Dec. Minutes

Dear All, Please take a few moments to read the minutes from the Dec meeting. I look forward to seeing all of you at our next meeting on Tuesday, January 10th at 9:30 am. Sincerely, Celia Minutes of the Board of Directors Riverview Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization

Pursuant to proper notice, a meeting of the Board of Directors was held on December 6, 2005, Fort Mill, South Carolina. The following members of the board were present:

Celia McCarter Keith Harris Charlotte Bowman Darlene Kerr Emelia Howell Leslie Eaton Jaime Walker Katie Reilly Beth Reigel Debbie Harris Other persons present included the following: Vanessa Bergvist Angie Padillo Dawn Weidman Amy Williams

Celia McCarter acted as chairperson and Leslie Eaton acted as secretary at the meeting. The items listed on the attached page were approved and upon motion, made and seconded. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. ­­_____________ Leslie Eaton, Secretary

October and November minutes approved as submitted.

*New Business and Discussion Special thanks to Dawn Weidman for heading up the Spring Event. We are currently trying to decide on a name for it and also the type of food for the dinner. We have chairs for each committee and are in need of volunteers for each of them. The talent show date has not been set. Info to students will go out in January. We will also have the silent auction w/ the gift baskets. Payment for baskets will be cash only this year. Teachers will have the option of pairing up with another teacher this year. Contact Celia with suggestions.

Celia is looking for an opportunity to use the popcorn machine for the grades that have not enjoyed it yet. Thanks to Dawn Weidman for running the popcorn machine for the 2nd and 5th graders after their week of testing and for the 1st graders during Book and Cook. Thanks to Nanette Cabell for helping to set up the book fair. Thanks to the following for helping with the Thanksgiving Luncheon: Stephanie Sloan, Marsha Miller, Jennifer Adkins, Beth Reigel, Ginger Walker, Nanette Cabell, and Mary Harden. Thanks to all who stayed after the last PTO mtg. to sort cards. Jaime Walker attended the SIC mtg. last month. Some issues discussed were: property tax exclusion, the heating and air system in the school, State report cards, testing, and the curriculum fair. The date for the fair is March 9th. Spring Book Fair will run the same week as the curriculum fair.

* Financial Report- Emelia passed out the treasury report. This included a summary of accounts and a balance sheet. She summarized it and answered any questions.

*Administration Angie Padillo did the administrative comments this month. She reminded us of the Premier Calendar orders that are due by Dec. 9th. The cost is $20, $5 will go back to our school. The administration will be using all this money to help pay for the agendas.

*Accelerated Reader No new info.

*Volunteer Information Debbie Harris reminded everyone to leave outstanding hours by the volunteer computer. Also, if you need a copy of your volunteer hours for the year, please contact Debbie ASAP.

*Beautification Keith Harris said that 15 yards of mulch will be put down after the holidays. This may be a good project for 5th grade stars. Keith is also looking in to replacing the old benches w/ blue benches if his budget allows.

*Hospitality There will be a teacher luncheon on 12/16 after student dismissal.

*School Spirit School Spirit shirts will be in soon. Ms. Wellans (EC) special needs would like t-shirts for her class. She would need 39 shirts including teachers. The cost would be under $200. This issue was tabled until the next mtg. WHISK t-shirts will be in soon.

*School Store- No new info

*Newsletter- Charlotte Bowman is in charge of the newsletter. Contact her w/ any ideas, photos, or suggestions.

*Math Superstars Beth Reigel said that Math SS is going well. The 2nd 5 week period is up and 56 kids got the 50 point award and 23 kids are at 150 pts.

*Fundraising Events/Rewards. No new info.

*Fundraising No new info.

*Scrapbook Ginger Walker is doing the scrapbook. Please contact her with suggestions and send any photos to her that you think would be useful for the scapbook.

*Childcare Please try to let Katie Reilly or Celia McCarter know ahead if your child is coming.

*Teachers Amy Williams thanked PTO for the Wal-Mart gift cards and for the Christmas cards.

*Yearbook- Charlotte Bowman said that the yearbook is on schedule. Teacher pages are due by Friday.

-Dates to Remember 12/19-1/4 Winter Break

1/10/06 PTO mtg. 9:30am

Cool S.C. Facts

• First Medal of Honor awarded to an African American - W.H. Carney (Army), July 18, 1863.
• The combined cascades of the Upper and Lower Whitewater Falls near the NC/SC border creates one of the highest series of waterfalls in the eastern United States.
• The Edisto River is the longest black water river in the world.
• South Carolina is the nation's largest producer of peaches for the fresh market.
• The National Wild Turkey Federation is headquartered in Edgefield, SC.
• First African-American Associate Justice of a state supreme court - J.J. Wright, February 2, 1870.

Artsonia

Check out your Children’s artwork on the web! Go to http://www.artsonia.com and enjoy the eye feast. Artsonia is an educational company founded on a dream - to use the power of the Internet to unleash the creativity of young people all over the world! Artsonia offers schools a unique service that enables them to achieve three important educational goals: · Integrate technology into the classroom: Teachers and students can engage in creative art projects around a wide range of social, cultural, artistic and other scholastic themes. They can then scan, process and publish their artwork on Artsonia - the largest student art museum on the Internet. · Develop multi-cultural understanding: Classrooms can engage in "virtual field trips" within Artsonia to view the artwork of other students, interact with them and develop an understanding of how other students live, learn, and play. · Increase parental involvement in their children's education: Parents and extended family members can come to Artsonia to see their children's creative work, provide them encouragement and appreciation online, and engage them in a dialog around their education and accomplishments. http://www.artsonia.com

January 2006

• Monday, January 2 Holiday
• Tuesday, January 3 Teacher Day, No School, Potential Weather Makeup Day
• Wednesday, January 4 First Day of Second Semester
• Friday, January 6 Report Cards, Grades 3-12
• Monday, January 9 Board of Trustees, Business Session, 7pm
• Monday, January 16 Martin Luther King Holiday
• Monday, January 23 Board of Trustees, Work Session, 7:30pm