Summerville High School PTSA THE WAVELENGTH

Summerville High School
PTSA
February 2010
THE WAVELENGTH
Volume 1 Issue 7
Message from the Principal
Summerville High School
Parent-Teacher-Student
Association
1101 Boone Hill Road
Summerville, SC 29483
843-873-6460
2009 -2010
PTSA Board Members
Principal
Roger Edwards
President
Tanya Robinson
1st Vice President
Aundreta James
nd
2
The PTSA board meeting on February 2, 2010 was verification of what the Summerville High
School PTSA is all about. That evening our PTSA gave out several grants to teachers, the 9th
Grade Academy, and to the SHS Media Center to increase our access to “e-books”. The “ebooks” effort is especially worthy of note because any of our parents, students, community
members, etc may access the “e-books” through the school web site. What a tremendous
community service and effective, efficient use of resources when multiple individuals can access
the same reference materials on-line at the same time!
The teacher grants have direct impact on our students and the quality and depth of the
teaching and learning available across this campus. It boggles my mind when I think about the
amount of funding our PTSA has given that directly impacts our teachers and students. The
most impressive statistic for me is how much the PTSA does, not only for the immediate school
family, but for the extended families of our employees, students, and families. Examples are
many, but the food bank is one outstanding effort to benefit students and families that are
facing difficult times.
Thank you Summerville High School PTSA! Thank you for your presence on our campus.
Thank you for the positive impact your efforts have on our school family. Thank you for the
many hours of selfless giving our PTSA members provide with only one thought in mind, “service
above self”!
~ Principal Roger Edwards
Vice President
Nina DuBose
Mini Grants
SHS presents MiniGrant Checks to
Teachers totaling
$15,000.00. Pictured
left, Board members
front row L to R: Nina
Dubose, Robyn
Schmieding,
Asst. Principal Brion
Rutherford, and MiniGrant Chair, Caroline
Nesbit. Back row
L to R: David DuBose,
Principal Roger
Edwards, and
Aundreta James.
3rd Vice President
Sherry Knight
Secretary
Suzanne Blanton
Treasurer
Gina Austin
Newsletter
Tina Lake
E-mail your articles &
comments to
[email protected]
or leave in the PTSA
mailbox at the school
THE WAVELENGTH
A quarterly publication
paid for and produced by
the SHS PTSA.
Mini-Grant Recipients
Congratulations to the following Mini-Grant winners who will receive funds to purchase
materials not available through their classroom budgets: Claire Singleton, Will Wilson, Catherine
Cease Flores & Debbie McGregor, Cathy Baker, Erin Bloom, Ellen Callahan, Michael Eubinag,
Mary Lowery, Ingrid Ellis-Bryan, Risa Matteo, Judith Dossett, Suzy Hayden, Debby Somerville,
Cindy Lee & Paula Walsh, Kent Freeman, Jennifer Tracy, Patty White, Tom Powell, Wade
Mazell, Jill Reeves, Curtis Crowe, Elizabeth Crocket, Judith Dossett & Laura Melfi, Laura Smith,
and Tina Handlos.
THE WAVELENGTH
February 2010
Page 2
Thoughts From the PTSA President
Do you think winter will ever leave us?! It’s been crazy cold, but it won’t be long before we feel the warmth of spring. Here are just
some of the things that come every year with this season...
Senioritis - an emotional disorder for seniors and parents of seniors for totally different reasons. Parents feeling melancholy that
their” just yesterday little ones” are about to take off for new adventures while seniors are counting down the days for their
adventure.
Spring Fever - This alarming disorder happens every year and there is no vaccination to prevent it. To date there is no cure, but
know it will pass as summer months approach.
Broke - A real financial disorder caused by Prom tickets, Tuxedo rental, prom dress, Deposits for college/housing, car insurance for
the next generation of SHS drivers, and spring break vacations!
