Meeting Minutes - 02/23/2021

​APEF Meeting – Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Attendees

• Dr. Ruggles
• Estefani Garcia
• Sonia Rodriguez
• Mo Baronigan
• Amber Carreno
• Erika Donica
• Misty Hirsch
• Jocelyn South
• Sarah Baxter
• Erica Moore
• Josh Monasmith
• Melissa Monasmith
• Ana Gijon-Vega
• Cara Sotelo

 
Call to Order – Tuesday, February 23rd (3:05 pm)

• Approve Minutes from Tuesday, January 26, 2021

         Motion: Jocelyn
         Second: Mo
         APPROVED
Financial Review

• YTD Raised: $4,611.13
• YTD Spent: $13,301.18
• Balance on checkbook: $56,149.08
• 1 Outstanding Check – Reimbursement for $184.80

Principal Remarks

• Morning with the Principal (Tuesday, February 23, 2021 @ 8:15 am – 9:30 am):

1. President Biden proclaimed that flags across the nation are to be flown at half-mast in recognition of the USA surpassing 500,000 deaths due to COVID
2. Community needs to stay strong and continue to be diligent about social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands, sanitizing, getting the vaccine to help our community continue with the downward trend in positive COVID cases.
3. Hopeful outlook for our future
4. Next Morning with the Principal is Tuesday, March 16th @ 8:15 am – 9:30 am (via ZOOM – link to be emailed prior to the meeting)

• Alamosa Park Elementary School Web-site

1. Our new school web-site is up and running! It looks great!
2. THANK YOU to Mrs. L. Contreras for her fantastic work on our web-site.

• CAASPP Testing and CAST Science Testing

1. CAASPP – California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
2. CAST – California Science Test
3. For grades 3rd –5th (CAASPP Testing in English Language Arts and Mathematics; CAST Science Testing is for 5th graders only)
4. Testing Schedule: Monday, May 17, 2021 – Friday, May 28, 2021 (2 weeks window)

• DLI – Dual Language Immersion Program at Alamosa Park Elementary School

1. 14 students already interested in the Kindergarten class for next year (those students are from within our Alamosa Park Elementary School community)
2. Dr. Ruggles is looking to start promoting DLI openings outside of our Alamosa Park Elementary School community soon
3. DLI Zoom meeting for community is on Tuesday, March 9th at 4:00 pm.

• 2021/2022 TK and Kindergarten Registration

1. Registration opens: Monday, March 1, 2021
   • Registration is open for 2 TK classes (Transitional Kindergarten: child must be born between September 2 – December 2, 2016)
   • Alamosa Park Elementary school generally has 3 Kindergarten classes. (Kindergarten: child must be born on or before September 1, 2016.)
   • At this time, Dr. Ruggles is unable to confirm/refute a virtual learning option for next year (2021-2022)

• Roosevelt Middle School

1. Virtual Wildcat Welcome Tour – Thursday, February 25th at 3:30 pm (via Zoom) with Principal Heather Golly
2. Roosevelt Middle School – All subjects through art
3. IF you miss the virtual tour, you may view the virtual tour video on the Roosevelt Middle School website at: rms.vistausd.org 

• Black History Month

1. Celebrating past and present leaders in the Black community
2. Students are participating in projects to encourage conversations about how Black leaders have contributed to making a positive difference in the United States of America.
3. Hope is to celebrate the incredible contributions of people of all ethnicities all year long!

• School Consolidation Task Force

1. School Consolidation Task Force – created by the District to provide recommendations to the superintendent and the school board on how to address years of declining enrollment.
2. Factors to be considered are: enrollment, financial, programmatic and demographics
3. Dr. Ruggles is part of the School Consolidation Task Force
4. Second community forum Date: April 13th from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (via Zoom web conferencing)
5. If you are unable to attend the forum, but would like to provide feedback, please complete the School Consolidation Task Force Survey (link closes Friday, March 12th) available on the APE School web-site, in the Community Update emails sent by Superintendent Dr. Doyle and in the Alamosa Park Elementary Family emails sent by Principal Dr. Ruggles.    

• Time Capsule

1. Size is about 4”x12” and approximately 4.5” in diameter
2. Looking for ideas on items to place in the time capsule – would like suggestions from students as well as staff and parents
3.  Dr. Ruggles would like to place the time capsule back in the “tombstone” by the end of this school year or at the beginning of next school year
4. Would like to place the time capsule back in the tombstone publicly with a ceremony, etc.

