Flynn Family PTO Update 12/19/11

Hey there Flynn families - Happy holidays - I hope you have a relaxing break from school and work.  Kate B.


BSD Budget Hearings The next public hearing is January 4, 2012 and will be held in the Burlington High School cafeteria at 7:00 pm. The public will have additional opportunities to
comment on this budget at a special Finance Committee meeting of the Board on January 9, 2012 (6:00 pm, 150 Colchester Avenue), at a presentation to the City Council also on January 9 and finally at the regularly scheduled School Board meeting on January 10, 2012 (7:00 pm, Burlington High School cafeteria).

The following link connects you to the BSD Powerpoint presentation about the 2012-13 Budget:
http://bsdweb.bsdvt.org/Board/budget1213/BudgetOverviewPPTFY2013.pdf

Letter of Intent-J.J. Flynn Garden Fundraising  At the January PTO meeting, parents will vote on the following proposal to restrict funds for the Flynn gardens.  It is proposed that $2,000 be restricted.

It has been the intention of the fundraising coordinator/chair for the past four years to assure the continued use and care of the Flynn School garden and to maintain and expand the garden areas in the future. Garden areas include the raised beds, the garden borders at the main entrance, and those lining the south parking lot and south entrance doors.

In the last two years the PTO fundraising chair (Susan Rutherford) has led the “Perennially Green Sale” fundraiser. Not only does this event bring parents and staff but also community members to the school to donate plants, but also to participate in the plant and yard sale that is held on the same day. In the past, 50 - 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale were set aside for improvement of the school gardens. This has amounted to $1,500 to $2,000.

Because the school garden raised beds will be dismantled during the school renovations next year, it is requested that the proceeds from last year’s Perennially Green sale be earmarked and reserved for re-establishing the gardens following construction next year. It is also requested that grants the PTO apply for grants as in the past to re-build the raised beds and continue to improve the Flynn School gardens. In order to do this, it is important to set aside funds for that purpose.

FLYNN FAMILY TRADITIONS DINNER

The PTO and the Family School Partnership Team

would like to invite you to our

annual family potluck dinner!

Friday, January 13th, 2011

Multi-purpose room

5:30-7:30 PM

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT!!!

Please bring a MAIN dish to share.

To reduce waste, please also bring your own plates and utensils.

Drinks and dessert (ice cream sundaes) will be provided by the PTO.

We will have multi-cultural tables set up for display. If you have traditional items that you would like to display from another country or cultural, please bring it to share. If you have traditional clothing, feel free to wear it if you’d like. Please contact Melisa Peterson at JiberJab@comcast.net or 651-9039 for more information.

Check your Calendar...

• December 19 - Chess Club at 2:30 - All welcome
• December 22 - Schoolwide Meeting - 8:30am - Caroling and Intervale Farms Collection wrap-up - Parents Welcome!
• December 23-January 2 - Winter Break
• January 5 - PTO Meeting - childcare provided
• January 14 - Family Traditions Dinner

Flynn family PTO Update 12/12/11

Hey there Flynn Families - I won't waste your precious time - Here's what's up...


Staff Appreciation The 4th grade parents showed their appreciation for the Flynn staff in November with a full array of hot soups and fresh breads, donated by Klingers, served with butter and olive oil. They also got a Flynn parent specialty, fried rice and eggrolls.  Sparkling water and soda rounded out the meal. It was a warm and cozy luncheon that the staff seemed to really enjoy.  

This month and this week, the PTO is charged with staff appreciation.  Once again, food is our theme and staff will be treated to an Italian themed lunch with baked ziti, salad, breads and homemade baked goods.  Thank you to the parents making dishes and baking - Flynn staff will love it!