BUT...it’s truly the most alive part of the school year – so sit back and enjoy the moments because they will be gone before you
know it! Our PTSA Board has experienced one success after another because of great volunteers, supportive administrators,
involved parents and teachers.
At this writing, our organization has been able to donate Fifty Four Thousand Dollars back to our school for:
•
Mini-grants
•
Freshman Academy
•
Honor Roll Recognitions
•
Health and Wellness
•
Special Education needs
•
E-Books technology programs for our library
•
Christmas shoppers (for students living in very poor conditions)
•
Hospitality – treats for our faculty and staff
•
Another SIX Thousand to be given out for scholarships
•
Reading program for ninth and tenth graders
•
Senior Breakfast & end of the year Senior Class picnic
With three months to go, we look forward to continue our volunteer service through hours and with monetary donations for
the best students and faculty in District Two! Please know we ALWAYS welcome new volunteers. All you need to do is go by
the PTSA school store and fill out a volunteer form or call the school and they will get the information to the PTSA.

Star Students
The Summerville High School PTSA
recognizes two students each month who
exhibit outstanding qualities and provide
service to either an individual or to
Summerville High School. Teachers or
other SHS personnel including volunteers
may nominate any student for this award.
Students receive a certificate,
a "Head of Every Line" pass to skip lunch
lines for one month- in recognition for the
help given to someone else, a SHS T-Shirt
with a specific design only for this award,
and a $25 Gift Card. Pictured right, Back
row L-R: Carson Davis (Dec), Matthew
Ferguson (Nov) Front row L-R Ashley
Rodriguez (Nov), Lainey Brannock (Dec).
Parenting Tips
An excellent source for a variety of
Parenting tips from helping your
children with study habits to boosting
your child’s self esteem are readily
available on the National PTA
website. In addition, the National
PTA gives parents a voice in child
advocacy. We encourage you to visit
the website and take advantage of
the many resources available.
To find out more,
Visit www.pta.org
Legislative News from District 23
This year is going to prove to be a busy one in the legislature judging by the stories
we are reading in the paper each day and there are a few that are especially
pertinent to our students and our schools.
The biggest story in the news is the School Junk Food bill which was passed by
the House last year. The Senate didn’t think the bill went far enough as it
exempted school fundraisers at certain levels but not others so the Senate
Education Committee took issue with it and has passed another version to block
the sale of high fat and high sugar food and drinks at all levels during school hours,
anywhere in the school and it set higher nutritional standards than the USDA. The
bill is not good news for those schools that depend on them to help fund things for
the schools and classrooms that they need and wouldn’t be able to have if not for
those fundraisers and the money they put back into the schools.
The next bills on the table are ones on text messaging and cell phone use while
driving. The House bill would ban both text messaging and talking on hand held
phones while driving and the Senate bill would ban only text messaging and emailing while driving. The one thing both bills have in common is that they both
would include fines and points on your license if caught. The House bill also
includes harsher penalties for school bus drivers who are caught including the loss of
their school bus driver certification. ~ Susan Strohm, District 23 President
THE WAVELENGTH
February 2010
Page 3
Committee
Chairs
Golf Tournament
Suzanne Blanton
Roger Powell
Homecoming
Sherry Knight
Sherri Cone
Sally Taylor
Hospitality
Tina Zimmerman
Legislative
Susan Strohm
Membership
Nina Dubose
Mini-Grants
Caroline Nesbit
Parental Involvement
Robyn Schmieding
Parent Liaison
Tanya Robinson
Aundreta James
Reflections
Sherry O’Neil
Times are not as easy this year for many, but the PTSA at Summerville High School is
stepping up to help. Recently at a PTSA board meeting, checks were given out to over
a dozen teachers in the form of mini-grants totaling fifteen thousand dollars. This
extra funding will allow teachers to purchase everything from technology, books and
special paper for the student’s newspaper, to calculators and jets for Smart Boards.
