Minutes of PTSA Meeting
Arcadia High School
Thursday, November 1, 2007
President Kay Kinsler called the meeting to order at 8:55 a.m. in the Apache Pit.
Terry Leahy led the flag salute. Kay Kinsler read an inspirations message “people who make a difference.”
President
Kay Welcomed all those in attendance, acknowledging the two board members present, Lori Phillipi and Janet Chew.
A motion was made by Terry Leahy and seconded by Ruth Legace to approve the agenda as amended.
Principal
David Vannasdall greeted everyone and especially thanked our Board Members for the amount of time and effort put into the bi-monthly board meetings.
The new Facilities Manager for AHS has been hired. Kathy Patterson has accepted the job and will take over duties once her current position is filled in the ASB Office. Kathy has a strong history of project management and public relations and she is great with accounting as well. She will be our voice with the architects and contractors and will be the ears for AHS keeping staff, students, parents and the community informed during the process of construction.
Her first task in her new job will be to find an office!
Our next early release day will be on November 5 alowing teachers to continue work on school goals and curriculum based assessment.
November 9 will be a student free day and Monday, November 12 is a school holiday.
Catherine Merel
CAHSEE testing for juniors and seniors who have to pass the English and/or Math portions will be given the opportunity next Tuesday and Wednesday, November 6 and 7.
Health classes are taught during zero period as a mini class of 21 days. One health class is finishing and another will be coming up.
Peer Tutoring is offered in the school Library from 3:00-4:00 p.m. from Tuesday through Thursday. The Zone program is open from Monday through Thursday each week from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. giving students a place to study after school. A teacher works each day as supervisor along with a clerical assistant.
Gerry Wang is the advisor for the successful Tutoring Club on campus who provide the tutors for the Zone program.
Next week is the end of the first quarter. A schedule of tests for each day has been distributed so that teacher can follow the sequence. Quarter exams are given during the regular school day.
Grades are due on November 15 and report cards should be mailed by November 21.
Counseling
Toni Fox spoke for the Counselors noting that FAFSA workshops are scheduled for Saturday, November 5 from 9:00 to 11:00 in the North Gym and is offered to junior and senior paretns. The next workshop on FAFSA is for senior parents only, December 1 in the South Gym from 9:00 - 11:00.
The Choices software program will be offered to sophomores who will go to the Career Center with their English classes to help decide career paths and matching colleges. This program is available to students at home as well. Juniors will be working with Choices in December.
Beginning November 1, students and parents can go to the Career Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch without an appointment to ask questions. The Counselors will be available there for the full month.
November 1 is the last day for students to turn in folders for recommendation letters. Counselors need the folders to be turned in to process all of the requests. Students can add to the folders later if necessary, but must have theirs on file by the 1st.
Activities Director
John Tung reported that Dusty Gibbs, a senior at AHS, has been named Queen of the Tournament of Roses Royal Court.
He was happy with the Homecoming activities culminating with the Dance at Jim Henson studios in Hollywood. Homecoming is an enormous amount of work and was a huge success.
Fall Preview Day is scheduled for Saturday, November 3 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at AHS. This event allows parents and 8th grade students to tour the campus and ask questions of the students who serve as the guides.
Friday night will be our last home game vs. Burroughs.
Marching Band continues to compete on Saturdays throughout November.
ASB is working on a fundraising campaign to help the victims of the recent fires. John is working with Red Cross to iron out the details.
To help everyone expedite requests, ASB forms are now online for everyone. Go to www.AHSASB.ausd.net for all necessary forms except the purchase order which is a form in triplicate and the facilities use form which is a district required form.
Recording Secretary
Copies of the October minutes are on the entry table at this meeting 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
Treasurer
Sherry Liang reported thae balance in our account as of November 1, 2007 is $6,938.95 with receipts of $660.00 for blanket sales and 1875.88 income from the football food booth during October.
A motion was made by Terry Leahy and seconded by Liz Westphal to ratify checks totaling $1,727.54 for 177.49 to Jeff Laun for the PTSA news online; 225.00 for the Arcadia Coordinating Council; 250.00 for the Child Health Council; 100.00 for Arcadia White Christmas; 950.05 to Lori Phillipi for Programs; and 25.00 to Arcadia Council PTA for President's Expenses. The motion carried.
