1:30-2:30 in the library

Present:  Chris Billings, Shani Billings, Denise Black, Allison Charles, Meg Donahue, Melissa Emerton, Megan Granger, Beth Jackson, Sharon Scheff, Linsley Simmons, Erin Williamson, Rena Williamson
Guest:  Denise Black, Healthy Peninsula Asst. Program Manager
Told us about her new role, connecting with community, working on several projects:
*Safe Routes to School (DOT) – biking and walking to school, $180K matching grant to improve High St. (she showed pictures of dangerous conditions), construction hopefully will start in the spring.  There are various pieces: education, construction, safe pick up and drop off in school zones, crossing guards?  walking from school to library safely? She will keep us posted.
*Bike safety training, last done in 2006.  Program is targeted at 4th-5th grades, needs to be supported by 2 people connected with the school – Denise, counselor, teacher?  Anyone interested in doing training late spring in Augusta with Denise?  She will send more information.  Lots of great websites.
*Safe routes can tie in with 5-2-1-0, activities – health & wellness.  Oct. 8 National Walk to School Day, maybe next fall.  We are hoping to focus more on that in January.
(Megan is still working on student led presentations with Amy Grant)

Update on October Activities:
*Family Harvest Fest, Sat., Oct. 18   
Great first-time event: over 100 attended, broke even (food table brought in $230, magician cost $200, pumpkins generously donated by Beardsworths), thanks to Shani & Jason for hayride at the last minute.  Thanks to Erin and Allison for organizing.  Recipe contest a success – that food sold very quickly!
*Warm Hearts, Warm Homes Benefit Supper & Dance, Fri., Oct. 24

Pumpkin Carving Contest Rules
1.  Entries must be submitted by a BHCS family or student.
2.  Entries will be judged by wing -- we realize younger BHCS students will need "help."  But overall, we want work to be done by the students or siblings.
3.  Judging will be done on creativity, originality and overall appearance.
4.  There must be some carving on the pumpkin but other mediums can be used to enhance the finished product.  (ex.: carved face/construction paper hat)
5.  Entries will be anonymous for judging.
6.  Entries may be picked up by participants after 11 AM on Saturday.  Any not claimed may be used for the benefit supper decorations the following weekend.
7.  Entries may be submitted before or after school Fri., Oct. 17 or before 10 AM Sat., Oct. 18.
8.  Happy carving!

Wed., Oct. 1, 2008, 6:30-8 PM

Present:  Tina Allen, Chris Billings, Shani Billings, Debbie Candage, Allison Charles, Alyssa Coates, Melissa Emerton, Megan Granger, Donna Gray, Beth Jackson, Heather Nelson, Jay Peterson, Linsley Simmons, Erin Williamson

Health Focus Update:
*School nurse Debbie Candage presented information about the Let's Go!: Eat Right. Be Active. Get Healthy. (www.letsgo.org), which includes the 5-2-1-0 Goes to School message program (5-servings of fruits/veg, less than 2 hrs. of screen time, 1-hr. physical exercise, 0-watch added sugars in drinks). Melissa also has info through the ME Youth Obesity Taskforce.  This program has been implemented in Southern Maine as well as Ellsworth; a suggestion is to start with the School Board. Beth will mention it at the Oct. board meeting, as well as to the school wellness committee; Debbie, Melissa and Jay agreed to work on developing a plan.
*After our last meeting Priscilla Wiggin has investigated the Love Your Veggies grant opportunity through Hidden Valley Dressing, and determined that it was overly ambitious to write a grant for this year (due 11/08) for a schoolwide plan.
*Meg Donahue contacted Blue Hill Heritage Trust; they will come up with someone to lead a walk if we come up with a date.

Family Harvest Fest, Sat., Oct. 18 from 10 AM-2 PM:  Erin and Allison shared plans.  Sign up sheets will be up this week for helping with the various activities: games (run by Alma Mote), crafts (run by Linsley), hayrides, food sales (run by Erin), magic show, pumpkin painting, set up, clean up, making refreshments, publicity.  Erin is also checking on a bike safety program; pony rides also a possibility.  The event is listed on the Chamber of Commerce website as part of the Foliage, Food and Wine Festival.  Admission is free; donations will be accepted.