A Ten Thousand Dollar gift was presented to the library to purchase E-Book
technology. This is staying ahead of the learning curve helping entire classrooms do
book reports via the internet eliminating the need to purchase the book. They may
even choose to do the research on their home computers by simply entering a pass
code saving time and money for the students. Another check was presented to the
school nurses for Three Thousand Dollars to purchase a desperately needed
refrigerator to store medicine for students along with two wheel chairs and a variety of
medical equipment. The evening ended with a Five Hundred dollar check given to
the Freshman Academy to assist with HSAP Labs.
Monetary help is important, but ranks behind true labor of service. Volunteer labor has
brought in over Ten Thousand Hours of service already this year. If you multiply that
by just the minimum wage it would equal over Seventy Thousand dollars.
Pictured above: Presenting a $10,000.00 check to SHS Librarian Judith Dossett
PTSA Board Members far left front row Gina Austin, Nina DuBose, PTSA President
Tanya Robinson, Principal Roger Edwards, Librarian, Judith Dossett, and Aundreta
James. Back row: David Dubose, Kent Robinson, and Asst. Principal Brion Rutherford.
Food Pantry
Scholarships
Kent Robinson
Sunshine
Miriam Weber
Volunteers
Carol Armstrong
Ways & Means
Aundreta James
Pictured
above: Members
of the
SHS National
above:
Members
of the SHS
National
Honor Honor
Societydonated
donatedover
over 100
to to
thethe
SHSSHS
food
Society
100 boxes
boxesofofcereal
cereal
pantry.
Members
thecontributed
cereal to theone
NHSbox
Induction
food
pantry.
Each brought
member
during
to mark their commitment to service in the community.
The SHS PTSA is accepting
donations for the SHS food
pantry, which was created
to supply children in need
with food for the
weekends. Any group or
individual
Pic that would like
to donate may contact,
Melanie Ivonowski at
Pictured
[email protected].
The PSTA would like to
thank all those who have
generously donated to this
worthy cause.
PTSA Sponsors Holiday Luncheon
With the help of some local businesses, SHS PTSA
treated nearly 300 faculty and staff to a delicious
holiday lunch.
PTSA wishes to thank the following businesses for
their help in hosting a SHS Teachers & Staff Holiday
Luncheon:
Eclectic Chef, Perfectly Franks, Sweetwater Grill,
Jason’s Deli, Mr. K's Piggly Wiggly, Mark Ensley State
Farm, Miler Country Club, Kent Robinson Allstate
Thank you for the donation of money, food, and
labor. We also want to thank the parents of
Summerville High School who baked all the yummy
desserts for the luncheon.
Winter Open House
Students and parents enjoyed delicious desserts
contributed by the SHS PTSA for the evening of the
Winter Open House. Parents were invited to meet with
their child’s teachers and have dessert with Principal
Roger Edwards for an informal chat. Parental
Involvement Chair, Robyn Schmieding coordinated
“Dessert with the Principal” with the help of outstanding
parents: Leslie Kelly, Ranai Kennedy, Kim Lucius, and
Laura Linder who helped decorate and serve at the
event.
Stay Informed
With state of the economy and the recent cuts to education funding, a lot of parents are concerned and wanting to
know more. One of the best ways to stay is informed is through the South Carolina PTA website. It provides current
legislation and tracks the progress of bills in both the House and Senate. It also provides video of legislative sessions. In
addition, a web-based SCSBA Advocacy Network allows members to receive timely legislative email alerts from the
association and in turn, easily communicate their position with their legislators. Take the time to visit:
www.scpta.org
Golf Tournament Results
The 2010 PTSA Greenwave Open raised $1090 for SHS scholarships. The sun was shining bright as golfers competed in the
Captain’s Choice tourney. The results: 1st place (Low Gross)-Paul Welsh, Chris Owens, Dave Bordiuk, and Brooks Harlowe, 1st
place (Low Net)-Tom Heiden, Jamie Quinn, Larry Dangerfield, and Mike Windham, 2nd place (Low Net)-Steve Cotter, Curtis
Crowe, David Blackwell, and Hunter Bowie, MOST FUN- Sonny Kay, Stuart Kay, Thomas Finucan, and Madison Avant. The
SHS PTSA wishes to thank all those who sponsored and helped with the event:
$50 Hole Sponsors: AllState Insurance-Kent Robinson, Norton & Richardson, Belles House of Pizza, Coyle Optometry, Dean &
Reagin Orthodontics, Tony Pope-State Farm Insurance, Austin Sand, Pineland Family Dental, P.A., Southcoast Community
Bank, and The Taylor (Sally) Family.
