Langley Elementary PTO Meeting
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 7:30pm
Welcome-Maryam Oladipupo (5 minutes)
● Ms. Oladipupo welcomed Langley parents and staff to the meeting.
● Ms. Oladipupo also asked participants to utilize the chat feature for asking questions.
School Administration Updates-Principal Kellogg (20 minutes)
● Ms. Kellogg wanted to focus on some highlights:
Introduction of Kindred Partnership-Mr. Carr (15 minutes)
Introduction of Flex Academies-Annie Wright (20 minutes)
Mr. Joshua Chernikoff from Flex Academies was presented by Ms. Wright.
Review PTO budget as of September 2020-Patrick Fritz (10 minutes)
Updates from committees (20 minutes)
Family engagement: Melissa Bisagni
Fundraising: Christina Robbins
Ms. Robbins gave an update of advocacy related to traffic issues around school.
Looking for the take out option to raise funds. Reached out to several restaurants.
Also, working on online auction and an online Scholastic book fair (around January/February)
Want to join the Fundraising Committee? We'd love to have you! email svop18@gmail.com
Garden & Wellness Cmte: Chair, Katie Gima
On Saturday the contractor will be putting the concrete on the ground of the garden. This will be the area where the garden shed will be located.
The shed will be arriving at the end of November/early December.
Still looking for volunteers to get the shed ready.
School Forest project, Coordinator is Julia Hedlund
Still going on!
About 70 trees will be delivered to the school around October 31. Not a big event as it was originally expected. But will be working on planting that weekend. Folks can sign up to volunteer at staggered times.
Sign up sheet for Fruit Tree Planting days (10/31 & 11/1)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FBeXvpIcq2_kOgNMK7BZ0xlTrX7tPQ20dt6f-45jWEU/edit?usp=sharing
Grants Cmte: Chair, Lauren Kunis
Last year obtained grants for supplies for classrooms and PE equipment./
This year looking at grants opportunities in art, music and anything that was obtained in the past.
Four applications open right now.
Only 3 members so far. Please, volunteer! No experience necessary!
Also, we need ideas from teachers on specific needs, as the more specific the
request, the easier to identify the grants.
To join the grant writing cmte contact Lauren: lauren.kunis@gmail.com
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 7:30pm
Welcome-Maryam Oladipupo (5 minutes)
● Ms. Oladipupo welcomed Langley parents and staff to the meeting.
● Ms. Oladipupo also asked participants to utilize the chat feature for asking questions.
School Administration Updates-Principal Kellogg (20 minutes)
● Ms. Kellogg wanted to focus on some highlights:
- Created the Langley Family Q&A form to send questions directly to her. Here is the link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7kagKk6zM0qSt5
md8rwKMsCvu3PGB8pPq_kW9Rkl-4hUM0RJUUVWUEpWSjRaSEFVNE
dCM01TV1VKWi4u - Still working on the elevator project but it is happening. More updates to come. The proposed completion date is slated for June/July 2021.
- FoodPrints will be providing virtual classes.
- School has been hosting whole school family assemblies which has been very beneficial for students on Fridays.
- Principal Kellogg will be starting a Virtual Coffee chat session every other Saturday via Teams so parents can join and chat and pose questions to the school administration.
- HVAC System-Chancellor has scheduled assessments for each building next week. Langley will probably get a schedule for completion of the assessment next week at that meeting but there is a target date to have everything completed by the reopening of schools on November 9, 2020.
- Things are changing daily so it is difficult for school leadership to give updates in a more timely manner.
- DCPS is choosing students and they are prioritizing students who are at a higher risk to determine who will be able to return onsite to the schools. Families will be informed by DCPS by October 23. Langley administration will be following up with selected families to offer them an onsite seat. Langley administration does not have any say on the selection process.
- Students need to be immunized before coming back to school. There are schools offering immunizations on site. Ms. Kellogg will refer families to those schools.
- Langley ReOpening school plan has not been approved yet. Plans have to have operations, staffing and schedule components. Components have not been approved yet by DCPS. The preliminary plans are with DCPS for review and approval. As soon as those components are
- approved, Ms. Kellogg will share with the Langley community.
- HVAC work includes repairs and new units. DCPS is still working on the assessment. Once they have the assessment they will let the school know. Hope DCPS honors their promise to have everything ready by November 6.
- Bathroom sinks are TBD. School has submitted work orders and they are still outstanding.
- Once we have a solid staffing update then we can say who is going to be the teacher for the students for each environment (classroom and virtual).
- A representative of each PTO and LSAT will be able to participate on the school walk thru. Principal Kellogg is exploring the option of live streaming the inspection.
- School does not have any access to the lottery. DCPS has created the algorithms to choose the students coming back onsite.
- If families decide not to take the seat, then the opportunity will go to the next student on the list.
- School has the job of making sure that all siblings in a family can attend in person if both are not selected on the lottery.
- Regarding staff’s choice on whether to return onsite or not, there will be several options available to staff that will cater to their preferences and circumstances.
