The Meeting Was Convened at 7:30P by Edwin Yong

W-L PTA Meeting

October 13, 2015

Attendees: Edwin Yong (President); Lee Dioso (Treasurer); John Naland (President Elect); Ted Hayes (Vice President); Alison Trimble (Secretary) and assorted parents.

The meeting was convened at 7:30p by Edwin Yong.

Presentation by Assistant Principals:

Paul Jamelskehas been withW-L 15 years and 18 years in APS system. He is working with 650 9th graders this year compared to the 420 seniors over saw last year. He works with the Social Studies and Special Ed departments. He is also the liaison the Attendance Office, Clinic and Cafeteria.

Tony Hall is working with the 10th graders. He is in his 7th year at W-L and 11th in APS systen. He works with the English Department and ESOL/HILT. He coordinates school field trips and urges parents to please sign and return slips. He helps ensure the 9th grade personal learning devices continue to work as students matriculated into 10th grade. He is the liaison for Transportation and works with School and Community relations. The Community relations program highlights the good things happening at W-L. He encourages parents to reach out to him if they can recommend any new partnerships to add to the current network.

MarlenyPerdoma works with the 11th grade. She has been with W-L 22 years and 20 in APS. She worked in Central Office for many years. She currently supervisesthe Science department. She is the liaison with the Hispanic community, the partnership with PTA, Library services, equipment requests, and the budget. She works with the 25 new teachers this year at W-L. Also coordinates the substitute in-house teachers.

Claire Peters works with the 12th grade. She is in her 16 yearyear at W-L and her 5th year in an administrative capacity.She supervises the Math department and serves as the School web master along with several other publications at school including the Yearbook and newspaper. A special accolade was given to the Yearbook for quality over the last 10 years. The newspaper is moving more online and a greater focus on developing Broadcast announcements. Claire also works drills. There was a drill every week in September and other emergency drills planned throughout the year.

Other Assistant Principals not present are: Carol Calloway (Director of Student Activites), ChadDeMagistris (IB Coordinator, and Justin Bolfek (Asst. Dir. of Student Activities).

The Assistant Principals took questions from floor:

What partnerships does W-L currently have with the community? Tony Hall answered: Best Buddies, Humane Society, Channel 7, Lost Dog rescue, and Jacob’s engineering.

What other duties do Assistant Principals have because we see many of you at sporting events? Claire Peters answered: they all have other duties as assigned. For Sporting events, they try to ensure that at least one assistant principal is at every event. This is for both Home and away games.

How do teachers like the renovations? Claire Peters answered that they like the collaborate spaces and are looking forward to smaller spaces open up. The AP’s like their offices in the main hall and grouped all together.

Will the number of Assistant Principals be scaled up with the growth in students?The principal Dr. Robertson is having conversations about the need with the Administration currently. W-L is largest high school.

Is W-L conducting active shooter drills?

Yes. VA requires two lock down drills each year. One has been done and one will happen in January. There is now a bell at door #6. When there is a secure the school drill no one is allowed outside of school. And all students brought in. Police are refining these practices to address different building issues.

Are the new lunch periods working?

Yes, they are working well compared to last year. The lunch lines quicker and lunch more relaxed. The teachers with classes hosting a split lunch are reporting they see a benefit from the interruption. The charging stations are a benefit as well.

How does Discipline work under the Assistant Principal structure?

It falls under each grade. The AP’s work with the counseling department and address issues to ensure students don’t fall through cracks.

Is there an SAT prep class available at W-L?

No, but Arlington County does offer the SAT under the Minority Achievement program at a reduced cost. PSAT event.

Principals Report (given by Claire Peters):

All 10th and 11th graders will take PSAT soon. The test will be longer by ½ hour because of new SAT test format being unveiled next year. All other students will report for 5th and 7th period. Tomorrow night is College night W-L for the entire county. This event was previously held at Ballston Mall.Homecoming was postponed to this coming weekend due to weather. So the Spirit schedule is as follows: Thurs= United Nations Day. Fri=Generals Pride Day Pep rally for the game against Fairfax. The dance will be Saturday from 8 to 11p. Students must be at school by 10p to be let in. Encourage your student to make good decisions. Sarah Becker, who is coordinating the event, still needs chaperones.

The County Digital Citizenship program run in conjunction with the Common Sense Media website will incorporate 8 standards into the K-12 curriculum at appropriate time. There will be two lessons during Generals period. What does it mean to have intellectual property? What is okay to use? The Whole General program is also new this year. With a specific focus at each grade level. 9=relation 10= balance 11= good choice 12= responsibility.The first program happens at end of October.

Minutes: The minutes from the September 15 meeting were approved.

Grants Committee: Karen Hancock presented the list of grants funded by the PTA this year with the available $11,650. The deadline was early to allow for planning. Applications could still be submitted should any funded program fall through the money could be reallocated. A motion was made to show support for list of grants. Approved.

Treasurer’s Report:Lee Dioso handed out a copy of audit from the VA State PTA. This is not formal audit. The membership drive is ongoing. We continue to be short of the budgeted goal for membership and no sweat fundraising. There is a $2000 gap at the moment which could be filled if we gained 100 members with $20 to meet budget goal. Lee discussed the budget with respect to the spend down planned. The minimum carryover should be about $5000 and we have been carrying $20,000 with no physical plant to repair.

Audit report: Lee offered his thank you to Carolyn Carlson who confirmed the PTA records. She reviewed all the documentation of checks etc. A motion was made to adopt the audit report. The motion was seconded. The motion passed.

Announcements:

The PTA Reflections deadlineis Oct 27. There were no dance or music entrants last year. Encourage your student for this year. The day of the deadline (Oct 27) there is a need for volunteers to document the entries with student name, grade, category, and to organize entries before sending to judges. Stud

Choral DepartmentLiaision reported that two students made the VA Honor Chorus: Julia Landini ALTO, Apollo Yong TENOR. Congratulations! Also, the Chorus department needs an new accompanist. If you know anyone who could assist, please contact Ms. Severin.

Please sign up for ESCRIPS at for Harris Teeter. Last year Harris Teeter gave $4000 to W-L.

There is another Capacity meeting on October 26 to discuss how much money is left over from the W-L project and, if so, how can we spend it on other items. Ideas include: Common area and Little Theatre needs. The end of calendar year should see the finish of the renovation project.

Listserv: Main PTA listserv has only this year member. 10-11-12 still on Yahoo site.

Grounds Committee: There is a work session scheduled for Tuesday Oct 27 at 3pm to cut back weeds encroaching on the common area from the parking deck.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Alison Trimble

Secretary