Welcome Lisa Lamb thanked the parents, teachers and faculty for making the effort to attend this meeting. Lisa shared her desire for us to grow together, share with each other and make connections that will ultimately make PAT more effective. She thanked Diann Zachary for the wonderful dinner that was held for the new families. She was glad to see the parents stay and visit with each other long after the dinner was over. This was a good example of how she desires for us to grow closer and share our trials and triumphs with each other.
Devotion Melissa Ridgeway Being a Good Leader
Melissa asked us to think about these three questions:
She reminded us that we are all leaders even if we realize it or not. Good leaders serve, give sacrificially of their time and walk along with each other. Service to each other that is selfless and sacrificial will be a great tool for teaching our children to model our behavior. Melissa shared a bible verse that she hopes will be our theme this year, 1 Corinthians 12:6, 20. Her desire for this year is to build a sense of community between each other. She closed in prayer.
Susan Lindsay Thanked the PAT for all the work they do even during the summer months. She also thanked them for helping to get information out to the parents and students.
Listed below are a few of the other school matters she shared with us:
· Communication Information concerning the school must be handled in a timely manner. She encouraged us to talk to the person involved and get their help. Communication is always a challenge, but when we work together problems can be solved. Below are four steps to follow:
1. Always investigate the facts
2. Clarify the information
3. Discern the truth
4. Take action on the facts
· Football Games She explained the MHSAA s decision to allow private and public schools to compete with each other. Prep played a public school in 2001. It was a close game and even though we lost she felt it was a great experience for the parents, school and the students.
· Website She encouraged us to go to the website everyday. It is important to stay informed and involved.
· September events This is a very busy month for our school. Football, basketball practice, softball and soccer are in full swing.
· College Fair this annul event will be held on Tuesday Sept. 11th from 6:30 8:30.
· PAT Thank you She mentioned how much the teachers were enjoying the new technology the PAT gave them. One teacher was heard saying I dont know how I taught for so many years without this.
In her closing remarks she reminded us that its all about the children.
Lisa Lamb recognized Mrs. Lindsay for the role she has played in the success of her son, Michael, who has written a book that has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize Award. She also presented Mrs. Lindsay with a bouquet of roses.
Rita Haire Faculity Liason After she introduced herself she informed us about several upcoming events.
· Progress reports will be sent home next week.
· Encouraged parents to visit the website on a daily basis.
· Reminded us to contact Nell Bradford if we need to have information added to the school calendar.
· Read the daily announcements on the website. New clubs and organizations are starting and this a great way to get your student involved. Also, College counselors have scholarship information in the daily announcements as well.
· She asked us to be sure to make the visitors feel welcome at our home football games and remind our students to do likewise.
Denny Britt - Chief Financial Officer Lisa welcomed Denny to our meeting and asked him to update us on the new security system.
· Our open campus presents a challenge in regards to the safety and security of our students. The question of how do we secure our campus and yet keep that open feeling has brought about a new security system this year. We are converting to a magnetic lock and pass key system. This plan will be implemented in three phrases.
· Phase I A pass card is used with the hardware that has been placed to the right of each entrance door. The doors open and close daily at a set time. The faculty and staff are using this system now in an effort to work out future problems.
· Hosted events The leader (host) is responsible for letting everyone in the building. For example, if the PAT has an after hours meeting, the PAT leader will open the door for all who attend the meeting.
· Phase II Adding magnetic locks and video surveillance to the back areas including the Manning center. Also, everyone visiting the campus must wear a badge. Teachers and staff will be on the look out for anyone who is not wearing a badge.
· Phase III After the Christmas break, students will be given a badge that will allow them to enter the buildings. All the doors will be locked through out the day.
Lisa Lamb Asked for Committee reports.
· Treasurer Amanda Griffin Updated us on the budget and reminded the committee leaders to send in their reimbursement request as soon as possible. An explanation was made on how the PAT spends the money thats raised throughout the year. The PAT will select a school project to fund with half of the money and the other half is put in an interest bearing account and used to give the teachers a bonus at the end of the calendar year.
· Overall Grade Level Coordinator Lisa Hubbard Reminded us that there will be two brown bag lunches in the next two weeks. On Sept. 12th will be the eleventh grade brown bag and Sept. 19th the seventh grade brown bag. She also asked us to sign up to help at the football games.
· Hospitality They will be providing a meal for the college representatives that will be here for the college fair. They will soon be making plans for the teachers dinner in December.
· Young Life For grades 10 12 will meet September 17th at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Ridgewood Road beginning at 7:37 P.M. They will alternate club and bible study every other Monday night.
Lisa Lamb again thanked everyone for coming with special thanks to the following:
Lori Newcomb Back to School Luncheon
Debbie Rayner School Directory
Saundra Dewey Swap Shop and Uniform Resale
Carla Glaze, Ramona Ozier & Regina Morris Meet the Patriots
In closing, Lisa informed us that the executive board voted to use the money raised from the swap sale and the uniform resale to pay for the Oct. guest speaker( $1000). The two sales raised $980. We will take $20 from the PAT general fund to help cover this expense.
Meeting adjourned!
Respectfully submitted
Sally Buckels - Secretary