Montgomery Blair High School PTSA

Minutes of PTSA Meeting --- November 20, 2007

PTSA Membership Meeting

November 20, 2007

Present: Jeanne Philbin, Carol Lindeman, Rosanne Hurwitz, Charles Reed, Barbara Sima, Marc Hoffman, Valma Yearvood, Beth Martin, Nancy Newton, Carolyn Lichtenstein, Sumih Chi, Sam Stokes, Carol Smalls, Patsy Hedrick, Chih Chow, Andrew Partan, Katya Partan, Peggy Ottalini, Linda Simon, Bob Gillette, Dave Ottalini, Debra Reed-Gillette, Djakaria Sangare

Facilitator: Dave Ottalini
Time Keeper: Bob Gillette
Recorder: Debra Reed-Gillette

Dave called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.

All members are reminded to CLEARLY print their name on the sign-in sheet for each meeting.

The minutes for the October meeting were approved as posted to the PTSA website and listserves.

MRSA Presentation:  Dr. Geraldine McQuillan from the CDC presented information on MRSA to the membership.  Debra Bitonti, RN the Blair Community Health Nurse presented what MCPS and Blair are doing to minimize the risk of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus  (MRSA) in our school.  Please refer to the following websites for the information presented:

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/MRSAinSchools/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_MRSA_AthletesFAQ.html

Treasurer's Report:  The treasurer reported that the PTSA is now officially incorporated, as required by State and National PTSA.  Our official name is Montgomery Blair High School Parent Teacher Student Association, Inc.  (MBHS PTSA, Inc.).  The PTSA is now applying for charitable organization status.  All mini-grant recipients have been notified and the funds have been distributed to the school.  Our largest fundraiser, the Citrus Sale has been very successful to date earning over $10,000. 

Principal's Report:  Ms Rogers attended the meeting for Mr. Williams.  Honor Roll statistics for the first marking period were reported as follows:

            Freshman:  274, Straight A's 69
            Sophomores:  278, Straight A's 47
            Juniors:  283, Straight A's 33
            Seniors:  348, Straight A's 89
            Total on the Honor Roll:  1183 students
            Total students receiving straight A's:  238 students

Enrollment was reported as of 10/31/2007: 

            9th Grade:  743
            10th Grade:  651
            11th Grade:  594
            12th Grade:  671
            Special Education:  130
            Total Students currently enrolled:  2789

Please note that these numbers are constantly in flux as students enter and leave the school.

The Cheerleaders took the Division II County Cheerleading Competition 1st place award as well as the Spirit Award.

The Athletic Department and the Athletic Boosters honored all of our Fall athletes in a well-attended program.

The Mathematics Department is reviving the Math Student of the Month Program.  Students will be selected as Math Student of the month in all math levels throughout the school.

The November Staff meeting focused on the school's ESOL population and ways to address the educational needs of this school population.

The following teachers received National Board Certification in Science:

            K. Sullivan, J. Haigh, J. Shafer, and N. Hopkins .

The focus in the coming week will be the AFG Accreditation Process.  Blair is currently accredited through the Middle States Association.  Periodically, schools must apply for re-accreditation and go through a strategic planning process that focuses on continuous improvement to achieve student growth.  All are invited to attend the reception for the committee on December 4 from 2:30 – 4:00 pm.  Parents are invited to meet with the committee on December 6 at a breakfast and to attend the Accreditation presentation on December 7 at 2:30 pm. 

MCCPTA:  Chih brought three resolutions to the membership for approval for MCCPTA.  The first concerning support of the operating budget was approved unanimously.  The second regarding crossing guard was also approved unanimously.  The third proposal elicited questions and was suggested to add the caveats of adding contractors to the proposal and also asked what the current policies are.  This resolution was passed with opposition.

Volunteers:  Beth Martin gave a big `Thank you!' to all of the volunteers.  She reminded everyone that she would again be doing a monthly volunteer hours e-call to all committee chairs.  Everyone should be on the lookout for her weekly postings to the list serves requesting volunteers and for emergency volunteer requests.  The main request this month, again, is for a Membership Chair and Membership Committee members.  The AfterProm also needs help.  The Silent Auction is always in need of volunteers as well as well as a chairperson-in-training for next year.  We are currently in need of volunteers for the December Barnes & Noble event to benefit After Prom.  Students can earn Service Learning Credit for helping.  All shoppers must mention Blair to have Blair receive a percentage of Barnes & Noble's profits for the day.

Next Monday through Wednesday, after Thanksgiving, is El Golfo appreciation nights.  Please plan to have dinner at El Golfo to say thank you to this generous merchant who donates so much to our community schools.

Anyone interested in being a part of the Grant Writers group, please contact Beth or Dave.  The group is beginning to look at possible grants for Blair. 

Individuals willing to serve on the Graduation Speaker Committee, please contact Beth.  Graduation has been set for 9am on June 11 at the Comcast Center .

Volunteers are still needed for Academy Day on December 18.  There will be more than 70 presenters.  The Math/Science Academy still needs more speakers.  Please contact Jennifer Kempf if you can help.

BSA:  The Blair Sports Academy began as a gang prevention program and is now an integral part of Blair.  Other schools with this program have twice as much academic support in the program as does Blair.  Academic support is part of a separate contract.  Mr. Williams is attempting to organize and coordinate all of Blair's academic support offerings.  It is possible that money will be shifted in the BSA contract by Park & Planning to address the academic needs.

Theater Boosters:  There will be a dessert potluck on November 27 to kick off this new Booster club for the Theater/Drama program at Blair.  The website is MBP.mbhs.edu (Montgomery Blair Players).  The next presentation by MBP is Beauty and the Beast on March 7, 8, 9, 14, and 15. 

Painless Fundraising:  Parents and students are reminded to save their Snider's receipts for 2007.  Carol Smalls collects these all year; however, for 2007 the receipts must be turned in before the end of January.  Both the PTSA and the school are continuing to earn money from the Giant and eScrip programs.  You can still enroll in both of these programs, as well as support the school thru other programs thru Target and Office Depot.

Dates to remember:   

• November 22-23 – Thanksgiving Holiday
• November 29 – 7 a.m. – Principal's Breakfast – Office
• December 4-7 – AFG at Blair
• December 8 -    9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Citrus Sale Pickup – Blair Concession Stand
• December 15 – 9 a.m – 11 p.m. – AfterProm Fundraiser at the Barnes and Noble in Bethesda
• December 17 – Deadline for Reflections Submissions –office
• December 18 – PTSA Meeting – Holiday Mixer – 7:30 p.m. Everyone Welcome!
• December 24-January 1 – Holiday Break

*SAC is the Student Activity Center aka the cafeteria