The Macon Middle School PTO meeting was called to order by Co-President Jane Mayo at 12:00 noon. (See attendance log in secretary’s notebook for members present.)

Business
Minutes of the last meeting, August 14, 2003 were approved and seconded. Several mentioned they had trouble opening the minutes attachment with Elizabeth’s e-mail. Everyone was reminded that minutes can be found at the PTO website.

Heather Shields reported the checking account balance was $1,956.81.

Unfinished Business
Reminder that the Health Fair is Sept. 16, 17 & 18 at Macon Middle. Monica and Tonja have been working hard finding volunteers for each day of this event and believe they have filled all the spots for the 16th and 17th. Ms. Wanda Brown is still hopeful that the 18th won’t be necessary, but Jane has a list of a few “floaters” that can work if necessary.

Jane reported that Judy Chapman and Diane Dillard who work on the newsletter feel that the newsletter should go out to everyone, and not just be available on-line and in the lobby. So Jane checked with Macon Printing and they have offered to print a 1-page newsletter (front and back) for $63. It was approved and seconded to have Macon Printing print the 4 newsletters that come out each grading period for the 2003-04 school year. Terri Stenger volunteered to distribute these copies to each homeroom teacher. Jane will ask if Judy can take a copy of each newsletter to Macon Printing.

There was discussion about whether to renew our subscription to Middle Years. It comes out once a month so it would be too expensive to have Macon Printing print it as well. Several ideas were presented and it was finally decided to copy the most recent issue we have, send it home with a note to parents asking them if they would like to continue receiving future issues. If we get a favorable response, then we will renew Middle Years and send out copies to those who have requested it. Theresa Trammel volunteered to copy this first issue, adding on a note to the parents, and sending it home with the first report cards.

Jane announced that if you can, please join herself and Kathy Wilde on Thursday, Sept. 25 at the school to staple the magazine sale prize list to each magazine sale brochure and then distribute them to the homeroom teachers. We’ll meet at 9 am in the Media Center. The more who come help, the quicker we get done. Bring a stapler if you can. The Kick-off is September 29 at 1 pm. And the turn-in days are Oct. 8, 22 and 24. Please mark these dates on your calendar! We’ll get started counting money at approximately 8:30 am.

Committee Reports
A big thank you to Theresa Trammel for the super job on the front sign and bulletin board in the front lobby. She keeps us well informed.

Another big thank you to Tammy Combs for coordinating refreshments for 6th grade Orientation and Open House last month. Next up will be Mr. Corbin’s dramas.

A big thank to our volunteer coordinators Janet Rich, Monica Cansler and Tonja Chambless. As reported earlier Monica and Tonja worked on the Health Fair and Janet worked on getting volunteers to help Ms. Wiggins in a large classroom project on Native American Indians that lasts for several days coming up this month. A few volunteers for this project are still needed for Sept. 24 and 26. Call Janet if you can help (349-9073.)

Dawn Carapazzo reported that Bosses Day is October 16. Since Mr. Bell was present, nothing specific was mentioned. Dawn said she will handle it and report back to us next month. She will also coordinate Bus Driver Appreciation Day, which will be in November. Dawn will make or purchase cards and decide what to put with it. Names of the drivers are available from Mr. Shephard.

Judy Chapman announced that the deadline for the next newsletter is October 1.

Mr. Bell’s Comments
He talked about what was coming up on the school calendar, including the Health Fair, report cards coming out the week of Oct. 12, 7th grade annual field trip up to Standing Indian on the 16th and the 17th, as well as the Hepatitis vaccine given on Oct. 16. He also reported the dates for Mr. Corbin’s upcoming dramas for the year. They are November 6, December 11, March 11 and April 29, all beginning at 7:30.

Officer Seagle’s Comments
He reported that this looks to be a quiet year. He would like to start seeing parents take more responsibility for their children’s behaviors. And if necessary make parents accountable. He said there are laws which make parents accountable and they have not been used like they should. He hopes to get the District Attorney’s support and start applying these laws, which he hopes will help some troubled students, and wake up some parents. At this point Jane Mayo mentioned the workshop she attended on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, which Gear Up sponsored last month in Sylva. This lead to:

Mr. Bonard’s Comments
He spoke of that workshop that 3,000 parents in several counties were invited to attend and approximately 11 parents came, all from Macon County. He said that he and Ms. Keating would be happy to have a local workshop. Several members expressed an interest. We just need to let him know when would be convenient. Jane suggested an evening PTO meeting. Cathi Wolf appreciated ideas from the book and workbooks that have helped her daughter. Monica and her son like the agenda. Mr. Bonard said we could go to www.discoverzone.org to learn more activities on learning values and character traits. (Go to Middle School and sign up with user name and password.) You can visit this site as a parent, teacher or child. As Student Council Advisor, Mr. Bonard announced the date of the first dance, which will be October 24. It will have a Halloween theme, but students are not to wear costumes! The time is still undecided. There was much discussion about the time and one suggestion was to have an afternoon dance after school. Mr. Bell favored the idea of a 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm dance, but no definite decision was made.

The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be Thursday, October 9, 2003 at 11:45 in Miss Shield’s room.