Meeting called to order via Zoom by Mr. Needleman at 5:02 pm

Translation is available in Korean.

Introduction of PTO President Raj Raghavan

Community Coffee Hour is March 4 after drop off. Stop by Fratelli for coffee drinks, 10% goes back to the school, or come to Pointsettia park for free coffee and bagels. 

  • Privacy fencing is going up, thanks to parent donations
  • Teachers have received extra KN95 masks thanks to parent donations

Introduction of Kate Martin with this year’s jog-a-thon

  • This is our second biggest fundraiser of the year but unlike annual giving, this is where you involve your family and community by asking for pledges. 
  • Go to pledgestar.com/melrose and sign your child or children up to start fundraising.
  • This year’s theme is Race to Space

Fundraising goal: $65,000

  • There will be an on-campus run for the kids and faculty and a run in Pan Pacific Park on April 2 for students and families. (The PTO has rented a field at the park for our event.) 
  • At both events, students will receive a “ring of Saturn” aka jelly bracelet, for every lap they run. 
  • Teachers will facilitate the at-school event and count up the rings. Each student will be given a jog-a-thon t-shirt at the school event. 

April 2 event in Pan Pacific Park, what to expect

  • Please come in your jog-a-thon or Melrose t-shirt for easy ID  
  • We are working on organizing a potluck by grade. Each grade will have a set run time. 
  • There will be 3 raffles per grade, so don’t miss the raffle! 
  • Every child will run for “rings of Saturn” (bracelets) 
  • Every child will have the chance to write a postcard that Blue Origin will send into outer space! Be the first people to send space mail! 
  • We need as many families to come out and support to make this event a success. 

PTO Shout out to parent volunteer

  • This month’s shout out is to Emily Hogan, 5th grade level rep and co-director of Spirit Wear
  • We need a new Spirit Wear co-director to take Emily’s place next year. We’d like to find someone now who can work with her to learn her role of working with vendors, making ordering decisions, keeping track of inventory and organizing sales.
  • We need a volunteer for March 30 & March 31 spirit wear sales

Introduction of Jill Coppola to talk about book fair

  • This year’s book fair is March 7-13 at Chevalier’s independent book store on Larchmont
  • Chevaliers will give 15% of purchases back to school
  • March 10 is a special book fair family event, Books, Burgers and Ice Cream with Buger Lounge and Jenny’s Ice Cream from 3-6pm
  • Check at Chevalier’s for your teacher’s book list, if you’d like to buy a book for your classroom. (Not all teachers made book lists)

Coffee with Mr. Needleman

  • Intro of Michael Schneider and Safe Streets Initiative
  • Healthy Streets LA is trying to get a ballot measure to make Slow Streets permanent. They need 65,000 signatures. Go to healthystreetsla.com for more info

Intro of Coach Manny about Star 2022-2023

  • There is 1 spot opening right now for second grade
  • Enrollment for next year is coming soon and will be expanding to include students through 5th grade
  • Star is enrolling paid camps but waiting to hear if there will be a free camp at Melrose

Parent Skills Needed

  • Mr. Needleman is looking for a parent with a drone to make a new, school promo video
  • Also need a graphic artist with video experience to help with a graphic

How to prevent Zoom bombing?

  • Link is changed for PTO meeting and student weekly meeting is back to a webinar to prevent zoom bombing. 

Covid

  • Cases are down. 
  • Students no longer have to wear masks outdoors but can if they want to. 
  • Masks indoors will continue and must be upgraded masks like kn95 or surgical masks
  • Weekly testing will continue
  • We now have permission to have parents on campus for some events
  • There will be an in person graduation
  • We may have school tours for new families
  • \May have an open house

Social Interaction

  • The kids are out of practice at playing with each other. Conflicts occur. Faculty is working with kids on how to play together again. 
  • Morning assemblies now have student check-ins. We are trying to get students to share feelings. 
  • We are lucky to be fully staffed at recess and lunch. 
  • If your child is having a specific problem with teasing or bullying, please let us know.
  • YS is harder. There is 1 adult to 50-80 kids. 
  • We could use parent volunteers after school. 

Open to questions:

  • Is there a plan to fix the pavement on the yard? Yes, the district has a plan but no timeline. 
  • Is there tutoring? 3 teachers are offering after-school tutoring. LA library is also offering tutoring. Small group, online tutoring is coming soon facilitated by Ms. Newquist. 
  • Can parents check lost and found? Yes. Parents can enter school to check lost and found. 

Meeting adjourned 6:16