Boyce Middle School PTA Meeting
Minutes
October 12, 2011 ~ 9:30 A.M.
Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance – The meeting began at 9:36 with 13 members in attendance.
Reading and Approval of Agenda and Minutes – There were no additions or corrections to the September meeting
minutes or today’s Agenda, therefore they were approved as read.
Statement of Treasurer – Sharon Heilman stated that monthly report had a beginning balance on 9/14/11 of
$62,249.74 and an ending balance on 10/11/11 of $134,285.35. A full report is available upon request. Ellen
Halloran made the first motion to pay the bills. The motion was seconded by Susan Liptak and all present were in
favor.
Correspondence – Denise Ivol had no report.
Reports
Teacher Representative – Terry Jackson
-Ginny Husak (Librarian) – There is a 5th grade World Almania tournament in the library next week. World Almania
is a game similar to Jeopardy where the kids form teams and answer questions using the World Almanac to find the
answers. It is a great game to build information seeking skills. So far there are about 30 teams signed up with 4 to 5
players per team. The game will be played in rounds until there is 1 winning team. Each member of the winning
team will receive the 2012 World Almanac for Kids.
-Matthew Dudley – Starting Wednesday, October 12th, students will begin performing duties on the Green Team
throughout the building. Sponsored by the Student Council under the leadership of Matt Dudley and Justin Gremba,
the students will participate in various recycling brigades around the building. Students will have the opportunity to
sign up for various brigades, which include paper recycling, tarrarcycling, bottle and can recycling, school supply
recycling, research for future brigades and creative arts to make posters to advertise the program throughout the
school. Boyce is participating in the Recycling Bowl, a free, friendly competition held in conjunction with America
Recycles Day on November 15th. If parents have newspapers and/or other paper to recycle, these items can be
brought to the Abatibi recycling bin outside the school to help the cause.
-Lauren Gates – World Language Department – On Wednesday, October 26th, about 13 students from Germany will
visit the 5th and 6th level German classes. Boyce students will put their German skills to the ultimate test and they will
be speaking and listening to native teenagers. The students are coming as part of the USC German Exchange
Program, which is held every other year in the district. During the first week of November, 5th grade students will be
dressing up as famous French or German speaking people. Students are currently researching facts about these
famous people.
Mr. Gremba – Student Council held its first meeting and began planning our Red Ribbon Week (Oct. 24th – 28th).
There will be a contest in the 5th and 6th grade. Fifth grade will be designing road signs and sixth grade will design
bumper stickers. The projects will be judged on creativity and the drug prevention slogan used. Paper can be picked
up in the main office. There will also be a bike-a-thon during the week. To promote drug awareness and prevention,
Boyce will ride a stationary bike the entire week. Students, teachers, administrators and parents can sign up to ride
the bike. Parents can sign up to ride between 11 to 12 o’clock. Any parent interested in riding the bike should sign
up here at the meeting or contact Mr. Gremba by phone or email.
-Miss Noel – Chorus- Voice of Boyce auditions are being held for the current school year this week and next week.
Interested students should have signed up t audition. Sixth grade students have been invited to perform for the
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Saturday, October 22nd. Interested students should get permission from Miss Noel.
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Executive Committee
President – Missy Moore thanked volunteers and committees.
-The Sally Foster sale is complete and was a success.
-Jenn Schuler from Genesis has requested support for a burp cloth project for those in need. Students will sew burp
cloths with the help of Mrs. Criner during Pride Time. The PTA will support the project with a $100 donation.
-Discussed the need for the Directory positions to be filled.
-There will be changes made to the bylaws regarding dues and the waiting period for an amendment.
-Extra copies of the yearbook will be available. An e-alert will be sent.
1st Vice President – Amanda Beggy had no report.
2nd Vice President – Amy Pfender (for Karen Brown)
-Red Ribbon Week will October 24th – 28th, with the theme “Life is a Journey, Travel Drug Free.”
-2 stationary bikes will be set up in the front of the building to be used during school hours for the length of the week.
Teams, teachers and parents can sign up to ride the bike.
-There will be a contest. 5th grade students will design road signs and 6th grade students will design bumper stickers.
-Red ribbons will be sold at the beginning of the week.
Themes for each day: Monday – Travel Drug Free (wear vacation T-shirt); Tuesday – I can, You can, We can FOOD
DRIVE; Wednesday – Go Green, Don’t Let Drugs Pollute You (wear green);Thursday – United We Stand Against
Drugs (wear red, white and blue); Friday – Red Day (wear red for possible picture).
-The ultimate goal for the end of the week will be a picture taken on the new football field. Students will wear red
and be in the shape of a ribbon.
-There will be an early dismissal this Friday. Lunch will be served early.
-On October 22nd good bus behavior will be rewarded with a movie.
-November 21st will be the larger Rededication ceremony. There will be an adult reception in the Library. Volunteers
are needed to purchase supplies and help with catering.
Board Advisor – Connie Urban had no report.
Special Guests
Russ Del Re – Boyce Construction Update
-Stressed the importance of not believing the rumors that are circulating about the construction.
-When work began on the gym they encountered unsuitable materials under the floor which required an excavation
of an additional 3 ½ feet. This created an 11 to 12 week delay because only limited equipment could be used. The
contractor was compensated for the additional work required.
-Currently they are waiting for the floor to cure and for painting to begin.
-They would like to have the gym completed for the ribbon cutting ceremony, if possible.
-Currently remaining “glitches” are being worked out.
-HVAC is a green system, sometimes creating warmth because of control issues.
-Seeman’s is the HVAC contractor. They are used by the entire District.
-Everything should be 100% in place within the next few weeks.
Great appreciation was expressed for all of the staff cooperation.
-The new field is basically complete. The main concern is on getting the gym completed before the weather gets bad.
They would like to encourage all residents to view the progress.
-Something will have to be done about restrooms at the new field. The infrastructure is in place for concession stands
and restrooms to be built at the new field.
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School Board Director – Amy Billerbeck
-Gave a construction update similar to that of Russ Del Re.
-Clarified that it was not possible to write the cost of the extra gym floor removal into the bid until the job was started.
