Bancroft Middle School PTA Presents
The Third Annual
DRAMA, DRINKS AND DESSERTS
What: California Conservatory Theatre’s
“Incorruptible”*
When: Thursday, February 25th
7:00pm
Where: 999 East 14th Street, San Leandro
Tickets Available:
Golden Bronco Level - $100 per ticket – Priority Seating
Only 27 Seats Available
Bronco Level - $35 per ticket – 40 Seats Available
The event begins with coffee and dessert at 7:00pm followed by the performance at 8:00pm. With only 67 seats available, they will go quickly, so be sure and get your tickets today! Bancroft Middle School keeps 100% of the proceeds of the sale of the tickets. Tickets may be purchased at the school office or contact Deborah Cox at
895-8481 or via email: Deborah Cox.
*Incorruptible is a Dark Comedy set in 1250 A.D. France, by Michael Hollinger.
Proceeds will be used to support the Bancroft music programs, sports programs, school audio visual needs, and science field trips.
Bancroft PTA plays a role in helping your students succeed at Bancroft Middle School. Toward that end, we focus on three priorities: youth advocacy, parent training, and parent involvement.
Youth Advocacy
We serve as a voice to make sure that student needs are being addressed. Do students feel safe? Are they getting the instructional support they need? Are educationally advanced students bored? This year, for example, PTA has introduced and financially supported the Soul Shoppe program, which is designed to help drive an improved sense of community and respect on campus.
Parent Training
Unlike electronics, our middle schoolers don’t come with user manuals. As parents, it can be difficult to know whether we are: too strict, too concerned with school work, overly protective, etc. As in the past, PTA will be providing parent education opportunities, as well as a chance for parents to learn from each other by sharing ideas.
Parent Involvement
No one disputes that parental involvement is a factor driving the success of great schools. Bancroft PTA works with parents to “get them involved,” including chaperoning at dances, observing classrooms, improving hospitality, tutoring, and supporting school pride efforts. For example, we are working to reinvigorate the idea of Beautification Day at Bancroft. We look forward to an expanded effort this year!
Of course, sometimes we’re just a group that helps parents and guardians meet each other and have fun. For example, we are planning to make the Pancake Breakfast, an event introduced last year, an annual tradition and a chance to raise a little money and have lots of fun. Stay tuned for more details on this fall event.
Thank You and a Request
We hope to get at least 75% of families participating, so please carefully consider whether you can financially support our efforts. Please join us on the second Tuesday of each month, in the school library when you can. It’s a great opportunity to share and learn from one another.
Sincerely, Bancroft PTA
Evelyn Gonzalez brought the meeting to order since Juan was out of town on business.
Principal’s Report
Mary Ann Valles reported that the freeze means they have to freeze everything (one exception: the Gear Up grant, since it’s a federal grant). This means rationing paper, no more extra hourly pay, and other extreme measures. It looks like the freeze will continue through the rest of this year, and next year looks even more bleak.
The staff met and created a priority list of items they cannot pay for and would most like to receive funding for. Here’s a summary of the priority list:
Classroom supplies, such as paper and overhead light bulbs - $6000
Student planners – currently free for students - $5000
The cost of these can be reduced by removing the blue info pages.
We could also charge a fee for student planners.
Lunch supervision – 2 classified staff work during lunch on the field - $1350
Detention - $1350
Civilizations of the World Faire – 2 substitutes - $250
This cost is for a scaled down version from 3:00-4:30 in the afternoon.
All teachers can be present, but fewer parents will be able to attend.
School website - $750 to pay Lee Rosenberg
8th Grade Promotion - $450
EL Celebration – held during the day to save money - $250
Yearbook – stipend for advisor - $1000
She asked us to consider which of the items above PTA would be willing to fund.
Ms. Valles says the school can fund the following from the Fundraiser account:
4 X 4 Tea - $100
Bronco Stars - $300
Student Empowerment Groups - $500
STAR Recognition/promotion - $1000
African American Parent Group Talent Show - $300
Treasurer’s Report
Karen Diaz reported that we have about $14,000 - $18,000 that we can budget towards the financial needs of the school this year. We have $500 budgeted for Civilizations of the World and since only $250 was requested, the remaining $250 can be used elsewhere. We also have $2000 allocated for equipment that can be used for other needs. We should expect about $5000 from the Pancake Breakfast, which is included in the $14,000 - $18,000 total.
