Title: Farewell Fanfare
Location: Buena Vista Elementary
Description: Please join us on Friday May 22nd from 5:30-7:30 for a celebration of good memories.

Heidi Cooper’s band will play from 5:15-6:00 and then students will sing “You’re A Grand Old School” and some other special songs.

We will also have some of the upper grade girls perform a May Pole Dance like was done in the old days of Buena Vista history. A few speakers will be here to talk about Buena Vista, Now and Then.

Finally, we will have some “open mic” time for ONE representative from each family that would like to spend about 2-3 minutes describing a favorite Buena Vista memory. There will be some cookies and lemonade refreshments served as we prepare to leave for the summer.
Start Time: 17:30
Date: 2009-05-22
End Time: 19:30

We are working closely with the District 11 Community Education Office to bring a new Before and After Care provider to the Buena Vista school for the 2009-2010 school year-the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region.

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Buena Vista PTA meeting Minutes
May 12, 2009

Minutes were reviewed and approved.

Treasurer report was reviewed and approved.

Pack up school May 26, 27 and 28. Volunteers are needed age 18 and older to help with the move from 8-3:30. Volunteers can work 1 or multiple hours and 1 or more days. Anyone who can help should check in at the front office. PTA is responsible for boxing supplies in the orange hospitality closet, under the stage and in the sheds. Volunteers are also needed to help with this project.

David Brilliant reported on the move to W. Pikes Peak Ave. A Meet and Greet Monday, August 17 from 3:30 – 5pm and the Open House will be September 22 from 5:30 – 7pm. All Montessori trained staff and educational assistants will follow the program along with the front office staff. Most specials teachers will move with the program but we will have new art teacher and music teacher.

End of school festivities are being finalized. Heidi’s band is confirmed and Vicky Darpino has students working on some songs. Sue Spengler is helping Laura with refreshments and prior students/principals have been invited to speak during the program.

A motion was made to nominate Linda Lash as co-secretary. Motion carried.

Johanna Wolfe reported that the Teacher Appreciation “Coffee Cart” will go around tomorrow and Michelle Moore has coordinated massages from 11am to 1pm.

The 5th grade teacher, Susan Garsoe has requested 2 volunteers, cake and punch for the 5th grade graduation on May 19. Michelle Moore will order a sheet cake. Kacey Ross will help but additional volunteers are still needed. Please contact Ms. Garsoe if you are able to assist.

PTA board met to discuss future. Made some changes to bylaws to detail officer responsibilities and clarify other portions. Goal is to post them on the website in August so membership can vote on them at the PTA meeting in September.

Need Health Screening volunteer for September 24. Please contact Diane in the front office if you are able to help coordinate this next fall.

Kacey Ross reported on School Supply fundraiser. She has calculated costs based on last year’s school supplies and developed a teacher form and information to send home with students. Parents can help by saving paper shopping bags so they can be used to package the supplies in August.

PTA meetings are tentatively scheduled for the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 pm. In addition, a PTA playdate will be held on the 2nd Thursday immediately after school to report to parents who couldn’t attend and recruit volunteers for various activities.

Michelle Moore is working on expanding our volunteer coordinators so they can focus on individual projects. Committee/coordinator positions she is interested in filling are enrichment, volunteer coordinator, gardening/grounds, membership, publicity and special activity chairs. Michelle is driving toward having all parents volunteer for 2 hours per month. Volunteering can be as simple as attending a PTA meeting and helping with an activity at the school.

A pie plate was returned to the office from Art & Pie Night. If you brought in a pie that was baked in a technique brand, pale yellow and brown plate, it will be held in the front office until the end of school.

Meeting Adjourned
Submitted by Kathy New, Secretary

Please join us for the May PTA Meeting on Tuesday, May12 at 6pm in the school library. Free childcare will be available. The minutes from last month’s meeting are posted for reference.

Please join us on Thursday after school at 2:30 PM for a PTA Playdate.

My name is Michelle Moore, my son Jonathan has been in Ms. Paula’s class for the past three years. A few weeks ago I was elected as the new PTA president.

This is an exciting time for us. A new beginning. Next year’s PTA has already been talking about plans and activities for our kids. If you have ideas of something you would like to see, or something you would like offered, talk to us. It is my belief that parents are choosing this school because of its programming, not its location so we’ll have parents who want to be involved.

Now is your opportunity to shape the opportunities and possibilities for your child. What experiences do you want your child to have? We have history and tradition behind us and an exciting future before us. At this time I want to offer you the chance to be a leader and make a difference. We’re looking for new ideas and new support. Please take a minute to consider what you want for Buena Vista and let us know.

