WCMS PTO Meeting Minutes

April 3, 2008

5:00 p.m.

Meeting Followed WCMS’s Spring Tailgate 2008 Party

Jim Carden PTO President Conducted Meeting

Warren County Schools 2008-2009 School Calendar – The newly approved school calendar was distributed by Mrs. Betty Wood. It was noted WCMS will not receive 5 th graders next school year. She appreciates chatter by parents that WCMS is a GREAT SCHOOL!!!!! She thanked those that have attended Warren County School Board Meetings and expressed appreciation for all support from the PTO.

T- Cap Testing - Week of April 7-11, 2008

T-Cap Proctors – Mrs. Betty Wood expressed appreciation that categories have almost been filled – a couple of slots are open and you can volunteer by calling Mrs. Nancy Hale, Guidance Counselor at WCMS.

Update on May 22 – 8 th Grade Recognition Day

Discussion from last PTO meeting: Mrs. Wood wants PTO to have a celebratory brunch for all of our 8 th graders and their parents as a group (not by teams). Also she wants a power point presentation of 8 th graders (baby picture and 8 th grade picture). Lynn Bragg is contact person for this. It was suggested a few 6 th and 7 th grade parents help this year with the intent of learning how to host the event (stepping up as leaders) when their child reaches the 8 th grade. Eighth grade leader not yet secured but Jane Ann Pryor was suggested. Robin Phillips, Notie Ramsey, and Courtney Breedlove volunteered to assist with this event at the last meeting.

Robin and Courtney were also present at this meeting and said plans will be made (when it is time) for this event.

WCMS Teacher Appreciation Brunch

Monday, May 5, 2008 was set as the date for the annual brunch. This date falls during the annual Teacher Appreciation Week. Co-Chairs will be Debbie Jennings and Stephanie Simerly. Mrs. Wood will forward them the PTO Volunteer list with contact information so they can obtain help for this event.

Bus Traffic and County Road In 6 th Grade Drop Off Area

Warren County has plans to pave the County Road that is part of the 6 th Grade drop-off area. Also the bus shed will be contacted about some flow of traffic conflicts in the area by Mrs. Wood.

Next PTO MEETING

The next PTO meeting will be in August of 2008 (new school year)

President Jim Carden and Mrs. Wood plan to meet in June/July to make plans for the August meeting and Open Houses at WCMS.

Attention Parents:

Parents of 8th Grade Students are encouraged to go to the following web site: www.EXPLOREStudent.org
for information about EXPLORE test results and other parent resources. Your child's EXPLORE test results will be ready for you to pick up at Parent-Teacher Conference on Thursday Feb. 28th, 2008 from his/her teacher.

Also at WCMS the 8th Grade students are getting ready for several activities during Prime Time to help them for the transition to Warren County High School. Each day during Prime Time, they will be working on different activities to help them understand the different requirements for High School.
Please ask your child about these activities and start looking for information that will be sent home for you to help them in their decision-making process. It is a huge step for them to move up to the next level in their education, and for the first time they have many choices and decisions to make concerning their future education and careers. The exact date for registration has not been determined, but it should be mid to late April which is after TCAP testing.

If you have any questions, you can call Nancy Hale at WCMS
Phone Nu. 473-6557, 8th grade Counselor
Or
Stacy Smith at WCHS
Phone Nu. 668-5910, 9th Grade Counselor
Or
Contact your child's teacher

We are proud to announce that Jim Carden has been elected as our new PTO President. Mr.Carden would like to develop an email contact group of parents at the Middle School. If you would like to receive news and information that deals with the PTO, please send an email to abcice@blomand.net and your email address can be added to the contact list.

All of us here at WCMS would like to say a special THANK YOU to Suzanne Prater for all of her hard work and dedication while being PTO President.

WCMS PTO will have a meeting April 3rd in conjunction with the WCMS Spring Tailgate Party. Please attend. We appreciate your help and support.

WCMS PTO Meeting Minutes

February 21, 2008

Agenda:

Budget/Finance Report from Jane Ann Pryor - Not Present

Mission Statement Approval:

“The mission of the WCMS PTO is to raise expectations and to support learning and teaching.” This mission statement was approved at the PTO meeting Thursday night, Feb. 21, 2008 with Jim Carden, new PTO president , presiding. Mrs. Betty Wood, WCMS Principal commented that this new mission statement would now appear in the WCMS Handbook and on our letterhead.

