Minutes of the Northwood HS (NHS) PTSA Meeting
Date: October 28, 2014
Opening: Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm by PTSA Vice-President Robyn Watts with approximately
20 parents, teachers, and students in attendance. The PTSA Officers present introduced themselves.
Speaker: Karen Devitt from Real Food for Kids – Montgomery County. She is also a Northwood parent.
Real Food promotes better food, less junk food, more healthy choices in Montgomery County schools.
Last year they helped to get strawberry milk removed from the cafeteria. They also helped to get a
mandate that certain chemical additives not be in the school food. There is still a huge list of junk food
being sold in the schools. She would like to start a wellness community at Northwood. Also suggests that
fundraisers try to not involve junk food. She will be back in November to give a PowerPoint with more
information about her organization and what they are advocating for.
Secretary’s Report: Review of minutes from Sept. 16, 2014. A motion was made to approve the
minutes. It was seconded and approved unanimously. The May, 2014 minutes were then reviewed and a
motion was made to approve them. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
Treasurer’s Report: We have $9033 in the bank.
Membership Report: The PTSA membership cards will be distributed to those here tonight.
Fundraising Report: Sue Luck reported that the mixed bag fundraiser netted us approximately $1300.
We can keep it going online until Dec. 31st.
Principal’s Report:
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Principal Ms. Charley-Greene (CG) thanked parents for attending tonight, for helping out at
homecoming, and for fundraising. Homecoming dance went well with no negative incidents
reported.
CG thanked Ms. Gunnerson for the nice notes she left in teacher’s boxes and thanked parents
for coming to the open house.
This Friday there is no school.
Senior parent meeting is Nov. 6th at 7 pm.
CG thanked Ms. Smith, 9th grade administrator for being here.
Nov. 13th the School Board will hear testimony on the Capitol Improvement Project. Northwood
has been collecting information on improvements and renovations that are needed. Many
students from Northwood will be testifying. A capacity study is currently underway.
CG passed out a Gazette article on the school choice study that is currently underway; the study
is looking at the process – have the goals been met, what is the impact to schools and
neighborhoods?
CG encouraged parents to be part of Northwood’s giving campaign. Further information is on
Northwood’s website.
Many unaccompanied minors from across the border have been coming to this area.
Northwood has an additional approximately 120 ESOL students this year. We have been given
more teachers to help us accommodate these students.
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School improvement plan – the focus is on student discourse and instruction – what is
happening in the classroom, engaging students with the content. We are also focused on making
sure all voices are heard and on restorative practices – not suspending students lightly.
Northwood has decreased our suspensions by 79%.
Schedule review process coming up.
o Every 2-3 years the school can elect a review.
o We have a block schedule of 8 classes per semester. We can choose to keep that,
modify it, or move away from a block schedule.
o CG wants to make sure we have all voices at the table to discuss this – staff from every
department and students from every grade level and parents of many students. CG
wants a minimum of 4 parents – 1 from every grade level if possible.
o The goal is for the working group to propose two schedules. The instructional leadership
team at the school will provide feedback and then a recommendation will go to the
central MCPS office.
o CG would like to hear from parents as soon as possible. Teacher names are due this
Monday.
Senior Unity Day is rescheduled to this April.
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:45 pm.
Next Meeting: Nov. 18th.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Melissa Goemann