PTO

 

HPTO Meeting Agenda

Sept 2025 | 6:00pm to 7:30pm | Location: Havana Coffee

1. Welcome (Dr. Grandt)
   1. Attendance: Genna Robinson, Andrea Schmaling, Michelle Spence, Deborah Spence, Rachel Krause, Mary Wesmess, Erin Stacey, Amanda Steurer, Crystal Torres, Nicki Rasmussen, Allisen Cullum, Jessica Grandt, Jennifer Babcock. 
   2. Principal Update (Jessica)  
   3. Great start to the school year! Huge thanks to the PTO for all of your help at Meet and Greets, including the free t-shirts for all of the students and the snacks for staff. 
   4. Picture day is already next Wednesday September 24th. Information for ordering both the pictures and the yearbook is on FB and in Dojo. Stacy Jersild will be helping out with picture day.
   5. This Wednesday, September 17th is the deadline to turn in donation money to get a free t-shirt! 
   6. NOTICE****Dr. Grandt announced  that Sarah Smith, HPTO President, will be stepping down in her role for personal reasons. Sarah will remain a HPTO member but will no longer serve on the Executive Board.  We thank Sarah for her work as the President and for all of the wonderful things she has done for our school. Per the PTO by-laws, the executive board will meet to discuss and vote to fill the opening for the remainder of the year. This meeting will take place at least 48 hours following this notice.
2. Teacher Updates
   1. Primary:
      1. Kindergarten:
         1. Thank you, PTO, for the snacks that were provided during the meet and greets.
         2. Kindergarten has started its new science curriculum, learning about cold/warm temperatures.
         3. For math, they are practicing ten frames.
         4. In reading, they have started using book bins and practicing more independent reading.
      2. 1st grade:
         1. For science, they are learning about light and sound.
         2. In math, they are working on double ten frames, adding to 20.
         3. In reading, they started their second week in Wonders and took their first progress monitor last week.
         4. They are also learning about our city and country.
   2. Intermediate:   
      1. 2nd Grade:
         1. Wonders focusing on characters, setting, and plot.
         2. Math- addition/subtraction within 20 using number racks.
         3. New Science-learning about earth exploration.  Really enjoying the more hands-on/exploration approach.
         4. Social Studies-learning about how families learn about their past.
      2. 3rd grade:
         1. READING: Beginning next text set working on Author's purpose and Character's Perspective
         2. MATH: addition/subtraction, getting a refresh on strategies
         3. SCIENCE: Pinball Machines: Understanding what force is and how to apply force
         4. SOCIAL STUDIES: Diversity in the USA: what makes our country so diverse?
   3. Upper Unit:  
      1. 4th grade:  
         1. Math- We are working on multiplication strategies in class and review skills in WIN.
         2. Social Studies- We are exploring the Four Social Sciences and then will shift our focus to geography.
         3. Writing- We are learning and practicing the steps to traffic light writing.
         4. Reading- We are reading expository text and focusing on compare and contrast and diagrams and headings. 
         5. Science- We have started an extensive study on Tsumamis with a focus on how to help people prepare.
      2. 5th Grade:
         1. ELA: Focus on the narrative non-fiction genre.  Main standards are cause and effect and homographs.  1st story involves the true story of John Muir and President Roosevelt at Yosemite National Park and the importance of conservation, so our first writing activity will be researching a National Park.
         2. Math: Main focuses are volume, order of operations, and multiplication strategies
         3. Science- Just started new curriculum "My Sci".  Our first unit involves Pizza Farms as a way to introduce plants and how living things get and process their food.  We are sprouting mung beans and lentils and had an experiment using yeast with sugar in a bottle and another bottle without sugar to see how much carbon dioxide was released.  
         4. Social Studies:  Events leading up to the American Revolution-all of the main conflicts, acts implemented, Loyalists vs. Patriots.
3. Treasurer’s Report (Allisen)
   1. 2025-2026 Budget Review and Approval Needed
      1. Budget Approved. Motion first by Jennifer Babcock and motioned second by Jessica Grandt. All others were in favor.  
   2. Cross Country Jersey Invoice - Javad 
      1.  Executive board voted as this needed to be decided on prior to school starting due to timing of first meet. 
   3. A new line added into Student Activities for Prior Year Field Trips. 
