PTO Meeting Notes - 10/7/2026

October 7, 2026


In-Person Attendees: 

Lacey Hatfield

Ashely Hull

Glenis Moon

Christina Clark 

Cindy Salus

Molly Holcomb

Lynnette Tarducci

Jen Messier

Angie Lofaro

Rebecca Barker, Vice Principal

Kimbra Johnston, Teacher Rep

Online Attendees: Shari Moon, Jessica Sterling


  • Admin Update – Mrs. Barker 

    1. Mrs. Caldwell would like to move ahead with a new sound system for the gym, ideally before the 3rd grade Veterans’ Day program on November 11th. Would like to know if PTO can contribute to or pay for this project. 

      1. Cost will be approx. $15k, maybe a little less based on estimate provided in prior meeting

      2. The company said they can have a pretty fast turnaround time if we decide to move ahead

      3. Those in the room liked the idea and Glenis said we have enough funds in the bank to cover it if we choose

      4. PTO membership will need to vote on this so we will put together an email to send out for a formal vote. 

    2. Other future projects administration wants to do are expanding the small playground and getting a gaga pit for the small playground. 

    3. On Veterans’ Day the 3rd grade is performing patriotic songs at an assembly to which parents are not invited but local veterans are. They will repeat the performance that evening for families. More info to come from the school. 

    4. Lacey asked Mrs. Barker about updating the PTO info on the WCS Bethesda website because we don’t have access to update it ourselves. She will put in the request. 

  • Treasurer’s Report – Glenis Moon

    1. We have an excess of money in the bank account compared to what we normally have at this time of year. Lacey thinks this is because PTO often votes at the end of the year to put a large amount of money towards a big project and this may not have happened last summer. The point of the PTO is to raise money to spend money not to keep money so this reiterates the point that we have enough to spend on the sound system. 

    2. We have only had 6 teachers submit requests for their annual $100 reimbursement for classroom supplies. 

      1. Mrs. Johnston said many are having trouble with the link. The best way to make it work is to use a personal email from home not a WCS email from campus. 

      2. Glenis said if people are having trouble they can always put their receipt in the PTO mailbox and she can process the reimbursement that way. Mrs. Johnston will pass along this info to the teachers. 

    3. We had previously talked about option of moving our funds from a regular checking account to a money market account. 

      1. Would be more secure since right now all our funds are in one account linked to two bank cards and therefore could be vulnerable if a card was lost or stolen

      2. Would also allow us to earn a little bit of interest

      3. Glenis checked with the district and we don’t need to open a fundraiser on the books for interest earned

      4. The group felt this was a good idea so Glenis will move forward with this option. 

    4. Reminder that for BBQ or any event where we are collecting money, either cash or Square, a PTO member must be the one collecting the money. 

      1. We need to make sure a PTO member is at the ticket and spirit wear tables at BBQ. 

      2. Glenis won’t be at BBQ so Ashley Fusner is point person for money issues that day. Glenis will make sure cash boxes and Square login are situated before the event. 

  • Teacher Update – Mrs. Johnston

    1. Only issue raised was about the reimbursement link which Glenis addressed. 

  • Open Positions

    1. Yard Signs – Molly Holcomb volunteered 

    2. Kickball

    3. Teacher Appreciation Week 

    4. Dodgeball

    5. Summit Spirit Night

    6. Kinder Sneak Peek

    7. Supply Kits 

    8. Angie will put together email with job descriptions and estimated time commitment to send to school contact list to try to get more participation 

      1. If interested in helping out, please contact a PTO member or email bethesdaelementarypto@gmail.com 

  • Spirit Nights and Upcoming Events

    1. Cookie Fix is tomorrow 10/8; order by midday and orders will be delivered to school before end of day to come home with your student 

    2. Chili Lunch for Teachers and Staff – 10/21

      1. Sign up here: https://ww w.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45A8AE2EA2FECF8-60375328-oct#/

    3. Martin’s BBQ 11/9

    4. Brentwood Skate Center – 11/17

    5. Doing two at Chik-Fil-A in December and February 

  • Elf Shop

    1. Will be Nov 30 – Dec 4 with setup and decorating happening before Thanksgiving Break 

    2. Lacey found 3 chairpersons and is looking for a possible 4th: Haley W., Ashley F., Lauren D.

      1. PTO will set up and send sign ups for helping with setup/decorating and working the shop the week kids are shopping, hopefully with class schedule so parents know when their kids will be shopping 

