Smoky Hill High School PTCO

Meeting Minutes

SHHS PTCO Meeting Minutes

Sep 8, 2026

Student reps: 

Staff present: Principal Kelly Helm 

Parents present:  Nanci R, Amanda, H, Stephanie B, Eryn F (new social media chair), Melissa R, Sy R, Kim N, Jen R, Zola A, Heather J, Sonya M, Sherri K, Ana S, Robert C.  

Principal’s Report

  • Senior dates & information is out.  Senior section added to the website.
  • Working on streamlining communication so cleaning up the SHHS website weekly.
  • Getting the school store going again. Ordered items like bumper stickers, tshirts, sweatshirts, spirit wear.  This will be housed out of activities.  The physical school store space exists but is currently used as storage.
  • School shirts will be sent to staff members of feeder school (elementary schools, Laredo and Horizon) ahead of Homecoming next week. 
  • Veteran’s Day community parade with Laredo and Indian will end at Smoky with an auditorium event. 
  • SHHS & Buffalo Sabres Hockey Logo – a committee is forming to work on a complete rebrand for SHHS. The logo has been an issue since 2018, and the goal is to resolve it fully. We can use the buffalo logo (Goathead) but it cannot be sold or monetized so we cannot have it on merchandise. 
  • Vote on the new logo expected by mid-Winter. 

President’s Report

  • Everyone on the PTCO board is supposed to go to the Parent Council Training 
  • In the process of setting up Google Workspace for PTCO, which will then let our domain and emails like president@shhsptco.org . This replaces generic Gmail; should improve email deliverability and avoid spam

Treasurer’s Report

  • Currently $23,000 in the bank.
  • Budget due to Parents Council on Oct 15.  We have to post the budget on the website, according to bylaws.  We’ll need board approval in Oct PTCO meeting.
  • Fiscal review nearly complete; due Sept. 15
  • Dormant bingo/raffle account holds $932 (since ~2018). State confirmed no delinquency; easiest path is cashier’s check to school for teacher grants
  • Teacher grants process:
    • Emails go out to teachers in September via Google Form
    • Teachers submit requests with Amazon links; committee approves
    • School bookkeeping handles all purchasing and vendor relationships
    • Last year: ~$14,000 granted
  • Possible co-treasurer candidate: Becky from Laredo 

Activities & Events

Homecoming Dance (Sept 13)

  • PTCO running coat check, water table, and snack table
  • Snacks: grapes, cuties, chips, and brownie bites
  • Water supply: exploring using Deep Rock instead of hauling water from the janitor’s closet. Principal Helm says the school already has a Deep Rock contract. She will have activities office call Deep Rock for pricing
  • Check Amazon wish list and donations by end of day Wednesday; final order placed by Thursday
  • Coat check: ~2 volunteers needed but low demand expected due to warm weather
  • Ticket sales: online only, link to be shared via Facebook and newsletter

View of the Hill Night (Nov. 11) and Back to School Night

  • View of the Hill: incoming 8th grade/freshman family night
    • Opportunity to collect parent contact info and sign-ups early
    • Spirit wear should be available by then for display/sale
    • Suggestion: man a table combining school schedule handout with PTCO info and QR code (modeled after Laredo PTCO approach)
    • Sy, Melissa, and Zola volunteered to staff the table
  • Back to School Night: QR code and flyers for sign-ups recommended

Craft Fair Planning

  • Fall Craft Fair: historically run by Laurinda; transitioning to DECA/student government
    • Concern raised about student-run management of a major revenue event
    • Jen to connect with Laurida and Sonya to clarify PTCO obligations
    • PTCO likely still on the hook for vendor lunches and breakfast burritos
  • Spring craft fair: run by PTCO; ~194 vendors, two gyms
    • Vendor lunch options under discussion: chili (donated, high margin) vs. catered sandwiches
    • Fall craft fair vendor flyers trigger spring fair vendor sign-ups; We need to make menu decisions before Fall Craft Fair
  • Coffee: use drip brewers; powdered creamer preferred over liquid (goes too fast)
  • Concessions pricing: needs another increase; barely broke even last year
  • Donation outreach:
    • Melissa to draft a general donation ask letter on PTCO letterhead
    • Targets: Costco, Sam’s Club, sandwich chains
    • Receipts/thank-you letters required from treasurer for donor tax purposes

Oct. 7 Teacher Conference Dinner

  • Robert coordinating catering for teacher/parent conference night
  • Dinner served in teacher’s lounge (2nd floor) before parent-teacher conference breakout in gym
  • Volunteers needed to serve: Ana, Zola, Heather, and Sonya confirmed
  • Use of Ana’s large crock pot requested
  • Sign-up Genius for dessert/drink donations to be sent out
  • Melissa to contact Costco for a cookie/dessert donation

Social Media and Communications

  • Facebook community group active; Eryn F is managing
    • Members can post directly; Jen can add admins
    • Photos from events (flag football, float prep) encouraged
    • Idea: QR code links to PTCO Facebook page for tables at events
  • Instagram: currently linked to a personal account; ownership transfer complicated
    • Once resolved, Facebook and Instagram posts will sync
  • Suggestion: post engagement questions (e.g., “what snacks do you want at homecoming?”) to drive parent interaction
  • Idea: include PTCO sign-up link in school newsletter via Rosita