Parents’ Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Via Zoom
The purpose of the Agnes Irwin School’s Parents’ Council is to foster a positive spirit within the Agnes Irwin community and to provide financial support for educational facilities, opportunities, and enrichment. Parents’ Council communicates with the School’s administration to ensure that all activities and financial contribution support the School’s mission and creates the best possible environment for all Agnes Irwin Students to grow and thrive.
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME – Nissa O’Mara
Bylaws vote:
· Changes are very administrative.
· Replacing old events listed with the new ones we have created.
· Substantial change is the PCEC (Parents’ Council Executive Committee) roles
o Important because we are in the midst of nominations.
o Adding the DEI Coordinator.
o Reducing the two Member At Large positions to one Member At Large .
o This retains the same number of positions on the committee.
· Vote – all in favor. Changes to the Bylaws passed.
Update on COVID-19 Testing, on behalf of Head Nurse Kristine Birkmire.
· School is testing all Upper School athletes twice a week, as well as several teachers and students.
· Over 500 tests have been administered.
· Antigen testing is what is being conducted.
o If an antigen test comes back as positive, the individual must quarantine and do a PCR test.
o A negative PCR test is what is required to return to campus.
· Any questions, please reach out to Nurse Kristine Birkmire.
DIVISION COORDINATOR REPORTS
Upper School – Sharon Mankovich
NEWS:
· Good turnout for Upper School Coffee: >91 attendees
· No news beyond updates shared by both Sally and Camille in Coffees for overall school and what is below for updates.
ATHLETICS:
Winter Sports: In session; All practices masked and teams cohorted by level; COVID cleaning protocols and physical distancing in place when not scrimmaging; Season concludes by 2/28
Spring Sports: Begin 3/1 – crew, golf, lacrosse, softball and track; crew/lacross require attendance at practices and competitions over spring break; Early Feb registration
Fall Sports: Begins 8/23 – Preseason runs until 9/7
COLLEGE COUNSELING:
· Mid Year Grades to be sent directly to colleges for seniors; as will end of year
· Meg Scott provided overview of how the team is picking up activities with 10th- 12th
· 11th grade packets went out; Mock ACTs this last weekend; Weekly Wellness courses have started – Many individualized meetings over the next few months followed by next year’s course selection; In depth family meeting in late Spring
· 10th – Early Jan – College Myth Busting – Wellness Classes; After Spring Break – short meetings with college counselors; Thursday, Feb 25th 10th Grade Parents Night
· 9th - Event for students and parents will be planned for Spring – more info to come
· Owl Opps Page on Student Resources Page – Work with Sarah Leonard and Advisors on these: 11th Grade work with college counselors --- Spans summer programs, internships,etc.
CLASS EVENTS
· 9th Grade: TBD
· 10th: Ring Day – May 7
· 11th : Junior Coating Ceremony – April 23 ; Students surveyed re: Junior Prom – results TBD
· 12th:
− There will be a Prom! The tentative date is set for May 1st. (Most likely to be held on campus, but more information will follow.)
− The Commencement Page is live on AIS-ON - check this page frequently for updates regarding graduation. As of now, an outdoor graduation ceremony is planned for June 10th at 1:00 pm - only those living in the same household may attend (no out of town guests or extended family). The event will be live streamed so that extended family can take part remotely. Any questions regarding graduation can be addressed to: commencement@agnesirwin.org (or call 610-801-1256).
− Yearbook ads will be due by February 20th - information regarding ads will be distributed by email this coming Friday.
- Class Parents brainstormed additional senior surprises and activities
OTHER
Reminder – Pulling our AIS Community Closer Together – The Importance of Trust, Communication and Positive Intent ---
· Class parents were asked to reiterate the importance of all of us pulling together to support our girls, each other and the faculty/staff/administration who are taking personal risks to keep the girls’ education on track and as close-to-normal as it can be while trying to keep our entire AIS Community safe and informed.
o Always assume positive intent
o Engage each other and the faculty/staff with kindness, respect and trust.
