General Meeting: Fundraising, Programs, and Family Logistics

The meeting included families, children, and the principal.

Welcome, Introductions & Sign In - How to be involved:

- Cougar Connections - sign up for newsletter
- Volunteer Google Group - sign up if you ever want to volunteer for school wide events.
- You can also be involved in programming - after school, kimball kitchen, moveathan, etc.
- Our new website is here: https://www.kimballelementaryschoolptsa.com/

School updates from Principal Bogan

- School health communication procedures were discussed.
- KFOC (Kimballs Families of Color) - First Open House for BIPOC Families. Friday, Oct. 17th 6-7PM
- An additional fifth-grade teacher had been approved to reduce class sizes; fourth-grade staffing was also discussed.
    - Parents can be on hiring committee, but they need to attend district training (on-line, monthly).
- Communication w/ staff (keep it coming)
    - If you have any issues or your child isn’t giving you information and you want more, feel free to reach out to your teacher via Talking Points, Email, or text if the teacher has given out their number.

Opportunities to support Kimball / PTSA:

- Merchandise sales were planned through November 14.
- Teacher appreciation was planned for May 4–8, with volunteer opportunities.
- After-school club support was discussed.
    - 3 days a week, lots of great programming.
    - Next session will be in March - Matt needs help with the planning and execution.
    - If there’s something you might want to lead, please volunteer. We pay teachers and for programs, but more volunteer options keep costs low and equitable.
- SESSFA and Move-A-Thon were discussed.
    - 17 schools collectively fundraise. It runs the Move-A-Thon, which is Kimball’s major source of funding. The money is distributed based on school need and demographics. We received $28,000 last year, which funds most of the PTSA programs.
    - Kickoff on October 22nd 6:30 (remote or live at El Centro).
        - You can join working groups: donor and sponsor outreach, finance and equity group that figures out the funding model, communication, operations.

Fundraising – receipts & thank you’s

    - PTSA provides stipend to teachers for classroom materials, every student’s supplies, library funding, field trips, community-wide events like Pride, Lunar New Year, Multi-Cultural night, etc.
    - Half of our families are low income, and it’s important we fundraise to keep programming equitable.
    - We need help drafting fundraising appeals and following up with families who give with gratitude.
    - We still have a funding gap for school supplies - please donate!

October 31 popcorn help

    - We need volunteers to pop popcorn and distribute it to classrooms. Similar to the hot cocoa cart last year. Very special for kids as a reward for their hard work.
- Kimball Kitchen was described as a monthly virtual food fundraiser.
    - Starting during the pandemic as mutual aid and community building.
    - Families can be compensated for ingredients if needed.
    - Families offer to cook or provide something food-related (dish towels, flowers, etc.), platform for advertising those offerings and paying for them.
    - This is a unique community builder and fundraiser that funds Kimball’s multi-cultural night.
    - You can order items for yourself or for a teacher (and then you don’t have to pick it up).
    - The program needed help and leadership transition.
    - Program runs January-June, once a month. Need someone to send emails soliciting chefs and then updating families with the menu.
    - Last year funding / interest dipped, likely because many of the covid families graduated. We have until January to get the word out.

Concerns, Questions, Suggestions – All

- PTSA contact options included the official email address kimballptsacomm@gmail.com and the monitored Facebook group.
- CNEB forms were noted as important to Title I funding.
- 5th Grade camp - outside funding was cut. PTSA funding is still there but enoigh for overnight camp, plus there were other issues:
    - Teachers had a lot of objections about Islandwood, equity, gender, culture, etc. that created barriers for an overnight camp.
    - May now be a daylong field trip instead - bowling or something else.
    - Perhaps it could still be nature-based learning as a daytrip?
- Communications - there are no longer half sheets - streamlining communications through Talking Points rather than sheets home.
- Question for Principal Bogan about how things are at Kimball in terms of federal cuts, etc.
    - A playground supervision position was supported by PTSA funding.
    - Worry about next year in terms of funding if schools don’t close. 420 kids at Kimball and 120 at Graham Hill, but administration is the same size.
    - Parents advocating is helpful! Please keep raising your concerns to the district.
- SPS Highly Capable meetings -

Year ahead PTSA Meetings:

- November 12 – Zoom meeting
- December 10 in person
- January 14 – Zoom
- February 11 – Zoom – Move A Thon emphasis
- March 18 in person Budget meeting – if district budget

The budget meeting might move to May 13 or May 20 if district deadlines changed.

- Move A Thon: April
- Fifth grade parents typically plan fifth grade graduation with Admin & staff - organizing meetings coming.

Drop off/Pick up for families driving

- Don’t block driveways on Hinds.
- 24th is for valet (drop off), not parking. If you’re walking your child into school, you shouldn’t leave your car on 24th next to the school.
    - Can we have signage? Parents seems to not be getting the memo.
    - Neighbor has asked for SDOT “no parking during school hours” signs. Will take awhile to get those.
- If you’re dropping off your child, you need to park in the neighborhood and walk a block.
- Buses are on 24th at the same time, and get blocked by parent cars.
    - Parents can request a reroute of buses that might help. They listen to parent voices more.

Reflections art posters & trainings - tabled.