PTSA Membership Meeting

October 16, 2007

Present: Jeanne Philbin, Carol Smalls Rosanne Hurwitz, Sam Stokes, Matilda Parker, Kathy Sebaggio, Elissa Lichtenstein, Morallina George, Carol Lindeman, Ada O’Donnell, Larry Sang, Sally Taber, Patsy Hedrick, R. Roman, Valma Yearwood, Pam Gogol, Chih Chow, Anthony Cavrell Mare Hoffman, Marcy Fink Campos, Janet Cheney, Jeff Martinez, Peggy Ottalini, Susan Remmert Joann Waiters, Bob Gillette, Debra Reed-Gillette, Dave Ottalini, Marcia Johnson, Darryl Williams, Linda Wanner, Molly Martinez, Beth Martin, Gail Peck, Carol Muskin, Cordell Cassell, Andrew Partan, Katya Partan, Linda Kahn, Nancy Newton, Annie Rohlin, Tina Hou, Benjamin Sawd.

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

Bob 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 September meeting were approved as posted to the PTSA website and listserves.

Treasurer’s Report:  The treasurer reported that membership receipts improved from Back to School night.  365 memberships have been received to date.  Nancy presented the budget to the membership.  The budget was approved as presented.  The full budget will be posted to the membership listserve. Financial Summary for October / School Year 2007-2008 Budget

Mini-Grants:  The school community requested a total of $20,959.36 in funding.  A total of $10,019.36 was recommended for funding by the PTSA Mini-Grants review committee consisting of PTSA members, students, and staff.  The recommendation was passed by the membership.  A check and a disbursement list will go to the financial office so that mini-grants recipients can be reimbursed.  All recipients will be notified of the result of their application.  The full list of mini-grant awards will be posted online.

Principal’s Report:  Mr. Williams informed the membership that he has begun the Staff Chronicle as a means to improve communication among the staff.  It will include upcoming events and highlight good news and staff accomplishments as well as serve as a tool for communicating important information.  The Middle States Accreditation process is underway with a team visit planned for December 4.  Mr. Williams has secured positions with the George Washington University partnership for staff members at Blair. 

Counseling Special Presentation:  Marcia Johnson and counseling staff presented information to the membership concerning counseling services, high school plus and upcoming events sponsored by counseling.

• High School Plus:  High School Plus will be phased in as the alternative to night school.  Each county high school will offer classes to their own constituents free of charge.  Blair will offer High School Plus from 2:30 – 4:10 pm Tuesday and Thursday.  The current focus is to regain credit for classes required for graduation and the HSAs:  Algebra I A & B, NSL A & B, Geometry A & B, English 9 A & B, Biology A & B, English 10 A & B.  Evening High School is currently held at Blair on Mondays and Wednesdays at Blair, the only sight.  It is being phased out.
• October 25, 7pm Sallie Mae Paying for College Seminar
• November 28 Financial Aid Night
• November 16 Hispanic College Fair
• SAT Prep:  Montgomery College teaches an SAT Prep class here at Blair.  The classes lead up to the SAT date.
• Revolution Prep also will be coming to Blair, another SAT Prep alternative.  Scholarships are available. 
• 1st meeting of the Counseling Advisory committee was held the 1st week of October.  The goal is to improve communications.  Sallie Holmes is the Chair.  It will meet the 1st Monday of the month from 7:30 – 8:30 am.
• The College Board must approve PSAT & SAT Accommodations.
• Additional information about all of these programs can be found in the Career Center and the Counseling office.

SGA:  Molly Martinez reported that the SGA needs “unchaperones” for homecoming.  Contact Molly if you can help do coat check or check in guests.  Administrators and teachers will be in charge of chaperoning the dance floor so parents do not need to worry about chaperoning their student.  On Thursday, the SGA is sponsoring an outdoor movie event “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” in keeping with the spirit of homecoming week.  The movie will be 7:30 – 9:30 pm in the stadium.  The Booster club will be cooking and selling hot dogs for the event.  November 2nd there will be a blood drive.  You must be 17 or older to donate blood.  During the month of November, the SGA is sponsoring a canned food drive.

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 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.

Citrus Sale :  The PTSA Citrus Sale is the PTSA’s largest fundraiser of the year.  Fruit can be purchased for yourself or as a donation to Shepherd’s table.  You can even make your purchase online via the PTSA website.  Don’t forget to place your order!

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.

Pedestrian Safety:  Sam and Sally Stokes are working with the administration to install fencing to separate student parking from the bus lanes on the University Blvd side of the building.  This should eliminate students walking through the bus lanes during student drop off and pick up.

The next Blazer Newsletter deadline is November 9, 2007.

Thanks go to Mr. Funk for finally getting the Old Blair Sign installed at the University Blvd entrance near the fire station. 

Dates to remember:    

• November 22-23 – Thanksgiving Holiday
• November 29 – 7 a.m. – Principal’s Breakfast – Office/  
• 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