Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Parent Association Minutes
Jenni Pencyla
Began meeting and made Executive Committee introductions.
Dr. Roberts
Introduced Susan Lovejoy, Board of Trustees President; uniquely she is a board member who is not a CCS parent.
Susan Lovejoy
AnnouncedREACH Inaugural Event: Oct 20th
REACH campaign has been over a year in the making. Event will include up-to-date renovation plans and demonstrations to be unveiled, and will be recognizingthose who have already made a pledge to the campaign.
Dr. Roberts
Thanked the Executive Committee for their work so far and continued work.
Thanked the Board of Trustees, who gives an enormous amount of time to support our children.
Announced CCS Book, One CCS special event with Rush Kidder: Thursday, November 3rd.
Thanked Jill Due…great start so far, admitted 99 new students, and CCS now hasa little over 500 students as of this year.
Introduced Brian Puerling, Director of Technology. He is a welcome addition to our CCS community as our technology needs have grown.
Brian Puerling
Described his experience and background, awards received, and recent invitation from Sesame Street to assist in brainstorming future programming with technology. Spoke about his recent book he authored this summer, to be published 2012.
He will be hands-on in helping CCS integrate new and existing technology in the classrooms, namely in EC and soon in 1st grade with iPads, for example.
Dr. Roberts
The best way to have a good school is to get good people!
At CCS, we spend 4-5 times more than the national average on faculty development. The synergy that we have developed in our staff is incredible, and is directly translated to your children.
Introduced Brendan Diamond, Associate Director of Communications
Brendan Diamond
Described his experience and background. Expressed his enthusiasm in joining CCS. All correspondencepreviouslydirected to Mandy Irwin, should be directed to Brendan effective immediately.
Jean Robbins
Described how she spent her summer,with time to reflect about this last year and new things for EC going forward.
Described her summer professional development experience at the Gesell Institute, which was focused on child development andwas a shared experience with Karen Jacobson and Pam Pifer.
Soon to come, EC will be piloting iPads this year; a demonstration of this new use of technology is being crafted and will be shared soon.
Afternoon assemblies soon to come, and some will include special performances.
CCS is also in progress of build an alliance with another school, to have a special event with Emerald City Theatre in the spring.
Annual vision and hearing screening + child development assessment is on the near horizon. Permission slips and more information will be provided soon.
Multicultural Group book:The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Open to entire CCS community). Many already reading this book; please join us Thursday, September 29th @ 6pm in the library for a book discussion.
Introduced Stephanie Free, PA Parent Education Coordinator Chair
Stephanie Free
Noted this year’s CCS Book, One CCS: Rush Kidder’s Good Kids, Tough Choices; books now available for purchase at front office for $15. Event scheduled for Nov 3rd. On Oct 18th coffee talk will be held for discussion of this book.
Many Parent Education events to come this year; committee is in progress in building a webpage on the CCS website for all of the up-to-date information about the committee’s activities and events. This webpage will include a RSVP place for use when necessary.
If anyone is interested in volunteering on this committee, please contact Stephanie Free.
Pam Pifer
Announced new in Lower School: Teachers will be piloting a Smart Board for Everyday Math program; our teachers have developed these lessons with U of Chicago.
Announced new to the 1st grade: Ashley Wales, who has moved from CCS 4thgrade, and who started as a primary grade teacher. She is ecstatic for the opportunity to return to primary level.
Lower School is fully enrolled this year.
Announced Cezar Simeon, Lower School Science teacher, who joins CCS this year. Described his experience and wonderful background, and expressed how overwhelmingly ecstatic his references were about him.
Cezar Simeon
Expressed his excitement in joining the CCS community. He has begun to learn about each of your children and has fondly taken to the children in no time. He emphasizes a push in science for asking more questions and to be inquisitive about the world in polite ways.
Cory Stutts
In her 5th year at CCS, with 120 students this year. Middle school has grown by a third, biggest 8th grade ever!
Announced there is a there’s a new Math teacher and Spanish teacher in Middle School, and lots of collaborations happening.
Middle school is a different animal, a time when children take big steps forward in responsibility.
Announced there are new clubs, which will put CCS into competitions, trying to give everyone in MS a place to belong. Sports alone are not for everyone, and this should help our MS students.
