hardy pto agenda minuteS

Hardy PTO Meeting Agenda

June 11, 2025

 

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Gretchen Saunders

  • Winding down the year. 5th graders did the Potato Olympics today! We will also be celebrating the 5th graders with the moving on ceremony and clap-out. Invited Hardy seniors that have graduated to come by in their caps and gowns during the clap-out. Thank you to Lisa Cleary for organizing Field Day, which was amazing! Staff will take on more of the planning for next year, but also looking for a caregiver to help take this on to be part of it as well.
  • Final DIBELS sweep with literacy team and teachers. Capturing that data can be shared with families, but can also be ready for fall planning. School Council is looking to compare this data to other parts of the year.
  • We had an assembly focused on identity and all the different aspects of our identity that we may bring into a community, as well as what we share and don’t share. Focused on being welcoming of all identities. Did an art project in the front foyer. All members of Hardy had a color and could share any aspect of their identity they felt comfortable sharing and it was put together on the bulletin board. 

TEACHER REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT Emily Vecchione 

  • Balance between keeping normalcy/structure, but also infusing things with more fun and choice. 
  • Potato Olympics going on in 5th grade. Not sure they’ve done this before, but it’s great! Saw bowling with potatoes in the hallway. 
  • 3rd grade- started an ABC countdown. Wrote letters to next year’s 3rd graders and wrote questions about 4th grade to current 4th graders. 
  • 1st grade- bird expo to show off what they’ve learned about birds.
  • K grade- envelopes with numbers of days to count down. 
  • Varies between grades and classrooms- last 5 days or 10 days, etc.
  • Assembly on Friday about the Robbins Library summer reading program and instrument performance.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

  • President - Becky
    • Discussed how we celebrated Pride Month at school- assembly (see above in Principal’s Report), basket of pride merch in staff room. We have a Rainbow Alliance at Hardy that meets every other Thursday for an hour after school. Susie Smith is the faculty member in charge. 
    • Voting https://hardypto.membershiptoolkit.com/boardpositions
      • Big thank you to Rachel Miller (Secretary) and Ashlin Bolton (VP Fundraising/Comms) who are stepping down
      • Can have 1-2 people per board position with committees to support (e.g. Communications, Fundraising)
      • Committees - envision multiple people per committee so one person is not responsible for too many items; can be split into separate events/tasks/seasons as needed
      • This is likely my last year as president - really hope someone will be VP or Co to learn the ropes
    • Hardy Helpers email started and was successful - 22 people have signed up so far. Thank you to the helpers! - Form Sign UP
    • End of year Picnic/Ice Cream social - will have tables with farewell cards for departing teachers and staff
    • School supplies - working with Mary and teacher reps on requests and revamping process - many supplies ordered - would be good to confirm if teachers (grades 2-3) are ok storing items over the summer. Emily Vecchione confirmed that this is okay. 
    • Planning a meeting to review the PTO’s bylaws and potentially propose updates to vote on - open to all.  Perhaps we can do this in the August virtual meeting?
    • Potential AEF Grant for OT Swing Frame and Mat $7k - did not get approved, it was suggested the district should pay for it - Louisa Popkin has let Alison Elmer know - no APS funding for this yet, should revisit next year
  • Voting results - Emilie and Rachel
    • All people below were unanimously voted in (37 votes online). A few write-ins, but those people chose not to accept the roles. Should we reach out to incoming kindergarten families about the open roles (secretary and co-president/VP)?
    • President- Becky Gibree 
    • Treasurer- Brian Gibree
    • Co-President/VP- open
    • Secretary- open
    • VP Fundraising- Lisa Morella
    • VP Communications- Jen Toole
    • VP Diversity and Inclusion- A.V.
  • Fundraising - Ashlin
    • Steve McKenna’s office is open to sponsoring more events, and will discuss with his office during Summer (could we ask them to sponsor some or all of Harvest Fest?) Shannon Browne put together a list of local sponsors to reach out to for this.
    • $60 from Maxima Spring Day
  • Treasurer’s Report - Brian 
    • 24/25 Budget Review- gotten in $3200 for the Trash-a-Thon, Book Fair check came in at $2300. Teacher appreciation week expenses came in, field trips, teacher stipends, 5th grade events.
    • Fiscal year ends at the end of June, so we need to get any expenses/reimbursements in.
  • Communications - Ashlin, Abi
    • Monthly Newsletter will be this weekend - Will be year end close out Hardy Happenings Edition. 
  • DIG - Abi 

