2016-2017 Holy Cross School
Open PTA Meeting / Back to School Night
September 14 and 15, 2016
I.
Principal, Mr. Belluzzi welcomes everyone to the 2016-2017 school year.
Begins with opening prayer, the Our Father. Tonight begins the cooperative
relationship shared between parents and teachers for our children. It is a
partnership on behalf of the children. We will try to do our best every day, and
together we can be extremely successful…The Blue Ribbon Award is an
achievement of which we can be very proud. Parents’ support is important
beginning with things like breakfast before school and arriving on time in the
morning. He expressed thanks for these efforts because it helps students begin
and carry through their day feeling less rushed.
As a catholic school we promote catholic, christian values in everything we do.
Children have the opportunity to practice their faith while at school. We try to
give the best academic preparation that we can. We try to build character.
Faith, knowledge, and character are the cornerstones of our school.
The PTA is a vital part of our school. We have had the pleasure of an outstanding
Board the past two years.
Mr. Belluzzi introduces PTA President Beth Camillone.
II.
PTA President, Beth Camillone greets everyone and thanked them for coming.
Tonight is for parents and their children’s teachers. Introduced the Executive
Board - Charissa Keavey – Vice President, Josy Coughlin – Treasurer, Kelley
Kane – Assistant Treasurer, and Gabriella Donnelly – Secretary.
A lot of fun events are scheduled for the students and parents. Next Friday,
September 23rd, all parents are welcome to a relaxed and casual Back to School
Dinner. Catered by Mossuto’s Market. Invitations are in the Wednesday Folder,
and Beth asked that RSVP’s be in by Friday, September 16th.
In addition to the weekly Wednesday Folder, all PTA events are listed on the PTA
website. Tickets for events can be purchased. Open PTA minutes can be viewed.
Student directory can be viewed, and can be downloaded to an application on
your smartphone. Every family has an account, and everyone is encouraged to
visit. Email address is your user ID, and passwords can be reset.
The PTA has an $83,000 financial responsibility to the school’s operating budget.
Beth very happy to report that we had 100% participation with our PTA
commitment through the Scrip program, Grocery Magic program, and buy outs.
Encouraged anyone with questions about these programs to reach out.
Because of the 100% participation, and the other fundraisers throughout the
year including the Benefit, the Tea, the Book Fair… we are able to provide many
wonderful experiences for our children such as Assemblies, the Drama Club
spring production, Art Appreciation. It also allowed us to give a year-end
financial gift to the school.
Beth thanked everyone and emphasized that together, parents and teachers, we
are a team that strives for the same goal. We are here for our kids and we want
to give them the best experience that we can give them. Beth ended with a
quote she heard from Bishop O’Connell at her first official visit to Trenton and
has carried with her: “Our Children are but a seed, Parents are the first sowers
of that seed, then the Teachers join, and our Children grow.”
III.
Mr. Belluzzi – Mentioned the Wednesday Folder and that it will provide an
accounting of those things that have been enhanced at our school. Includes
technology updates in grades 5 – 8 and computers and carts have been added
for 4th grade. More equipment can now be provided for 3rd grade. Plans to
replace the projectors are in the works. Will also see activities that are offered
as the year progresses. If it’s an enrichment activity (whether it be science, art,
baking) there is a fee to join. If it’s an academic club (Math Counts, reading
group, science club), they are offered without a fee.
This year is our 75th anniversary: Seventy-five years of catholic education where
every child’s light shines. Keeping each child’s light shining bright is a sacred
trust placed in us.
Mr. Belluzzi encouraged everyone to visit their teacher’s website, and review the
weekly Wednesday Folder. Stressed the importance of safety during drop-off in
the mornings and asked that parents not use the middle lane, but the lane
closest to the church. Asked that everyone go as far up to the main entrance as
they can when dropping off their children. Asked that parents not park and pick
up their children because people walking through slows the process of the car
line in the afternoon. Everyone’s cooperation is extremely important.
Tonight teachers will provide brief overviews. Whenever you need to contact a
teacher, use their email listed on the website. Phone extensions have not been
reliable. For emergencies, call the office. For problems, it is best to connect with
the person most connected with the problem.
Mr. Belluzzi introduced Alison Mitchell, Supervisor of Curriculum and Assistant
to the Principal.
