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== PTA Meeting Minutes for October 22, 2008 ==

Dana Casale called the meeting to order at 8:10am. Sister Mary Paul Hickey was the guest speaker. Sister gave an overview of how she started the Campus School in 1963. After finishing her P.H.D. at Fordham, she observed how other teaching colleges where using their locations to set up elementary schools on their campuses. The academy that had been at Carlow moved to a new location in Monroeville, so the space was available to start a new Campus School. After starting up the school, Sister Mary Paul left for several years, but returned in 1971 to serve as Director until her retirement in 2006. Dr. Hines, President of Carlow University, asked Sister MP to stay on with the Campus School as Alumni Director, and she now has an office on campus.   Sister is focusing her considerable talents and contacts on alumni, writing a quarterly newsletter called "Circles" (available from the Office), and helping to build the Founders Legacy Endowment.  She was able to reconnect with many alumni, which helped lead to a successful endowment campaign, which was launched at the first Founders Legacy event two years ago.  $2.7 million was raised that year; last year's event raised over $200,000 for Teacher Enhancement (seminars, continued learning, educational opportunities, etc.).  The Endowment will be used overall for operating expenses, student enrichment, teacher enhancement and scholarships. The Campus School owns the endowment, but the University administers it. 

Many parents voiced appreciation to Patty Cooper for her weekly email updates.

Melissa Hankin also spoke about increasing enrollment and hopes to increase awareness of the school through open houses, etc.. Carlow Campus School will be featured in an upcoming local TV commercial. There was also discussion of how to keep the Montessori students at Carlow. There is now a French class for them on the 3rd floor run by Linda Wallen. The idea of big brothers and sisters for Montessori students and having parents of 1st graders meet with parents of Montessori students was also discussed.

Problems of parking and pick-up and drop-off at the school were revisited. Some new parents voiced concerns with understanding how the system worked. Patty Cooper will try to explore new options and post diagrams. One of the ideas discussed was having parents of Trinity students pick them up 5 minutes earlier than Tiernan pick-up, allowing for extra time for these younger children, who need more assistance and care getting into vehicles, car seats, etc.  Patty will discuss these issues with Jeff Beesong, Director of Facilities for Carlow University (which oversees safety and security).

Dana also mentioned a reminder for parents to participate in teacher donations for Christmas, emphasizing that this is strictly a voluntary program.  All checks and payments should be made to Campus School PTA and should be submitted to Lorraine Buck, Teacher Gifts, Chair; Campus School, 3333 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA  15213.   Box tops for education, found on most General Mills products,  are due by October 31st for the first half of the year.  These Box Tops have earned the Campus School over $700 last year alone -- free money! -- and the money we earn goes directly to the Campus School Administration.  Maria Hairston is the Chairperson of this collection.

The Book Fair was again a success, and $9,491.69 in merchandise was sold (of which we take 25% profit).  We are splitting the $2,373.92, 50/50, with our Campus School Library.  Scholastic Books doubles the amount of the library's profit if we decide to take their portion in books; so our library will add $2,372.9222 of books.  In addition, Ms. Trista Mentz-Johns, librarian, will be able to provide a set (15 copies) of "Sarah  Plain and Tall" to Mrs. Candy Loughney's class, and a set of the book "Found" will be in the library so that the 6th to 8th graders can start a book club this year.  

Over 170 books were donated to teachers classroom libraries. 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30am.  The next meeting  will be November 19th.  It is scheduled for the morning now, but maybe changed to afternoon or evening.  Confirmation will be sent to parents by the 2nd week of November.