Other Items
The Girl Scouts weeded the front of the school and are scheduled to plant flowers on Monday, May 10, 2010. The materials, planters, and flowers were generously donated by a school family.
The uniform closet has been organized and cleaned by parent volunteers. Gently used clothing has been labeled for CDTCA parents to “shop”. It was suggested that this be “advertised” at the Kindergarten orientation. Surplus clothing was donated.
APRIL
Date: April 9, 2010
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Location: Pastoral Center
In attendance: Sister Dorothy Dolak, Joanne Saunders, Jocelyn Bosick, Lori Russell, Luci Massaro, Traci Giuffre, Wendy Koloc, and Heidi Kipp
The meeting opened with a prayer.
School Update: Sister Dorothy Dolak, CDTCA Principal
Cecilia Grandillo’s Visit: April 7th
Sister Dorothy reported that Cecelia Grandillo, Elementary Education Consultant from the Diocese of Pittsburgh, attended our Open House and she was very impressed with our school.
Terra Nova Testing: April 12th – 16th
Sister Dorothy reminded those in attendance that standardized testing will be administered during the week of April 12th. Parents are reminded not to schedule planned absences or early dismissals, and to have their children to school on time and with sufficient sleep and breakfast.
Report Cards: April 16th
Report cards for the 3rd grading period will be distributed on Friday, April 16th.
Teacher Retirement
Miss Nebel has announced her retirement. Mrs. Hill will be resigning from 1st grade but will continue to teach music to grades K-4 for the 2010-2011 school year. Mrs. DiPasquale will also be going part time in 2010-2011 and will continue to teach three periods of math. We discussed ways to acknowledge Miss Nebel’s contribution to CDTCA including having cake or cookies with the students in late May or early June and acknowledging her publicly at the final school Mass. Sister also reported that she has received more than 100 resumes that she will be reviewing to fill Miss Nebel’s position.
Chimbote Mission Dress Down/Movie Day: April 20th
Our annual school support of the Chimbote Mission will be held on April 20th. Students may dress down for a $1 donation and will have the opportunity to purchase snack to further support this mission. Mr. Conroy will be coordinating the event.
Kennywood Ticket Sales: April 21st
Kennywood Tickets will once again be sold at a discounted price - $21 - on Wednesday, April 21st. Checks will not be accepted - cash and money orders only. A flier will be distributed via take home folders today.
Last Day of School: Thursday, June 10th
The last day of school has been changed to allow makeup of the snow days. FCASD had some snow days built into their schedule and is making up some days via teacher inservice. This will be corrected next year. The first day of school for the 2010-2011 school year will be Wednesday, August 25th.
Enrollment
Sister Dorothy reported that 17 children are already enrolled for next year’s Kindergarten and we have had several students and families touring the school. Sister Dorothy, Jocelyn, and Joanne will be attending a parent information night at Holy Spirit on Wednesday, April 14th. An advertisement for open enrollment has also been placed in Pittsburgh Parent magazine.
PTG Update: Joanne Saunders, PTG President
Joanne invited all school families to attend the next PTG meeting on Wednesday, April 21st. She reported that there are two openings on the PTG Board and she encouraged parents to self nominate or nominate other parents for consideration.
A financial update from Joanne indicates that not only will we meet our PTG obligation to the school of $64,000, but we may even end the year with a small surplus. Joanne noted that the positive PTG financial standing this year; however, may have come at a cost. Specifically, there has been some feedback from parents indicating that they are overwhelmed by the number of fundraisers. In an effort to decrease burden on our school families, there are efforts in place to not only equalize the share of parental burden in the area of volunteering but to reach out to other resources of support (e.g., alumni, community, businesses, etc.). The Golf Outing is one example of a fundraising effort that is seeking to target non-school entities in addition to those interested from out school community. Parents are encouraged to attend upcoming PTG meetings to share their opinions and receive additional information regarding these endeavors. There will also be additional efforts in the fall to education CDTCA parents around the financial obligations of the PTG.
Completed Events
Casino Night At The Races
The Casino Night At the Races sold out and yielded a profit of over $19,000. This is particularly remarkable since the Silent Auction was removed from the event this year. The committee was congratulated on the success of the event.
Lenten Fish Frys
The two Fish Frys resulted in a profit of $4,200. The benefit of building community and eliciting camaraderie among the parents, students, and faculty far exceeds the actual profit of this event. We will continue to offer the Fish Fry in 2010-2011; however, efforts will be made to distance it a bit from NATR. Easter occurring late in 2011 will facilitate this goal.
Barnes and Noble Book Fair
The Barnes and Noble Book Fair was a tremendous success! While the percentage of profit is somewhat less than our Scholastic Book Fairs, a price cannot be placed on the marketing value of showcasing our school. The school profit was approximately $640 (a portion of the $4,000 in sales that included Café sales). The variety of student activities and representation was well planned by Wendy and Traci and elicited good CDTCA family attendance. Holding the event on a Sunday and distributing fliers after Masses further impacted success. Online sales next year in combination with scheduling in early November (during holiday shopping season) will positively effect sales. This event is a way not only to highlight our school but it is another example of a mechanism to raise funds for our school through community support and decreasing burden on our school families.
Math Pentathlon
The number of students participating in this extracurricular highlighted the importance of continuing to offer it at CDTCA. The efforts of Inez Ferraco were highlighted. The group also discussed several ideas for integrating Math Pentathlon into the school curriculum. Enlisting the support of student teachers as chairs was also offered as a suggestion to not only support this enrichment activity for students but as a mechanism for them to obtain additional experience.
Current/Upcoming Events
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon will be held on Friday, May 7th in the Pastoral Center. May 7th is a half day so there will be no need to obtain volunteers to cover classrooms so that teachers can enjoy this event. The PTG will provide the main dish and the homeroom parents will provide the side dishes and desserts.
Volunteer Brunch
The Volunteer Brunch will be held on Friday, June 4th during the regular Auxiliary meeting time – 9:00 to 11:00 AM - in the Pastoral Center. There was some discussion about renaming this brunch to a Parent Appreciation Brunch. The modesty of some of our parents about not feeling that they contribute enough to the school is reportedly impacting attendance despite communications that indicate that all parents who volunteer in any capacity are being celebrated.
Golf Outing
The committee is hard at work planning for the May 24th Golf Outing. As noted above, they are striving to reach out to corporate and alumni sponsors. Save the date, emails, and hard copy invitations are being distributed.
Reading Enrichment
Ideas about replacements for the current chair – Christine Miller – we discussed as her son is graduating this year. She has done an excellent job not only soliciting parents but also incorporating the upper grades in this activity. Mrs. Ferguson was suggested as a possible chair for the 2010-2011 school year. Heidi will contact her to see if she may be interested.
Box Tops for Education
A total of $1,100 has resulted from Box Top collection. Parents are encouraged to keep clipping!
Other Items
The condition of the landscaping in the front of the school was addressed. It was suggested that the Girl Scouts weed and mulch the area in the short term and that flowers be planted to spruce up the appearance of the school. Lori Russell graciously offered to purchase supplies and Heidi will meet with the other Girl Scout leaders to get this on their agenda. Planting for Earth Day was suggested and other suggestions for long term maintenance included growing and transplanting seedlings as part of the science curriculum and rotating upkeep and watering to different classes.
The condition of the uniform closet was also discussed. A spring cleaning and organization is definitely in order. Lori Russell offered to oversee this task. Any surplus clothing or clothing that is not in gently used condition will be donated to Haiti. Traci Giuffre will contact Elaine Laymon to determine how to make this donation. She will also enlist the support of the volunteers who signed up for this task to assist Lori.