Mrs. Alison Mitchell, Supervises the curriculum for teachers in grades K – 4th,
special needs including IS pda and 504 grants, and professional development
opportunities for the school. Three areas of focus include: a new Math series
called My Math from McGraw Hill for K – 4th grades. It’s aligned with the
common core states standards and challenges students through real world
applications, study growth in math ability and confidence. Teachers can log in on
connect-ed which is teacher centered and allows them to customize their
teaching plan, presentation, and differentiate for students. It also provides talk
math, vocabulary cards, fold-ables, and learning stations. To enrich K – 2 social
studies and science curriculum, will be supplementing instruction with studies
weekly – a reader that is text book, but comes in a fun magazine format. Each
issue contains stories, pictures and central theme, along with reading activities
and comprehension questions. This summer teachers worked on curriculum
mapping. It is a “living document” and was done for each subject area and
provides and in depth view of curriculum and checks for redundancies, gaps, and
provides the opportunity to do cross curricular activities. She thanked our
teachers.
Mr. Belluzzi introduced the faculty:
KA, Mrs. Beverly McDonald; KB, Mrs. Rosemary Bell; 1A, Mrs. Robin Arnheiter;
1A Assistant, Mrs. Pam Farley; 1B, Miss Melissa Enna; 1B Assistant, Mrs. Rita
Seaman; 2A, Mrs. Nicole Huthwaite; 2B, Mrs. Ellen Meehan; 3A, Miss Emily
Bagnell; 3B, Mrs. Kat Eagles; 4A, Mrs. Nicole Maresca; 4B, Mr. Chris Miller, and
Mrs. Kathy McConville; 5A, Mrs. Mary DeBiasi; 5B, Mrs. Carolyn Mulholland;
8A and Language Arts for 7A and 8th grade, Mrs. Anne McCullough; 8B and
Science 6th – 8th grade, Mrs. Michelle Tomaino; 7A and Religion 7th – 8th grade
and Math 7th grade, Miss Geraldine Ciampoli; 7B and Social Studies 6 th – 8th
grade, Mr. Michael McCue; 6A and Math 6th – 8th grade, Mrs. Kathy Chadwick;
6B and Language Arts 6th grade and 7B, Mrs. Maryjane Gallo; Religion 6th grade,
Mrs. Katherine McConville; Math 6th – 8th grade, Mrs. Marcie Forsyth; Spanish
6th – 8th grade, Mrs. Carol Furlong.
Students and Teachers in grades 2 – 5 assisted by Mrs. Peggy Moody; Mrs.
Diane Kelly; Mrs. Sue Ryerson.
Teachers dismissed to classrooms.
Mr. Belluzzi introduced Specialty Teachers and School Counselor.
Mrs. Melanie Jaenicke, Guidance Counselor. Second year at Holy Cross,
working with K – 8th graders. Already began meeting with them in the
classrooms, and will begin meeting with them in smaller groups during lunch
periods. She can be contacted by email or a phone call. Will be here every day
except Wednesday.
Mr. Feerst, Physical Education. Teaches Pre-K through 8th grade. Oversees all of
athletics and the high school CYO program.
Mrs. Kim Clauss, Life Skills and Computers. Been at Holy Cross for 17 years. For
Computers, she already started with Kindergarten and headphones. Pleased to
have 31 new computers for students. Life Skills and Health lessons will be
taught, and there will be team building days for the 8th grade. She is present on
the car line in the morning and the playground each day.
Mrs. Cassandra Karenja, Art. Third year at Holy Cross. Also taught at Mother
Theresa last year. This year will learn about movements, cubism, and
expressionism. Will update the online homework pages this year so parents
know what is being worked on and when to expect it home.
Miss Lisa Marie Yavarone, Music. This year marks her 30th year teaching, and
her third year at Holy Cross. She encouraged parents to play all different types
and genres of music when with our children, and for students to feel free to
share their music experiences with her at school.
Miss Amy Evans, Library and Media Specialist. Fifteenth year at Holy Cross and
her twenty-first year teaching. She runs the Library and it is available to all
students. She teaches Library for students in Pre-K – 3rd grade, and Media to
students in grades 4 – 8. Here they learn about coding and presentations. Miss
Evans also supervises on the playground with Mrs. Clauss, and assists with the
buses in the morning and afternoons. She also oversees the Student Council
with Mrs. Clauss.
Mrs. Jacqueline Saives, Spanish. Teaches Spanish for Pre-K – 5th grade. Grades
3 – 5 receive quizzes after each unit. Fifth graders are exposed to Italian and
French, and learn more about vocabulary and culture.
IV.
Mr. Belluzzi thanked everyone for coming and wished everyone a great visit
with their children’s teachers. He also thanked our student ambassadors.
Meeting adjourned.