 
Non-Voting Items/Open Discussion

• Music Requests

1. Remove Piano Tuning from requests for this year (the piano was removed from her classroom to make space for other instruments)
2. APEF should coordinate with PTA to help pay for the Music program requests
3. Requests: 

1. 5-gallon buckets from Lowe’s or Home Depot (a big box store)

1. Class set, please
2. Students can use their pencils as “drum sticks”
3. If you write a letter (on school or district letterhead) requesting a discount for educational purposes could possibly get a discount of a couple of dollars?
4. At Lowe’s the buckets are $3.48 each (Leaktite)   

2. Class Set of Drums

1. New Priority – Purchasing Drums
2. No singing allowed right now, so percussion is the way to learn music
3. Currently has 17 drums
4. 27 drums would create a complete class set (for this year)
5. Cheapest Drum size is 171
6. Bundle purchases offer a slight discount, for example, set of 3 drums is ~$350.00
7. Total (including tax): $1,248.00

3. Books (primarily for grades TK to possibly 2nd Grade)

1. Books that Mrs. Sotelo can read to the class. These books lead into music making opportunities for the students
2. Mrs. Sotelo has a huge curriculum book with a large assortment of music activities and lessons that coincide with the books that are being requested
3. Mrs. Sotelo has hand puppets to use with some of these books

• 5th Grade Graduation

1. Need chair persons
2. Options for Graduating 5th Graders?  

1. Ideas from Mrs. Olsen’s 5th Grade class

1. Softball Game (teachers vs. 5th grade students – is this still possible?????) 
2. Pizza party in class (within their own classroom?)
3. T-shirts with graduating student names
4. Graduation Promotion within their own classroom? (Are we able to live stream for parents and family to watch?)
5. Movie Night
6. Drive-Thru Promotion with balloons and bubble machines, food donations from Chic-Fil-A

1. Other Ideas:
   1. Yearbooks as gift (like last year) 
      1. Cost for 75 students is $735 
      2. Could we offer the yearbooks at half price?
      3. What about exploring other options?
      4. Yearbooks as gifts --> tabled
   2. Drive-Thru Promotion 

1. Families could decorate their cars 
2. Is it possible to have families drive to a ramp and stage? Have the graduating student step out of their car and walk across the stage to get his/her diploma? Would offer parents the ability to take pictures and see their child graduate.
3. Schools did conduct graduation ceremonies in this fashion last year (drive-thru promotions) – seems like a viable option
4. Too early to confirm graduation ideas, per Dr. Ruggles, but starting the conversation now is a great idea
   1. T-Shirts with Student Signatures  

1. Would it be possible to have students sign the shirts? 
2. We could lay the t-shirts out and have small groups of students stop by, during a designated time, to sign t-shirts for friends
3. Guidelines still specify NO LARGE CONGREGATIONS of people

• Virtual Talent Show

1. VIDA hosted a virtual talent show last year and Alamosa Park Elementary School would like to do the same this year
2. VIDA Talent Show - Students were able to vote on their favorite finalists (email had links for final video performance)
3. Ideas

1. Tryouts:  

1. Tryouts make the process seem more “serious.” They will encourage students to present their ideas as “prepared performances”.
2. We could use the tryouts as a “trial run” and offer feedback on whether-or-not students were chosen to be part of the talent show and on how to enhance performances for the final version of the Virtual Talent Show. 
3. Tryouts will give our students a sense of working toward a goal and a sense of accomplishment.
4. Tryouts also help to set a standard of/for performance
5. Every student that wishes to tryout may submit a video
6. We need to set acceptable parameters for performances, music used, language, etc.

 2. Videos:  

1. Canvas Studio can be used by students to create their video performance. (Suggestion for students that have Chromebooks; canvas is not user friendly on iPads.)
2. Students could use Flip Grid to create their video performance.

3. Sharing the Virtual Talent Show:  

1. Submitted video performances can be made into a movie?
2. We could promote the Virtual Talent Show as a “Movie Night”
3. Do we share through Canvas or Cloud Connect so only Alamosa Park families are able to view the Virtual Talent Show?
4. Utilizing Canvas - Teachers are able to add the Virtual Talent Show Link to the class as well
5. Utilizing Canvas - The link to Canvas can be used by students to share with family
6. Do we use Google Classroom?
7. Do we use a private YouTube channel so students will be able to share with family outside of the area?
8. Do we make it possible for students be able to individually share their personal video clip vs. the entire video with individuals outside of the Alamosa Park Elementary School community?

