November 17, 2025

The second quarter meeting of Hynes Lakeview PTO membership was called to order at 6:00 PM on Monday, November 17, 2025 in Hynes Cafeteria.

PTO Officers and School Administrators present. See noted presenters detailed in minutes recorded by Emily Mueller.

Principal Update (Dawn)

• Admin Updates
  • Celebrations
    • Math Team – Hynes took first place overall at Mt. Carmel 
    • Mrs. Long ”lead role” in Gypsy – she was fabulous!
    • Girls on the Run event last weekend
      • Lots of fun! Thanks for Mimi Donaldson and coaches!

·      Teachers of the year

o   Congratulations to Rachel Koch and Tara Kennedy!

·      Gratitude

o   To Kate G, Sarah F., and Meghan for organizing our family Math night that was on Oct. 28

o   The school raised $999.90 for Think Pink, Black and Gold for Breast Cancer Awareness AND Heart Challenge raised $8,604.46! Stats are:

• 146 Students registered
• 40 Learned CPR
•  26 Completed Finn’s Mission

·      Title Funds

o   Title I Funds support the following at Hynes – 

• Parent Liaison – Leah Glade who helps communicate with families and organized High School Day
• 2 Paras – 1st/Kindergarten that support students in those classrooms 
• 1 Interventionist – Math interventions in grades 2-8 
• Homeless supplies ~ uniforms/materials for beginning of year

o   Title II Funds support the following at Hynes –  

• Success for All Contract ~ SFA Coach visits classrooms for feedback with admin and instructional coaches  

o   Title IV Funds support the following at Hynes –

• KidsmART ~ Began Fall residency with Shannon R, Devin F, Samantha S and Mary B
• Project Wayfinder ~ focused lessons on Bully Prevention and other topics for class meetings

o   IDEA Preschool   

• Purchased/implemented RAZZ  for additional reading support for our diverse learners

·      High School Day

o   On Oct.28 Hynes hosted a High School Day as a one-stop shop for high schools that are the best fit for 8th grade students. Thanks Leah Glade!

·      Giving Back

o   Hynes theater and art students had an opportunity to attend a film class put on by Hynes Alum, Gabby V. Gabby is a filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist who is committed to uplifting Black voices through authentic storytelling.  she is now a senior at Ben Franklin High School.

·      What’s going on around Hynes Lakeview (Margo)

o   School Tours have started ~ Nov 13 first one, Upcoming – Nov. 20, Dec 4

o   Fall Sports ~ Finished strong with Cross Country, Flag Football, Volleyball, Swimming. 

o   Winter Sports: Girls/Boys basketball and girls/boys soccer tryouts were last week. Teams have been or will be posted soon!

o   KidsmART resident paired with teachers across different grades

o   Academic Games and Math teams are soaring – Math Team recently placed 1st Overall at the Mt. Carmel Competition

o   Choir, band, pep squad, cheerleading going strong – after school 

o   Theater Performances last week ~ they are STARS

o   Girls on the Run – wrapped up this Saturday at LaSalle Park

o   French Author Visit K and 1st grade students

o   Les Amis 1st quarter breakfast meeting

o   Field trips for many grade levels are taking place

o   NJHS members busy with their leadership roles

·      Safety at Hynes

• The entire Hynes Network participated in a training on Impact Day on 11/12/25 with Adams and Reese – our advisory firm (lawyers).
  • Key take-away from the training – ALWAYS BE AWARE WHEN STUDENTS ARE AROUND.
  • Please understand when we ask you to follow certain protocols and procedures that it is for safety, and we could be held liable if we do not stop unsafe actions around foreseeable potential hazards.

·       What might we ask you to do/not do?

•       Please use the sidewalks and not the driveway when dropping off or picking up. If you are redirected – please do as asked and not insist on walking up the driveway – this is for teachers and their children as well. Please do not get angry with our staff. 

•       Please stay off of your phones in the carpool lines or in school zones.

•       Don’t speed, especially if you are late – you are late, speeding will not change that. 

•       If your child is a walker, and a teacher asks him/her not to jump off of the ledge, understand that they are saying this for safety sake.   Do not get angry with our staff.

•       Carpool Safety- Please follow the carpool flow as outlined in the Student Handbook.

·       More Safety news you can use 

•       We conduct Fire drills once a month​

•       Weather drill – done at least once per school year​

•       Intruder/lockdown drill – at least once per school year – the date is not yet set, but a ParentSquare notice will be sent once it is set.  