FEBRUARY
Date: February 1, 2010
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Location: CDTCA Library
In attendance: Sister Dorothy Dolak, Joanne Saunders, Anne Cooper, Lori Russell, Sandy DiGregory, Julie Podgorski, Serra Altenbaugh, Betsy Hinterlang, Susan Skowron, Anne Johnson, Jocelyn Bosick, Stacy Malcanas, Betsy Hinterlang, and Heidi Kipp
The meeting opened with a prayer.
School Update: Sister Dorothy Dolak, CDTCA Principal
Sister Dorothy reviewed the recent communication regarding the tuition increase for 2010-2011, the elimination of the 3-year-old Preschool Program, and the expansion of the 4-year-old Preschool Program. Students in need of financial aid may pick up forms in the main office. Families should also be on the lookout for re-registration forms.
Sister Dorothy reported that she was extremely impressed with the parent attendance both at the Catholic Schools Week Mass on Saturday, January 30th and the Donuts for Dad, Muffins for Mom event on February 1st. She also reviewed the schedule for the remainder of the week (see Catholic Schools Week schedule for details).
Sister Dorothy also noted that Cecelia Grandillo, Elementary Education Consultant from the Diocese of Pittsburgh, attended our Open House and she was very impressed with our student ambassadors and the school in general. Jocelyn reported that 17 families attended Open House and all responses were positive. It was noted that it was nice that the Little Dribblers was going on in the gym during the course of the Open House. The Open House scheduling coinciding with the Catholic Schools Week Mass and Reception was also effective.
Finally, Sister reported that Terra Nova tests will be given the week of April 12th. They are typically given in March; however, a new edition of the test will be administered this year.
PTG Update: Joanne Saunders, PTG President
Joanne reported that the 2nd PTG payment to the school was made.
She reviewed the busy fundraising schedule for the next 6 weeks including the Casino Night at the Races, the Ash Wednesday and Friday Lenten Fish Frys, and the Barnes and Noble Book Fair. The need for volunteers and support from every school family was also highlighted. Please see details for each specific event below.
The next PTG Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 10th. All school families are encouraged to attend.
Completed Events
Gift Gathering Party for NATR
The Night at the Races Gift Gathering Party was a tremendous success! The evening was well attended by CDTCA Moms and many generous donations were obtained for the “Everyone Wins” game at NATR 2010. A special thanks was extended to Lori Russell who opened her beautiful home for the event.
Rice Krispy Treat Sale
The Rice Krispy Sale made approximately $125.00. This profit will be used as part of the grand prize for the “Everyone Wins” game. This was a nice increase from the $90 profit obtained last year. Thank you to the bakers and volunteers who assisted with this sale.
Current and Upcoming Events
Catholic Schools Week – Saturday, January 30th – Friday, February 5th
So far all events have been well attended and enjoyed by students, faculty, and parents. See the Catholic Schools Week schedule for information on remaining events: Red, White, and Blue Day; Movie and Pajama Day; Mass with Father Stubna and Grandparent Breakfast; and Friday Board Games.
Brownie Treat sales – Friday, February 12th
The second treat sale to benefit the grand prize of the“Everyone Wins” game at the Night at the Races will be held on Friday, February 12th. Students may purchase brownies for 50 cents.
Valentine’s Day: February 12, 2010
Room mothers were encouraged to contact the classroom teacher to organize this event. The lower school will have brief parties and the upper school will enjoy an afternoon treat. Activities are at the discretion of each classroom teacher.
NATR Bake Sale – Saturday, February 13th and Sunday, February 14th
A bake sale coordinated by the Night at the Races Committee will be held after all Masses on February 13th and 14th. Profits will be used for cash prizes at the Night at the Races event.
Book Fair: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Hard copy and email fliers have been distributed to CDTCA families for this event to be held on Sunday, February 28, 2010. By turning in the certificates provided at the time of purchase, CDTCA will earn a portion of all sales (including Café sales). Families are encouraged to distribute the certificates to friends and family who may use them for up to 4 days after the event. CDTCA students will provide the entertainment beginning at 12:30 and continuing through approximately 4 PM. The CDTCA Choir, Band, Forensics Team, and 1st graders will be performing at the event. Children’s games will be conducted and Sister Dorothy and Mrs. Casile will read at the event. There will also be an art display by our CDTCA students and Clifford will be in attendance. All families are encouraged to support our students and school by attending this event.
Fish Frys: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 and Friday, March 19, 2010
Two Fish Frys will be held this year. The first will be on Ash Wednesday and the second will be on Friday, March 19th. Both eat-in and take out will be available. Four friers will be loaned to us from the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Department and two will be rented. The goal is to generate enough income to purchase one for the school for next year (in addition to meeting our fundraising goal). Bulletin announcements have been placed and our event has been listed in the Pittsburgh Catholic Fish Fry Supplement. Fliers and order forms are also being placed in the back of the four Parishes and advertisements will appear in the KDKA Community Calendar and of course the weekly bulletins. There will be no hot lunch on Ash Wednesday and March 19th to allow for setup. The success of the event is dependent on parent, faculty, and student volunteers. Every family is encouraged to volunteer for at least one Fish Fry. Families may volunteer by signing up on the Volunteer Poster outside the school office or by contacting Joanne Saunders or the PTG Auxiliary. CDTCA families will also be asked to donate desserts for the event. Credit cards will be accepted this year.
Casino Night at the Races (NATR): Saturday, March 6, 2010
Planning for the Casino Night at the Races is well under way. Weekly planning meetings will be held on Tuesday evenings in the Pastoral center until the event on March 6th. Volunteers are still needed for both setup on Friday, March 5th and cleanup on Sunday March 7th. A few volunteers are also needed the night of the event. Order forms will be distributed this week for the purchase of tickets and horses and jockeys. Parents (and their family and friends) will enjoy a fun-filled evening where they can socialize with friends and try their luck on "big screen" horseracing, poker, blackjack, and other small games of chance. Tickets are $20 per person and include dinner, beer, soft drinks and mixers, plus the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes.
Memories of Me
Each year at Night at the Races, we have had a Memories of Me Auction featuring an item that represented each grade in some way. Last year, a number of mishaps with a few items, inordinate expenses incurred by certain parents and an inconsistency in value per item spurred some revisions. The auction this year will consist of a scrapbook of memories for each grade, compiled by the students. Miss Rishel will work with the students during their respective art classes to create self-portraits. The Language Arts teachers or Homeroom teachers will work with the classes on a creative writing piece. With the self-portrait, the writing piece, and a picture provided by parents, each student will then create his/her own scrapbook page with materials supplied by Mrs. Podgorski, Mrs. Malcanas and Mrs. Saunders. The pages will then be compiled into a complete scrapbook per grade for auction. Each grade will have a theme. For example, 8th Grade may be Memories of CDTCA, 2nd Grade Our First Holy Communion, 5th Grade We're in Middle School!, etc. Homeroom coordinators will hopefully assist Mrs. Podgorski, Mrs. Malcanas or Mrs. Saunders with putting the Memory of Me book together.
Lottery Ticket Contest
A second Lottery Ticket contest will be held to support Night at the Races. Students will again earn a dress down day if their class demonstrates 100% participation. Julie Podgorski is coordinating this effort.
Super Bowl Pool
Squares are still available for the Super Bowl Pool. The per square cost is $25 with $1,000 of the sale gong to the CDTCA PTG. The remainder will be awarded in prizes. Please contact Sam Kintner to get your square no later than Thursday, February 4th.
Lottery Calendars
Anne Cooper reported that there was a small burst in sales which has elevated sales to be comparable with 2008-2009. This was encouraging given the slow sales in December. Anne will provide more details at the PTG Meeting on February 10th.