4. Notifications:  

1. Flyer to advertise the Virtual Talent Show
2. Flyer should include: what the Virtual Talent Show will “look” like, waiver about shared information - stating that the completed video could possibly be shared with extended family members (and individuals outside of our Alamosa Park Elementary School community) and the talent show is being presented through Foundation, not the school or district
3. Submitted video performances can be made into a movie?

5. VOLUNTEERS:  

1. Teachers are very excited about this idea and would like to help! (Mrs. Garcia and Mrs. Olsen)
2. Teachers need to know – What does Foundation need from them to help make this happen? Steps? Requirements?
3. Dana Olsen and Estefani Garcia are able to help (Mrs. Sotelo will email Sonia with some ideas)
4. Parent Volunteers – Melissa Monasmith
5. Set-up a Virtual Talent Show Committee – interested? Please email Sonia

• Yearbook

1. Mo mentioned a positive response to the email request for more pictures sent out by Dr. Ruggles to Alamosa Park Elementary Families. Submissions have increased through email, social media and the drive!)  😊  
2. Mo is currently working on the yearbook and she needs pictures from any of the functions you have attended (Dine-outs, spirit days, holiday fun, healthy hawks around town, etc.) during this school year (2020/2021). Please send to her as soon as possible at [email protected]! J
3. Suggestion/idea: give a camera to the students so they can take fun pictures for the yearbook as well.
4. FINAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: May 6th
5. Yearbook Delivery Date: June 3rd
6. Pre-Sales: $15 per yearbook
7. Regular Sales: $20 per yearbook
8. Flyer should be created and sent out SOON!!!
9. Considering bringing back the “Shout-outs” Section. Discussing how to have these submitted electronically (to be able to read them correctly). Cost would be $5.00 per submission. Open to all grade levels, could be a really special item to include for 5th graders.
10. Content amount is looking better and with the increased submissions through social media and email, confident we will be able to get the yearbook design submission on time!

• AR Program – Rich Readers and Millionaires

1. Jocelyn is creating a design for the Rich Reader and Millionaire buttons! Buttons are approximately 1.5” around and can be collected and placed on Rich Reader and Millionaire hats. Designs will be submitted to Mrs. Sandvold by the end of the week.
2. Rich Readers Breakdown – two TK, one Kindergartener, seven 1st Graders and one 2nd Grader for a Grand Total of 11 Rich Readers
3. Millionaires Breakdown – three 3rd Graders, three 4th Graders and three 5th Graders for a Grand Total of 9 Millionaires
4. Rich Readers and Millionaires Grand Total (school-wide): 20
5. Our numbers are much lower this school year

1. Possible reasons for decline in numbers:   

1. Rich Readers: younger students need a 1:1 ratio of help with the AR testing system. In past years, parent volunteers were primarily responsible for assisting with AR testing. Not having parent volunteers on campus and in classrooms has impacted our Rich Reader numbers
2. Parents may not be knowledgeable in how to access the AR/Renaissance system from home.

1.  Ideas/solutions?

1. Suggestions:  

1. Promote the program more – Social media posts
2. Send parents instructions on how to access AR/Renaissance programs from home
3. Motivate the students more by providing a way to publicly recognize their achievement
4. Virtual Awards Ceremony/Student Recognition Ceremony: Zoom Slide show (teacher could email parents requesting a picture of their student to be shared during a Virtual Awards Ceremony)
5. Start a Reading Campaign: Try to align it with Read Across America?  Campaign/contest to see which classroom can read the most words in 1 month?
6. Promote how many words we have read as an entire school (bi-weekly?)

• Square1Art

1. Reminder/Checking-in email sent to Teachers (Tuesday, February 23, 2021)
2. Extra Square1Art paper can be found in the APEF inbox
3. Artwork Due Date: Wednesday, March 3rd by end of school day
4. Shipping physical copies of artwork to Square1Art. (All students that turn in a physical copy of artwork will receive a personalized catalog and stickers)
5. Catalogs and stickers should be received by the school: Friday, March 26th
6. Families may order as soon as they receive their catalogs
7. ORDER DEADLINE: Wednesday, April 7, 2021 (by 11:59 pm EST)

• Spirit Wear

1. Do we want to add sweatshirts to our Spirit Wear inventory? 
2. Parents have been requesting/asking about the possibility of sweatshirts on our social media sites.
3. Leaving it out there for consideration…

• Dine-outs/Take-outs

1. Tuesday, February 23rd – Dine-out @ Panda Express (order on-line with Coupon Code – 902135 – at ANY Panda Express Location)
2. We can order from anywhere across the nation and it will count for our school (family members in other states can participate!)