Next week in addition to our regularly scheduled PTA meeting (Tuesday May 12^th) we will be hosting a PTA play date on Thursday May 14^th at 2:30 on the big playground.

Have a wonderful week.

Michelle

Buena Vista Elementary
PTA Meeting Minutes
April 14, 2009

Reviewed minutes from 3-10-09 meeting and Financial Report. School dance was a success and raised over $400. PTA purchased field day medals. Minutes and financial report accepted as presented.

Buena Vista staff have visited Washington several times to review classroom layout. The name of the Montessori program will keep the Buena Vista name at the location on Pikes Peak Avenue. Enrollment projections are currently fairly low but the Upper El may be adding a 6th grade.

Laura Dohrman has provided a location for students to write, draw or somehow document their thoughts on the end of the year in the library. Laura is also working on an end of year celebration the last week of the year. Heidi Cooper’s band has offered to come and play for the celebration for $150. Sue Spengler will work with Laura on this event. Motion was presented to designate funds to pay for Heidi Cooper’s band and seconded. Motion carried

The 2010 Children’s Book Award Nominees have been identified. PTA has approved a budget for this purchase and will provide these funds again.

Officer’s election was reviewed. Michelle Moore and Sunny Murphy have offered to co-chair as president. Kathy New has offered to be Secretary but is looking for a co-chair as this includes the membership position. Brenda Wiley and Ruth Roland will co-chair the Treasurer position. Motion was put forth and seconded to approve officers as submitted. Motion carried.

Kacey Ross reviewed a 2009/2010 fundraising idea for PTA to offer pre-packaged school supplies. PTA approved this as a fundraiser for next year. Kacey Ross will begin working on this project and may need volunteers over the summer with getting supplies on sale and also putting together the classroom packets for parents to purchase. It was suggested that she begin work now by taking pre-orders as much as possible now and over the summer.

Caron Reilly came and thanked the PTA for the Home Reading program books. The program is working well with the students and provides an opportunity for many students to work on their word fluency, word recognition and reading skills.

Art and Pie night is going well. Volunteers have already agreed to help Ms. Jessica with the art preparation but help is still needed with serving and clean-up. Teacher beads and old BV windows will be available by silent auction. Motion was present to distribute funds raised from this event evenly between Ms. Jessica’s Art program and the PTA. Motion was presented and seconded. Motion carried.

Carrie needs volunteers for Field Day on Wednesday, May 6. Any able to help set up the afternoon of Tuesday, May 5 and on Wednesday, May 6 with final set-up and event supervision should contact Ms. D.

Sue Spengler is coordinating a staff appreciation activity. The “coffee cart” was suggested for the 2nd Wednesday of May as it has not been done this year. Michelle Moore will check if massages can be coordinated on the same day.

Meeting Adjourned

The school board meeting starts at 6pm tonight at Tesla, because there is no executive session. Please arrive early to sign in at 5:45ish.

Let’s remind them tonight that the school board needs to answer to the public, not the administration!!

For more information about this and upcoming save the school activities, please join the Buena Vista Elementary Google Group.

For the most implact, please plan to attend the January 8 meeting at Coronado High School, which is our neighborhood area

January 8 Coronado High School, 1590 West Fillmore 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education seeks community input on a multi-year plan for space and program utilization in the district. All community members are cordially invited to participate in the community meetings. Meeting dates, times and locations are listed below.
January 6 Mitchell High School, 1205 Potter Drive 6:30 to 9 p.m.
January 8 Coronado High School, 1590 West Fillmore 6:30 to 9 p.m.
January 12 Hillside Community Center, 925 South Institute 6:30 to 9 p.m.
January 13 Palmer High School, 301 North Nevada 6:30 to 9 p.m.
January 15 Doherty High School, 4515 Barnes Road 6:30 to 9 p.m.
January 20 Wasson High School, 2115 Afton Way 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The District 11 Board of Education urges you to attend a community meeting and take part in the community discussion about the future of School District 11.

Please encourage everyone interested to attend the last board meeting before winter break.

Let them know that after they arrive when the meeting starts at 6:30 PM, citizens’ comments are within 10 minutes and they will be out of the meeting by 7:15 PM.

It has come to my attention (from someone who spoke to a board member directly) that while it is good for us to have a presence at each meeting, the number of speakers we have for our cause is desensitizing the board to our situation, and they are starting to tune us out after the first few speakers.

We are looking at changing our tactics a bit and having less speakers with more concise and directed message.

REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

Tesla Educational Opportunity Center
2560 International Circle
Colorado Springs, CO 80910

December 17, 2008
Call to Order at 5:30 p.m., followed by Executive Session.
The regular meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

View the agenda online

Directions to the center

Please reply to the group email if you’d like to carpool to the meeting.