      1. These are field trips the school is waiting on the district to send invoices to us for.  Currently we owe $3501.00. 
      2. It was also mentioned that all grades receive 3 field trips per school year.
      3.   Dr. Grandt mentioned that 1 more teacher was added to account for that addition.    
      4. Currently over budget by $8023.00 however this will end up leaving us with roughly over 
   4. $5000.00 in bank which is ideal.                    
4. Check-in: PTO Needs for Upcoming Events 
   1. Color Run Week - See Separate CR document
   2. Updates
      1. Erin could use 2 more volunteers for Food Sales and 2 more for Floaters. Jessica has 2 greeters she may be able to have help elsewhere if needed. Erin will look into having Marissa post something on Dojo to ask for more volunteers/attach a link to HPTO Facebook page to sign up. 
      2. DJ Jason is NOT able to DJ Color Run. Allisen was able to get a hold of her neighbor, Jon Gordon who owns a DJ Company. He’ll have his DJ named Chris come out to help us for $50.00. Allisen has booked this. Allisen will also confirm that they’ll have a microphone and see if they have disco ball/lights.  (Mentioned that Erin will look on Amazon to purchase schools' own disco ball, lights/fun accessories we can use for multiple events like game night, bingo, glow night. Erin will email to the executive board what she finds). 
      3. Need Juice Donation yet! Erin will post on HPTO Facebook page asking if anyone would be willing or has a connection to get juice boxes donated again this year. Water is taken care of  
      4. Porta Potty - can no longer get a donated porta potty from Lon Jon’s. Discounted cost is $135.00.  Agreed to just go with Lon Jons and pay.  Allisen will call to book. Delivery is happening on 9/24 and will be picked up on 9/26.
      5. 50/50 will be announced at 6:15 SHARP. Color Run will take place right afterwards.  
      6. Jennifer Babcock will disburse color into 6 buckets (6 Stations) in the evening of Tuesday September 23rd.  
   3. Coin Wars
      1. Erin has volunteers set for each day. Hours will be 10:45am-12:15pm.
      2. Mrs. Astin take daily for count and Dr. Grandt will make daily announcements
      3. Class prize will be given for Coin Wars this year, and class that raises the most $ will win a pizza party.
         1. No class prize this year for most adult donations.
         2. Families have the opportunity to get a free t-shirt for their child and have them tie-dye it based on their donations
   4. Spirit Days  
      1. Monday: Crazy from head to toe!  Wear everything from your wildest hats to your zanniest socks! 
      2. Tuesday:  Tacky tourist tie-dye. Wear your silliest tourist attire along with tie-dye! 
      3. Wednesday:  Dress to Impress!  School Picture Day! 
      4. Thursday: Color Blast! (Kindergarten - wear red; 1st grade - wear orange; 2nd grade - wear yellow; 3rd grade - wear blue; 4th grade - wear purple; 5th grade - wear pink)
      5. Friday:  Harrison Spirit Day! Celebrate your Harrison spirit and wear all your green and white!
   5. Assemblies
      1. Animals - October 3rd $475 for 3-1 hour sessions
         1. Need a check ready that day.  Allisen can have a check that morning for presenter (Kim) or Paypal her. 
         2. Need 4-5 parent volunteers to help - set up starts at 8:15, clean up should be done by 1:30 w/ a 15 minute break between sessions and 30 minutes for lunch - Volunteers will be running a station and handling the animals - Ms. Sarauer would prefer the same volunteers the whole time. 
            1. Marissa needs volunteer names by October 2nd.
   6. Erin will send out a message looking for volunteers. Possibly email Marissa to post something on Dojo to fill volunteer spots or announce that volunteers are needed and attach link to HPTO Facebook Page to sign up. 
   7. UWW Wheelchair Basketball $750/1-hour.  Will be discussed later as this will happen in the Spring. 
5. Upcoming Events:
   1. Trunk or Treat - October 30th
   2. Erin will email Marissa to post something to Dojo. Either a volunteer list sign up or link to HPTO Facebook page. 
   3. Discussed updating the map so families/kids cannot go back to the beginning once they reach the end of the line. Prefer that families keep going around to the front of the school.  Possibly have yard games set up in the front or having a dance party out front or end of line.  Mrs. Tourdot is chair person for event, Erin will discuss with her.  
6. Family Game Night - November 14th
7. Movie Night - December 12th
8. Virtual Bingo - January 16th
9. Parents Night Out - February 6th
10. Glow Party (3rd-5th grade) - March 6th
11. JPAC Show - TBD
12. Family Trivia - April 10th

