Minutes of the Northwood HS (NHS) PTSA Meeting
March 19, 2013
Meeting was held in the NHS Media Center and was called to order at 7:30pm with the following in
attendance: Elizabeth Dunn (2nd VP), Jim Burke (Treasurer), Susan Luck (Secretary) Mark Kelsch (Interim
Principal), and approximately 17 parents and teachers. [Ms. Mazyck, President, did not attend due to illness;
Mr. Sperber, 1st VP, did not attend due to prior commitment.]
Opening
Ms. Dunn opened the meeting with a review of the Agenda and a motion for approval; Agenda was approved.
Minutes from February 19, 2013 meeting were reviewed and approved.
Principal’s Report
Mr. Kelsch has been meeting with staff and advisory groups to shape the vision for Northwood’s academies
and pathways. He has also met with the principals from the feeder middle schools and learned that the
middle school students and parents liked Northwood but were unclear about the academic programs. The
middle school principals liked the idea of the new pathways, including pathways in Education, Foreign
Service, Trades, and Humanities. The idea is that students will choose a pathway/academy when they enter
Northwood and remain with it all four years of high school. The goal is for Northwood to have clear pathways
and to implement a college capstone program to give all students the option of college.
Ms. Mills met on March 11, 2013 with parents and community members to solicit input on principal
characteristics. The current schedule is for Ms. Mills to present a recommendation for principal to the school
board on April 23, 2013.
Presentation on HSA’s by Mr. Mark Brown, Asst. Principal and on AP Tests by Mr. Michael Sullivan
Mr. Brown provided information on the High School Assessment (HSA) tests required by the county to
graduate. Any seniors who still need to complete an HSA will be tested between April 15-18 in the Media
Center (currently there are only 12 seniors who need to complete an HSA to graduate). The goal is for
students to complete HSA testing by their sophomore year.
All other HSA tests are scheduled for the following days:
May 20 (Monday) – Algebra
May 21 (Tuesday) – English
May 22 (Wednesday) – Biology
May 23 (Thursday) – Government
Make-up HSA tests will be scheduled from May 24-30. HSA testing will be from 7:30am-10:30am. After
testing is lunch, then there will be 4 classes in a compressed schedule. If a student does not need to take an
HSA test then they do not need to report to school until the 1st period after lunch. If a student does not have
transportation to school other than the school bus, he/she may come in the morning, and if not taking an HSA
will be sent to the gym.
The county final exams will be given on the following days:
June 7 (Friday) – Periods 1A, 1B
June 10 – (Monday) Northwood graduation – NO SCHOOL
June 11 (Tuesday) – Periods 2A, 2B
June 12 (Wednesday) – Periods 3A, 3B
June 13 (Thursday) – Periods 4A, 4B
June 14 (Friday) – Make-up exam day is Monday, June 17. Administrative approval required for a make-up
exam.
Students will receive notifications of the HSA and final exam schedules.
Mr. Sullivan provided information on the Advanced Placement (AP) exams and noted the requirements for
these exams are set by the College Board. Northwood will be administering 21 AP exams between May 6 –
17, 2013 at 7:25am and 11:30am. If a student is late to the exam they cannot start late and cannot make it up.
If there are special circumstances known before-hand regarding a date then the student should contact Mr.
Sullivan to discuss. In April each student will receive notification of their test date. These tests are prepared
by the College Board and will already have the students name on it.
The fee for the AP exams was due on March 21. The cost is $89 per exam. FARMS students need to place a
deposit of $15 per exam.
Mock AP exams are available. Students should receive information from their AP teacher on when the mock
AP exam will be taken.
For any students attending Montgomery College in the fall, the Accuplacer tests will be scheduled soon.
Parents are welcome to proctor an AP exam only if they do not have a student taking an AP exam (that means
their student can’t be taking any AP exam, not just an AP exam on the day the parent wants to proctor). That’s
a College Board rule.
Parents who would like to proctor HSA exams or help in any way please contact Mr. Brown.
President and Committee Reports
After Prom Party
Deb Frew reported that we earned $2,300 from the Mixed Bags fundraiser. The contract with Dave & Buster’s
is signed. Will need about 20 parent volunteers to help at the After Prom, which is May 18-19.
Treasurer’s Report
The PTSA Scholarships is ongoing. After confirmation of acceptance the funds are sent directly to the
student’s school. The Honey Baked Ham pickup is Thursday, March 21 at the school office between 4:30pm7:30pm. The Commemorative Brickway project is ongoing in the schools’s central courtyard. Personalized,
engraved bricks surround the Northwood HS seal. The next installation is scheduled for May and orders must
be received by March 30. Order forms can be found on the NHS website.
Scholarship Committee
Grace Barnes reported that they would like to see more applicants for the needs-based scholarship and will
work on getting the word out.
Adjournment
Ms. Dunn noted that the next PTSA meeting is scheduled for April 16, 2013. Meeting was adjourned at
8:40pm.
Meeting Minutes prepared by
Susan Luck, PTSA Secretary