Happy Pride Month, and a belated Eid al Adha

  • Congratulations and thank yous: 
    • June 1 - Hello Japan Party! Julia, Mayumi, Yumi, Chiaki, and Miwako and Becky
    • May 19 & 20 - The ABCs of Racism participants and all who supported workshop planning and delivery - participants from 4 different APS elementary school communities at in-person workshop. Thank you to Artie for a very late night! Thanks to Thompson DIG! And Becky
    • Thanks to Becky for PRIDE Amazon wishlist
    • And to all contributing in making Field Day more inclusive and accessible
    • Thanks to all who filled in the Panorama survey! Whew
  • Continued participation and connection with AHRC: Schools & Education Workgroup Monthly - No meeting last month. Tangentially related - AHRC Upcoming events/callouts:
    • Also noting the three PRIDE Crosswalk painting sessions across Arlington earlier this month
    • Tomorrow afternoon - Juneteenth screening of Hidden Figures at Regent Theater
    • Arlington Human Rights Commission is looking to fill multiple vacancies on the 13-member commission-https://www.arlingtonhumanrights.org/.../consider-serving…
    • From Becky: METCO Walk wasn’t very well attended this year. How can we make this more robust next year? May lose state funding, so fewer social workers. They need more support and more people involved. The Welcome Center has a “support” form you can fill out to request help from the district. The Welcome Center is working on this at the district level. 
  • Next year :
    • Keep eye on recognition months/days and plan ahead coordinating with Comms.
    • Work to include SLC classroom coordinator for each SLC - limited responsibilities
  •  Safe Routes to School - Marloes & Ashley
      • New committee members needed as Marloes will be leaving Hardy. Looking for someone to be from the Lake Street side of Mass Ave to be able to target both sides of the school.
      • Please email saferoutes@hardypto.com with issues/observations. 
      • No-idling signs - followed up with Bob Jefferson. He then forwarded me to the new point person. Working on this thing! 
      • Survey open until June 23: https://masaferoutessurvey.org/srtssurvey/ 
  • Enrichment - Becky, Mary Beth, Katey, Aparna & many coordinators (thank you!)
    • Mr. Simon and teachers to perform June 13th 1-1:45
    • Need input/direction from teachers - if they want to reach out with ideas/timing/requests, please email Becky (president@hardypto.com) to get connected with the correct volunteer
    • Acton Discovery Museum Enrichment Workshops - if book for next year before June 30, get 24/25 pricing and if we book more than one, discounts for multiple bookings
  • Classroom Coordinator - Kate Allen 
  • EATS - Annie Clarke-Lauer- under budget! Snacks now live in the office, which has helped. 
  • Spirit Wear - Emilie
      • Gandy website sent to Mrs. Bernier (Hardy Spirit Committee) to think about fall items - open to suggestions from the community
      • Pride hoodie? 
      • Giving every incoming kindergartener a blue shirt. Can use these as field day shirts for next year. 
  • SEPAC - Tunde- SEPAC is looking for more members and to be more approachable. May create more groups and be more informal, rather than only having formal monthly meetings. Also, focusing on doing more advocacy.
  • Garden - Alham, Amisha, and Erica
    • Native plant sale June 19th 10AM until sellout
  • Buddy Program - Megan Rucupero (5th grade parent - will need new volunteer next year). In the past, every family new to the school received a buddy family. We can make a flyer for this to advertise it. Can the Welcome Center provide information about this too? Becky will provide them with a flyer.
  • Green Team - Emily Lapolice 
    • $300 from FUNDraiser
    • Won an award (with certificate and letter from the state) and seeds for Green Team efforts
    • Anyone interested in joining, please email Emily Lapolice (greenteam@hardypto.com)

 UPCOMING EVENTS/PLANNING

  • Need to plan or need volunteers:
    • Summer meeting to set budget and start planning fall dates - usually in August
    • Tax return- Brian Gibree
    • Email to get high school volunteers:  AHSCommunityService@arlington.k12.ma.us

THANK YOU & RECOGNITION

  • Hello Japan Party - Julia, Mayumi, Yumi, Chiaki, and Miwako
  • Field Day - Lisa, Annie, Cori, Laura, Katey, Aparna, Sinead
  • Treat Train - 3rd grade, and Patsy for all her support

Please find archived minutes here:

 

PTO Agenda Minutes 2024-2025 School Year

 

Archived PTO Agenda Minutes 2023-2024 School Year

 

Archived PTO Agenda Minutes 2022-2023 School Year

 

Archived PTO Agenda Minutes 2021-2022 School Year

 

Archived PTO Agenda Minutes 2020-2021 School Year

 

Archived PTO Agenda Minutes 2013-2019