August 2023

Minutes: August 14, 2023

El Camino HS PTSA General Meeting 

In Attendance: Shannon Fox, Becka Stephensen, Christine Cummings, Rissa Zaragoza-Ito, KaShawn Seibles, Jennifer Flohr, Holly Fales, Tracie Hewitt, Eric Robrecht, Mary Robrecht, Julie West, Barb Lezon, Rob Oates, Tara Hewitt (Student), Evelyn Wellborn, Catherine McDonald

1. Tracie Hewitt (President) started with a little welcome caveman style:

Welcome, El Camino PTSA meeting. New Year 2023-2024. We gather, talk, make big plans for moons ahead. Many faces, old and new. Together, we strong. Together, we help young ones grow smart. Grunts and ideas flow. Ugh! We make this year best yet. Welcome all! 

2. There are no previous minutes to approve, as this is the first meeting of the year.

3. Evelyn Wellborn (Principal Admin Report) - Enrollment is up. The goal is for 1500 students to be enrolled at El Camino. We are currently at 1332. We have a giant freshman class of 375 students. This is a positive, but we are waiting for additional staff from the district. Some classes are overly full. We have asked the district for additional funding for 6 sections, as PE1, IM1, and Spanish 1 are overly full.

   1. There are new staff members: Chemistry: Camille Jackson, Biology: Claire Henderson, Social Science: John Hasdovic, English: Samuel Valine & Lillian Nickel, Spanish: Mariela Morales, Medical Assisting: Erica Carruth, Theater: Mike Disalvo, Choir: Tessa Kelly, Counseling: John Beedy & Beth Hein, and PE- Kate Dalizu. 

   2. There is a new CTE Pathway for Theater/Performing Arts.

   3. We have a 5 year grant partnership with Los Rios to increase students in STEM fields. It’s a program called Upward Bound. There are currently 30 students enrolled, and we are looking for 20 more. 

   4. Improve Your Tomorrow is a program to improve high school and college graduation rates for young men of color. The teacher transferred over from Encina. They are inviting 80 students (based on GPA) but will only accept 50 students. They will mentor them, help with tutoring, do grade checks, and go on college tours. 

   5. The Freshman Intervention program had great success last year with only 4 out of 175 students having a credit deficit. Rob Kerr and Meghan Wilson will help expand that program. 

4. Tara Hewitt (Student Report)- Tara shared her desire to be in all the EPI classes at El Camino. She said that she really likes the trips and teaching style of the EPI teachers. She appreciates that there are a lot of ways to learn at El Camino. 

5. Tracie Hewitt (President Report) shared that we are getting a QR code to sign up for PTSA and pay for grad night and all things online. We also have a new card reader to take credit card payments. 

6. Jennifer Flohr (Vice President Report) - We have purchased keychains and bracelets to sell as a fundraiser. Keychains are $10 and Bracelets are $15.

7. Becka Stephensen (Treasurer’s Report) - After our experimental year in 2022-2023, we were positive in every single category on our budget. 

   1. Thank you to Boosters for donating to our All Night Grad Fund.

   2. We have 92 members of PTSA as of 8/12/23. 

   3. Looking at the budget for 2023-2024, everything is zero because there is nothing going on, yet. Shannon Fox motioned to approve the budget. Julie West seconded it. All approved the new budget presented.

8. Holly Fales (Hospitality Report)- Last year, Holly and Summer were present every month to present teachers with fabulous decor and treats. This year they aim to show up in person every other month as it is time consuming, although they will still set up for the teachers each month.

   1. They held teacher appreciation 2 days before school and stocked the teachers’ personal fridges with drinks, treats, and fruit. 

   2. The fridge in the staff room is no longer working. Looking for a replacement.

   3. Holly would like a list of people who signed up for “hospitality” on the PTSA form, as they rely on donations for the monthly staff appreciation. 

      1. Mary R. asked about what types of donations they are looking for, as she can donate money or products, but can’t show up.

      2. Rob Oates said that Boosters would partner with PTSA to get a fridge.

      3. Julie W. said that she might possibly know of a fridge that could be donated.

   4. The entire year is planned for the staff room. 

   5. Someone suggested that we put pictures of the staff room in the newsletter so members can see what they are doing. 

   6. Tracie H. asked if forms for teachers to join the PTSA for $10 could be put in the staff room. Yes.

IX. Barb Lezon Scholarships - Scholarship checks from last year all went out except for one 

check that we don’t have a mailing address for, yet.  The goal for this year is to get the info out in February so there is more time for students to apply, as well as more time to review the applications. 

1. Tracie Hewitt stated that we are so close to being on the Morgan Stanley account (as there are old member names on the account and we are trying to get that changed). 

X. Julie West: All Night Grad Night: Julie has solicited over 100 businesses for donations 

and is collecting items. Jennifer Flohr said that she has left overs from prizes from last year’s grad night.  Last year we had 140 students attend Grad Night.

1. There is a check coming from the Optimist Club from volunteers at BINGO night.

2. Looking for 2 volunteers for 5:30-8:30 pm on Sept. 16, 2023.

3. There are packages for Grad Night that include a shirt and a yard sign for $100 until Jan. 30, 2024 (then the price increases). 

XI. Upcoming Events: 

A. We are providing refreshments (water and cookies) for Back to School Night.

B. We are looking for an auditor, and someone to post to social media.

MEETING adjourned at 8:20pm.