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Mission Pastable! PDF Print E-mail
Please join the Thomson School community on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 for a special evening of Italian dining presented by the Thomson School Fifth Grade Class of 2010.  We welcome all Thomson students, families, friends and teachers to this fundraiser to support the 5th Grade class’s year-end activities!

When:          Tuesday, March 9, 2010                         Where:    Thomson School Cafeteria

Cost:            $5.00 person                                          Seatings:  5:00pm,  6:00pm,  7:00pm
 
PTO Meeting Minutes January 13, 2010 PDF Print E-mail
 There were 15 people present, including the PTO Board, first grade teacher Sue Howlett, and school nurse Kathy O’Neill.
 
Principal Gregg Gilligan gave his update on a number of items:
  • He was really proud of the Thomson students who contributed to Appleseeds magazine recently.
  • The basketball game last Friday night was great, and photos of Thomson students were posted on the website today.
  • The times for MCAS sessions were posted in Paw Prints today and noted that the state has eliminated the Social Studies exams.
  • We have been doing professional development monthly with the teachers for math.
  • The library is going really well, thanks to Jill Herenda and Kelley Plodzik.
  • We received a grant for Hands on History for 5th grade.
  • We need to be persistent in getting the DPW and the Police Department to keep all the sidewalks clean in the neighborhoods around Thomson, especially main thoroughfares.
 
PTO President Holly Breen talked about the Safe Routes program which tries to get kids to walk to school and find safe ways to walk and/or ride their bikes. If Thomson participates in this program for one year, an engineer will come and evaluate the routes around the school. We need curbs and wider sidewalks, etc. All the schools are getting on board with this initiative, and we can receive federal funding for the initiative.
 
School nurse Kathy O’Neill is mailing out the BMIs for 1st and 4th graders this week. The school will be doing the 5210 program differently this year, condensing it into two months. 5th graders will be given pedometers are will pledge to walk the distance from town hall to Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. National Go Red Day is February 5 to raise awareness of heart health. Thomson students will sell special T-shirts with the American Heart Association logo.
 
Sue Howlett reported that the first graders are having an in-house field trip tomorrow and there are plans for an all-school trip to see “Seussical the Musical" this year.
 
PTO President Holly Breen gave an update on the dances. It looks like we are going to sell out for the Sweetheart Dance and are also doing well for the Winter Jubilee dance. We need baked items for both dances. Baked goods can be dropped off 1-4 the day of each dance at the middle school cafe. Ticket takers and people to set up and clean up are also needed!
 
More recently published and newer editions of children’s books are needed for our library, and we have the opportunity to get books from a discount distributor in New Hampshire. Lori Howe motioned to vote for $500 out of the PTO budget to purchase more books. Kelley Plodzik seconded the motion. All those present voted in favor.
 
Students are now selling luminary bag kits ($10 for ten bags) for Knight Lights on January 31, a fundraiser for the Enrichment Council. All orders are due Friday, January 22.
 
PTO Treasurer Jennifer Kooken presented the budget, noting that we have done 98% of our fundraising this year, which puts us in a good position to know how much we have to spend for the remainder of the year. We budget a considerable sum for field trips, and we have only spent $220 on field trips so far.
 
President Holly Breen talked about the spring book fair. In an attempt to make it easier for the volunteers this year, we are considering having students go during their weekly library time, so that the regularly scheduled library volunteers can be at the book fair instead. We might have students view and buy on the same day, too, and focus on selling only books, not tchotchkes.
 
The Youth Center has asked the North Andover PTOs for a basket donation of approximately $100 by February 27. Lori Howe volunteered to take on that task.  
 
The North Andover PTOs pooled funds to sponsor a speaker series this year, and the response was good for the first speaker. The next lecture will be on March 23 at 7 pm. The topic will be “Worried about Your Worrier.”
 
Sally Finnimore reported that the crafters from the holiday fair were concerned about the conflicting craft fair at the high school and also frustrated that there were too many things to spend money on, and people weren’t really buying crafts. It was determined that the craft part of the holiday fair needs to be revisited before next year’s fair and that we should start planning for the holiday fair and soliciting donations in June.
 
The next PTO meeting will be Wednesday, February 10.
 
PTO Meeting November 12, 2009 PDF Print E-mail
There were 15 people present, including the PTO Board and school nurse Kathy O’Neill.
 
