Hunt PTO Update 10/31/11

Kinda looks like an 8 lb Jabba the hut sweet potato baby

Hey There Hunt families - The 2011 Community Dinner last Tuesday was a smashing success.  Thank you to Barb Prine for her organizing and to all the teachers, students, parents and volunteers who helped put the dinner together.  What a beautiful combined effort this was to see and participate in.  So glad to see the hordes of Hunt families turning out for this event!

Hunt School Newsletter - Did you know that Hunt school puts out a monthly newsletter at the beginning of each month?  You can find it on the right side of the Hunt homepage.  The November newsletter is already posted - check it out!  If you would like a paper copy mailed to your home each month, please contact the office to request it.

Smencils make great stocking stuffers or favors for a party.  The PTO plans to sell Smencils at events this Fall/winter.  If you cannot wait, contact Gabi Baumann at gamabaumann@burlingtontelecom.net and she can make arrangements for a smencil drop.

Book Fair Info from Mrs.Pawlusiak:  Hunt's annual Book Fair will begin on the evening of December 7th. In the past few years I have set up the cases in the lobby so that parents could purchase books before the concerts. I will need volunteers for about an hour 6 - 7pm on 12/7 before the Chorus Concert.   Again on the evening of Wednesday 12/14 the Book Fair will be open from 6 - 7 pm before the Band Concert.  It would be nice to have 2 volunteers for each of the concerts. I will plan to be at the Chorus Concert and the Band Concert to make sure the cases and the cash register are set up.

On Thursday 12/8, Friday 12/9, Monday 12/12, Tuesday 12/13 and Wednesday 12/14 the Book Fair will be open from 8:00 am until 3:15 pm. We have done shifts of 2 hours 8 -10, 10 - 12, 12 - 2, 2 - 3+ or some volunteers have spent the morning from 8 - 12 and afternoon from 12 - 3+. It doesn't matter to me how long the shifts are!!  During the day we need one volunteer per shift.

Last year we did not sell enough books to reach the benchmark I needed to make money. I received only Scholastic Dollars to purchase Scholastic books.

In the past I have used the money we made to purchase a stand up catalog station and a wood book case for one of our collections. It is also helpful to have money that can be accessed quickly for the books I want to purchase immediately from B&N or Borders as opposed to ordering through a vendor which can take a number of weeks.


Hunt Gardens   HUGE thank you to Anne Williams for all the work she did over the weekend weeding the flower beds and carting around 5 cubic yards of topsoil.  We have Susan Rutherford to thank for getting the soil and the volunteers.  Susan was persistent in making sure the school district replaced the soil removed during construction so we can be sure to have the means to garden out front at Hunt - Thank you ladies- we are grateful for your hard work!

Box Tops - Your Hunt PTO has signed up for the Box Tops for Education program and placed a collection box in the main office, on the blue shelf to the left of the door. Please support our PTO and our kids by saving box tops and sending them to school with your student to place in the collection box.  All the money we earn will go directly toward great out of classroom experiences for our kids including field trips, 8th grade graduation, 6th grade picnic, the community dinner, and materials for the classrooms. Save your Box Tops for Education and support our kids!! Contact Susan Rutherford at 951-2571 or susanrutherford@hotmail.com with any questions, ideas or concerns. Thanks!!

PTO Budget 2011-12  Click on this link to see what money we have and how we voted to spend it.   https://docs.google.com/open?id=1jzaDQmC2-L6frc5bcsba8YeLCMaYp9ntgmeaTDkSxoKZXs3jBvJltbrDHX0A

Fundraising - Check out the thermometer (at left) and see where we're at!

This could be your wreath...

INLU: We have raised $480 via INLU and checks/cash - thanks for your generosity. To fund our planned programming for 2011-12, we need to raise about $8,000. This works out to be about $20 per student. It is not too late to donate. Cash and checks made out to the

LC Hunt PTO can be sent in a sealed envelope to the office or Click here to make a contribution on-line: www.inlu.com/huntpto2011

Holiday Wreaths: Orders due for Holiday Wreaths November 11th!!-In case you have not heard, your PTO is selling fresh, reasonably priced, balsam wreaths. This year's offerings also include traditional centerpieces and kissing balls that will brighten your home or table. These Vermont-made products make great gifts for your family and friends. These wreaths are the finest wreaths found anywhere and hand-crafted in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. 100% of proceeds will go directly toward PTO activities including team field trips, school-wide assemblies, 8th grade graduation, 6th grade orientation picnic, the community dinner, diversity day, and many other enrichment activities. Order forms can be found in the main office, the Hunt PTO blog spot, or the Hunt website. Orders can also be given over the phone to Gabi Baumann at 660-9189 or email gamabaumann@burlingtontelecom.net or Susan Rutherford at 951-2571 or susanrutherford@hotmail.com Please support your PTO and order now!