Sarris Easter Candy Sale
This sale will be coordinated once again by Julie Podgorski. Order forms and instructions are being sent home with students this week.
Math Pentathlon
Under the coordination of Inez Ferraco, and several generous parent volunteers, Math Pentathlon is underway. 34 students in grades K-5 are participating this year. There is a nice turnout in all three divisions. Parent volunteers are still needed. If your child is participating and you are able to help for any or all of the Tuesday sessions, please contact Inez as soon as possible.
Golf Outing: Monday, May 24, 2010
St. Scholastica Parish 17th Annual Golf Outing to benefit Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy will be held on Monday, May 24th, 2010 at Fox Chapel Golf Club. Registration and Lunch will be at 11 AM with a Shotgun start at Noon. A save the date flier has been distributed and invitations will follow shortly. Additional information can be obtained by emailing CDTCAgolf@gmail.com or contacting Kelly DiNatale at 412-779-5328.
Box Tops for Education
Wendy Koloc reported that several of the classes have already met their collection goal for the class reinforcement of one period of recess or reading time. Wendy had previously collected approximately 1,000 Box Tops and has collected another 1,000 since the inception of this incentive program. Parents are encouraged to continue to clip and register online.
Kohls Kids Who Care Scholarship
Information for this scholarship program that was received by the PTG Auxiliary was given to Sister Dorothy to distribute to school families.
Reading Enrichment
Volunteers are always needed for this enrichment activity for grades K-4. Please contact Christine Miller if you would like to participate by reading or presenting a book.
Next PTG Auxiliary Meeting
The next PTG Auxiliary meeting will be held on Friday, March 5, 2010 at 9:00 AM in the Pastoral Center. All school families are invited and encouraged to attend!
JANUARY
Date: Monday, January 11, 2010
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Location: CDTCA Library
In attendance: Sister Dorothy Dolak, Jocelyn Bosick, Joanne Saunders, Anne Pilewski, Traci Giuffre, Julie Podgorski, Lori Russell, Luci Massaro, Sandy DiGregory, Inez Ferraco, Wendy Koloc, Ann Marie Kiszka, and Heidi Kipp
School Update: Sister Dorothy Dolak, CDTCA Principal
Sarris Candy Sale for CDTCA Computers: January 11th-January 20th
Some of the CDTCA computers need replaced or updated. To help defray the cost, the school is sponsoring a Sarris candy bar sale. All proceeds will be used for technology expenses. Each school family is asked to sell at least one case (32 bars) of candy. Each case of 36 bars will contain Peanut Butter, Milk Chocolate, and Salted Pretzel bars. The cost will be $1.00 per bar. The sale will begin on Monday, January 11 and conclude on Friday, January 20. If all bars are sold, the school will earn $1,600 (50% profit). The bars will be distributed to the oldest child in each family on Monday, January 11. Donations for our technology improvements will also be accepted.
Open House: Saturday, January 30th @ 3:00-4:45 PM
An Open House will be held immediately preceding the Catholic Schools Week Mass. See below for details.
Catholic Schools Week Mass: Saturday, January 30th @ 5:00 PM
See Catholic Schools Week Schedule below
Family Referral Incentive
As noted in the January newsletter, any current CDTCA family who refers a new family (who subsequently enrolls their child(ren) at CDTCA) will have their fundraising fee waived. Parents are encouraged to please spread the word to friends and neighbors about the upcoming Open House and CSW events!
Duquesne Light School Energy Pledge Program
Duquesne Light Company is offering an energy education and savings program to local elementary schools. As part of the program, school families are asked to sign a pledge form, promising to install energy-saving measures in the home. In return, Duquesne Light will send the family a free Watt Choices kit that includes: 5 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, 2 LED Night Lights, Weather Stripping, Furnace Whistle, and Energy Saving Information. Duquesne Light also sends a $25 donation to CDTCA for each family that participates! This popular program is already full for this school year; however, Sister Dorothy and Ann Marie contacted Duquesne Light and we are on their list for the 2010-2011 school year.
CDTCA on WPXI!!!: January 31, 2010 at 6:00 AM
Father Almade will be the celebrant for The Mass on WPXI at 6:00AM on Channel 11 on Sunday, January 31st. The CDTCA Choir (13 girls in grades 5-8) will provide the music and three 8th grade boys will participate in the Liturgy of the Word. CDTCA is honored to have this opportunity to showcase our students during Catholic Schools Week. Set your DVRs!!!
Uniform Code
Sister Dorothy asked if there were any requests for uniform code changes for the 2010-2011 school year. No changes were requested. She will return the contract to Schoolbelles with the current code unchanged.
CDTCA Wish List
It was suggested that a “Wish List” be created and placed on the website. It was felt that many parents would financially support needs at CDTCA if there was more awareness of what the needs were.
Free Piano
Sister Dorothy received a call from the daughter of an Aspinwall resident who passed away. She would like to donate a piano to the school if the school can transport it. The piano would be housed in the gym for school activities and assemblies. Luci Massaro volunteered to organize the transport.
PTG Update: Joanne Saunders, PTG President
Joanne provided a financial update for the fundraisers completed in Fall and Winter 2009. The numbers below represent the December treasurer’s report.
Magazine Sale: $1,245
The Magazine sale continues throughout the school year so the number above represents the profit at the end of the Fall drive. The cost of the prizes for students was $400. We will try to eliminate this cost by providing alternative free or cheaper incentives for students.
Fall Fling: $23,082
The first of the three anchor fundraisers for the 2009-2010 school year was a huge success! The format, which included the separation of golf and the addition of a live auction and treasure chest, will be continued next year. Joanne thanked the volunteers and parents who supported the event.
Book Fair: $1,337
The Scholastic Book Fair also yielded a successful profit! The pros and cons of using Scholastic (easier Parish and student attendance) vs. Barnes and Noble (greater selection, marketing tool for the school) for the second book fair were discussed. It was determined that two book fairs would be scheduled. Traci Giuffre and Wendy Koloc scheduled the first Book Fair at Barnes and Noble for Sunday, February 28, 2010. This book fair will be announced at Masses with the hope that Parishioners will attend immediately following the Sunday Masses. The second book fair, a Scholastic Book Fair, is scheduled for May 13-16th. The Book Fair will be open for students during the school day and following all weekend Masses. It will also be open for Ascension Thursday Masses. Traci is contacting her Scholastic representative to request a larger selection of adult and religious books.
Santa’s Workshop: $4,216
Santa’s workshop had a record year! Sister Dorothy commended the chairs on the quality of the event.
Luminaries
This new fund raiser broke even and remaining supplies will allow all profit next year. Lessons regarding timing of sales and cost will yield a successful Christmas 2010 fundraiser.
Lottery Calendars
Lottery calendars are still available for purchase. Current numbers are unavailable; however, as of mid-December, sales were down (92 versus 348 at the same time last year).
The PTG is charged with contributing $64,000 to the operation of the school through its fundraising efforts. The first of these four $16,000 payments was made to the school following the Fall Fling. The second payout is ready to be processed. To meet the yearly goal, the hope is to make at least $15,000 at the Night at the Races and an additional $10,000 at the Spring Golf Outing (the remaining anchoring fundraisers).
