PAPA Steering Committee
Meeting Minutes October 21, 2015
Location: Upstairs in the Development Office
Attendees: Lisa Ensign Wood, Jodi and Glen Bonewald, Bebe Casey, Mary and
Brian Wicenski, Debbie Krebs, Patrick Coffey, Dee and Michael Doheny, Mary
Ellen Sheehy, Kristen Bitler, Elizabeth Melville, Pam Gentile, Sarah Smith
Calling in: Stephanie Paine; Lynne Bulens, Sarah Shannon
Meeting opened at 5:35
 Campaign update
Jenny Fisher (Development Campaign Manager) summarized Mike Henriques’
State of the School Address. $30M capital campaign. Dining Commons top goal.
Underway and to be in service by Fall 2016. New dorm on west end, next to
dining hall, construction start slated for January 2016. Additional plans to
renovate Field House, add classroom space, basketball court upgrade, addition of
indoor track. Handouts provided. Maxwell Savage updates too. Currently $8.4M
to date approximately 1/3 each from current families, alumni and families of alum.
4 - $1M gifts from families of alum
New dorm budget originally projected at $2.0M revised down to $800K with new
modular design.
 Halloween – Saturday October 31, 2015 (Mary and Brian Wicenski)
Halloween Party – email out on sign up genius. Sending out second email this
week. Patrick Coffey, Director of Student Activities discussed – dance coming up
this weekend. Hiring DJ for Halloween party, use light bar for dance, clean up
volunteers still needed. Fall community service team may be put to use. Costume
contest, money award offered. Showing horror movies in theatre. Bus to costume
store this coming weekend of Oct 24. Need to organize closet, repurpose, toss.
Can take donations for costumes in good condition. Steering Committee members
encourage kids to be responsible for clean up.
 Snowball (Patty Bechok)
o Patty unable to attend update to come later.
 Senior Activity Ideas (Mary Ellen Sheehy)
o Something sooner rather than later. Multiple events Fall, Winter,
Spring.
 Shanlee Ginchereau will help; works at Berwick. Lots of ideas
on senior activities to offer.
 Senior dinner 100 day countdown (February 17); senior class
gift; Elizabeth, Mary Ellen, Shanlee.
o Email Mary Ellen Sheehy if you would like to help with this planning.
 Fall Family Weekend and Golf Recap
o Needed more volunteers for Friday morning check-in. However,
Green book check in a problem not to repeat.
o Parent party – best attendance and longest so far. Lots of fun. Good
energy. Good response.
o Golf sign ups good/average. Auction at least $1K higher. Holding
over for weekend sign-ups allowed a stronger outcome. “Take it
Home Now” worked well. Suggestion to keep the auction open for
the parent party.
o Feedback –
 have two+ stationary locations for watering holes at Golf.
 Jim Casey grill master extraordinaire – thank you.
 Conferences need to be 15 minutes not 10. Be more firm on
time.
 Day Parent conferences offered a different day.
 Open House 10/31 & 12/12 (Pam Gentile)
o Schedule now reworked similar to revisit schedule.
 Arriving, check-in, off to tours, general meeting, welcome,
breakout sessions.
 Volunteers -fully signed up for 10/31 no sign ups yet 12/12
 Faculty/Staff Appreciation (Lisa and Michael Wood)
o 11/18-11/20 sign ups look strong without formal notice
o Formal notice going out after Halloween
 Adopt-A-Dorm (Lynne Bulens, Shanlee Ginchereau, Emily/Tim Schorer)
o Strong response for dorms; only one dorm without sponsorship
o Sending out one more notice
o Cash comes in, dorm parents notified. To process: Restricted Gift
Form filled out, spend $, get reimbursed. Need to work with dorm
parents for reimbursement. “residential life” credit card possible in
future. Dorm parents can check in with Kyle Trembley (Dorm Life
Coordinator) Suggestion offered to maybe use a (10)% of donations
as slush for under supported dorms or include online option to support
under supported dorms. Presently one dorm not supported. Let
PAPA know by email where help is needed.
 Adopt-A-Team/Activity (Elizabeth Melville, Lynne Bulens, Sarah Shannon)
o Going well
o 3 teams without parent coordinator - Sarah
 Cross country
 Equestrian
 Community service activity group
o Elizabeth offered she can step in as coordinator and solicit help from
parents –
o School offers end of season cupcakes
o Second week of next semester for notice of team selection
 Students have one week to drop/change activity
 Follow up from Mary Ellen
o Extended library hours 8 am -4 pm and 6 pm -10 pm daily, Saturday’s
8-12 to allow Day Students more time to gather in a comfortable quiet
space.
o Bonny talked about phone-a-thon for 2015. Next one scheduled for
Tuesday, December 1 (Giving Tuesday) tie in year-end activity.
o Follow up requested of Patrick for additional planning ideas. For
January meeting what additional activities we could consider to add to
next year’s schedule 2016-2017.
o Future Speaker: Ask Patty Pond to come in discuss Project Period.
What kind of support can the parents offer for 2016-2017.
o Future Speaker: Emergency plan for day students. Karin, Rachel,
Dougo, Gregor
o Smoothie bar planned for end of fall term Tuesday morning of exam
week, November 17; Kristen Bitler, lead, Dee Doheny assist; PAPA
members please email list of machines available locally.
Adjourned 6:46
Respectfully submitted,
Dee Doheny