Technology Access at Hunt - Are you aware that students in some classes at Hunt have
1:1 access to netbooks on a daily basis? As a parent with a child in one of these classrooms, I can testify to the incredible opportunities my son is being given in integrating technology into his day to day classwork. Students are using googledocs to share documents/collaborate both in school and at home. Instead of paper posters, students are learning to use an e version called glogster. This allows them to embed video and images as well as traditional text. The tight school budget allows for the rare fieldtrip, but students are taking virtual fieldtrips to historical sites/towns around the state on a site called geocaching.com. Students take turns making slides in Powerpoint and have the opportunity to present the information back to their classmates. During core classes, some students use the netbooks to dig deeper into the curriculum if they finish early- exploring curriculum related sites and activities. On the flip side, there are many sites being used for remediation and basic skills work. Each child can get what he/she needs and the extra motivation of using the computer can help keep them engaged longer. While I am thrilled at the crazy-mad computer/research skills my son is developing this year and the collaborating I am seeing, I am already thinking to the future and asking questions about what technology will be available to my children going forward. What are your thoughts? How much access to technology does your child have? What do you want/envision?

Is this a topic parents want to talk about - A Dialogue Night perhaps? If you have thoughts you would like to share with the PTO, we can start the discussion. On the District level, Paul Irish is the Director of Technology. I bet he would would like to hear what parents have to say. Paul can be contacted at pirish@bsdvt.org

One teacher using netbooks daily is 6th grade teacher, Kathy Hevey. Check out her Wiki and see how she communicates and how her students are using technology. http://kheveyvt.wikispaces.com/

Save the Date....

• November 6 - Daylight savings Time - Set clocks back 1 hour
• November 11 - Report Cards
• November 17 - 7-8pm - PTO Meeting (childcare provided) Everyone welcome!
• November 23-25 - Thanksgiving Break
• December 2 - School dance
• December 7-14 - Bookfair

Hunt PTO Update 10/24/11

Hey there Hunt families - Hope to see everyone at the community Dinner on Tuesday from 6-7pm. Your students have been working hard harvesting veggies, preparing fruit crisps, penning poems and practicing their instruments - get ready to be wowed by the free food, thoughtful displays and beautiful dinner music.  Need a ride to the event?  Send us an e-mail at huntschoolpto@gmail.com and we will make the arrangements to get you there and back.  No excuses - come mix and mingle and get to know Hunt kids and their families. It is not a community dinner if we are not working towards building our Hunt community.  

Thank You to Hunt parents, Kim Dinh, Sara Osaba, Susan Rutherford, Dorsey Hogg and Kate Belluche, who were able to help chop vegetables and supervise student prep chefs today.  Also assisting from the Friends of Burlington Gardens was UVM intern Madeline Kinzley.

Fundraising - Wish we didn't have to do it... (but we do!)  Check out the thermometer (at left) and see where we're at!

INLU:  We have raised $265 via INLU and checks/cash - thanks for your generosity.  To fund our planned programming for 2011-12, we need to raise about $8,000.  This works out to be about $20 per student.  It is not too late to donate.  Cash and checks made out to the LC Hunt PTO can be sent in a sealed envelope to the office or Click here to make a contribution on-line: www.inlu.com/huntpto2011

Holiday Wreaths: Yeah, it is kind of early to be thinking about decorating for the holidays, but honestly, we had to get a jump on all the competitors - everyone and their brother will be hocking wreaths in the coming weeks!  If you were going to buy a wreath anyway, why not support Hunt PTO programming and hard-working Vermonters.  I bet you have a neighbor or co-worker who might need/want a beautiful, fragrant wreath for their door.  And what about those kissing balls???  Don't we all need an excuse for more smooching?  Order forms went home last week with students.  Did you get one???  Below is a link to the order form.  Feel free to open the file and print yourself off a copy.
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=1j2o7cmU6O71c9mtycXgpt4i6Iy-OkghoeCQQi0CxW_I5E6CcCd1B9uCkvN84&hl=en_US  Orders can be sent in a sealed envelope into the office.  Thanks!

