DrumBeat: Drummond LSC and PTO News & Views

Drummond community has been offered a great opportunity to explore recycling and sustainability through a fun and creative workshop with a fiber artist in an art gallery setting! Where do all our clothes go when we give them away? What has a longer life span– people or clothing? Who makes our clothing and under what conditions? Soule Golden will lead a hands on workshop that teaches you how to make cool new clothing out of used clothing: stenciling, re-construction, embellishment etc. You don’t have to know anything about sewing. It’s free and open to the public. So clean out your drawers of boring clothes! Do some spring cleaning! Or don’t… we have tons of used clothing in the gallery!

There’s just one catch: we need at least 10 people to sign up.

Please email Sheelah Murthy at if you want to take part in this workshop Sunday, April 27, 2pm-5pm

Attention all parents and community members Please remember to vote in the Local School Council elections tomorrow.  Even if you do do not have a parent/teacher conference scheduled, it is very important that you still come to school and vote.  Voting only takes a couple of minutes.  Check out the candidate statements page on this site, or posted right outside the main office at school and find out more about the people who want to be part of the decision-making body of Drummond.  Please review the voting rules and procedures below: LSC voting basics for Thursday, April 17 

Here is a brief recap of what was discussed at today’s PTO meeting.

1.)              Open 2:05 PTO is not a political group at the school – we are here to facilitate communication among faculty, administration and families. We endeavor to make the school a more hospitable and engaging learning environment for all students. We do not endorse any candidate – whether for the LSC or any political office.
2.)              Kudos: to laura kuzniar for laying out the newsletter, the SIPAAA committee for a great document, to the garden project committee, and Chipotle, Judy Ocon for helping organize library books, Mr. Z and Ms. Caltabiano, for passing all of their Montessori Teacher tests!
3.)              Administrator’s Report
a)     Mr. Neidlinger- no report
b)    Mrs. Espada no report
4.)              Committee Reports
a)     Grantswriting-  Rachel Gross – no report
b)    Outreach- Mary Zerkel – no report
c)     Budget & Fundraising-  Report by Cindy Nicita, Chairperson
Really push Drummond Dollars for next month – buy gift cards then sell in person vs. turn in order forms?
Currently $2,660.45 — $600 to deposit — $3,260.45.
Fundraising schedule for next year – set a meeting date/time to discuss
Selling Drummond $ and T-shirts on RCPD, 4/17
d)    Special Events- 
End of Year Picnic—on Friday June 6, all day, need volunteers, plus chaperones – going to be held at Burr School (due to Garden construction). Mostly pto, but Ms. Wheatley will be liaison. 
e)     Home Room Representatives- no report – tap on homeroom reps about – if there are any parents who want to get together to get something for teacher of the “graduating” class.
f)      Newsletter-  Sarah Landicho – thanks for laying it out.
g)     Web Design- no report
5.)              Old Business
a)  Teacher Appreciation 2008 – talking with Mr. N. about where – unveil for Teacher Appreciation Day – Shout out to homeroom reps about what you’d like to do for May 6 National Teachers Day – talk to Alexandra H. for ideas.
6.)              New Business-
a)     Report Card Pickup Day Coverage for PTO Table – we’re pretty covered, but if you’ve got time, stop by and volunteer.
b)    SIPAAA Update School Improvement Plant for Advancing Academic Achievement – going to be presented to community tonight at LSC Meeting. SIPAAA is tied to budget and how money will be spent for school the next year. Drummond is continuing to get less money each year. Expect paper and ink drives for next year. The SIPAAA is very strong – really focuses on raising everyone’s reading and math level. A very doable plan – posted on Website and on trifold board outside main office. SIPAAA copies for families to pick up, read and ask questions. If you have ?s, comment on website, come to LSC meeting, ask Mr. Neidlinger or put a note in Mrs. Kuzniar’s box – please comment.
 

7.)              Adjourn
a)   Next meeting, May 13, 2008 9:00 am, Teacher Resource Room, 007
 

Dear Teachers, Parents, Community members and Students:

I am delighted to inform you that our LSC approved the 2008-2010 School Improvement plan this evening. All LSC members were in attendance and with the exception of one member who had to leave early, we had unanimous approval. Once the area office approves our document I will make sure that it is posted to this blog for all to see. If you are interested in seeing it before that all occurs, please come view the office copy.

I want to acknowledge the countless hours that went into creating this document as this is one of the most important events the school has. This is our road map of where Drummond, as a community, plans to bring the school in the next two years. I am incredibly grateful to our parents who gave their input, our students whose voices are echoed throughout this document, but mostly our teachers who are extraordinary educators and helped weave their expertise throughout this formal discussion.  We are so fortunate to have this staff that always looks for ways of supporting our students and their families. Eventhough we have a very limited budget to look forward to in the coming school year, I am confident that our teachers (with the support of all of us) will continue to make this school the desireable little school it currently is.

Thank you everyone for your support as we continue to build this exemplary little school.

Most Sincerely,

Mark Neidlinger

Keeping with our three year tradition of fundraising on Report Card Pick Up Day, PTO will have Spirit T Shirts and Drummond Dollar Gift Cards for sale on Thursday!  Stop by the PTO table on the first floor (Room 103) on your way into or out of your parent-teacher conference and pick up gift cards for Dominicks, Jewel, and Starbucks. 

We will also have Spirit Shirts on sale for $8 for kids and $10 for adults.  Consider buying the next size up for your student or the next color if you have a student who is moving up to Elementary 1 or 8th grade! 

As always, you can pay with cash or with a check made out to Drummond PTO! 

Just recieved the scan of the 2008-10 SIPAAA and supporting Budget. You can find both at the following address.  http://www.drummondlsc.org/main/2008-2010-sipaaa-page/

These documents will be discussed at the LSC meeting tonight at 5:00pm.

Just a friendly reminder that your $Drummond Dollar Gift Card Orders are due by the end of school today

The April PTO meeting has been moved up from 7:00pm to 2:00 in Room 007 on Tuesday, 4/14/08.  There are several reasons for this change.  First, the PTO meeting should be a quicky- several reports, opportunities to sign up for events and outta there before pick-up.  Second, the LSC is reviewing the SIPAAA at the evening meeting and it would be a loooong night to follow that up with the PTO mtg.  So we hope you can make it to the new time!  See you on Tuesday!

PTO_Agenda_4_15_081.doc

Summer will soon be here.. and the Drummond kids, and parents, and teachers will be ready to kick it off with our annual End-of-Year Picnic. The Picnic is a really fun day of outdoor activities for the kids during the final weeks of school. If you have never attended please consider taking a day off of work or other committments and come out and hang out and help out. Have a hotdog, play some games with the kids, and hear some music. It’s a really awesome day for the kids but we will need as many volunteers as possible to make it safe and fun. Due to the Garden Project, The End-of Year Picnic will be at Burr School this year. Please contact if you would like to volunteer.

Please check out the Community Bulletin Board. I know some parents are in need of Childcare and there is no cost. http://www.drummondlsc.org/bb/