•       Please speak to your children about the necessity of drills like these and to take them seriously.

·      Student Well-being – Working Together (Susan)

•       Getting Along Together​

•       Cooperative Challenges / Wayfinder lessons​

•       Weekly Class Meetings​

•       House​s

•       Bully Prevention Pep Rally ~ Sept/ Celebrated October​

•       Really explained what that is during the pep rally. Students need to help each other out and are encouraged to talk to teachers and staff. 

•       Encourage students to talk to teachers/staff if they have any concerns​

·      PBIS School-wide Update: 99% of the student body went to PBIS!!

•       Parents are encouraged to still be supportive over the holidays to remind the kids of PBIS for when they return.

•       For children who do not make it to PBIS, there is a teacher/staff mentorship program. Create a collaborative team formed with student to encourage growth.

·      School-wide Reading Goal

o   88% of students are reading on level by the end of year.

o   1st quarter results – 84%

·      Math Program

o   ZEARN (math) We are participating in a State-Wide Challenge! We are rocking it!

• K-Haw-75%
• 1-Gervreau-95%
•  1-Loughran-100%
•  2-Robinson-96%
•  2-Darby-77%
•  6-ALL (77%, 96%, 83%) 
•  7-ALL (84%, 92%, 93%)

o   Zearn is a great way to continue to learn outside of school that helps students to internalize the information. 10-15 a week is all it takes!

·      Reading Program

o   Amira is a reading program that includes fluency and word learning

o   30 minutes / week​ – Consider completing for homework.​

·      National Junior Honor Society (Leah)

o   Updates:

• Q1 Service Project – collected over 20,000 pieces of candy for Boo at the Zoo and Hynes Spooktacular.​ 
• NJHS Members have been serving the Hynes community by volunteering at the Back To School BBQ, Spooktacular and Open Houses. We also helped with school-wide door decorating for National School lunch week.​ Had an icecream party! 
• Our Q2 Service Project will be a diaper drive in partnership with Junior League. We will be collecting all sizes of diapers starting Nov. 17th.​
• Stay tuned for the invites coming out in Jan for 6th and 7th graders

·      Homework Passes

• Reminder – 

o   When you attend a Hynes Lakeview PTO meeting, parents sign in and those sign in sheets are shared with teachers to distribute the homework passes to the students the following day

o   Event Volunteer Homework Pass:

• When volunteering for a PTO event for one hour, parent will receive a homework pass
•  In lower school this exempts students from homework in all subjects
•  In middle school this means student is exempt from one night of a core subject’s homework

·      Lost & Found

o   Missing something? Come look! At end of quarter, on Dec. 18th, all items will be donated!

o   Reminder – label all of your student’s items!

·      PowerSchool

o   See QR code in deck and take a survey!

PTO Update (Ryan)

o   Introduced Guest Speaker – Liz and Maureen from SE LA Legal Services

o   Brochure was handed out – extras can be found at school office

o   They have offices in 6 different locations in and outside of NOLA. Provide services like wills/successions, home ownership preservations, bankruptcy, landlord disputes, consumer/debt disputes, divorces/custody, tax law, and more! Do not do political, criminal, or personal injury law.

o   What is a will?

• In LA there are two types of will. A notarial will that is notarized and witnesses. And, the easiest way (and allowed by the state) is to take a piece of paper and a pen and write your own will, a “hand written will”. Then date and sign for yourself/add partner.
• The importance of doing a will –
  • If you have children, you need to select a guardian to take care of your children in the event that you die. You appoint a tutor or guardian in your will that the court will consider to take care of your children following your passing. If you don’t do this, and both parents have passed, the child(ren) will go to a family member automatically.
  • You’re not too young to do this and you can change it in the future.  

·      Shade Structure Update

o   Check Presentation: Hynes PTO contributed $50k to shade structure

o   PTO already funded $60,000 towards shade from the 2023-2024 school year.

o   $8,186—>Shade!

o   $41,814—->Grade level laptop replacement.

·      PTO Officers Update

o   Current vice president, Brenda appointed to president-elect. Unanimous vote! 

o   Open Officer Roles for next two-year term 2026-2028 – VP and Volunteer Director

o   Reach out to the Hynes.pto@gmail.com if you are interested!

o   Hoping to nominate folks in next PTO meeting

·      Spooktacular recap

o   What a great event team!

• Vickie Clay
•  Christine Mauer
•  Eileen Boh
•  Zach Breaux
• Jesse Martin
•  Nate Thompson
•  Sarah Hughes

o   Most of the spooktacular team is coming back again next year for planning!

o   Shout out – Jesse came up with some great new house of horrors ideas!

