PTA

1. PTA

2. Welcome As the newly electedParents Association (PA) President, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of you to the 2011-2012 school years at East Catholic High School. What a busy summer it was at East Catholic High School. The amount of renovation and construction work that was completed in a few short months is astonishing.  We are delighted by the reactions of our students and parents in regards to the new-and-improved entrance.  The new traffic pattern will help to alleviate the major congestion we had on and around the school in the past.  When the project is completed, our campus will be beautiful and safer, and will allow our children to get to their respective homerooms on time. Kudos to the construction company, as they have done a great job! The purpose of the PA is to support the faculty, staff, parents, and most especially our students at East Catholic High School. Over the years, the PA has become one of the strongest voices in the educational process that directly supports our children and school. This year will be no different. Your PA Executive Committee has been busy developing the details for a very productive and exciting year aimed at enhancing the educational environment for all of our students.   In order to be successful, we know that the support and involvement of the parents of our students, the faculty and staff at East Catholic High School, as well as the business leaders in our community will be of utmost importance. Your first opportunity to show your support will be to participate in the PA of East Catholic High School. We encourage each of you to join the PA, attend meetings which will enhance community-building. There are many benefits of getting involved in the PA, but the number one reason is to benefit your child.  In doing so, you also help your child's school.  Participation in the PA gets you connected to what is going on at East Catholic High School and the PA offers a forum where you can share ideas and experiences with other parents and educators in our community.  The PA functions as a vehicle for you to effectively voice your opinions, suggest your ideas, and to help make positive changes to our School.  By participating in PA, you will demonstrate to your child the importance you place on his or her education. Throughout the year, the PA sponsors programs for our children and their families.  The PA also plays an important role in fundraising to provide curriculum-based programs, school and teacher support, community support and social events — all vital to East Catholic High School’s success.  The second way to show your support will be to participate in the numerous events and programs that we have planned throughout the year. Your participation might be that of a committee member, volunteer, or merely as an attendee. Whatever level of participation you select, your time and involvement will certainly be appreciated. We in the PA believe that it is of ultimate importance that we do everything we can to enhance the learning environment of our children, as they truly are our future. It will take all of us working together to ensure that this happens.   I look forward to working with you this year. Thank you, Kate Sims East Catholic High School, PA President

3. What is Parents Association (PA)? • The East Catholic High School Parents Association (PA) is a volunteer organization that seeks to support the educational efforts of students, faculty, and staff of East Catholic High School. The Association fosters a spirit of Christian community and sharing through educational, social, and fundraising activities. All parents and guardians of ECHS students are members of the Association. No dues, application or other paperwork is required.  (this is picky, but we are not involved in curriculum, educational policy, etc. • The East Catholic Parents Association is a volunteer parent organization that supports the mission of East Catholic High School, its students, their families and the school faculty and administration. A major goal of the organization is to provide opportunities for parents and guardians to participate in activities that support the school, enhance communication and build community. • The PA sponsors and supports a variety of events and activities including the annual Holly Brunch, Project Graduation, the Staff Appreciation Luncheon, Guidance Night Programs, and the annual Golf Tournament. The SCRIP program is an ongoing fundraiser for the PA, which directly benefits the entire school community and the individual family. • We also hold an annual fall fundraiser which is usually a pie sale. There are more than a dozen standing committees that support these events. In addition, parent volunteers run the school's spirit wear shop, the Eagles Nest. • Our success depends on active participation of East Catholic parents who work together throughout the school year building community and enriching the East Catholic experience. All parents are encouraged to actively participate. It is a wonderful way for “new” parents to meet others and support the school.

4. Committee Chairs

5. PA Meeting Dates Parents Association Regular Meetings (ALL parents are encouraged to attend.) • Wed., September 14, 2011 - 6:30 p.m. • Wed., November 16, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. • Wed., January 18, 2012 – 6:00 p.m. • Wed., March 21, 2012 – 6:00 p.m. • Wed., May 16, 2012 – 6:00 p.m. Parents Association Executive Board Meetings • Wed., October 19, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. • Wed., February 15, 2012 – 6:00 p.m.

