January+2012+Meeting+Notes

Faculty meeting
 * January 9, 2012**

**Members Present:** Matt Graves, Dodi Zbuka, Jeff Ulrich, Tami Applegarth, Chad Hartong, Andrea Novicki, Pete Geiss, Amy Hartman, Ernie Cole, Michelle Harrison, Nancy Roberts

**Location:** High School Library

**Topics Discussed:**

Dodi shared that Spartan Period activities have been planned through February, with the exception of February 29. She is currently working on March and April as well.

Dodi expressed the need for better communication with students about sessions that are offered each Spartan Period. The following committee members volunteered to help improve communication:
 * Chad Hartong and Tami Applegarth will make chart on poster board of the general sessions that are offered each week.
 * Amy Hartman volunteered to create a website that students and staff could access listing general and special sessions.
 * Nancy Roberts volunteered to create morning announcements each week listing available sessions.
 * Matt Graves will continue to inform staff through emails about the sessions offered.

Dodi also mentioned the need for special sessions that could be offered during Spartan Period and encouraged members to speak with colleagues to see if they had any suggestions to offer. There is a need to offer sessions geared toward 9th and 10th gade students as well. The committee generated the following ideas for possible sessions:
 * Ernie Cole offered to teach a class on preparing taxes in February.
 * Andrea Novicky, Jeff Ulrich, and Tami Applegarth volunteered to put together a session on organizational and study skills. We discussed the possibility of getting donations of folders, binders, and other organizational supplies to help students in this session.
 * Chad Hartong expressed an interest in offering a session on Astronomy or possibly forming an Astronomy club.
 * It was suggested that it would be great if the Guidance department could offer sessions on ACT/SAT schedules, deadlines, and assistance with forms.
 * Guidance could also offer sessions on applying for scholarships and filling out FAFSA forms.

Finally, Matt asked if anyone had heard of any complaints about the Spartan Period. Nothing specific was really brought up. The meeting was then adjourned.