PTSO General Membership MeetingOctober 14, 2014 – 7:03pm

In Attendance: Kelly Hayes, Kathy Baker, Linda Russ, Judy Schmid, Helen Chang-Lin, Missy Hooper, Aladdin Al-Katheri, Anisha Mathur, Lexi Swinimer, Barbara Fink, Jamie Johnson, Pam Stone, Kristy Brewer, D’Andrea Abdullah, Theresa Chellman, Pam Stone, Tara Adamowicz (17)

Jamie Johnson motioned to approve September 2014 minutes. D’Andrea Abdullah seconded. September 2014 Minutes approved.

Principal Report – Kelly Hayes for Dr. Elizabeth Noto • There will be a ConnectEd going out referencing emergency drills, PSAT testing and the

Senior Service day. Seniors will be tutoring at local elementary schools while the rest of the school will be taking the PSAT from 9-12:30. Third block will be 12:30-2:25 and fourth block will be from 2:31-3:48

• The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) results have come back. Results are available on the LCPS website. It is approximately 160 pages long. Highlights include:

1. The test was given to three Loudoun County High Schools: Potomac Falls, Heritage and Stone Bridge

2. Potomac Falls results were as follows: Reading – 89% of grades were above the base line, 11% below, Mathematics – 83% of grades were above the base line, 17% below, Science – 98% of grades were above the base line, 2% below.

3. Potomac Falls High School outperformed the national average. The school was compared to twelve other countries

4. In a questionnaire posed to students completing the test, their perceptions of use of classroom time and the need to learn reading math and science was not largely positive. Further action items are being discussed to address these concerns

• Oct 31 ends the marking period. Report cards will be sent home Nov 12th.

SCA Community Outreach Liaison: Anisha Mathur • Thank you for help with homecoming week and setting up snacks. The student body

really enjoyed the fair.• We are starting Student Fun Mornings soon where we will distribute donuts and hot

chocolate. One date is planned for November and one will be in December.• We were hoping to do a Halloween activity but don’t want to interfere with the Key

Club’s annual Trunk or Treat event so will try to host a Polar Express Activity for younger kids in December.

SCA – Lexi Swinimer

• Debbie Rose gave us positive remarks for the Night at the Falls event. • We learned that we should look at having the event later in the year. • We need to figure out budgeting for next year.• We didn’t have enough time to get the Moon Bounce approved by the county risk-

management. Anything children climb into and out of has to be inspected by the county

Treasurer ’ s Report : Linda Russ

• Membership is ahead of anticipated revenue• We need to start pushing the sales of the Christmas Ornaments• SAT Test Prep course #’s are for later in the year. We will lose money on the first

course, which Helen will give a briefing on later in the meeting.• Expenses: We already paid for the Christmas Ornaments we have in stock.• Grants: Randy Shangraw: Science Olympiad Registration Fee. $230.00. Kathleen

Chellman presented request. Science Olympiad is new to PFHS. We can start with one team of 15 kids. 13 already signed up. 23 events cover knowledge, labs and building. $230 will cover the registration fee for one team. First week of Dec we will be hosting a Chipotle fundraiser. Helen Chang-Lin motioned to approve $230 for registration fees for the Science Olympiad. Pam Stone seconded. Not further discussion. All in favor. None opposed. Motion Approved

Teacher Rep: Monique Howe-Freeman Not Present

MSAAC: Jamie Johnson (Vice Chair)

• MSAAC meets every third Wednesday at 7:00PM at the LCPS Admin building and is open to the public. There is a meeting tomorrow where Dr. Williams will speak and we will address closing the achievement gap.

• At the Sep 17th meeting Dr. Breeden, the new Assistant Superintendent was introduced. She is very personable, is a Redskins Fan, enjoys gardening and dogs.

• MSAAC’s Motto is Diversity, Learning Styles and Culture so at our first meeting we conducted a diversity exercise called Tear Down that Wall. 14 cluster tables were set up with a box containing a category in it. Participants were asked to write down stereotypes about the category. We then built a wall with the shoeboxes.

• Dr. Williams and Breedon love to tweet.• Potomac Falls has little representation at the MSAAC meeting. Cluster participation has

fallen as well. • ELL group is creating a focus group to build intake center.

Discussion: The ICE Conference was excellent. Six of our students were there. Key Note speakers were great

Programs: Helen Chang-Lin

• Only seven students signed up for the extended SAT Prep Class. We need 10 registrations to break even but we decided to go ahead with the course anyway. We look at it as a service for the students signed up. Our instructors agree. We will be cancelling two of the Sunday classes, so instead of 11 classes we will have 9 and refund $10 per student

• The first Kaplan practice test this year will be November 8 in the library from 8-12. The cost is $25. It is run just like the SAT. A full length SAT, Full length ACT, or combination test will be offered. After Nov 8 Kaplan will score the test then come back

with results. There will be two additional opportunities this year. Financial concerns should go through guidance

Hospitality: Missy Hooper Correspond with SCA so not to duplicate. Talked about doing a cart in the morning with

continental breakfast in December. • Cupcakes are behind.

Membership – Kathy Baker As of 5:00 today: 194 parents/families have signed up, 42 faculty• 65 Panther Cards sold, 75 ornaments sold• $420 extra donations from families, $35 extra donations from faculty • In order to apply for the PTSO Senior Scholarship you must be a member by November

1st. Question: What if there are financial concerns? Answer: Financial concerns should be addressed with a student’s guidance counselor.

Fundraising – Aladdin Al-Katheri • Made call to Chipotle but have gotten no response. Missy will check with Dr. Noto on

dates• Amazon brought in only $59 this past month• We will try to sell the Christmas Ornaments at Games

LEAP – Kathy Baker • Nov 12th’s meeting will discuss Full Day Kindergarten

• October 8th’s meeting discussed the Academies of Loudoun: It is a Concept Center for STEAM education. Not sure how the arts will be involved. It will consist of three facilities: Engineering and technology, AOS, and Monroe Technology. It will provide advanced course work, flexible course enrollment, Integrated 4 year program, Distance learning, online and dual enrollment. Individuals won’t have to be enrolled in an academy to benefit. The facility will provide adult education, training, and facility rentals. Anticipated opening is fall 2018. The expected site is a County owned property off Sycolin Road and would be funded through a capital improvement Referendum bond. The facility is anticipated to serve 1,000-1,600 students. There is a link on the LCPS LEAP page under “happening now” with further details.

New Business: Vote: November 4th is Election Day. The ballot has a front and back. Bond issues on normally on the back.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:15.The next meeting will be November 11th at 7:00PM