MS is doing outreach to parents in new ways, including Institute for Global Ethics with the PA Parent Education Committee. This translates and applies guidelines for people to use, common human values which are 5 basics: respect, responsibility, compassion, integrity, and fairness. CCS ROARS is an example of this! MS students were heavily involved in forming ROARS.
Jill Due
Thanked all who have volunteered in the Office of Admissions by way of being an Ambassador family and assisting with Admissions playdates.
Coming up: CCS Open House Nov 6th. This is thebest and main way fora new family to find and get to know about CCS, and receive wonderful feedback from current families.
Friday, Nov 11th: Sibling enrollment due. Sibling Playdate has been set for Nov 30th; mark your calendars. General applications due Jan 3rd.
Kerri Neis
Explained the role of the Advancement Office, which helps with events and works with volunteers through the CCS website and PA committees. Two major ways CCS fundraises is the Fall Annual Fund campaign, and the Spring Benefit. She asked that all families participate to the extent you can with both events. This year’s Annual Giving campaign is being co-chaired by Joe Manzella and Chris McKean.
VIP day is Friday, November 18, 2011. This is the day when children bring a special person to the school; on that day every student should have someone to share their day. VIP is for SK-4th grade only. Advancement is looking into the possibility to invite these special people also to certain assemblies; more information to come. Please let Kerri know of these special people for your child(ren) by the returned form, or by dropping anemail to Kerri.
Bob Riccardino
You may recognize him as the traffic person; he is the CCS Facilities Manager.
This year he spent the summer cleaning the school, helping the architects with new changes. Cleaned all desks with steam, no chemicals in effort for a Green CCS environment, with hospital grade soaps and cleaners.
Provided three short videos demonstrating the solar panels and wind turbines new to CCS, special things your children have already toured.
Jenni Pencyla
Thanked the Ambassador co-chairs, Back to School co-chairs and those volunteers who made such a positive impact. It’s been a great start for the Parent Association.
Noted changes made to bylaws. Asked for a motion to approve new bylaws, 1st & 2nd; bylaws were approved.
Kathleen Mitchell
Gave overview of PA budget. Noted small changes from last year, changed either because some events overlapped, or new committees have been added.
The PA Executive Committee gifted 2 pottery wheels to the art department! A wonderful opportunity for our CCS students.
Room Parents, important information: When you purchase things approved for your class, in order to be reimbursed you must 1) keep receipts, 2) fill out form, and 3) return form within 30 days.
Committee Updates
Mikala Stewart
Mentioned that having Community Support at CCS speaks volumes about what this school is all about! It’s acommittee to help parents in need, in an unforeseen moment or time; this committee coordinates volunteers to support these families, in small and meaningful ways as needed. Karen Jacobson approaches the family, and then Mikala Stewart will then help coordinate volunteers and times.
Stacia Garriott Kass
For Room Parents and for CCS community at large: This year there are no potlucks in SK-8th. This decision was made by the Event planning committee, lead by Head of School, the Administration and the PA EC, and was made in a thoughtful way considering how busy our CCS calendar is during this time of year, and how many events our families are already being asked to attend. If you plan to still have a “get together” in an informal way, teachers should not be invited or aware as to not feel pressured. As a community we need to have continuity to lend courtesy to our teachers and staff on this issue.
Lesli Dahlberg and Shawna Norsman
Tomorrow night is the 1st Mom’sClub event for the year: @ Sawtooth, and is on the calendar. You can sign upon line, or through the newsletter. 50 people have RSVP’d so far.
We will have several events throughout the year, purposefully spread out, hopefully without other CCS conflicts.
Next event is Tuesday, Dec 13thfrom 9am-Noon; event is on the calendar. Sign-up is online, still working on possible childcare. Committee will send out more details, as they know.
Julie Fuller
Halloween decorations will be up throughout the school through VIP day. We have Green decorations this year, including recycled and reuse items.
On Friday, October 28th, the CCS Parade will be held during the AM and PM, same as last year. No celebrations will be had for Monday, October 31st following the CCS Friday Parade.
For any celebrations classroom specific, please find out details from your child’s teacher and/or room parents.
Julie Stamato and Leslie Christo
Volunteer coordinator committee is new this year; it’s purpose for those teachers and staff who do not have a room parent, and have a need for volunteers. The committee is already very busy! There are lots of opportunities; if you’d like to get involved or volunteer, or know of a teacher or staff that needs help, please contact either Julie or Leslie.