8th Grade Send-off on Wed, 6/16: Volunteers Needed

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On Wednesday, June 16th, Cedar Park will be hosting an 8th grade send-off celebration. There will be a "Treat Truck" with snacks, music, photo ops, and yearbook signing. Volunteers are needed to make the magic happen.

There are two shifts: 1-2:30pm and 2:30-4pm. Volunteers can help with set-up, tear-down, monitoring students, handing out yearbooks, etc. 

The event will be entirely outdoors. Masks are required.

Sign up HERE to send-off our 8th graders in style! **Please note that volunteers must be background checked through the mIP system.

June 2021 Community Meeting Minutes and Treasurer's Report

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The Cedar Park PTC met via Zoom for the final community meeting last Wed, 6/2. Dr. Anderson and your PTC Board were on hand to give updates on school/PTC news.

Topics included:

  • 8th Grade Send-off on Wed, 6/16

  • Committee Lead openings for 2021-22

  • Year to Date Numbers

  • Approval of 2021-22 Board members

    • President: Bettina Jeszenszky

    • VP: (open)

    • Secretary: Tina Meier-Nowell

    • Treasurer: Nicole Lowry

    • Director of Volunteers: (open, but is considered an appointed position pursuant to our bylaws, Section 8.b.) **As of 6/3/21, Holli Shenfield has been appointed to this position.

  • Approval of 2021-22 Budget

  • Incoming Family Q&A

Read through the unofficial minutes right HERE. Questions can be directed to Bettina Jeszenszky, PTC President.

SAVE THE DATE: Fall 2021 Dates

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As we close out this topsy-turvy year, it’s already time to look towards next fall.  Mark your calendars for these important upcoming dates for the 2021-22 school year.

WOLF DAY    THURSDAY, AUGUST 26

This one-day event helps parents and students feel prepared and excited about the beginning of school.  Drop in anytime on Thursday, 8/26 between 9am-noon or 2-6pm. Activities include Chromebook distribution (if needed), receiving your student’s schedule, picking up any needed supplies (PE t-shirt, school supplies), and completing your student’s online verification.

NEW STUDENT FAMILY RECEPTION  THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

This informal, drop-in event is geared toward our new families from 5:30-7pm.  A sweet treat will be provided as students will have an opportunity to "walk" their schedule, explore Cedar Park and meet other CPMS families. 

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (6TH GRADE ONLY)    Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 8

Sixth graders will have the school (and the bus) to themselves as they experience CPMS for the first time.  WEB leaders (8th grade mentor/leadership team) will lead them through ice breakers and other fun activities.  Students do not need to bring anything except a lunch. CPMS' school day begins at 9:15am.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (7TH & 8TH GRADE)  Thursday, SEPTEMBER 9

The seventh and eighth graders will join the sixth graders on 9/9.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT   THURSDAY, SEPT 23

The timing and format may still be up in the air, but mark your calendar for this important event to hear from administrators, and hear specific class info from individual teachers.

CEDAR PARK 5K    FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8

The PTC's only major fundraiser will take place on Friday, 10/8.  Volunteers will be needed to manage the chaos and ensure a successful event. Our goal is to make our full annual budget so we can sit back, relax, and watch our donations being spent on our students for the rest of the school year.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT     THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28

The annual CPMS Family Fun Night is back again, with art, science, and interactive stations for the entire family.  Stay tuned for more info regarding this teacher-led evening event.

More detailed information and additional dates will be sent throughout the year. Please note that these activities may change due to COVID protocols.

Cedar Park’s full calendar can be accessed HERE. Subscribe to your phone & save yourself some sanity.

June PTC Community Meeting on 6/2, Vote on Budget and Board

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Join your PTC leadership in the final community meeting of the year on Wed, 6/2 at 6:30pm via Zoom. Dr. Anderson will be on hand to offer Cedar Park updates, and community members will vote in next year's officers and approve next year's budget.

A tentative agenda can be found here.

2021-22 Board Slate:

  • President: Bettina Jeszenszky (returning)

  • Vice President: (open)

  • Secretary: Tina Meier-Nowell

  • Treasurer: Nicole Lowry

  • Director of Volunteers: (open)

Proposed 2021-22 Budget

Come and say one last thanks to our outgoing PTC leaders-- Jenna Dornblaser, Hannah Donohue, and Skye Kutansky-- and chat what worked, what didn't and brainstorm next year's goals.

