October 2007 Minutes
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
A regular meeting of the EMS Parent Group was called to order by President Molly Brennan in the LGI room at 1:07 pm.
Attendees: Ken Sanders, Molly Brennan (PTO President), Sharon Cressman, Sue Reynolds, Cheryl Swaim, Lori Heiden, and Sue Coscarelly
Approval of minutes: The minutes from the September 2007 meeting were approved.
Old Business: The PTO East Middle School Financial Statement was reviewed and accepted. No major changes were required.
Principal’s Report: MEAP testing is being conducted for the next two weeks on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 8:00 a.m.-9:45 a.m. Because testing is being conducted close to the start of the day, snacks will not be provided during testing. All three grades are being tested in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. Sixth grade is also being tested in Social Studies and 8th grade in Science. Please have your students get a good night sleep and eat a healthy breakfast - a well-rested and nourished brain has the best opportunity to succeed.
Thank you to Amy Card for putting together a successful Family Skate Night. The students that came had a good time. We will do some informal investigation to see why more 7th and 8th grade students do not attend. The next skating party is in April. The PTO social committee may consider approaching the ice rink or Zap Zone as an alternative to a future skating party. We have added another evening of Parent-Teacher conferences; conferences will take place on both October 25th and October 30th. Both nights are from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. The new night replaces the spring conferences originally scheduled for May 8, 2008.
Thank you for your support during Open House. The new format met with mostly positive response. There were problems, however, that need to be addressed. The Open House is meant to be a time for parent-teacher introductions and there was some concern of “conference talk” creating long lines for parents. Some parents expressed concern that the curriculum was not discussed. The teachers are sharing with each other what went well and what didn’t go well so that if we have this format again, everyone can have an enjoyable experience. The Entertainment Book sale has concluded. Thank you to those of you that had your students sell books. As a school we sold 750 books. That is about 70 more than last year! The magazine sale, our last fall school fundraiser of the year, begins October 19. Students will be asking friends and relatives to renew current subscriptions or order new magazines to support our Student Council. The sale runs through Nov. 2.
Parents interested in helping with the 7th grade field trip are holding a coordination meeting at Cowley’s tonight (10/9) at 7:00 p.m. The planning for this trip is being headed by Mrs. Karen Butler. The destination for the trip has not yet been determined.
A meeting for the New York trip for the Theater group is at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria tonight. The Academic at the Grand meeting for 6th grade is being held at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria on Thursday, October 11.
The District Event “The All-Parent Forum: Internet Safety” presented by Mr. and Mrs. Heiden will be held in the East LGI room at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 15.
Melody Herr is our new Council Representative for the FPS Board Council.
The District is in conversation regarding the current budget crisis. There is no more “fat” to cut from the district budget. Therefore, other cost-saving alternatives are being examined. These include reconfiguring schools, thereby creating 5/6 grade schools and 7/8 grade schools. Redistricting is also being examined. The District is forming a committee to discuss these issues and is looking for at least (2) East middle school parents to participate in these “for committee members only” meetings that will be held on every other Monday from 4:30-6:00 p.m. The first meeting is on October 15.
Fall athletics for the month of October are:
Football: 10/10 vs. Power (at home) 3:30 p.m.
10/17 vs. Warner (at home) 3:30 p.m.
10/24 TBD TBD
Girls’ Basketball: 10/9 Abbott (home) 4:00 p.m.
10/11 Orchard Lake (home) 4:00 p.m.
10/16 Power (away) 3:30 p.m.
10/18 Warner (away) 3:30 p.m.
10/23 Warner (home) 3:30 p.m.
10/24 Power (home) 3:30 p.m.
Cross Country 10/10 Power/Warner (Founders Park) 3:30 p.m.
10/17 Warner/W.Bloomfield (Founders) 3:30 p.m.
10/24 League Meet (Founders) 3:30 p.m.
Active Committee Updates: Open House: Thank you to Mrs. Iatrou for a well-run Open House.
Social Committee: The first all-school dance is Nov. 1. Chaperones and donations of food are required.
Beautification: Discussion is still underway with Steinkoft regarding the purchase of trees to honor school retirees.
Field Trips: Sue Reynolds is in need of chaperones for the All-O’s good citizen field trips.
Barber’s Post at 8 mile and Middlebelt is donating $1 of every $11 haircut to the East PTO. Please see the PTO website for the coupon.
State nominations for Teacher of the Year are currently taking place.
Congratulations to Mr. David on the 10/15 release of his book, From Glory Days. His book chronicles the successful transitions of professional Detroit athletes from athlete to normal, everyday life. This book is available from many area bookstores. More information on the book and area book signings is available at www.fromglorydays.com .
Old Business: The following dates have been set for 2007-08 PTO Meetings: 11/12 @ 1 p.m.; 12/3 @ 7 p.m.; 1/14 @ 1 p.m.; 2/11 @ 7 p.m.; 3/10 @ 1 p.m.; 4/14 @ 1 p.m.; 5/5 @ 7 p.m.; 6/2 @ 1 p.m.
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the EMS Parent Group will be in the LGI room Monday, Nov. 12th at 1 p.m.