PTA members agreed that at the schedule distribution, we should have stations that parents and students walk through where they are asked to sign up for PTA and Escrip and pay a $5 fee for planners and a $10 donation for sports participation before they fill out emergency cards and receive their schedules. These fees would not be required but would be requested. We discussed having the schedule distribution on one evening where each grade would come at a different time, and PTA members and other parents would run the various stations except for the emergency card station, which would be run by school staff. The PTA is willing to pay the upfront fee for printing the planners ($5000) with the understanding that the school will be requesting $5/student for the planners’ cost.
Deborah Cox made a motion for the PTA to support the staff’s priority list minus the yearbook and asked the staff to consider if it would be possible to hold the Civilizations of the World Faire in the evening. (The yearbook funding was omitted because we already have committed funds for this year for the yearbook.) PTA members stated that if the administration is willing to commit to having stations where parents are asked to pay fees, then PTA can fund the student planner cost of $5000.
Dede Martin made an amendment to the motion: the motion was made to spend $4150 on the following:
Lunch supervision - $1350
Detention - $1350
School Website - $750
8th grade promotion - $450
EL Celebration - $250
The PTA will cover the cost of $5000 for ordering the student planners, and the administration will ask student’s families to pay $5 for planners to recoup the cost. The administration will also make an appeal for people to donate classroom supplies first before PTA provides funds. The motion was seconded and passed.
Each year the PTA has given $450 to the San Leandro Scholarship Foundation for a scholarship for a Bancroft alumni and $50 toward the San Leandro Teacher’s Association Scholarship. Dede made a motion to fund the scholarships, it was seconded, and passed.
Spring Events:
CCT fundraiser – Tickets are still available for our second annual Dessert, Drinks and Drama Fundraiser on Thursday, February 19th. The event will begin with drinks and dessert at 7:00 pm followed by the performance of “Evolution of a Relationship” at 8:00 pm. 26 out of 40 of the $35 tickets have been sold and about 20 of the $100 tickets remain. Call Deborah Cox to get your tickets now!
Talent Show - The African American Parent Group is sponsoring the Talent Show February 27th in the gym. So far 12 talent groups have signed up and there will be a Soul Food Sampler from 6 – 7 and a DJ.
Pancake Breakfast – March 7th from 8 to 11 AM. Jodie Jonas-Labee is in charge of volunteers. We need volunteers to help with breakfast and the silent auction. Tickets are $5/person and there will be jumpies and field day activities on the field after breakfast.
Party before the Bancroft Play – There will be an adult-only party before the Saturday evening Seussical on May 9th at Zocalo’s. Jodie Jonas-Labee and Jill Proctor are organizing this event. Desserts and alcohol will be served and people who attend the party will be seated at the play in a reserved area. There may even be limousine rides from Zocalo’s to the play!
Membership Drive - We need someone to head up the membership drive for PTA. Telia, Amy, and Dede are willing to help. We would like to have PTA sign-ups at the Pancake Breakfast.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM. Next meeting will be Wednesday, March 11th, 2009.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Olson
Secretary
Bancroft PTA Meeting Minutes
Jan. 15, 2009
Introduction and Welcome
Juan Gonzalez, PTA President, convened the meeting and welcomed parents and Councilmember Michael Gregory.
We reviewed the letter that parent Michael Dunn drafted to send to colleges asking them for banners, pendants and posters from their colleges to support our college-bound efforts. Every 7th grader is eligible to participate in the GEAR UP grant, which funds college going awareness and supports AVID. The letter looked great and we approved it.
Science Update
Mr. McLemore presented the proposed 6th grade field trip to parents. Mr. Huey and Mr. McLemore would like to take the 6th graders to see an extinct volcano at Sibley National Park and participate in the Hydrogen Fuel workshops at Lawrence Hall of Science. The fieldtrip itself is free, but they will need 10 substitutes at $110/day.
