September 11, 2025 PTCO Meeting Minutes

Sagebrush PTCO September 11th  Meeting Minutes: 

September 11th, 2025

Meeting Start: 6:30PM                                                                                           

1. Welcome: Call to order Sam 6:30 PM

2. Introductions

   1. Sam Grondorf. Co-President, Jo Bojorquez., Theresa Padilla (Co- VP, Angela Pesche (School Nurse), Heidi Cline (Co-Secretary), Jessica Roekel (Co-Secretary), Haley Yeadon, Meaghan Cheeke, Lauren, Shannon Shearer (Social worker), Mrs. Ronyak, Dena McMurtry Vice Principal, Christopher Powell (Principal). 

3. Principal Report: 

   1. In light of current events, we did a review of our safety and security procedures today (Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025). What are the school staffs responsibilities inside/outside. Also, refreshing on all of the different ways we could call a lockdown. Including walkie talkies that have a button that calls a lockdown. While we hope to never need to use this information, the staff feels prepared if need be. 

   2. Every school year, the school is given a school performance framework from the state. Sagebrush received ours last week. Currently, Sagebrush is at an Improvement Plan Stage. There are 4 stages (performance, improvement, priority improvement, turnaround). Sagebrush received 44.1% of the total possible points available. We are approaching proficiency in both Academic Improvement and Growth. The staff will look at where Sagebrush students are not meeting expectations, addressing these deficiencies as well as celebrating the areas we are meeting expectations. For example, Sagebrush is performing well with English Language Learners.

      1. Sagebrush Elementary School Goals for Student Achievement: 

         1. Literacy: By the end of the 2025-26 school year, Sagebrush will increase the percentage of students in Grade 3-5 scoring proficient or above on the CMAS ELA Assessment from 25.6% to at least 41%. Specifically, current 4th graders will improve from 24% to at least 39% proficiency, and current 5th graders will improve from 18% to at least 34% proficiency. For students in K-2, proficiency in literacy as measured by STAR Early Literacy will increase from 35% to at least 48%. 

         2. Health and Wellness: By May 2026, the percentage of 3rd-5th graders who score favorably on the Sense of Belonging topic in the district Social Emotional Screener will increase from 63% to 70%. Progress will be measured through the Fall and Spring screener results, with adjustments to strategies after each assessment. 

         3. Disproportionality: By May 2026, Sagebrush will reduce disproportionality in discipline incidents so each racial, ethnic and gender group’s representation is reflective of the overall makeup of our student population. 

These goals are part of the required Unified Improvement Plan. Goals from the student success plan are the goals for the improvement plan and also the goals for teachers. 

How we get there: 

Short action cycles: 3 times per year set action plans in these areas, and they will be monitored. 

Students will be EXPOSED to grade level content. They can never get there if they aren’t exposed to it. 

New to Sagebrush lunch group with social emotional tech. 

Provide a higher level of support to students who have multiple incidents. 

***Will share the results with ptco. 

Keep in Mind: We found out Tuesday, our school board member, Ruthie Knowles, has stepped down. It’s not an election cycle, so we aren’t voting this time around. It’s still important to know who is running, and what their values are. A flipped district is a possibility, so show your support when and where you can.

Teacher’s Moment

3. Mrs. Ronyak:

   1. There are only 2 kindergarten classrooms this year. 

   2. Our in-house Preschool is doing a great job preparing Kindergarteners! The incoming batch of kindies’ STAR scores are amazing! 

   3. The new hallway is working out, but she misses seeing former students- so come say hello! 

   4. ELS Specialists are in Mrs. Ronyak’s Kindergarten class daily. There are 6 languages spoken in her class this school year! The ELS Specialist is looking at English Language development, modeling for teachers as they plan - what it looks like to expose students to the English language in a Full Immersion situation. 

4. Shannon Shearer: 

   1. School Social Worker. Shannon makes up ⅓ of the mental health team at Sagebrush.

   2. Cultural Night is coming up on September 18th from 5-7pm. 

   3. Shannon is heading Sagebrush’s Track and Field Club this Spring!  Information to follow. 

   4. FYI: The Preschool has been absorbed by Sagebrush, which means they are officially included in any and all special needs and school wide events, etc. 

5. Angela Pesche (Registered School Nurse)

   1. Vision Screenings: September 18th and September 30th (all day) for students in PreK, K, 1, 2, 3, 5 (and 4th grade students who are new to the district and students on IEP’s). 

   2. Hearing Screening: September 30th (all day) Grades (same as above). 

   3. Hearing Re-Checks: October 28th (follow up on students who did not pass the initial hearing screening on 9/30 and students who were absent. These Screenings are completed by Audiologists. 

   4. Chopper Toppers: October 28th-31st: Dental Program for all students, with parental consent. More details to follow. 

   5. Eye Love Care Clinic: February 25th-27th (More Information to come about this new program!). 

6. Bingo Committee Report

   1. Bingo Night Debrief

      1. The first Bingo Night of the year really well! We ordered too many pizzas (7 pizzas would be more appropriate). Dominoes donated 5 pizzas and we purchased 5 additional pizzas. Attendees now know they can have dinner at Bingo. The next Bingo event is January 23. We likely have enough drinks leftover for the next event. There are outstanding reimbursements to be made. 