-Stressed that the extra gym floor removal was the “right way” of doing the job properly in order to avoid further
problems.
-Thanked Ross Del Re and his company for all of their hard work and dedication.
-The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place on October 22nd. Fort Couch will also have a Ribbon Cutting
Ceremony on the same day.
-Dr. Matyuf was recognized by the Committee upon her retirement.
-Odyssey of the Mind students were also recognized.
-The gifts to the schools as donations from the PTA’s and PTSO were recognized as having such a large impact on
the quality of education.
-8 new members were recently inducted into the USC Hall of Fame. Honorees spent the day at the High School
speaking with students.
-The First Annual USC Homecoming Gala raised over $55,000. Over 200 people attended the event. There is hope
to make it a larger event next year. They are considering changing the date to accommodate those with children
attending the USCHS Homecoming dance.
-The largest amount of funds from the event were undesignated although there was an option to designate which
program the donations would benefit.
-Liz Hall, Director of Advancement has sold signage at the High School stadium to ING, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette
and Rohrich for 3 years at $4,000 each year. There is still 1 sign available for purchase.
-A no harassment of students policy is being further implemented. Copies are available at Central Office.
-Budget decreases are still high but not as bad as originally predicted. The pension plan was damaged by the stock
market decreases.
-They are currently looking at any way of raising revenue without raising taxes. PA State Law prohibits USC from
raising taxes under Act 1.
-Bonds are being used as a source of revenue.
The Budget must be done earlier this year. Under Act 1 it has to be completed by December instead of March, as in
previous years.
-If property assessments rise, the Township will be forced to lower milage.
PTA Council Vice President – Kristin Matheny
-Spoke about the “One Book, One Experience, One PTA Community” program that is being implemented.
-“Last Child in the Woods, Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder” is the adult selection.
-“The Jungle Book” is the youth selection.
-A Book Discussion and additional activities will accompany the program.
Directory Chair – Beth Hornack
-The 14th addition of the Directory is scheduled to go out sometime next week.
-An e-alert will be sent to notify parents when it is sent home.
-All of the Directory Chairs are moving on and they are having a very difficult time finding replacements.
-The jobs have been broken down into more manageable tasks.
-A commitment is necessary by January, when they start securing advertisers.
-Please contact Beth Hornack if you are able to help or if you have any questions.
Standing and Reporting Committees/Reporting Committees/Organizations
Apples for Students – Kerry Gianni
-You can sign up at www.gianteagle.com/apples-for-students.
-The ID number for Boyce is 0107.
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Band Parents – Susan Rosati and Stacie de la Parra
-No report
Book Fair – Jenny Pyckowski
-No report
BoxTops – Julie Halpner
-Box Top totals are low, please send in any that you may have.
-Giant Eagle is having a special promotion in October, for every 4 boxes of General Mills cereals purchased, you will
get a 15 Bonus Box Tops register receipt.
CALL – Amanda Beggy
-Legislative Developments
SB 449 moved out of the Senate Appropriations Committee. SB449 amends the school code to require the
Department of Public Welfare, in consultation with the Department of Education to develop a child abuse recognition
and reporting training program for educators.
HB1610 was re-referred to the Appropriations Committee. The bill requires the Department of Health and Education
to provide information about the signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest to be given to parents of children
wishing to participate in interscholastic athletics.
The House removed SB200 from the table and placed it on the voting calendar. The bill establishes standards for the
management of concussions and head injuries to student athletes.
2011 PSSA scores show 93.5% of school districts made adequate yearly progress.
-Additional information is available upon request.
Chorus Parents – Sue Baldwin
-No report
Membership – Kerry Gianni
-No report
Memory Book – Shelley Cicchini/Susan Liptak
-This year’s Memory Book is already under way and will be $1 more than last year.
-Extra copies are available for purchase.
Mini-Bulletin – Beth Ellis
-Pictures are needed from the Ribbon Cutting and Redesignation ceremonies.
Odyssey of the Mind – Alison Hess
-There are 14 Teams, 91 students including 19 Boyce students which is a great improvement.
-There will be a fundraiser on November 8th at Red Robin. Be sure to mention Odyssey of the Mind.
-Will be offering 3 tests to determine if the SAT’s or ACT’s are best for students (Dec. 10th & Jan 14th). Cost is $25
Orchestra Parents – Dana Gnad/Jennifer Hewitt
-No report
Outreach – Alysia Keating/Cindy Dellicarri
-A coat drive for SHIM will go through October 27th.
-There will be a box in the office for donations.
Panther’s Paw – Susan Rosati
-No report
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Reflections- Dana Gnad
-The deadline is October 14th.
-There is a box in the school office for submissions.
Sally Foster – Jen Gray/Connie Urban
-Successful sale. Final issues are being handled.
Mini Bulletin Deadline – October 26th – email submissions to Beth Ellis at bndellis1@verizon.net
Unfinished Business
New Business
Bylaw Revision
Article VII, Section 5 will read “The national portion of each member’s dues shall be determined by the National
PTA.”
ArticleVII, Section 6 will read “The state portion of each member’s dues shall be determined by the Pennsylvania
PTA.”
Article VII, Section 7 will read “The local portion of each member’s dues shall be determined by the local PTA/PTSA
at their general membership annual meeting.”
Article VII, Section 9 will read “Send the completed membership form and the amount specified for the National and
state portions of the dues of each member of this PTA to the state PTA office.”
Article XIII, Section 2 will read “The local PTA shall pay annual dues established at the general membership
meeting for each member by December 1, to the Upper St. Clair Council PTA, as provided in the council bylaws.”
Article XVIII, Section 1 will read “These bylaws may be updated or amended at any general membership meeting of
this association by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided that notice of the proposed
amendment shall have been given at least twenty five (25) days prior to the meeting at which amendment is voted
upon and that amendment shall be subject to the approval of the Pennsylvania PTA.”
Next PTA Meeting
November 9, 2011 at 6:30 P.M.
Adjournment
10:44 A.M.
Dates to Remember
October 26th
October 14th
October 22nd
October 31st
November 1st
November 8th
November 16th
Mini-Bulletin Deadline
Half Day – Dismissal at 11:55 A.M.
Boyce Rededication - Ribbon Cutting
No School
No School
No School
Open Mike with Mrs. Brown (9:30 A.M.)
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Important Websites
Upper St. Clair School District – www.uscsd.k12.pa.us

