March — Lawrenceville Elementary PTO

March 2nd 2026

PTO Meeting Minutes

Date: March 2, 2026
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Meeting Called By: Simon Fairey
Quorum: Met

Attendees

Guest Speaker – Curriculum Presentation (Cari Gallagher)

Cari Gallagher, third grade teacher at LES, presented an overview of the OpenSciEd science curriculum currently used at the school.
She described the curriculum’s focus on:
- Anchoring phenomena
- Student‑driven inquiry
- Collaboration
- Sense‑making rather than traditional teacher‑directed instruction
She highlighted:
- Strong student engagement
- Flexibility for enrichment and scaffolding
- Alignment with New Jersey’s interdisciplinary Climate Change Education standards
Examples were shared across kindergarten through third grade units, emphasizing:
- Hands‑on learning
- Real‑world connections
Administration and PTO members noted positive feedback from students and families and thanked Cari for sharing her expertise.

1. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes

Motion to approve previous meeting minutes made by Flannery Posner and seconded by Simon Fairey.
Vote: Approved unanimously.
Note:
- Christine’s name was removed from Spring Yard Sale responsibilities as requested.

2. President Update (Simon Fairey)

Spring Yard Sale & Movie Night

Flyers and sign‑up for the Spring Yard Sale are still pending and will be finalized following Movie Night wrap‑up.
Christine’s name has been removed from Spring Yard Sale responsibilities in future minutes.

Meeting Platform

Discussion held regarding long‑term meeting platform:
- Google Meet has a 1‑hour limitation.
- Proposal made to purchase a dedicated LES PTO Zoom account for approximately $160/year.
Motion proposed and seconded to purchase the Zoom account.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Budget Update

Movie Night netted approximately $770.
- Expenses: ~$980
- Ticket sales and donations: ~$868
Reading Is a Dream expenses estimated at ~$200 (pending final confirmation).
Book Fair proceeds expected:
- ~$17.11 Scholastic Dollars confirmed
Current balance reflects a positive balance of approximately $649, noting:
- Upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week expenses
Scholastic Dollars balance reduced to approximately 1,400.

3. Principal Update (Kristin Shields Burke)

March Smore newsletter distributed; strong engagement reported.
Continued use of Google Form for family questions; monitoring responses.
Thank‑you message sent to families for service learning and teacher lounge donations via Talking Points.
Highlights included:
- Social Emotional Learning (Second Step & Zones of Regulation)
- Successful Grade 3 Heart Challenge fundraiser
- Upcoming garden initiatives and need for spring/summer volunteer support
- District‑wide NJ Maker Day (March 21, 10am–12pm at LHS cafeteria)

4. Treasurer Update (Ed – reported by Simon)

5. Fundraising Update (Subuh Jamshad)

Amalfi Fundraiser:
- Check to be dropped off at school.
Trenton Thunder Game:
- Scheduled for June 14, 1:00 PM
- Ticket pricing discussed; consensus to sell tickets at $12
Urban Air:
- Awaiting proposed dates and details
Crave:
- Follow‑up needed
- In‑person visit planned due to slow email response
Playa Bowls:
- Fundraiser confirmed for second week of March
- Flyer ready

6. Merchandising Update (Surayah)

Quotes obtained for bulk ordering:
- Water bottles
- Backpacks
- Keychains
Discussion held regarding Spring spirit wear:
- Consensus to prioritize bulk merchandise (non‑apparel)
- Optional online spirit wear sale may be considered later
Action Item
- Surayah to proceed with bulk order for water bottles and keychains.

7. Social Media Update (Christine – reported by Simon)

8. Events Update (Flannery / Amanda)

Movie Night
- Pizza pickup coordinated successfully (Amanda).
Reading Is a Dream (RIAD)
- Attendance down approximately 20% compared to last year.
- Contributing factors discussed:
  - Event scheduled shortly after Movie Night
  - Competing LIS event on same evening
- Teacher and staff feedback largely positive.
- Suggestions for future improvement:
  - Avoid scheduling conflicts with LIS
  - Increase gap between Movie Night and RIAD
  - Consider shorter reading sessions
  - Reinforce expected student behavior
  - Reintroduce bookmarks or small takeaways
Book Fair
- Spring Book Fair tentatively scheduled for April 8–10.
- Preference expressed to align Book Fair with parent‑teacher conferences.
- Action Item:
  - Amanda to consult Scholastic about rescheduling.

9. Any Other Business (AoB)

Direct Donation Letter:
- To be prepared and timed appropriately if Family Fun Night does not proceed
Donation Links:
- Added to communications
- Tracking effectiveness
Family Fun Night:
- Ownership unclear
- Surayah and Christine to restart outreach to teachers to gauge interest (potential April timing)
STEM Night:
- Dependent on grant approval
- May be rescheduled to May or June if needed
Yearbook
- LIS has opened preorders; LES to follow.
- Preorder price set at $25.
- Simon to restore ordering page and set up access.
- Class pages to be split among PTO volunteers.
- Kristin/Jane to coordinate school‑side content.
High School Award
- Decision made for Kristin to select recipient on behalf of PTO.
Action Item
- Simon to follow up with Laura regarding RIAD raffle coordination (completed).

Adjournment