E. will send communications from each department 1x a month. However, teachers may choose to communicate more often.  

 

  1. Welcome

 PTO meetings are held 1x a month for a total of 6 meetings. Meetings are usually an hour in length. 

  1. Universal Screening

Kindy-2nd grade will read with staff to determine foundation skills level, such as, math facts and reading comprehension. 

 

  1. Upcoming Safety Drills

Sept. 9th- Fire Drill 

Sept. 12th- Severe Weather Drill 

Sept. 13th- Bus Evacuation Drill 

  1. Braeside presentation to the Board of Ed on 9/24- Student Engagement

Braeside is the first school to present. The presentation's area of focus is on Student Engagement. The presentation will specifically focus on leadership, choice and voice. Kindy-5th students will be included in Principle Kahn’s presentation 

  1. Thank you 
  1. President’s Report - Ashley Kelly/Allie Davidson
    1. Welcome
      1. Executive Board Introductions
        1. New Members: Leah Mindell and Lexi Schneider

Excited to have new members and wonderful to have new faces. Positions are usually 2 year commitment  

  1. Parent Introductions
  2. Membership/Activity Fees

The Membership fee is $35.00. Please encourage families to sign-up for Membership/Activity fees. Encourage families to include their information into the Membership Toolkit directory. Since Braeside is unable to share students personal information with other families, having all families include their information in the directory helps room parents get the most up-to-date class list. 

  1. Social Media

Please work with the Webmasters ahead of time for all of your social media needs, the earlier you get this in, the better they can help you.  

 

Appreciation

  1. School Supplies - Tiffany Siegel and Cate Gillespie- THANK YOU! Great job organizing school supplies. Cate thanked everyone who came to help sort, it was a seamless process. 
  2. Hospitality - Casey Foreman and Blair Miller- THANK YOU! 
  3. Back to School Bash - Julie Zimmer and Holli McGinley- heading this up. Please volunteer even if you have a half hour. Link was in Bobcat Bulletin. 
  1. VP - Administrative 

 

  1. Room Parents 

Tried to get room parent requests out early, were able to accommodate all of the requests. 

 

FUNd Run - Suzi Gray-Sept. 28 

Suzi Gray is heading this up. Braeside is the reigning champ! IF you are not a runner, you can walk around Braeside- it is literally in our backyard! 

Fundraiser for north shore school district  112 foundation- this helps  fund our schools, the arts and sciences, etc. 

  1. Back to School Bash - Julie Zimmer & Holli McGinley 

Sept.8 from 1-3 p.m.

Please sign up to volunteer if you are able! The link for registration and volunteering was included in the Bobcat Bulletin. 

  1. Year Overview - Abby, Lexi, Lindsey
    1. Committees
    2. Classroom Activities - 2 per year, one around Halloween and one around Valentine’s Day (community service project)

The fall activity will look different this year and will have more of a community service focus. The Valentine’s Day classroom activity will have a community service focus as well. 

Early Release plus more

1 early release event will take place Nov. 22nd. This is provided through the PTO and is free of charge. 

 

VP - Ways and Means - Leslie, Nikki, Cate

  1. Fundraising for this year
    1. Spirit Wear - Sam, Jamie, Staci

Spirit Wear will have 3 selling points this year. A table of Spirit Wear will be at the back to school bash for purchase. 

 

  1. Holiday Boxes - October and February

Leah will meet with her committee to discuss various ideas for the October Boo! Box. 

 

  1. Book Fair 

The Book Fair will take place Nov. 18th-21st. Lunch with a Loved One will be scheduled soon and will take place during the week of the Book Fair. The week-long Book Fair provides lots of volunteer opportunities. 

 

Square 1 Art - March-Nikki

Nikki is working with the art teachers to create a special art project, merchandise is sold through Square 1 Art with each student's art on various mediums like notebooks, mugs, etc. 

  1. Restaurant Nights - Monthly-Cate

Restaurant Nights schedule will be finalized this week. This initiative is a great fundraiser for Braeside PTO. Each  Restaurant donates 20% of the total Braeside Elementary sales (all day) back to Braeside. This is a monthly fundraiser and is always on the 2nd tuesday of each month. 

 

Sweet Treats - Monthly-Carly

A special day 1x a month where parents can order their student(s) a special treat from a local bakery. The proceeds go towards the 5th grade gift. 

