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Meeting Minutes

Please check back here after meetings and we will post the minutes in case you couldn’t join us! Due to the large volume of information in each month’s minutes, we will keep the most recent month’s minutes on line.  If you would like to receive a copy of the minutes from any particular month, you may e-mail us at stjameshsa@gmail.com.
Here are the minutes from our November meeting!

St. James
School HSA Minutes

JANUARY 12, 2012

 

1.     OPENING PRAYER

2.     OFFICER REPORTS

a.  President’s Report

  • Helene McBride reported that the outpouring for Gaspar and his family has been overwhelming, thanks to SOOO many people. We raised over $16K prior to the bake sale and dress down. Please continue to pray for this dear family, they really have nothing and we are trying to help make sure they are able to try and get on their feet. MANY, MANY people want to help in whatever way they can. This is creating a bit of a whirlwind for his wife Magdalena and we are trying to be respectful of the terrifying position she is in so we do NOT want to overwhelm her with too much at once.  We are going to take this family into our community and continue to help them become stable.
  • Helene McBride reported that there have been issues with the T-Shirt Sale. There have been many issues with the youth sizes of the hooded sweatshirts. She has personally spoken with many parents and resolved most of these issues. We are looking to have another order put in and she is working with the supplier to assure that we have “true to size” fittings. We will keep you posted.

b.  Vice President’s Report

  • Barbara Keegan reported on the Pie Sale. The question was asked “how were the pies?” They were better than the last vendor. “Should we consider doing it again next year?” Possibly. Feedback: Cookie dough was mentioned as an easier more compact fundraiser. Butter braids were mentioned, maybe for Easter. Pies were sold at the same time as other schools, maybe do it at another time during the year. Last year we made $1,977, this year $2,274 so we did make more.

c.  Treasurer’s Report

  • Jill Burton reported that we have raised $25,851 against our annual fundraising goal. We have raised $1,654 towards technology with the Bottle and Can drives.
  • Golf Tournament – $11,559 – new fundraiser this year
  • Pie Sale – $2,274 vs. $1,977 last year
  • Christmas Fair – $8,623 vs. $8,073 last year
  • Christmas Concert – $803 vs. $ $3,713 last year (tickets were $5 vs. $25 last year)
  • Book Fair – $2,590 vs. $2,413 last year

 

A question was asked regarding how the cash raffle results are so far? Mr. Gieryng replied that not a lot have been submitted so far, in the past the most come in during the last few days, this year it is expected to make $10,000 more than last year because it is mandatory in addition to the matching program.

d.  Secretary’s Report
Jenifer deBouver reported that copies of the minutes are available from the December 2011 meeting are on the front table and also available on the website.

3.     SPIRITUALITY REPORT

Janine Kyburz was not able to attend the meeting, Jenifer deBouver delivered her report.

  • Please pray tonight for: Bajda family, Pinkney family, Gaspar Simon Family, Fountain family, LaBash family, Mathews family, Quinn Rooney, Plus all those who have asked for prayers (do not want people to know)
  • Upcoming Events:

Annual Girl Sleepovers: 5th grade this Friday, January 13, 6th grade Friday, February 3, 7th grade Friday, March 2, 8th grade, Friday March 23

  • Outreach:
    • Blanket Ministry will be held on Wednesday, January 25 at 2:15-3 for 5th and 6th grade students.
    • Valentine Telegrams will be done on Saturday, February 11 for 7th and 8th grade students.
    • Prospect House Homeless Shelter every 3rd and 4th week each month for 7th and 8th grade studentsRainbows (support group for children who have experienced loss and divorce) is starting this month.Student Theatre:

Begins on Monday, January 23 from 2:15-3:30pm every Monday. Spring production will be Alice Underground – performances will be the first weekend of May. Registration meeting was last night for students in grades 5-8.  Amazing turnout!

  • String Program begins on Monday, January 23, we have 11 students from grades 3-8 signed up.  Weekly group lessons on Monday mornings.
  • Mommies Time Out:

Friday, January 20 from 7-10pm in the Parish Center. A relaxing evening for school moms. BYOB and appetizer, 10 minute chair massages, prayer bracelets. Bring a donation for the Mercy Learning Center – foot items or new socks, hats, gloves, mittens and scarves.

