Wissahickon High School

Parent-Teacher Council Meeting

February 14, 2008

Meeting called to order by Co-President Kathy Bastian at 9:20 in the upper cafeteria, with approximately 25 people in attendance.

The PTC presented the following committee reports:

*January 17,2008 minutes approved.

*Treasurer's report - Principal Bill Hayes may be able to occasionally direct discretionary funds towards the PTC.  These funds would help fund the mini-grant program, and other PTC events. 

*Back-to-the-Kids Cookie Day will be March 7th. Additional volunteers are needed to bake cookies (about 4 dozen each - no nuts, please). Contact Karen Corti to help.

*Staff Spirit will be hosting a healthy "Energy Day" on March 12, where staff will be able to make their own granola and enjoy smoothies and yogurt parfaits.  They will need donations and help on March 7th. Contact Carmel Yuen to volunteer.

*We have the opportunity to run the concession stand on Friday and Saturday at a few playoff games. This is a great, and fun fundraiser for us, so if you can help, please do so by contacting Terri Blank. They will also need volunteers for 45-minute shifts during Family Awareness night.

*Family Awareness Night is March 4^th. There are 14 workshops set up, so please encourage your children to attend.

*Staff Appreciation Luncheon will be April 3 in the lower cafeteria. If you are not already on the e-mail distribution list, and would like to help, contact Terri Hutsell.  They will need contributions!

*WEOF - Tickets to their only fundraiser, A Night in Napa, are still available. Tickets are $80, the event which includes wine tasting and great food, raffles and a live and silent auction takes place at Cedarbrook Country Club, from 5-7 p.m. on March 2nd.  Ticket order forms are available on www.weof.org.

PTC Co-Presidents' Comments:

*Save the date- April 14th - for a “Restaurant Night” fundraiser. Plan on eating out, or ordering take-out to help support the PTC. More information to come.

*National Honor Society inductions will be March 2nd.

*The Ebony Dorsey Scholarship fund has about $17,000 at present. More information about it will be in the next newsletter.

Guest Speakers:

** Mr. Carl Atkinson discussed the use of technology in the district. He explained how the Web is shifting from a "read only" source to a "read/write" tool, and how those shifts are driving changes in education. There is a lot of valuable information on the Web, just as there is a lot of inaccurate information available. Teachers need to teach kids to check their information for accuracy, and to be able to direct students to reliable websites. With the additional technology, students are learning more “21^st century skills”: group collaboration, research, and creative problem solving skills. Mr. Atkinson also discussed Moodle, a new-to-the-district online system teachers and students can use to share information about the class, and the e-classrooms (19 at WHS) and 1:1 classrooms (11 at WHS) we now have in the district.  In answering questions, Mr. Atkinson mentioned that technology is changing so quickly in the district – so many tools are in place that were not available just a year ago. This new technology is meant to enhance instruction in the classroom, so that our students will be better prepared for what follows high school. Lastly, the district’s curriculum review process is ongoing, to continue making changes as needed.

**Mr. Jim Cairnes addressed safety issues in the high school.

*There are 2 1/2 security personnel employed per day, two working eight hour shifts and one four hour shift worker, normally at the back end of the day.

*Students and faculty, however, play a vital role in school security.  If your child tells you something of concern, do not hesitate to let the school know. 

*38 cameras, 6 on the exterior of the high school- some with pan-tilt-zoom capabilities, are in use throughout the high school. They are used regularly in response to incidents and have been most useful.

*A buzz and entry system, with audio and video capabilities is in place in the front and back of the building.

*The Global Connect system is in use, but we know that many parent/home numbers should be updated. The system is being used for attendance (you will get a call even if you have sent a note in to the attendance office), important information, and emergency situations.  The goal is to have a phone call placed to one number for attendance and important information, and to use all contact information given by a family for emergency messages. All contact information includes home and cell numbers and an e-mail address. A suggestion was made to give parents a phone number to call if they do not receive the complete message.

Meeting adjourned 10:50 a.m.

Next meeting on March 13th at 7 p.m.

Tracey Burgoyne, Secretary