Kristen Hollenbeck gave a presentation on the Enrichment Council. She thanked those present, saying that the Thomson community have been their most enthusiastic supporters. Studies have shown that students exposed to the arts get better grades in school and higher scores on standardized tests. The average number of programs per child, per academic year is four. More Enrichment representatives are needed at Thomson. Anyone who is interested, please contact Kristen.
 
Knight Lights is a fundraiser to raise money for the Enrichment Council. The schoolchildren will sell luminary bags throughout their neighborhoods and compete for prizes such as a year’s supply of ice cream or a ride in a police cruiser. Luminary bags will be sold ($10 for ten bags) beginning January 4, and the Knight Lights Night will be the Sunday before the Super Bowl, 4-7 pm.
 
Co-President Holly Breen gave Gregg Gilligan’s update: all parents should have received a parent-teacher conference sign-up sheet for the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Co-President Kelley Plodzik gave an update on the library: a tentative date for re-opening is Literacy Day (Wednesday before Thanksgiving). All the books have been re-shelved and there will be a grand re-opening ceremony. If anyone is interested in helping out with the library (helping sign out books to students and also to re-shelve books) please email Kelley.
 
Holly Breen gave an update on the Holiday Fair: There are a large number of great raffle donations including Patriots tickets, two weeks at Brooks Summer Camp, an American Girl doll, four tickets to the Zoo New England, etc. Kate Rozzi asked people to donate baked goods for the Bake Sale. Amy Mabley is working on flyers to be put in backpacks. Kelley Plodzik asked for more volunteers to help set up the Fair on Friday afternoon.
 
Treasurer Jennifer Kooken presented the budget. She estimates we will make about $3,500 for the Meadow Farms fundraiser. Directory donations almost completely funded the student directory. Annual dues were just paid to the Enrichment Council ($12.50 per student). The Thomson PTO taxes are ready to file. We have also added the 5th Grade committee as a running item.
 
Holly Breen mentioned that Amici’s wants to do a fundraiser for us every Tuesday in December (11-1 for teachers and 5-7 for everyone). All those present thought it was a good idea.
 
Kate Rozzi mentioned that Flourishes will donate 10% of their sales during the second week in December if you shop there and mention that you’re from Thomson.
 
Holly Breen presented the amendment to the Bylaws which adds the 5th Grade Committee to the list of committees. Holly Breen motioned to vote to pass the amendment; Kelley Plodzik seconded.
 
Holly Breen talked about the two dances this winter. Volunteers are needed to sell tickets to the dances and to help set up the dances.
 
School nurse Kathy O’Neill showed the slide show from today’s Veteran’s Day celebration.  
 
The next PTO meeting will be Wednesday, December 9.
  
 
How PTO Contributions Are Spent PDF Print E-mail
HOW ARE PTO CONTRIBUTIONS SPENT?

Thomson School Parent Teacher Organization, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.  Your contributions to the PTO support many valuable programs and activities for our children. Below are some examples of how PTO funds were spent for the 2007-2008 school year.

$4,100.00 to the North Andover Schools Enrichment Council.  The enrichment council provides a variety of musical, cultural, scientific and historical performances at Thomson to benefit all grade levels and enrich our curriculum.  Due to the rising costs of these programs, the Enrichment Council is seeking donations from each elementary school this year equal to $12.50 per student.  (That’s approximately $5,500.00 from Thomson.)

$3,500.00 for field trip transportation.  Each class is provided bus transportation for at least one field trip per year. 

$1,000.00 for Grace Torrey Scholarship.  Two North Andover High School graduating seniors that are Thomson Alumni are chosen to each receive a $500.00 scholarship.

$6,800.00 for classroom equipment/expenses.   Purchases that were not covered by the school budget for classroom supplies included electric pencil sharpeners, electric staplers, book shelves, playground equipment, DVD players, CD players and resource materials.  A wireless microphone was also purchased for use at school assemblies and shows.



We look forward to having another great year with new performers and programs.  This year, we are also hoping to raise money to help fund repairs to the baseball field.

PLEASE HELP US KICK OFF OUR FUNDRAISING WITH A CONTRIBUTION!  A donation of $5.00 from each family is recommended; however, any amount that you can give is greatly appreciated!  Please place your donation in the envelope you receive and send into school with your child.  Thank you in advance for your generosity!
 


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