Hunt PTO Update 10/25/15

Hey There Hunt Families -  Hope you were able to join Hunt last Thursday for the Harvest Dinner and to enjoy a delicious meal, great music and delightful company!  Special thanks to Deb Anger and Michelle Virun for their organization of such a massive event!  Also HUGE thanks to the School Food Project and Mr. Olzenack for the food and music that filled our spirits and bellies!

The PTO collected $150 from the movie ticket raffle and that money goes right back into Hunt school programs - thanks!

___________________

Most Likely to Succeed Make the time to see this movie!  It is inspiring to see what other schools are doing and really thought provoking....  What do we want for our children?  For Burlington schools?  From the Partnership for Change?

The final screening of this movie will be held at the Vermont International Film Festival on 10/31 at 12:45pm in the Main Street Landing Black Box Theatre.  Executive Producer, Ted Dintersmith, along with Vermont educators will sit for a panel discussion after the film.

For most of the last century, entry-level jobs were plentiful, and college was an affordable path to a fulfilling career. That world no longer exists. The feature-length documentary Most Likely to Succeed examines the history of education, revealing the growing shortcomings of our school model in todayʼs innovative world. Directed by acclaimed documentarian Greg Whiteley, the film has been named “among the best edu-documentaries ever produced” by Education Week, and called a “smart and engaging look at education in the 21st century” by The Hollywood Reporter. Film Threat stated that “this film should be a required course for all parents and educators.” Most Likely To Succeed is an official selection of many of the nation’s top film festivals, including the prestigious 2015 Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. www.mltsfilm.org

                                    ___________________

Minutes from the October PTO meeting included at the end of this blog.  The November meeting will be held on Thursday, November 15 at 6:30 in the Library.  Come help keep the momentum going!  In October, we had parents sign on to be the Treasurer, lead the Wreath Sale and lead the Spring Pancake Breakfast/auction - Way to go Hunt families!

                                     __________________

ORDER ONLINE!!!  INNISBROOK GIFT WRAP FUNDRAISER

Hello Hunt Families, If you did not have a chance to request a fundraising booklet for our recent PTO fundraiser don't worry. There is still time to participate in the fundraiser and help benefit our school.

From now until 12/30/15 you are able to make purchases through the  Innisbrook company website and part of the proceeds will go directly to Hunt PTO.  If you have not had a chance to look at the wonderful products Innisbrook has to offer take a look. This is a great chance to purchase your seasonal  wrapping paper, buy some home items, or get a jump start on your holiday shopping while benefiting Hunt Middle School.  Just go to  www.innisbrook.com/user/159916 and begin shopping. You can choose to register for an account or checkout as a guest. If you use the link above you should not need to put in the school account. Our school account number is 159916 if you are asked. Any questions contact Jen L'Ecuyer at jlecuyer7@gmail.com/

_____________________

Thanks you to families that donated money at the Harvest Dinner towards Hunt Teacher/team projects. The tally so far:

• Solstice books: $15
• Solstice Flynn trip: $35
• Hunt Drama: $20
• Hunt Handicap Door: $12.80
• Hunt Library E-books: $56
• Music - Instruments: $27.15

We are still collecting to help teachers make these plans a reality!!! Your check can be sent into the office (envelope to Michelle Virun) Please make note where the money should go so it is deposited into that teachers' account.   Checks get made out to Hunt Middle School with the project name in the note line at bottom left

                                    ___________________

Blogger needed!  Looking for a parent to take over the blog through the end of the school year.  Skills include basic wordprocessing, familiarity with google apps, decent grammer, interest in keeping families informed with Hunt happenings, ability to sleuth out information about what is happening at Hunt, with the PTO and other activities of interest to middle school families.  Time commitment per week is 1-2 hours.  Contact the PTO at huntmiddleschool@gmail.com (I would be happy to have a switchover meeting with the new blog person to help the transition go smoothly! Kate)

                                       ___________________

The Annual Wreath Sale returns to Hunt!  just in time to save us from our fundraising blues...

Holiday Wreath Fundraiser for Hunt Middle School

Oct 22, 2015 to Nov 13, 2015

It's back! The popular time-honored tradition of neighborhood wreath sales is back! Lyman C. Hunt Middle School is selling high quality traditional Vermont-made Balsam holiday wreaths.

Purchase a wreath from an HMS student in your neighborhood. They look great on the front door of your home or place of business. Proceeds go toward supporting classrooms and projects in the school.

All orders due by November 13. Contact Paula Henry 865-2651 or the school 864-8469 if you would like to place an order, or have questions.

Wreaths will be delivered over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Note to Families!!!

(1) All homeroom teachers were instructed to hand out the flyer to all students on Friday 10/23, so parents should do some "backpack-diving"! 

(2) We are looking for street captains, for neighborhoods: Lakewood Estates, Ethan Allen Pkwy, Village Green, Far North end, and the Old North End.  Please email the PTO gmail if interested.

(3) the sales ad has been posted on all FPFs,  so everyone in the community will know about this great fundraiser. 

