Flynn Family PTO Update 1/3/12

Hey There Flynn Families - It's about time we booted those munchkins out the door and got back to business.  Hope you had a lovely break and some relaxing family time.


Might I suggest a nifty New Year's Resolution - one that won't be hard to keep...  Make 2012 the year you engage in Bulington schools.  It might seem a long way off, but in a few short years one or more of your kids will be off to the middle school or high school.  There are so many big changes around the corner for your child and for the school district.  Do you know where we're headed?  Do you know what opportunities are being offered to families at Flynn?  Do you know what your taxes pay for?  What can you do?

• Go to the Budget hearing this Wednesday at BHS - find out what the District plans to spend in 2012-13  The following link connects you to the BSD Powerpoint presentation about the 2012-13 Budget:
  http://bsdweb.bsdvt.org/Board/budget1213/BudgetOverviewPPTFY2013.pdf
• Attend your school PTO meetings - there is one this Thursday at 6:30 and there is free childcare!  (Agenda included at the end of this post)
• Vote on Town Meeting Day on Tuesday, March 6th

 Staff Appreciation  Flynn staff returned today to a spiffed up staff room.  Several third grade parents were able to come in to school over break to wipe, wash, organize and stock essential items in the staff room.  Big thanks to The Coutrayer family, Krista Poquette, Lisa Tulkop and Kate Belluche.

Chess Club continues...  Don't know how to play?  Now is the time to learn!  Are you tired of being trounced by your child?  Send them to the class so they can find a worthy opponent!  It is never too late to try this bi-weekly drop-in class.  Monday Jan 16, Jan 30, and Feb 13.

Flynn Family Nights – 2011-2012  Thank you Christine L. for arranging the line-up and recruiting Flynn parents to lead family nights.  For new and returning families, Flynn Family nights are organized to bring Flynn families together for free, fun play and socializing.  There will be several friday events organized each month during the winter months.  Flynn students and families are encouraged to participate.  Students must be accompanied by an adult - this is not a drop off event.  We'll start with the Family Traditions Dinner on January 13th from 5:30-7:30pm.  This is a potluck dinner and families are asked to bring a main dish to share.  There will be plenty of entertainment and ice cream sundaes after dinner.  If you can bring your own utensils and plates we can cut down on how much garbage we produce.  This dinner is a collaboration between the PTO and the School Family Partnership team.


Other Family Night include:
Jan 27  Family Movie Night  
Feb 10  - Jeh Kulu performance
Feb 17 –  Talent Show
March 9 –  Family Skate Night
May 4 – Lego Night


Jeh Kulu  J.J. Flynn PTO has been awarded a Teaching Artist Learning Grant in the amount of $750 from the Vermont Arts Council to support to a residency with Jeh Kulu for K-2 students.  HUGE thanks to Sarah Smith for her excellent grant writing - the application for state grants is a whopper!

JJ Flynn Theatre committee has begun meeting to plan the production of Narnia.  Here is the scoop so far...

• 4/5 students will have acting roles and 3rd graders are encouraged to join the chorus
• The next meeting is on Tues, Jan 10 at 6:45 in the learning center. Don Wright from the Very Merry Theatre will be there
• If your child is in the play, we will be asking families to volunteer some time to help with a wide variety of tasks from making costumes to helping create the sets and helping the students get ready on the days of the performances.  You do not need to have a child in the play to participate - the last 2 years we had parents from K, 1, 2 helping in lead roles - just because....
• Auditions will be during the week of January 9th and parts will be announced the next week.  Interested students will have some paperwork for parents to complete giving permission for them to participate. The play is a family event - family participation in costumes/volunteering will be required. 

Do you have a desire to help and/or a skill to share? Reach out to us - come join the team! Questions can be directed to Sarah Smith at sarah@esptrans.com

We Deliver (sort of...)  Keep your eyes open for a flyer in your child's backpack.  Order delicious pizza from Ramunto's in Williston and pick it up at Flynn School- 1/2 of the money goes to the PTO!

Orders Forms Due In The Office:  Tuesday, January 24th

Pizza Pick-Up: Tuesday, January 31st, 4:30-6:00 pm in the Stage Gym - Just pull up to the side entrance (by the Kindergarten doors) and we will deliver your pizzas!

 Check your Calendar...

• January 4 - BSD Budget Meeting at Burlington High School
• January 5 - PTO Meeting 6:30pm (childcare provided)
• January 10 - Narnia meeting at 6:45 in the Learning Center
• January 13 - Family Traditions Dinner
• January 16 - No School for Martin Luther King Day
• January 24 - Pizza orders due
• January 27 - Flynn Family Movie Night (free!)
• March 22-24 – School Play
  

AGENDA  January PTO Meeting

1/5/12    6:30 pm

AGENDA

• Welcome– Kate Belluche

UPDATES

• Treasurer’s report- John Boone
• Principal’s Corner – Graham Clarke ( Idling cars at S side of school)
• Flynn Gardens – vote on 2-3K restricted - Claire Noble
• Enrichment Update– Jeh Kulu/Theatre -Sarah Smith
• Fundraising Update/pizza – Tammy Kuypers
• Room Parents/Staff Appreciation Update– Lisa Tulkop
• School/Family Partnership Update– Shanta Eastman
• PTO Leaders Salon – report out
• Looking to elect the 2012-13 President/V President – Kate Belluche

OPPORTUNITIES

• Family Traditions Dinner- 2-3 more volunteers needed pre-dinner set-up/ice cream help
• Family Nights – Announce Line-up, vols for Talent Show (6-8- preferably parents with kids in show)

OPEN FORUM – What’s on your mind? Burning questions and novel ideas:

MISC

Next Meeting: Thursday, 2/2/12, 6:30-7:30