      2. Doppers leaking through the paper - lets put out construction paper/markers/crayons so students can use these instead. 

      3. Folks are returning doppers, even though they purchased them. Maybe we should just lend them for the Bingo Game, and collect them at the end?

7. Officer Reports

   1. Treasurer Report

      1. In the last month, PTCO funded 4th grade t-shirts, Colorado History Museum Field Trip for 4th grade, & a school grant for lunch/recess para. The school grant will be paid in quarterly payments of $4,000, totalling $16,000, starting in October. 

      2. PTCO Account Balance: $9115 (plus Cash from Fun Run Donations).

      3. Bingo Account Balance: ~$250.75 (with ~$60 still to be reimbursed for pizza and drinks). 

   2. Presidents Report

      1. Holly

         1. Grant Requests:

            1. Shannon Shearer: asking $210 (henna artist for culture night.) We usually pay for it - it is a line item in our budget. Motion passes. 

            2. Shannon Shearer: asking for $175 (Heritage Irish Step Dancers). We have paid it in years passed. Motion passes. 

         2. Run4Funds update:

            1. $9115.04 76% of our 12k goal! (still have cash to count). UPDATE as of 9/16, our Total funds raised is: $11306.29!! We are SO close to our goal of $12,000!!!

            2. Fun Run Parent Tshirts were ordered -  BUT they didn't get delivered on time. Michelle is in talks with the Run4Funds staff to see what can be done. 

            3. FYI: Foam Party causes some skin irritation. 

         3. PTCO Newsletter update

            1. Myth and Fact segment well received. 

      2. Sam

         1. Parents Council Training

            1. Pres. and Treasurer required Sept. 24th

         2. Texas Roadhouse has a fundraising opportunity in selling gift cards.

            1. 10% of sales goes to school. They need 4-6 weeks to set up, and they print the Sagebrush logo on them. 

            2. PTCO feels the calendar is already full for fundraising opportunities.Let’s keep it in mind for next year. 

8. Old Business

   1. Badges for Board Members- We will look into purchasing a Button Maker, as it has been well established that Mrs. Montano does not own one. 

9. New Business

   1. Trunk or Treat

      1. Food Truck(s)

         1. Planning on using the Pizza and Taco truck from last year.

         2. In ‘N Out is too expensive. Pay up front. Per item, with a minimum purchase. 

         3. List from Mrs. Shearer of vendors she looked into for Cultural Night. 

      2. Photo Booth

         1. Hay Bales for the DIY photo rop station.

      3. Haunted School Bus? No, we do not have a contact anymore. If you know someone, let the PTCO know. 

      4. Fire Truck? Theresa will talk to them. Last year, they were planning on coming, but they had an emergency. 

      5. Committee is looking into possible Sponsors (Advanced Ortho, others)? District Credit Union (Holly)

      6. Security

         1. Michelle and Mr. Powell will talk about it. Has it been requested? 

   2. Library

      1. Thoughts on making the space more engaging, with different chairs, more spaces for kids to come in and actually read. Cool structures to add to the library. Would need the structure to be mobile. Library is not staffed for 3 hours/day. 

      2. We discussed a PTCO grant to help revamp the library. 

      3. Mrs. Ronyak - library is not utilized really because of the nature of our staffing. Suggested using PTCO funds to purchase more books that our students would appreciate (such as Graphic Novels).

      4. Parent volunteers for library time? 

      5. Competition where whichever grade level selection wins, gets into the library. 

      6. Shannon suggested a Book Club?

   3. Multi-Cultural Night

      1. Sept 18 (no school next day)

      2. Also celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Cherry Creek School District. 

      3. African band

      4. Native American dancers

      5. Balloon animals 

      6. Crafts (birthday celebrations) 

      7. Trunks

      8. Pinatas (birthdays around the world)

      9. Birthday cake in cafeteria

      10. 2 food trucks

      11. Outside, so utilizing music room

      12. All about me posters from students are coming in, and they are great! 

      13. Want to help? Mrs. Shearer will need help setting up and cleaning up. Wednesday afternoon - decorating and setting up as well as after school on Thursday.

   4. Open to the floor

      1. Prepared Parent University

         1. Applied to participate in a 4 school program within the district that focuses on Parenting. The program lasts around 2 months, and consists of 4 parts:

            1. Powerful Parenting

            2. Everyday Parenting 

            3. Tech Savvy Parenting 

            4. Body Safe Parenting

      2. Jo: Committee for 5th graders, a send off! Posters! Balloon Arch? Any other fun ideas??

      3. Jessica: Shoutout: clubs are amazing, communication about the clubs lacking. School Calendar with all the clubs and activities updated?  Idea: Put the opportunities in the newsletters = more time to sign up. 

10. Close Meeting 8:00 PM