PTSA Meeting Minutes, September 6, 2007
Arcadia High School
PTSA Meeting
Minutes
Thursday, September 6, 2007
President Kay Kinsler called the meeting to order at 6:49 PM in the Little Theater after the dinner in the Apache Pit.
The Flag Salute conducted by Terry Leahy
President
Kay Kinsler welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the year and especially the new parents attending today. No School Board or District Office members were in attendance tonight, but they will be attending throughout the year. Clipboards will be passed around tonight, among them the volunteer hours record, vision screening help needed, the hospitatlity/ refreshment schedule, and the football food booth volunteer request. Please get involved in some area. You won't be sorry. Kay thanked all the parents who have given time and talent for the opening of this school year.
Principal, David Vannasdall introduced the Administrative Team: Linda Mackessy, our new Dean of Students and Keith Kerney our returning Dean; John Finn the Assistant Principal in charge of Student and Parent Support; John Tung our new Activities Director; Jennifer Lashier our new Assistant Principal in charge of Curriculum and Student Life; Craig Wiblem and Catherine Merel Assistant Principals in charge of Curriculum and Assessment. David wanted to be sure to reiterate that our Master Schedule is solely driven by our students needs. They meet with the counselors and sign up for classes during spring for the following fall. David thanked the PTSA for the wonderful dinner spread and the parents who worked Apache Days making that endeavor a huge success. Parent help allows the staff to continue to work on schedules and meet with students during the registration process.
David told parents that lunchtime intramurals will be starting up this year for the first time. After surveying students, this showed up as a student desire.
The API scores were just released and the test results provide us with good solid data. Each of our ethnic groups improved individually as well as the overall school improvement. We went from 837 in 2005 to 859 in 2006. AHS is seeing the results of our staff development time spent on best practices and a standards based curriculum.
Back to School Night will begin at 7:00 PM in the North Gym. Parents can gain an appreciation for what their students do every day!
During the summer, we experienced inconvenience, noise, headache, fencing and disruption, it looks like we have nothing to show for it. However, with all that, our infrastructure was set in place. Portables will be delivered over Christmas Break so that we can begin the process of moving out of the buildings to be torn down.
David reminded parents that a priority of the Administrative Team is to be available at all PTSA meetings and thanked Kay for her leadership this year.
Catherine Merel reported that we have 17 new teachers, many of whom are experienced! We are able to offer new courses this year such as Biotech Engineering and game programming. We are lucky to have 13 counselors on board three of whom are bridge counselors who will be shared with the middle schools. Edith Wong is our new ELD Counselor who speaks both Mandarin and Cantonese. Kristina Glickstein, also a new counselor will be working with ALT, Special Education and At Risk students exclusively.
The ALT teachers and students are now back on the Arcadia High School Campus. AHS will continue the consistent program and curriculum with our staff development days. During this time, teachers look at how and what they do, learning to work as teams. Students will be released early one Monday per month during the first semester and will have late arrival during the second semester. Those days are to be determined.
A reminder to all parents that students should be covering all textbooks to maintain their current condition.
John Finn spoke about the goal in Student Services is to do our best to prevent discipline issues and use intervention
in all areas, not just discipline. This year, the mentoring program will be exclusively for the more needy students.
Keep in mind that there are more marked curbs this year. You will be ticketed if you park illegally, during school for sure. We will find out if the city will ticket during evening or weekend events as well.
Recording Secretary
Copies of the June minutes were sent out via e-mail last June and have been approved by a committee. If you would like to receive the minutes via e-mail, please let Terry Schreiner know at tschreiner@ausd.net. The new phone system installed district-wide is going to be great. We should have a list of teacher extension for parents by Back to School Night. Letters have been sent home with information on Back to School Night, a Parent Meeting letter from the Counselors, map of the school and a bell schedule for the first semester.
President
Kay Kinsler stated that the goal for PTSA this year is “Building Community,” with all of us working together for a common goal…AHS students. Social time is built into every PTSA meeting giving us time to get to know one another.We want to be looking at all aspects of our childrens' education at AHS.
The Chinese New Year party planning will include both AHS PTSA and the CPBC.
