Recap: 11/10 PTO Meeting

Nov 11

Principal’s Report - John

General pulse of things at Hamilton is good. Some schools are facing difficult struggles, and while we have behavior concerns come up, as is expected of growing adolescents testing boundaries, nothing unusual has popped up.
Hamilton Headlines explained hall pass/tardy expectations, which has been an ongoing policy.
We’ll continue to work on our universal strategies going forward. Policy on no cell phones from door to bell will likely continue.
New district policy: Kids will no longer be able to access MMSD guest WiFi.
Reconnect focus: reconnecting kids to kids, teachers to teachers, and really to everything we do. For 17 mos, we didn’t have full in-person school, and when we did have in-person school, it was pretty limited. Humans fall into patterns and routines, and our community did great with that, but now everyone is back and relearning the routines and expectations of in-person school, so of course, we’re still working on that.
Spirit week 11/15-11/19
With limited capacity, we will be able to have concerts at school in the gym, limit to 2 guests per family. Idea to webcast the concerts.
Conferences will all be virtual this year.

Student Services Update - Kristin Ensminger

The Westside Collaborative will continue to deliver groceries to about 150 famillies every other Friday for the rest of the year. PTO will supply 50 of each by 11/19 (Adam to purchase): wipes, masks, toilet supplies.
Kristin continues to update the spreadsheet with clothing needs and is coordinating with the Van Hise social worker to go through donations and get them out to families. Everything donated is going right out to families, so please keep the donations coming!
Check out the Social Work Connect Google classroom; information will be added regularly.
Kristin will send a PTO funding request for additional staff members to attend Urban Triage training.
For holiday gifts, Kristin is signing families up for Toys for Tots and Lutheran. She’ll let PTO know what donations are needed; PTO will then follow up with Hamilton parents. Last year we sent four emails w/graphics.

PTO Budget Overview/Treasurer’s Update - Adam

Funding Requests

Fundraising Update - Dagmara

John turned Barnes & Noble gift card from book drive to Kathleen Doherty to help teachers purchase books.
Plan on another pizza fundraiser in spring; Dagmara will ask Roman Candle about other ideas.
Dagmara talked with Barnes & Noble about this year’s book drive, which in the pas has been an in-store event during the holiday season. We will plan to do this again when it’s more comfortable to do an in-store event.
Do another general appeal/direct ask for donations (tax deductible donation to PTO before end of year/holiday specific gift card donation).

Additional Discussion

Parent Georgia Rucker (past PTO president) suggested providing food for teachers sometime this fall and will organize. Scheduled for Thursday 12/16.
Parent Tiffany Glass volunteered to organize an affinity group for parents of disabled students.

Next General PTO Meeting Dates*, 6 pm:

Katie Vogel

Recap: 12/13 PTO Meeting