2024.10.08 | General PTSA Meeting – Minutes

Takoma Park Middle School (TPMS)

Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)

General Membership Meeting

October 8, 2024

7-8pm

Minutes

 

Attendees 

TPMS PTSA Officers in Attendance: Ramata Diop (President), Emily Modde (Treasurer), Erin Martin (Principal), Liz Ryan (MCCPTA Delegate)

Members of the Community present: 115 (students, parents, staff)

 

Call to Order: Ramata Diop, PTSA President, called the meeting to order at 7:16 pm. 

 

Welcome/Introductions: Ramata and Emily provided a summary of current PTSA roles filled and those still vacant. Emily relayed the need for a Recording Secretary to take meeting minutes (4 general membership meetings, 1 board meeting per month during the academic year)

 

Safe Routes to School briefing:  Event is tomorrow, Wednesday October 9.  Takoma Park Transit Director, Kaysi-Ann Webley, was unable to attend the PTSA meeting due to illness. 

 

Upcoming Events briefing: 

• PTSA has a need for an Election Day Bake Sale coordinator. Tuesday November 5, timing TBD, TPMS Cafeteria.  This event can only happen every 2 years when there is an election.  Role: Arrive at TPMS to receive donations and be onsite to sell to voters. 
• Supporting your middle schooler presentation, Tuesday November 11, 7-8 pm Online/Zoom
• 7th Grade Families Winter Social Friday December 6 5:30-6:30 pm, TPMS Cafeteria.  PTSA is looking for someone to lead this event.  Lead role is not too hard – get hot cocoa from Costco and bring to TPMS for set up.  
• One week later, Winter Social for 8th Grade Families, Friday December 13.  Looking for volunteer to lead this event as well.  
• Next PTSA Meeting is Tuesday January 13. 
• Note that TPMS Open House will be November 11th (Veteran’s Day) – Opportunity to come in to see the classrooms during the day. 

 

Treasurer’s Report: Emily Modde emphasized the diverse purposes and needs of the PTSA organization as a 501c3 organization including fundraising to support school priorities, create an advocacy voice such as at MCCPTA, and to build community bonds including strengthening the home/school communication.  Emily Modde covered the range of actions that the PTSA supports such as 8th grade promotion, mini grants, and supporting the music department, speakers, and other events such as social events and picnics. 

 

Vote on PTSA Budget for 2024-25: Previous 2023-24 PTSA budget was reviewed.  Last year’s proposed expenses were $35k, actual expenses were $20k.  This was less than expected due to some expenses that came in after June 30th (end of fiscal year), and some programs that didn’t get enacted.  

Proposed expenses by category for 2024-24 school year is $30k, with expectation to leave $15k carryover for next year’s PTSA.  In 2023-24 revenue was $12k; proposed was $17k. Fundraising efforts underperformed in 2023-24.  Proposed income for 2024-25 is $31k.   

Emily Modde made a motion to pass the proposed budget as presented for 2024-25.  All in favor. None opposed.  Motion carried.  

We don’t have a fundraising chair on the PTSA this year, as such we’re working with Apex games to handle fundraising efforts.  We hope that our current fundraiser, kicking off this week, will be the biggest fundraiser that we do (with two smaller fundraisers later). 

 

Apex Color Games Fundraiser briefing: Matthew Berman, of Apex, explained the Apex Color Games fundraising effort.  All students who raise at least $30 are eligible to participate in games on Thursday Oct 17, 1-3 pm at TPMS. A video was shared on the type of events that students can fundraise to do (e.g. pie on a teacher, color powder).  Professionals who work with kids on fundraising from Apex will help them.  Volunteers are needed for the event.  Sign up through SignUp Genius here

 

Principal’s Updates: Ms.Erin Martin, TPMS Principal, explained that it had been awhile since core values had been reviewed.  Previous core values were: Courtesy, Safety, and Integrity.  These were fine, but most people coming to the school had not had a hand in saying who we are.  

Last year had posters out during Back to School night and got feedback from nearly all students and staff members which were used to develop the new core values which are “S.T.R.I.V.E.”

The new “houses” model was used to support the intended cultural values beyond just being a poster in the hallway. Additionally, since the school is very large (#5 in size in the county), the houses notion is to promote inclusivity, respect, and equity; to build community; to understand strengths and challenges; and to foster a sense of connectedness in the community.  

House structure is the name of each letter of S.T.R.I.V.E.  Each has a Head of House staff member (a ‘hype’ sponsor for each value).  Each has a House Mascot. 

Activities such as the fun events held on September 27 help to build the community, which is showing that students are making friends across grade levels based on their experiences together as a school ‘house.’

Students came up with house chants. Up next students are working on house crests that they are designing.  Students are also applying to be house leaders. 

A fire alarm was set off by accident, however evacuation was by house (e.g. orange and blue went out the back).  

Every Wednesday they are in their S.T.R.I.V.E. groups.  We did not have an explicit advisory period on non-academic things that our students face.  These groups will be used to host community circles to talk about issues. Will do other Socio-Emotional Learning (S.E.L). lessons during this Wednesday time with houses.  

 

Additional Topics/Questions: None

 

New Business: None

Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 8:08 pm.