500 Cumberland Road, Pittsburgh PA 15237  Phone: (412)-635-4101 Fax: (412)-635-4115

September 2004 PFA Minutes

MCKNIGHT ELEMENTARY

PFA MEETING
SEPTEMBER 1, 2004

Members Present:  Gail Mariana, Kim Baird, Debbie Marsico, Sandy Jagus, Carolyn Bergeron, Kyung Lee, Tammy Switzer, Lisa Caswell, Wendy West Hickey, Sandy Mullen, Kelly Lynskey, Paula McIlvried, Sue Graham, Jennifer Fine-Schmidt, Cindy Cicco, Kymberly Patsilevas, Sharon Adzema, Anna Gitzing-Howard, Bridget McDonough, Mary Ellen Austin, Annemarie Lamperski, Joan White, Tracy Muskal, Carole Gingras, Darlene McGill, Anne King, Hyera Seo, Helen Stiles, Joyce Price Calhoun, Lori Stossel, MaryAnn Stoddart, Amy Phelps, Cathy Lehman, Ann Moss, Pam Kaib, Jan-Raye Gardner, Jennifer Keeley, Melanie Rutan, Jennifer Christy, Maureen Plichta, Diana Porcelli, Julia McCandlish, Carolyn Briggs, Alita Naylor, Dawna Biggs, Susan Norman, Laurie Slotterback, Mary Jo Altman, Aliceann Boyle, Heather Earle, Ami Wessel, Alicia Sewald, Karen Weidinger, Susan Gralewski, Lori Presto, Terry Manko, Marilyn Di Sante, Laura Kreutzer, Angie O’Day, Susan Green, Sue Neal

Faculty Present:   Mrs. JoAnn Vandergrift, Dr. Shemeca Crenshaw, Mr. Steve Parks

The meeting was called to order at 9:25 a.m.

Opening Remarks:  Mr. Parks introduced the new Assistant Principal, Dr. Shemeca Crenshaw.  Dr. Crenshaw comes to McKnight from Carson Middle School.

**Please Note:  The PFA Meetings have moved to the second Wednesday of the month.  The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 13, 2004.

President’s Report -- Gail Mariana

·        Meet the Teacher Evenings will be held on September 7, 8, and 9.  The PFA will have an information table in the front hall each of these evenings.

·        Remember to check out the  Horizons Publication from the School District.  Information is specific to all of the elementary schools in the district.

Vice  President’s Report -- Kim  Baird

The first assembly of the year will be on October 21, 2004, entitled, “Character Counts."   This is a bullying prevention assembly performed by Saltworks.

Secretary’s Report -- Sandy Jagus

An e-mail address update sheet was made available at the meeting.

A  motion was made to approve the June PFA Minutes by Sharon Adzema, seconded by Wendy West Hickey, with all in favor.

Treasurer’s Report -- Debbie Marsico

·        Wish List Items purchased:  3 Plastic Portable Tables expensed at $330.00, with a budget of $300.00.  Cash remaining for Wish List items:  $4,022.00. 

·        Items Purchased with other Funds (Giant Eagle Receipts & Campbell’s Soup Labels) were: Zoom Date Camera (First Grade), DVD/VCR Player (24), 35MM Camera, Art Supplies (Kindergarten).  Items totaled:  $951.00.

·        Total Cash Balance as of August 31, 2004, was $13,364.00.

·        A motion to approve the  June and August  Treasurer  Reports was made by Kelly Lynskey, seconded by Ami Wessel, with all in favor.

Principal’s Report -- Mr. Steve Parks

·        Bus issues are being worked out.

·        Current enrollment is 668 students.

·        A slide show will be shown at Meet the Teacher Night for Camp Kon-O-Kwee.

·        Topics Discussed: lunch time snacks, playground safety with new traffic pattern, third grade recess schedule, Election Day security and traffic patterns. 

·        Central Printing is still located at Carson Middle School

·        Lisa Caswell suggested that we have extra keys made for the PFA closet.

Mrs. Charity Istone -- Healthy Request

·        Due to current  health concerns such as obesity, diabetes, allergies, etc., Mrs. Istone requested that parents send in healthier snacks for birthdays and classroom parties.  She suggested the following alternatives:  fruit, vegetables, cheese, crackers, pens, pencils,  etc.

·        Mrs. Istone stated that McKnight is emphasizing these healthier choices by having the teachers talk to their students.

·        A  Health Fair is also being explored to raise public awareness of  proper nutrition.

·        Discussion ensued concerning the nutrition of the school lunch program.  Currently, the program meets the federal guidelines.  Any concerns about the program should be brought to the attention of food service.

Teacher’s Liaison Report -- Mrs. Jo Ann Vandergrift:

·        Please remember to sign-up for parent/teacher conferences during your designated Meet the Teacher night.

·        Please feel free to use e-mail to communicate with your children’s teacher for any questions or comments during the school year.

·        The Megaphone deadline dates were sent to the staff.

·        Ami Wessel will send photographers into the classroom for yearbook pictures throughout the year. 

·        Ami also requested that the classroom party forms be sent via the Thursday Envelope.

Committee Reports:

SPLC Monthly Meeting -- Mary Ellen Austin

An alternate is needed for monthly meetings if anyone is interested.

EAC -- Sue Green  &  Alicia Sewald

If anyone has suggestions for the new report card changes, please e-mail Sue.

Campbell’s Labels -- Joan White

Send in spaghettios & chicken noodle soup labels by October -- they will be worth more points.

Fundraiser -- Lori Presto

·        The fall fundraiser will kick-off on September 9.

·        Each grade level homeroom with highest sales will receive $50.00

·        New this year are school spirit prizes such as NA blankets, t-shirts, sweat shirts, duffel bag, etc.

·        People are needed to help process orders on September 27 & 28 -- contact Lori.

TAG -- Wendy West Hickey & Carolyn Bergeron

·        There will be a mini TAG presentation at Ingomar Elementary on September 13

Membership Directory -- Amy Phelps &  Cindy Cicco

There will be no deadline extensions for the student’s art this year in the directory.

Little Tiger Shop -- Carole Gingras & Amy Phelps

Book sox were made available at the meeting for $2.75 each

North Hills Outreach -- Lisa Caswell:

 A food item will be selected each month that can be donated during the PFA meetings. 

Nature Quest -- Lisa Caswell:

There will be one parent coordinator assigned to each grade level this year.

Birthday Book Club -- Lisa Caswell:

There will be an information table available at each of the Meet The Teacher evenings.

Megaphone -- Jennifer Fine-Schmidt

Monthly deadlines must be adhered to.  If a deadline is missed, an option would be to have copies made yourself and sent through the Thursday envelope.

Picture Day -- Cindy Cicco:

·        Pictures will be taken on September 14

·        There was discussion that the Spring pictures were of better quality than the Fall pictures last year.  The Spring pictures were used as a building fundraiser last year that raised about $1,200.00.

Yearbook – Ami Wessel

·        Please let Ami know if you are interested in being a grade level photographer.

·        Ami would like to have paid messages in the back of the yearbook to help offset the cost of the book this year.

·        Digital pictures are acceptable as long as they are already printed -- please do not send in disks.

Room Parents -- Ami Wessel

·        There will be five parent volunteers per classroom party (1 party coordinator and 4 party planners). Any specific questions should be addressed to the grade level coordinator or to Ami.

Market Day -- Alita Naylor

Help is always needed to set-up the food orders on pick-up days each month.

Motion to adjourn was made by Tammy Switzer,  seconded by Terry Manko, with all in favor.  The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m.