HPMP Meeting Agenda: Monday, June 1, 2009
Central School Library
Notes from HPMP meeting 6/1/09 from 6-7 pm
Transition meeting from out-going to in-coming Officers
Attendees: Marika Adamek, Joshua Schultz, Roger Hoogerheide, Diana Hammer, and Amy Lambrecht
- Dayna has key to mailbox; she picked up mail (seems it was really only checks)
- Storage – archive-able HPMP materials can be stored at Central School
- Marika will talk with the 3 schools about getting HPMP info into the 3 school student directories
- Good idea to have an “annual meeting” to transition from out-going to in-coming HPMP Boards. Invite past officers too.
Amy reported on Spokane parents’ group:
- 1 annual fund-raiser with high-dollar items for auction
- 3 hour work periods
- Voting system of officers + at-large parent reps (1/school)
- $400 in materials provided/classroom/year; can “save” those dollars for more expensive items to be purchased in future years
- School District pays to start a new Montessori classroom
- Two versions of their teacher contract available to us. Amy will give to Cherche Prezea.
Notes from the regular HPMP meeting, 6/1/09 from 7-8:30 pm meeting
Attendees: Marika Adamek, Joshua Schultz, Roger Hoogerheide, Diana Hammer, Amy Lambrecht, Liz Stine, Nadia Zylawy, Joanna Thamke, and Tracie Kenyon.
Welcome
Introductions – Attendees and New Officers
Announcements:
- Joshua has a new baby: Sierra born 5-29-09!
- Broadwater has a new Upper Elem classroom for 2009-2010!
No Treasurer’s report
Secretary’s report
- 4 Thank you’s sent for Fund-raising letter donations
- Doesn’t seem like we’re getting a good response from the Fund-raising letter.
- Joshua/Dayna will check paypal donations;
- Check with Dayna about checks received when she returns in mid-June.
Discussion
- HPMP mail
- Keep P.O. Box
- HPMP archives storage
- Can store old HPMP documents, etc. at Central School
- Lots of good but old information
- Be sure to check out the research that has been done on Montessori education in Helena; Amy has hard copies; Joanna has electronic. Should post these on our webpage.
HPMP information
- Web-page
- Add page on “Benefits of Montessori Education”
- Add page on “History of Montessori in Helena”
- School Directories (aka PSS)
- Good idea. Marika will follow-up with the 3 schools.
- School District Calendar
- Nadia will follow-up with Merry Farhman about getting HPMP meeting dates in the School District calendar
- Including the November meeting date – change to 10/26 (due to Lobsterfest planning)
- Add the Montessori Families Ice Cream Social, Weds. 9/2 6:30-7:30 pm at Smith School.
- Magnets with Montessori info.
- Diana will followup
- Could include HPMP website, Maria Montessori quote, etc.
- Review of May 13 meeting and draft HPMP Training Policy
- Diana reviewed meeting decisions from 5-13-09 meeting (notes)
- Remember that continuing ed. is also important; Benefits of doing these together; Networking opportunities among Helena colleagues. Historically, HPMP has offered to pay expenses, “if we have the money.”
Training plans for summer 2010
- Pam Wright has lead. Smith Elementary would be sight.
- Would include both Primary and Elem I training in 2010
- Upper Elem training later – perhaps following year
- Minimum of 10 students needed/training
- Diana will follow-up with Pam for status
- Annie Tague’s Training Request – next year
- Last year’s cost for observation was about $600 (per Dayna’s email)
- Unsure of anticipated cost for 2009-2010
- Need to clarify Annie’s training request
- Fund-raising events planned for 2009-2010
- September – Ice Cream Social
- Liz will organize; Joshua will help (Thanks, Liz and Joshua! )
- Cones! (less garbage than with cups, spoons)
- Seek donations from MeadowGold, Big Dipper – Charlie Beeson (Nadia)
- Opportunity for an educational component, e.g., demo of materials by students; Montessori Orientation in one of the classrooms/library; Handout re: Montessori and HPMP; Donation box; name tags
- Fall – State Charitable Giving Campaign
- October – Original Works (with Parent Councils)
- Denise Barber has agreed to organize again.
November – Lobsterfest
- Consider having a Lobsterfest committee: Publicity, Distribution, Orders, Pickup, etc. Committee meets outside of monthly HPMP mtg.
- Do we continue Lobsterfest?
- “Brand” the first weekend in November as “Lobster Weekend”
- Surf and Turf – add additional cuts of beef, local suppliers (Dave Bowers); Consider Bison rather than beef to make it more unique
- Work with Restaurant Association (?) to promote
- Could HPMP serve as a sort of “wholesaler/supplier” to restaurants who then do their own thing with the Lobster weekend festivities?
Winter – Kidworks at the Holter
- Not much profit but lots of fun
- Very popular
- Try to avoid scheduling conflict with the last weekend of All-Mountain Program at Great Divide.
- Spring – Fund-raising letter
- Consider also doing one in the fall when everyone’s excited about the new school year?
Grant writing?
- Joanna/Nadia have an idea for a funding source
- We have “access” to the District’s grant writer but in the past “access” has been more akin to “information” rather than actual grant writing
- Other ideas?
- Concessions at a sporting event? Lots of money; little time investment.
- Wrestling, Basketball?
- 3 school challenge with jumping and running races, academic contests, etc. Could have schools compete to see who can raise the most money via pledge forms or ?
- Insurance?
Other topics/issues
- HPMP board members will arrange to meet with the School Principals before the beginning of the next school year. HPMP will look to the Principals for guidance on training – HPMP raises funds; Principals provide guidance on training needed/career path; work with Teachers to meet their needs/benefit children/classrooms
- Level II Consultant from Bozeman (Montessori Worldwide, also OPI certified)
- Last week with Johnstone, Delaney and Kempa (?)
- $350 for entire day of consulting
- Teacher observation, brainstorming session; very well worth it.
Next meeting: Monday, September 14 (due to Labor Day Holiday) 7 pm in the Smith School Library