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
- Bingo Night ($1315 raised, this will help fund Kona truck for the kids)
- 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
- Fundraising suggestions
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
- Learning Oasis, benches, playground, and other school needs
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