Fish Fry: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 and Friday, March 19, 2010
Last year was the first CDTCA attempt at a Fish Fry and it was hugely successful and well attended both by the school and Parishioners of St. Scholastica. It was initially thought that a third Fish Fry could be held on Good Friday; however, the fryers (rented from the fire company) are in use that day, we would have competition with St. Joes, and the Dioceses generally discourages Fish Frys on Good Friday. This year the committee will work to reduce expenses while continuing to provide a wonder meal. Six fryers have been secured to reduce waiting time (only 4 last year). To maximize success and ensure the bodies necessary to pull the event off, all families will be assigned to volunteer for one of the Fish Frys. It was suggested that there be no hot lunch on the days of the Fish Frys so that setup can take place.
Night at the Races: March 6, 2010
The first planning meeting for NATR will be January 12, 2010 at 7 PM in the Pastoral Center. Families are encouraged to attend to learn about this fun event. Some of the topics of the meeting will be the Gift Gathering Party, Brownie and Rice Krispies Treat sale, games, food and drinks, races and advertising to name a few. The Treasure Chest and Live Auction, which debuted at the Fall Fling, may make a reappearance to replace the Live Auction. There is something for everyone! Bring your ideas and enthusiasm!
Catholic Schools Week: January 30, 2010 – February 5, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
1. Open House 3:00 – 4:45 PM
An initial presentation for prospective families will be followed by a school tour conducted by CDTCA student ambassadors. Students in grades 6-8 will be enlisted to participate. High School CDTCA alumni will also hopefully participate and may earn hours for this service. CDTCA parents will also be available to answer questions. Open House families will be invited to attend the CSW Mass and Reception.
2. Catholic Schools Week Mass 5 PM
All CDTCA families and faculty should be present at this Mass to celebrate Catholic Schools. CDTCA children will participate in the readings, music, presentation of gifts, and serve as greeters. All students should wear their school uniforms. Sister Dorothy ensured that the Mass would be offered for the CDTCA students to avoid any confusion with the presentation of the gifts. Preschool families should be invited to this Mass and reception.
3. Catholic Schools Week Reception – Immediately following Mass in CDTCA Cafeteria
A reception for the CDTCA families and Faculty, Preschool Families, Open House families and St. Scholastica parishioners will immediately follow the Mass. All attending families will be asked to donate a dozen cookies for the reception. The faculty will work to have the children make something for their parents to be presented at this event (e.g., last year the students wrote thank you cards to their parents thanking them for sending them to a Catholic School). This incentive coupled with faculty encouraging attendance and email and print reminders will hopefully result in 100% participation.
Monday, February 1, 2010: Donuts for Dad, Muffins for Mom
CDTCA parents will be invited to join their children for breakfast in the CDTCA cafeteria to kick off Catholic Schools Week.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010: Bowling at Fun Fest and Teacher Appreciation
1. Bowling at Fun Fest
For a discounted cost of $9 (regular cost $16), each student will enjoy two hours of bowling at Fun Fest on Thursday morning. Transportation costs will be underwritten by the PTG and “scholarships” will be available so that all children may participate.
2. Teacher Appreciation
A pastry tray or boxed lunch will be provided for the teachers to acknowledge their contribution to the students of CDTCA. A small gift will also be presented.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010: Feast of St. Blaise and Faculty Day
Feast of St. Blaise
The students will attend Mass to have their throats blessed on the feast of St. Blaise.
“Red, White, and Blue” Day
Students will be permitted to dress down in these colors.
Service
Students will make Valentines for both the Veterans and the Meals on Wheels.
Thursday, February 4, 2010: Movie and Pajamas
Students who present with a non-perishable food item may wear pajamas or other “cozy” clothes to school. Students will be treated to an age appropriate movie and popcorn. Some ideas were “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and “Holes”. Four final movies will be selected by parents.
Friday, February 5, 2010
1. CDTCA School Mass celebrated by Father Kris D. Stubna, Secretary for Education 10:30 AM
To acknowledge the privilege of Father Stubna saying Mass on the final day of CSW, every effort will be made to fill St. Scholastica to capacity. Parents will be encouraged to attend this all school Mass with their children. As February 5th is also Father Stubna’s birthday, we will have cake in his honor following Mass and will present him with a gift (gift certificate).
2. Open House for Grandparents and other Special Adults
Grandparents and other special adults will be honored with a breakfast in their honor. They will be invited to attend Mass and then enjoy refreshments provided by the Baker’s Dozen immediately following Mass with their grandchildren. The students will make invitations and names and addresses will be collected to send a thank you card and to invite grandparents to future school events. The addresses will NOT be used to solicit donations.
3. Afternoon Games
Students will be permitted to bring in board games to be played with their classmates as they enjoy a leisurely end to CSW.
Marketing Update: Jocelyn Bosick
The CDTCA display is up and in place at the Boyd Community Center. Parents and Alumni have already commented on the placement. The timing is ideal for Open House and Catholic Schools Week. Thanks were extended to the parents who donated the cost of the display.
Math Pentathlon
We are still seeking an overall chair for this event. Kim Herr is considering the position contingent on her child’s participation. At the meeting Inez Ferraco-Willmer stated that she would be willing to consider the position as well if there was flexibility in scheduling the day of participation.
Reading Enrichment
Christine Miller reported that she has had parent participation at all grades and is actively working to enlist the 8th graders for presentation of books. Parents who have signed up on the volunteer form are asked to contact Christine to schedule a date and all parents are encouraged to participate in this rewarding enrichment activity.
Box Tops for Education
Wendy Koloc has graciously assumed the role on this fundraiser. $531 was earned during the 2008-2009 school year simply by parents clipping Box Tops from products. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents. This is an underutilized fundraising resource for the school. Wendy would like to set the goal for the school at 10,000 Box Tops. This amounts to about 125 per family. In addition to collecting Box Tops from eligible products (see http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/clip/Brands.aspx), families should also register online at this site. Registering provides some instant Box Tops for the school and also allows you to track CDTCA’s progress. To motivate participation and energize this program, Wendy suggested making this a classroom commitment with an incentive for meeting the monthly goal. Students would bring in their collected Box Top and put them in the classroom jar. Classes that meet their goal will earn extra recess or free time. Information will be circulated to school families and all classroom teachers.
NOVEMBER
Date: November 6, 2009
Time: 9:00 – 10:30 AM
Location: Pastoral Center
In attendance: Sister Dorothy Dolak, Colleen Strahler, Joanne Saunders, Julie Podgorski, Lori Russell, Anne Johnson, Carol Fuller, Traci Giuffre, Betsy Hinterlang, Anne Pilewski, Cami Fuhrer, Wendy Koloc, Heidi Kipp
School Update:
Collection for Soldiers: November 2-13, 2009
Families are asked to donate items for care packages for our military men and women. This program directed by Jane Orie and the “Yellow Ribbon Ladies” will prepare and distribute packages to the troops. A list of potential items has been distributed to all students.
Collection for Little Sisters of the Poor: November 16-20, 2009
Dry and canned food items will also be collected this month for the Little Sisters of the Poor. A list of items will be sent home with all students.
Nina and Pinta Field Trip: November 9, 2009
A last minute field trip was scheduled for the students to see the Nina and Pinta while they are docked here in Pittsburgh. Adjustments to the Book Fair schedule will be made to accommodate this opportunity for students.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: November 11th
Scheduled conference times will be distributed with the children’s progress report. Efforts have been made to honor requested times. Unfortunately the MAC computer that is used to print the official report cards and CDTCA Directory cannot be repaired. As soon as the replacement machine is received, the official report cards and the directory will be distributed to all parents.
Open House: Thursday, November 19th from 9 -11 AM
The first Open House for the 2009-2010 school year is scheduled for Thursday, November 19th from 9 -11 AM. Current families are encouraged to personally invite families to the event. Invitations are available in the school office. The Baker’s Dozen will provide refreshments.