Think you could be a super-seller? Maybe you could peddle wreaths at work or around your neighborhood? Contact Gabi Baumann for the opportunity to be a super-seller (gamabaumann@burlingtontelecom.net)

Hunt PTO October Minutes - See below

Save the Date....

• October 25 - 6-7pm - Community Dinner
• October 28 - Picture Re-take
• November 17 - 7-8pm - PTO Meeting (childcare provided)  Everyone welcome!
• December 7-14 - Bookfair

Have a great week! Kate B.


Hunt Middle School PTO Minutes
October 13, 2011

Meeting Start: 7:05pm

Meeting End: 8:15pm
Approximate number of attendees: 19
Meeting facilitated by President – Helen Hossley
Minutes recorded and distributed – Kate Belluche

Budget was presented by Brian Pine.  Last week, officers met to discuss past budgets, available funds and plans for the future.  Some confusion about what money is restricted and how much money is actually available.  We have $3,001.31 in the bank.  $1,537.45 is unrestricted money and $1,463.86 is restricted.  There were questions about Assembly fees.  We dropped the post-NECAP assembly/celebration.  Marcie would like assemblies to connect to themes of wellness and community so they are not stand alone and can be better integrated into the curriculum.  Money budgeted to the 6 teams this year is $2000 and will be divided per pupil and distributed to teams when we have money to give.  PTO should communicate with teachers about what money might be available.  The budget was presented, seconded and approved.

Community Dinner scheduled for Tuesday, October 25^th from 6-7pm.  Free to Hunt school.  Barb Prine again sent around a volunteer signup.  This year we will be offering rides to families who could not otherwise get to the dinner.  Brian Pine will have a van to shuttle folks and there will be ~7 drivers.  Brian Pine has been soliciting donations from local businesses.  More volunteers will be needed – especially on dishes and composting.  Wondering if Doug Davis will actually charge us for food…  Barb encouraged parents to talk to their student musicians about playing during dinner.  Teachers/students also prepping – making placemats, digging, prepping veggies, creating watercolor cards and poems, and writing community reflections. 

*Volunteer Opportunity: Monday, October 24^th 8-10:45am.  Parents needed to help with vegetable prep.  Michelle Sutton will have students in the cafeteria peeling veggies for T and parents are needed to help supervise small groups and to chop veggies.  Bring 1 or more vegetable peelers and a kitchen knife for chopping.  Show up in the cafeteria or confirm with Jen at jsutton@bsdvt.org

Fundraising will see some tweaks this year.  Gabi Baumann submitted a plan put together by a committee of parents.  She is very grateful to have so many folks on board to help this year.   Three firm events include:

1. Direct Appeal letter/e-mail – E-mail released, letter out at end of week.  Using Inlu to get donations electronically, but parents can also send checks to the office.
2. Wreath Sale – Info will be out by the community dinner.  Families will be asked to buy a wreath and uber-volunteers will go door to door in hopes of greater sales.  Gabi is looking for vols to go door to door and for folks to take the information to their places of work.  Ideas were to post on Front Porch Forum and to have forms avail at all Burlington school except CP Smith.  Target is $2000 profit.  Looking into putting up a thermometer to track sales.  Cake for the top seller.
3. Smencils will be sold at the Community dinner as well as around school.  Ms. Daigle will see if the Student council can help with sales/ideas. 

Other ideas were on a handout but not presented as they are not firm yet.  Box Tops were also discussed and feedback is that it is an easy way to get money.  Susan Rutherford will coordinate.

Healthy Gardens information was presented by Susan Rutherford.  Susan will work with Jen McGowan of the Friends of Burlington Gardens to help inform families about the school gardens and what programs students participate in at school connecting local produce, cooking and nutrition.  Behind the school is a ½ acre garden that the students tend and produce is used by foodservice.  There are also 6-7 raised beds.  The plan is to have the raised beds tended and used by low income families with students at Hunt school.  Susan also will care for the front flower gardens and is still trying to get the district to replace the dirt that was removed during construction several years ago. 