• Virtual – APEF Annual Spring Silent Auction

1. Silent Auction Donations – IF we decide to have a silent-auction we will need assistance with obtaining donated items for the auction
2. Suggested types of items: Dinner (for restaurants and Breweries), movie tickets/packages, stylist packages, etc.
3. How would the Silent Auction work on our website? (Jessica?)

• Scrip

1. Need a new Scrip Coordinator
2. Email Sonia if you are interested

• Teacher Appreciation

1. Our fellow parent teacher organization, PTA, typically celebrates Staff Appreciation Week with an amazing Coffee Cart and smoothies
2. In the past, APEF has participated in teacher appreciation through a teacher gift raffle, baskets, etc.
3. With all of the restrictions this year, maybe we could put together Teacher Appreciation Gift Baskets?
4. Other ideas? Please email Sonia   

• Healthy Hawk Week

1. Student Council was planning a Spirit Week during the week of St. Patrick’s Day. Would it be possible to merge the two together so that our students will get an opportunity to show leadership? Student Council will still plan a spirit day for St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, March 17th.
2. Student council with Mrs. Sotelo will collaborate with Dr. Ruggles and APEF to help plan Healthy Hawk Week
3. Healthy Hawk Week Dates: Monday, March 22nd – Friday, March 26th
4. Possible Day Themes from Student Council: Rainbow Day, Crazy Hair Day, Glitter and Gold
5. Ideas

1. Virtual Olympics? – “Going for the Gold”

1. Wear specific colors on designated days
2. Spirit Wear
3. Active Challenges – mile, tetherball, etc

1. Active Challenge Stations – students could move from station to station (within their own zone) to complete active challenges…sit-ups or push-ups, etc.
2. Active Challenges for BOTH classic and virtual students
3. Take pictures of students participating – Going for the Gold during Healthy Hawk Week
4. HHW Ideas – send email to Sonia

• Virtual Campout

1. Committee Chair – Erika Lamberty
2. Need to create a committee!!! 
3. Nature/Scavenger Hunt and other fun activities we can complete from home
4. Need to create a “To-Do List” of ideas (Girl Scouts have done some really fun activities from home for their virtual Cookie Rallies…we should look up some of their examples)
5. Creating games, etc. (games – flashlight tag? card games? board games, movies, locate constellations and tell stories about the constellations – how they came to be up in the sky (Greek Mythology, etc.), “ghost” stories, singing “campfire” songs, make shadow puppets, make outdoor art, make “stone” sculptures, make ice cream in a bag or caramel for apples, popcorn, etc.)
6. Volunteers for the Campout Planning Crew: Melissa Monasmith
7. More volunteers, please!!! 😊

• Kindergarten Graduation

1. Need a committee chair and committee
2. Last year we created poster with graduating student names (theme was School of Fish). Posters were hung on the gates so students could take pictures.
3. Ideas and thoughts on how to celebrate Kindergarten graduation for this year? Please email Sonia

• Clarification of February 3rd motion to move Funds to Classroom Grants Budget

1. Foundation did not create a new motion, but rather an amendment to an existing motion to better track funds and how they are being used for auditing purposes.

 
Teacher Remarks

• Typing Club is free until July

 
PLEASE NOTE: UPCOMING DATES of IMPORTANCE

• NEXT APEF ZOOM Meeting:  Tuesday, March 23rd @ 3:00pm (via ZOOM – link to be emailed prior to the meeting)

 
February 2021
★ Tuesday, February 23rd - DINE-OUT @ Panda Express (order on-line with Coupon Code - 902135 - at 
     ANY Panda Express Location)
 
March 2021
★ Sunday, March 14th - Daylight Saving Time Begins at 2:00 am (SPRING forward 1 hour) 
★ Tuesday, March 16th @ 8:15 am Coffee/Morning with the Principal (via ZOOM - link to be emailed
     prior to the meeting) 
★ ***SPRING BREAK: Monday, March 29th - Friday, April 2nd***
★ Monday, April 5th @ 8:00 am - Vista Classic In-Person School Resumes on campus; Vista Virtual students continue learning virtually
 
★ APEF Meetings: (3-4:30pm), Tuesdays: March 23rd, ​April 20th, May 18th
 
Meeting adjourned at:  5:03 PM