Chestnutwold Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

Meeting Agenda: Jan 7th, 2025

Attendees: 8 board members, 5 attendees, Mrs. Leach, 1 teacher, 1 Guest Speaker (School Board Member)

Quizzo Fri 1/23 - looking for more tables to sign up
MLK Jr. Day - service opportunity - making posters, collecting canned goods for the Ardmore food pantry, creating placemats for a local partner, story hour, educational materials. More info coming on the blast

Executive Board Positions: VP of In-School Events, VP of Out of School Events, Co-President, Co-Treasurer
Bag Bingo Chair
Parent Social Event Chair (ex. Bowling, night out at a bar, Phillies game etc. - for community building + fundraising)
Chestnutwold Chase Committee Support

Treasurers’ Monthly Report (PDF link)
- Additional budget expenditures requiring a vote:
Principal’s Remarks

Mid-year assessment window opens last week in Jan (MAPS, AIMSWEB), data team meets
April of last year there was a discussion about un-leveling ELA classes. Looking for feedback/questions/concerns about this change. Heather Pinero - new ELA supervisor - looking for any feedback/input.

On the agenda for IDC as well
Last PTO meeting - Mrs. Lucas had positive feedback about teachers getting more comfortable with the new curriculum
4th and 5th grade have lots of transitions - teachers considering whether WIN time should be broken out to have focused groups
Wit and Wisdom text is high level, so is a challenge for majority of students

Lives in the Chatham Park area since 2009
Joined school board in 2019
Dr Hayes will be having meet and greets (2/19 @10am at Kelley Music Center, 3/25 at the Haverford Library)
Chatham Park renovations are finished
Coopertown currently undergoing renovations (previously had modular classrooms since the 90’s)
Curriculum update - 2025 district PSSA in the top 5% (higher in some categories)
Teacher contract was finalized (4 years)
New Committee setup - much simpler
Question on High school incident - no leads on who was responsible. It was finals week

Chestnutwold doesn’t do a full evacuation practice, but do practice stay-in-place drills

PTOs are so different in so many ways, makes it hard to compare apples to apples. Consider making things more fair across the board
Think we can get around the previous lawsuit that prevented Principal from communicating about PTO
Will revisit and share with all the schools in a consistent way - this could also open up improved fundraising, clubs, play discussions etc.
Make-a-lunch program (organizer on IDC can help to set up at Chestnutwold) - two classes go in the morning and pack lunches and take to a local shelter. Kids decorate bags. Families donate money or supplies. Done during school hours. Good way to get parents to go in and volunteer
Middle + High School will be using Principal’s communications
Improved collaboration with schools on communications
Rachel will be Secretary of IDC
Curriculum meeting will be on Monday (1/12)
Both IDC reps will be leaving Chestnutwold this year so we’ll need new reps. Structure is changing a bit so there may be a review of candidate’s qualifications etc. (being added to Signupgenius)