ST. JOSEPH PARENT SCHOOL COUNCIL MINUTES

February 11, 2008

 

 

Board Members Present:  Kerri Bendele, Angi Bunn, Mari Jo Eiseler, Denice Fedewa, Krista Hallead, Teresa Kaczmarek, Deb Kohagen, Christy Kosnik, Dawn Lawless, Krista Lehner, Juanita McCann, Sheryl Middleton, Sara Nurenberg, Janelle Paksi, Tomi Ann Schultheiss, Laura Skriba, Lisa Suidgeest, Bridgette Voisinet

 

Teacher Rep:  Sherry Winkler

Board Members Absent:  Cheryl Nodarse (excused)

Visitors:  None

 

Call to Order:  President, Bridgette Voisinet called the meeting to order at 6:37 with the Our Father

 

Approval of the Minutes:   A motion was made by Sara Nurenberg to approve the January minutes as submitted. It was seconded by Juanita McCann.  MPC

 

Additions to the Agenda:  None

 

Treasurers Report:  Denice Fedewa distributed the Treasurer’s Report. A motion was made by Deb Kohagen to approve treasurer’s report as presented. It was seconded by Dawn Lawless. MPC

 

OLD BUSINESS

  1. Carnival
    1. Survey - Bridgette Voisinet distributed a draft of a Parent School Council survey that the Council would like to distribute before the end of the school year. A team which includes Bridgette, Kerri Bendele, Angi Bunn, Dawn Lawless, Sheryl Middleton and Laura Skriba will work to finalize the survey. There was significant discussion regarding volunteerism and how best to ask questions to gain input regarding, and ultimately encourage volunteerism. Dawn Lawless will research other school’s volunteerism programs. There was also discussion regarding whether an effort should be made to involve other interested parents in the survey process. To prevent the survey development process from becoming unwieldy and meet the timeline established, it was agreed that additional parents, outside Council Executive Board members, could be brought into the survey project at the point where the surveys need to be analyzed and recommendations formed. There was also discussion on the advantages and disadvantages with the length of the survey and with sending multiple surveys. Agreement was that one survey was preferred and that the length should not reach the point where it deterred families from completing the survey. 
    2. Theme - Krista Hallead brilliantly proposed a patriotic theme for the 2009 carnival. She discussed some ideas and alterations that could be made to fit the proposed theme.

 

  1. Bullying Seminar – deferred to Principal’s Report.

 

  1. Catholic Schools Week - Review
    1. Cake & Ice Cream/Spirit Day

Lisa Suidgeest reported that it went great. They fed 310 kids in about an hour.   Thanks went out to Erika Karber for making the cake. Lisa volunteered to chair the event again for 2009 and volunteered to get workers at the time of the event. A general worker sign-up at walk-through was available this year, it can be made available again, but more specifics (i.e., teacher appreciation vs. cake & ice cream) are not necessary.

    1. Grandparents Day

There was great feedback from grandparents and students. There was council discussion on a number of surrounding issues: Should be an annual event? Should it be moved to a warmer time of year? Should it be expanded to a “special person” day? There was also discussion about other possible events for Catholic Schools week and doing more to promote faith during the week. 

It was agreed that a Catholic Schools Week committee should be formed that included teachers as well as PSC members. This committee could propose the events for the week and help coordinate activities throughout the week. A Catholic Schools Week Planning Committee can be included in the bylaws so that it is a regular standing committee.

 

  1. Schwan’s Fundraiser – Review

Tomi Ann Schultheiss reported that preliminary results were showing sales of about $28,000 and profits of around $8,500. (Note: internet sales are not all in the preliminary results.) This is similar to revenue generated in previous year’s Club’s Choice sales. Early comments about the sales process and the delivery of the goods by Schwan’s were positive although it is still early in the delivery process. Parents commented that they liked the convenience. There was some concern regarding items ordered from brochures other than the school brochure as those will not result in profits for the school.

 

  1. Sunday Art Fair

Sheryl Middleton reported that there was an intent to have the initial Art Fair at Februarys 1st Sunday coffee social, but the effort was abandoned on account of bad weather surrounding that weekend. She discussed future fairs possibly including some written work from students in addition to, or instead of art. A comment was made that Sheryl and Teresa Kaczmarek did some preliminary set-up of the art fair, and didn’t feel it was going to be a significant amount of work and all are projects were returned safely to the school. They will try again to hold the event on the 1st Sunday of March.    The frequency of the Art Fair’s is still undecided at this point. 

 

  1. Bylaws Committee

Bridgette Voisinet asked for volunteers to review the by-laws, which should happen annually. Deb Kohagen, Sara Nurenberg and Laura Skriba volunteered. All Parent School council members can review the bylaws and make comments.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

  1. Informal Fundraising Committee

A committee was formed to research additional fund raising opportunities. Examples include Max & Erma’s and Chuck E Cheese events. Christy Kosnik and Sheryl Middleton agreed to join Robin Grinnell and Leslie Luttig to conduct the research. The group will research options, costs, advantages, and disadvantages of various programs as well as a purpose for the funds raised. The committee will make a recommendation to the Parent School Council at a future meeting.

 

Principal’s Report

Tomi Ann Schultheiss commented on the “stars” program, the bullying seminar and Janet Sinke’s upcoming assembly program. 

 

    1. The new “stars” program is intended to complement the other programs by encouraging students to recognize positive behaviors. It is student to student recognition and it results in a star being displayed in honor of the student’s good behavior.
    2. Many additional activities are also underway from the bullying assembly. Classroom teaching is on-going. Parent packets are being sent home with students. A “Time to Think” form has been produced to report and help students review bullying incidents. While it doesn’t cover every inappropriate classroom behavior, the overall goal is to decrease negative/hurtful behaviors and encourage more good behaviors. 
    3. The next assembly will be in March with author Janet Sinke. The event will not only review her book about welcoming diversity, but will also encourage children to explore open-minded, accepting thinking. Because of the author’s ties to St. Joseph School, copies of her books will be made available to the students at reduced prices.

 

Teachers Report

Sherry Winkler thanked the Parent School Council for everything they do.

 

 

A motion was made by Dawn Lawless to adjourn the meeting.  It was seconded by Sara Nurenberg.  MPC

 

The meeting was adjourned with the Hail Mary at 8:10.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Deb Kohagen, Secretary