The John Muir PTC

John Muir PTC Meeting September 14, 2010

We had a GREAT turnout for he first PTC meeting of the year! Thanks to all the parents and JM staff that were able to come, and to the support of the many more who attended in spirit. And a shout out to Ella and Emily for fabulous childcare!

Agenda:

1. Welcome

2. PTC Handout

3. Budget

4. Scrip

5. Garden

6. Walk/Bike Carpool Month

Outcomes/Agreements/Requests From Meeting:

1. The PTC needs a new treasurer by December to take over from Lauren.

2. The PTC needs a substitute secretary for Oct-Nov-Dec.

3. The JM community will walk/bike/carpool to school this month, and JM children will sign their names on the poster in the main entry room as many times as they do.

4. The JM community will help in the JM garden. The Farm-to-School effort funds parent helpers and the AMS cafeteria will be using JM garden produce in school lunches (we will get notice of those days so that our community can partake fully)

5. The JM community will attend the welcome back picnic this Wednesday, September 15. Established JM families will “adopt” a new family that evening.

6. Ramana will be the incoming Scrip Coordinator.

7. The JM community will sign up for eScrip and buy Shop-N-Kart Scrip.

8. Staff will now discuss funding requests among themselves and go to Elisa (principal) with the requests and she will go to the treasurer with a prioritized funding request list.

9. A materials wish-list will be created by staff for the JM community.

Attachments:

PTC Handout

PTC 2010-2011 Budget (Approved unanimously)

Discussion

Budget: A public school is a place all families should be able come to without monetary pressure. Budgeting and creating scholarships is integral to allowing this. No family should feel they “can’t afford” JM.

There was unanimous approval of budget with additional funding to $1000 for the courtyard. Appreciation was expressed for Lauren’s fine work.

Garden: Tracy and Patti, the garden coordinators, shared that the new food service at AMS is using produce in the cafeteria from the JM school garden. We have three years to prove we can “do it” before the district looks at bringing in an outside food service again. So we should really go for it as a community, and partake at AMS when the cafeteria will be serving our produce.

The garden is a part of the JM Outdoor Education Program. Students will do their seed unit in the garden. The 5th-8th graders will be using the JM garden and other local gardens such as Eagle Mill Farms on Fridays.

The garden is easier than ever to volunteer in: a deer fence is in; a water faucet with city water is installed; a drip system is now in.

A two-year strategic plan in the works. Future ideas: cleaning station – big compost pile – two season garden (maybe three season?). Tract and Patti are forging ahead with the idea that the families will be right behind the whole project. They are looking ahead to next year to develop the Pantry Arts; canning, dehydration, freezing and pickling.

Walk and Bike Month: Jenny Crane volunteered to get snack bars in conjunction with the Bike to School Day swag.

Respectfully submitted by Ramana.

Our primary goal remains to PROVIDE LOCAL SCHOOL GARDEN PRODUCE to the AMS cafeteria while providing a learning opportunity for all students.

Welcome and welcome back.  The garden has been a busy place.  Here what's happening:

After a stressful summer, the year is starting out with a VERY positive spin.  The work group of Sept. 1st was small but mighty. With

their help we managed to tame the black berry bushes and shrink the jungle of weeds very nicely.  Our Farms to School liaison, Tracy Harding, continues to be a strong supporter of our efforts.

Shortly after school concluded last June the AMS maintenance department  put in a city water faucet source for us in the SE corner. YEAH! So now we have available to us City water and seasonal TID via gravity feed and a pump in the SW corner

Thank you Gary Sisk, Head of Maintenance, and Don "the water guy!"

We quickly PUT IN A DRIP SYSTEM and managed to plant half of the garden space.  We are currently expanding the drip system this week to accommodate a fall garden.

The DEER FENCE was a great success and the gophers did not do as much damage as last year.

Despite a heroic effort from Peter Wilhelm, TIna Marie Springer, and her steadfast helpers, Michiko & Lisa,

the PEST DAMAGE TOOK A HEAVY TOLL ON THE SUMMER CROPS and crop yields are historically low.

We have initiated an improved organic pest control program and will increase our education by Spring planting time.

WE WERE GIFTED A STRAW JET SHED by the Straw Jet Co. of Ashland/Talent. We will need help with the foundation at some point.  Please contact me or Martin if you have a particular intertest in this project. Martin Lee is the coordinator.  Google "Straw Jet Shed" and choose the Ashland based company video for some really inspiring information on this cutting edge sustainable practice.

Great news came to us when school resumed. THE 5-8th GRADERS WILL BE USING THE GARDEN as part of the

Seed unit Sept 20 - Oct. 22.  They will be involved in soil testing, establishing a composting system, planting seeds under

various conditions and other fun activities.  We are delighted to be a resource for some of the JMS curriculum.

At this time WE ARE PLANTING A FALL GARDEN RIGHT NOW and hope to have these crops go in to the Middle School cafeteria.

Thank you Peter W. for all the wonderful starts.

We are working closely with Eric Sandrock (AMS teacher)  and Tracy Harding (F2S).  We are very appreciative of the effort and resources provided by David Munson (a new JMS parent).

To be successful WE NEED YOUR HELP.  Please contact me or come the garden to help prepare for and plant the fall crop Monday,

Tuesday or Wednesday of this week, Sept. 13-15, from 9-11 a.m.

Make it YOUR COMMUNITY GARDEN!

Patti Ruiz

541 482-2826

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John Muir Parent Teacher Collective

Meeting Protocol and Agreements

January 2009

Meeting Structure

1) The Parent Teacher Collective is made up of members of the John Muir Community including parents and staff members.

2) Meetings will be open to the public. Any member of the John Muir community can participate in decision-making.

3) The Parent Teacher Collective Officers include President, Treasurer, Secretary, Staff Liaison and Site Council Liaison.