August 2024 Newsletter

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Message from PTO Co-Presidents 

Message from PTO Co-Presidents 

On behalf of the FSK PTO, welcome to the 2024-2025 school year. We are excited to introduce ourselves as the Co-Presidents of the PTO for the next two school years. Thank you to Talley Kovacs for her incredible leadership of the PTO over the last two school years. Thank you also to outgoing PTO Officers Emily Jones and Corina Lippard for their countless contributions to the PTO over the years. Under their leadership and through the efforts of the PTO Board, our PTO is as strong and active as ever. We are eager to build upon that progress this year. We know that the strength of our community lies in the talented teachers, administrators, staff, and parents that work tirelessly on behalf of our school. Having a strong PTO and support of school parents is a critical piece to that success and we are proud to lead the PTO’s efforts in the coming years. From tangible improvements like new playgrounds to intangible supports like teacher appreciation efforts and funding transportation for our athletic program, there are countless ways the PTO can and does enrich the experience for the whole FSK school community. Please be on the lookout for opportunities to support events, volunteer, and raise money. Included in this newsletter is a list of things all parents can do to immediately support the school and PTO. 

Best of luck to everyone for the new school year! 

Drew Vetter, Co-President and parent of FSK 3rd grader
Mary Claire Blythe, Co-President and parent of FSK kindergartener 

New PTO Board of Officers 

Our PTO Board of Officers began two-year terms that started in July. Our new officers are the following: 

Drew Vetter – Co-President
Mary Claire Blythe – Co-President
Annie Dennis – Vice President
Michelle Whicher – Treasurer
Meredith Vikara – Secretary 

We would also like to welcome several members who are new to the PTO Board for the coming year: Kyle Robinson, Jessica Dodds, and Ashley Bessicks.

PTO Meetings

The PTO has finalized the calendar of PTO General Meetings for the coming year. PTO meetings will be held in-person at 7pm in the Library on the second floor of the school. These meetings are open to all parents. Hold these dates if you are interested in attending, and please email PTO Secretary at mlarson410@gmail.com if you would like to have the meeting invites for the year added directly to your calendar. 

Wednesday, 9/25/24
Wednesday, 10/16/24
Wednesday, 11/20/24
Wednesday, 12/18/24
Wednesday, 1/15/25
Wednesday, 2/19/25
Wednesday, 3/19/25
Wednesday, 4/23/25
Wednesday, 5/21/25 

PTO Summer Activities 

Summer represents a key time to make improvements around the school to greet our students, teachers, and staff when they return for the new school year. The following projects, led by the PTO, were completed this summer: 

Mural

The FSK Unity Mural was completed this past May by SolRaya Public Space, thanks to the generous support of the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) and Arts EveryDay. The Unity Mural is part of FSK PTO’s master plan to improve the outdoors and provide more joyful spaces for students to play and grow. As part of this effort, new playground equipment, soccer goals, and landscaping (designed by FSK parent Kevin Gaughan and FORM Design) were also installed this spring. A huge thank you to PTO Board member Nicole Buchholz for obtaining the funding, creating the design, and completing this beautiful project. 

Security Improvements

Utilizing a grant received by the PTO from the Friedman Foundation, as well as matching funds from the school and PTO, we worked with the school administration to identify and address a number of key security and safety improvements to the school this summer. 

Basketball Hoops

Utilizing funds raised by the PTO, adjusters have been added to all six of the basketball hoops in the gym. These hoop adjusters will allow younger students to play basketball more easily and will enable FSK to be able to host basketball games and events for younger student athletes. Thank you to PTO Board member Letty Passerella for leading this project, and Luis Martinez, Jr, FSK parent, for helping with the installation. 

Nature Play Area

We will receive new logs, stumps, and benches in partnership with Camp Small, the wood waste recycling program operated by the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, for the Nature Play Space in front of the school. This will allow us to refresh this popular space with new features for the new school year. Thank you again to Nicole Buchholz for leading this project. 

Classroom Painting

Thanks to the generous donation of time and effort from the Foundry, 5 classrooms received a fresh coat of paint this summer. 

Pre-K and K Meet-Ups for New Families

Thank you to PTO Board Member Martha Firehock for organizing two summer playground playdates for new students and families at the school. These events are opportunities for students and children to meet one another, meet the PTO and school staff, and get familiar with the FSK school grounds. 

Lunch to Welcome Back Teachers and Staff. Led by PTO Board member Shannon Dalzell, the PTO’s Teacher Appreciation Committee shows appreciation to our teachers and staff in several ways throughout the year. We provided lunch to teachers and staff last we 

How to Help 

One of the most frequent questions asked of the PTO by interested parents is what they can do to help. Below is a list of actions that every parent and family can take immediately to get involved with the work of the PTO. 

  1. Link your Harris Teeter VIC Card to FSK. This requires submitting only the name and phone number linked with your account. This program has been one of the top revenue generating activities for the PTO for a number of years. Please email John Shea (john.shea@rowhomefinancial.com) to enroll now. The PTO will have enrollment sheets available on the first day of day school and various other events throughout the Fall. 
  2. Volunteer. Please complete this form to let the PTO know your interests and be placed on the list for volunteer opportunities.  We will be circulating sign-up sheets at school events as well. In the short-term, please be on the lookout for the following:
    • Attend FSK Restaurant Night at CHX McHenry Row anytime on Wednesday, August 28th. See the following link for more details: FSK Restaurant Night- CHX McHenry Row | Facebook. 
    • Volunteer signups for the Locust Point Festival on September 14 
    • Attend FSK Day at Camden Yards for the Orioles game on September 22. 
    • Join Team FSK for the Baltimore Running Festival on October 19. 
  3. Attend PTO Meetings. This is your opportunity to be updated on the activities of the PTO and learn about opportunities to help. 
  4. Plan for the Annual Giving Campaign. The PTO’s Annual Giving Campaign begins in November each year and is our single largest annual fundraising event. We rely heavily on the generous gifts of FSK families and community members for a substantial portion of total funds raised. To the extent you are able to contribute financially, please begin to plan and be on the lookout for the kickoff of AGC 2024. 
  5. Display your FSK Spirit. The PTO is making a special push this year to show our FSK Spirit around Locust Point and around the City. Look for opportunities to grab window signs, car magnets, reusable shopping bags, and can koozies to show the world how proud we are of our FSK community!