Minutes from our April 1, 2009 meeting
by Michaela Hermann, Secretary

Dr. Mario Cirillo, Superintendent of East Providence School Department attended our meeting this evening. Dr. Cirillo spoke to parents about some of the challenges that he sees our district is facing. He acknowledged that it will take some time to implement some of the solutions, but expressed that he feels that East Providence has great potential. Parents were given an opportunity to ask questions.

Principal's Report
Reading Week: Reading Week will place April 6-9. Mrs. Leddy has sent home a schedule listing the events for the week. There are a number of events happening throughout the week, including a couple of evening allowing families to participate, too.

Worlds of Wonder: RISD’s program Worlds of Wonder started today. It is a three-part unit that incorporates discussion of prints of the some of museum’s artwork, a field trip to RISD, and a follow-up visit with a RISD staff person where the children will write about their impressions of what they saw. Thank you to Mrs. Kongdon for her involvement in arranging this to be a free event. (Mrs. Leddy feels that the Worlds of Wonder program has helped writing scores.)

Jump Rope for Heart: This year’s Jump Rope for Heart will take place during gym class during the week of April 27th. All the children will have the opportunity to jump rope. Those who want to raise money for the cause can collect money, from friends and family, and hand in the envelopes to Mrs. Rapoza by May 1st. Parents are welcome to join gym class during their child’s class. Parents can send in a note to their child’s teacher asking for the gym times and grades 3-5 will add the time in their planners.

Treasurers’ Report
Michelle Rogers reviewed the activity for the PTO Budget for the past month. Both big events, the Spring Fundraiser, through Yankee Candle, and the Scholastic Book Fair were successful! Excellence in Education Requests were voted on, and all were approved.

PTO Board Positions
The positions for Vice President and Co-Treasurer are open for the PTO Board for next year. Anyone interested in these positions should contact Leslie Tente.

Teacher Appreciation Week
Scheduled for the first week in May (5/4 – 5/8). Room parents have been contacted. More details will follow as we get closer.

Art/Music Show
The Art/Music Show has been scheduled for May 6th. Anyone interested in helping hang artwork May 4th – 6th can contact Ms. Barsamian. This event is combined with the monthly PTO meeting. The student art/music show will take place first, followed by the regularly scheduled PTO meeting.

Community Service Event
A community service event will take place Friday, May 1st in the Francis gymnasium. The community service committee in combination with an organization called Bread Lines will be preparing bagged meals to be distributed at several locations such as Crossroads and the tent city in Providence. Specific food items to be used to prepare the meals as well as clothing will be collected for this event. Students and families will help prepare the food and sort donated clothing. Anyone interested should contact Steph deAbreu. Information is also available on the PTO website.

Mrs. Leddy announced that some of the money donated to Francis by Alan Shawn Feinstein has been used to purchase grocery gift cards to help families in the area. This is in keeping with Mr. Feinstein’s wish that some of the funds be used to “pay it forward” and help others.

Upcoming Events
1. Community Service event, Friday, May 1st
2. Teacher Appreciation Week is scheduled for the first week in May
3. Family Fun Night is scheduled for May 29th

*Fun Money will be available again soon – dates to be announced.