The dates are May 18, 21, 22, 29, and June 4 and they need 6 – 8 parent drivers/day. If parents can drive, the transportation will be free. If buses are needed, they are $700/bus ($2100 total) The teachers will charge the students $5 towards the cost. There are 270 students and 2 classes will go each day for 5 days.
Please contact the office if you can drive for one or more of the fieldtrip days!
Sadly, the Exploratorium fieldtrip for 8th graders has been cancelled for this year.
The Science Department sponsored the Winter Ball this year and made about $2000. The new conduct code brought about an improvement in student conduct, but it also meant that fewer students attended.
Guest Speakers
San Leandro Councilmember Michael Gregory spoke on the role we can play in combating global climate change by using mass transit, buying hybrids, and walking and biking more. He introduced us to the representative from Safe Routes to School, Nora Cody.
Ms. Cody is the director of Safe Routes to School in Alameda County and works with “Tranform.” The goal of this organization is to get kids walking and biking to school more. She explained that 25% of traffic congestion is from picking up and dropping off kids at school.
She introduced us to the Cycles of Change program that teaches bicycle safety and works with PE teachers to do a bicycling unit. They bring in a fleet of bikes and helmets for kids to use to practice bicycle safety in our neighborhoods around the school.
Cycles of Change can do a walk audit with school staff, parents, and city engineers to assess dangerous intersections near the school. Funds are even available to improve the safety of intersections.
Ms. Valles and the staff will be talking with Cycles of Change about the possibility of working with students at Bancroft.
Principal’s Report
Mary Ann Valles just received a directive from the Superintendant about the district’s dire fiscal situation. In order to make payroll, principals in the district need to freeze all unfilled positions, all purchasing of supplies and equipment, all travel and unauthorized mileage, all comp time, and all unauthorized use of substitutes. The principal and staff will need to evaluate future events and look at in terms of comp time and substitutes (ex: Civilizations of the World Fair).
PTA may be able to gather volunteers for lunchtime supervision or provide funds or supplies.
If parents would like to volunteer or donate reams of paper or other supplies to the school, please contact the office.
Spring Events:
Festa D’Arte – Our Festa D’Arte will be held on January 31st from 5 – 8. Delicious Italian dinner and dessert, entertainment by the High School and Middle School Jazz Bands and other performers, as well as a Live and Silent Auction. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased from students or at the door.
CCT fundraiser – Our second annual Dessert, Drinks and Drama Fundraiser will be on February 19. The event will begin with coffee and dessert at 7:00 pm followed by the performance of “Evolution of a Relationship” at 8:00 pm. With only 67 seats available, the tickets are priced at the Golden Bronco level ($100 seats) and the Bronco level ($35 seats). This is a great opportunity for us to raise money for Bancroft Middle School and enjoy a great theater production. To order tickets, call Deborah Cox (895-8481) or drop by the school office.
Talent Show – February 27th
The African American Parents’ Group is sponsoring a talent show in honor of Black History Month. Auditions are open to all students, and students can sign up for the talent show at lunch. The Parents’ Group would like to have a Soul Food sampling at the Talent Show.
Pancake Breakfast – March 14th
There will be a pancake breakfast followed by a 5K walk/run-a-thon and field day. More details to follow!
Pre-Party before the Bancroft Musical – May 9th at Zocalo’s or Paradiso’s.
Meeting was adjourned. Next meeting February 11, 2009.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Olson
Secretary
Bancroft PTA Meeting Minutes
Dec. 10, 2008
Introduction and Welcome
Juan Gonzalez, PTA President, convened the meeting and welcomed parents.
The Perfect Attendance party for students went well. Many thanks to Berkeley Farms who donated the ice cream and the many volunteers!
Principal’s Report
Mary Ann Valles reported Bancroft received a $7500 California Gear Up Grant. This grant can be used for professional development and counselor training and four students can be identified for $2000 trust scholarships to college based on need and academic ability. Also associated with the grant, the Parent Institute for Quality Education and the Family Initiatives Project will offer a nine week seminar for families on preparing for college.
