School Advisory Committee (SAC)-meeting minutes
September, 2005
www.sjspenfield.com

Committee Members
Sr. Christina Marie Luczynski, Principal

 Attendees: Sr. Christina, L. Donofrio, P. Caines, D. Waidl, M. Atkinson,

D.Salamone, M. Harnischferger, C. Giallanza, C. Kurzweil, L. Ioele, K. Latas

 The meeting was called to order.  Sr. Christina opened with a prayer.

 May.  SAC minutes

Will be approved at October SAC meeting.

 Financial Report

Financial report was reviewed and initial discussion was had regarding the 2005-2006 budget.

No SAC funds have been requested at this time.  

Committee Reports

          Principal’s report:

School got off to a great start on Wednesday with an opening prayer in the gym for all students.  Parents were invited and treated to coffee and refreshments in the foyer. Thanks to the Welcoming Committee for organizing this event. 

Enrollment at St.Josephs is currently 370 students. There are 300 students in K-6 and 70 students in the Pre-School program. This number is down 28 students from last year. There is a waiting list for Pre K 4.

There will be a Creating a Safe Environment workshop on September 15^th.  Approximately 68 people are signed up to attend.  Sr. Christina will have more workshops in the coming weeks. 

This year St. Joseph’s will institute a new student awards program called Compassion, Character and Values.  Students will be recognized for acts that demonstrate a Christian like attitude. Every child will be recognized.  Awards will be displayed in the VIP area outside the main office.  The students will be able to take their awards home at the end of the year.

On Monday, September 19^th there will be a Lead Room Parent meeting in Meeting Room 1.  Anyone interested in actively assisting the lead room parent should attend this meeting.  Donna Caito is the Room Parent Coordinator.

October 3^rd and 4^th is school picture day. 

October 21^st is Grandparents day.  There will be a prayer service as well as other special events scheduled that day.

At the First Friday Mass the school community blessed Father Jim Schwartz and welcomed him to our school.  The school also gave Father Jim a beautiful picture of Sacred Bread .  Father Jim will be visiting a different classroom each week over the next few weeks . 

Development

The 50^th Anniversary of St. Joseph’s school is this year.  A committee began meeting last year to plan special events for this occasion.  Anyone interested in helping contact Sr. Christina.

 Enrichment

The revised Enrichment brochures have been sent out and return applications are being processed. Students will be notified about the clubs they signed up for next week.  Someone is needed to Chair this committee to oversee the Spring brochure and accept return forms.

 Fundraising

A big thank you to Kelly Callahan for taking on the Magazine drive once again.  We have reached 45% of our $45,000 goal.  When we reach 50%, all students in the school may dress out of uniform (providing it is not a gym day).  We are in need of someone to head the following events: Hockey Game/Silent Auction 2005-2006 school year, Plant Sale 2005-2006 school year, and Magazine Drive for the 2006-2007 school year.

 Public Relations

Welcome our new Chair for Public Relations, Colleen Giallanza.

Special Events

The Parish/School picnic is Sunday September 18^th following the Noon mass.  Mass will be outside, weather permitting.

The Ice Cream Social Date has changed.  The new date is February 3^rd, 2006

The Spring Carnival date has changed.  The new date is March 24^th, 2006

 The Special Events committee is in need of someone to lead the Spring Carnival and the Ice Cream Social.  Any interested party please contact Caroline Kurzweil.

Technology

As of the start of the school year, all computers are up and running.

Technology is looking for an Assistant Chair.  If  interested contact Marc Atkinson

Welcoming

The New family Picnic was on August 10^th at St. Joseph’s playground.  The event went well and there was discussion of moving it closer to the start of school next year to accommodate more families.

All new families will be teamed up with a host family.  That family will keep in touch with the new family throughout the year to answer any questions and be supportive in any way they can.

A survey will be sent out to new families to see how their first few weeks at St. Joseph’s school has been.

 Other Topics and Discussions

Kelly Mac Farlane will be Sac’s Pre K 3 representative and Kim Reilly will be our representative for Pre K 4.  Thanks to both of you for your commitment to SAC.

We received all the textbooks we needed for the school year this year.

All Sac members in attendance at Wednesday’s SAC meeting  received a copy of the SAC operating guidelines.

Sister Christina is going to talk to the Pre K teachers about having a day that the Pre-K students could visit their class rooms and meet their teachers before the first day of school to help ease them into their new environment.

SAC discussed using a School Advisory Input Form.  Parents would fill the form out with their comments or concerns.  The form would go to Sr. Christina. Sister would share these issues with the SAC committee at the first 15 minutes of the meeting (all comments related to personnel will only be viewed by the principal).  Parents are free to come to all or any of the SAC meetings to discuss any non-personnel issues.  This form would be used for those who are unable to attend the meetings.

With the Campbell soup labels we collected last year, the school was able to purchase an

Electronic Classroom  JEOPARDY game.  The game categories are based on school curriculum.  Technology will help set this up so all classrooms will have access to the game.  Stephanie Wallace is doing the box tops this year.  Thank you for all of your hard work.  A letter will be going home to remind parents of what to collect for box tops and Campbells soup labels.

SAC Openings for the year

Certain positions are still open for the school year …Chair Enrichment, Asst. Chair Enrichment, Asst. Chair Technology, Magazine Drive coordinator, Hockey Auction/Silent Auction Coordinator, Plant Sale Coordinator, Development Chair, Public Relations Asst. Chair, Special Events Ice Cream Social Coordinator, Special Events Spring Carnival Coordinator. In order for SAC to do the best job it can, we need parent support. Contact the school office for more details.

 2005-2006 SAC Meetings- SAC would like to emphasize that ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN to any parent or guardian who wishes to attend.  Meetings are held in the school library on the second Wednesday of each month.  Prior notification of attendance is not necessary, and participation in any discussion in encouraged.  Minutes from the previous meetings will be included in the Wednesday folder for parents to read.  The next meeting will be held on Wednesday October 12^th.