For the start of the new year, 3rd grade parents will be appreciating staff by cleaning and stocking the breakroom.  If you are a 3rd grade parent who wants to help, cleaning elves plan to meet on the 26th of December to have things ready for after the break.  Contact Lisa Tulkop to help - lisaspurplepalace @gmail.com

TOYS! The PTO funded the purchase of some outdoor toys to help keep kids active and industrious in the snow during recess.  We are hoping for some great construction projects to come out of the infusion of shovels, trowels, snowblock makers and plastic tubs.  As soon as we get some snow, ask your child how the toys are received.  We bet they will be a big hit!

The Annual Holiday School Assembly is scheduled for December 22nd at 8:30 am.   Parents are invited to join their child in the multipurpose room for caroling, reporting on the Intervale fundraiser and to see Mr. Clarke choke down brussel sprouts.  Last year it was kissing a cow, this year it is cruciferous vegetables - I for one, would choose the veggies - Russel sprouts are yummy!

JJ Flynn Theatre committee has begun meeting to plan the production of Narnia.  The ball is rolling - now we need you!  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. 4/5 students will have acting roles and 3rd graders are encouraged to join the chorus.  We don't plan to strong arm anyone to participate, but know that this is an awesome opportunity for all children to explore acting and singing and maybe find a true calling.  We offer this during school hours so that any child can participate and teachers/administration are flexible because they recognize how important the arts are in nurturing the whole child. We have lots of opportunities for parents too! 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....  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

Breaking news: Auditions will be during the week of January 9th and parts will be announced the next week.  Practice will begin later in the month.  Don Wright will visit classrooms after the break and 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. 

Check your Calendar...

• December 14 - Early Release Day at 11:30
• December 22 - Schoolwide Meeting (Parents welcome)
• December 19 - Chess Club
• December 23 - January 2 - Winter Break
• January 5 - PTO Meeting
• January 14 - Family Traditions Dinner

Flynn Family PTO Update

Hey there Flynn Families - Lots of exciting stuff happening this month at Flynn and beyond. Hope you are able to take advantage of all the season brings. We had another productive PTO meeting last week and are making plans for many fun family events in the new year. Hope you will join us in organizing, volunteering and playing together.  Meeting minutes and Treasurer's Report are located at the end of this post.  (please excuse the messy formatting this week - unidentifiable glich - too lazy to spend all day working on it!)


CHINESE EXCHANGE TEACHER AT FLYNN!!! Flynn is proud to welcome Crystal to our school! Crystal comes to us from Shanghai, China, where she is a High School teacher. She is doing an exchange program called Visiting Scholars through the Asian Studies Outreach Program at UVM. She will be with us teaching in different classrooms until Jan. 13. One of her main focuses will be in Mrs. Brooks class because coincidentally there is a Chinese student who arrived a few weeks ago with limited English. It was meant to be! She will also be in other classrooms teaching Chinese language, songs, games, art, and cooking as requested by the teachers. We are very excited to have her here and to have the children learn about a different culture. If you see her around please give her a warm welcome!!

The Kuypers family is hosting Crystal at their house, but they are traveling for the holidays. It would be wonderful if there were some families that could show her some good ole’ VT winter fun like skiing, sledding or ice skating or invite her to dinner or to a movie. This would really make her feel welcome and make her vacation special! You can contact Tammy Kuypers at: 598-4293 or 863-1943 to arrange something or you can e-mail Crystal directly at sgh1121@hotmail.com

Thanks so much in advance for making her time here at Flynn a memorable one!!

Did You Know? All Flynn Families are welcome and encouraged to use the library at school! Mrs. Wells will be happy to set you up with an account and lend books that your family can enjoy at home. Holiday break is coming up - make sure you have lots of good reading material to get you through the break!

Exchange Student #2 Hello Flynn Families - I just received this emergency request and I am sending it on to you all in the event that a Flynn family might want to help or would know another local family that would:

From PAX Coordinator Alysse Anton http://www.pax.org/hschools.html

One of our students (Marieke) is in need to be relocated in another family. She is only here for a semester (she will fly back to Germany at the end of January).
She is currently going to BHS, so we would need a family who lives in Burlington.
We are looking to find a family with other children/teenagers.
Would you be able to help us with this emergency?
Thank you.
Alysse Anton
PAX Coordinator
Please make sure that all inquiries are directed to Kelley Cartularo (kelleycartularo@gmail.com)

Check your Calendar...