6. Dates to Remember • February, 2012 • College Planning Night for Juniors and their Parents, Thursday, February 2 at 7 p.m. • March, 2012 • Staff Appreciation Luncheon, Wednesday, March 14 • Spring Social Fundraiser, Saturday, March 31 from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. (Advancement Office Event, Parents Association provides volunteers) • May, 2012 • New Parent Orientation, Thursday, May 3 at 7 p.m. • Freshman Social, Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. • June, 2012 • Project Graduation, Thursday, June 7 • Golf Tournament, June 11 - all day • Project Graduation Committee Dates - TBD August, 2011 • New Families Picnic, Sunday, August, 28 1 to 4 p.m. September, 2011 • Back to School Night, Thursday September 22 - 7 p.m. • College Planning Night for seniors and their parents,September 29, 2011 - 7 p.m. October, 2011 • Walkathon, Sunday October 2 at Wickham Park - noon • Pie Sale October 3 - October 14, Orders delivered in time for Thanksgiving November, 2011 • College Planning Night for Juniors and their Parents, Thursday, November 3, 7 p.m. • Open House, November 10 at 7 p.m. • Pie delivery, November 17 • Football Tailgate Party, November 23, at 5:30 (Advancement Office Event, Parents Association provides volunteers) December, 2011 • College Planning Night (Financial Aid - Parents only), Thursday, December 1 at 7 p.m. • Holly Brunch, Sunday, December 2from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

7. What Parents Need to Know How much money will my student need for lunch? The going rate is approximately $5 to $6 per day for lunch. The school cafeteria serves breakfast for a small fee. They do NOT serve soda. Everything is cooked without Trans Fats. There is a “healthy meal” alternative. Alternative panini sandwich is served as well. There is a program called PayPams which is an account for your child to prepay for food. What is a Club Fair? East Catholic has about 25 clubs for the students. The Club Fair at East Catholic gives the students an opportunity to meet with club representatives and learn more about club activities. Joining clubs is a great way to meet new friends and it looks great on the college resume. The Club Fair is held in the fall, within the first few weeks, to give the kids a chance to join and try some things out. It will be held during 8th period, and will be announced beforehand. The students should be encouraged to go. There is a list of clubs on the ECHS website. What is the “STRETCH” - Community Service requirement for students at East Catholic? Students at East Catholic are required to complete 10 hours of community service each year. The students are given the opportunity to work with one of 15 different organizations with which East Catholic has a partnership. There is a Service Fair in Sept., where the students meet representatives from each of these 15 agencies. They then choose the agency they want to work with, and have from Oct. until May to finish their 10 hours. Many do more! The agencies are listed on the ECHS website.   What are the retreats like at East Catholic, and what is Kairos? The word “Kairos” means “God’s Time”. This is the name of our retreat for Seniors. The Seniors are invited to come together to bond with each other, share their feelings about moving on, and get to know God a little better. Other classes also have a retreat. The freshman retreat is a one-day retreat held during school, but at a retreat center. Transportation is provided, along with food, and it is a chance for the freshmen to really get to know each other as a class, and as a small Christian community. The sophomore and junior retreats are also one-day retreats, which build on that sense of community.

8. Continued If I can only remember one phone number for East Catholic, what should it be? It is 649-5336, the Office of Student Life. It handles attendance, lunch procedures, classroom locations, schedules, dress code, student parking, locker assignments, as well as matters dealing with student behavior. How many athletic sports are there at East Catholic? There are 25 varsity sports at East Catholic for the students to participate in, and more may be on the way! Cheerleading and intramural sports (such as co-ed flag football and Ultimate Frisbee), are also offered. A Powder Puff Football game is held once a year in the fall. There is also a Ping Pong club. Seventy percent of all East Catholic students participate in school athletics. What is Spirit Day? Spirit Day gives the students an opportunity to “Earn” a “dress down day” and show support for East Catholic. Students involved in one of the team sports usually wear their team jersey on that day. Students must wear their skorts or khaki pants on this day, and are NOT allowed to wear shorts or alternate bottoms. Students who are new or who are not on one of the school’s sports teams may wear their gym uniform shirt, or their fall/spring uniform polo shirts. They are also encouraged to check out the “Eagles’ Nest” where they can purchase school-sanctioned “spirit wear”. T-shirts run about $10, and hoodies around $32. What is the best way to keep informed about what is going on at East Catholic? Why, the ECHS website, of course (www.echs.com). There is a wealth of information which should help in almost any situation. It contains daily announcements, a school calendar, notices on upcoming events, sports schedules and information, teacher and staff contact information, the school handbook, service learning information, and just about anything else you might want to know. Emergency Alerts ECHS also has an electronic parent communication process where they send out alerts and updates. In emergencies you will receive a phone call with a message alerting you to the emergent message.