Present:  Chris Billings, Allison Charles, Alyssa Coates, Meg Donahue, Melissa Emerton, Rena Flores, Beth Jackson, Heather Nelson, Kerry Nevells, Mary Nevells, Jennifer Osborn, Linsley Simmons, Priscilla Wiggin, Erin Williamson

*Introductions and welcome by co-chairs Beth and Melissa to everyone at the first meeting of the new year, especially new participants.
*Reviewed outline of 2007-2008 PTF activities, and financial summary of last year.
*Started brainstorming goals for 2008-2009:
    -Doing more for middle school students (Gr. 6-8)
    -Health focus:
checking into 5-2-1-0 program suggested by school nurse Debbie Candage; Melissa also had info about it through Dr. Norris.
Also looking into "Love Your Veggie" grant through Hidden Valley; Priscilla will check into grant requirements.
Meg will check on possible hike through Blue Hill Heritage Trust, as led by Erika Rowland last year during Screen Awareness Week.

*This fall:
    -date for Holiday Craft Fair is Sat., Nov. 22, 2008.  Linsley and Beth will start getting info out.
    -Family Harvest Fest will be Sat., Oct. 18 from 10-2, during Blue Hill Peninsula Chamber's Food and Wine Festival.  Erin and Allison are organizing.  Will include pumpkin painting and carving, apple and pumpkin recipe contests, face painting, crafts, hayride, games, etc.  PTF approved $200 for the event, will probably be used for a magician to perform.  More news next time.
    -approved $90 for more letters for the outside sign.
    -concession sales during soccer games: Erin will do 9/12 and 9/16.  3 more games during Sept.

Wed., June 18, 2008, 1:30-2:30

Present: Chris Billings, Shani Billings, Allison Charles, Vicki Doolittle, Melissa Emerton, Rena Flores, Beth Jackson, Linsley Simmons, Erin Williamson   

Planning for 2008-2009
*picnic tables and/or benches, trash barrels: will watch for deals over the summer, will plan to have some for the back to school picnic (Sams, EBS on clearance, Della’s suggestion-bench ends)
*Harvest Fest, tentative date Sat., Oct. 18, 10-2, in conjunction with Blue Hill Wine and Food Festival: including crafts, games, pumpkin and apple recipe contest, etc.  Accept donations rather than charge admission.  Erin is collecting ideas.
*Shani suggested having a fall fundraiser to help raise money to donate for fuel help for families next year.  Will put on Sept. agenda.
*Approved $50 gift certificate as thank you for Wanda at South Street Market who has been very supportive of the PTF with pizza prices and food donations.
*Will watch for a fundraising opportunity over the summer while summer visitors are here.  Melissa and Shani said they could “help.”
*Will consider a clothing and sports equipment exchange in the fall, as has been suggested by several parents.

*August meeting prior to start of school: scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 18, 4 PM in the library (but Beth now has a conflict—watch for a possible new date or time, the 19th or 20th).

Present: Chris Billings, Allison Charles, Meg Donahue, Melissa Emerton, Rena Flores, Beth Jackson, Deb Kingston, Sharon Scheff, Linsley Simmons

Election of new co-chair:  Melissa Emerton was elected as the new co-chair by written ballot, including 3 absentee votes submitted.  Linsley was given a hanging plant in thanks for all her work as co-chair.  Thanks, Linsley, and welcome, Melissa!