Winter Dance is this Friday, December 12th. Students will be signing a behavior contract with rules against moshing, freak dancing and other inappropriate dancing.
The Safe Schools Ambassadors program is going well. The Soul Shoppe program was more expensive than we expected and isn’t sustainable for the long term.
Anita Waldron would like the PTA to fund the table rentals for the Civilizations of the World Fair again this year. The cost was about $315 last year.
The District office will be closed over the break, and school gets out early on Friday, December 19th at 2:00 PM.
Fundraising Events/ Community Building:
Pancake Breakfast and Basketball 3 on 3 and 5K Run – April 18th from 10 to 1.
Talk with Amy Beek if you would like to help with this event.
Beautification Day – tentatively planned for March 28th
Possible projects:
painting
putting up blinds in P1 and P2
fixing up planters on patio
fix up teachers’ bathroom
irrigation – hire a plumber to set up and connect the system
Juan will talk with the District about setting this up.
The African-American Parent group would like to hold an event during Black History Month for all middle schoolers. We discussed the possibility of having a talent show and having middle schoolers be on the committee. Two possible dates are February 26 or February 27.
Escrip – We would like to put a link on the website where parents can sign up for Escrip, possibly on the Banner page. Amy will contact Lee Rosenberg about adding this.
Membership Drive
PTA would like to offer teachers an incentive ($50 for the top 2 classes) and an ice cream party for the class that signs up the most parents and families for PTA membership. It was also suggested that we offer a $25 gift card for the three office staff for helping us get 100 members and that we give teachers a gift for getting at least 5 memberships from their class.
We want to make PTA more visible – pictures on the web, information about how PTA dollars are being spent in the school. Jill and Tellia will head up the membership drive.
Creating a College Culture at Bancroft – Juan would like a parent to draft a letter to colleges telling them about our efforts to promote going to college to our students. Michael Dunn will draft a letter.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM. Next meeting January 14, 2009.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Olson
Secretary
PTA Meeting Minutes
Oct. 8, 2008
Introduction and Welcome
What are some of the unmet student needs?
The Ares database system:
Phasing in the 3 components of Aires database web interface system:
1) Attendance – will be working within the month
2) Grades – the next phase should be done by January 2009
3) Parent Access to grades and attendance on-line – Fall 2009.
Question: Would it be helpful to hire people to help speed things along?
Answer: We don’t know enough yet.
Concern: Kids can get through school without touching a computer—especially if they’re in band.
Projectors: We could use some LCD projectors. We have 11 (have ordered 5 recently). Teachers would use them every day if they had them available. One warning: replacement bulbs for LCD projectors are expensive.
Screens: The rooms have projection screens.
We need a Risograph: This would be a district responsibility. (Around 5 to 8K)
Question: Could we teach vocabulary in a more systematic way?
Question: Is there a way we could reward good behavior and encourage school pride? Can we replenish the prizes for Bronco stars? Provide funding for McDonald’s reward trips.
Our principal would like:
1) Some nice mats for the doors – especially important for the G wing and for winter in particular (around 3K each).
2) Painting the interior
3) The roofline on the S wing.
4) Brighten up the snack bar.
5) Removing the dusty grate (somewhere).
6) Support for the college culture push (Gear Up) – e.g. purchasing pennants.
7) Parents willing to get materials from the universities.
8) Need 10 2-person tables ($179.00 each)
Activities
Parent Training: In January Michael Gregory to come talk about “Shape Up San Leandro,” Can we integrate with science and PE classes? PE and science departments are already doing track meet and Science Night.
Winter Ball: Need someone to be the dance coordinator.
Question: What does it mean when a student gets a progress report with only one grade?
Answer: It means that he’s not making a D or an F in any classes that aren’t reporting.
CCT Fundraiser: Our fundraiser night at CCT will be Feb 19, 2009 from 7 pm to 10 pm. The CCT play that evening with be Evolution of a Relationship
Principal’s Report
Safe Schools Ambassador’s Training: The Safe School Ambassador’s training started today. (First of two days. ~30 kids participated). This program teaches kids how to interrupt bullying on campus. There will be regular debriefs and check-ins for the students. This effort is funded by the Safe Schools grant?
