Notes from the PTA

Mr Papesh's last day will be June 30th. Downtown is asking for parent volaunteers to sit on the interview team for our new principal, Wed, April 12, 4:30-possibly 9/10 pm, Educ. Service Ctr, 120 E Walnut. Call Mr Papesh at 693-5708 to volunteer. Many parents expressed the opinion
that since Dr White didn't want our opinion on reassigning Mr Papesh, why would he now want our input on a new principal. A petition was sent downtown signed by all but ONE staff person requesting that Mr Papesh remain in place. I have a petition ready to mail with 90 parent
signatures gathered via email and the Winter Sport Banquet. At this point if you haven't signed but want your opinion heard, you will have to email Dr White and the board at parksc@ips.k12.in.us and whiteeg@ips.k12.in.us

SPRING BREAK begins with dismissal today. Be safe and relax and enjoy!

PTA MEETING Mon Apr 10, 6 pm in the Mini Aud

RIPPLES rehearsals are in full swing. RIPPLEs will be held Mayu 5 and 6

STAFF REDUCTIONS. Staff were notified yesterday of possible reductions: 26 at Broad Ripple - 35% of our staff and about the same percentage in the Magnet. We will probably get some of those positions back; that always happens.

www.TripToCollege.org

Trip To College, a Web site for Indiana parents that provides comprehensive, step-by-step assistance with the college planning and funding process. At www.TripToCollege.org you will find a college planning timeline; facts, figures and information about preparing and paying for your
child’s college education; information on Indiana colleges; and more. Paying for college is the single biggest concern that most parents have in the planning process. Regardless of your financial satiation, Trip to College is designed to walk you through the options in paying for
college.

SENIOR PLANS
Milton Britton - Butler - three Prelude scholarships plus many others
Amanda Craig - McAllister (pardon spelling?) in St Paul, MN -scholarships
John Melind - Wabash - Top 10 Day and Presidential Scholarships
Matthew Payne - Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, Missouri -
Merit Scholarship
Let's hear from other senior parents... what is your child doing next year?

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Juli Van Wyk
BRHS PTA Secretary
www.BRHSPTA.org

Spring Break

Reminder -

• Spring Break begins with DISMISSAL FRI MAR 31.

• Report cards should be arriving soon.

Spring Social 2006

Attached are the pictures I took at the Spring Social. Enjoy! Thanks. ras

Students

Officers

STAGE 1 BOOSTERS MEETING MINUTES

Reminder for Volunteers for this weekend’s Musical Little Shop of Horrors concessions of flowers, candy and water included for Friday – Kim Williams, Mary Jane Brown, and Matt Dowden; Saturday – Debbie Brown, Tracy Cork and Lela Livingston.

Mary Jane Brown started the meeting with a welcome and stated the main duty of this meeting was to vote to change the bylaws to have elections in the Spring previous to the following school year. Regina Sinclair motioned for this change; it was seconded by Nancy Craig, and passed unanimously. This was necessary due to most of the officers had Seniors this year and would not be available for next year’s positions.

Mary Jane read aloud the letter that was sent home via the students and via email stating the consequences and necessity for this change. It was stated how very important it was that we get officers established for the current officers to be able to assist in the transition. Each position duties were explained by the current officers and how the burden could be easier if it was shared. It was explained that the Social situation seemed our best opportunity to state the necessity and urgency of having a slate of officers. A count was conducted of parents attending and there were 5 Freshman parents, 5 Sophomore parents, and 3 Junior parents. Those parents that stated they would consider the positions for voting next month included:
President – Tracy Cork
Co-Vice-President – Debbie Brown & John Kaellner
Treasure – Sheila Kaellner
Secretary – Annette Hunt

Mrs. Reiberg asked for a round of applause for those officers that are currently serving.

Order forms were passed out to save $2.00 on ticket purchases to Reckless and volunteer opportunities will be planned at the next meeting.

Volunteers for this weekend’s Musical Little Shop of Horrors concessions of flowers, candy and water included for Friday – Kim Williams, Mary Jane Brown, and Matt Dowden; Saturday – Debbie Brown, Tracy Cork and Lela Livingston.