Bookfair planned for December 7-14.  Librarian Diane Pawlusiak is looking for volunteers to help during day.  Bookfair will also be open for the Concerts.  PTO will help to recruit vols via blog.

Principal’s Report focused on this year’s theme: Inclusive Culture.  Marcie and Ms. Daigle spoke about the 6^th grade teams reading the Revealers and the rich discussion classes are having about the bullying happening in the book.  Students will also view a documentary about bullying called, Let’s Get Real.  Author of book is VT based and will come speak with students this year.

Lack of sports communication was brought up and Marcie agreed to look into it with Mr. Pecor.

November Agenda topics to include: Community dinner wrap-up, Principal’s Report, Fundraising update, parent communication/engagement, sports communication.  Idea to do a standalone Dialogue Night like BHS.

Hunt PTO Weekly Update

Hey there Hunt families,  Hope your child is getting settled at school.  It's a short week with Parent Teacher conferences on Thursday and Friday.  So take this opportunity to find out how your child is faring and how you can best support him/her in school and at home.

Community Dinner - you don't want to miss the event of the year!  Drag your whole family over to school on Tuesday, October 25th for a FREE meal grown, harvested, prepped and prepared with the help of your student.  In adidtion to great food there will be student entertainment while you eat, student projects to look at and lovely folks to chat with.  Dinner will be served between 6-7pm.  Need a ride?  Contact Barb Prine at 864-5587 and she will arrange transport for your family to/from the event.

Volunteer Opportunity: Monday, October 24^th 8-10:45am.  Parents needed to help with vegetable prep.  Jennifer Sutton will have students in the cafeteria peeling veggies for Tuesday and parents are needed to help supervise small groups and to chop veggies.  Bring 1 or more vegetable peelers and a kitchen knife for chopping.  Show up in the cafeteria or confirm with Jen at jsutton@bsdvt.org.  The more the merrier (really, we need you!) 

Fundraising at Hunt has begun in earnest.  Families received both a letter and e-mail soliciting direct donations to the PTO.  The more direct donations we get, the fewer fundraisers we need to do and all that equals more time and energy to spend planning and supporting student and family activities at Hunt.  We have two other fundraisers in theworks.   Keep your eyes open for information about the Annual Wreath sale - consider purchasing locally crafted, evergreen wreaths for your family and be sure to ask your neighbors and co-workers!  Also keep your nose in the air for Smencils - arriving any day now!  Smencils are very fragrant pencils made out of recycled paper.  They will be the envy off all your child's classmates and the enemy of teachers far and wide (well, we hope not...) 
Note the thermometer on the left.  Once the money starts rolling in, we will be updateing the thermometer to let you know how well we are reaching our fundraising needs. 

PTO Meeting Minutes / Treas Report should be released later this week.

Save the Date....

• October 19 - Half day - Kiddoes liberated at noon
• October 19, 20 - Parent Teacher Conferences
• October 24 - 8am-10:45 Chop veggies at Hunt
• October 25 - 6-7pm  - Community Dinner
• November 17 - 7-8pm - PTO Meeting

Have a great week!  Kate B.

You're Invited...

Hunt PTO Meeting next Thursday, October 13th from 7-8pm in the Library. Childcare will be provided in the gym.

No invitation needed, just show up and bring a friend - really, the more the merrier. In fact, the 1st PTO meeting of the year was bursting at the seams with eager 7/8 grade parents and a whole new crop of 6th grade parents just waiting to get involved at Hunt. Come be part of the PTO "renaissance."

Draft agenda items are included below. What's on your mind? Please let us know if you have an agenda item to include. Meetings are kept to 1 hour, so overflow items may be tabled until the November meeting.

Please e-mail the huntmiddleschool@gmail.com account with agenda items, comments or suggestions.
 
Have a great week.

October Draft Agenda
Budget presentation, discussion and vote
Community Dinner
Communications to Parents re: school events
Wreath Sale
Healthy Gardens
Principal's Report
Library Book Sale

PTO Meeting

Thursday, October 13th, 7pm
Hunt Library
Childcare Available