This meeting adjourned at 2:21 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by A. Sue Coscarelly
A regular meeting of the EMS Parent Group was called to order by President Molly Brennan in the LGI room at 1:07 pm.
Attendees: Ken Sanders, Molly Brennan (PTO President), Sharon Cressman, Sue Reynolds, Cheryl Swaim, Lori Heiden, and Sue Coscarelly
Approval of minutes: The minutes from the September 2007 meeting were approved.
Old Business: The PTO East Middle School Financial Statement was reviewed and accepted. No major changes were required.
Principal’s Report: MEAP testing is being conducted for the next two weeks on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 8:00 a.m.-9:45 a.m. Because testing is being conducted close to the start of the day, snacks will not be provided during testing. All three grades are being tested in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. Sixth grade is also being tested in Social Studies and 8th grade in Science. Please have your students get a good night sleep and eat a healthy breakfast - a well-rested and nourished brain has the best opportunity to succeed.
Thank you to Amy Card for putting together a successful Family Skate Night. The students that came had a good time. We will do some informal investigation to see why more 7th and 8th grade students do not attend. The next skating party is in April. The PTO social committee may consider approaching the ice rink or Zap Zone as an alternative to a future skating party. We have added another evening of Parent-Teacher conferences; conferences will take place on both October 25th and October 30th. Both nights are from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. The new night replaces the spring conferences originally scheduled for May 8, 2008.
Thank you for your support during Open House. The new format met with mostly positive response. There were problems, however, that need to be addressed. The Open House is meant to be a time for parent-teacher introductions and there was some concern of “conference talk” creating long lines for parents. Some parents expressed concern that the curriculum was not discussed. The teachers are sharing with each other what went well and what didn’t go well so that if we have this format again, everyone can have an enjoyable experience. The Entertainment Book sale has concluded. Thank you to those of you that had your students sell books. As a school we sold 750 books. That is about 70 more than last year! The magazine sale, our last fall school fundraiser of the year, begins October 19. Students will be asking friends and relatives to renew current subscriptions or order new magazines to support our Student Council. The sale runs through Nov. 2.
Parents interested in helping with the 7th grade field trip are holding a coordination meeting at Cowley’s tonight (10/9) at 7:00 p.m. The planning for this trip is being headed by Mrs. Karen Butler. The destination for the trip has not yet been determined.
A meeting for the New York trip for the Theater group is at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria tonight. The Academic at the Grand meeting for 6th grade is being held at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria on Thursday, October 11.
The District Event “The All-Parent Forum: Internet Safety” presented by Mr. and Mrs. Heiden will be held in the East LGI room at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 15.
Melody Herr is our new Council Representative for the FPS Board Council.
The District is in conversation regarding the current budget crisis. There is no more “fat” to cut from the district budget. Therefore, other cost-saving alternatives are being examined. These include reconfiguring schools, thereby creating 5/6 grade schools and 7/8 grade schools. Redistricting is also being examined. The District is forming a committee to discuss these issues and is looking for at least (2) East middle school parents to participate in these “for committee members only” meetings that will be held on every other Monday from 4:30-6:00 p.m. The first meeting is on October 15.
Fall athletics for the month of October are:
Football: 10/10 vs. Power (at home) 3:30 p.m.
10/17 vs. Warner (at home) 3:30 p.m.
10/24 TBD TBD
Girls’ Basketball: 10/9 Abbott (home) 4:00 p.m.
10/11 Orchard Lake (home) 4:00 p.m.
10/16 Power (away) 3:30 p.m.
10/18 Warner (away) 3:30 p.m.
10/23 Warner (home) 3:30 p.m.
10/24 Power (home) 3:30 p.m.
Cross Country 10/10 Power/Warner (Founders Park) 3:30 p.m.
10/17 Warner/W.Bloomfield (Founders) 3:30 p.m.
10/24 League Meet (Founders) 3:30 p.m.
Active Committee Updates: Open House: Thank you to Mrs. Iatrou for a well-run Open House.
Social Committee: The first all-school dance is Nov. 1. Chaperones and donations of food are required.
Beautification: Discussion is still underway with Steinkoft regarding the purchase of trees to honor school retirees.
Field Trips: Sue Reynolds is in need of chaperones for the All-O’s good citizen field trips.
Barber’s Post at 8 mile and Middlebelt is donating $1 of every $11 haircut to the East PTO. Please see the PTO website for the coupon.
State nominations for Teacher of the Year are currently taking place.
Congratulations to Mr. David on the 10/15 release of his book, From Glory Days. His book chronicles the successful transitions of professional Detroit athletes from athlete to normal, everyday life. This book is available from many area bookstores. More information on the book and area book signings is available at www.fromglorydays.com .
Old Business: The following dates have been set for 2007-08 PTO Meetings: 11/12 @ 1 p.m.; 12/3 @ 7 p.m.; 1/14 @ 1 p.m.; 2/11 @ 7 p.m.; 3/10 @ 1 p.m.; 4/14 @ 1 p.m.; 5/5 @ 7 p.m.; 6/2 @ 1 p.m.
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the EMS Parent Group will be in the LGI room Monday, Nov. 12th at 1 p.m.
This meeting adjourned at 2:21 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by A. Sue Coscarelly