First Annual Turkey Bowl (dress down): November 24, 2009
Students will be permitted to have a “red and blue” dress down day on November 24, 2009. In the afternoon the students will enjoy our 1st Annual Turkey Bowl. Two teams of 5th - 8th graders will participate in a flag football game while the other students cheer them on.
Dress Up Day: November 25, 2009
Students are permitted to ‘dress-up’ on Wednesday, November 25, 2009. There will be an all school Mass prior to the 11:45 dismissal.
Sister Dorothy at St. Joseph’s November 7-8, 2009
Sister Dorothy and the Cyterski family have been invited by Father Miller to attend all Masses at St. Joseph’s this weekend to talk about CDTCA. It is an ideal time as the Open House is upcoming and attendance is likely to be high at St. Joseph’s given the recent renovations. Joanne also suggested that the students may enjoy having a field trip to St. Joseph’s to view the incorporation of artifacts from St. Peters. This sense of old and new in the renovated Parish would be an interesting learning experience for the CDTCA students.
Pittsburgh Penguins Event: Friday, December 4, 2009
Students in grades 3-8 will attend a free open practice of the Pittsburgh Penguins for area students. They will have the opportunity to meet owners and players and may dress down for the event. The only cost to families will be transportation and students will pack a bagged lunch. Students will leave CDTCA at approximately 9:30 AM and return at 1 PM. Adjustments will be made to the Santa’s Workshop shopping schedule to accommodate the addition of this event to the December calendar.
Christmas Luncheon for the Faculty: Thursday, December 17, 2009
Sister Dorothy will be treating the CDTCA faculty to a luncheon on Thursday, December 17, 2009. Room mothers will be asked to monitor the students (or find a volunteer) while the teachers attend this luncheon over two class periods. Heidi will contact room mothers after Thanksgiving to secure classroom coverage.
Christmas Program in 2010
While there are several Christmas activities and programs held at CDTCA every year, Sister Dorothy would like to see us develop an all-school program for next year. Both parents and faculty are in favor of this venture.
First Holy Communion
There was some discussion about the disappointment from parents regarding the current format of First Holy Communion. Unanimously, the 2nd grade parents would like to have all of the CDTCA 2nd grade students receiving this Sacrament together. The lack of unity with the current procedures was discussed as was the interpretations of the current rubrics related to this Sacrament. Paul Giuffre will speak with Father to see if we are permitted to use St. Scholastica for a group Communion if another Priest was available. Another suggestion was to have the 2nd grade class receive the sacrament at another Parish as a mechanism to show our CDTCA presence as a Regional school. Sister Dorothy suggested that regardless of the outcome, the students could have a class celebration in school and they would be permitted to wear their Communion dresses and suits.
Certificate Program
Colleen Strahler reported that from April – September 2009; $3,200 toward family fundraising fees has been obtained through certificate purchases. This has also resulted in $400 profit for the school. Statements will be distributed in January and will include both payouts. Of our 85 school families, 56 are participating in the program and 29 are not participating. Most parents in attendance thought that it was the effort and planning involved that deters some families from participating regularly. Acceptance of credit card purchases for certificates will hopefully bolster the program. Highlighting the benefit to the school from this program in addition to the benefit to each family should also continue. The email reminders have been helpful and Colleen will distribute a hard copy of all the potential certificates to each family this week to ensure that all families are aware that there is much more than the short list to choose from. She will also include a countdown to holiday ordering up until the final Christmas order. She will continue to sell certificates after all Masses on the third weekend of the month. Parents are encouraged to assist at the Masses they attend to facilitate smooth sales. Approximately $4,000 in certificates was sold last month.
PTG Update:
New Board Members
Dan Willmer was elected to serve as PTG Vice President and Julie Podgorski was elected as PTG Secretary. Terri Ciccone’s contributions to the board were highlighted.
Fall Fling
Fall Fling will of course be held on Friday, November 13, 2009. There will be 5 live auctions, 25 silent auction items “For Her”, 23 silent auction items “For Him”, 12 “Kid’s Play” auction items and 9 Chinese Auction items. Anyone who still has items to donate is asked to please do so no later than Monday, November 9, 2009 so that the program can be printed. Joanne encouraged everyone to please treat themselves to a wonderful night out to support our school. She also expressed thanks for all the wonderful items that were donated at the Gift Gathering Party that was attended by approximately 40 women.
Next PTG Meeting
To be scheduled in December following the completion of Fall Fling and Santa’s Workshop. The dates and agenda items will be distributed to school families via email.
Completed Events:
Magazine Sale
CDTCA families sold a total of 601 subscriptions for a total of $12,340. The school profit is 40% of these total sales or $4,936. After the payout for the prizes, the final profit was $4,527.06. This is $1,500 more than last year. Thanks go out to Kim Herr for her organization of this fundraiser. Parents are reminded that this fundraiser continues year round. Magazines make great holiday gifts and can be purchased through www.qsp.com (school code: 425013254).
Max and Erma’s Night
A profit of $218.82 was made from this event. This is comparable to past dinners. Other locations such as Chilis and Walnut Grove were discussed as possibilities for future “socials”.
Current and Upcoming Events:
Book Fair: November 6-10, 2009
The Book Fair will be set up today and will occur after all Masses this weekend. Students will shop on Monday, November 9, 2009. Schedules have been distributed. Parents are invited to shop with their children. There is a wonderful selection from Scholastic Books.
Veteran’s Program: November 13, 2009
The Veteran’s Program will be held on Friday, November 13, 2009 at 1 PM. Serra Altenbaugh and Carol Fuller will assist Mrs. Bishop in set up and clean up and the Baker’s Dozen will provide baked goods. Families who have not turned in their RSVP are encouraged to do so. This is a wonderful event to honor our veterans.
Santa’s Workshop: December 2-6, 2009
Students will enjoy shopping at Santa’s Workshop on Thursday, December 3rd and Friday, December 4th. The Workshop will then be open to all Parishioners following Masses on December 5th and 6th. Craft session have been productive and will continue the week of November 16th with two sessions scheduled that week. Parents who are interested in crafting at home may contact Anne Pilewski.
Lunch with Santa: December 5, 2009
Lunch with Santa is being sponsored by the St. Scholastica Youth Ministry and will be held in the CDTCA cafeteria on Saturday, December 5th from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. 8th graders will be available to help interested students shop at Santa’s Workshop after the luncheon. The cost for the luncheon is $6 and proceeds benefit the 2010 Appalachia Mission Trip.
Luminaries: October through December
Luminaries will be sold through December at Light Up Night and following Masses in December. The cost is $12. An order form will be distributed to school families after the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Lottery Calendars: October through December
It’s not too late to request numbers for the Lottery Calendars. Calendars are being sold for $25 and run from January 1st through December 31st. Calendars will be distributed this month to all school families. Each family is asked to sell or buy 5 calendars.
Newell Move
It was suggested that a coffee be held to honor Megan Newell and the contributions that she has made to CDTCA. Once a date is set, mothers will be invited to say goodbye to Megan and thank her for all she has done for CDTCA.
Aspinwall Community Events:
Light Up Night: November 19, 2009
The 2nd graders will be performing at Light Up Night on Thursday, November 19th. Parents of 2nd graders are asked to be there early for a 7:30 PM start time. Mrs. Katocs has also requested that parents bring chairs to help secure a perimeter for the performers. Luminaria kits will also be sold and Jocelyn will have a table with information for prospective CDTCA families.
Committee Updates:
PTG Auxiliary
A chairperson is still being sought for Math Pentathlon. Leaders for each age level have been secured so overall oversight is all that is needed. This enrichment program does not begin until after the new year; however, the new chair would benefit greatly from meeting with Megan prior to her family’s move.