Spring Social

Remember, we need to know by 3:00PM today, if you and your family plan to attend the Spring Social tomorrow evening Tuesday, March 14th, in the cafeteria, at 6:00PM for the Stage 1 Rocket Booster Club. That way we can be sure to have enough chicken.

Thanks.
Regina Sinclair

PTA & Sports Magnet Program

PTA passed a resolution to forward to the School Board and Dr White “We, the PTA of Broad Ripple High School do hereby encourage the Board of IPS to endorse the Elementary and Middle School Athletic Proposal to strengthen athletics at those levels, believing THAT is the place to
start, to improve athletic competition at the high school level. At the same time, we are unanimous in our opposition to eliminating ANY athletic team from ANY IPS high school.”

Prevent the Disbanding of Stage1 Boosters

Dear parents & students:
The Executive Board is considering the dissolution of the Stage1 Rocket Boosters Club due to lack of participation. At the March meeting we will be presenting an amendment to move elections to the Spring instead of at the first meeting in the new school year. If we don’t have a slate of officers for the upcoming school year, we will be forced to dissolve the club.
Key issues that will be neglected should the club be dissolved include: Lack of financial assistance which will mean a cutback of workshops and field trips. Lack of organization activities for productions leaving the teachers the added responsibility of getting volunteers to sell tickets, and getting assistance with set builds. Equipment purchases like the lights and sound provided for the Black Box Theatre. Refreshments/Concessions at productions, and on Long Saturday Social. Interaction of both parents and students.
All parents and students are requested to attend the Spring Social scheduled for March 14th in the school cafeteria at 6:00PM. The club will again provide the meat entrée of Fried Chicken. You will need to contact Regina Sinclair, club secretary with the information of how many in your family plan to attend so that we will have enough chicken and what you will bring; such as a side dish, dessert, paper products, or soda pop with ice.

Sincerely,
Regina Sinclair,
Club Secretary

Upcoming events & info from the PTA

...from Stephen R. Papesh, Campus Administrator:
It gives me great pleasure to announce that Brittney Feldman will be inducted into the Indiana Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame. As I receive more details, I will inform everyone.

(personal note...it's ashame that this is one of the sports to be cut from Broad Ripple under the new Sports Magnet program...David Dorsett)

Mar 6, 6 p.m. - PTA Meeting Mini Aud.
Mar 8 - PBA day; students dismissed at noon
Mar 22, 6:30 pm - Rededication Ceremony for the improved BRHS Campus.
Mar 25 - BRHS Band members will be accepting donations of used instruments from 9am-1pm. This is a tax deductible donation.

Junior / Senior parents...
Prom tickets are now on sale. $35/single, $60/couple. I don't know any other details at this point, date, time, place, but wanted you to know that much.

Free tax help is available at Glendale Mall, Mon., Tues. and Wed. from10am-7 pm and Saturdays 10am-3pm until APRIL 12.

Thanks to the 200 or so parents and students who attended the Sports Magnet Meeting with Dr White. At a time when IPS is cutting $24million from the budget - something near 300 teachers - Dr White proposes increasing the athletic budget by a million (to enhance 5th-8th grade sports) and reducing the number of teams in each school. Currently, BRHS fields 19 teams. It is proposed that in 07-08, BRHS will only have 6 teams. We know we'll get some back, probably a maximum of 3. It was heartening to see the number of students who came to speak against this when you consider that it is only this years' freshman who will suffer from the cuts.

You can still send your comments to BewleyM@ips.k12.in.us to be incorporated with other parent/student comments, or better yet, attend one of the remaining meetings at other schools.

MAR 8 at Tech (1500 E Michigan Ave)
MAR 9 at Manual (2405 Madison Ave)
MAR 30 at Washington, (2215 W Washington St)
APR 17 at Northwest, (5525 W 34th St)

Dr White needs to know that we care about ACADEMICS first, and ATHLETICS also. Dr White says Academics come first, but cutting teachers doesn't seem like any way to make that happen. He feels we lose students to private and township schools because our teams are not competitive.
That may be true, but I believe the overriding decision is that there are MORE academic options/offerings and the athletics is a perk. Improve academics and discipline in IPS and parents will stay. THEN improve the athletic program.

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Juli Van Wyk
BRHS PTA Secretary
www.BRHSPTA.org