  1. Food Days-Allie & Lexi

This year, the PTO  continues to partner with Lunch Solutions. This is the PTO’s largest fundraiser and runs smoothly when we have ample parent volunteers. Please keep in mind: when signing up to volunteer, try not to cancel. The PTO understands that changes in schedules happen, although, if/when they do, please try and find a sub, if a sub cannot be found, please reach out to Lexi Schneider and Allie Davidson.  Additionally, If you take yourself off the schedule on the website, please let Allie Davidson or Lexi Schneider know. Unlike in previous years, there is not a monthly limit to the number of times a parent can volunteer. In addition, a  4th volunteer was added this year to help with zero waste and this gives parents more opportunities to volunteer in the school! 

After a parent signs up to volunteer, an email is sent with hot lunch helper directions. It was suggested that a video should be made to walk parents through Hot Lunch directions. New volunteer system seemed to work well, food days started Monday, so far so good.

 

  1. Bobcat Birthdays!-Nikki Brown

 

Ordering Bobcat Birthday signs can be found on the Membership Toolkit website. 

 

New Bobcat Birthdays! signs have been ordered and should be arriving today (8/30), birthday signs will be promoted next week! 

 

Bobcat Birthdays! will be handled differently this year. All of the birthday signage will be held at Nikki Brown’s house. Once families request a birthday sign, families will be emailed the week before their students birthday, signs can be picked up the day/night before the birthday and be returned to Nikki the next day. Multiple sets of the signs will be available to ensure signs are available to accommodate more than 1 birthday in a day. 

  1. Webmaster Report
    1. Get requests in early where possible - collaborate

The earlier posts are submitted the easier it is, please collaborate with the Webmasters to ensure this is a seamless process. 

  1. Treasurer’s Report - Amanda Schallman
    1. Update

The reimbursement process was discussed.  The best way to get reimbursed is through the Membership toolkit under “Expense Reimbursement/ Check Request”, but you can always send reimbursements to the treasurer’s email: braesdieptotreasurer@gmail.com. Reimbursements come through as zelle. A check can be mailed through the Chase account. 

With fundraising, please talk with Amanda about budgets, if there are gaps in expenses-this helps for futuring budgeting. Anything you are looking to purchase please use the Braeside PTO tax exempt letter. Most business establishments honor this, please ask Amanda or the Co-Presidents for a copy. 

  1. Other Business

Yearbook- any updates? 

2 new volunteers (Melissa Reich and Sara Ravich) have joined the yearbook committee. A meeting will be scheduled within the next month to determine how responsibilities will be divided, this will ensure that the yearbook is finished in a timely manner. 

 

  1. Adjournment
    1. Next Meeting: General-Friday, September 27 @ 9:00am 



Exec Board Notes:

-social media - take photos, let Melissa/Raph know all the great work going on so we can share with the community

-Reminder to send any Bobcat Bulletin updates to us by EOD Wednesday

 

 

Exec Board Notes:

-social media - take photos, let Melissa/Raph know all the great work going on so we can share with the community

-Reminder to send any Bobcat Bulletin updates to us by EOD Wednesday

April 19, 2024 Executive PTO Meeting Minutes

  1. Call to Order
  2. Principal’s Report – Jamie
    1. Character Counts: IPA + Character Counts Recognition
    2. The 2nd + 3rd grade play was amazing, Thanks to Ms. Polyack
    3. Earth Day (April 22)
      1. Spirit Club planned amazing things
    4. 5th Grade: Placement tests next week for middle school (reading + math), music performance is 5/16
    5. May 6 Map Testing (first grade will be on different schedule – Mon + Wed)
    6. Steam Day, May 2
      1. Parents invited to attend for kids participating in certain clubs
    7. 2023-2024 Parent Input Form
      1. Sent last week
    8. Kindergarten Orientation – May 15
    9. Parent input form shared April 18
  3. President Report’s – Carly + Ashley
    1. President’s Council Meeting
      1. Day of Giving – looking for opportunities throughout the year, Maybe District-Wide Night for Day of Giving
      2. Moraine Township Food Drive: children can bring oatmeal or instant rice, PTO will supplement and buy items on behalf of the school
  • Thank Committee at end of School Year
  1. Slate – Nominating for next year
  2. Committees – Will start reaching out to admins/VPs to check in with all of the committee to confirm who wants to be on what committee, will reach out to parents when school begins as well
  3. 5th Grade Promotion: larger soccer net vs. two less quality ones
  4. Art in Bloom: success, learnings for next year: provide map for all stores participating, continue to keep it small in downtown HP, keep it walkable
  5. New Before + After School Care: will share communications to all, questions around specials + extracurriculars
  6. Fun Run 2024: Sept. 28
  7. Reach, Teach, Play w/ Ravinia: May 9/4th grade families field trip, May 17/5th grade
  8. Board Meeting This Week: honored staff members, talked about Dominican Republic trip with Children
    1. Language Arts Curriculum: word recognition, language comprehension (CKLA stay for now K-2)
    2. HMH: new curriculum adopting
  9. VP – Admin, Leslie, Lauren, Abby
    1. School Supplies: Seeking new leadership, more than one person is welcome; School supply company is good, we can always review others
    2. 5th Grade Promotion
    3. Field Day-coordinate with room parents for lunch distribution, need volunteers, figure out restaurant to partner with, need to buy waters, popsicles
    4. Teacher Appreciate Week: first week of May, committee is planning, room parents involved
    5. Yearbook Due 4/26, send candid’s to Carly
  10. VP – Ways of Means – Allie, Cate, Nikkie
    1. Lou Malnati’s Pizza Fundraiser
    2. Spirit Wear – brainstorming towels, jibbits for Crocs, shirt for kindergarten families
    3. Square 1 Art: going well, quick to order
    4. Label Fundraiser-Allie
    5. Restaurant Night-Cate
  11. Treasurer’s Report – Lori + Amanda
  12. Other/New Business
  13. Adjournment
    1. Next Meeting: Move to Thursday, 5/16 at 9am

