PTA Meeting Minutes 19/9/13 Call to Order 14:00 pm by Mary Lou Jakubiec Welcome and Introduction: Headmaster Tomm Eliot was introduced by Mary Lou. Tomm welcomed everyone back to school. He mentioned that this year he would like to make PTA more about academics. He introduced the four Deans at the school: Carmel Cumiskey Early Elementary Sonya Volonnino Lower School Andy Ridgeway Upper School John Mores IB grades 11 and 12 They are happy to work with PTA this year and each had an idea/ project that they would like to propose to PTA : Carmel Cumiskey has two projects, one is an ECO project and the other is for the Early Elementary students. Sonya Volonnino has some thoughts for the football pitches. Andy Ridgeway would like to start up coffee morning with the Dean once a month where anyone can come and ask question and find out new information from the Dean. John Mores would like to have PTA think of way the 11 th and 12 th graders can help us so that they can get community hours toward graduation. PTA looks forward to meeting with the Deans to discuss their ideas and projects.
Election of PTA Board: Mary Lou Jakubiec said PTA is looking for an Executive committee of President,Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Two executive board members. Tomm mentioned that, in the past, the faculty elected two teacher representatives to the executive committee. Mary Lou explained that this year we will set up committees to plan each event. These committees, once formed, will elect one or two people as committee heads. They will be in charge of running and planning the event. They will give updates to the community at our monthly PTA meetings or via Friday newsletter. Having committees will then cut out discussing all of the fine details of the events at each monthly meeting. The committees are as follows: Bake Sale: a fundraiser held on the third Wednesday of the month. Parents are asked to donate snacks to be sold to the students and teachers during the morning break. A parent mentioned that at last weeks sale her daughter said the the lines were a mess and that the older students were cutting up in front of the little kids. Tomm mentioned that PTA should work with the Deans in setting up an order in which the children attend the bake sale. We need to figure out a better way to make the lines more orderly. Welcome Committee: This group helps organize coffees, the recent annual welcome brunch, language exchanges, and other events to introduce new families to the IST community. Luncheons : This committee was formed as a way to bring the International community together for socializing. This group will
plan international lunches, ie: German Easter Lunch, monthly lunches out, and dinner night out. Hospitality Group: a group of volunteers are needed to help out when the PTA is requested to provide refreshments at school events. This may include social receptions, 12 th grade graduation ceremony, and other gatherings. This group would also plan the annual teacher appreciation lunch usually held in the spring. Room Mothers: In the classes from Nursery through grade 5, room mothers are needed to help out in the classroom with parties and field trips and as requested. Marianna and Eveline will be the Coordinators to work with the teachers and Room Mothers. ISTathon: The ISTathon event has been running for approximately 45 years now. This is 5K foot race is held every fall, October 19 th this year, and is through the streets around the school. This race is for students, faculty and parents. Usually the race is followed by a BBQ lunch, but because this year is the 50 th anniversary other events will be going on this weekend. Therefore, only a light snack will be provided after the race. Several volunteers are needed for this event. Claudia mentioned that for this year we need to decide on what to give to participants running the race. We would like it to something that commemorates the 50 th year anniversary of IST. International Day: This is a traditional event at IST where all the different country groups represented in our school and faculty population present their traditions in food, clothing, music, or whatever they want. For many years the event also has games where the different groups compete in sports or other types of games. A planning committee is needed for this event, usually held at the end of the school year, and they can decide how to structure the event.
Charity Committee: This committee would work on specific charity projects once they have been approved by the Headmaster. Winter Market: For the past few years, the school has put on a winter markets soliciting local parents and vendors who have hand made products to sell for the Christmas season. A portion of the proceeds go to the PTA and a portion to the vendors. It is usually held the last Sunday in November. The woman who single handedly ran this event has left IST. If anyone is interested in organizing an event like this, please let us know. Tomm mentioned that the school used to have an event that let the students purchase something for their families. This was more of a service provided by the PTA and not a fundraiser. Newsletter: Marylou will continue to write the PTA newsletter. We could use one or several people to help research and report on activities and events going on in the community. Discover Turin Tours: A monthly visit to a place in or around Torino with an English speaking guide. Announced in the weekly newsletter. The first event will be on Wednesday, October 2 nd. It will be a market tour of Porto Palazzo in Turin. *NEW Daddy/Daughter Dance: To be held around Valentine s Day (February). A group is needed to help plan this event. It was also mentioned that maybe this group would like to work with Student Council to help plan some school dances, ie: Prom. *NEW After school Movie Night (for Lower school): This committee needs volunteers to help organize and supervise such an event.
There are signup sheets to join these committees. All parents are invited to volunteer for any committee that is of interest to them. 50 th Birthday Celebration for IST: Michelle October 17-20 is the celebration of 50 years of IST. Various activities and celebrations are planned. If you look on the school website you can view the weekend activities and RSVP to any or all of the events you would like to attend. There is a payment option now on this page. Tomm mentioned that the theme of the 50 th anniversary is that the school is on the forefront with technology. If you are interested in seeing the speaker at the appertivo on Thursday, October 17 th, please reserve your seats as soon as possible for there is limited seating. The Anniversary committee meets on Tuesday mornings at the school. If you are interested in helping please attend these meetings. Vote for the new PTA Executive Board: President: Mary Lou volunteered to be Co-President with Cristina Wojkowski. Mary Lou has children in the Upper school and Cristina has children in the lower school. Vice President: Sarah Alcala Secretary: Kelly O Connor
Treasurer: Claudia Hamilton Executive Member: Helle Lundby Executive Member: Michelle Kendell and Christina Mohr All were voted in and accepted to the PTA Board. Closing Comments: Mary Lou thanked everyone for coming today. Please sign up for committees, or if you have any ideas or comments do bring them forward to the PTA. For those of you who could not attend the meeting and would still like to sign up to be a part of a committee, we will find a spot near the front office to put the sheets so that you can still sign up. You can also contact one of the PTA board members or committee heads.