Here’s a quick rundown of what we discussed at our monthly PTA meeting on April 30th:

Treasury Report

Our current financial standing is strong, thanks to your continued support! Here’s a snapshot:

• Checking: $9,693.14
• Savings: $280.85
• PayPal: $0.00
• Cash: $1,207.35
• Venmo: $4.00
• Total: $11,185.34

Fundraising Initiatives

We’ve got some exciting events coming up to support our students and schools!

Family Skate Night – Thursday, May 16th, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Sunbeam Roller Rink (828 Village Rd, Smithfield)

Get ready to roll! Sunbeam Roller Rink is generously donating all concession sales to the PTA for this fun family event. Skating and rentals are FREE! If you have your own skates, please bring them, as the rink ran out last year. We’ll have a great selection of snacks and drinks available, including:

• 2.5 cases of Gatorade
• 1.5 cases of water
• 1.5 cases of candy bars and Ring Pops
• 50+ item box of chips, cookies, and crackers

Mark your calendars for a fantastic night of fun!

Spring Spirit Wear – Don’t Miss Out!

We’re making a final push for our spring spirit wear! Show your Waterville Public Schools pride with some great activewear perfect for the summer. Remember, our adult “Waterville Public Schools Panthers” gear is a fantastic way to support the entire district. We’ve been advertising all year with prescheduled posts, but we want to ensure everyone has a chance to order. Look out for extra flyers coming home with students soon! Enjoy a flat rate $5 shipping on all orders.

Community Carnival – Saturday, June 7th, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Get ready for some carnival fun! Presale tickets will be available starting the week of May 5th (no discounts offered). We’re excited to collaborate with some fantastic community partners, including:

• Civil servants (Fire Department, Police Department, Mayor’s Office)
• Waterville Creates
• Waterville Library
• AYCC
• Colby Arts Museum
• Parent Ambassadors

We’re also thrilled to announce that the Rita’s Food Truck will be joining us with their delicious offerings! Additionally, we’re working on getting a new check issued for last year’s carnival profits.

Volunteer Opportunity: Lisa Hallen is the best contact for Waterville High School volunteers.

Flyers with more details are ready to go home with students. Katie Merrill will be hosting a nature walk booth and needs a table. Educare has also confirmed they will be providing games for our booths.

Upcoming Carnival Meetings:

Wednesday, May 7th at 6:30 PM

Upcoming Carnival Meetings:

• Wednesday, May 7th at 6:30 PM

Teacher Appreciation Week – May 5th – 9th

Let’s show our amazing teachers how much we appreciate them! Here’s what we have planned:

• Tuesday: GJM Coffee Bar from 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM (setup at 7:15 AM)
• Selah Tea has confirmed their participation (final pricing to come).
• We’ll also have a delicious mix of treats from Hillman’s in Fairfield.
• ASH Coffee Bar: Setup from 7:15 AM – 7:30 AM, running from 7:30 AM – 8:15 AM.

Spring Teacher Grants – Investing in Our Classrooms

We’re thrilled to support innovative projects that enhance our students’ learning experiences!

• ASHS Grade 5 Team (Jeni Frazee, Althea Holz, Elaine Fortuna, Fretchen Nickerson, and Katey Caron): We approved their request for $275 to host a musical experience with Namory Keita from Sangbaralla Guinea, West Africa, for an hour-long drumming performance and experience for fifth graders sometime after May 12th.
• GJM – Kristen Lambert (2nd Grade): We approved her request for $325 to bring Dr. Drew and his Animals to her classroom.
• GJM – Amber Campbell (Kindergarten): While Amber requested funding for both the Children’s Discovery Museum ($480) and Dr. Drew and his Animals in June ($320), we unfortunately didn’t have enough funds to cover both. We opted to fund the Dr. Drew and His Animals visit in June.
• GJM – Ranae Bray (1st Grade): Ranae requested $750 for journals for all students, we may use all funds for all grades to even out the request total pricing. Sarah Le Van will double-check the pricing of the unlined journals, and we will vote on this request via email.

Yearbook Update – ASH

All ASH yearbook pictures needed to be uploaded by April 30th. There may have been an issue with the ordering deadline for ASH yearbooks, potentially needing to be placed last week. We’ll keep you updated on any further information.

Nominate Next Year’s Officers – June Meeting

Our June meeting will be crucial as we’ll be holding nominations for next year’s PTA officers. We need to fill these vital roles to continue supporting our schools effectively. Unfortunately, we are facing the potential loss of several members and haven’t seen a consistent influx of new members. To avoid the dreaded “extinction,” we need your help!

We’re asking teachers, staff, and administration to help spread the word and encourage parents to get involved. Let’s highlight the amazing events and resources the PTA funds! Jeni Frazee suggested that the fifth and fourth-grade teams could remind parents about our monthly Zoom meetings.

Start Thinking About Next Year’s Calendar!

We’re already looking ahead to a fantastic 2025-2026 school year! Here are some initial ideas for our calendar:

• September/October Meeting: In-person recruitment drive
• October: Fall Bingo and Pumpkin Patch
• November: Holiday Spirit Wear Push
• January: Family Trivia Night & Direct Donation Drive
• March: Read-a-thon?
• Spring: Spring Bingo Night
• April: Spring Spirit Wear Sale
• May: Science Fair @ ASH and Family Skate Night
• May/June: Back-to-School Night

Upcoming Meetings

• Carnival Meeting (Finalizing Plans): Tuesday, May 28th
• Next PTA Meeting (Vote on 2025-2026 Officers & Budget Review): Wednesday, June 11th (budget review and finalization will occur after carnival earnings are tallied).

Thank you for your continued dedication and support of our students and schools! We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and meetings.