September 2006 Minutes

September 12th

The meeting began at 7:00 p.m. There were 27 present.

Gail opened the meeting thanking new parents for coming and asked that each indicate their name, the class of their student(s) and their reason for being at the meeting.

Gail explained the functions of CHSPO:
To raise money for school activities/functions/special needs not covered by curriculum or regular budgets. This is done with 4 major events:
1) Grocery Cards for Top Foods and Bayview, Scripts for Safeway
2) The December Book Fair with Barnes and Noble
The Mother – Son Palapalooza
The Father-Daughter Tea
Support Volunteers in the school
Support the Fall and Spring Awards
Applications from Staff for funding for special projects / needs. In the past this has supported buying new weights for the weight room, and refurbishing the piano in the music room.
Communication via email when staff need extra help on a project. Communication is also through the Cougar Connection.
Educational opportunities for parents via Parent Support nights

There was a question from the floor supporting class activities (e.g. senior class, etc.), and it was explained that the class events are done by class reps, not by CHSPO.

Treasurer’s report – Gail
We started this year’s budget with over $13,000, which was more than expected due to higher than expected memberships and grocery receipts over the summer. Projected expenses are $23,600, and a reserve fund of $5,000 stays on the books each year for the new school year’s seed money.
Membership forms were passed out so that parents present can sign up as members.

Open House – Teri Poff

Open house is next week on Tuesday, September 19th. Parents spend 10 minutes in each class period. Parents can meet their students’ teachers.
The Open House will not be combined with the ribbon cutting ceremony as all areas of the construction are not open yet.
There will be a table for CHSPO membership. A volunteer list for parents who can help at tables at Open House was created.

There was a suggestion from the floor to have an email list not only for CHSPO parents (which already exists), but also for nonmember parents in order to facilitate communication between school and parents. Ed Thorpe indicated that the district is working on communication. Teri Poff said that they are working with Scott to facilitate creation and input of an email list.

Class Reps – Gail
Gail indicated that the Class committees have 3 functions:
To gather the names of parents
To do fundraisers for the class
To help plan the senior year party
Gail asked for volunteers for the Class of 2010, indicating that this is a 4 year commitment. Cori Mayes and Susan Kirkpatrick both volunteered to be the freshman class representatives.

Fall Financial Awards – Gail
Requests will go out in October to teachers, and be due in November. Teachers should know by Thanksgiving what awards are made.
Debbie Woodin and Ellen Rice volunteered to read the applications for awards.

There was a question about the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Teri Poff indicated that it will be before October 20th or after November 4th as she will be in Germany for 2 weeks as a principal on a Fullbright Grant. At this time, not all areas of the reconstruction are completed and open.

Committee Reports:

Senior Class – Carole
The party is planned. The meeting to finalize arrangements will be Monday, September 18th at school. The registration for the party begins in October.

Junior Class – Rhonda
“We’ve seen the future”.
A meeting is planned for Monday, September 25th; time and location TBD.

Sophomore Class – Lisa
The class had a No Bake Bake Sale last year, which was a good fundraiser. They plan to do this every year. Lisa reported that they raised $250.

Parent Support – Teri Weaver
It was reported that Teri is in charge of Parent Support evenings.

Father-Daughter Tea
Gail reported that there was a difficulty last year because there was no treasurer listed for the fundraiser. Therefore people didn’t know who to send money to.

The CHSPO treasurer is Debra Myles. Her email address is HYPERLINK "mailto:debrasmiles@comcast.net" debrasmiles@comcast.net.
Each class has finances separate from CHSPO.

Grocery Vouchers -- Debby
Grocery Vouchers are a major source of income for CHSPO. Last year brought in $4500. Over the summer checks came in from Top Foods for $750, from Safeway for $447 and from Bayview for $22.
This is a very easy way to support CHSPO. Everyone buys food and sundries. If you buy gas at Safeway, There are several members of the team that sell these cards and who can deliver them to you.
For Safeway, you can register online by going to HYPERLINK "http://www.escrip.com" www.escrip.com . You can sign up anyone with a Safeway card. Gas purchases are also added to the fundraising.

Newsletter - Elizabeth
An email will go out from Gail to submit articles for the newsletter. If Class meetings and other functions are announced in advance, then we will put them in the newsletter.

Cougar Connection – Gail
There are opt-out forms for anyone who does not wish to have their name/phone number published in the Cougar Connection. The Connection is free to all CHSPO parents, and $5 for all others.

Volunteers – Debby
The library is still in need of volunteers NOW. Students cannot use the library because books are not yet unpacked. Show up if you can volunteer or call Kristi Bonds to schedule a time.

We sang Happy Birthday to Teri Poff since today is her birthday.

Parking Lot Volunteers – Teri Weaver
We need parent volunteers to stay on campus during lunch to help students stay on campus. They are not allowed to leave during lunch except for Running Start or to go to New Market Vocational Skills Center. They are not allowed onto the trails or to sit in their cars during lunch. Volunteers get an orange vest in the office and find out what to do. Contact Debby to Volunteer.

Site Council – Teri Poff
The opening of school was very smooth this year thanks to much hard work by Michelle Anderson and the construction crew. Students seem pleased with the open look and the natural lighting. The office is new and updated. The whole school has a much nicer feel and tone.
Student attitude is great. The ASB officers are excited, and students dressed in school colors for the assembly.

-- Ed
CHS is at an opportune time. It seems newer due to renovation. The closed campus creates a community feeling instead of students scattering during lunch. The athletes are in a smaller league now. CHS changes give us the opportunity to create our own identity and stress the strengths that CHS has.
Teri Poff has been here for 5 years and has seen a generation of high school students through the school.

Concerns – Conversation with Teri Poff
1) There are students walking through the construction zones. There need to be “Do Not Exit” signs on doors that exit into the construction zone.

2) Is there less bus transportation this year for sports? Students are being asked to get themselves to some sports. Soccer – there is a bus to the event, but parents have to pick up. If students ride the bus to an event, there is more comraderie for the team, and it is safer as well. Teri said she would check on whether there have been changes.

3) Freshman textbooks – One parent reported his student, a freshman, has no textbooks in his class. Why? Another parent reported that students must buy their own biology books. Why?
Answer: Before texts can be bought, they must be approved by the district. This happened later than usual last year. Geometry texts are not in yet. As for IB Biology, since students take 2 years of Biology in IB program, they MAY, if they prefer, buy a book to have at home. This is not a requirement, however.

Link Crew – The meeting for orientation was good. Some link crew members told 9th graders they would meet them out on the front lawn before school to show them the school, but they were not there on the first day. Ninth graders who showed up were disappointed.

Website – it would be helpful if information were available over the summer and on the first day of school. It was reported that this had happened before, and it was great to have the updates before school started.
Teri indicated that there is no funding available to update the website during the summer.

Lockers – when will they be available?
Answer – they already are. Students can see Becky McKinnon. They need to bring their partner ahd their own lock. All lockers are already installed. Lockers are given on a first-come, first served basis.

Spirit Shirts – they are a great idea, but who designs them? Last logo said it is okay to “smoke” your opponent. Some students found this objectionable.
Answer: They are designed by the ASB and approved by advisors.

Lunch line – It is taking 20 minutes to get through the lunch line.
Teri: they serve 400 lunches and 400 snacks at lunchtime. The new Skyward system is being used and they are adjusting to the new system. The snack line is the longest, and they are still working to make it faster.

Back to School Night – It was suggested that there be a table allowing parents to pay lunch card money while at school. Volunteers were asked for.

Next CHSPO meeting will be October 10th. Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month.