PA
President Stuart Leigh called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. All members were
asked to sign in and get a ballot. Stuart Leigh welcomed all the parents,
beginning with a report on the wonderful turnout for each of the two recent
special meetings: a meeting conducted by Jay Biegelson for freshman parents
relating to guidance, and a meeting conducted by Carol Katz for senior parents
relating to college applications.
President
Leigh advised parents that Parent Teacher Conferences are often hectic with only
three minutes with each teacher. He urged parents to look for qualitative
responses.
Other
announcements: There is a Pier 40 park project - 20 acres of open space
including over 6.5 acres of team sports fields-enough for a full sized baseball
field, two soccer fields, and a softball field-to which Stuy students could have
access. The Debate team presentation, originally scheduled for this meeting, was
rescheduled for a later meeting. Parents were asked to fill out a blue form to
be in the parent directory.
The
minutes from the September 21, 1999 PA meeting were amended to the correct date.
A motion was made, seconded and passed to ratify them.
Committee Reports:
Faculty Reception: there were so many volunteers that
the list was split between fall and spring events. Parents were asked to send in
a dessert with their child to room 105 with their name on it, on Oct 28th for
the faculty reception.
SLT
Meeting report:
Kaare Christian gave a report on the first meeting 9/22/99. There were 4 parent
reps, tonight 6 more would be elected, and the next SLT meeting on 10/20/99
would be extra long for training. There's a regular SLT report monthly in the
Bulletin. They formed two committees: Bylaws Committee and Budget
Committee.
Elections began at 7:15. Each candidate had
one minute to speak. PA Vice-President Linda Cates kept time and a very orderly
election was conducted. These were very well qualified parents. The voting took
place by ballot at 7:55 and the results were announced at the end of the meeting
.
School
Leadership Team Election Results: Freshman Class: Avis Alexander
and Marian Chow; Sophomore Class: Fernando Pacifico; Junior Class: John Wagner;
Senior Class: Vivian Greenup and Linda Weissman.
Members-At-Large Election
Results: Freshman
Class: Betsy Combier, Donovan Moore, and Ed Suh; Sophomore Class: Ed Regan and
Larry Reinhard; Junior Class: Lorraine Gudas; Senior Class: Denis
Meadows
Eugene
Blaufarb spoke at
8:00. The Assistant Principal for Guidance conducted a very warm and informative
presentation and question and answer session. He thanked all of the parents for
their best wishes when he was hospitalized last year. He remarked that the human
element is so important, that this is a community and he feels that, "Your kid
is my kid." He gave us an idea of where we are going:
• Students
review their transcripts twice a year to make sure they are correct. They can be
corrected with a form.
•
Distribution of report cards and lunch books for free or reduced lunches. Ask
your child for the report card.
• If there
is unsatisfactory work, you will get a notice in the mail.
• It's a
joint effort to prepare our kids for college; there's nothing wrong with
applying to CUNY as a safety. Attendance data will be downloaded on the report
card
• Your
child must be committed to his/her studies. Some seniors mess up after college
acceptance and then have their acceptance rescinded. He hates to notify parents
that their child is unqualified to graduate.
• He
encourages us to bring our kids to the Parent/Teacher Conferences. The system is
not ideal, but it's the best we have.
• Guidance
has one of the largest staffs in the city, thanks to the support of the PA, UFT,
Bd of Ed. and graduate interns.
• During
Open School Week, we can make an appointment with a teacher and come
in.
• Teacher
Recommendation Forms are filled out by teachers, two per year per student and it
goes in their folder. Stuy has six secondary school writers who use these to
write secondary school reports (SSRs) for colleges.
• He's
concerned with our kids' mental health, which is more important than Ivy League
acceptance.
• The
student organization ARISTA will conduct trips to colleges this fall and spring,
which will be listed in the Bulletin.
• Guidance
counselors are state licensed guidance counselors who do counseling. Grade
advisors are teachers who've been trained to be academic
advisors.
• Kids
turn off the escalators; it's a serious safety concern and disciplinary actions
results.
Stuart
then thanked him on behalf of all of the parents and presented him with a fruit
basket from the PA.
Stuart
Leigh announced the election results, which were summarized
above.
The
Treasurer's report was presented and it was passed out at the sign up table
prior to the meeting.
The
meeting was adjourned at 9:00.
-Respectfully
submitted,
Elizabeth
Schnee, Recording Secretary