October 11, 2023

Messmore Montessori Association

Parent/Teacher Monthly Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Attendees:

Board: Elisabetta Stupera, Stacee Jones, Paulette Qussar, Amanda Hijazi, Paul Jones

Call to order:  6:16 PM

Meeting Opening

  • Pledge of Allegiance and Peacemaker Promise
  • Approval of September 2023 meeting minutes

Principal’s Report

  • Parent/Teacher conferences
    • Use School Soft for scheduling.
    • Virtual and in-person are scheduled separately.
    • Let your teacher know if you need a different schedule.
    • Conference participation is tracked for reporting to the district.
  • Halloween parade
    • Halloween parade will be held at 11:00 outside, weather permitting.
    • If it’s raining, they’ll have the parage in the gym
    • Pre-school will have a parade on Oct 30th due to half a day on the 31st
  • No school 10/18
    • Due to professional development day
    • Teachers are implementing a new science curriculum
    • Science training first half of the day
    • Montessori speaker second half of day
    • Teachers saw the speaker at the Montessori conference in Boston
    • Dr. Fiema contacted Montessori teacher training institute, Sienna Heights, in Adrian, MI
    • The institute will provide a speaker for a staff meeting. Potential topics include:
      • Developing self-discipline and motivation in our children
      • How to alleviate stress in child’s life
      • Nutrition for children
  • Half days 10/27, 10/31

Treasurer’s Report

  • Closing out September
  • A lot of money hasn’t been distributed yet, which is why the balance is so high
  • PayPal and Venmo get transferred regularly
  • Holding funds for Science Olympiad and Lego Robotics
  • Expenditures: Welcome back to school, signs, décor, snacks, printer ink, subscriptions
  • We covered some of the educational apps used by teachers
  • Paid for the Halloween mad scientist event
  • We’re still waiting to see if the teachers want another 3 year license for the A-Z app
  • We’re getting $30,000 back from Fun Run. That need to be split between teachers and Dr. Fiema
  • Added $200 to Science Olympiad to cover unknown fundraiser from spring 2023

Account Balances

MMA Financial Accounts$83,515.91
Non-MMA General Funds$42,175.08
Executed Expenditures$1,428.96
MMA General Fund Balance$39,911.87

Budget proposal for 2023-2024

  • Field trip busing
    • Dr. Fiema pays for some
  • Teacher appreciation week
  • Field day snacks
  • Décor for committees
  • 6th grade graduation
  • Montessori speaker
  • Author visit for March reading month
  • State of Michigan gaming license fees
  • Teacher and staff support: 10% back from Fun Run proceeds
    • Still need to write checks
  • Welcome mat replacement
  • Learning oasis
  • Parking lot opportunities
    • Need to buy some parking lot signs.
  • Fun Run
    • There was a glitch the first day for donations, so 50 people who donated had to be contacted to repledge.
    • We’re getting $30,000 from the Fun Run
    • Take out teacher’s 10%
    • MMA Fund
    • Dr. Fiema fund
    • 1288 pledges
    • 320 students received a pledge
    • 96 leadership lesson taught by Apex team
    • 15,000+ laps run
    • Pledges from 31 states
    • 71% of pledges made my people who weren’t parents
    • 98% sign-in goal
    • Sending out survey
    • Apex will be giving returning schools $500. Offer ends 11/30. Vote next meeting whether to have Fun Run for 2024-2025 school year, based on survey

Fundraising Report

  • Halloween event
    • Need volunteers
    • Need more trunks
    • Candy wars
    • October 27th, 5-8 PM
  • 6th Grade Pumpkin Sale
    • Not as many pumpkins reserved
  • Restaurant Nights
    • Fuddruckers, Oct 18
    • Panera, Nov 9th
    • Panda Express, Dec 15
    • Chipotle, Jan 22
  • Achatz Pie Coupon Fundraiser
  • Birthday Buddies
    • Under Sunshine Committee
  • MMA Cookbook Recipe Fundraiser
  • Daddy/Daughter Dance, March 3rd
    • Committee is full
  • Mother/Son Event
  • Kalahari fundraiser, Feb 20
    • $179 a room, we get $10 per room
  • Gratitude Grams, $1 per gram

Committee Report

  • Working on Mother/Son event

Old/New Business

  • 3D printer
    • Annie Meninger is researching a donor.
  • Vote on proposed budget, passed
    • Includes parking items