Joyce Sakai thanked all who have helped in the football food booth. A thank you also to those who come and eat and enjoy the game!
Westfield Works Wonders is coordinating with AEF for the entire district to be involved in this fundraiser. Each entry is $5.00 and 100% comes back to the schools. The dates for this event are November 16 through November 18.
A motion was made by Terry Leahy and seconded by Sherry Liang for Arcadia High School PTSA to take part in the Westfield Works Wonders fundraiser. The motion carried.
Those interested in attending the Westfield fundraiser should check in at the concierge desk, purchase a band and pick up your gifts! Two free tickets to Santa Anita Racetrack and 2 free valet parking tickets along with your entry and a chance to win a $20,000.00 shopping spree.
Cookbooks are still available for sale for $5.00 each. Consider them as possible gifts for the Holidays!
President
Kay mentioned the clipboards for volunteers going around today: Hospitality, Chinese New Year, Intercultural Dinner and Football Food Booth.
Kay welcomed all those in attendance this morning. What a great turnout. We all work together for our children and we encourage all of you to be involved and get others to join you! When we work together, we learn that really we are all the same!
Tables will be set up for the home game this Friday night so you can visit old friends and meet new ones. Since the football food both is our PTSAs biggest fundraiser, it is important that we all support the booth at home games.
The Intercultural meetings are open to all interested people with topics relevant to everyone.
Thanks to a number of people who make a difference for Arcadia High School:
Alice Chan, Eugenia Chang and Theresia Liem for Red Ribbon Week
Terry Leahy for the appreciation luncheon
Joyce Sakai for the successful football food booth
Terri LaBrie, Mary Beth Haney and Leticia Nassih for Apache blanket sales
Kathy Yamane for the Smoke Signals and PTSA Newsletter for the high school and all of her work getting our newsletter online saving over $600.00 per issue!
Our informal lunch today will be at Matt Denny's right after the meeting. Come and enjoy with us.
SCRIP: Karen Tom, Chi Lin and Tina Chiu remind us to please continue to purchase SCRIP. Think of SCRIP as possible gifts as well as daily use! There are gift cards for over 30 vendors including the Honeybaked Ham Shop. Tina Chiu is the November sales person for SCRIP.
Apache Wear: Terry Leahy thanks everyone who has purchased Apache wear items either from the Trading Post (student store) or from the home games. A group of senior boys are promoting Apache Pride by designing new items for sale.
Reflections Project: Ophelia Ha reminded us of the “I can make a difference by…” Reflections Contest. All student entries are due by November 14.
White Christmas: Teresia Liem and Jenny Tsouvalas remind us to sign up to work sorting the canned goods that will be donated for the annual White Christmas drive.
Music Club Liaison: Lisa Fairbanks
Get involved with the Music program at AHS by going online to the Arcadia Music Club and click on Festival of Bands. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to make the day a success and everyone is welcome to get involved! Or you can call Jean Jarosz, volunteer coordinator for the event.
The Mt. Carmel competition was cancelled due to the fires in San Diego County.
This Friday night's field show will be performed in costume by the Marching Band and Color Guard…and the only time they will be able to eat after their performance!
Orchestra 1 will have their first performance next month on December 6 at Holly Avenue School; and the Holiday Concert will be held at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium on December 13.
Athletic Boosters Liaison: Ruth Legace
The Star News featured player of the week is our own Troy Ahmaz. AHS should be in second place by the end of the season, earning our team a place in CIF.
Boys Water Polo plays their last league game today at 6:00 p.m. They are undefeated.
Caitlyn Ward is the star Tennis player for AHS.
Everyone is encouraged to join the Athletic Booster Club anytime. You can even designate which team you'd like to have your funds support.
Hispanic Booster Club: Myrna Dekker
The Club reached out to all 9th grade families this year and was very excited by the turnout at their last meeting. The business meeting was followed by discussions in grade level groups. Tonight's meeting will feature a guest speaker on Building Blocks for Success.
CPBC: Eugenia Chang / Ophelia Ha
They are also having guest speakers at their next meeting and the Club is looking forward to the New Year Party as a combined event with PTSA.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Terry Schreiner
Recording Secretary
Next Meeting: Thursday, December 6, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. in the Apache Pit
Lunch to follow at Kay Kinsler's home. Please RSVP before December 1.
