October 2019 PTO Meeting Minutes

Chestnutwold Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

General Meeting Agenda: October 2, 2019 

  • ChCK Trait: Respect “To be one, to be united, is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater.” – Bono

  • Thanks: Thank you to Amy Solwecki for Back to School Night at McSorley’s. Big thanks to Amy Mensch, Lalasa Mohr, and Christine Shindler for Phoenix Fun Day and the Dance-a-Thon. 

    • DAT suggestions for next year: end at 7:00 instead of 7:30, permanent bathroom monitor, revamping brochure. 

  • Teacher’s Remarks

  • Thank you for field hockey jerseys 

  • Principal’s Remarks

  • Thank you for PFD

  • Young Author’s day next 10/11

  • Friday 10/18 picture day

  • Mandated lock down/shelter in place in October 

  • Halloween parade 10/31, start 10:45AM

  • Pajama day 11/1

  • 10/14 is spirit day- dress in blue and gold!

  • Guest: Abby Wright, Diaper Dry’ve at HHS 

  • Goal of 8,000 diapers

  • Give to a local diaper bank

  • Box will be in main office for the month of October to collect diapers 

  • Link for donations to be sent out at a later date 

  • IDC Update 

  • First meeting next Monday

  • Presidents of PTO invited to attend and share concerns

  • 2 concerns to be mentioned: 1. facilities reservation process needs to be streamlined 2. lunch accounts 

  • Treasurers’ Report

  • Balance- $21,402.18 

  • Deposits DAT, PFD and spirit wear, $362 from McSlorleys

  • Expenditures $720 field hockey jerseys, pop up tents $909

  • Easy Money Announcements 

  • Amazon smile 

  • Giant rewards card

  • Taddeo’s plant sale- 10% profit to PTO 

  • Election day clothing drive 

  • Box tops- 10/18 is next collection 

  • Bake sale on election day 

  • Chairmen Announcements

  • Art in the classroom volunteers are needed! More details to come in PTO blast

  • Upcoming Dates/Events

    • (F)allin’ for Chestnutwold: 

  • Young Writer’s Day, Friday, October 11- volunteers still needed, 4th and 5th grade delegates to help

  • Taddeo’s Plant Sale, Friday 10/11-Sunday 10/13

  • Spirit Day, Monday, October 14

  • Town Tap Give Back Night, Monday, October 14th 

    • Box Tops Collection Date: Friday, October 18 

    • Trunk or Treat: Friday, October 25, 6:00-6:30 decorate and 6:30-7:30 trunk or treat, sign up genius will be sent out soon, more details to come 

    • Halloween Parade and Parties: Thursday, October 31, 10:45 parade 

    • Adult Social: Quizzo: Friday, November 8 

  • Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 6, 7:30 pm 

  • Questions/Comments/Concerns

September 2019 PTO Meeting Minutes

Chestnutwold Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

General Meeting Agenda: September 11, 2019


  • Welcome and Intro 

  • ChCK Trait: Responsibility: “I believe it's our responsibility to show our communities the value of all people, to celebrate different, and to take a stand for acceptance and inclusion.” Julie Foudy, Olympic Gold Medalist, FIFA Fair Play Award recipient 

  • Thank You to the New Families Welcome Committee, led by Jill Fisher, including Amy Solwecki and Jill McManus, and Fresh Schools Administrator, Beth Clauss. 

  • Teacher’s Remarks

    • Thank you to all

  • Principal’s Remarks

    • Back to school night: doors open at 6:20. Schedule: 1st session starts at 6:30 with reporting to homeroom teacher or meeting spot,  7:15 session ends. Mr. D will talk to both sessions from 7:20-7:40. Second session starts at 7:45 with reporting to homeroom teacher or meeting spot,  8:30 session ends. 

    • Officer Flynn coming to do safe tech talk this fall 

  • IDC Update (Interdistrict Council)

    • Meeting with Dr. Ruche and representatives from each school. 