Upcoming Meetings

  • November 15

Adjournment: 7:15 PM

September 13, 2023

Messmore Montessori Association

Parent/teacher Monthly Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Attendees:

Board: Elisabetta Stupera, Stacee Jones, Paulette Qussar, Amanda Hijazi, Paul Jones

Call to order: 7:16 PM

Meeting Opening

  • Pledge of Allegiance and Peacemaker Promise
  • Approval of May 2023 meeting minutes
  • Introduction of board members

Principal’s Report

  • Fun Run Updates
    • Apex guests: Cool Chris and Energetic Evan
  • Destination Imagination
    • Mr. Shah is no longer at Messmore.
    • Dr. Fiema is looking for someone to facilitate DI this year.
    • Teams form in November, competition in February/March
  • MSTEP Parents Report
    • Reports going home September 29th.
    • Taken by 3rd, 4th, 5th ,6th graders.
  • Standard Response Protocols
    • The district is using standard response protocols to handle emergencies which occur at the school.
    • The term Lockdown is now called Option-based Drill.
    • Options include secure in class, evacuating, hiding (locking down),
    • The children have been practicing how to safely evacuate by knowing which exit doors to use and the location of the rally points.
    • There will be three different drills in October.
    • Dr. Fiema will be sending letters home to inform the parents before the drills.

President’s Report

  • No report

Treasurer’s Report

  • End of 2022-2023 school year numbers presented.
  • Budget will be prepared by next meeting.
  • The non-profit status of the MMA has expired. A CPA has been employed to review the situation.
  • Learning oasis is still a pending item. Funds are still being procured.
  • End of 2022-2023 school year numbers:
  • Total 2022-2023 expenditures: $33,135.96

Fundraising Report

  • Current Events
    • Fun Run
    • Mum Sale
    • New spirit wear
    • Pumpkin sale
    • Halloween Fright Night
    • Sunshine Committee
  • New Opportunities
    • Birthday Buddies (extension of Sunshine Committee)
    • Cookbook Fundraiser
    • Special Persons with Donuts
    • Mom Prom
  • Future Needs for committee members
    • Daddy/Daughter & Mother/Son
    • Teacher Appreciation Week
    • Bingo for 2023-2024 school year.
    • International Night will rotate every other year with Bingo.

Committee Report

  • Need committee members for the events detailed above.

Old/New Business

  • 3D printer
    • Annie Meninger is researching a donor.
  • Parking lot cones have been purchased.
  • Backpack vacuum has been purchased for Mr. Phil

Upcoming Meetings

  • October 11, 2023
  • Sunshine Committee meetings are each Friday after school.
  • Halloween Committee meetings are each Friday after school.

Adjournment: 8:16 PM

May 24, 2023

Messmore Montessori Association

Parent/Teacher Monthly Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Attendees

Board: Elisabetta Stupera, Nicole Caruso, Paulette Qussar, Megan Romano, Stacee Jones

Call to Order:  6:01 PM

Pledge of Allegiance and Peacemaker Promise

MMA President Recognition:

  • May Birthdays – Mrs. Barker, Mrs. D. Papandreou, Mrs. Romano, Mrs. Eshaq, Mrs. Sonnenberg

Approval of April 2023 Meeting Minutes

Principal’s Report

  • May 22
    • Parent volunteer breakfast
  • May 25
    • Spring Music Concert and Art Show
  • June 7
    • Alumni Clap out/Breakfast

Need help with providing light refreshments and set up

Special Guest 5/6 Teachers

  • Boston Montessori Conference Presentation

President’s Report

  • Bond and millage passed – THANK YOU to all who voted!
  • Congratulations Science and Social Studies Olympiad Teams!
  • Mrs. Schultz retirement/clap out/Bench dedication
  • Welcome new families/in gym for pre-K and K first day of school
  • Next year’s events (e.g., International Night, Bingo, end of year party), annual or rotate?
  • Adding Special persons/Donuts with grownups event and Mom Prom, or similar
  • Newsletter incoming
  • Important Dates:
    • 5/25 Arts, Beats and Eats Messmore Style
    • 6/1 Field day
    • 6/2 End of Year Carnival
    • 6/7 clap outs
  • Thank you to outgoing board members, Nicole (VP Treasurer) and Megan (VP Fundraising)

Treasurer’s Report:

  • Treasury report to show total financial accounts, highlighting
    • Total of Funds ~$35K
    • Future/Planned expenditures
      • Able to remove $11K expense for front entrance benches
      • Planned near term costs $21K
      • Committees have some funds left over for their programs for next year
    • Good by end of the year carrying over $5K with current planned expenditures
    • Expenditures over the course of the year totaled around $33K:
      • School Welcome Back                                                     $980.00
      • Playground Painting Project                                            $1,307.64
      • Kindergarten Tables                                                        $1,031.00
      • Teacher Appreciation Meals                                           $356.00
      • Teacher Development for AMS Conference                    $2,620.00
      • Committee Support/Advancements                                $1,967.83
      • Fun Run Classroom 10% for Teachers                            $6,394.43
      • Fun Run Split for Messmore’s School Fund                      $16,684.04
      • Teacher Supplies (Specials Rotation)                               $200.00
      • Montessori Speaker, Thomas Haller 3/2                         $595.00
      • Reading Month Speaker 3/27                                         $600.00
      • Teacher Appreciation bench + sign (May)                       $400.00
  • Reserves are still being held in general fund until vote and executed expenditure Totals for 2022-2023
  • Transactions are still under MMA until the official name change is complete and taxes are updated (MMO will be go forward)

Fundraising Report:

  • Recent Successes
    • Bingo Night ($1315 raised, this will help fund Kona truck for the kids)
      • Record attendance for all events this year
    • Chipotle Restaurant Night ($189.52 earned)
    • DQ Night in May ($700 earned)
    • Deneweth’s May 20-21
  • Current/Upcoming Activities
    • Spirit Wear – Possibly in August
    • Fall Fun Run September 11-22
    • Mums
    • Achatz Pies
  • Key Areas of Focus
    • Learning Oasis, benches, playground and school needs

Committee Report

  • THANK YOU to all the volunteers throughout the year
  • Current Events
    • Jun 1 – Field Day
    • Jun 2 – End of Year Carnival
  • New Opportunities
    • Birthday Buddies
    • Cookbook Fundraiser Committee
    • Special Persons with Donuts
    • Mom Prom
  • Future Needs
    • Signup Genius in June
    • Most urgent need is Beautification Committee
    • Fun Run
    • Halloween
    • Daddy/Daughter & Mother/Son
    • Teacher Appreciation Week

Old/New Business:

  • Old Business
    • 3-D Printer produces 10 items and include professional development and 15 student certifications $2,327 and $252 Cartridges ($2,579) proposal submitted by Ms. Miskokomon. Media Center Budget for Messmore is $1,000 and this would be housed in the computer lab available to 1st through 6th graders. *Annie Meininger following up on this with potential donor*
    • $1,400 Proposal for Parking Lot cones by Michelle Khami (Action- Annie to see about donation options)
  • New Business
    • Fundraising suggestions
      • Mom-to-Mom sale or Messmore Bazaar
      • Dodge park Thursdays
    • Backpack/shop vacuum for Mr. Phil suggested by Laura Malcynski
    • Outdoor oasis update and moving forward
    • Bylaws update and vote – rollover of holding funds for events
      • MMA Bylaw Amendment Proposals – May 24, 2023 Section VII – Finances
      • Option 1 – In the event a committee earns an excess of funds, those funds will be returned to the committee for the following year
      • Option 2 – In the event a committee earns an excess of funds, up to $400 of those funds will be returned to the committee for the following year, with the remainder to be sent to the general fund
      • Option 3 – No change to current process, remains the same
      • Voting results:  Option 1 (0 votes), Option 2 (7 votes), Option 3 (9 votes)
        • Option 3 is voted
    • Vote on open Board Positions –Treasurer, VP Fundraising, Secretary
      • New Treasurer – Stacee Jones
      • New Secretary (“Techetary”)– Paul Jones
      • New VP Fundraising – Amanda Hijazi

Upcoming Meetings

  • See you next year!

Adjournment: 7:21 PM EST

April 19, 2023

Messmore Montessori Association

Parent/Teacher Monthly Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Attendees

Board: Elisabetta Stupera, Nicole Caruso, Paulette Qussar, Megan Romano, Stacee Jones

Call to Order: 6:07 PM

Pledge of Allegiance and Peacemaker Promise

MMA President Recognition:

  • April Birthdays – Paulette

Approval of March 2023 Meeting Minutes

Principal’s Report

  • MSTEP Schedule in Messmore Messenger
    • Avoid absences, making sure students are ready for testing
  • Fun Run Funds
    • Update on larger items that were able to be purchased
    • Principal’s account for unplanned expenses that come up throughout the year
    • 5 teachers received membership to American Montessori Society
    • 5/6 grade bus cost for Camp Tamarack
    • Montessori Materials (not covered by the district)
    • Pallet of paper ($1440)
    • Miscellaneous instructional materials for teachers
    • 8 Teachers attending Michigan Montessori Conference
  • 6th grade annual luncheon
    • Need catering ideas for this year’s luncheon (all 6th graders and teachers)
  • May 2
    • Reminder there is no school – Voting Day
  • May 22
    • Parent volunteer breakfast
  • May 25
    • “Arts Festival” Spring Music Concert, Art Show and Book Fair
    • Suggestions needed for food/ice-cream/Kona truck for the event
  • June 7
    • Alumni Clap out/Breakfast
    • Need help with providing light refreshments and set up

Treasurer’s Report:

  • Treasury report to show total financial accounts, highlighting
    • Difference from prior month approximately $2K ($29839 available in funding)
    • Future/Planned expenditures
      • May be able to remove $11K expense for front entrance benches
      • No final wrap-up of daddy/daughter committee
      • Bingo not yet updated – Nicole to work with Amy Martin
      • 6th Grade not yet updated – Nicole to meet with Perla Moncayo
  • Reserves are still being held in general fund until vote and executed expenditure Totals for 2022-2023
  • Transactions are still under MMA until the official name change is complete and taxes are updated

Fundraising Report:

  • Recent Successes
    • March earned 10% of teacher luncheon
  • Current Activities
    • No restaurant nights in April
  • Upcoming Fundraisers
    • Chipotle on May 3, 4-8
    • DQ closer to end of May, will provide a percentage of all sales
    • Deneweth’s Greenhouse May 20-21, Messmore will earn 20%
    • Science Olympiad
      • May 13 Fuddruckers all day, post event, earns 20%
      • May 25 Chuck E. Cheese (same night as concert) – get dates at beginning of next year for future Chuck E. Cheese Nights
  • Key Areas of Focus
    • Learning Oasis, benches, playground, and other school needs
      • Oasis – discussion with Dr. Fiema pending on engineering/architectural diagrams and what we are able to execute per UCS

Committee Report

  • Bingo Night –April 28 – 150 people registered so far
    • At Messmore in the gym, event will need to be limited to capacity for gym and registration will be closed once maximum is reached
  • Sunshine Committee
    • This Friday (top secret) special event for the teachers
  • Teacher Appreciation – Week of May 8-12
    • Question around communication go out to parents to get involved, committee to meet Friday April 21
  • Last day of school June 9
  • Field Day June 1 and End of year celebration on June 2
    • Carnival theme
    • First meeting for committee Monday after school (Mar 20)
    • Bounce house vendor coming out to assess

Old/New Business:

  • Old Business
    • 3-D Printer produces 10 items and include professional development and 15 student certifications $2,327 and $252 Cartridges ($2,579) proposal submitted by Ms. Miskokomon (Action – Annie to reach out for STEM donors). Media Center Budget for Messmore is $1,000 and this would be housed in the computer lab available to 1st through 6th graders. * open item, Annie asked again and is still waiting on confirmation *
    • Media Center was able to obtain lots of new books and items (knicky-knackies per Paulette)
    • Birthday Book Club (Action-Ms. Miskokomon work with Sarah to send out notes on kid’s birthdays) – fliers went home
    • Book Box always available for donations, kids love this
    • Fun Run Survey Results from Parents (Action- Nicole/Megan) – close this out
    • $1,400 Proposal for Parking Lot cones by Michelle Khami (Action- Annie to see about donation options)
      • Dr. Fiema to follow up
    • Rochelle requested posting for specific items before purchasing costly items for the school (Action – Betta/Nicole) – close this item out
    • Preschool letter welcoming to Messmore and sharing MMA information (Action-Paulette/Betta)
      • Physical newsletter to help welcome our new families pre-K/K to help involve them sooner
    • Annual Calendar of typical MMA programs to all parents (Action-Paulette/Betta)
      • Try to have published before new school year
    • Silva requested communication to parents about all the ways to be in touch with MMA and what MMA is (Action- Betta)- Rochelle suggested involving parents to help draft communications.
  • New Business
    • May Bylaw vote on excess funds
    • Nicole and Megan positions opening for Treasurer and VP Fundraising – voting on May meeting and reach out to Betta or anyone on the board if interested in learning more

Upcoming Meetings

  • Next Meeting – Wednesday, May 24, 2023 @ 6 PM

Adjournment: 7:01 PM EST