CSPN Parent Meeting   December 6, 2005

In Attendance: Carol Coles, Janet Dinkler, Pete Savage, Jen Parker, Laurie Kay, Lee Meyers, Mary O’Kelly, Amy Mulroy, Mary Larrick and Dr. Susan Copeland.

Welcome: The meeting began at 7:10 p.m. with a welcome from CSPN Board Vice President Amy Mulroy, who was standing in for President Melissa Pearce who was unable to attend due to illness.

Minutes: Secretary Lee Meyers briefly reviewed the minutes of the November 9 Board meeting.

Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Mary O’Kelly reported that we have $20,000 so far. The CSPN Support Drive raised just under $8,000 and the Adopt-A-Book program is going well. The Cookie Dough sale netted just under $5,000 and Fall Fest raised $4,500 net of expenses, which was $500 more than last year.

Purchases: A list of major items that CSPN will purchase is being assembled. Some of the items on the list at this point include technology items, art tables and musical instruments. Some smaller purchases were made to honor all Campus faculty and staff during National Education Week. All teachers were given gift certificates to Knowledge Tree.

Holiday Fair: Notices went out late, so everyone was reminded that Holiday Fair will be held on December 7 and 8. Additional volunteers are still needed. Shopping times will be scheduled during P.E. times for each class. Our goal with this event is to have some fun, build a sense of community and break even after expenses.

Educational Growth Plan: This comprehensive plan will be developed by Dr. Copeland and a committee of teachers as a way to guide CSPN spending. The purpose is to identify the best ways CSPN can help contribute to enhancing the educational environment at Campus.

Yearbook: Anna Inman has volunteered to complete last year’s yearbook and also do the 2005-06 book. Last year’s book is currently at the printer. Anna would like to incorporate some student artwork into the 2006 yearbook. She also requests that photos of events be submitted for inclusion in the book. There is a box in the office for photos.

Communication: Amy reported that a monthly newsletter is being produced and the bulletin board near the office is being updated regularly to share CSPN news.

Labels and Box tops: The group was reminded to collect Campbell’s Soup labels, Tyson labels and Box tops for Education. Parents are also reminded to write their child’s name on the back of any labels that are submitted so they’ll be eligible for prize drawings. Blockbuster also offers cards that are another source of funds. The cards are punched each time a movie is rented. Campus gets $1 for each card that is completely punched.

Teacher Fundraiser: This year the teacher fundraiser (the wrapping paper sale) raised $11,700. These funds are all spent for the good of the school and have been used to purchase Smart Boards, fund professional development, buy desks and literature texts. This year we need to replace four computers.

State Reports: Susan shared the highlights of the State reports on school performance. Campus did very well, demonstrating gains in all academic areas. The gains were more than in the prior year in all areas except Social Studies. Campus School received straight A’s. Susan expressed gratitude for the hard work of the teachers and parents.

Service Committee: Ms. Larrick reported that the school is participating in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree project. Each classroom is handling their participation differently, but all are working to purchase gifts for our identified “angels” including a boy, a girl and an elderly man and woman. The purpose is for the children to learn to give in whatever ways they can. Ms. Larrick further shared that international studies show that children who are involved in community service are less likely to take drugs.

CSPN Calendar: Amy briefly reviewed upcoming events, including the Science Fair in February, Book Fair in March and Spring Fling in April. She also mentioned the Golf Tournament, for which a date has not yet been set.

Fundraisers: A discussion was held about the recent cookie dough sale, and most everyone stated that the new vendor’s product was well received. There was some discussion of holding a fundraising event in place of this sale next year. The pros and cons of a spaghetti dinner were considered. Susan noted that we’ve held such dinners in the past and her assessment was that they involve a lot of volunteer labor and the funds raised were minimal. One advantage is that it’s another opportunity to build a sense of community. Other suggested fundraisers included a 5K run, an expanded silent auction and a cookbook sale. No decisions were made, but the group agreed to give these ideas some thought.

Courtyard: Pete Savage is again coordinating work on the Courtyard. He has gotten a number of families involved, including Michael and Patty McClain who have landscape design and installation experience.

Next Parent Meeting: A date has not been set for the next Parent Meeting, but consideration was given to a February time frame. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.