The evening will also include a Q&A to all incoming fifth grade families. Zoom meeting info was sent via email on 5/28.

May 2021 PTC Board Meeting Summary

Your Cedar Park PTC Board met last week to go over final details of our June Community meeting, including preliminary prep for 2021-22 budget & chatting about volunteer needs moving forward.

Here’s a quick recap:

School Updates (Dr. Anderson):

  • Having kids back in school is amazing: Though a lot of work, it’s been awesome to see students in person. Being able to have conversations and hear/see students is reenergizing teachers for the end of the year.

  • Federal Covid money paid for teacher carts: Being able to move easily between classrooms & maintain safety in cohorting has been possible with the new carts.

  • Staff Appreciation Week was awesome! Huge thanks to Hannah, Jenna, and all the parents who donated to make such a fun, personalized week.

  • 8th grade send off planned for Wed,6/16: No times have been finalized, but this will be a walk-thru event (similar to supply pickup in February) with fun, safe, interactive games.  We will need parent volunteers to help organize & staff the event.  High school principals will be unable to attend due to their own school commitments and school swag will be given at the beginning of freshman year at both Beaverton & Sunset. However, the counselors were given a grant for an 8th grade commencement t-shirt contest. Ideas tossed out for volunteers included asking Beaverton/Sunset leadership students to help (since it’s on a Wed).  The PTC has a $2000 line item set-aside for this event. Interested folks can email Jenna (volunteers@cedarparkptc.org).

  • Team activities on the last two days of school:  Each team is organizing fun activity and are committed to including CDL kids.  Those at home will be able to do activities online with teachers, but all CDL students will be invited on the last day (transportation is being organized). The PTC has $2000 line item for 6/7th send-off to help support these events.

  • Rachel Carson Info Meeting on May 27th: Dr. A will be meeting with Rachel Carson families to help ease their transition to Cedar Park. Bettina mentioned that RC has their own volunteer coordinator, so the PTC may need to look at revising bylaws to incorporate.

  • Serious sub shortage in BSD: CPMS is doing their best to keep kids safe & engaged, but it has been an all-hands-on-deck situation as everyone has gotten creative.  

  • State-testing starts next week: Small group being tested (less than 200). BSD and Cedar Park will not be held to the same standards, as this is unreliable data.  BSD is required to offer testing in order to not lose state/federal funding.  The tests themselves will be different this year with no essay. 

PTC Updates:

  • K-12 School Experience Summit proposed: Bettina suggested creating some sort of leadership summit to feeder schools; some sort of meeting of the minds to discuss the broad strokes of how schools (elementary, middle, high school) interact with each other. How can we foster relationships through the whole K-12 experience? Dr. A. and Bettina will look to organize.

  • Director of Volunteers still needed for 2021-22: Aside from the vice president role (which has been vacant), the Director of Volunteers is the last position that needs to be filled.  Jenna mentioned that the district provides training for the mIP system. Though the Director does not organize every event, they do work to input sign-ups into the system and connect with Cedar Park admins on specific needs that need to be communicated.

  • 2021-22 Committee lead openings: CDL has made next year’s recruitment difficult.  While we’ve enjoyed more people attending our virtual meetings, it’s been hard to actually meet people.  Combined with the boundary changes, next year will be a reset of committee leads.  Openings include 5K, Staff Appreciation, Science Fair, PACK store, Art Lit, and student socials.

  • Preliminary planning for 2021-22 Budget: The Board, led by Skye, worked through each individual line item to decide if needed next year and at what level. Actuals from pre-covid years were also considered. Though the final proposed budget is still being tweaked, the Board discussed lowering income goals, maintaining some sort of individual class experiences, retaining traditional programs like Art Lit & PACK store, and setting aside money for community building next fall.  The 2021-22 proposed budget will be made public closer to our 6/2 community meeting.

  • Virtual vs. In-person Community Meetings in 2021-22:  The turnout has been better for our virtual meetings, as it’s so easy to listen in from home or a parking lot.  However, recruitment has been minimal and new community building has been difficult.  The Board will look at options for next year that balances both convenience and community.


And that’s a wrap! See you at our final PTC Community Meeting of the year on Wednesday, 6/2 @ 6:30pm via Zoom.