Tuesday, January 7, 2014



Gorman Fort Banks PTO
Meeting Agenda for January 8, 2014 8:30am

• Welcome

• Introduction of the Board
  • Christa Shea & Alicyn Thompson Co-Presidents
  • Kristen Buonopane & Linda Straccia, Vice Presidents
  • Gillian Texeira & Dawn Sullivan, Treasurers
  • Michelle Holmes & Mariana Babine, Secretaries
• Principal’s Report (Mrs. Pearson)

• Treasurer’s Report (Dawn Sullivan)

• General Business
  • Stop&Shop Principal’s Challenge (Tatiana Mendieta)
  • Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities (Mariana Babine) 
  • T-Shirt Pre-sale starts tomorrow 1/9
  • BookFlix Renewal in April - $949 Check it Out! Vote next meeting
    • User Name: gormanfb Password: bookflix
• PTO Events Update
  • Upcoming Family Events Discussion (Alicyn Thompson)
    • Family Skate Party  
      • Need skating volunteers!
      • Admission charge? - VOTE
    • Paint Nite (Adults Only) 
      • Committee Needed
      • April dates available
      • Technology grant fund? VOTE
    • Literacy Night
      • Lucky Bob pre-show? VOTE
      • Budget $250 - VOTE
  • Gorman Giving (Alyssa Sacco)
    • Food Drive dates
• In School Enrichment Activities (Cara Huberman)
  • December Enrichment Follow-up – Winter Puppet Show
  • January Enrichment – 1/15 Keith Richards: The Bubble Guy






Friday, January 3, 2014

Blizzard Bags – A chance to recoup lost school time?

As we are all enjoying Day 2 of no school this week, has the thought crossed your mind about what would happen if go beyond our allotted number of snow days? Last year, it extended into the last week of June.

A possible solution could be “Blizzard Bags.” These are packets of grade-specific activities that must be completed and submitted to teachers upon resumption of school. They are meant to encourage learning and incorporate learning opportunities outside of the classroom. These bags are not a replacement to snow days, schools that use them intend them to forestall adding on school days after the allotted snow days have been exhausted. This is an example of one school's blizzard bag.
                                                     
Do you like this idea? A few Fort Banks and Cummings parents liked the idea too. Here is what needs to happen before we can do this:

·      Attend the Monday, January 6 School Committee meeting at 6pm and make your support known for a Blizzard Pack during the public comment period.

·      Ask the School Committee and Superintendent if Blizzard Packs would be acceptable to be used to fulfill Department of Education school year requirements if we’ve exhausted our allotted snow days.