October 3, 2019

Dicken Elementary PTO Board Meeting
Meeting Minutes:
New Business
Dicken Garden Update – Ann Erickson
• Scheduling events to clean up overgrown areas. Need support from the grounds crew and Dicken Woods
Foundation. Mr. Madison will ask the grounds crew what support is available (ex. old swing set area).
• Connect garden to curriculum ( Ex. Lifecycles 2nd grade curriculum unit). Support needed from the teachers to
determine who wants to be involved and what they want to do (ex. soil testing, math units).

o Jen Miller to share curriculum for outdoor learning with Ann.
• Is it possible to get product of compost bins? Mr. Madison identified Ms. Creswell as the contact for more info.
• Is it possible to raise funds for the garden to support supplies? There is $250 in PTO budget.
o Recommendation to ask for donations by grade. Ann to send list to Carrie.
o Local nurseries will make donations.
• Need to address need for water (getting rain barrels donated). Need a new, fatter hose or water source in the
garden to support irrigation system.
Scholastic Book Fair – Liz Arnhoff
• Handout on “Some Benefits of Hosting a Book Fair”
• Recommending an event on November 4-7 (3-7pm during parent-teacher conferences)
• Supported by Ms. McHale if approved
• Kids to come into library to identify 3 books that they like to take home and share with their parents – feedback
provided that 1/3rd of the kids families do not have the ability to purchase books.
• Teachers can put together bucket/list of books that they would like to add to their classrooms
• Decision: Move forward with evening event to support the Dicken Media Center and classroom libraries without
the kid’s preview day.
• Next step – A signup genius will be sent to Vanessa Revelli (by Friday evening) to solicit volunteers.
Grants
• Ms. Posey – Laundry baskets on wheels for lunch ($250) – Approved!
• Speaker System to enable us to have music, movies at events ($500) – Approved!
Snacks
• Moving from Chartwells due to $300/mo cost
• PTO will look into other options for donation (ex. Frog Hollar) or identify a volunteer to support purchasing
Other:
• Recommendation to stop selling bottles of water or sugar beverages. We will offer water bottles and purchase
compostable cups to put by the water fountain.
• Pumpkin Patch Friday 10.25, 6-8 Kelly Bauer, Chair. Carrie will identify and purchase 2 new games. Working on
sign-up genius.
• Halloween Parties on Thursday 10.31
• SpiritWear – we are exploring a local company to offer SpiritWear options.
• Successful Walk to School Day – Thank you Patrizia
• Silent Auction – Looking to change the location. Getting estimates.
• Bond – Send information out a blast on support of bond focusing on impact for Dicken and recommendation to
vote.
• Teacher conferences lunch
• Survey Monkey
Report Outs
• President Elect – Sign Updates – Jen Miller
• Treasurer – Money received for PTO thrift and Dash money coming in – Nick Stauder
• Treasurer Elect – Welcome, helping with Pumpkin Patch – Augustina Fragner
• Teacher Liaison – Jessica Posey
o Door decorating with student work
o Will work with teachers to discuss garden activities
o Kim Creswell will submit dates for adult yoga night ($15 for next event, $5 for Kim and $10 PTO)
• Secretary – Updating Pumpkin Patch sign-up genius – Kim Walsh
• Fundraising –
o Dash needs volunteers, surpassed the corporate donation goal
o Dicken 5K Run – broke even on expenses and will get some revenue; expected to grow in future years
o Teacher conference donations in process
o $330 from Chipotle
o Texas Roadhouse interested in Community Night Out
• Room Parent Coordinator – Room Parent meeting on Tuesday at 6:00
• Volunteer Coordinator – Kelley Bauer
o Time and Talent completed
o Need a home for the Student Directory
• Enrichment – Magic Assembly was a success; 11.15 Rover the Robot Mobil Theater and Family Movie Night (will
be promoted in the blast) – Dana McPherren
• Hospitality – Pumpkin Patch food and drink – Erin Kaleba, Barb Authier
• November 7 at Erin Kaleba’s
• Question of the Night – How many languages are spoken throughout AAPS students? Answer: 72!
Mike Madison’s Report:
• Reviewed new security procedures to buzz into Dicken. New procedure being added in October to review
driver’s licenses to review background
• Safe Routes to School update
o Bump ups added at two locations – have slowed down traffic; still working to get one on Runnymede
o Asking for 2 new bike racks
o Implement orange flag program
o Offer bike lights or backpack lights to send home with students
o Incentives for walk/bike to school activities
o Working to improve paths (ex. Runnymede to Pauline) – asking City to make them safe
• Passed out results of School Quality Survey – to be discussed in detail at the next PTO meeting
• Rescheduling mobile dentist to allow for more promotion
Adjourned 9:25