Aquinas School Council

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Aquinas School Council Meeting

Monday, April 14, 2008

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.  Fr. Connor led the opening prayer.

Roll Call was taken.

Superintendent’s Report:  Gold Rush was a great success and the Torch Club is progressing.  A second Third grade teacher will be hired for the 2008-2009 school year.  Father Connor mentioned a couple of projects he will pursue this summer.  The brown trim on the outside of the school needs to be repainted.  Father is also planning to do some landscaping around the front of the school.  This is scheduled to be done in June of this year.  A technology group from the Chancery came in to visit the school today.  They were assessing our use of recent gifts such as the smart boards, new computers and the Computers on Wheels (COW).   The team was also looking at future needs we may have in this area.  We have received technology gifts valued at $96,000 thus far.

Principal’s Report:  Mr. McMahon stated that we had a 91% parent turn out for Tri-Councils in March.

A Quest retreat was held at Aquinas on April 11-13. Several of our students attended. A program illustrating the dangers of drinking and driving was presented to all students in grades 7-12. This program was sponsored by local law enforcement.  There were a few Handbook changes suggested from parents and some from students.  These will be considered and changes will be made to the new handbook for the upcoming school year.  National Honor Society changes were also suggested by parents.  A committee of teachers met and discussed the procedures for selection.  Several suggestions were offered from the floor and a discussion ensued.

Advanced Placement/Dual Credit classes were discussed.  Aquinas will offer advanced placements classes to students in the 2008-2009 school year for a total of up to 12 college credit hours.  Recognition of these credits is at the discretion of each college.  Miss Fiala has been gathering information on curriculum mapping which is a process to alleviate gaps in the curriculum.  Cell phone use was discussed.  Mr. McMahon suggested having the student serve an after school detention if a phone has been confiscated as and option to keeping the phone at the school until a parent can pick it up.  A bus driver is still needed to help us when the farmers are not available.

Booster Club Report:    The recent musical was a huge success.  District music contests will be held this week.  Aquinas has again been asked to host District Track this year which will be held May 8.

Home & School Report:  None given.

Old Business:  None

New Business:  The issue of Aquinas being North Central Accredited was addressed.  The school is accredited with the state and has been NC accredited in the past.  Discussion followed.  A suggestion from the floor to revise the School Council bylaws was made.  A committee was formed and the group will meet to make suggestions to be presented to the superintendent for approval. A suggestion to utilize the school’s web site to increase awareness of the Council membership and duties was made, discussion followed. Parents are encouraged to alert Father Connor of any concerns or questions.

Our next meeting will be held at 7:30 on September 8, 2008.

Respectfully submitted by Karen Shonka, Secretary.