Money Requests
*Bill Schubeck asked for $300 to pay for the rest of a stand up bass purchased earlier; expected matching funds had not come through.  $300 was approved.
*Margret Baldwin requested $500 for Arts Week expenses (paint for the hallway painting project, honoraria for guest artists, supplies). After extensive discussion, the $350 previously approved for the Africa theme program not needed for the K-2 trip to the Discovery Museum (as $ still available in the field trip line in the budget) and $150 for Arts Week was approved, giving a total of up to $500.  (An unwritten guideline has been $400 for any one request.)
*School gift:  Deb had info on benches and picnic tables from EBS.  Rena will check to see if she can get further discounts through her husband; we also talked about plastic/metal picnic tables.  We approved up to $500.  Beth is checking with staff to see where they see the needs.

Upcoming Activities--
Sooner:
*Volunteer Tea on Tues., June 17, after school – all PTF members heartily invited!
*meeting Tues., June 17, 1:30-2:30 to get some plans in place for next year (monthly scheduled event, Fall Festival, other?)
Later:

Present: Chris Billings, Alyssa Coates, Allison Charles, Meg Donahue, Melissa Emerton, Donna Gray, Beth Jackson, Deb Kingston, Sharon Scheff, Linsley Simmons, Erin Williamson

Upcoming Activities—
Sooner:
*Screen-time Awareness Week (April 28-May 2):  Plans set for 3 afternoons: MERI event with Martha Bell, Kite Building and Flying with John Richardson, and Kingdom Woods Hike and Treasure Hunt with Erika Rowland. 
*New England Steel Band Festival refreshment sales (May 3-4):  Melissa agreed to go shopping at Sam’s for supplies, food and table helper sign ups distributed.
*Staff Appreciation Day (May 6): Plans are pretty well set.  Alyssa organizing food, Erin is organizing decorations, Melissa is organizing gift bags, Becky Richardson organizing the sachets.
*Healthy Cooking/Nutrition:  still trying to get something organized.
Later:
*Family Carnival – next year.
*Help during Arts Week – stay tuned
*Get organized for fall now so we can have a PTF event in the first month.  Try to put on the calendar a PTF night each month?  Get an annual movie license in the fall ($350); could have movie nights for various age levels – family, middle school, younger, etc.

Updates -- Activities:
*Refreshments at Town Meeting (4/5): $172
Projects:
*School signage: sign with changeable message is up!  Hoping to have someone sign up monthly to change the sign each week.  Might be nice to have some plantings around the posts (hostas, given the shade?)
*Cookbook – still planning to have it ready this year
Money:
*sports uniforms ($327)
*screen awareness week (approved $100)
*hot dog machine ($467)
*signage ($600 + $50)
*teacher appreciation ?

Present: Chris Billings, Alyssa Coates, Allison Charles, Melissa Emerton, Rena Flores, Beth Jackson, Linsley Simmons

Updates
Activities:
*Family Movie Night (Mar. 14) -- ~110 attendance, raised $235.  Discussed getting an annual performance license for $350, becomes cost effective with 5th movie.  Decided not at this point. (Discussed at the beginning of next year designating one night each month as PTF Family Night – they could be movie night, variety show, game night, etc.)
Hot dog machine was borrowed from the Grange; Melissa looking into the purchase of one.
*Gr. 3-8 trip to Reach Performing Arts Center 3/19 – thanks to PTF, cost $350. 
*Family Potluck and Variety Show, 3/27 – 17 acts, over 100 people in attendance.
Projects:
*Cookbook – Chris is working on, to have ready by April vacation.  Looking for old photos of schools in Blue Hill to use for divider pages, etc.  Amanda Lynde volunteered to help with layout; Allison(W), Melissa(W), Alyssa(W, F PM) and Linsley(F AM) can help with “production.”
*School signage: 2 street signs are up, 1 still to be posted; changeable letters sign still being worked on by Jay Peterson, should be up sometime this month.  “Main entrance” arrow sign has been up for a month.
*Event Planning Guide almost done, ready for use by all.
*Getting the word out about BHCS – Deb Kingston has volunteered to submit to the school news section to the Packet every other week.  So far there have been a 2 entries as a result.

Upcoming
Activities—soon:
*Refreshment Sales at Town Meeting (April 5): sign up sheet passed around (brought in $172, thanks to generous donations!)