Volunteers/Diocesan Database
Another Protecting God’s Children’s workshop is in the works. Information will be distributed to school families as it becomes available.
Reading Enrichment
Reading Enrichment is gearing up. Parents who did not sign up for this activity previously may contact Christine Miller at taxedatbeach@yahoo.com. This is a wonderful activity for our children in grades K-4 that involves leading a discussion, craft, or game for a book from the Reading Enrichment list. Please consider giving this “gift” to your child’s classroom.
Box Tops/Labels/Target/Apples for Students
Families are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities and participate in these programs that greatly benefit our school. Simply cutting and saving Box Tops and Campbell Soup labels or registering for programs at Giant Eagle and Target can result in significant financial benefit for CDTCA. These programs are currently underutilized by many of our families. Class contests are being proposed to increase participation.
OCTOBER
Date: October 2, 2009
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Location: Pastoral Center
In attendance: Sister Dorothy Dolak, Joanne Saunders, Ann Marie Kiszka, Julie Podgorski, Lori Russell, Susan Skowron, Anne Johnson, Charity Nedrow, Carol Fuller, Jocelyn Bosick, Traci Giuffre, Betsy Hinterlang, Inez Ferraco-Willmer, Laura Ludolph, Heidi Kipp
The meeting opened with a prayer.
School Update:
Immunization Records
Sister Dorothy reported that CDTCA is 100% compliant with immunizations.
H1N1
Sister Dorothy reported that we have been assigned to “Group B”, which is Fox Chapel School District. When inoculations become available, they will be administered at school. Parents are, of course, permitted to have their child’s pediatrician administer the inoculation.
Home Parish
An all school email was distributed requesting that all families inform the office of their home Parish. This request came from the Parish Priests as they would like to know which students in their Parish attend CDTCA.
Mission Dress Down Day
Students will be able to dress down on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 in exchange for a donation of $1 to the Mission.
PTG Update:
PTG Meeting: October 7, 2009
Joanne reminded the group that the first PTG Meeting of the 2009-2010 school year will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 in the CDTCA Library. There are typically four evening PTG meetings per school year. All parents, as automatic members of the PTG, are invited to attend. There is one seat on the PTG Board that is open. Parents are encouraged to either self-nominate or nominate a qualified candidate prior to this meeting. The new PTG Board member will be voted in at this meeting. Additionally, from the PTG Board members, a new Vice President and Secretary will be voted in. All Board Member positions are two-year terms. The PTG Board includes the President (Joanne Saunders), Vice President (to be named), Secretary (to be named), Treasurer (Anne Cooper), Athletic Director (John Krysinsky), PTG Auxiliary (Ann Marie Kiszka and Heidi Kipp) and two “Parent at Large” positions (Paul Giuffre and Anne Duggan). The Board also includes, of course, Sister Dorothy and Father White. Topics include but are not limited to the financial standing of the school, fundraising, and marketing and development of CDTCA.
2009-2010 Fundraisers
Three major fundraisers will be held during the 2009-2010 school year:
Fall Fling - November 13, 2009: Dinner, Auction, Entertainment
Night at the Races – late February, early March: Casino Night
Golf Outing – Spring
Other fundraisers that support the operation of the school include the Magazine Sale, Luminary Sale, Book Fairs, and Santa’s Workshop.
Current and Upcoming Events:
Lottery Ticket Contest
There was 100% participation in the lottery ticket contest with every class earning a dress down day. Students will be permitted to dress down on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. The lottery tickets will be used as an auction item at the Fall Fling.
Animal Blessing: October 4, 2009
In honor of the Feast of St. Francis, the Environmental Club is sponsoring the annual Animal Blessing on October 4, 2009 at 1:00 PM. CDTCA families are encouraged to attend and bring their pet – anything goes!
Fall Fling Planning Meeting: October 5, 2009
The next planning meeting for the first major school fundraiser – the Fall Fling is scheduled for Monday, October 5, 2009 at 1:00 PM in the school cafeteria. The meeting will again focus predominantly on planning for the auction piece of the event. Joanne encouraged attendees to think about friends and family members who may be business owners or could donate a service to contribute to the auction that is so crucial to this fundraiser. We will also multitask during the meeting by stuffing the invites for the event. All school parents are invited to attend this important meeting.
Magazine Sale: October 7, 2009
The final turn in date for the Magazine Sale fundraiser is Wednesday, October 7, 2009. While the drive and associated incentives end on October, 7th, the sale continues throughout the school year with online sales through the year continuing to benefit CDTCA. Any questions may be directed to the chairperson, Kim Herr.
Luminaries: October 10, 2009 – December 20, 2009
Beginning with Fall in the Wall and continuing through Masses on December 20, 2009, we will sell luminary kits as a new fundraiser spearheaded by Sandi DiGregory. The kits include 6 bags, 6 candles, and sand and will be sold for $15. Additional kits will be sold for $12. We plan to sell approximately 300 kits. Kits will continue to be assembled at the next Fall Fling meeting. Volunteers are needed for all sale dates and participating children are encouraged to wear their CDTCA gear at the sale locations.
Protecting God’s Children Workshop: October 12, 2009
A Protecting God’s Children workshop will be held at St. Scholastica on Monday, October 12, 2009. All school families who have not fulfilled this commitment should plan to attend. A school-wide email will be distributed to parents and Buddy Families are encouraged to contact their buddies and encourage them to attend. All families must be compliant with this training prior to serving in any volunteer role that involves contact with students.
Gift Gathering Party: October 16, 2009
A Gift Gathering Party will be held to facilitate obtaining items and or gift cards for the Fall Fling auction. This event is open to all females in the school community and will be hosted by Joanne Fallon. The event is a great way to enjoy an evening with the school mothers, meet new friends, and support CDTCA. Mothers are encouraged to attend and bring a friend! No gift is too small or too large! Gifts might include gift certificates, household items, tickets to local sporting or cultural events, or monetary contributions. An evite has been sent to all CDTCA and Preschool families. A hard copy invitation was also distributed in via student folders.
Max and Erma’s Night: Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Families are encouraged to dine at Max and Erma’s on October 20, 2009 to benefit CDTCA. 20% of all checks will be given directly to our school. This is an easy way to support CDTCA and not have to cook! Parents are also encouraged to purchase Max and Erma’s gift cards to help with their own fundraising commitment. Forms that must be taken to Max and Erma’s and turned in with your order will be distributed via email and hard copy.
Stewardship Fair: October 24-25th, 2009
A Stewardship Fair will be held after all Masses on October 24th and 25th. All Ministries of the Parish will be represented. CDTCA will have a table where Jocelyn will set up her Marketing materials and where parent volunteers will sell Luminary kits. Parents are encouraged to sign up to assist with these brief sales after Masses.
Halloween Party and Parade: Friday October 30, 2009
Parents were reminded that October 30, 2009 is now a full day. Students will participate in the traditional Halloween Parade at 1:00 PM with classroom parties to follow. Heidi will distribute fliers to local businesses this week. Room mothers are encouraged to contact their teacher and enlist support from the classroom parents.
Book Fair: November 7-10, 2009
The first Book Fair of the 2009-2010 school year will be held for CDTCA students on November 9th and 10th and will be open to the St. Scholastica Parish after all Masses on November 7th and 8th. Books will be obtained from Scholastic Books due to the closing of the Aspinwall Book Store. Parents are invited to submit requests and shop with their children on the days of the event.
