For both new and returning families, we have developed responses to HSA Frequently Asked Questions
Please take a few minutes to read this. It contains some new information.
The first HSA meeting is in less than two weeks, on September 11th. See provided agenda.

What is HSA? Why does it exist?

We function similarly to Parent Teacher Associations (PTA).
We have three main purposes: community building, education, and operational support of St. Patrick School.
Visit the website below for more specific information. http://www.stpatrickofhudson.org/homeandschool.aspx

Who is on the HSA?

By having a child/guardian enrolled in St. Patrick School, you automatically become a HSA member.
This year’s executive committee includes:

Treasurer: Pennie Peterson
Secretary: Lisa Dumont
Vice-President: Kim Burns (President next year)
President: Kristina (Kiki) Gorbatenko-Roth

How do I participate in HSA?

In past years, participation was predominately through meeting attendance or committee involvement.
This year we hope to increase participation through various means (see below under ‘How is this year going to be different than last?’)

Why should I participate in meetings? Isn’t it just all focused on fundraising?

Yes, we do discuss fundraising, but that is only one thing we do.
We also hold formal and informal parent education sessions, where we learn about child related issues and discuss issues/concerns with others.
Help build the school community! Meet new people, talk to others with similar issues/ interest, and make suggestions for making the school better.
By attending meetings you get a say in what we do and how we spend the money you helped raise!

When and where are the meetings held?

When? Second Tuesday of odd numbered months, from 6:30 – 8:00 pm

September 11th
November 13th
January 15th
March 11th
May – during Fine Arts Festival

Where? St. Patrick School Library/Media Center unless otherwise indicated.

How do I know what will be discussed at the next meeting?

A hardcopy of each proposed agenda will be sent home in the family folder prior to the meeting date.
Proposed and final agendas will be posted on the website indicated above and updated as needed.

What if I can’t make it to the full meeting? Can I come to just a portion of it?

Yes you can! We recognize and appreciate that you have many time demands.
Feel free to arrive and leave whenever it is convenient for you. Please turn page…

How do I learn about what occurred in a past meeting?

Executive summaries of the main issues and actions of the previous meeting will be sent home in the Family Folder immediately following the meeting and posted on the website indicated above.
Email communications will be issued as appropriate.

How is this year going to be different than last year?

Meeting time change!

Meetings will now start at 6:30 and run until 8:00.
Rationale: Get parents home in time to get children to bed.

On-line voting

Parenting is a full time/ busy job. Although multiple time demands can prohibit meeting attendance, you still may want to vote on HSA decisions.
Decisions requiring a vote may relate to requests for funds by various groups/ committees/ activities, HSA operations (e.g. Bylaw changes), educational issues (e.g. honorariums for outside speakers) and others.
We hope to develop an online process for doing this.
Come to the first HSA meeting to discuss if and how this process occurs.

Implementation of HSA Classroom Liaisons

Each classroom to identify a parent willing to serve as a liaison between HSA and parents of the students in the classroom.
Liaison will serve two purposes

Conduit of information between HSA & parents of a specific class
Volunteer recruiter for HSA sponsored events (e.g. Donut Sunday)

Both purposes should serve to make HSA more welcoming, hopefully increasing volunteerism by personal invitations/requests of parents and enhancing the community sense among St. Patrick School.
Although it would be preferable, liaison does not need to attend HSA meetings.

Increased Communication between HSA & families

Executive summaries of meetings in addition to formal minutes.
Greater web presence & Emails from HSA, alerting you to various issues, deadlines, news etc.
Use of room parents as liaison between HSA and parents (see above)
On-line voting (see above)

Can I get time during an upcoming meeting to present a topic or make a request? How do I do this?

Yes! We want to hear your ideas and needs.
Just contact the secretary of HSA, Lisa Dumont

If I have an issue/concern I want to discuss with parents & school administration, can I bring this forward? How so?

Yes again! We welcome this and hope the meetings become a safe, respectful and effective place for doing so.
A portion of each meeting will be set aside for Q&A among parents and school administration.
Most topics are open for discussion as long as they are respectful.

Discussions on specific school personnel or students are not appropriate

Prior to the meeting, email your question/issue to homeandschool@stpatrickeducenter.org or call the Vice-President Kim Burns.

What educational topics are going to be presented this year?

September 11th Social Skill Development: Social Bullying Prevention
November 13th Mental Illness/Health in Adults & Kids: Part I
January 18th Mental Illness/Health in Adults & Kids: Part II
March 11th Over-scheduling

Can I attend the educational presentation portion if I do not attend the full HSA meeting?

Yes you can! The educational presentation will occur during the last 30 minute of each meeting.

HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION: General & Fundraising Information

MISSION

This association acts as a communication vehicle between faculty, parents, parishioners, and the Hudson area community. And it provides essential operational assistance to the school. It also sponsors educational speakers and serves as a great way for parents to get to know each other. By working on different projects together, you meet fun new people you might never have met before.

MEMBERS

All parents/guardians of school students and faculty are members. Each family pays dues at the beginning of the school year. The executive committee includes the pastor, school principal, and four officers elected annually by a majority vote.

MEETINGS

Association meetings occur in the evenings indicated on the school calendar. A copy of the Association’s Constitution is available online at http://www.stpatrickofhudson.org/hsconstitution.aspx..

FUN FUNDRAISING PROJECTS

The following is a present list of the authorized school fundraisers. (Fundraisers are not allowed without the knowledge and permission of the principal):

1. Magazine Sale: Takes place in September. Students are encouraged to sell magazine subscriptions and renewals, cassette tapes and CD’s. Students are rewarded with candy and prizes. Forty percent of sales are donated to the Home & School Association.

2. Sally Foster Gift Wrap: Sale begins mid-September with gift-wrap arriving in November. Students sell gift-wrap related items for Sally Foster. Fifty percent of sales donated back to the Home & School Assoc.

3. Community Night at Wendy’s: This takes place one Tuesday night a month, and a portion of the proceeds from the dinners of St. Patrick School devotees goes back to the school.

4. Book Fairs: Take place during the weeks of fall and winter conferences. Scholastic books are offered to students and parents, and a percentage of sales are donated to Home & School

5.St. Patrick’s Gala: Held on a Saturday in late March or early April. This is the school’s largest fundraiser, featuring a silent and live auction, wine tasting, dinner, and entertainment for adults.

6. Walk-a-thon: Takes place the last Saturday in April. A fun-filled family event where students solicit pledges for walking 10 kilometers, followed by a picnic lunch.

7. St. Patrick’s Golf Benefit: Held the third Monday in May. A shot-gun scramble with a live and silent auction, dinner and prizes.

8. St. Patrick’s Rummage Sale: Held in early June.This fundraiser serves the needs of many in St. Croix County. It offers people a chance to donate things they no longer use as well as offering affordable goods to all.

9. Box top, label, and milk tops: These items are collected for school reimbursement.

10. Schwan’s Foods and Target: A portion of proceeds from purchases of Schwan’s foods and Target credit card purchases can also go to St. Pat’s School if you so designate.

11. : E-Scrip: You log onto www.escrip.com and sign up on this secure server, using our Group Name: St. Patrick School and/or ourID# 154296462. You register you debit or credit card and participating merchants contribute up to 8% of purchases.