St. Andrew Apostle Advisory Board
Meeting minutes
Thursday, January 3, 2008
St. Andrew Apostle Advisory Board
Members Present: Kathy Kilty, Fr. Mike Mellone, Peggy Mazzola, Tim Breen, John Vittone, Robin Tomaselli, Tara Roche, Dustin Watson, Nori Limarzi, Angie Morgan, Dot Primrose
Members Absent: Mary Ahearn, Angela Soloman, Curtis McKay, Mary Tull, Andrew Price
Recorder: Dot Primrose and Angie Morgan
Opening Prayer: Led by Fr. Mike. A story from The Enduring Heart about encouragement was read.
Old Business:
The November and December minutes were presented to the membership for approval. Once they are approved by the membership and the Administration, and the necessary revisions are made, they will be posted on the web.
New Business:
The items for the parish and school budget need to be identified soon as requested by the Archdiocese Financial Office. February is the anticipated due date. The tuition and registration numbers factor into this and those numbers have not been estimated yet.
The United Way campaign update. The School Board along with submitting an application must also be audited. The prior audit is still valid but new Board members may need to be identified. If this is the case then Marie Holohan will contact Angie Morgan the application will be completed by the Murphy and Murphy Accounting firm.
The photographs are now on the side of the Metro buses with St. Andrew children. Be on the look out for them. There has been a “sighting” of one of the pictures. On Wed Jan 9th from 9-11 am, there will be a PK, K and 1st open house. Special invitation will be sent to parents of the four year-olds followed by school visit. New brochure and packet to be available next week, a professional company was hired to prepare the brochure. Catholic Schools week upcoming with the same activities as years past. There will be a Prayer service, an Open House for all grades, a Parent Appreciation breakfast, and the week will culminate with a Grandparents reception and an All school mass. As far as enrollment numbers the goal is to fill one class and then hold acceptances to see if a second full class can be filled. This will be done for both Kindergarten and 1st grade. Approximately 40 students are needed to determine if there will be two classes.
Mrs. Lisa Stacy will chair the Community study for the Middle States Accreditation. We will need to work with her to also get the Parent Gift and Talent survey distributed to the parents and guardians in the community.
Diversity Committee:
In looking at our school community and appreciating the wealth of the
diversity that is represented in student body maybe this is the time
to think about initiating a Diversity Committee. As we wonder how to
get parents, new and old, to feel as like they are a part of the
St. Andrew community it may be important to realize who we are as a
group. There is a parent at Good Counsel that is in charge of their
Diversity Committee that both Angie and Robin have spoken with and
talked of the benefits of their program for the students and the
parents in creating an inclusive environment. The item that must be
addressed is if we proceed from here, an external consultant; a
diversity expert that lectures to the faculty, or some type of
in-service training for the staff. There is a program from the
Wellesley Women’s center called the S.E.E.D program. The program is
one that trains a staff person and this person becomes an in house
expert in helping to train the staff. Fr. Mike mentioned 2 priests
from area Diocesan parishes that may be able to offer some advice;
St. Camillus and Sacred Heart parishes. Tim Breen also mentioned that
faculty at Mount St. Joseph have had similar training thru the
Anti-Defamation League. Angie will research this and bring more
information back to the group.
Nomination Committee
Inactive currently but needs to be activated to solicit nominations
for three spots that will be open on the SB next year. Tara, John and
Robin will all reach the end of their terms. Members need to think of
people that may be enthused and good additions to the board.
SAPA Report- no one from Board present to present. Fr. Mike and Kathy spoke about the Spring Gala/Derby Days concept. It will be held on the basketball court w/walkway to school in early April. Dinner and off site horse-race betting and silent auction, Mindy Wanat and Corinne Smith are in charge of the event.
Development Committee- Curtis McKay not present. The committee will and has been meeting via phone.
Alumni Committee- Tara Roche
The first two checks for the pizza contest for Alumni have been
received. Peggy is the identified school contact and then the checks
will be sent to Tara.
The Midnight mass with the Alumni reception afterwards was a success. Robin helped organize the event; attendance appeared to be higher than last year, especially amongst young alums. It was a wonderful, encouraging, and people stayed at the reception in the Multi-purpose room well after mass to socialize.
The Alumni fall/ winter newsletter is out on the website under Alumni news and there is an article about the School Board from Angie.
Career Day is scheduled again for this spring.
Shepherd’s Table dates and memo circulated from Tara; there is help needed (2 adults and 4 kids—16 and older) to serve on the dates noted. We are on the schedule for the 4th Saturday of each month.
Communications Committee: Dot Primrose
No report given.
Marketing Committee: Kathy Kilty
Kathy utilized a professional company to but together a new brochure
for the upcoming open houses. The company also gave Kathy a lot of
ideas to compile a nice marketing packet for new families.
There are ads in the Gazette and the Catholic Standard advertising for the upcoming Open houses.
The Blue Ribbon Mats that are in the school were remarked upon. They are in the front entrance and in front of the Main Office door.
PKS Fund-we approved two classes for Peggy Mazzola to the total of $2628 for:
The closing Prayer was led by Peggy Mazzola.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 by Angie Morgan.