The following businesses/individuals donated items: Crowfield Golf & Country Club-Tom Heiden (2 foursomes), Miler
Country Club-Bray Blanton (1 foursome), Snee Farm Country Club-Mike Carroll/Jostens (1 foursome), Wescott Plantation-J.W.
Long Mechanical (2 rounds), Island Frames-Miriam Weber (2 framed wildlife pictures), Dick’s Sporting Goods-Paul Welsh (Golf
bag & coupons), Applebee’s-Paul Welsh (4 $5 off coupons), Allstate-Tony Pope (Koozies for golfers), The UPS Store-Lori Beier
(5 prepaid fax cards, 10 prepaid copy cards), Screen East- Beth Laprad/Aundreta James (golf towels), PTSA Wave Cave-David
Dubose (water, crackers, desserts),Chick-fil-A (goodie bag give-a-way), Sweetwater ($20 gift certificate), Sticky Fingers (2-$20
gift cards), Beef O’Brady’s ($20 gift certificate), and Citadel Brigadier Foundation (2 golf umbrellas).
Reflection Winners!
Pictured L-R:
Shayla Hoff (1st place
Literature), Caitlyn Keplar
(2nd place Literature),
Elizabeth Ackerman (HM
Literature & 3rd place Visual
Arts), Megan Taylor (2nd
place Visual Arts), Sarah
Stewart (HM Visual Arts),
and Marsha Hicks (1st place
Visual Arts).
CONGRATULATIONS!!
“Beauty Is…”
Reflections, sponsored by the PTSA, is an annual event that allows students to express themselves creatively and to be
recognized for their artistry. Congratulations to all of our winners and honorable mentions who so insightfully reflected the
theme, “Beauty Is” with their amazing talents:
Literature:
1st: Shayla Hoff
2nd: Caitlyn Keplar
3rd: Victoria Hoover
HM: Elizabeth Ackerman
HM: Allyson Baker
Photography:
1st: Brianna Mertz
2nd: Stephanie Crumpler
3rd: Shelby Lewis
HM: Samantha Hammond
HM: Jana Kitch
Visual Arts:
1st: Marsha Hicks
2nd: Megan Taylor
3rd: Elizabeth Ackerman
HM: Sarah Stewart
Film:
1st: Tabitha Williams
2nd: Shannon Graves
3rd: Vivien Kratzert
HM: Laura Smith
HM: Taylor Rogista
A district ceremony was held at Fort Dorchester High School during which winners received a medal and certificate.
Winners that were not able to attend this ceremony will have another opportunity to receive their award during the school
ceremony on March 2, 2010.
Entries were forwarded to Columbia for the State Competition. Photography & Visual Arts entries were judged on
February 6th and Stephanie Crumpler won 3rd place in Visual Arts. Her entry will go on to the National Competition. The
State winners for Literature and Film will be announced in April.
Our awards ceremony will be March 2nd. Winners will receive $50.00 for first place, $30.00 for second place, $20.00 for
third place, and Starbucks certificates for honorable mention.
Scholarship Opportunity
S.T.A.R.S.
(Summerville Takes a Responsible Stand against underage alcohol and drug use) is awarding
two $500 scholarships to SHS students who are attending
a 2 or 4 year school in the Fall of 2010.
Applications are available in the
Guidance Department
.