Wellesley POPS - Parents of Performing Students, Inc. General Board Meeting October 2, 2012 7:00 p.m.

Wellesley High School Library

In Attendance: Beth Perry (Director of Performing Arts), Donna Chaff, Katherine Greene, Ursula King, Marietta Boon, Cindy Buser, Susan Logue, Michael Scholl, Ann Rappaport, Lucia Lovison-Golob, Lisa Buff, Cynthia Sibold, Helen Hamel, Amanda Derderian, Jessica Fixler, Sara Preston, Ellen Scott, Amy Zhang, Stephanie Hawkinson, Kim Hornung President's Welcome - Ursula King Ms. King opened the meeting, welcomed all in attendance, and thanked everyone for volunteering. Members were invited to give personal introductions and to share their responsibilities and/or interests in POPS.

Secretary's Report Kim Hornung Motion to amend and approve the April 26, 2012 minutes submitted by Lucia Lovison-Golob.

Director of Performing Arts Presentation - Elizabeth Perry Ms. Perry welcomed POPS parents to the new high school space and offered to provide a tour of the new space at the conclusion of the meeting if desired. The Performing Arts presentation addressed the three main categories of the arts being dance, drama,and music. This program is currently being offered to K-12. Ms. Perry introduced the name of her new assistant, Allison Madden, who replaced Carol Hardiman upon her retirement. The After-School Lesson Program enrolls 580 students and employs 49 teachers this academic year. Julie Verret assists Ms. Perry with the coordination of this program. In support of the lesson program, there are 16 instrumental and choral teachers at the elementary level, and 33 teachers at the middle school level. Wellesley Public Schools Performing Arts Program has strong community connections with the Kiwanis Club, Town Meeting, the Senior Center, and the State House. The number of shows and concerts at the high school level does not include the farmers market and parades. There are 1600 participants throughout grades 4-12. There are three new positions in the Performing Arts Department (to include an auditorium manager), three new jazz bands, and double casts for drama. At WMS, there are new quartets as well as a Baroque ensemble. Staff Introductions - Ms. Perry introduced two of her staff members, Ms. Donna Chaff who will be celebrating 25 years with WPS, and Katherine Greene who joined WPS a year ago. Ms. Chaff teaches at Upham as well as the fifth grade at Fiske & the fourth grade at Sprague. She has also been honored as Teacher of the Year. Ms. Greene teaches 1-5 at Bates and directs five orchestras within the elementary school system. Ms. Greene mentioned that the 5th graders may have a special trip to the high school to perform side by side with the orchestra. Ms. Greene requested a pianist for the 5th grade chorus performances scheduled for December 18th and June 11th.

POPS was able to fund a Smartboard for the Bates Music Room. Ms. Chaff & Ms. Greene explained how the Smartboard can be used. It is able to highlight notes or a refrain in color. It can be used for singing exercises and playing the recorder plus YouTube can be accessed via the Smartboard. It is used each and every day in the classroom to project and manipulate. The children are able to manipulate it as well. Faculty Goals for 2012/2013 - Ms. Perry explained that the PA team is working on a student assessment plan to become the forefront of a formative assessment. In other words, the teachers will be able to 'check in' on a student while going through the year rather than waiting until the end of the year to form an evaluation. Thus far, WPS has been very strong in its formative assessments but it needs work on its summative assessments. PA is currently reviewing the CT model to determine whether or not it is appropriate. This all ties in with teacher evaluations, Ms. Perry emphasized that there are opportunities for all students to become involved in the Performing Arts. The staff is looking at how WPS is best able to keep the doors open for all numbers of students who will be pursuing different avenues Julliard, band community, etc. There are Smartboards in all of WPS, stagecraft is being offered as a class for 7-11 kids, more dance is being offered as part of the 'after-school piece', and there are guest artists visiting our schools at various times of the academic year. PA will host the drama festival and is looking into hosting the jazz concert in November. Thus far, the PA department has acquired two brand new acoustic pianos, Smartboards, cellos, chairs, guest artists, dressing for approximately 300 students, food/banquets, trips, publicity, drama storage, and backstage crowd control.

School Business - President Ursula King Ursula commented that POPS is looking for a way of rallying the community to support METCO's participation in the Performing Arts particularly by way of busing. POPS would like to provide support to the faculty to land this program's feet on the ground by providing the hands to help raise money for this effort. She also stated that we owe a great deal of thanks to Ms. Perry for all of her efforts and support. The POPS $50 gift to each elementary school teacher is to be used for the classroom Demonstrations and registration went well for the After School Lesson Program. Michael Scholl - Shared with us that he attended the WMS Back To School Night where he was introduced to a new POPS teacher. He will attend the WMS performances and take photographs of the plays that are cast. Two WMS performances, The Lottery and Property Rites have been cast and are scheduled for this upcoming December.

Committee Reports: Drama - Susan Logue Susan reported that the high school musical Into The Woods has been cast with four shows planned for November. There is a new dance representative by the name of Christina Astro. The choral and orchestra will function on their own. WHS will be hosting a non-compete METG day or weekend event during this academic year. Parent ads for Into The Woods are still welcome to include actors/actresses & musicians in the pit. Still looking for any connections with businesses that would be willing to supply advertisements. POPS is ahead of revenue for business ads, but behind on parent ads. Leone Johnson will handle advertisements.

Treasurers Report - Marietta Boon. Marietta passed out copies of the Treasurers Report and reported on the POPS budget breakdown of general funds income and expenses. She spoke about hiring an outside accountant to do the taxes. The cost for this service would be $500. Central Council found a person who is willing to work with the organizations in town. The charge for officers' and directors' insurance is $500. Michael Scholl is looking into this for the POPS organization. The June 30, 2012 Treasurer's Report was passed out at the October 2nd meeting and will be made available to any interested persons. Sara Preston suggested looking into the 501(c)3 policy to solicit matching funds through the summer mailing and/or website. Parents are not reimbursed for items purchased but rather they are required to go through the purchase order system. Things such as printing, posters, etc. will be covered by POPS. The school district is responsible for the productions.

Publishing - Cindy Buser Cindy is the liaison to The Townsman. Her Townsman contact, Cathy Brauner, has requested to have only one liaison. Cindy spoke about the possibility of interviewing and writing articles about two WPS teachers, Henry Platt & Donna Chaff, who are celebrating 25 years of teaching in the Wellesley school district. Cindy also mentioned that each year, two seniors are nominated for POPS Profiles to be printed in The Townsman. Anything that POPS would like promoted is required to go through Cindy, and she will submit it to The Townsman. Nothing should go out on the website until after it runs in The Townsman.

Website - Ann Rappaport Ann commented that she is always looking for new photographs and fresh information to keep the website interesting and up to date. The google calendar has been transitioned to Allison Madden, and the POPS website will gradually be moved over to the school district.

Other Business Ursula King is looking for a Vice President (preferably a high school parent) to be trained for one year before Ursula resigns. One of the primary responsibilities of the VP is to organize the Performing Arts Banquet. Most of the general POPS Board positions are full. There are two more board meetings this academic calendar, and POPS is hoping to possibly have a guest speaker available for one of them. Ursula commented that she feels that the Performing Arts is an integral part of all of our childrens' education and participation in a POPS role supports this effort. She said that it's not just about what our 'own' kids are doing it's about all of them. Meeting Adjourned