- Ms. Oladipupo reminded Principal Kellogg to view Langley Parents as a resource to be used to facilitate matters and represent Langley’s interests to city leadership as needed.
Introduction of Kindred Partnership-Mr. Carr (15 minutes)
- Mr. Carr introduced Ms. Kinder from Kindred.
- Kindred is a nonprofit organization that supports schools in facilitating conversations on racial and economic segregation among families and staff.
- In normal school years, they provided dinner and childcare for parents so they can participate in meetings. Now, it will be all virtual. It includes facilitators.
- Year 1-Facilitate small group conversations on these topics.
- Year 2-Train participants from first year to conduct these conversations.
- Years 3 and 4-Implementation.
- The First sessions are about relationship building.
- They are looking for 12 parents for these sessions to host at Langley.
- Contact information to volunteer: Azeb Kinder- azeb@kindredcommunities.org / Phone: 610-573-8966
Introduction of Flex Academies-Annie Wright (20 minutes)
Mr. Joshua Chernikoff from Flex Academies was presented by Ms. Wright.
- Currently doing virtual after school activities. Not a lot of signups but some parents signed up. Particularly for STEM activities.
- Several families are participating in programs on The Line and The Arc.
- Will have additional offerings in November.
- All Langley Spring and Summer refunds should be processed at this point. If you
- are experiencing issues, please email info@flexacademies.com
- Hope to have summer camp next summer for Langley.
- Tried to put together a full virtual schedule and only got very few sign ups around
- all 82 schools. Hopefully Flex Academies will get more signups for November.
Review PTO budget as of September 2020-Patrick Fritz (10 minutes)
- Currently have $9,932 in the bank. Some of these available funds have already been earmarked for other expenses, but PTO members are still encouraged to submit requests to the board. There are a variety of alternatives for funding member priorities such as fundraising and grants.
- Total expenditures have been $8,200 and revenue has been $1,800
- Recent expenses:
- Garden shed and other supplies
- Masks will be distributed at school during next supplies distribution.
- Got extra adult ones that will be given to teachers and staff, and used for fundraising.
- Teachers were encouraged to reach out to the PTO with items for the wishlist.
Updates from committees (20 minutes)
Family engagement: Melissa Bisagni
- Instead of having a “Family Movie Night” like last year but committee is planning a “Family Bingo Night”. Bingo Cards generators will be used and most likely uploaded on students devices. Looking into getting some prices for the students.
- Looking into raising funds for Covid relief for families affected by the pandemic.
- Mr. Carr said that the school still has spring funding but will work with the PTO FEC to supplement these funds if needed. He also mentioned that the School’s family engagement committee will be meeting next week. He will include Meg, Melissa and Maryam in the invitation. There is a need to synchronize the plans of both committees to avoid duplication of effort.
- Would like to organize a dance party with the school devices and also a teacher’s appreciation activity. Another idea is to have an outdoor concert.
- Committee would like to decorate school before November 6 to make it fun for returning kids.
- Uniform drive went great.
- Looking into having a Facebook group to exchange ideas and supplies/clothes.
- Still need parents representatives from Second and Fourth grade. Contact: meg.dunne@gmail.com if interested.
Fundraising: Christina Robbins
Ms. Robbins gave an update of advocacy related to traffic issues around school.
- Adding a bike line.
- Additional parking restrictions.
- Any feedback on the T street one way street conversion + support for this effort email - any feedback to Kelly Jeong-Olson (DDOT Community Engagement Specialist for Ward 5) at kelly.jeong-olson1@dc.gov by the end of the month
Looking for the take out option to raise funds. Reached out to several restaurants.
Also, working on online auction and an online Scholastic book fair (around January/February)
Want to join the Fundraising Committee? We'd love to have you! email svop18@gmail.com
Garden & Wellness Cmte: Chair, Katie Gima
On Saturday the contractor will be putting the concrete on the ground of the garden. This will be the area where the garden shed will be located.
The shed will be arriving at the end of November/early December.
Still looking for volunteers to get the shed ready.
School Forest project, Coordinator is Julia Hedlund
Still going on!
About 70 trees will be delivered to the school around October 31. Not a big event as it was originally expected. But will be working on planting that weekend. Folks can sign up to volunteer at staggered times.
Sign up sheet for Fruit Tree Planting days (10/31 & 11/1)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FBeXvpIcq2_kOgNMK7BZ0xlTrX7tPQ20dt6f-45jWEU/edit?usp=sharing
Grants Cmte: Chair, Lauren Kunis
Last year obtained grants for supplies for classrooms and PE equipment./
This year looking at grants opportunities in art, music and anything that was obtained in the past.
Four applications open right now.
Only 3 members so far. Please, volunteer! No experience necessary!
Also, we need ideas from teachers on specific needs, as the more specific the
request, the easier to identify the grants.
To join the grant writing cmte contact Lauren: lauren.kunis@gmail.com