    • Topics: October- PTO president share, November- STEAM, December- education foundation, January- school board budget for music and sports, February- dual enrollment and online, March- facilities, April- BASIS update, May-welcoming and including all

  • Treasurers’ Report

    • Runs on a fiscal year July-June

    • Budget: 13,980.89 

    • Deposits: 21.04

    • Expenditures: 773.84, 600 for Dance-A-Thon dj and square space 

  • Easy Money Announcements 

    • Melissa Trempe

  • Box tops: continue to clip and send them in or use the app to scan receipt (Scan receipt within 14 days). Be sure to connect to Chestnutwold. There will be a water ice party for the class that collects the most at the end of the year. There will be a trophy given after each collection to the winning class. October 18th is the  first collection date. Earned $1,227 last year.

    • Beth Clauss 

  • Giant rewards: register for A plus rewards for Chestnutwold. Earned close to $3,000 last year. 

  • Amazon smile: have to shop through Amazon smile website. Select Chestnutwold as charity. 

  • Chairmen Announcements 

    • Author visit: Anthony John’s  book, “Mascot,” is the winner of the Schneider Family Book Award. This event will occur on October 3rd for 4th and 5th grade.

  • Upcoming Dates/Events

    • Back to School Night at McSorley’s Ale House: Thursday, September 19th, 8:00pm. Giving 20% back to PTO.

    • Phoenix Fun Day and Dance-a-Thon: Friday, September 27th, 4:30-7:30pm. Goal of $40 per kid with a goal of $20,000 for the school. Bake sale during event. Pizza sale- encouraged to order ahead of time. Will be sending out a sign up genius for volunteers. 

    • Young Writers Day: Friday, October 11th. Information to be sent in the PTO blast about how you can sign up to help. 

    • Taddeo’s Plant Sale: Friday, October 11th- Sunday, October 13th. Mention shopping through Chestnutwold. They will give 10% to the school. 

    • Town Tap Give Back Night: Monday, October 14th.  They will give 20% to PTO. Reservations accepted but not required. 

    • Election Day Clothing Drive: Tuesday, November 5th, 9am-3pm. Pick up is scheduled for 3pm.

  • Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 2nd, 7:30pm 

  • Questions/Comments/Concerns 




April 2019 PTO Meeting Minutes


Chestnutwold Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

General Meeting Agenda: April 3rd, 2019

ChCK Trait: - Trustworthiness

“Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.” -Henry David Thoreau

Thank You’s: Thank you for Christine Schindler and Kristina Early for running the Variety Show last week, to Yvie Fabella for helping with Family Night, and to Jamie Hawthorne for organizing the Town Tap Give Back Night. 

  • Teacher Remarks - learning support specialists.

    • thanks for the classroom enhancements.  

    • thanks for support with Reading Olympics.  

  • Principal’s Remarks 

    • PSSAs the week after spring break

    • STEAM project is ongoing - April 16th will be expert day.

  • Easy Money Update: 

    • reminder to sign up for Amazon Smile

    • Taddeo’s spring fundraiser May 3-5 (just mention Chestnutwold at checkout)

  • Treasurer Report

    • balance just over $18,000

    • money starting to come in for spring social as well as March madness

    • expenditures over $4,000 classroom enhancements, Chatter

  • IDC update 

    • last meeting focus was on Guidance/Health - discussed emotional safety

    • ongoing training for sociocultural proficiency for all staff

  • Board Vacancies for 2019-2020:

    • Co-President

    • Secretary

    • VP In School Activities

    • VP out of School Activities

    • Co-Treasurer 

  • Current Board Nominees

    • Nina Wickersham - for co-treasurer

    • Megan Grissom - for VP out of school activities

    • Natalie Bickhart - for VP in school activities 

  • Save the Date:  

    • Adult Social at Wynnewood Lanes: Saturday, April 13, 8-10. Contact Jamie Hawthorn if you’d like to be on the planning committee 

    • HTSD Education Fund Twilight Run: Saturday, April 27, 4 pm at HH'

    • Chestnutwold Chase May 19th

Next meeting: May 1 - Please attend - we need a quorum in order to hold our board elections.

Speaker Series presenter: HTPD on Bike Safety - children are invited to attend.  HMS PTO rep will visit that meeting as well.

