Beginning in 2023-24, St. Theresa Catholic School will participate in a pilot initiative which integrates the work of our School Board and Parent Teacher Committee (PTC) into one entity named the Leadership Council. St. Theresa Catholic School is one of four local parochial schools participating in this pilot in coordination with the newly formed region. Integrating the work of these two entities offers a new opportunity for greater alignment of efforts and collaboration among volunteers, the pastor and principal, meaningful volunteer roles that boost retention and avoid burnout, and leveraging fundraising to fulfill the mission of the school and parish. This model has been successfully implemented in other parts of the country, and we are eager to see how the Leadership Council will foster the continued growth and vitality of St. Theresa.
Comprised of school and parish volunteers, the Leadership Council works closely with the principal and pastor in the areas of faith, academics, community-building and fundraising to support the mission of the school.
The Leadership Council will be structured as follows:
- Membership comprised of the pastor, principal and volunteers invited to serve by the pastor
- Leadership Council Officers – Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer – to be named by the pastor
- Committees led by Committee Chairs: Academic/SIAC/Wellness, Faith and Service, Fundraising and Community and Social
- Meetings are held throughout the year and are open to the public
- Annual meeting with Regional President and Board of Directors
Please attend a meeting to learn more and support the committee work we will be doing. Contact a Council Officer or Committee Chair below to get involved. We ask our community for patience and prayers as we embark on this new structure. We look forward to our community’s feedback throughout the year.
2023-2024 Meetings
Committee meetings and full Leadership Council meetings will be held back-to-back on the same night each month in the school.
6:00-6:30 pm – Committee Meetings
6:30-7:00 pm – Leadership Council Meeting
Meeting Schedule and Minutes (subject to change)
January 18
February 15
March 21
April 18
May 16
St. Theresa Catholic School Leadership Council 2023-2024 Officers and Committee Chairs
Executive Committee
Pastor – Fr. Raphael
Principal – Gretchen Watznauer
Chair – Laura Sarcone
Vice Chair – Lindsay Wisniewski
Secretary – Amanda VanWyk
Treasurer – Meghan McConville
Committee Chairs
Academic/SIAC/Wellness – Amanda Dvorak
Faith and Service – Theresa Welch
Fundraising – Vicki Nolan
Community and Social – Mary Drazi
Leadership Council Committees
*The bullet points below the following committees are examples of the types of works each committee may do based on past activities. This is a fluid list of ideas for our work together. We will build our work from these ideas.*
Academic/SIAC/Wellness
· Identify educational needs
· Identify student learning goals/desired levels of student performance
· Review data on progress toward goals
· Review staff professional development plan
· Review of extracurricular programs
· Distribute parent survey and staff survey
· Create and monitor Wellness Plan that aligns with the school lunch program
Faith and Service
· Prayer and spiritual growth events, coordination with Parish
· Assist with availability and communication of service hours for middle school students
· Assist with Catholic Schools Week/Social Justice Week plans
· Faith formation opportunities for teachers
· Other potential ideas:
o Prayer Angels (praying for our students, teachers, staff and families through the year
o Saint of the Month bulletin board in the school
Fundraising
· Manage budget
· Annual Gala & Auction
· Fall mum sale
· Coordination with other fundraiser traditions, examples:
o Daddy Daughter Dance (7th Grade)
o Dodgeball Tournament (8th Grade)
· Other potential ideas:
o Garage Sale
Community and Social
· Homeroom Parents
· Assist with parent communication in coordination with School Office
· Teacher appreciation
· Teacher/Staff meals (Fall/Spring conferences)
· Book Fair
· Community building events, examples:
o Trunk or Treat
o Easter Egg Hunt
· Assist with Used Uniform Sale
· Assist with marketing
· Other potential ideas:
o Parent Ambassadors
o Welcoming Committee