PBES PTA Meeting Notes - Tuesday October 6, 2020
9/4/2020 10:47 am
Connecting with your School & Community
Mark your calendars for our next meeting, Monday, Nov 2, 7-8pm.
All PTA meetings will be via Zoom (details below) until further notice.
7:00 Welcome
7:05 Social Emotional Support for Virtual Learning
Cinthea Neuheisel, PBES Assistant Principal
- Key supports the school is putting in place & tips for how parents & caregivers can help at home
Social emotional learning is important; class meetings- class meetings is time where teachers are promoting relationships among students and to create a sense of community within class
Play games to connect
Psychoemotional support resources for kids available on the website and with the teachers
Second step curriculum- social skills and conflict resolution skills.
Tool- referral system so teacher can refer students not engaged – spreadsheet created by school
Last week, MCPS published own tool to collect data to send to MCPS
Weekly videos- consistent repetitive language to ground students in the week and to create a sense of connection back to their school community
Tips for at Home: Biggest thing that students need at this time is to be flexible- need to raise resilient tiny humans; need to be cognitively flexible in trying circumstances
Need good night’s sleep
New routines and structure that we can rely on
Single tasking and focusing- space free of distraction;
ONE SCREEN at a time is a simple single tasking rule to help promote focus
Acceptance and gratitude to find what brings you joy. Helps with mood.
7:15 Upcoming Dates and Announcements from the MCPS Calendar
Gabe Seiden, PBES VP Communications
Thurs, Oct 1 thru Oct 31: “Panther Appeal” PBES PTA Fundraising Month
Tues, Nov 3: Election Day (schools & offices CLOSED)
Nov. 9-22: PBES virtual Scholastic Book Fair & Readathon
Mon, Nov 9: Professional Day for Teachers (NO SCHOOL for students)
Nov 11-12: Early Release Days for Students (Parent/Teacher Conferences)
7:20 Fundraising Updates & Treasurer’s Reports
Kelly Young, TPES VP Fundraising- Dolphin Drive for November; goal is 9000; even though people are giving in lots of places, PTA still doing a lot for the teachers and school
3 dine-outs that month; likely the 3 Tuesdays
-Provide teachers for money/supplies for students or them selves
- interpreter when district doesn’t provide
- professional development
-
Angela Riemer, PBES VP Fundraising
Piney Branch Elementary Panther Appeal kicked off October 1
Continue to provide enrichment services to families and teachers
Appeal important initially as it helps us determine the budget for the year
Can give on website
Dine- out is at Mansa Kunda October 16; 8000 Flower Ave
Merchandise is available to purchase through the website.
Will soon have masks
Volunteers will deliver purchases to homes
Kelley Skelton, TPES Treasurer
See Treasurers report
Lots of income missed out on during readathon
Most of donations came to food support;
Last year 100000 in donations, used almost 90,000 year-end balance 14K
Lots for the foodbank
Operations for foodbank is expensive
About 1000 down in membership
Spending $5000 q2 weeks
Money coming from TPES, PBES, TPMS and ESES
Continue to fundraise for as long as needed
TPES PTA has 30K available
Erin Kelley, PBES Treasurer
No budget yet- working on it
PBES PTA- Expenses to date: Translation services
7:25 Building the School & Family Partnership
*Please comment and ask questions via the chat.*
- Key staff to contact, expected flow of information, and collaborative troubleshooting
- Provide flow chart in advance and post on the website; share with families, provide translation
Community Norms and Best Practices
Teachers: committed to
Meeting child and his/her peers where they are and adjusting instruction/differentiating as needed
Sharing information related to
Parents and guardians:
Reach out to children’s teacher first whenever you have a question or concern about classroom curriculum, expectations or your child’s progress
Access info on curriculum
Reach out to class parent
Students:
Develop a trusting relationship with teachers
Practice taking risks while trying new things and sharing ideas and answers even when they’re unsure
Connect with fellow students to enhance academic and social-emotional development
What learning practices work best for you.
How do I contact the school?
Start by sending an email to your child’s teacher
You can write the note in any language- the school will translate
The policy of the school was that the staff will respond within 24 hours
How can I help my child make friends and connect with class mates
-Each classroom has an assigned classroom parent
What if I am not getting help needed from child’s teacher or have questions
- Guidance counselor
- School principal or Assistant principal
- Spanish and Amharic translation available by phone
What to do if behavior, health, or mental health challenges?
- Call or email guidance counselor or the administrator
My child is struggling with school work:
Encourage child to Meet with teacher
-Saturday school currently offer tutoring opportunities, sliding cale
PTA Volunteer assistance esp if technology issues
If struggle contact his/her teacher
Educational and Equity hub- Bar-T $50/mo
Several throughout the county
Who do I access if my child will be absent from school or if missed class by watching recorder
Live virtual lesson absence form
Attendance secretary:
Lana Gard TPES
Marcella Hagens PBES
Assistance for ParentVue- contact main office
Help with chromebook and online platform
7:55 Takoma Park Equity Walk
Lucy Neher, SafeRoutes to School Coordinator, City of Takoma Park
- An overview of a new family-friendly activity walk in Takoma Park
tomorrow is walk to school day L
We belong here- Takoma Park Equity Walk
Go tomorrow; scan the QR code then get Story Map
Project started 1 year ago; grant submitted Oct 2019
Idea equity inclusive of everything
Community center at Ann St has QR
Do activity, talk with one another based on prompt
Each link has a suggested list of books. Can take the book out from library through link
Lots of resources
Theme is belonging- exploration- who you are, what makes you unique
Bursting bubbles- bursting stereotypes
No start or finish
Community center start in a loop
Ann St in a straight line
Safe Routes to school- small check for each PTA from the race that didn’t happen
Got a grant for a feasibility study to do a traffic garden in- safe place to learn to ride so kids and family can go to learn how to ride bikes
Next time will ask for money to build it
Working on getting grants for Bikes for school ; schools will have fleet of bikes to do learn to ride at all levels with PE teachers. 8-10 bikes various sizes; TPES will be some balance bikes
In DC- every second grader learns how to ride
In Fairfax they learn how to ride; MoCo not yet
Montgomery county has some in person bike rodeos/lessons
Everyone who goes gets a free helmet- if kids need a helmet and need to practice, go to the bike rodeo.
NEXT PTA_ Monday November 2.