• December 5 - Narnia Pre-Production Meeting - 6:45 in the library
• December 5 - Drop in Chess club at 2:30-3:30 in the library
• December 5 - Narnia Production Team Meeting in the learning center at 6:45
• December 14 - Early Release Day at 11:30
• December 22 - Schoolwide Meeting (Parents welcome) Mr. Clarke to eat Brussel Sprouts and caroling with Mr. Reynolds - Time yet to be announced - stay tuned
• December 19 - Chess Club (see above)
• December 23 - January 2 - Winter Break
• January 5 - PTO Meeting
• January 14 - Family Traditions Dinner

View the Treaurer's Report by clicking on the link below:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ag-zi-SCj-zndGZZWWxkdkNmb1BtS3VvTHVyR0hKUkE

P.T.O Meeting Minutes - December 1, 2011
Meeting was called to order at 6:30pm - Babysitting was offered in the multipurpose room

Treasurer’s Report – reported by Kate Belluche

• It was discussed that PTO Funds are currently in a checking account and not earning interest- putting funds in a CD was suggested to generate more incomeFurther financial planning was discussed- how much to maintain as a “cushion” and if it makes sense to expand our offerings
• Pasta dinner generated $815!
• Winter toys (ice block makers, trowels, shovels) were purchased for the playground for $100. Money leftover will be used to purchase more playground toys in the Spring.
• A motion was passed to replace the black signs used for special events for $169. It was suggested that existing signs could be sold or donated- possibly to Hunt Middle School

Principal’s Corner – Graham Clarke
• Crystal Chen, a teacher from Shanghai will be joining Mrs. Brooks’  class until January 14th. She will be staying with the Kuypers family (it was also approved to purchase a bus pass for Crystal for use while she is in Burlington)
• There was excellent attendance at the recent Literacy Café in Mr. Brown’s class as well as the Butterfly performance by Ms. Noble’s class
• Next all school meeting will be held December, 22
• School wide fundraiser has begun- for every 20 donations (marked by the student’s handprint on the display in front of the office) Mr. Clarke will eat a brussel sprout (his least favorite food)
• Fourth Grade teacher appreciation of array of soups very well received
• Family Traditions dinner will be held January 13

Flynn Gardens – Claire Noble
• Letter of intent has been submitted to ensure that roughly half of the proceeds from previous plant sales be set aside to perpetuate the Flynn school gardens
• It was asked that Flynn Gardens become a line item on the budget and that the money be earmarked for use on gardens when construction is complete- it will be voted on at the January meeting

Enrichment Update– -Sarah Smith
• Jeh Kulu date has been changed to February 6-10
• It is not yet determined if there will be multiple performances
• It was decided to reimburse Sarah Smith for travel chess sets she purchased for the students who have attended the Chess club this fall
• First meeting for people interested in helping with the Narnia performance will be held Monday, December 5th at 6:45

Fundraising- Tammy Kuypers
• The Tag and Plant sale has been given to Hunt
• Pizza fundraiser- offering families the option to purchase pizza and pick it up at school on a certain night with a % of the sale going to PTO- a similar fundraiser takes place at Champlain Elementary and has been very successful. Start date TBD

Room Parents/Staff Appreciation Update– Lisa Tulkop
• PTO will be providing a lunch and dessert for Teachers during the in-service on December 14th
• January Teacher Appreciation (provided by the Third grade parents) will be to come in before school begins and clean out the break room

PTO Leaders Salon – Kate Belluche
• December 19th- ongoing meetings for PTO leaders from Burlington to share ideas, 7-8pm location TB

School/Family Partnership Update– Shanta Eastman
• Several new members joined and attended the meeting on 11/23 to take a survey on how Flynn is perceived as a welcoming environment. The results will be discussed at the next meeting Wednesday 12/7 at 2:45

