Cambridge PTO Mission:“Enhance the educational experience at Cambridge, to

develop a closer connection between school and home by encouraging parent involvement, to foster effective and open

communication between the school and parents, and to improve the environment at Cambridge through volunteer

and financial support.”

September 9, 2014

Meeting AgendaI. President’s Opening CommentsII. PTO Business

- Volunteer Requests- Fundraising Report- Treasurer’s Report- PTO Website 101- Upcoming Events- Camp Cambridge

III. Guest Speaker – Laurel Babb, Cambridge PrincipalIV. GEM AwardsV. GEM Teacher SpotlightVI. Alamo Heights School FoundationVII. Legislation Update on School Funding

President’s Opening Comments

• Lunch generously provided by:

Mule Store (intermittent)Yearbook (intermittent)HEB Cards (intermittent)Teacher Assistance (intermittent)Box Tops (intermittent)Papa Johns Night (Jan)BalloonFest (Jan-March)Career Day (Feb)Field Day (May)Cambridge Cares (intermittent)Snak Paks 4 Kids (Fri 8-8:30)

*email Audra Kerr at audrakerr8@gmail.com

PTO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Fundraising Report

$3,311.52

•Fundraising Page on PTO websitewww.cambridgepto.org

•Camp Cambridge – November 14th

Cambridge keeps 100% of money raised

•Send in your Box TOPS!

•PTO Membership still available – support Cambridge!

•Spirit Wear still available on the PTO website

•Sign up for HEB Cards on the PTO website$5 goes to Cambridge for every $100 Gift Card Purchase

•Go online to volunteer for any committee – any help truly appreciated!

Fundraising Goals

Camp Cambridge $50,000

Balloonfest $73,350

Misc (Mule Market, Papa Johns) $16,075

HEB cards $9,000

PTO Memberships $13,000

Advertising $1,800

TOTAL $163,225

Treasurer’s Report

Proposed Budget

*Motion made to approve budget. Attendees voted and approved proposed budget

PTO Website 101

www.cambridgepto.org

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR STUDENT'S INFORMATION

This will ensure your child's name is listed in the class directory.

1.Log into the PTO Website – www.cambridgepto.org

2.Hover over “My Info”

3. Click “My Students”

4. Change the “Sept 2014 Grade” to be inline with THIS school year.

5. Change “Teacher” to your child’s 2014/2015 teacher name

6. Click “Save Students”

 

Adding events from website to your calendar

1.Simply check the box for the event you want to add

2.Then click the button - “Download the Calendar file”

3.Event now appears in your calendar.

Dates to Remember

Sept 9 5:30pm Back to School Night (grades 1-2)

Sept 16 6pm Family Playdate

Oct 3 3pm First Friday on the Playground

Oct 8 4pm 5th Graders march in HOWDY parade

Oct 13 Student Holiday/Staff Development

Oct 15 to 17 Parent Conferences/Early Dismissal

Nov 3 Camp Cambridge Kick-off Pep Assembly

Nov 14 Camp Cambridge

Cambridge Goes Camo!Camp Cambridge is a military-themed boot camp event

that combines Fundraising, Fitness and Fun!

**Friday, November 14th during Specials**

•Students will ask family and friends to sponsor them with flat donations Nov 3rd – Nov 14th

•There will be school wide incentives enjoyed by all students as we reach increasing levels of funds.

•There will also be prizes for the top individual fundraisers

100% of funds raised during Camp Cambridge will stay at

Cambridge!

Mrs. Laurel Babb,Cambridge Principal

Guest Speaker

GEM Awards

Barbie Gonzalez

Jody Lutz

Bridget McGregor

Moving Beyond, to New HEIGHTS

in Teaching

Amy Lagueux

EXPLORE!Weekend Enrichment Program

Goals…*build relationships*strengthen home-school connection*provide enriching experiences*teach families about opportunities

Earth Day Celebration at Woodlawn

Park!

The Process…

*Plan the trip*Find chaperones*Distribute flyers

*Collect permission slips

*Create list of attendees*Have fun!

Building Relationships!

Creating Memories!

Parent Survey Results…

• Average # of trips taken = 3

• 70% would like to be invited more than once a month

• Importance of lunch/snack = 4.4 (scale of 0 – 5)

• Highest-Ranked destinations… Tower of the Americas, Morgan’s

Wonderland, Earth Day Celebration, Devine Acres Farm, Hondo Corn Maize, Pumpkin Patch

Favorite things about EXPLORE!

Trips…*Exploring, learning and having fun

*Family Time*Opportunities to try new things

*Being able to be with your family and great teachers*Watching my kids with other kiddos. Being able to get out and

explore the city with my kids without having to spend a ton of money.

*Once in a lifetime chance to hang with school kids and it being a community event*Learning new things and meeting new people

Final Feedback…

“Everyone was amazing.”“You guys are doing a great

job.”“Thank you. God bless all

who made it possible.”“Thank you for giving my family the opportunity to

explore!”

Heights HeroesA peer nominated award for excellence in teaching

The 2014-2015 Cambridge Elementary School winner is

Amy Lagueux

Alamo Heights School Foundation

AHISD and Texas Public Schools win School Finance Case!

State District Judge John Dietz decided in favor of the more than 600 school districts

who sued the state. They argued the Legislature has consistently underfunded schools while imposing new and expensive

academic requirements for students.

For details regarding this case, watch THE TEXAS PROMISE. Debuting at the Austin Film Festival, Oscar-winner Vanessa Roth focuses on the fight and fallout over the Texas Legislature’s decision to cut $5.4

billion out of school funding in 2011.