Fall Fling: November 13, 2009
Our first major fundraiser for 2009-2010 will be held on Friday, November 13, 2009. The event will be held at the Field Club and will include dinner, dancing, and an auction. The success of the event is dependent solely on attendance from our school families. School families are encouraged to attend, invite friends and family or consider purchasing a table. Families may also support the event by soliciting items for the silent auction. Tickets for the event will be $65; however, parents are encouraged to purchase tables which results in a reduction of the ticket price to $60.
Community Events:
Fall In the Wall
This event is scheduled for October 10, 2009 from 11 am – 4 pm. This is a free annual street festival showcasing the Aspinwall community. The CDTCA Student Council will be represented in this event. Luminaries will also be sold at this event.
Committee Updates:
Volunteers Needed
Chairs are needed for Math Pentathlon. It is important that we identify volunteers to chair this event as soon as possible so that Megan Newell can share her past experience and information with the new parent(s). Megan will also need someone to take over her role as treasurer for the Cub Scouts. Interested parents(s) should contact Megan directly.
Volunteers are also desperately needed to cover the cafeteria. Parents are encouraged to review the dates in the newsletter and contact Chris Gentilcore if they can assist. Parents are also reminded to please stay for the full recess commitment (i.e, not just cover the portion that their children are in). It is very difficult to get someone to cover just the second lunch.
Marketing
Jocelyn reported that she secured a CDTCA banner at the Aspinwall Field this summer. She will also have tables at the Stewardship Fair and Light Up Night for school marketing. She continues to work at building up Alumni records for support of the school. She is also establishing a Facebook Page for St. Scholastica alumni as a mechanism for locating alumni. Jocelyn is also scheduling an Open House for November 19, 2009 – Light Up Night. Interested families may tour the school during classroom hours. Student Ambassadors will conduct the tours. Jocelyn is also working with Sister Dorothy to determine the best use of the available advertising funds. Parents suggested Boyd Community Center and Pittsburgh Mills as possible locations for marketing. Jocelyn will look into these ideas. Jocelyn is also looking for parents who attend St. Joe’s to attend Mass on November 8th and talk about their experience at CDTCA. Please contact Jocelyn if you are able to support CDTCA in this way.
Box Tops for Education
Megan will be turning in Box Tops at the end of October. Parents are asked to please turn in any Box Tops that they have been collecting by the end of this month. Wendy Koloc has generously offered to take this over for Megan in December.
Next PTG Auxiliary Meeting
The next PTG Auxiliary meeting will be held on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 9:00 AM in the Pastoral Center. All school families are invited and encouraged to attend!
SEPTEMBER
Date: September 4, 2009
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Location: Pastoral Center
In attendance: Sister Dorothy Dolak, Father Kenneth White, Joanne Saunders, Ann Marie Kiszka, Julie Podgorski, Nicky Walsh, Tina Swart, Lori Russell, Luci Massaro, Carrie D’Ambrosio, Anne Pilewski, Susan Skowron, Jim Stahl, Elaine Laymon, Anne Johnson, Charity Nedrow, Dara Henne, Wendy Koloc, Carol Fuller, Jocelyn Bosick, Traci Giuffre, Betsy Hinterlang, Kathy Goreczny, Inez Ferraco-Willmer, Laura Ludolph, Maya Naresh, Heidi Kipp
The meeting opened with a prayer. The function of the PTG Auxiliary and its role within the PTG was reviewed. Parents in attendance introduced themselves.
Current and Upcoming Events:
Family Social: September 8, 2009
This year’s family social will be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at Squaw Valley Park. All families are encouraged to attend to meet new friends and get reacquainted with old ones. The CDTCA faculty will also be in attendance. A flier was distributed to all school families and reminders will be sent to encourage family participation at this important kick-off event.
Fall Fling Planning Meeting: September 8, 2009
A planning meeting for the first major school fundraiser – the Fall Fling (Dinner, Dance, and Auction) is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 8:30AM in the school cafeteria. As noted below, the event is scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2009. The meeting will focus predominantly on planning for the auction portion of the event. Joanne encouraged attendees to think about friends and family members who may be business owners or could donate a service to contribute to the auction that is so crucial to this fundraiser. All school parents are invited to attend this important meeting.
Magazine Sale: September 14, 2009
The Magazine Sale fundraiser will kick off on Monday, September 14, 2009. Materials regarding the sale will be sent home with every student. While this sale occurs in the fall, the sale continues throughout the school year with online sales through the year continuing to benefit CDTCA. Any questions may be directed to the chairperson, Kim Herr.
Parent Evening of Awareness: September 16, 2009
The Parent Evening of Awareness is a crucial opportunity for parents to interact with the faculty of CDCTA. The evening provides the goals and objectives of the school year and affords parents an opportunity to visit their child’s classroom and interact with their specific teachers. Many important issues relating to CDTCA are discussed at this event. All families should plan to have at least one representative in attendance. A schedule will be distributed to all families that will detail the location, time, and topics that each teacher will address.
Gift Gathering Party: October 16, 2009
A Gift Gathering Party will be held to facilitate obtaining items and or gift cards for the Fall Fling auction. This event is open to all females in the school community and will be hosted by Joanne Fallon. The event is a great way to enjoy an evening with the school mothers, meet new friends, and support CDTCA. Mothers are encouraged to attend and bring a friend! No gift is too small or too large! Gifts might include gift certificates, household items, tickets to local sporting or cultural events, or monetary contributions. Additional details will be distributed via an evite and in the October newsletter.
Halloween Party and Parade: Friday October 30, 2009
There will be two changes to the 2009-2010 school schedule that relate to Halloween. First, the half day on Friday, October 30, 2009 will be rescheduled to be a full school day. This will allow the students to enjoy a Halloween Party and still be able to Trick or Treat on Brilliant Avenue at 1:00 PM. The second modification to the schedule involves moving the Friday All School Mass to Thursday October 29, 2009 (when the students will not be in costumeJ). Student council typically judges the students’ costumes and awards prizes for the best costumes. The half day previously scheduled for October 30th will be rescheduled for November 11, 2009.
Book Fair: November 7-10, 2009
The first Book Fair of the 2009-2010 school year will be held for CDTCA students on November 9th and 10th. The Book Fair will also be open to the St. Scholastica Parish after all Masses on 7th and 8th. Books will be obtained from Aspinwall Book Store. Parents are invited to submit requests and shop with their children on the days of the event.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: November 11, 2009
Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Wednesday November 11th. Additional information regarding times and schedule will be distributed to families at a later date. To accommodate the conference schedule, November 11th will be a half-day as noted above.
Fall Fling: November 13, 2009
Our first major fundraiser for 2009-2010 will be held on Friday, November 13, 2009. The event will be held at the Field Club and will include dinner, dancing, and an auction. The success of the event is dependent solely on attendance from our school families. School families are encouraged to attend, invite friends and family or consider purchasing a table. Families may also support the event by soliciting items for the silent auction. Volunteers will also be required on the night of the event. A planning meeting will be held on September 8th as noted above.
Santa’s Workshop: December 2-6, 2009
Santa’s Workshop is scheduled for December 2-6, 2009. Santa’s Workshop will be open to students to shop for their families on December 2-5 and then open to the Parish after all Masses on December 6th and 7th. There are inexpensive items as well as hand-crafted items to choose from. Wrapping stations are also available for students to wrap their selected items. Parents are encouraged to shop with their children and/or to volunteer for the event. Volunteers are needed to help students shop and wrap gifts during the workshop as well as to craft (in late October and throughout November) and set up the event on December 1st.
Luminaries: New Fund Raiser!
Sandy DiGregory has proposed a new fund raiser for this school year. The luminaries will be sold in 6-packs that will include 6 bags, 6 candles, and sand. One kit will be sold for $15 and two or more kits will be sold for $12 each.