    3. Using a new company this year that provides a website for parents to preview products which we can send ahead of Thanksgiving Break

    4. Parents can set up a wallet connected to their credit card 

    5. Will organize products by relationship so easier for kids to find things 

    6. PTO puts aside a box of last year’s leftover product as well as sample products from this year for kids who may not have any money given from home to shop with 

  • Membership Drive 

    1. We want to do a membership drive to promote participation in the PTO 

    2. Levels of membership were revamped this year to include tickets to events and other products (e.g. yearbook) so families can purchase one bundle package that includes PTO membership and 1-2 votes

    3. If a homeroom gets 100% participation by BBQ their homeroom will earn a donut breakfast 

    4. Clarification that any parent can be a member of PTO, come to meetings, and volunteer for events. Paid membership includes a vote. 

    5. Discussion about if families want to join but can’t afford bundle membership. Maybe we should offer a nominal amount that just comes with membership and vote. Mrs. Johnston said in the past buying the field trip t-shirt came with membership and a vote so we will look into doing that again next year. 

    6. We hope in the future to move to a flat donation amount per family that includes membership but then we won’t charge for event entry (e.g. BBQ, family dance, etc.)

  • BBQ – Molly Holcomb

    1. No costume contest this year because theme is “Homecoming” not Halloween

    2. We haven’t asked Touch a Truck folks to bring candy but some might on their own 

    3. Molly has asked Independence HS students who dress up as Princesses if they can come to event. Hasn’t heard back so Mrs. Johnston is reaching out to her contact there. 

    4. Jennifer Thornton, realtor who distributed cotton candy last year, is being a paid sponsor this year rather than giving out anything 

    5. We are not having a stage, dance floor, or bubble machine this year 

    6. Going to have two photo ops

      1. One will be fall themed; got 4 mums for a photo backdrop; Lacey’s reusable balloons, and BES backdrop  

        1. looking for a farm to donate haybales and/or cornstalks; will ask Wilson Family Farm

      2. Other will be Homecoming themed with balloons or light up letters that say ‘BES’ and ‘90’; Ashley will make a banner that says Homecoming

    7. Last year we had extra games in field that kids could do themselves without needing adults to run it but we are not doing that this year as we think we have enough 

    8. Lynnette has inflatable gaga ball pit she will loan us to use 

    9. If we need power for the BBQ, be advised there are outlets near the scoreboards 

    10. Touch a Truck will be on Field 1, games will be on Field 3, and helicopter will be on Field 4

    11. Existing signage from prior years should be in the shed 

    12. Molly will make a design for the ticket prices and Ashley will print on a yard sign to put near ticket table 

      1. 1 ticket for $1

      2. 25 tickets for $20

      3. Entry $10 per person 

    13. If teachers are volunteering they do not have to pay entry fee 

    14. Mrs. Barker confirmed we can do reserved front row seating for some events throughout year such as Singing Dragons concerts, 5th grade promotion, kindergarten event, etc. 

    15. Mrs. Caldwell checked with district and we cannot auction off first spot in car rider line or a parking space per district policy 

    16. Changing dunk tank to pie in the face (whipped cream on a paper plate)

    17. Need to add to sign ups

      1. Blaze costume along with a handler in 1 hr increments 

      2. Photo taker for each photo op spot 

      3. Changing dunk tank to pie in the face 

      4. Adding face paint volunteers 

        1. Ms. Pittsley is willing to do face paint and Ashley has a friend who also does it; will put them in different locations and add sign up spots for helpers 

    18. Need to clarify address and location of event in all publications so folks do not end up at new Bethesda Rec Center 

    19. Do we need to block off entry to event between fields? No, use the honor system 

    20. For duck pull game for 2nd grade, Glenis is giving Bethany Sweeney her supplies this week 

    21. There are lots of tables in the shed and others in cafeteria closet we can use

    22. May need to get table cloths, perhaps the stretchy reusable kind that won’t blow away in the wind 

    23. Megan Crager is bringing the hayride 

    24. Will have an alumni table at BBQ; Lacey will print stickers or Ashley will print buttons for alumni to wear 

    25. Mrs. Johnston will ask about Bethesda Museum being open that night 

    26. Mrs. Johnston will invite young alumni from local middle and high schools who graduated from BES recently

    27. Molly working with Kroger on cakewalk donations; Lacey will follow up

Bethesda PTO