Kay thanked our Hospitality Chair, Theresia Liem for providing all the desserts and extras for tonight's dinner. She also thanked Terry Leahy for her follow through on the planning of the meeting tonight in Kay's absence. There are additional thank yous stated on the back of the agenda for tonight's meeting: to the Apache Days team of workers, kudos; to Mei Tan for auditing the books over the summer; to Betsy Burcham and company for the summer mailers; to Kathy Yamane for initiating the on-line newsletter and the 150 volunteers who helped with Apache Days.
The Staff Development Days for the first semester are at www.ausd.net/ahs
Counselor meetings with all grade level parents are scheduled for the end of this month. We encourage all parents to attend.
Treasurer
Sherry Liang reported the receipts and disbursements for June, July and August. The ending balance on June 30, 2007 was $7,072.69. The September balance is $5572.69 Motions to ratify checks 1039 - 1045 and then 1046 - 1048 was made by Terry Leahy, seconded and carried. A motion to accept the proposed budget was made by Terry Leahy, it was seconded and carried. The only real differences between this budget and the previous budget is that the Principal's Discretionary fund was increased from $500 to $1,000.00 for this year only. It was moved that we release funds for several items: Scholarships, $2000; Council Expenses, $500; Hospitality, $500; Misc. Expenses, $200; President Expenses, $400; Principal Discretionary Fund, $1,000; Program, $1,250. A motion was made by Terry Leahy, seconded and carried to approve the release of the funds for the stated purposes.
Auditors Report
Mei Tan examined the June records and found them to be correct. A motion was made by Janet Chew and seconded by Terry Leahy and carried to accept the auditors report.
4th V.P. Membership The are no numbers available yet. The monies deposited by ASB will be available next month.
Committee Reports:
SSLT
Elections for SSLT and SSC parent reps will be held at this PTSA meeting. The election results were announced before the end of the meeting: SSLT members are Janet Chew (returning), Boris Brkic and Sherry Liang as Alternate; SSC members are Vicky Stewart and Rebecca Soon (both returning), Lynne Greenup, and Ellie Bitaraf and Sonal Shah as alternates. Thanks to all the parents who offered to run and congratulations to our newly elected reps.
Scrip is for sale during the meetings and any time you need it. Call the SCRIP reps Chi Lin and Tina Chiu, both of them will deliver. You will be entered in a drawing for a big prize in October when you fill out your e-scrip form and turn it in to AEF. There are over 30 returning vendors available with a few new vendors like Banana Republic and the Cheesecake Factory. If you find yourself out shopping and need SCRIP, stop by Far East National Bank and they will sell it to you!
Terry Leahy promoted all of the spirit wear for students. Please encourage your students to wear AHS colors every Friday during the school year.
Apache Days Janet Chew thanked all of the parents who volunteered during Apache Days, expecially those who covered shifts at the last minute.
PTSA is now recycling ink cartridges, be sure and bring your empties to the meetings.
Cookbooks ($5.00) and Apache Blankets ($50.00) are still for sale. Contact Joyce Sakai for the Cookbooks and Terry Leahy for the blankets if you are interested.
Booster Club Liaison and Representatives
Arcadia Music Club 3rd Tuesday @ 7:00 in MB1
Lis Stark reported that the weather at Music Camp was great. The Orchestra Pot Luck Dinner is on October 8 rather than the September date as printed on the PTSA Agenda. There will be a new parent meeting on Wednesday, September 11 at 6:00 p.m. and Festival of Bands is gearing up. Over 300 volunteers are needed to help this day run smoothly. Contact Larry Pang if you are interested in helping out.
Chinese Parent Booster Club 3rd Thursday
CPBCwill meet jointly with the PTSA on October 4 at 6:30 PM in the Apache Pit for a pot luck dinner and meeting and round table discussions.
Athletic Booster Club 3rd Wednesday @ 7:00 p.m. in A-1
Mary Beth Haney reminded everyone that joining the Century Club get you parking privileges as well as free entry to home games.
Hispanic Booster Club 3rd Friday of each month
Old Business: none stated
New Business: How can parents purchase a second set of textbooks? You may go online and look up the ISBN codes for the books you would like to purchase and then buy them through any source. The school does not provide second sets. Teachers will not require every book every day in class.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM
Respectfully submitted
Terry Schreiner
Recording Secretary