Wetland Sign - Updates

Approval made to have Donna (Summer Custodian) go forward with creating a new sign.  Dr. Grandt will email Donna requesting a list of material needed for this upgrade and if she prefers to purchase and be reimbursed or have HPTO purchase directly for her.  Dr. Grandt will let executive board know. This will be completed over the colder months. 

 

6. New Business

Popcorn Fridays will be changing to Popcorn Wednesdays.  Mary Westness and Deborah Spence will go in one Wednesday per month together to pop the popcorn and package it.  Goes right along with our Harrison spirit days on Wendesdays! Teachers will hand out to students at the end of day. 

• The first Popcorn Day will be Wednesday:  October 8th. 

 

7. Questions or Concerns  

• Can Principal Message me posted in dojo? Dr. Grandt will look into this.  A lot of parents are now registered with Dojo. 

 

Next Meeting: Monday, October 20th | 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | at Havana Coffee

 

NOTICE: The Executive Board will meet via Google Meet, on Friday September 19th at 5:15pm to discuss and vote on how to fill the current opening for President and also to discuss any subsequent openings within the officer positions that could potentially result due to restructuring caused by the vacancy. Results will be shared at the next regularly scheduled PTO meeting.

 

 

HPTO Meeting Agenda

Oct 2025 | 6:00pm to 7:30pm | Location: Havana Coffee

1. Welcome (Erin) 
   1. Introductions/ Attendance:

In attendance:  Jen Babcock, Rachel Krause, Jen Demerath, Andrew Carran, Debbie Spence, Lori Thorson, Dr. Grandt, Erin Stacey, Michelle Spence, Mary Westness, Bethany Mongiat

2. Principal Update (Jessica)  

• 2025 Fall Color Run was a tremendous success with over 500 people in attendance, great sponsors and the fundraising goal was met.  
• Harrison staff is geared up for Parent Teacher Conferences this week and hosting the Scholastic Book Fair for parents and students to attend.  
• PTO was thanked for providing boxed meals for Wednesday night.  
• Finally, the district parent survey was sent out and everyone is encouraged to participate.  Laptops will also be available in the library for people attending conferences or the book fair to complete the survey. 

3. Teacher Updates
   1. Primary Unit: 

K: Math: we are working on 10 frames, tally marks, and 2D shapes

Reading: we are in unit 2 and working on concepts of print

Science: Unit Playground Cooldown studying extreme weather and weather patterns

1st: Math: Adding to 20

Science: Learning how to make sounds for a puppet play

Writing: Narrative writing

2. Intermediate Unit: 

2nd: Math-we are having fun measuring beans and gardens that go along with the story Jack and the Beanstalk

-Reading-we are working on expository texts and are learning about how offspring depend on their parents.  We are working on the central idea & details.

-Science-we are learning about early explorers and where/how they lived.

-Writing-we are finishing up our realistic fiction stories.

 

3rd: Math- multiplication working on arrays and counting up stamp costs.

-Reading starting Unit 2 on expository texts with comprehension and authors claim.

-Science -continuing pinball machines and the forces of magnets

-Writing -adding details and revising personal narratives.

 

3. Upper Unit:  

4th: Math- we are continuing our work on using a variety of strategies for multiplication; focusing on fact, fluency

Reading- working on finding central idea and supporting details using expository text

Writing- finished up a two week study of grammar and have moved back into writing organized paragraphs using a stoplight strategy

Social studies- wrapping up our geography unit and moving into a month-long study of Wisconsin history

Science- continuing our study of what makes tsunami happen, learning about waves, and trying to figure out how to protect people against tsunami

We went on our first field trip to JSOL and had an amazing time and learned lots

The Delta Kappa Gamma writing contest was just offered to students, we had our second class store as a reward for white and green tickets earned, and both classes have earned their first feather party! 

 

5th: Math- adding and subtracting fractions, finding common denominators, fact fluency, finding a fraction of a whole number(multiplying) We just finished our River Trail or Spooky Trail which focuses on this skill

ELA-Starting unit 2, our text this week ties in with our Social Studies curriculum, just finished up researching a National Park and presenting a slideshow with the information

Social Studies-Revolutionary War and Declaration of Independence-just created a timeline of events leading up the War, and now focusing on events during the war

Science-Plants.  Just finished an experiment growing bean seeds with different variables.  Found that plants can survive without soil and explored hydroponics

Both classes just earned their 1st Feather Party of the year

 

4. Treasurer’s Report (Allisen)
   1. 2025-2026 Budget Review: 
      1. Budget copy handed out for review. 
      2. Erin requested ideas for spending funds. Please bring them to the next meeting.
   2. Color Blast Recap: 
      1. Fundraising goal met. Yay!
5. Check-in: PTO Needs for Upcoming Events (Erin/Sarah)
   1. Teacher Conferences (10/22 Evening and 10/23 All day):

   i.Book Fair (Any Needs?) Ran by Mr. Shevy: Nothing needed

   ii.Needs from PTO?: PTO providing Wednesday dinner 

   iii.Dinner for Teachers?: Yes

 

2. Trunk or Treat (10/30) Ran by Mrs. Tourdot

   i.Donation Status: More candy donations still needed, request for more donations. FB post to be issued asking for donations at conferences.  Inventory count to be done before Trunk-or-Treat and PTO to supply any additional candy.

   ii.Volunteer Status: No known volunteers needed 

   iii.Any further needs: Review of donations and additional needs to happen Monday 10.27.25.