Define Meetings Schedule and Representation for the PTO As a Whole:

Executive Board Meetings were scheduled for April 1, and May 6, at 7:45 a.m. Executive Board meetings will be held on the first Tuesdays of each month. Donna Gonder accepted the job as Recording Secretary and WCMS Teacher Representative for the PTO.

Events That Need PTO Support:

Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, February 28. The PTO plans to collect e-mail addresses from parents interested in the PTO and continue the T-Shirt Sale.

March 11 Gang Awareness Seminar WCMS Auditorium at 6:00 p.m.:

Discussion on division of Public Relations for this event

Jim Carden and Joe Anish to take BLTV and radio stations

Betty Wood – Southern Standard and all Schools (discussed if needed to buy advertisement or get article written about the event - left to her discretion)

March 17-21 Spring Break

April 3, Tailgate 2008 3:00 – 7:00 Softball/Baseball Extravaganza – Pep Club will need help with meals!

Discussion: Sherry Jacobs will be contacted to organize the PTO to help with food and the tailgate event

The next PTO meeting will be held around this event (following the meal). Plans are to hold future

PTO meetings in connection with an event!!

April 7-11 is TCAP from 7:30 until 11:30 a.m. Daily

Proctors are needed!! We need 50! Call Mrs. Nancy Hale, 8 th grade guidance counselor and volunteer!!!

Discussed using grandparents and other relatives as well as parents

May 6 – Gateway Testing

A few proctors are also needed for this day.

May 6 - Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at WCMS 12:00 p.m.

PTO President, Jim Carden to attend. We need input into Strategic Planning for WC Schools.

May 9 - WCMS Service Careers Exploration Day

Discussion:

SAR Officer Mr. Brad Hennessee is the coordinator

PTO parents are needed to assist in moving kids from one area to another.

Channel Five is coming to the event!

May 22 – 8 th Grade Recognition Day

Discussion: Mrs. Wood wants PTO to have a celebratory brunch for all of our 8 th graders and their parents as a group (not by teams). Also, she wants a power point presentation of 8 th graders (baby picture and 8 th grade picture ). Lynn Bragg is contact person for this.

An 8 th grade PTO Volunteer is needed to head this up. It was suggested a few 6 th and 7 th grade parents

also help with the intent of learning how to host the event (stepping up as leaders) when their child reaches the 8 th grade. Notie Ramsey, Courtney Breedlove, and Robin Phillips volunteered to assist with the brunch. Eighth grade leader not yet secured but Jane Ann Pryor suggested.

May 23 Last Day of School

Warren County Schools Proposed Calendar for 2008-2009

Copy distributed to all present

WC School Board meets Thursday, Feb. 28 to discuss calendar at Central Office at 6:00 p.m.

Parents and teachers urged to attend the meeting and voice opinions

PALS Committee Update

Donna Gonder and Robin Phillips are both on the PALS Committee and were present. One more PALS meeting is left for this school year. Both expressed concern that PALS Committee received information after plans were made more than being a part of the strategic planning and would like to see more input come from the PALS Committee into initial strategic planning.

Misson Statement:

Raise expectations and to support learning and teaching.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:

Guiding Premise from WCB of E:

The school district shall be governed by the statutory definition of parent involvement as sited in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and shall carry out programs, activities and procedures in accordance with this definition. 1

The Board shall implement the following as required by federal and state legislation:

• The school district will put into operation activities and procedures for the involvement of parents in all of its schools. Those programs, activities and procedures will be planned and operated with meaningful consultation with parents.

WCMS Mission is to make all students meet their grade level benchmarks as established by the state and nation and to get all students ready to perform successfully at the next educational level. In order to meet these goals will attempt to partner with our student and parents for ultimate success.

WCMS Procedures and Guidelines :

WCMS Faculty and staff in collaboration with all of our parents and the PTO will work collectively to improve the instruction, facilities, and programs school-wide for the successful operation of WCMS and the total success of our all of our students.
The PTO is made up of parents, teachers and administrators. The PTO is working closely with the administration and teachers to understand the mission, goals, and action plans of the school.
The PTO will receive a Principal’s state of the school summary bi- annually to assess the progress of the school and to evaluate the progress and the needs of the school. ( Evaluate Progress / Plan / Action Implementation / Evaluate )
The PTO will meet minimally once a month to set goals, objectives and action plans for school improvement. ( Third Thursday in the Month at 7:45 a.m. in the Library )
The PTO acts as an information gathering and delivery network with an e-mail procedure to inform parents of projects and activities as well as progress of the school.
The PTO volunteers to assist in TCAP Proctoring
The PTO provides incentives for attendance and student performance awards.
The PTO is a support / group for all school functions. (Open Houses, Parent Teacher Conferences, Read across America Program, Chili Supper, Campus Pride Days, PTO meetings Monthly and frequently associated with student extra- curricular activities, Tailgate Parties, campus clean-up days, Day Basketball Games.)
The PTO understands and is aware of the school status and the goals faced by the school from year to year and work to provide necessary assistance to meet the goals.
The PTO will assist in development of the School Improvement Plan.
WCMS provides an educational opportunity for all parents to learn about the challenges that are faced by our Middle Schoolers in this x-rated world through our “For Parents Eyes Only Room.” The room is dedicated to informing our parents about the current trends, culture that infuses our school. It also serves as an opportunity to educate our parents about our dress code, disciplinary issues and procedures of our school.