Progress Reports: Sent out.
Dances: December 12 Winter Ball (Science), Feb. 6 -- Sweet Heart Dance (Athletics), June 5 Promotion Party
Assessments: Writing assessments will be in the English classes in a few weeks (Math benchmark at end of month)
Field Trips: AVID students going to Berkeley. Students will have opportunities to go on Cal Adventures ropes course.
Annual School Fundraiser:-- Buy magazines or write a check to the school by October 14, 2008.
Beautification Day: Ms. Valles agreed to gather more information on the status of conducting Beautification Days. There is now a limit to the number of tradesmen who can come, which will make estimating the cost of such efforts more precise. The guidelines on what can be done at such days is still unclear.
Treasury Update
We have around $24,098.54 in the bank.
Last year we raised approximately $10K and spent $10K.
Respectfully submitted,
John Olson
Junior-assistant secretary
Bancroft PTA Meeting Minutes
Sept. 10, 2008
Introduction and Welcome
Juan Gonzalez, PTA President, convened the meeting and welcomed parents. Parents introduced themselves and Juan spoke about PTA’s strategic priorities PTA:
• Being advocates for students
PTA advocated for accelerated math, and 100 kids earned a Proficient level
On their math test this year
PTA also bought a PA system for the gym
• Parent training
• Parent involvement in school events
Principal’s Report
Mary Ann Valles, Bancroft’s principal, presented her Principal’s report:
API Scores: Good news! API scores for Bancroft jumped up 31 points – best in the district! All the subgroups improved. API measures growth and we met our target growth.
Algebra is now considered grade level for grade 8. The federal government looks at the percentage of students who are proficient in math and English (through the No Child Left Behind program). We didn’t make all the benchmarks (35% need to be proficient or advanced to meet the benchmark.)
Staffing: The school hired Jessica Bradley as our third counselor. Welcome, Jessica!
The Banner: To save money on printing costs, we would like to go paperless with the Banner by putting it on the website. It costs about $2000/year to print plus postage. The staff is considering sending email or a one page announcement sent home to remind parents to look on the website. Parents suggested we could have an email drive to collect more parent emails. We could also have an opt-in/opt-out option for the paper Banner.
AVID Program: The AVID Program is new to Bancroft this year! AVID is a program for kids in middle school and high school who are the first in their families to go to college. The program works to build a college-going culture at our school by helping students be more aware of colleges and teachs kids techniques for being good students. The program offers after school tutorials two days a week and help in class from Chabot students. We may have a college fair at Bancroft or a career week with an emphasis on college. Every teacher wears their college jerseys one Friday/month. AVID students may attend picnic days at UC- Davis in April.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Bancroft needs volunteers to help update our email list, improve the website, write press releases that have personal stories included. Monica volunteered to help with the email list management.
If you would like to volunteer to help at this Friday’s dance, call the Bancroft office. PTA would love to have a parent be the Dance Coordinator.
Bancroft staff would also like for parents to be Department Liaisons, especially the Math Dept. Liaison and Science Dept. Liaison, which involves buying supplies for labs and driving on fieldtrips. Last year a parent came in once a week and helped in a science class. If you are interested in this, call the school office.
Upcoming events:
Beautification Day – Ms. Valles will check with Mike Dyer in the district. Perhaps we could have a Beautification Day in the spring.
Book Fair – September 22-30. Parents can sign up to help on various days and times. Contact Sarah Rosenkrantz, the librarian, at srosenkrantz@sanleandro.k12.ca.us
Fundraising
Casino Night will be in the spring.
Magazine Sales – Sept. 30th is the kick-off day and all magazine sales are due back by October 14th. We earned a little over $5000 last year and hope to earn $10,000 this year. The money funds our buses for the 8th grade fieldtrip to the Exploratorium, which keeps student costs down.
