November 2006 Minutes
1. Finance report
$500 was sent to the family whose home burned down just before the holidays
Accounts have been set up at Venture bank for each of the events, separately, so ticket sales and cost accounting will be easier to track and separate.
2. Barnes and Noble fundraiser
Organized for Dec 1-3 by Bette Hall and others.
3. Parent Ed Events
These are forums to provide opportunities for supportive education. Teri Weaver often gives her 20 years of experience to us (for free) such as on Nov 28th “How to get your kid through High school without going crazy”.
There may be other forums planned for February and in April it is hoped that there will be a presentation on the developments of the brain during teen years.
4. Fall financial Award recommendations
The committee provided PTO with a well organized sheet of recommendations for the monetary awards. There was a unanimous vote in favor of all grant requests (as amended) except for 3. These 3 were not awarded because they did not meet the guidelines – which are to benefit as many students as possible and not have a limited impact; to not be consumable – in other words, to be for an item or program which should last many years. Total award amount will be around $6,000
It was discussed and decided that CLUB requests will be decided on a case by case basis. Generally, the awards are for the school or teacher or classroom, not for afterschool clubs. However, when the club activity involves a significant number of students and the request is for an item which will be used for many years, the item will be considered – if awarded, the item then becomes the property of the school and should be available to share with other classes as needed.
5. ASB will organize and help sponsor student assemblies for the whole school. “Rachel’s Challenge” has been very strongly recommended, and a Drunk Driving assembly in December.
It was decided that the ASB (Student government) would be responsible
for their activities without our involvement until we are asked.
Then we may help sponsor the ASB if we decide to. For example, the
Parent Org supported the ASB leadership in arranging the forum which
addressed the issue of sexual harassment.
As a result of this
forum Larry Walsh is looking into changing the language in the
student handbook so that it is more clear. It has also been
suggested that the issue of sexual harassment be addressed in the
health classes, to educate the students about this issue which can be
a felony.
6. There was discussion about dances at the school. The formal dances do not have any significant problems. The informal student dances have had displays of “dancing” and behavior which could be constituted by some people as harassment. Although more parents have volunteered to be chaperones, it is felt that it is impossible to see or change the activity of the kids in the center of a mob. There is a student-administration committee which is meeting to discuss other ways to change the nature of these dances.
7. Committee Reports
The Junior class is working on the plans for the Father Daughter dances, as are those working for the Palapalooza event.
Cori Mayes volunteered to help the Freshman class.
Grocery vouchers continue to be marketed and sold, to the great benefit of the school. (BUY some, from Debby Pattin!)
The Newsletter reached less than 50% of the households because of problems with the new bulk mailing center in Tacoma.
The next newsletter will hopefully reach everyone, and it will include the Public Health Department’s latest recommendations for immunizations – including Hepatitis A and Meningococcal meningitis before teens go off to dormitory situations (in college or the military, etc)
8. The school library has a list of requested books – parents can buy these books as a gift to the Library.
Next Parent Org meeting will be January 16th at 7pm in the Library. There is no meeting in December.
Happy New Year!