The luminary kits will be sold at:
1. Fall in the Wall: 10/10 from 11-3 pm
2. Light Up Night: 11/19 from 7-9 pm
3. Bake Sale/Christmas Parade: 11/21
4. After Masses: Sat. 12/5, 12/12, 12/19 and Sun. 12/6, 12/13, 12/20
Volunteers – both parents and students – will be needed for these sale dates. Additional information will be communicated via the school newsletter and school email blast.
Reading Enrichment
Reading Enrichment is an enrichment program for students in grades Kindergarten through 4th grade. Parent volunteers choose a book from the Reading Enrichment list (or their child’s favorite book approved by the teacher) and then schedule a time to read the book and/or lead a class discussion and organize a craft, activity or game, related to the book. Parents are encouraged to participate in this important enrichment activity. Interested parents should contact Christine Miller or their classroom teacher for additional information.
School News:
CDTCA All School Mass
CDTCA students will attend Mass as a school community every Friday. The first Friday Mass will be scheduled for 10:30 AM. The remaining Friday Masses will be scheduled for 8:30 AM. Parents are encouraged to attend these Masses if their schedules permit.
October All School Mass: Father Tony Gargotta
November All School Mass: Father Frank Almade
December All School Mass: Father Thomas Miller
Diocesan On-Line Database
New parents who wish to volunteer will need to register in the Diocesan database. The three steps were reviewed at this meeting:
completing an on-line application that includes a criminal background check and child abuse clearance
completing the Protecting God’s Children training (schedule is on the Pittsburgh Diocese website)
reviewing and signing the Code of Pastoral Conduct (available in the school office)
This information will be highlighted at the Parent Evening of Awareness or via school newsletter or separate parent communication.
Target: “Take Charge of Education” Program
Parents who shop at Target using a Target credit card are encouraged to please enroll in this program that results in the donation of 1% of your purchases to our school. Simply enroll online (www.target.com), by phone (1-800-316-6142) or at an in-store kiosk. Our school ID is: 15093.
Giant Eagle: “Apples for the Students” Program
Parents who shop at Giant Eagle are asked to please register their Advantage Card online for the Apples for the Students program if they have not done so already. (https://www.gianteagle.com/Users/Registration.aspx)
When parents (or other friends and relatives that designate our school) use their Giant Eagle Advantage Card®, our school will automatically earn points that can be redeemed for classroom items. This is an easy way to support CDTCA! Parents are encouraged to tell their friends and family about this program. Our school ID is 1168.
Swine Flu
Several ideas were discussed to address controlling the outbreak of Swine Flu in our school community. In addition to the use of general hand washing hygiene, and regular thorough cleansing of the school it was suggested that hand sanitizer dispensers be installed in the cafeteria for use before and after meals. Parents also suggested that students use individual water bottles to avoid contamination at the water fountains. Lunch monitors and teachers are also asked to discourage sharing of food at lunch and snack periods. Finally, parents are encouraged not to send their children to school when they are sick to minimize spread of colds and flus.
President Obama Address to Students: Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sister Dorothy has received several calls about the upcoming Presidential address to students. After discussion at this meeting, it was determined that the address would be taped, reviewed, and presented to students at a later date as appropriate. Sister Dorothy will send out an email blast to all school parents to communicate the school’s stance.
Community Events:
Fall In the Wall: October 10, 2009
This event is scheduled for October 10, 2009. This is a free annual street festival showcasing the Aspinwall community. The CDTCA Student Council is often represented at this event. Luminaries will also be sold at this event.
Light Up Night: November 19, 2009
This wonderful free event kicks off the Christmas season! There are many activities (and treats!) for families and CDTCA is showcased with our 2nd grade live Nativity. Luminaries will also be sold. Mark your calendars now to attend this event!
Committee Updates:
Volunteers: Heidi Kipp and Ann Marie Kiszka
Volunteer forms continue to trickle in. Volunteers are always in demand particularly for Lunch and Recess duty or Cafeteria Servers. Parents are encouraged to turn in their form if they have not done so already.
Marketing: Jocelyn Bosick
Family “Buddies” are being assigned as new parents return their permission to release their contact information. The Buddy Program provides new families with a “buddy” to contact with questions or concerns about the school. The permission to release contact information will also result in inclusion in the school phone book. Families who do not turn in their form will not be included in the CDTCA phone book. Jocelyn also reminded the group that the deadline for information being included in the Bulletin is Thursday. As such, she needs all communication that parents would like printed in the bulletin no later than Monday. She cautioned that we have very little space. Two open houses will be scheduled for the school year. The first will occur in November and the second will occur during Catholic Schools Week. It is hoped that the Student Ambassador program will continue. This program prepares our school students to conduct tours for interested families.
Certificate Program
The Certificate Program is an opportunity to earn credit toward the $400 family fundraising fee. Families may print an order form from the school website or obtain a copy in the school office. Local certificates such as Giant Eagle are available on a daily basis. Other certificates may be ordered. Families earn the percentage identified on the Certificate order form as credit toward the fundraising fee. Any portion of the fundraising fee not completed by March 31, 2010 will be considered “unpaid tuition” and added to the final tuition payment so it is important to use the program regularly. Additional information about the Certificate Program will be distributed at the Evening of Awareness and families may learn more about the program on the CDTCA website under the “Admissions” tab.
Home Room Parents
Home room parents have been identified for all grades. The role of a homeroom parent was defined. Specifically, the homeroom parent is responsible for meeting with the homeroom teacher and coordinating volunteers for classroom parties and activities. The homeroom parent is not responsible for conducting all activities and purchasing all materials, but rather to delegate and distribute the tasks among all the parents.
Future PTG Auxiliary Meetings
The PTG Auxiliary will meet on the first Friday of every month from 9-11 AM in the Pastoral Center. The only exception to the schedule is the month of December when the Pastoral Center is set up for Santa’s Workshop. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 2, 2009 at 9:00 AM.
Parent Auxiliary Meeting Minutes
MAY
Date: May 7, 2010
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Location: Pastoral Center
In attendance: Julie Podgorski, Ann Marie Kiszka, Traci Giuffre, and Heidi Kipp
School Update:
There was no school update as Sister Dorothy was not in attendance.
PTG Update: Joanne Saunders, PTG President
There was no PTG update as Joanne Saunders was chaperoning the 8th grade trip. Next PTG meeting in scheduled for May 19, 2010.
Current Events
Volunteer Form for the 2010-2011 School Year
The form was reviewed and revised. Heidi will contact the current chairs to determine if they plan to continue in their role for the 2010-2011 school year. The form will be revised accordingly and distributed to parents before Memorial Day.
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
The Teacher Appreciation Luncheon will be held today Friday, May 7th in the Pastoral Center.
Volunteer Brunch
The Volunteer Brunch will be held on Friday, June 4th during the regular Auxiliary meeting time – 9:00 to 11:00 AM - in the Pastoral Center. This event has been renamed the “Parent Appreciation Brunch”. Ann Marie suggested sending an evite to help us estimate the number of attendees. Heidi will send an evite and follow with a hard copy invitation (and email prompts) to encourage attendance.
Golf Outing
The committee is hard at work planning for the May 24th Golf Outing. It promises to be a success and 20 foursomes are already signed up. Volunteers have also been secured.
Other Items
The Girl Scouts weeded the front of the school and are scheduled to plant flowers on Monday, May 10, 2010. The materials, planters, and flowers were generously donated by a school family.
The uniform closet has been organized and cleaned by parent volunteers. Gently used clothing has been labeled for CDTCA parents to “shop”. It was suggested that this be “advertised” at the Kindergarten orientation. Surplus clothing was donated.