  • Catholic Schools Week Mass will be held on Friday, February 3 ~ hosted by 4th grade. Non-perishable food items will be collected for the Church Pantry.
  • Gym Balcony Transformation: Work will begin on transforming the balcony after the BB Tournament is finished. This space will be a creative and quiet space for students and teachers when the gym is not in use. If any parent wants to help the 8th graders with cleaning, painting, sewing, etc. contact Mrs. Kyburz
  • Save the Date Parents: Celebrate St. Patricks Day at our BLARNEY BASH on Saturday, March 17, 7-11pm in the school gym, BYOB, there will be a table decorating contest, $ per person TBD

4.     PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

  • Mr. Gieryng reported that there will be a PreK Breakfast on Wednesday, January 18th at 8am to learn more about our kindergarten, please tell family, friends, neighbors – anyone with a child going into Kindergarten.
  • Our annual open house will be held on Saturday, January 28 from 10-1, there was some confusion on time. Everyone is welcome! There will be a free tuition drawing as a draw this year for perspective parents.
  • Our commercial on TV starts tomorrow; Friday, January 13, 82 spots will be shown on News12. Will be put on the website, may put it on YouTube. A billboard was mentioned by a parent, cost was expensive. Will try to put the commercial on patch.com, this will be looked into. Banner on the light posts in town was also mentioned.
  • Week of Catholic Schools Week, on Tuesday or Wednesday, the teachers will be switch teaching classes for at least 30 minutes.
  • Gaspar’s replacement, Peter Zamachaj will be here until we find someone permanent. He did work with Gaspar in the past. We are looking at finding someone by March 1.
  • Re-registration is coming up, a letter will be sent and will be discussed at next HSA meeting. Class capacity next year will be: K-2 – 20 per class, grades 2-5 – 22, grade 6-8 – 24. We will be hiring another 1st grade teacher.
  • The doors in the gym are now alarmed to avoid after hours use of the gym.

5.     COMMITTEE REPORTS

a.  Father’s Club
Mark Williams reported that the next pancake breakfast will be held on Sunday, January 15, all proceeds will go to Gaspar’s family. The father/daughter dance will be held on either February 10th or 11th. Mulch – 5 weekends more information to come, end of April through May

b.  Book Fair

Barb Keegan reported that the next book fair will take place on Saturday, January 28th through Monday, January 30th. On Monday classes will come down to purchase. Setting up will happen the Friday night prior after Bingo, if anyone would like to help, please contact Barb.

c.  Basketball Tournament

Helene McBride reported that the basketball tournament starts this weekend, games go all day on Saturday starting at 9am and last game starts by 8pm, some games go on during the week too. The tournament schedule is right on the website. We sell concessions – last year we had bacon/egg/cheeses, homemade chili, sausage and peppers, etc. and everyone loved it!  Raffle tickets and 50/50 Raffle. Many parents are not aware that this is a MAJOR fundraiser for the school – this is NOT just for basketball families, please try coming out for even one or two games and help support the school as well as these children that are working so hard.

6.     NEW BUSINESS

a.  Movie Night

Helene McBride reported that we are looking at two dates right now, we will keep you posted but possibly either 2/3 or 3/2.

b.  Auction

Helene McBride reported that it is that time of year again, last year was amazing, please consider donating – even if you are not sure if your company has anything to offer you can always ask us, no donations are too small. It will be held at the same venue as last year on Saturday, April 28. If you are interested in helping out, please contact us. There will be a kickoff meeting on Thursday, January 19th.

c.  Special Bingo

Barb Keegan reported that there will be a special bingo held on Saturday, 2/4 at 6:30pm. We are looking for donations of any kind, all proceeds will go to Gaspar’s family. Helpers are filled, looking for donations – sign-up sheet is on the table. No children will be allowed.

d.  Bottle Drive

Barb Keegan reported that the next Bottle and Can Drive will be held on March 24th. The last drive was very slow, last year we did not have one in January and instead in February and that did excellent, looking into possibly doing the same thing next year.

7.     ANNOUNCEMENTS reported by Helene McBride

a.  Pre-K Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, 1/18 at 8am, tell anyone you know that may have younger children, this is for prospective kindergarten parents – if you know any neighbors or friends that are looking, please tell them about it! Baked goods will be welcomed.

b.  Alumni Breakfast will be held on Sunday, February 5th after 9:15am mass. If you would like to bake for this, please sign up tonight and drop off item that morning. Any parents, spouses, grandparents and even younger alumni are welcome – ALL ALUMNI – to come to mass together and have a coffee and…. afterwards. Last year we had four gentlemen that reunited and hadn’t seen each other in 50 years!

c.  Honors Breakfast will be held on Monday, February 6th at 8am. Please keep this on your calendar, children love having their parents come in and are so proud of their hard work, it’s a nice morning.

d.  HSA Board nominations will happen in April, elections will take place in May.

8.     THANK YOUS – The community really came together during this last month!

9.     CLOSING PRAYER/ADJOURNMENT

By HSA 4:57 pm