CCT fundraiser – Deborah Cox
For this fundraiser, we sell tickets for the theater show and we get all the money except for the $250 fee. We made $4000 last year! We discussed various show possibilities and dates and settled on the February 19th showing of “Evolution of a Relationship”, a romantic comedy. We decided a romantic comedy near Valentine’s Day would be a great choice for a fundraiser! Deborah will book this date for us.
Potential Events:
We discussed the idea of a parents and staff dance in the fall. We also considered whether it would be a good idea to have a carnival.
Softball isn’t funded this year and we don’t have a coach. However, a parent may be able to coach.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Olson
Secretary
BANCROFT MIDDLE SCHOOL
2008 MAGAZINE DRIVE FUND-RAISER Turn-in day: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14th BEFORE SCHOOL AND COLLECT YOUR PRIZES
Accumulate these prizes. For example: Sell 7 orders and you receive the 1,2,3,6 & 8order prizes. Sell 15 orders and you get the 1,2,3,6,8,12,and 15 prizes.
1 Order = Candy Item or Smencil
3 Orders = Motion Sensor or Prankster
6 Orders = Projection Alarm Clock or Pocket Plasma
8 Orders = Floppy the Singing Dog or Angles Sparkle Speakers
10 Orders = Prize and Money Scramble (You will win three prizes and a chance at the Grand Prize(s).
12 Orders = Liquid Gas Pump or Digital Photo Keychain
15 Orders = 1 GB MP3 Player or Celebrity Stand-up
20 Orders = Infinity Optics Clock or Mini Refrigerator
35 –300 Orders = Students may choose ONE prize from the chart that matches orders sold! Note: Students may not combine orders at any level
Please make check payable to Bancroft Middle School You may send emails to customers to order at READINGATHOME.COM and they can order online with a credit card in response to you emails AND earn prizes!!!! YOUR SCHOOL CODE IS: 129961
Dear Parents, Guardians and Supporters,
If you would like to purchase an appropriate magazine subscription as a gift to the school it would be greatly appreciated. Please call and let us know which magazine you have purchased for us and we will take it off the “wanted” list. Thank you! Our students appreciate a diversity of magazines to choose from. Here are some suggested titles:
1. Alternative Press Magazine
2. Any food magazine
3. Audubon
4. Car and Driver
5. Dance Spirit
6. Latina Magazine
7. Motor Trend
8. National Geographic
9. National Wildlife Magazine
10. NICK Magazine
11. People
12. Ride BMX
13. Shutterbug
14. Sports Illustrated Kids
15. Teen Vogue
16. Women’s Basketball
Bancroft PTA plays a role in helping your students succeed at Bancroft Middle School. Toward that end, we focus on three priorities: youth advocacy, parent training, and parent involvement.
Youth Advocacy
We serve as a voice to make sure that student needs are being addressed. Do students feel safe? Are they getting the instructional support they need? Are educationally advanced students bored? This year, for example, PTA has introduced and financially supported the Soul Shoppe program, which is designed to help drive an improved sense of community and respect on campus.
Parent Training
Unlike electronics, our middle schoolers don’t come with user manuals. As parents, it can be difficult to know whether we are: too strict, too concerned with school work, overly protective, etc. As in the past, PTA will be providing several parent education opportunities, as well as a chance for parents to learn from each other by sharing ideas.
Parent Involvement
No one disputes that parental involvement is a factor driving the success of great schools. Bancroft PTA works with parents to “get them involved,” including chaperoning at dances, observing classrooms, improving hospitality, tutoring, and supporting school pride efforts. For example, last year we reinvigorated the idea of Beautification Day at Bancroft. We look forward to an expanded effort this year!
Of course, sometimes we’re just a group that helps parents and guardians meet each other and have fun. For example, we are planning a masquerade ball in order to raise a little money and have lots of fun. Stay tuned for more details on this fall event.
Thank You and a Request
A number of you have graciously made donations in support of (1) PTA’s general efforts and/or (2) Soul Shoppe, in particular. Thus far, the average combined donation for these two efforts is approximately $55. Thank you for your generosity! We hope to get at least 75% of families participating in these efforts. So please carefully consider whether you can financially support our efforts.
