Ridgeway PTA Meeting Minutes

Ridgeway General PTA Meeting
November 18, 2025
7:00 PM      
Location: Ridgeway School

Attendees:
Taryn Friedman
Jessica Woodford
Kristina McLaughlin
Cait Webster
Annie Rhodes
Rebecca Cerise
Gabi Flick
Tara McCarthy
Melissa Welsh
Lauren Reynolds
Alexis Rieger
Lauren Carasso
Jillian King
Lucia Renz
Loralee Stone
Liz Trepp
Joanna Efstathiou-Dittmar
And various members of the Ridgeway community

President's report:

- Veterans Day success - thank you Hospitality. Videos/pictures posted on social media 
- CAC program - after school with WPYB? 
- Car pick up/ drop off procedures
- Discussing with Dr. Crawford and Mr. Robles on how to improve and create clear signage on how the process works. 
- Meeting with teachers for staff meeting- will remind them of their PTA Teacher reimbursements. Need to submit by 12/19
- Holiday parties - each grade receives money put toward holiday parties: $250 -$350. 
- Reimbursements will be done through teachers and or parents
- Girls On the Run made marketing/advertising posters for food drive 
- School supply Kits need a new chair (ordering happens in spring); could be a great entry point for a new volunteer. Able to accommodate a working parent's schedule.

Administrators:

Dr. Crawford/ Mr. Robles joined the meeting to thank the community for support and let the group know American education week will be acknowledged digitally this year and will send out information on Friday. Will also be organizing the pantry donations in front of Ms. Zottola's office. Our Pantry will be able to be accessed on Fridays to Ridgeway families mainly, but we will not turn away a family in need. It is currently well stocked from the donations of our school community.

Chair Updates:
Treasurer Report: Cait and Annie
* Quarterly Audit Committee- need 1 or 2 more volunteers.
* Continue to check in with treasurers before spends/events to get budget info 

Events: Gabbi, Bruna & Aga
* Dad's at Dunne's - raised about $1300. 31 local dads attended. Great new addition.
* Events coming up:
o Holiday Boutique 
* Set up to be done Dec 9th. Event will be Dec 10 & 11 open. 
* Flyers will go home first week of December 
* Sign up Genius will come out shortly for volunteers.
o Talent show is Feb 6; Auditions are Jan 27th/28th.
* Need helpers especially at rehearsals at Eastview.
o Glow BINGO Jan 16th and Jan 30th
* Looking for new Co-chair to take over for future events; Selling hats, pizza- need volunteers
* New idea: Sell Shirts & glow marker kit 
* Asking for gift donations for the prizes. 1st week after the holiday break.
* Special needs partnership for both events - looking for ideas!

Philanthropy: Mitzie & Carolyn
* Turkey Trot Food Drive - Fred is stuffed! 
* Ridgeway Food Pantry update: Opening date will be sent via Parent Square app.

Spirit wear: Evis & Jillian 
* Online Spirit wear distributed - similar profit to last year  
* All in-person events for the fall are done, but we will try to accommodate people who still want to purchase spirit wear on a case by case basis.

Assemblies - Melissa & Tara 
* First assembly was October 30 - Planetarium was a success!
* Second Assembly will be on Feb 26th Lunar New Year 
* Looking at a Kindness and an Author series if there is excess money in the budget.
* Mobile Ed - STEAM ASSEMBLY for future assemblies

5th grade committee: Kelli & Jenn
* Concessions and Election Day bake sale were all very successful events for fundraising.
* Continue to collect photos from families for the yearbook, so if you are a 5th grade family please get your photos in. 4th grade families start thinking ahead because this is a heavy lift!
* Chelsea Piers Trip date has been secured for the Spring!

Membership: Amy 
* We have 566 Members! More than the HS!

Special Needs:  Lauren & Charanya 
* Unity day bulletin boards are up and the kids helped with the decor.
* Inclusive Schools Week 12/8-12/12 which is a district-wide event. Will send out information shortly
* Guest speaker at the next PTA Meeting will be Dr. Tesik on the topic on how to create a more inclusive community and school.

Class parents: Alexis & Jolie 
* If you are a class parent, thank you. Please continue to pass along the emails to the parents!
* Email will be sent out soon about holiday classroom gift for teachers, needed supplies and parties.
* Holiday parties - $250-350 budget (roughly $50 PER CLASS)
* Should be one class parent per class spending for the party.

Turkey Trot: Lauren, Lucia & Kelli 
* Our current fundraising is at $38,000. On track to beat last year's $45K!
* Enrollment is a bit low this year so please spread the word!
* Pep rally last week was a lot of fun with the kids - social media 
* Please have all children wear sneakers and warm gear to be outside. Can wear last year's TT shirts if you have them.
* Each heat (grade level- see below) is about 10 mins. Race bibs for each child this year.
* Incentives for the school will be distributed to all children
* Day of logistics timing:
9:00- Teacher Inflatable Race
9:15- 2nd & Restaino

9:40- 5th grade 10- 3rd grade

10:20- K, Balsome & DiG

10:45- 1st grade 11:05- 4th grade
 - DJ at the finish line, Cheer zones, Inflatables all around, Teacher Race 

* A big thank you to all our sponsors who came on board early and helped us keep costs down this year. We have 77 sponsors this year compared to last year's 35. So exiting to see how many small businesses we have in the school community!
* We are still taking sponsors and will add you to Sponsor Row

Q&A:
None
Next meeting will be January 13, 2026