April 2023 Meeting Minutes

5/1/2023 7:13 am

PTA MEETING MINUTES APRIL 2023

 

Wednesday, April 12, 2023 – 6:30 EDT

  

Present: Leila Samara (Vice-President), Jessica Williamson (Secretary), Jessica Grande (Treasurer), Maya Dias (President)

Other in-person attendees: Catherine Carney, Blanca Burgos, Mr. Colby,

Zoom attendees: Jenny Marcelin, Ryan, Joanna, Aimee, Lorena Almeida, Aime Lima Mavridis

 

AGENDA

 

Welcome, Meeting Overview, Introductions

• Maya welcomed everyone to the meeting
• Introduction of Blanca Burgos, Family Liaison - reminding all who to reach out to her if needed

 

Minutes Approval

• Approval of the February 2023 meeting minutes could not take place at the March meeting because there was no WIFI
• Both February and March minutes were reviewed (also via zoom) 
• Minutes were approved 

Elections for 2023-24

 

• We are looking for new officers - the roles of President, Vice President, Secretary will be vacant for the start of the school year
• President Maya and Vice President Leila are finishing their two-year terms. 
• To vote for officers you must be live in-person at the meeting or live on zoom 
• Please note that running 

 

Update from Mr. Colby, Music teacher about the Lyndon Arts Program

Unfortunately, Ms. Sallen couldn’t make it due to a family illness

 

• Mr. Colby’s background; he grew up in a small town in NH, he came to Boston to go to the Conservatory
• He raised his kids in Roslindale/West Roxbury 
• First job was at the Lyndon, left to teach High School at the Boston Arts Academy where he taught for 10 years and then returned 
• THeir vision: Create an opportunity for students to chose an arts discipline and avenue to be able to express them
• By 6th grade, they have multiple arts sessions per week
• Up through 
• Third graders would be learning recorders, fourth graders learn ukeleles, fifth graders start a band instrument so that they will have some kind of portfolio when they leave the school
• The foundational music curriculum that kids get at the Lyndon makes them competitive for the exam schools, or private schools
• Goal is to create a program where kids can put their shoulder in their art and creativity and find their voice, and open doors for their futures 

 

Presentation from Nicole, SCC Chairperson

 

• School Site Council is very new this year. It was uncovered that there weren’t the current number of seats on the SSC
• Brian Cook (a lawyer on the SCC) drafted new bylaws that are specific to our school 
• These new bylaws are important to ensure that we are in compliance 
• Next step is to vote on the new draft - we must get ⅔ approval to be adopted

 

Approval process - bylaws were approved, one abstention

 

Accomplishments & Upcoming Events

 

• Thanks for the 
• Spring Scholastic Book Fair will be April 24-28
• We always sponsor to buy books for any student who can’t afford
• We are still looking for volunteers - the link is on the PTA website
• Walk-A-Marathon, April 10 - 14 in honor of the Boston Marathon 
• Friends of the Lyndon Event is May 4th!
• Outdoor Classroom Committee next event is on May 19th 
• Lyndon Lunch and Recess Monitors - we are always looking for volunteers

 

 

• Square 1 Update

 

• Thanks to all who participated. We rai
• Goal was $4000 and we hit $5900, we make about 33% so Lyndon should get about $2000

Treasurer’s Report

INCOME

• $280 from Kids for Kids (community 
• First Yard Sale raised $1367 (our goal was $1000) 
• Spellcheck - $4200 (goal was $5000) but good feedback from kids and parents 

 

EXPENSES

• We have funding for teacher grants! 
• Suggested that we make a June 1 deadline
• Ms. Carney will send a reminder to teachers to apply - we’d like to use the money we raise!

 

• Overall financially we’re in a good position and it’s been “harder” to spend the money than we’d like.
• Suggestion to form a committee to figure out ways to spend the funding, but also tell people where their donations are going
• How about bringing after-school clubs like Robotics, Audubon Society 

COUNCIL UPDATES

 

SSC Updates

 

• Hiring committee is busy. We have open positions for Sciences, SAR Teacher, Strand and Inclusion Specialist, and Instructional Coach positions

Meeting adjourned.  

Minutes submitted by Jessica Williamson