9. Continued What communications can I expect from the school? East Catholic now provides daily and weekly notes via email to all parents notifying them of news, updates, etc… What is Edline and how do I use it? Edline is an easy way for you to keep up to date online. You can do the following: • Review emails • View Team and club activities • Visit the home page for each class in which a student is enrolled • View a combined Calendar to see all the academic dates of importance for your child’s own classes • View interim Reports • You can go to www.edline.net and click on “Click here “if you have a new activation account (you will get this code at “Back to School Night” attached to your child's schedule. What is “the Eagle’s Nest” and when is it open? The Eagles Nest is our school spirit store, where students may go to buy spirit wear and a variety of other East Catholic wear. They have a good variety of clothing. The Eagles Nest presently is open Thurs., and Fri., 7:30 – 8:30 a.m., and 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. It is staffed entirely by East Catholic Parent Association volunteers. It is open during this evening to allow new parents to check it out and maybe make some purchases. The Eagles Nest is the distribution for the SCRIP program. How often are masses held at the school? Masses are held on a monthly basis for the entire school community. Mass is celebrated every Thursday morning at 7:15 in the Notre Dame chapel. Opportunities for Reconciliation are offered during Advent and Lent. The school chapel is also available for private reflection and prayer. There are masses held at the beginning of the fall, winter and spring sports seasons. There are other prayer services and celebrations during the school year, largely run by the school Peer Ministry Team. Fr. Marcin Pluciennik is our School Chaplain, and we have two Campus ministers who facilitate a wide variety of programs to assist the local community.

10. PA Activities • New Family Picnic • Walk A Thon • College Planning Night for Seniors and Parents • Back to School Night • Fall Fundraiser • Open House • Pie Sale • Football Tailgating Party • Holly Brunch • Staff Appreciation Lunch • Spring Social Fundraiser • Project Graduation • Eagles Nest • SCRIP Program

11. Beautification Committee 1 hour in the spring planting flowers in designated areas around campus 1 hour in the fall planting flowers in designated areas around campus Chair : Lisa Toce / latoce@comcast.net

12. New Family Picnic • We support the Admissions Office in welcoming new families to our community • Our New Family Picnic is being held Sunday, August 28th, 2011 – (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.) (Cancelled due to Hurricane Irene.)

13. East Catholic High School’s Fall Fundraiser • Walk-a-thon • Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 • Wickham Park, Manchester, CT • Registration – 12 noon • Walk time – 1:00 p.m. • Rain or shine! Proceeds to benefit: • Library Media Center Enhancements • New Computers • Technology Upgrades • Shelter Meals/(STRETCH) We are counting on 100% participation to reach our goal of $50,000 to fund these important projects that will positively impact our community this year! Information will be distributed to students in their homerooms the first week of school. Save the Date: October 2, 2011 @ Noon

14. College Planning Night Guidance Nights – Throughout the school year, four college Guidance Night programs are provided by the ECHS Guidance Department to assist upperclassmen and their parents in the college planning process. The Parents Association, Guidance Night Committee supports their efforts by serving refreshments for approximately 200 students and parents who attend these events. Volunteers are needed to help setup the refreshments. Contact Co-Chairs Mary Bollash and Kim Marsden. There are four programs during the year. The first one is for seniors and their parents and is held in late September. The next one is for juniors and their parents and usually involves a panel discussion by Admission Officers from several colleges or universities. The third one is for parents ONLY and is about Financial Aid. The final program is for juniors and usually includes a panel of East Catholic students who share their experiences and advice regarding the college admission process. Thursday, September 29th, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. (Seniors and their parents) Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 1st, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. (Financial Aid) Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

15. Back to School Night • Volunteers from The Parents Association provide refreshments and greet families in support of the school that hosts this event. Save the Date: September 22, 2011 @ 7:00 p.m.

16. Open House • Volunteers from the Parents Association support the Admissions Office with this event.  • The Open House provides prospective students and their families an opportunity to tour the school campus and meet our dedicated faculty and staff. Save the Date: November 10, 2011 @ 7:00 p.m.

17. Pie Sale • Annual PA Fundraiser • Pies for the Holidays • October 3, 2011 start date • Pies to be delivered on November 17, 2011

18. Holly Brunch This annual holiday favorite will be held at ECHS on Sunday, December 4, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., and sponsored by the Parents Association. This is a festive way to begin the holiday season with our ECHS community.  The delicious catered brunch includes entertainment as well as raffles items. Proceeds benefit scholarships established in memory of beloved faculty and staff of East Catholic. Save the Date: December 4, 2011 - 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

19. Staff Appreciation Luncheon The annual Appreciation Luncheon, sponsored by the East Catholic Parents Association will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 in the cafeteria. Thank you for helping show appreciation of our wonderful faculty and staff by: • Providing a prepared food dish for the buffet. Please deliver your platter to the cafeteria on the morning of the luncheon. • Volunteering to help setup/cleanup & decorate the cafeteria for the buffet-style luncheon, which is held on a scheduled half-day to coincide with their teacher in-service program. Please consider being one of the 15 parents needed that day. It's a wonderful way to get to know more parents in our East Catholic community. P.S. This would also be a good time to send that special teacher, coach, faculty, or staff person a personal note expressing your appreciation for all they do to enrich our children’s lives.

