September 14, 2023 PFSA Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes

September 14, 2023 PFSA Meeting Minutes

  1.  Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance & Welcome:   Current PSFA officers in attendance: Colleen Stemetzki (2024), Janet Schneider (2025), MaryAnn Doyle (2025) and Brenda Connolly (2025).
  2.  Co-President’s Report: Introduction of the Executive Board. Explanation of how teacher/student grants are considered and granted/denied. Explanation of how PSFA dues are spent. Introduction of Justin Longo, SGA President. SAT Class in progress with 11 students participating. Driver’s Ed course to begin on September 25. Will need a minimum number of students to sign up in order to hold the class (Student tuition should come as close as possible to equaling the cost of the class to the PSFA). October PSFA meeting and parent chat will be virtual only.
  3.  SGA Report: Justin Longo, SGA President:  Explanation of first day of school activities, including Italian Ice truck sponsored by SGA. NHS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer team information for October 15 walk. Soliciting donations and how to purchase merchandise for the event. Explanation of the September 21 Club Fair and discussion of official and unofficial clubs at CHS.
  4. Grant Request. Jaime Vander Velde, Literary Magazine Advisor and Maxine Zoller, Editor-in-Chief Literary Magazine: Teen Arts/Monmouth County Arts Council trip for mid-March 2024. Seeking funds to cover transportation to the event and registration for approximately 50 CHS students from all grades and in a variety of fields (Writing, Film, Photography, Design). From this event, students can be chosen to represent at the state level. A question was asked about whether PSFA funds are available to cover this grant and Colleen Stemetzki and MaryAnn Doyle confirmed that such requests are expected and budgeted. Grant was approved up to $2,000.
  5. Principal Gleason’s Report: Principal Gleason welcomed those in attendance and discussed the beginning of school activities and concerns. Transportation is mostly running smoothly outside of some issues with Red Bank and Middletown busses but those issues are getting straightened out. Discussed upcoming activities including the Club Fair on September 21, the Back-to-School Dance on September 22 organized by the Senior Class, and Back-to-School Night on September 28. A question was asked about where parents/students could access a list of the clubs on campus. Mr. Gleason responded that a new website is being launched that will be up-to-date with a listing. Mr. Gleason then explained how “unofficial” clubs (with volunteer faculty advisor, rather than paid) can be organized: Clubs are pitched to the SGA and then the SGA presents them to Mr. Gleason for approval. A question was asked about whether NHS would be represented at the Club Fair and whether requirements for NHS would be discussed. Mr. Gleason referred parents to the Student Handbook, where all requirements for NHS could be found. Mr. Gleason then spoke about administration of the PSAT: No concrete date set as of now. They are making sure that everything is in place technology-wise for the administration of the first digital PSAT. The plan is to test sophomores first, followed by juniors. Any issues that arise with the sophomores will be addressed by the time the juniors take the test (as there is more at stake with the junior scores/NMSQT scholarships, etc. In response to another question about computers, Mr. Gleason clarified that there is no 1 to 1 computer program at the school, although Chromebooks are always available for student use while in school. That being said, he told parents that there is no requirement for students to purchase additional software or equipment to successfully complete school assignments. Any assignments given that require specialized software or equipment can be completed at school. The school is Mac-based and uses Adobe Suite software, should parents be interested in adding this at home.
  6. Recording Secretary Minutes:
    Colleen Stemetzki (2024), in place of Nora Hyland (2025): Minutes from June have been posted to the website and need to be approved – motion by Colleen Stemetzki, and second by Teresita Weiss.
  7. Corresponding Secretary: Brenda Connolly (2025) – We received a thank you from Mrs. Clevenger, retired Physical Education teacher, for the retirement gift from the PSFA.
  8.  Committee Reports:
    1. Membership: Teresita Weiss (2024) – Discussed the benefits of membership and the percentage of PSFA members in each class. 2024 – 40%; 2025/26/27 – 60%. Pre-Covid numbers were much higher, close to 80%.
    2. Hospitality: Lisa Lipincott (2025) and Kathy Seetoo (2025) – Discussed all the ways hospitality is involved at CHS, including the Midterm/Final Bagel Breakfasts, Back-to-School Night, Color Wars. Asked for volunteers to sign up to get involved.
    3. Parent Chat: Colleen Stemetzki (2024) – Discussed a parent chat for freshmen parents before the October meeting.
    4. Book Club: Patti Riddle (2026) – Sign up to meet parents and have some fun discussing books. Next meet up is at Bell Works on Tuesday, October 10 at 7 pm. Meet near Bar Bella and proceed to the rooftop deck (weather permitting). Book is The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda.
    5. Merchandise: Hope Pressler – Merchandise can be purchased online but will also be available for sale at Back-to-School night. Any ideas for new items that you would like to see, please let her know.
    6. Color Wars: Colleen Stemetzki (2025) discussed year-long volunteer activity to be eligible to participate at Color Wars. Suggested getting involved in the PSFA as much as possible. Color Wars was briefly described.
    7.   Treasurer’s Report: MaryAnn Doyle (2025) – Distributed current Budget/Profit and Loss Sheet. CHS PSFA Budget and Profit and Loss reports are available for review at any time. 
  9.   Adjournment: Motion by Hope Pressler, second by Brenda Connolly.

Next meeting is October 14 and will be virtual only. Virtual Parent Chat targeted to Freshmen parents will precede the meeting.