Monday, January 14, 2008

PTO President Molly Brennan in the L.G.I. called a regular meeting of the EMS Parent Group to order at 1:06 pm.

Attendees: Principal Ken Sanders, Molly Brennan, Cheryl Swaim, Kathy Williams, Laura Hedgecook, Karen Brehob, Sue Heide, Rose Cipriano, Angela Beauford, Pam Shapiro, Mrs. Linda Fox, and Sue Coscarelly

Approval of minutes: The minutes from the December 2007 meeting were approved.

Principal’s Report:
We sold hat passes to students for $2.00 last Thursday and Friday and raised over $1500 for Zach Montroy, an East alumnus that was badly burned over vacation. Students and staff gave in a coordinated effort with Farmington High School and Kenbrook Elementary.

This year’s spring musical is Beauty and the Beast. Dates of the performance are April 16-18. There will be a live pit providing the music. There is an informational meeting today from 2:30-3:30 in the cafeteria. All interested cast and crew members should attend.

The cast and crew from “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” have been invited to perform at the International Junior Thespian Convention in Atlanta, GA. Interested students need to submit their first payment today to Mrs. Cordle. If we do not have enough students participating, we will not be able to go.

The 7th Grade Band, Orchestra & Choir Cedar Point payment ($87) is due tomorrow in order to attend this trip. Make checks payable to East Middle School. You must be paid in full by January 15! Because of Mr. Drake’s absence, the band deadline is February 1.

We are offering open gym to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls interested in playing Volleyball after school. We have been playing after school for the last week. Because of the number of interested girls, it has been broken up into grade level sessions. This week 8th grade girls are today, 7th grade on Wednesday and 6th grade on Friday. For 7th and 8th grade girls interested in trying out for the school team, the first day of tryouts is Tuesday, January 22. Physicals are required for tryouts.

Congratulations to Chelsea Burke, Kelsey MacDonald & Estelle Whittbrodt for having their artwork on display at the Farmington Board of Education Board Room. Way to go!

Thank you in advance for the help tomorrow during the Presidential Primary Election. Voting will take place in Room 101 and the gym.

A reminder that mid-term progress reports will no longer be sent home by the school. These grades are always available for view through Family Access.

Thank you to all the parents that helped with the Outstanding Citizens Field Trip.

This Friday is an early release; students will be dismissed at 11:55 a.m. During the day, we will have our annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The assembly begins at 8:30 a.m. and will feature performances by the East Concert Orchestra, 8th grade Choir, Encore, and theater students. Our speaker this year is slam poet Jamaal “Versiz” May. As always, the activities for the day are intended to continue discussions in the future. Please let the office know if you plan to attend before Wednesday so that we can properly plan seating. There will be activities on Monday sponsored by the Farmington Public Schools and both Farmington and Farmington Hills. Check out the district website, www.farmington.k12.mi.us, for more details.

The school Geography Bee (01/15/08) and Spelling Bee (01/22/08) are this month. Representatives from every Social Studies and English class participate. Winners move on to state and county competitions.

Eighth grade parents will have an opportunity to talk with Mr. David and Mrs. Blanzy about their child’s ACT Explore test results on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 7:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. in the LGI Room. No appointment is necessary, although if you let them know you are coming ahead of time they can be sure your materials are readily available.

Thursday is the 8th grade group picture. Order forms go home with the kids on that day and need to be mailed in by Monday. The pictures are delivered normally by February break by mail.

Our next school dance is Thursday, January 31, 2008. Mrs. Iatrou appreciates the support the Parent Group gave at the first dance. She will be contacting you with what she needs for this one.

The Book Fair begins February 1 and runs through February 8. Mr. White will need volunteers to help with this undertaking.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are February 7, 2008 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. As with all spring conferences, conversations are limited to about 5 minutes per teacher. This is the only night of conferences in the spring. Please make an appointment with the teacher if a longer discussion is needed.

Vocal Solo and Ensemble is February 9, 2008. The number of students and location of the competition are yet to be determined.

Battle of the Middles was a huge success.

Eighth grade students will be entering scheduling information in February. Sixth and 7th grade will enter their scheduling in March.

Battle of the Books will begin soon.

Mrs. Linda Fox: There are many items in Lost and Found. We would like to find a way to recycle these items back into our community here at East.

Active Committee Updates:
* Reflections: Renamed “Creative Expressions” Program as we are no longer affiliated with the National PTA. Kick off is Feb. 1. Entries will be due Mar. 3. Judging will be in early April. This year’s theme is “I Can Make a Difference by…”. This is an East-only competition with the thought to contact the other area middle schools to see if they may want to collaborate in the future. Winners will be posted on the website and perhaps displayed in local venues.

Old Business:
“Math Counts”: There is a competition of approx. 12 children from all grades. Claire Petrak is coordinating this club.

New Business:
* Harrison High School orientation is on Feb. 28th at Harrison. Eighth graders will be visited by the HHS counselors on Jan. 24th and will schedule classes on Feb. 8th.

* January 28th at 7 p.m. there is a high school parent forum: “Psychological Issues Affecting Teens”

Next Meeting: The next meeting of the EMS Parent Group will be in the LGI room on Monday, February 11th at 7 p.m.

This meeting adjourned at 2:23 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by A. Sue Coscarelly