20. Eagles Nest • The Eagle’s Nest is our school spirit store, where students and parents may go to buy spirit wear. The store sells East Catholic sweatshirts, sweatpants, t-shirts, hats, as available. • The store is typically open on Thursday and Friday mornings from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. and Friday afternoons from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., with additional hours for the SCRIP program. • SCRIP hours do not necessarily coincide with the hours that the Eagle's Nest is open for the sale of spirit wear. • Spirit wear is also sold during some of the school’s special events, i.e., the New Family Picnic, the Holly Brunch and Open House. The Eagles Nest and the SCRIP program are staffed entirely by the East Catholic Parent Association volunteers.   • Regarding Spirit Wear: most sweatshirts are $32 and short-sleeved t-shirts are $10. Committee Chairs: Kathy Blackwell’s email: kdm15@cox.net / Jane Corl's email: janecorl@sbcglobal.net

21. SCRIP Program • Your direct participation in The SCRIP Program benefits the entire East Catholic community and specifically your individual family. It is an ongoing fundraiser designed to reduce your tuition expense while raising funds for East Catholic. • The SCRIP’s Fundraiser for The Parents Association is designed to reduce your tuition expense while raising funds for ECHS.  SCRIPs can be used to make everyday purchases with no additional cost to you. • 50 % of the revenue generated by a family who uses our SCRIPs will be credited towards their tuition expense for the following school year.  Faculty, staff, and families with 2012 graduating seniors will benefit by receiving cash back, in the form of a check issued in June 2012.  • SCRIP Program is very easy to use.  Once you register your e-mail address, you can place an order. The web site is http://www.shopwithscrip.com/.  If you have any questions as to how to place an order, please contact Kim Marsden at 860-878-7416.  • 5 committee volunteers are needed to help the SCRIP Coordinator with the packaging and record-keeping of this vital program. Contact Kim Marsden to volunteer or learn more about the SCRIP program: 860-878-7416, Kimlynn52@comcast.net SCRIP Enrollment Code# 4247197214755

22. Golf Tournament • The 22nd Annual Tom Malin '65 Eagle Invitational Golf Tournament is a major fundraiser for East Catholic High School. • The Golf Tournament is coordinated entirely by the Golf Committee of the Advancement Office. • Your participation is needed by: • volunteering for the golf committee; contact Sarah Adanti, Advancement Director • golfing in the event. Tournament fees include golf cart, lunch, dinner, and on- course contests. Save the date: Friday, June 8th, 2012 Location: Blackledge Country Club, Hebron, CT Format: 11am registration & lunch begins; putting contest; 1pm. 18-hole Shotgun Scramble; immediately followed by cocktails, dinner, awards.

23. Senior Parents!!! Project Graduation, an all night substance free celebration for East Catholic High School 2012 graduates will be held on Thursday, June 7th, beginning at 11:00 p.m. and ending at 5:00 a.m. on Friday, June 8th. Graduates will enjoy this fun filled event located at Nomad’s Adventure Quest in South Windsor, sponsored by the Parents Association Project Graduation Committee. Parents will appreciate the safe, chaperoned, substance free environment. Great Food!Italian style buffet from 12 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Around 2:00 a.m. graduates can enjoy a Sundae Bar featuring Shady Glenn Ice Cream and, at dawn, breakfast will also be provided. Fabulous Entertainment!All night long a popular DJ will provide music , karaoke, and dancing. Graduates can also test their skills as participants in entertaining hosted Game Show. Activities Galore!rock climbing, miniature golf, basketball, pool, video arcade and laser tag are just some of the entertaining activities that are planned. Prizes for all who attend!Every graduate will receive a gift bag filled with items that are perfect for the college bound senior. Every attendee will have the opportunity to win one of several exciting raffle prizes. Academy Award Winning Theme!The red carpet is waiting to welcome East Catholic grads who are stars for the evening!

24. Senior Parents!!! Permission forms and further details will be mailed to seniors and their families in early May. For 25 years, Project Graduation has provided wonderful celebrations for East Catholic graduates. Awesome activities, great prizes and outstanding food selections are some of the reasons that Project Graduation 2012 just might be the best ever. We are striving for 100% attendance at this “not to be missed celebration”. NEEDED: Committee co-chairs. We look forward to hosting this event for the graduating class of 2012 and need your help!!! What graduates and their parents should know: • Casual comfortable clothing is recommended. • Once admitted at 11:00 p.m. graduates are not allowed to leave until 5:00 a.m. • Cell phones are not allowed during the party. (Grads can leave their cell phone in their car or at the door when they enter.) • Any liquids, even soda in sealed bottles, must be left at the door. • Security detail includes volunteer parents, Nomad staff and local police officer • Despite our best fundraising efforts, it is still necessary to ask for a nominal fee for participation however, no student will be denied entry based on ability to pay.