PSFA Meeting Notes – November 13, 2025

Meeting Minutes

Communications High School – PSFA Meeting

November 13, 2025

 

Executive Board Members Present: 

Patti Riddle – Co-President 

Kat Hernandez – Co President

Janelle Checkett, Vice President Fundraising

Melissa Skrocki, Secretary

 

  • Call to Order.   President Patti Riddle called the meeting to order at 7:16 pm and lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. 
  • SGA Report – Sean Ribeiro (President)
    1. 1st marking period ended this week. 
    2. SGA approved numerous new unofficial clubs including dance club, intramural sports club. 
    3. Spirit Week was a great success and we had a lot of student involvement – Sr, Soph, Jr and Fr  (order of winners) 
    4. We have one last Info Session coming up this weekend.   We are grateful for students who have volunteered to help.  
    5. Tomorrow evening is the homecoming dance – NYC Theme 6:30-9. 
    6. Next weekend is the play – student written play. 
    7. Seniors will be having Friendsgiving coming up. 
    8. After Thanksgiving, the Junior class is hosting the 
  2. Grant Request  – Mr. Salow is requesting additional camera batteries and chargers for the Film Club.  $217.47 grant was approved. 
  3. Principal’s Report  –  Mrs. Bonilla couldn’t attend but she sent the following report: 

Academic Updates

PSAT Administration
On October 9, our 10th and 11th graders sat for the PSAT. All scores are now posted in students’ College Board accounts. I’m proud to share our school averages:

        • Overall Average: 1201
        • 10th Grade Average: 1181 (ERW 614, Math 567)
        • 11th Grade Average: 1223 (ERW 617, Math 605)

These are truly exceptional scores, and they reflect both our students’ hard work and our teachers’ dedication.

State Field Testing

Also that week, CHS participated in the required statewide field testing for all NJ students in grades 9–11. While it did take time away from instruction, our students handled it with maturity and flexibility.

Instruction & Enrichment

Modern Genocide & Humanity Assembly
Last week, we were honored to host Alex Kor, son of Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor, in partnership with Kean University. Mr. Kor presented his mother’s IWitness Dimensions testimony, sharing her extraordinary story of surviving Josef Mengele’s experiments at age 10 and later leading the largest Nazi manhunt in history.

This was a profoundly moving learning experience for both CHS and MAST students—one that will stay with them for years.

Admissions & Outreach
We wrapped up our final two CHS Information Sessions this week and were thrilled to see a 37% increase in families attending. Thank you to all parents who helped welcome prospective students and shared the CHS spirit so proudly.

Student Life & Community

Upcoming Partnership with Garden State Equality
This Monday, thanks to our incredible PSFA, Garden State Equality will host a workshop and luncheon for our CHS club leaders. We are excited for this new leadership development opportunity and a potential long-term partnership.

University Partnerships
Last month we welcomed the Chair of Monmouth University’s Communication Department and their new Film Production Professor. We look forward to expanded work-based learning opportunities, collaborative projects, and future dual-credit or certificate pathways for our students.

Homecoming Dance
NTHS and SkillsUSA are hosting our Homecoming Dance tomorrow night. We are grateful to our students, advisors, and PSFA for creating such meaningful school traditions.

Career Day, Mentorships & Capstone
An email went out this Monday inviting parents and community members to participate in Career Day, host a CHS senior mentorship, or partner on a Capstone project. We encourage anyone interested to reach out—your involvement has a direct impact on our students’ readiness for college and industry.

College & Senior News

Our seniors are in the final stretch of their college applications, and we’re already celebrating early acceptances. For the second year in a row, one of our students has been named a QuestBridge Finalist. This is an incredibly competitive national program—over 25,000 apply and only 3,000 finalists are selected in the country.

Last year, our student received a full scholarship to Vassar College through QuestBridge, and we’re hopeful for more good news this year.

School Planning & Facilities

I’ve begun early planning for the 2026–2027 school year budget, with a focus on improving the student experience and ensuring our CTE programs remain state-of-the-art. Priorities include:

      • New furniture for CTE labs
      • Additional seating and soft spaces in hallways
      • Upgraded AV and lighting equipment for the cafeteria, which is now one of our most active event spaces
      • Updated textbooks and learning materials
      • Cutting-edge technology to support film, design, audio, photo, journalism, and programming tracks

Thank you for your continued support of Communications High School. Your involvement—whether through PSFA events, mentorships, or simply staying engaged—truly strengthens our school community.

    • President’s Report – Patti Riddle and Kat Hernandez
      1. Thank you to Andy Newbury for his presentation on college admissions this evening. 
      2. Please support our Fall play  –  Love, Esme.   Details on the school’s website.  
      3. Driver’s Ed – you need to go to a DMV for a permit test, it must be taken through a driving school.   We had 20 students take it this Fall and will offer it again in the Spring. 
      4. We will be discontinuing The Communique but will be providing other communications through social media and our website. 
      5. We are providing K-Cups to the teachers for Teacher Appreciation this month. 
      6. The Sophomore Class is hosting a fundraiser selling gift cards.  The QR Code is on the agenda and available on the school’s website.  
      7. The Sneakers Plus sale closes out this Monday.   The QR Code is on the agenda.   All orders will be at next month’s PSFA meeting or will be sent home with students.   We will likely run another one in the Spring.   We are considering a design contest for the Spring.   
    • Vice President Report  – Janelle Checkett
      1. Super 50/50 –  We have continued to sell our Super 50/50 tickets and will draw winning tickets in December.  We have already sold 79 tickets. Only 300 tickets will be sold.  Please support this fundraiser for the PSFA.  Please be sure to note your child’s class.  The class who sells the most will get a pizza party.      
    • Treasurer  – Hope Pressler
      1. The treasurer’s report was distributed to the group.  
      2. We have had some expenses with the beach social but with sales of spirit wear, we end with a positive $40 delta for the month.   
    • Secretary’s Report – Melissa Skrocki 
      1. The minutes from the October meeting were posted on the website.  A motion was made to approve the minutes and the members unanimously approved the minutes.  
      2. If anyone has any questions regarding the Remind app.  Please download the app so I can respond back to questions.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Melissa Skrocki with any questions.   

 

Motion to Adjourned at 7:39