Text Box:   PTO MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 30, 2007    GUEST SPEAKER Rebecca Elwell, coordinator of Tiverton Prevention Coalition, formally Tiverton Substance Abuse Prevention, spoke about programs, presentations and resources available to offer families regarding prevention awareness.  The PTO will be coordinating a presentation for later in the year based upon feedback received from Ranger families with regard to choosing a topic. PASSIVE FUNDRAISERS HOOD CAPS – EARNED $20.65.  Thankfully the shipping costs were donated. The PTO would like to remind Ranger families that Hood caps can be collected and turned in all year. PARENT WORKSHOPS CPR Class for parents is being planned for sometime in January.  This class will be strictly information and no certifications will be given.  A Homework Survival Guide workshop for parents is also being planned for February.  LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE UPDATE The committee (headed by Peter Moniz of the Tree Commission) has presented a plan for an outside study garden which would consist of trees, shrubs, benches and a sculpture made from ceramic tiles designed by 4th grade students which will be dedicated to and left with Ranger School.  Currently the committee is looking into grants to fund this project and is also seeking donations of landscaping services.  Anyone interested in becoming part of landscaping planning committee should contact the Peter Moniz at pmoniz@prodigy.net or contact the PTO via our website. BOOK FAIR Books arrive Thurs. Nov. 8th.   Sale runs Tuesday, November 13th - 16th during school and on the eves of Parent-Teacher conferences.  Anyone available to help with set up, take down and/or running the sale should contact Kim Carlisle at kbnkc@aol.com.   NOVEMBER FAMILY FUN NIGHT   Friday, November 16th from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm.  The PTO is planning a Thanksgiving themed evening consisting of craft and card making for the US troops stationed in Iraq.  The PTO will also be collecting items to send to the troops such as donations of phone cards, blank CD’s, deodorant, toothbrushes, sunscreen and other items of this nature.  A complete list of items which can be donated will be listed on the PTO website and the flyer sent home with students.   To help cover the cost of the shipping and craft/card making supplies, the charge to attend this event will be $1.00 per child.     SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS / NEEDS The PTO received a request for 2 outside basketball hoops for the playground.  The estimated cost of new hoops is $1,000.00.  If this purchase is made, there will be no funds left in the PTO budget for school improvement needs which may arise later in the year.  The PTO is investigating several ways to raise funds for the hoops. RANGER PROVIDENCE BRUINS NIGHT This event is being planned for early January.  The PTO has decided to make this event a small fundraiser by inflating the ticket price by $2.00 and the money raised will go toward the cost of the basketball hoops. TEACHER WISH LISTS / SPECIAL REQUESTS  The PTO received requests totaling over $500.00 from various teachers and staff.  The PTO approved $231.85 worth of reimbursement for various teaching materials and the posters which are hung throughout the school.  There is now $268.15 left in the Special Request budget. AFTER SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM Classes for next session include: Acting Class, Sign Language, Pokemon Drawing, Team Sports, Hip Hop and Gymnastics.  Lynn Nicholas volunteered to look into grants which could offset the cost of the classes.  Anyone who would like to teach a class or has new ideas for classes should contact Sherri Feld at jandsfeld@cox.net. WINTER WEAR EXCHANGE The PTO received a suggestion for a Winter Wear Exchange which would include, coats, boots, hats, mittens, skates, ski equipment, sleds, etc.   This idea may be incorporated into a December family fun night.  Anyone interested in organizing this should contact Sherry Kourtesis at jsssk@aol.com or via the PTO via the website.