Boyce Middle School PTA – Go to School District website (above); click on “Boyce” in “Schools.”
Drop-down menu in upper left hand corner; click on “PTA” on menu bar at top

State PTA – www.papta.org

National PTA – www.pta.org

GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) email group – send an email to
USCGATE-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

USC Community Foundation – www.mainstreetusc.com (email news to mainstreetusc@comcast.net)

REMINDERS
Please renew your magazine subscriptions online at www.gafundraising.com. Click on “online store-open 24 hours”;
enter the Boyce account number (597302); follow directions. 40% of sales will go to Boyce!
Register your Giant Eagle Advantage Card for the Apples for Students Program. Boyce will receive educational
supplies based on the number of sales credited to our account. Go to www.gianteagle.com. Go to “my account”; click
on “apples for students” to update your account. If you were registered last year for Boyce, you will automatically be
assigned to Boyce again this year. If you are a NEW SUPPORTER, please visit the website above; enter your email
address under the NEW USER REGISTRATION tab on the right hand side of the page; follow the on-screen
instructions. Our school code is 0107. Please ask relatives to help us by registering their Giant Eagle Advantage Cards
with our code.
If you are shopping at Office Depot, please remember to credit your sale to Boyce Middle School, so that our school
can receive 5% of the sale.
Please save your BoxTops for Boyce.
There is a Box Tops Marketplace. http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/marketplace/Default.aspx.
You can earn BoxTops for Boyce just by shopping there.
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