 

3. Restaurant Nights: (Volunteer Needs/Posting on Dojo/Flyer going home/Facebook Page Post??)

   i.Qdoba (Nov 19th) FB/Dojo Flyers need to be sent out.  Qdoba requires students/families to say upon order for Harrison Fundraiser. Volunteers may still be required. Allisen usually helps with this.

   ii.Noodles (Dec 17th) No discussion 

 

4. Family Game Night (Nov 14th)

   i.Volunteers: Erin Stacey to hand over to Mary Westness for main support

   ii.Snacks?: No snacks needed but looking for game donations and potentially having  PTO purchase new games.  Ideas for games for PTO to purchase: Tapple, Spot It, and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza are popular right now.

iii. Raffle: Idea to Raffle off Mac’s Pizza certificates or gift cards to attendees for a prize raffle as an incentive to participate.

 

5. Movie Night (Dec 12th)

   i.Volunteers: Debbie Spence, Michelle Spence, Mary Westness

   ii.Snacks: Popcorn (popped during the day) or Christmas Cookie

   iii.What Movie?: Prep & Landing to be played.  License option confirmed by Mary Westness.

iv.  Craft: Decision to only show one short film and do an ornament decorating craft project also. Either to complete there or take home for completion. Mary will look for ideas to be discussed at November meeting.

 

6. Color Blast Run Recap: 

   i.How’d Potato Sack Race and Slimming of Dr. Grandt go? Kids loved both.  Madison school lent us the sliming apparatus.  Thank you note to be sent for Stephanie Filter Madison Principal.  PTO thanked for set-up and slime help.

   ii.Ideas for next year: Requested slime change and further options to be reviewed later.  Question on food truck and reliability was discussed. 

Iii. Sponsor thank-you notes to be issued by Erin Stacey.

 

7. Free HPTO Directory: (Allisen Completed. Have we disbursed?)
   1. Completed and disbursed

 

8. Hawks Night Out: Adults-Only Spring Fundraiser (Feb 6th) 

   i.Planning Committee (Needs to be formed): Committee established Allisen Cullum, Jen Babcock, Mary Westness, Michelle and Debbie Spence.  Jen Babcock to follow up with Rachel (prior year member) for participation.

   ii.School Department Application on who earns the money raised?:  Erin Stacey to send Dr. Grandt application for department fundraising.  Application due for review and final department determination at November meeting.

Iii. Party Details: New time suggested. 6pm-9pm or 5:30pm-8:30pm.  Erin Stacey to confirm with Sidelines on venue, date and time. Confirm that Allisen will take over auction Zeffy platform for fundraiser.

 

6. Wetland Sign Update: Donna is designing and updating sign and will buy all applicable materials needed and submit receipts for reimbursement. Sign to be completed this winter and installed in the spring.

 

7. Playground Update: 

1. Basketball Hoops (Nets/Painting?) Work order created for basketball hoops and waiting on the Maintenance Department for actioning. No known timeframe.
2. Nine Square in the Air/Catherine Kolb sent a new idea to purchase - Quote received from Catherine Kolb but based on costs of purchase of structure and the cost to build a permanent installation - project has been tabled due to high costs.  Additional discussion available for potentially a portable option for gym use.

 

8. Geoff Mongiat/Would like to Sponsor something:

1. Ideas: Requested to update Wetlands sign - project currently in process.  Other ideas for sponsorship was the Christmas ornament craft, painting supplies for the garbage area and updating the Little Library. Jen Babcock to reach out to Geoff Mongiat via email. 

 

9.  JAC Meeting Nov 6th at 6pm at ESC

1. The JAC PTA is hosting an Update/Q&A with Superintendent Mark Holzman.  Any interested parties are welcome to attend! Upcoming meeting discussed and attendance welcomed on behalf of Allisen Cullum with You’re Invited flyers distributed to meeting attendees. 

 

10.  New Business (Erin)

i. Interest in guest speakers broached:  Dr. Grandt discussed Mrs. Tourdot and Mrs. Williams hosting a parent night in January to discuss the staff book study of The Anxious Generation. Also discussed was the Police Department and collaboration for a safety discussion or reaching out to Mr. Shevy on internet/device safety and security. 

ii. Teacher Spotlight discussed. Monthly spotlight and introduction to a Harrison teacher, questions submitted to Dr. Grandt for approval and staff distribution.  Marissa to release on Dojo/FB and PTO to utilize bulletin board in the hallway to post highlights.

iii. Next popcorn day is set for November 12th.

 

   11.  Questions or Concerns (Erin) Nothing discussed

      

 

Next Meeting: Monday, November 17th | 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | at Havana Coffee