March 2019 PTO Meeting Minutes

Chestnutwold Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

General Meeting Agenda: March 6th , 2019

ChCK Trait: - Empathy

 “Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling with the heart of another.” – Alfred Adler

  • Speaker: Steph McCloskey- 5th Grade Unity Party

    • Event will be at the middle school

    • there will be an informational meeting

    • date has been set

  • Teacher Remarks

    • -reminder about Bingo night, there will be no pizza to purchase if not pre-ordered

  • Principal’s Remarks

    • thank you for support with Peter Pan

    • finalized submission to be considered as Nat’l School of Character

    • considering ways to build on 21st Century Schools

  • Easy Money Update: Nina Wickersham

    • just submitted Box Tops, $392 check will come in April

    • we will send out a reminder about Giant A+. This is one of largest sources of easy money.

  • Treasurer Report

    • $20,509 end of February.  Deposits from Bag Bingo, Art Club, Learning Express.   Expenses largely due to Bag Bingo and the play.

    • Non-Profit Update - we are now a non-profit!

    • Amazon Smile Update - only works for shopping through the website.  But you can add a shortcut to your phone.

  • IDC update - school district is working with a communications consultant, there will be a survey coming out seeking information about how the district can communicate better with families.

  • Board Vacancies for 2019-2020:

    • Co-President

    • Secretary

    • VP In School Activities

    • VP out of School Activities

    • Co-Treasurer 

  • Yearbook Update

    • information is on the blast - for sale now!

    • please submit any additional photos from parties, clubs, school events

  • Save the Date:  

    • Town Tap Give Back Night: Tuesday, March 12 4-9:30. They take reservations!  The owners are a Chestnutwold Family

    • CW Family Celebration Night: Thursday, March 28  - if interested in helping organize, please contact Yvie Fabiella or Mr. D. Forms must be submitted March 22nd 

    • Variety Show: Friday, March 29 

    • Adult Social at Wynnewood Lanes: Saturday, April 13, 8-10. Contact Jamie Hawthorn if you’d like to be on the planning committee 

  • HTSD Education Fund Twilight Run: Saturday, April 27, 4 pm at HHS 

    Request from HTSD Education Fund for $500

Next meeting: April 3. Speaker- Courtney Gill, nutritionist and Chestnutwold parent 

January 2019 PTO Meeting Minutes

ChCK Trait: Responsibility:

“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.”   

-Bob Dylan

“With great power comes great responsibility.”  -Voltaire

- Principal’s Remarks

- Teacher Remarks

- Thank You’s:

o HRP for Class Winter Celebrations

o Teachers/ Administration/Staff for Community Sing-a-long

- Treasure Report

- Upcoming Events

o MLK Day Jan 21 st 10:00-12:00 @ Chestnutwold

o Bag Bingo

- Babysitting at future PTO meetings - will have to be done by volunteers in the future due to our insurance.

November 7, 2018 Meeting Minutes

Chestnutwold Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

General Meeting Minutes: Nov. 7, 2018

  • Thank Yous::

    • Kathleen Cooper and her team for Trunk or Treat

    • Nina  & Melissa  for Box Tops: $184.30 in Oct.

    • Taddeos for their Fall Fundraiser -$100

    • Home Room Parents for classroom parties

    • Thanks to Beth Clauss for clothing drive

    • Thanks to Lalasa Mohr for successful bake sale - $578!

  • Teacher’s Remarks - thank you for the Halloween parties, thank you for the classroom enhancements, thanks for donations for pet habitats.

  • Principal’s Remarks - sent in notes as he was unable to attend in person.  Reminder re American Educator Week; Events coming up Young Authors Day and Brain Show.  Thanks for contributions to Hurricane Relief and con day donations. Thanks for patience with the Halloween parade.

  • Treasurer’s Update

    • bank balance end of October $27,587.23; October expenditures $4,490.09; pending outstanding $725 in classroom expenses

  • Upcoming Dates/Events

    • Quizzo 11/10 from 7-10

    • 11/12 through 11/16 Learning Express fundraiser sale - 10% off

    • Young Authors Day 11/16 - could use more volunteers.  also looking for donations of salad, water, drinks, and a few more desserts

    • Brain Show 11/21 - 6:30 consider donating canned good to TLC Food Pantry

    • Book Fair starts 11/26-11/30 - many volunteer slots still available

  • Next Speaker Series - December 5th - speaker pending