GWPTA September Work Session Minutes

We had a great work session last Thursday! Below are the minutes, but just a reminder that the minutes of every GWPTA meeting are posted on our website.

I've taken the liberty of highlighting some volunteer opportunities! You can sign up to volunteer for a committee here (if you want to know more about each committee, more information will appear if you click on it), and you can sign up to deliver pizza here. 

September Work Session: September 10, 2026

  • Public Comment- none

  • Principal’s Update

    • Total enrollment 395 (+ 45 from last year), 356 (K-5, +49 from last year)

      1. The school was projected at 360 over the summer, will probably need 1-2 more teachers (not necessarily classroom teachers, people who support teachers/classrooms)

      2. Expect to grow more in the next 3-5 months

      3. We have a lot of new staff!

      4. 2025-2026 Data Release: Letter Grade 71(B)

  • Summer Update

    • Teacher, Staff, & Parent Feedback- link to powerpoint presentation

      1. Ended last year with a survey to parents and teachers

      2. Teacher/staff survey:

        1. Teachers/staff would like to be more engaged with PTA. This year we:

          1. Changed work session times to 3PM and 5:30PM alternating

          2. PTA executive board members met with teachers prior to school to go over what the PTA does, how to access funds, etc

        2. Teachers were less satisfied with teacher/staff appreciation last year, Elena said we will talk about this later in the meeting

      3. Community survey: slide of results of survey shared

      4. Connections to the Community: most clicks to survey came from listserv and canvassing flyer

    • Canva and Signups

      1. PTA has a free pro account on Canva to help make flyers

      2. PTA paid for a Signup.com account

        1. Room parents and teachers can use

    • Budget- we made it, we passed it at the Back to School Bash

    • Welcome Packet

      1. Welcome from principal, welcome from PTA, how do you sign up for student supports, calendar

        1. Dorothy’s ideas: more concrete info- when does school start/end/early release, drop off procedures, what to do when you kid is sick, what does Primary/Lower El/Upper El mean

  • Treasurer’s Review

    • Budget-to-Actual overview (high-level) 86K in, 92K out, 43K as of July 1

      1. Increase in expenses is mainly due to backpack buddy needs

      2. Fiscal year is July-June

      3. Community has responded really well to backpack buddy need

      4. Every year, the budget allots $250/classroom

        1. Teachers/IA can buy items, then turn in receipts for reimbursement

        2. IAs work with teacher if there is something that want to budget

        3. New reimbursement process- reimbursement request on PTA website

    • SPNI requests:

      1. Ultimate Frisbee Pennies

        1. $750 requested for 25 pennies, $30 each

        2. Ultimate Club (GWUC) wore borrowed reversible pennies last year, important to differentiate the club participants from aftercare participants. GWUC would like to buy their own pennies this once to use each year.

        3. Discussion over whether a cheaper option can be found and if it can be discussed later since it is so early in the year

        4. Tabled for next meeting

  • Upcoming Events

    • Tuesday, Sept 15 Dine out Timber and Locoshop Ice Cream

    • Thursday Sept 17th & 24th: Family Curriculum Nights

      • PTA providing pizza

        1. Need volunteers to pick up pizzas from Costco (2 each night)

      • Room parents are coordinating sides, treats, drinks, cutlery, plates, napkins (no cupcakes if going to be hot)

      • Not planning on providing dinner for teachers

    • Friday, September (9) 25: Watts St Baptist Church book giveaway

    • Friday, October 9: Q1 Coffee with the Principal

    • Thursday, October 15: TBD Family Event

      • Committees have started meeting, will be planning in the next week or 2

      • Need parent volunteers to be on the afterschool event committee

        1. January is predetermined culture fair, other ones need parent input

  • Committees : Board voted on each committee chair. 

*Note, each committee head is considered part of the PTA board and can vote on all decisions (including SPNI requests and budget changes) until the end of the year.

  • Equity & Advocacy: Brigid Flaherty voted as chair

    • Last year- started by doing a survey for parents/teachers top priorities to inform direction moving forward

      1. Got 40 surveys last year, hoping to get more this year!

    • Property and income tax caps

      1. Statewide effort to get votes to vote “no”

      2. Canvases, window signs, ways to join the Watts team

  • Family Involvement (Room Parents): Katie Olinger voted as chair

    • Room parents are going well- created new materials that will be evolved throughout the year

    • For teachers/staff- if you have feedback, talk to Katie

    • We do have fewer rooms with multiple room parents this year

      1. “If there is push back on giving more to room parents, it’s to make sure room parents aren’t spread too thin” - Katie

      2. EC classrooms do not have room parents yet

  • Teacher & Staff Appreciation: Nicole Varnado voted as chair

    • Will collaborate closely with Katie

    • Principal Jenn, Mrs. Musawwir, Mrs. Watson, Elena, Nicole, and Katie O met to come up with a draft for ideas for teacher/staff appreciation

      1. Some kind of appreciation each month - link to slide

      2. Trying to appreciate everyone in the school, not as much differentiation

        1. “Every staff is an educator” – Principal Jenn

        2. The PTA got feedback that some wanted more differentiation during appreciation last year, but that is not the direction that the committee has decided to go this year -Elena

        3. Last year push to make gifts more equitable; this year we want to make sure it is personal - Elena

      3. Idea for restaurants/businesses to donate to help with teacher/staff appreciation

  • Fundraising: Katherine Woodell and Mark Wooddell voted as co chairs

    • Fall PTA Annual Fund

      1. Trying to not do as many separate campaigns

      2. Oct 5: 6 weeks long

        1. Spirit week leading up to family event in October

      3. Last year over 100 giving units, ½ were first time donors

        1. Average gift size of $270

    • Want to take a look at how business are involved with our fundraising

      1. Get more business involved other than just dineouts

      2. Potentially as donors to backpack buddies versus all of PTA, including monetary and food donations

    • Backpack buddy update: current 25 enrolled, but more enrollees every day

      1. Current budget ($40K) plan for 100 kids

  • Communications: Laura Zasoski voted as chair

    • 2 other parents have indicated interest in helping

  • Audit: Zachary Ezor, Lara Ezor, Ashley McKinstry all voted in

  • At Large Members: Diana, Fabiola, and Ivana voted as at large members

    • Duties: try to come to all PTA meetings, are not expected to run committees

  • Discussion Topics

    • Clubs

      1. Girls on the Run- has a relationship with DPS, so they just need to talk with Principal Jenn

 Not addressed at this meeting due to time:

  • Carnival: TBD – 4 people indicated interest

  • Grounds: Spencer McKinstry – are you going to have a co-chair? 

    • See separate email – 4 people indicated interest in helping

    • Are we doing a grounds day in September?  With Watts St Baptist church?

  • Clubs process discussion