Minutes of Joint Parent-Student Representatives’ Meeting
The Spence School
Thursday, October 22, 2009, 4:15pm

Guest: Danielle Passno, Upper School Dean of Student Life and Leadership at Spence

Carmen Knoepffler, JSA President, welcomes attending students and parents.

Has attendees introduce themselves; distributes packets including preliminary schedule of meetings, student responsibilities, proposed calendar of events for 2009-2010, Voices, and flyer for Service Saturday on Saturday, October 24th.

Helena Park, Treasurer, financial update:

Annual dues are $350 per school. Current bank balance is $14,165. Six (of 18 participating) schools have sent in their dues to date: Brearley, Calhoun, Dalton, Marymount, Nightingale, and Sacred Heart.  Parent reps from the other 12 schools agreed to contact their respective PA chairs regarding payment.

Monique Pettit, Corresponding Secretary:  

All communication should be directed to Monique for distribution or to be posted on the JSA website. Reps are to email her with any updates regarding contact information for PA heads, community service contacts  and faculty at schools, and also to notify JSA of any date conflicts (i.e. PSATs, etc., ).  The service coordinator at school could provide calendar to JSA.  Also, students are able to post and access non-JSA activities through a link on the website. Monique will email the updated roster to all parents.

Barbara Wallner from Dwight: Service Saturday, Sat, Oct 24th, 1-5 pm, Nightingale.

Barbara reported that many toiletries have been collected from the participating schools’ respective drives. She then went through a checklist of items for Service Saturday, confirming who would be bringing what, and getting reps to commit to items still needed.

Discussion about Holiday Carnival scheduled for December 12th. 

Martha Leitner informed the assembled reps that the scheduled day for the Holiday Carnival, December 12th, is the same day that the children will be hosted at the Big Apple Circus. The question was whether JSA should still hold the Holiday Carnival on the date scheduled, move it to a different date, or not hold a Holiday Carnival this year. Consensus was to move the event to January and rename it a “Winter Carnival.” Carmen then reviewed last year’s booths at the carnival and student reps proposed new ones for their schools this year:
Collegiate: Musical chairs (same as last year)
Spence: Basketball (same as last year)
Sacred Heart: Cupcake Decoration
Hewitt: Picture-Frame Decorating
Brearley: Donut-Eating Contest
Marymount: Twister
Nightingale: Bracelets
Browning: TBD
Chapin: Not in Attendance
Columbia Prep: Not in Attendance

Reps from Sacred Heart and Hewitt volunteered to form a subcommittee and to meet separately with several parent reps to determine goody bag contents.

Discussion about new event to be held on February 20th, 2010:

 The Browning gym is available.  The question posed was what sort of event to hold. First suggestions included a JSA dance, an art show, and a dance performance. It was also suggested that perhaps all the performing and visual arts ideas should be joined with the Independent Visions and Independent Voices events. Colleen Pike Blair and Diane Gallagher, who have worked on these events before, pointed out that this would not be feasible.  Voices has been hosted by Barnes and Noble as part of Poetry Month for years, and Visions has been a gallery tradition for over 10 years. Student reps Sophia from Spence and Ben from Calhoun agreed to meet prior to the next meeting in order to help plan the new student event.
Another idea suggested was to do a Battle of the Bands.  In the past, Browning has run coffeehouses with music that were popular.  Another similar option raised was a talent show. Finally, it was also suggested that JSA could work with the non-profit City Year, to create a public service day. A potential hurdle to working with them, however, is their requirement of a fundraising commitment of $15K for them to do the event.

Next Student Rep Meeting: Nightingale, Thursday, November 19th at 4:15.
Next Parent Rep Meeting: Nightingale, November 18th at 8:30am