How we act and communicate with one another models the environment for our girls
o As parents/guardians, we too need to lead by example during this unprecedented time…and take a deep breath every now and then
o Leverage the class parents and Parents’ Council as needed
Middle School – Mimi Greenly
Coding kits will be distributed this February to students to take home until May.
- 5th Grade Receives micro:bit Go Kits - Friday, February 5th
- 6th Grade Receives micro:bit Go Kits - Friday, February 19th
- 7th Grade Receives Hummingbird Robotics Kits - Friday, February 26th
- 8th Grade Receives Hummingbird Robotics Kits - Feb. 23-25 (in CS Class)
Cintra to send out an update soon about upcoming events at school this spring. How they will look different, and what to expect.
· There will be a zoom opportunity, possibly grade specific, with class deans to ask questions and have discussions about what is happening.
Working with on creating Middle School teams (see Events information) for the upcoming RaisE Your IQ event on 3/5.
Spring Sports will begin on March 8th
· Until then 7th and 8th grades will have study hall and gym, 2x a week, at the end of the day during that sports time slot.
o Gym is great to get the girls some exercise.
· Sports available are:
o Fitness – for 7th and 8th only
o Independent Athletics Waiver – 7th and 8th grade only are eligible.
§ Application must be filled out and handed in.
o Lacrosse – 6th through 8th
o Learn to Row program – 8th grade only.
§ Only 12 girls in the program
· There will be a random drawing if there are more than 12 rowers.
o Run Club – 6th through 8th .
o Softball – 6th through 8th .
· Cohorted groups will continue for middle school sports.
· Most likely they will be intermural, not playing other schools.
Lower School – Allison Cocozza
Please have your daughter bring an extra mask or two in her backpack.
· Due to runny noses or masks getting wet during talking, the girls are going through several extra paper masks a day.
Please send in snow gear
· Girls can play in snow during snack and lunch recesses.
· Gym classes have been sledding.
Elizabeth Elizardi will be sending out a spring update soon.
· Which events the school will be having, and how it looks for COVID safety.
o Things such as Invention Convention and the new Women In Wax – now Notable Women.
Before spring break there will be a lower school parent zoom to acquaint everyone on the new math curriculum.
Kindergarten long term sub started this week with Emily Zachary on maternity leave.
Events Update – Erin Hinckle
Staff Appreciation lunches
· Yesterday was the PK – 6th appreciation lunch.
· Today is the 7th through 12th appreciation lunch.
· Box lunches provided from Elegance bakery in Wayne.
· Also attached are word clouds in the shape of an owl with adjectives about the teachers that the girls provided.
· A poster created by Cathy Ferguson was hung yesterday and moved to Upper School for today’s lunch with some statements that the girls gave describing the teachers.
· Thank you to all the parents that donated to this event.
RaisE
· 3/5 is RaisE Your IQ
o Virtual trivia night
o Registration closes 2/26
o Teams will be created, information on that to come.
§ Teams are 6-8 computers per team.
· 3/18 is RaisE The Curtain
o Mentalist
o Registration closes 2/26
· 4/10 is The Amazing RaisE Scavenger Hunt
o Geared towards whole family participation.
· 4/16 is RaisE Your Glass
o Final event
o Option for cocktails and food
· Invitations have been sent, register online.
Skirt Fundraiser
· Clothing boutique in Bryn Mawr.
· Taking place this week
· 10% of your purchase to go back to AIS.
· Area wide for all schools
· Winning school will receive 20%
Spring Events
· Virtual Spring Market
· Other events in discussion, stay tuned.
Next Parents Council Meeting is March 11th.
Please follow us on social media:
* Instagram: @AISParentsCouncil (https://www.instagram.com/aisparentscouncil/)
* Facebook: Agnes Irwin Parents' Council https://www.facebook.com/AgnesIrwinParentsCouncil/
