Kimball Elementary PTSAKimball Elementary PTSA
Planning session2021–22

Working Meeting — staffing, Move-A-Thon, and leadership planning

Agenda:

Brave Space Norms

  • Community Connection (Question): Tell about a time when you felt appreciated, how could you tell, what happened, who was present

Principal's Report

Discussion: Moveathon - Alaron

Discussion: Art Walk - Alaron and Felie

Reminder: Kimball Clean Up Day - Felie

Discussion: Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-6) Carrie Lam

Discussion: Treasurer Position and Leadership Next Year - Charissa

Discussion: AA.NH.PI Month (May) - Tracey

**Principal's Report **

  • Looking forward to spring break!

The principal reported that the 2022–23 budget had been finalized and that first-grade and special-education positions had been posted; hiring-process details were omitted.

  • Can you tell us more about Covid testing note from SPS?
    • Kimball testing for spring break: Intended to give everyone the opportunity to let everyone test before returning from spring break. You don’t have to report into the school your results but it’s for families to be aware and decide to keep kiddos hope as needed. All staff and teachers will test before they return.
    • SPS planned a permission process for testing as needed; the source sentence was incomplete.
  • 1st grade teacher need?
    • One teacher is going back to school and one teacher is changing grade levels. They will communicate broadly soon.

Discussion: Moveathon - Alaron

  • May 2-16 and Field Day
  • Will print and send bingo boards home and pledge sheets; PTSA should help spread the word.
  • One in person event on Friday, May 6 - field day
  • Two grades out at a time for 45 minutes - they can mark off elements of their bingo board. Met with Ben R. (PE teacher) to review field activities. Alaron shared a doc with the schedule (will be shared more broadly) of activities (9-10 events); will ask for volunteers to help with stations and also roamers for misc areas. Seeking 20ish parents to help, esp for K and 1 grades.
  • Here is the doc for feedback/volunteers:
  • Do volunteers need to fill out their paperwork and get re-certified?
    • That would be ideal but the school can also say parents are “visitors” if they can’t go through the formal process.
    • Need parents to sign up to volunteer; perhaps a Cougar Connections to spread the word. Parents should encourage each other and spread the word.

Art Walk - Alaron and Felie

  • June 3 after school, 3:30-5:30 (ish);
  • Historically, this has taken place near X and Y streets and the permits have been secured INCLUDING all the way down Beacon to Perhillion
  • We will use murals created for Black History Month (they will be behind glass); reaching out to businesses along Beacon to participate
  • Approx. 20 murals - will create a scavenger hunt with your child’s classroom noted to encourage people to go to different businesses.
  • Team is thinking of ways to bring entertainment into the area (we used to have jump club perform and Jessie’s dance club)
  • Primary focus of the event is to bring a sense of community back to Kimball in the neighborhood.
  • Fundraiser element is TBD - open to ideas from the PTSA

Reminder: Kimball Clean Up Day - Felie

  • Saturday, April 30, 10-12 pm;
  • Meet in front of Jefferson Community Center
  • Cleaning up around Beacon Ave and then up toward Columbia near Jefferson Park; nothing is needed - only you - all supplies will be provided
  • Pro Tip: bring a wagon to help carry trash bags once they get full (they can get heavy)
  • No need to sign up - just show up!

Discussion: Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-6) - Carrie Lam

  • May 2-6 - seeking ideas and volunteers for help doing something
  • Michelle Bradley and Rainier Vista group will cook for teachers the following week (post-Ramadan)
  • Ideas from the past:
    • Bringing in catered Hawaiaan lunch
    • Cards given to kids to fill out for teachers (the downside of this can be an imbalance of what each teacher receives)
    • We have a lot of decorations in the storage closet that can be reused.
  • Can we ask teachers to fill out their personal preferences again on things they like, gift ideas, etc?
    • Yes, Carrie will send something to staff.
  • Student announcement or sharing of appreciation?
  • TBD on whether we have PTSA funds

Discussion: Treasurer Position and Leadership Next Year - Charissa

  • Adi is needing to step down due in her role and so Lai Shan (Tammy) Wong is stepping up to take on the spot (yay!!!)
  • Motion to vote for Tammy to be Treasurer of the Kimball PTSA
    • Charissa raised the vote; Carrie Lam seconded;
    • The Treasurer vote passed with eight recorded yes votes; no no votes were recorded.
    • Nay votes: N/A
  • Charissa spoke up leadership roles for 2022-2023 and starting to think about people for their roles - 4 positions need to be voted on and then many other “chair” roles. Thinking about setting up a nominating committee to help identify potential parents to take on a role OR to be on the nominating committee.
  • President can’t be a part of the nominating committee but can ask current leaders if they want to continue in their role or do something different
  • Ideas:
    • Do we need more visibility about how these roles plug in?
    • More clarity about each role and what it means / what is the commitment so people feel better informed and don’t feel like ‘you have to attend every meeting every month’? Send a comms about what a commitment means in terms of mtg attendance? Working meetings vs Advocacy meetings vs other meetings
    • Do we need to think about rebranding the Working Meeting name? Feels big.
    • Could some positions be shared like Secretary so people could rotate for meeting attendance and taking notes?
    • Reminder of Kindergarten parents who haven’t had a chance to meet other parents in person yet so it’s tough to think about and find other people to include.
    • Perhaps there is a way we can reach out to parents via the classroom - an info session - or asking teachers to forward info re: the roles and what they are - a way for parents to reach out.
    • If anyone on the call tonight is interested in a particular role for next year, please let Charissa know!

Discussion: AA.NH.PI Month (May) - Tracey

  • Appreciation to those involved.
  • Ideas that came thru RET meeting from parents and staff; excitement to re-engage efforts like Black History Month (announcement and trivia);
  • Opp to engage parents thru classroom - NH (Native Hawaiian) and PI (Pacific Islander) storybooks - parents who can come in and read stories and tell a family story (immigration to U.S. or tradition of culture)
  • Tracey responsible for virtual or in person tours - could be a field trip opp to museum
  • Will be another art banner project for the kids around food and culture for AA NH PI
  • If you have ideas or what to be involved, reach out to Tracey Fugami