Open P.T.O Positions
• Kate made an announcement about the need for a new 2012-13 President

Opportunities
• Family Traditions Dinner- opportunities to help in planning
• Family Nights – opportunities to help plan and run- some suggestions: Lego night, movie night, talent night, skating at Leddy, BINGO
• Dana Stevens needs volunteer(s) to help hang art in gallery-everything provided to frame student self-portraits.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:45pm Next Meeting: Thursday, 1/5/12, 6:30-7:30p

Flynn Family PTO Update 11/28/11

Hey There Flynn Families - Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and some free time to relax and recharge.  Everyone is invited and welcome at the December PTO meeting this Thursday at 6:30pm in the library.  We will have childcare available.  The meeting agenda is posted below.

Zumba Fitness Please help support the Flynn PTO and try this class on Wednesday, November 30th from 6-7pm in the gym. Bring water, sneakers and a smile. All proceeds go to the Flynn PTO. Bring the whole family and your friends and neighbors! Suggested donation is $5-10. Questions? Contact Shannon at shannon-stem@gmail.com

JJ Flynn Theatre Presents: Narnia Performances March 22-24, 2012

 The first play production meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec 5 in the learning center at 6:45. We will go over the pre-production schedule and start to define committees for the Playbill, Advertising, Green Room, Costumes and Make-Up. MANY hands make light work and a more enjoyable experience for all. Please turn out to support your young thespian and all the other parents putting in their precious time - we need you too...

ALSO - 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.... 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

Check your Calendar...

• November 30 - 6-7pm - Zumba Workout!!! - meet in the gym
• December 1 - PTO Meeting at 6:30 in the Library. Childcare provided. Join us!!!
• December 5 - Drop in Chess club at 2:30-3:30 in the library
• December 5 - Narnia Production Team Meeting in the learning center at 6:45
• December 14 - Early Release Day at 11:30
• December 23 - January 2 - Winter Break

December PTO Meeting

12/1/11, 6:30 pm

AGENDA

• Welcome– Kate Belluche
• Welcome Sarah DeShaw– Secretary for 2011-12

UPDATES

• Treasurer’s report, PTO Funds – carryover, savings, spending

  - John Boone

• Principal’s Corner – Graham Clarke
• Flynn Gardens – Claire Noble
• Enrichment Update– Jeh Kulu – date change/multiple performances? -Sarah Smith
• Room Parents/Staff Appreciation Update– Lisa Tulkop
• PTO Leaders Salon – December 19th
• School/Family Partnership Update/Minutes from Nov. Meeting– Shanta Eastman
• Looking to elect the 2012-13 President – Kate Belluche

OPPORTUNITIES

·        Family Traditions Dinner- Date?  Roles?

·        Family Nights – scheduling and activities

·        Dana Stevens needs volunteer(s) to help hang art in gallery – everything provided

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

MISC

• Meeting Facilitator for January?  (needs to meet with me to discuss agenda prior to meeting)  

Next Meeting:  Thursday, 1/5/12,  6:30-7:30pm

Flynn PTO Update 11/21/11

Hey there Flynn Families - Have a relaxing

break.  Hope to see folks at the December PTO meeting on

December 1st!

Kindergarten and New Student

Registration Opens Monday, 11/28

Registration then closes on Friday, March 16th, with placement letters slated to be sent home to families by April 30th. Please visit our website closer to 11/28 for more information and forms related to this process. Or, call 865-5332.

JJ Flynn Theatre Presents: Narnia   Performances March 22-24, 2012 

Preparations are underway for this years student production.  The play has been chosen, a grant of $1000 from Ben and Jerry's foundation has been secured to get us off the ground - now we need you!  Any child in grades 4 and 5 can try-out for a spot - all students are guaranteed a role.  Students in grade 3 may be part of the chorus.  The first play production meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec 5 in the learning center at 6:45.  We will go over the pre-production schedule and start to define committees for the Playbill, Advertising, Green Room, Costumes and Make-Up.  MANY hands make light work and a more enjoyable experience for all.  Please turn out to support your young thespian and all the other parents putting in their precious time - we need you too... 