·      Gala Update (Lisa and Shannon)

o   Epic event!

o   Ryan presented Lisa and Shannon with thank you gifts

o   Shout out to auction committee, second line band, Robin Barnes, Big in the 90s Band…!

o   Additional Thank you’s to the committee members:

• Alli Maney
•  Casey Bayer-Russell
•  Ngoc Le
• Gayla Jones
•  Kassie Cosgrove
•  Lauren Bevis Thompson
•  Patrick Yaworski
•  Anh Tran
•  Missy Falcon
•  Mysheka Battiste
•  Nicole Coleman
•  Elizabeth Townsend
• Sarah Gould
• Rachel Armentor

o   Individual Shoutouts from Lisa and Shannon –

• Shout out to Hynes staff for their flash mob!! 
•  Melissa and Pat Teague won the Helicopter tour!
• $4k diamond raffle was won by Jessie Woods!
• Hynes Men’s Committee “honey do list” winners – Lauren and Nate Thompson

o   Gala Auction update (Casey)

o   Items still available:

• Principal’s Dinner hosted by Dawn and Cory Lobell on Sunday, January 18th!

·       A gourmet 4-course creole inspired dinner prepared by Chef Eric Cook of St John and Gris Gris.  

·       $250 per guest

• Spring Fling Party at the home of Caitlin and Chris Justin!

·       Come enjoy food and drinks with the Hynes Lakeview Crew. A chance to meet and catch up with other Hynes Parents, guardians, teachers and administrators!  Please leave your Hynes Huskies at Home 🙂  

·       Saturday, April 18th ~ $50 per person

• Travel for a Good Cause – Buy Now & Travel later  

·       Every trip includes AT LEAST a $500 donation to Hynes!  We have partnered with the American Fundraising Foundation (AmFund) to bring you an exclusive Trips of a Lifetime Auction so you can travel for a good cause!

·       You have 3 Years with No Blackout Dates to Travel

·       Travel Specialists to Book Your Trip

·       Options to Extend, Add Travelers and Upgrade Available

• Pins and Pals Update
  • Thank you to Denise Crais for the idea and the organizing!
  • Thank you to the 5th Grade French class for sponsoring the photographer!

•   Bingo Ball is on 12/5!

o   All Hynes LV students & their adult special guest(s) are invited! 

o   6pm – 8pm at Hynes Lakeview Gymnasium

o   $15 admission includes one Bingo Book per person, dauber, food & soft drink.

o   This event is a fundraiser for the 8th grade Disney Trip!

o   No cash purchases. 

• Sweethearts Dance (Anne)

o   Theme: Hollywood Nights

o   January 31, 2026

o   6am -8pm

o   At Hynes Gym

o   Sponsorships Available!

o   Other Updates:

• College Jazz band coming to play
•  Have a great DJ and activities for the girls
•  2nd year this event has been back!
•  Sponsors still need – includes in-kind sponsors too!

·      Spring Fair (Morgan)

o   3/21/26

o   Theme: Wild Wild Fest

o   Spring Fair planning has begun!

• Email hynes.pto@gmail.com to join our already great planning team:
  • Morgan Dixon
  • LaTerrica Brown
  • Kristle LaRocca
  • Loryn Brien
  • Kassie Cosgrove
  • Alli Maney
  • Casey Bayer-Russell
  • Brittany Carrasquillo
  • Anh Tran and HMC
•  Class Captains will be responsible for making a basket or class project for the auction.

·      Cash & Hynes Events

o   PTO is doing away with cash because it’s a liability and hard to track for PTO officers. Ca$hApp available and credit card payment.

·      Library Update (Eren)

o   Book Fair Update:

• $11k made on grandparents day through book sales
• Plus $6k from (other) book sales

o   Needs volunteers every day of the week to assist in putting books away – 100 are returned daily!

o   Hynes has a culture of literacy! Thanks to Susan and Parents!

·      Treasurer Update (Mirela)

• $125 stipends were allotted to teachers to use in their classrooms however needed
• See deck for budget snapshot
•  So far we are tracking to the budget although we still need to track Spooktacular and Gala – this will be presented at next PTO meeting

·    Give Back Day (Kassie)

• THIS WEDNESDAY
•  Chris’ Specialty Meats and Bella Boo! 10% of purchase goes back to Hynes

Meeting Adjourned at 7:01PM