(4) HMS is the only school in the NNE doing the wreath fundraiser this year - great for us!!!!

 The PTO appreciates all parents support.  Contact the PTO if you are interested in helping out in any way. 

Wreaths and Specialty items can be viewed on the website  www.marksvtwreaths.com.

_______________

BURLINGTON SCHOOL DIST. BUDGET CONSULTATIONS

It is that time of the year when we look at efficiencies within our District and how we can improve the organization as a whole. This year we are at the beginning of developing an interactive budget process that cycles a bit differently from previous years. We will need to prioritize our needs first, while meeting all mandated requirements before exploring the wants. 

This is your opportunity to contribute your thoughts and ideas - help us make it better. Get in on the ground floor, before we elevate the final recommendations to the Board. 

HOW DO YOU GET ENGAGED? ATTEND A BUDGET CONSULTATION.
November 4, 6:30, BHS cafeteria
November 5, 6:30, SA cafeteria

Visit www.bsdvt.org for upcoming details.

________________

Upcoming Events

10/27,28,29/15 District Community Forum with Superintendent, Yaw Obeng -

Tuesday, October 27, 6:30- Champlain Elem School

Wednesday, October 28, 6:30, Burl High School

Thursday, October 29, 6:30PM, Hunt Middle School

10/27/15 Hunt Ipad Rollout/Celebration - 5:30-7:30pm

11/6/15 Hunt Dance - 7pm

11/11/15 Hunt Play Production Meeting - ALL potential play/crew families invited!!!  - 6:30pm in the library

October 2015 PTO Meeting Minutes

 Timekeeper will keep the meeting to 1 hour going forward

 Community Harvest Dinner – Opportunities to sign up for stations, see blog, Ms. Anger, or Paula. Families & friends are welcome to attend, lots of good food and musical entertainment.  PTO will take advantage of the large parent crowd, and set up a table with the Go-Fund-Me display.  Volunteers are needed to work shifts at the table. This will be put out on the blog.

 Open House wrap-up – Parent showing at Sept 24 event was low.  We hope to see many parents at the Harvest dinner next week.  

 Former Treasurer, Dasha, has handed over all files.  We are in need of a new Treasurer. Please consider this opportunity to support the PTO.  Kathy Rossman expressed an interest, and will talk 

 Budget Variance Report was discussed.

 Jen  L’Equyer will check into renewal of PTO Tax ID# application (last used 2010), cost associated?

 If fundraising is very successful this year, we will be able to consider donating to teams as we have done in the past.   Len supports this. 

 Innisbrook wrapping paper fundraiser is done. Of the 393 students, 30 packets went out to students.  Jen is tallying the results. Estimate a profit of ~$700.  She will let us know when the final numbers come in from the company.

 Go-Fund-Me project had a poor showing the night of Open House.  We collected only $56.  Projects submitted by staff to date total over $4,200.   Will have a table again at upcoming Harvest dinner.  Kathy Rossman volunteered to look into the Handicap Door project submitted by Len.

 Wreath fundraiser coming up later this month.  Paula & Patrick Henry will  head up this fundraiser, will need neighborhood/street leaders.  Flier/order form will be available at Harvest dinner.  Key dates:  10/22 Rollout, 11/15 orders due to Mark’s Wreaths, Thanksgiving weekend wreaths delivered to HMS.  Will look into using the school for this, due to large space needed.   Will need a team of volunteers to decorate and assist with final delivery.  

 Shutterfly opportunity presented by Jen L’Equyer.  We sign up our school on the website, and receive 13% of all purchases made, runs for one year.  Jen will proceed with this opportunity.

 P-T conferences, had a good turnout Oct 8-9. Teachers continue to be available for parents.

 Harvest dinner- Oct 22, huge event for the school, good food, entertainment, community involvement.  450 attended in 2014-15.  Len will check with Sara on City Market volunteers, and with BHS on student volunteers.  Paula will get volunteer to walk around with movie ticket raffle, as this brought in ~$300 last year.  4 movie tickets donated .

 iPad rollout set for Oct 27 afternoon-evening.  Information packets coming home 10/19 in student backpacks explaining rollout, and AlertNow going out. Student tech teams doing parent workshops!  All effort being made to alert & educate parents.  Alternate drop-off sites around the community being investigated.  Issue of theft was discussed, and measures to discourage it.

 Canvas rollout underway.  Information station will be set up for parents at the iPad rollout 10/17.

 Need for additional playtime during the school day –Bella Nadworny.  With reduction in PE, this is an issue for kids who need to move.  Suggestions: view movie at BHS Wed 6:30 “Most Likely to Succeed”, speak to other like-minded parents,  tap into Staff trained in Mindfulness,  take advantage of available time in daily homeroom, after lunch, downtime in classroom between subjects, and After-School program offerings.

 T-shirt fundraising opportunity – Carol McCleary.  A local company used by CPSmith, can design a logo for us and print them on Tshirts.  They can be sold at the HMS store.  Idea was met with enthusiasm by the team, Carol will look into for next year!

Our next meeting is November 19 


Submitted by Paula Henry