ALSO - 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....  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

Jeh Kulu drumming and dancing residency coming to JJ Flynn after the Holidays.  We are firming up an amended date with Jeh Kulu and will let you know as soon as we know.  All students in K-2 will participate in this active artist in residence program with a performance to follow.  More information to come...

Zumba Fitness  Please help support the Flynn PTO and try this class on Wednesday, November 30th from 6-7pm in the gym.  Bring water, sneakers and a smile.  All proceeds go to the Flynn PTO.  Bring the whole family and your friends and neighbors!  Suggested donation is $5-10.  Questions?  Contact Shannon at shannon-stem@gmail.com

Check your Calendar...

• November 22 - Report Cards go home
• November 23-25 No School - Thanksgiving Break
• November 30 - 6-7pm - Zumba Workout!!! - meet in the gym
• December 1 - PTO Meeting at 6:30 in the Library.  Childcare provided.  Join us!!!
• December 5  - Narnia Production Team Meeting in the learning center at 6:45
• December 14 - Early Release Day at 11:30
• December 23 - January 2 - Winter Break

Flynn Family PTO Update 11/14/11

Hey there Flynn families - Thanks for your participation.  Each month, we have had hundreds of parents turn out for school events like Open house, Math night and most recently, the Bookfair and Pasta dinner.  If you keep coming, we'll keep offering!  Your participation is so much more than just showing up.  You are making connections and building relationships with teachers, administrators and Flynn families as well as showing your child how important school is.  We know, it can be a drag to leave the house after a long day at work - your time is important and we hope that you have had fun learning and playing with your family at school. 

In the Winter, the PTO plans and hosts "Flynn Family Nights."  These nights are free to families and have included activities like Zumba, Movie night, Annual Talent Show, Family Traditions Dinner, Lego Challenge and Skating at Leddy Arena.  We are currently planning activities for the new year - what are your ideas for fun, low-cost activities?  E-mail us at flynnschoolpto@gmail.com.

Pasta Dinner 2011 was a Terrific Success!! The PTO pasta dinner and bake sale alone made $776.16!!!! (We hope that the book fair did just as wellJ) All that money gets put right back into Flynn events and different ways of supporting our students and families.  Go Flynn!!

This would not have been possible without so many helping hands:

1. Thanks to all the families who braved the rainy weather and came to the book fair and dinner to support our school!  

2. Thanks to all the room parents who worked tons at organizing for all the donations.

3. A big thanks to all the families that brought in donations for the dinner and the bake sale.  The dinner was delicious and there were a countless amount of very yummy goodies which made the bake sale so successful. 

4. Thank you to Hannaford for the bread donation and to Jane Hondal for arranging it!

5. And last but certainly not least, a huge THANK YOU TO ALL THE WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS THE DAY OF THE EVENT:  HAPPY VAIL, JON KUYPERS, DASHA ZENTRICHOVA, KATE BELLUCHE, WANDA HLORDSZ, MARIE CLAIRE SMITH, JEN DEBEDOUT, MISSY HELLYER, KATE WHEELER, SHELLEY WATERMAN, TERESA GAILLORENZO, KIM HUNT, LISA TULKOP, BECKY HOLT AND EDITH DUCHARME!!  The dinner would not have been possible without all of you.  Thank you soooo much!!

Student Art Gallery  Ms. Stevens is looking for a parent to come in and get student artwork into frames for our gallery located in the hall outside the multi-purpose room.  Every year, Ms. Stevens chooses works that are framed and displayed until the child leaves Flynn at the end of 5th grade.  This is a special honor and a Flynn tradition.  Every year, the PTO (that's you!) pays for frames so we can continue this tradition.  All the materials will be provided and you do not need any special skills - just the gift of time.  Framing can be done before, during or afterschool on site.  Please contact Dana at dstevens@bsdvt.org or leave a message in the school office and she will return your call.

