Fort Couch Middle School PTA
General Meeting Minutes
November19, 2013
CALL TO ORDER
The November 19, 2013 general meeting of the Fort Couch Middle School PTA was called to order at 9:40 a.m. President Chrissy Sileo presided and Melissa Epler recorded the proceedings. President Sileo led the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA
The agenda was approved as distributed.
MINUTES
The minutes from the October meeting were approved as distributed.
CORRESPONDENCE
Sileo read a note from the Fort Couch student council thanking us for our support of the recent student council conference.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer Susan Wells shared the monthly financial statement and it was approved as presented. She also went over our profit & loss report that is posted on the website.
FORT COUCH STAFF PTA REPRESENTATIVE KATIE RUMMEL
-Rummel thanked the PTA for their help with the recent conference. Eleven schools and over 250 students were here!
-Last week student council reps attended the Veterans Memorial dedication and worked at the Education Partnership packing boxes.
-Reach Out begins soon and is a two-week program that will conclude on Friday, December 20. During the two weeks, students are encouraged to save and/or work for money to go towards various local charities.
-$1400 was raised in the recent coin drive for the Veterans Memorial. Mr. Ali’s class won a pizza party with a class total of $216.
SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE AMY BILLERBECK
-Billerbeck congratulated Fort Couch on their Blue Ribbon Award.
-USC had five national merit semi-finalists and 17 commended students.
-Parkway West recently gave a presentation and stressed the need for skilled laborers. USC has 12 students attending Parkway.
-Mr. Funfar at the high school was recently recognized as one of the ’40 Best American Teachers Under 40’.
-The USC golf team was recognized as the top team in the state.
-The USC soccer team won the state championship and will be recognized soon.
-The school performance profile numbers have been released. They are based on the PSSAs and Keystone exams. We are proud of our scores but want our kids to be more than just a number.
-Our local police have had more of a presence district-wide. Joe Connors is now the district chief of police.
-We are now in-sourcing our transportation instead of contracting Matthews. John Mansfield of Matthews is now an employee of USCSD.
-The board will begin looking at the budget in December.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Sileo shared that the online directory has rolled out. She reported that Deb Levy got a donation from Dick’s Sporting Goods and that they gave us coupons to pass out at the meeting.
1st VICE PRESIDENT
No report
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ERIN PETERSON
-Peterson reported that the Lemony Snicket visit went well, even though he made some odd comments!
-There is a new counselor tab under ‘teacher pages’.
-A second lockdown drill will take place next month. We will now put a sign on the outside doors stating that a drill is in progress so that no one is alarmed that they can’t get in.
2ND VICE PRESIDENT
Mr. DeMar was not able to attend the PTA meeting as he was in Washington, D.C. accepting our Blue Ribbon Award!
BOARD ADVISOR DEB LEVY
-The next social is Friday, January 10 and we may try to have a blacklight and encourage students to wear white.
-It was suggested that we have someone come to teach ‘line dances’ to help more kids feel comfortable dancing.
-Kona Ice is coming with a mini indoor truck. We will receive 20% of sales.
STANDING & REPORTING COMMITTEES
7th/8th Grade Student Activity Fee – Reminder letters have beensent home to those whose fee had not been paid. Currently, 79% of 7th graders and 82% of 8th graders have paid.
Yearbook – The cost is now $32. The replayit app allows users to submit photos for possible use in the yearbook.
Spirit Wear – The items are in and should be ready for pick up soon. We made $44!
Band Parents – The new orchestra teacher is here and doing a great job!
Reflections –Local winners have been announced and are displayed in the schools.
Membership – Our total PTA membership to date is 372 members, which means FC gets to keep $1448.
Youth Steering Committee – There was a recent presentation of Brian’s Story.
Sileo asked all chairs to work on compiling a thorough report of their year to give to future committee chairs.
OLD BUSINESS
-The bylaw revisions are being worked on will be presented soon.
-We earned $172.73 from the recent Chick-fil-A spirit night. Team 4 won milkshake coupons and the students enjoyed the cow visiting at lunch.
NEW BUSINESS
-A request for Kyle Kash was presented and $270 was approved.
-Caught You Being Good begins December 10 and concludes on December 20, where an assembly takes place along with Reach Out. Both of these events need volunteers every day. The winner of Reach Out will be the team that brings in the most money.
-Warm Holiday Wishes for teachers will be Monday, December 16 with Carole King, Sue Ravasio and Stephanie Ioli chairing. They will be asking for help with desserts, drinks and K-cups.
It was moved, seconded and approved that the January meeting be moved back to a daytime meeting.
UPCOMING DATES
12/10-20Caught You Being Good & Reach Out
12/16Warm Holiday Wishes
12/23-1/2NO SCHOOL – winter break
1/21PTA meeting