• The school district shall incorporate activities and strategies that support this district wide family and community engagement policy into its Tennessee Comprehensive System wide Planning Process (TCSPP).

WCMS Guidelines:

Representatives from the school serve on the WC PALS Committee to steer system wide school improvement. These representatives are members of the WCMS PTO and /or the Executive Board. These representatives will assist the system in making improvements system wide and in representing WCMS.

• The TCSPP shall include procedures by which parents may learn about the course of study for their children and have access to all learning materials.

WCMS Procedures:

The web site for Warren County School contains the curriculum maps that have been devised by the system.
WCMS teachers produce yearly syllabi that are standards based and are correlated with the adopted test books. The teachers produce syllabi for students as appropriate.
The parents are informed of core curriculum during Open House and during the Parent Teacher Conference.
Abstinence Education Programs are available and previewed at WCMS Open Houses.
For Parents Eyes Only room.
Student Handbooks are published and required for each student. All rules and regulations of the school are included.
Parent Line
WCMS Site
k12planet
All syllabi are on file for viewing when requested.

• The SIP shall include strategies for parent participation in the district's schools which are designed to improve parent and teacher cooperation in such areas as homework, attendance and discipline.

WCMS Strategies:

The Parent and the student will engage in an interview during Open House designed to look at test scores and establish goals for the up coming year. The teacher will then conduct an interview to go over the goals and to establish an action plan. The interviews will be reviewed during the Parent Teacher Conferences in September.
The school makes phone calls regarding student status continually- logs are available.
The school uses k12planet continually to promote school activities and student assessment.
The school uses Homework Hotline- locally and regionally for homework assistance and information.
Administrator’s and Guidance counselors regularly contact parents for various reasons- log are kept in appropriate offices.
WCMS has yearly Open House for all grade levels
WCMS and PTO partner for success.
WCMS uses marquee to keep parents current on educational happenings and student announcements.
Parent Line is produced and sent with Report Cards each six weeks for student activities and school progress.
PTO uses e-mail to contact parents- Phone calls are also made as appropriate to inform parents about WCMS
Team meetings occur daily and parents are includes a appropriate - Logs are available

• If the school plan is not satisfactory to the parents, the school shall submit any parent comments with the plan when the school district submits the plan to the State Department of Education.

Any suggestions are always welcome. Suggestion boxes are placed in our school.
PTO e-mails are forward to the Principal as need be.
Parent line has a portion for comments and feed back.
K12planet allows for e-mails to the Principal or other employee.
WCMS website has opportunities for feed back
School-wide Surveys are conducted.

• To the extent practicable, the school shall provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports in an understandable and uniform format and including alternative formats upon request, and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents understand.

ESL Programs / SPED are integral part of our school program. Great coordination and collaboration are exercised throughout our school to accommodate all learners.
Integrated Programs with High Quality and Highly Qualified Teachers are available for all students.
All Letters / forms are produced in appropriate languages as possible. School staff / translators will contact by phone or in person if necessary.
After school / summer school programs are available for these sub groups to accelerate or remediate the learning.

• The school shall include Family and Community Advisors that will annually assess, through consultation with parents, the effectiveness of our Engagement Program and determine what action needs to be taken, if any, to increase parental and community participation. In order to accomplish this, the council shall be composed of representatives from parents of students, community leaders, members of the school representatives from all groups of the school

WCMS has it’s PTO and Partners in Education that act as

Advisers and provide feedbacks as to community perspectives regarding WCMS and the school community.

Team Leaders Meeting have parents that attend from time to

time as school- wide decisions are made.

WCMS shall ensure that as a Title I school we are in compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act.

BWood

______________________

Legal Reference:

PL 107-110, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001