Flynn School Thanksgiving Food Drive - November 14-18.  Canned goods and Hannaford gift Cards can be brought to the office.  All Food/cards go to Flynn families in need!  If your family is in need of food, please contact Liane Couture at 864-8445.

Five Flynn teachers received PTO Mini-Grants  Five teachers pooled their checks to buy leveled books for classroom libraries.  They got packs of six books and shared them among the three first-grade classroom libraries.  Students take 5 books home every week so they have appropriate books to read at home.  Books get lost and misplaced over the years, so teachers neeed to update their stocks each year in order to have enough books on each level to offer to students.  In recent years, teachers have gotten $200 - $300 per classroom to spend each year. With required ordering of math practice books, spelling notebooks, and other expenses like desk nameplates, potting soil, correction tape, and packing tape, there is rarely any money left for buying books for the classroom. As you may expect, many teachers spend thousands of dollars of their own money to create a classroom library. The PTO mini-grants are very much appreciated to defray these costs.  Our teachers thank you for your generosity.  (Remember, you are the PTO - the money they rec'd to buy books came from the fundraisers you participated in -thanks!)   

Parent Information Sessions: Puberty, Sexual Development & Safety Tuesday November 8th and Tuesday November 15th - Integrated Arts Academy at H.O. Wheeler - 8 Archibald Street

November 15th Two Sessions: (choose 1 - they are the same!)
6-6:45pm In English, with Interpreters for Swahili and Burmese
7-7:45pm In English, with Interpreters for Russian, Arabic, French, Bosnian

Dr. Frankowski will provide parents with information about adolescent issues related to puberty, sexual development and safety. She will also provide parents with information about how they can discuss these sensitive topics with their children. For parents’ convenience, Dr. Frankowski will offer the same workshop twice each evening, on two different nights. Childcare and refreshments will be provided. If you have questions, please contact Meredith Hoisington, EMS School Guidance Counselor, at mhoising@bsdvt.org or 865-4177.

Check your Calendar...

• November 14-18  Thanksgiving Food Drive
• November 22 - Report Cards go home
• November 23-25 No School - Thanksgiving Break

The Farm to School Project conducted taste testing at Flynn school this past Friday with the 5th graders and a group of Medical Students from UVM- ask you kiddo what they thought of the new recipe- Thanksgiving Pudding.  If you would like to try it at home, Sarah Huesner sent us the recipe.  The formating is a bit off as it is cut from an excel spreadsheet -Also note that the recipe feeds 100 - industrial scale cooking!  What a great math project to cut down the recipe into a more reasonable family serving -  Let us know if you try it! (recipe below)

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STANDARDIZED RECIPES

ITEM:

Butternut Squash Soufflé

ITEM CATEGORY

Dessert

ELEM

HS

ELEMENTARY

HS

PORTION SIZE

1/4 Cup

1/4 Cup

SERVING UTENSIL

# 12 Scoop

#12 Scoop

COMPONENT

Orange Vegetable

The sugar can easily be substituted with maple syrup.

RECIPE YIELD

100

INGREDIENTS

QUANTITY

UNIT

PREPARATION

Carrot(or, butternut sq.)

15

Pounds

Peeled and rough chopped.

Margarine

1

Pound

Melt

Sugar, white

3 1/2

Cups

Flour, ap

1 1/3

Cups

Could use wheat flour

Baking Powder

1

Tbsp.

Vanilla Extract

1

Tbsp.

Eggs

4 1/4

Cups

Beaten

Nutmeg

1

tsp.

RECIPE PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:

1

Preheat oven to 350° F.

2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Add carrots and cook until fork tender.

3

Drain carrots then mash.

4

Add all the ingredients except the nutmeg to the mashed carrots and mix thoroughly.

Transfer to two well greased 2 inch hotel pans.

6

Sprinkle with nutmeg.

7

Bake in preheated oven for 30-45 minutes.