 

 

Braeside Elementary PTO – Executive Board Meeting

January 19, 2024

  1. Call to Order

 

  1. Principal’s Report
    1. Doing a great job – Casey + Blair
    2. Hot Chocolate Bar for teachers, lunch on early releases, etc.
    1. June 5 is now last day of school
    1. School assembly at 3pm today
    2. We want 100 percent of reading logs turned in!
    3. 9am-2pm HP Library + 4pm Highwood Public Library
      1. Teachers readings posted on social media
      2. 10:30 + 12:45 Paddy Lynn Storyteller
    1. Remind kids not to throw snowballs/ice
    2. Late start went well
    3. Valentine’s Day – Teachers sending out class lists next week, a card is preferred, no treats, no noisemakers, etc.
    4. Chorus – opportunities expanded above first grade
    5. Hospitality Committee
    6. School Schedule
    7. iRead

 

    1. Family Engagement Survey
      1. Discussion about Food Days + How to “fix” Negative Aspects ASAP, Equity aspet
      1. Results down slightly but still high – 4+
      2. Teachers treat children with respect + parents (highest ranked)
      3. Bottom items – hot lunch, teacher proactive communication on how kids are doing
      4. Weekly communication by teachers – “mandating” is something Jamie is thinking about

 

  1. President’s Report (Ashley, Carly)
    1. Bought tshirts made by Amanda Wood (11 t-shirts), they compete against other schools (4th + 5th grade)
    1. Thinking about meaningful field trips, e.g., Heller Nature Center
    1. Approval of Nov. Minutes
    2. President Council Notes
    3. iRead
    4. Book Match
    5. Field Day-Date Change – JUNE 4
    6. Yearbook Cover Art – 10 submissions so far, due Jan. 26
    7. Field Trips

 

  1. VP-Admin (Abby, Lauren, Leslie)
    1. Looking for more contributions to the bake sale – all money goes to support event and PTO; extra treats are given to teachers
    1. Valentine’s Service Day Project – pair up different grades to work on an activity to give back to the organization; Valentine’s Day is last day of iread
    1. Braeside Skate (Lexie, Sonia)
    2. Community Service (Heather, Holly)
    3. 5th Grade Promotion (Kirk, Kristi, Amanda)
    4. Yearbook + Yearbook Cover Contest (Amalie, Tracy)
    5. School Supplies (Casey, Emily): Teachers are reviewing lists to be thoughtful so parents don’t have to buy everything, e.g., organizing by last name or birthday (not gender!)
    6. Green Team (always in need of volunteers)
    7. Sweet Treats (Kirk)
    8. Square 1 Art (Nikki)
    9. Spirit Wear (Staci, Jamie, Samantha)
    10. Braeside Bites (Cate) – No March Restaurant Night
    11. Lou Malnati Fundraiser (Cat)
    12. Bobcat Birthdays – Spring + Summer Dates – seeking volunteers

 

  1. VP – Ways + Means (Allie, Nikki, Cate)
    1. New ideas: Sugarcoated
    1. Holiday Hugs for V Day (Allie – wrapping paper fundraiser)

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report (Lori, Amanda)

 

  1. Social/Comms (Lindsay, Melissa)
    1. Social Media Requests: please be mindful of timing and get submissions in at least 1 week prior

 

  1. Other/New Business

 

  1. Adjourn
    1. Fri, Feb 2, 9am: Exec Board
    2. Fri, March 15, 9am: General
    1. Next Meetings

 

 

 

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