9.1.22 CSA General Meeting Minutes

• Presentation by Conway's School Counselors, Mrs. Grunwaldt and Ms. Peterson
• Conway’s counseling team provided an overview of the services they provide and how they support social-emotional education at Conway. They also included a number of great tips for how to help your child transition back to school! You'll be able to watch a recording of their brief but thorough presentation here shortly; check back for the link. 

• Dr. Padberg Updates
• Calming Corners in Every Classroom: District psychologist Maggie Travers will be working with Conway teachers and staff to implement calming corners in each classroom. The school currently offers these spaces outside of the classroom, but now students will have an opportunity to take a moment to breathe and reset without needing to leave the classroom/miss instruction. 
• Getting Creative with Outdoor Spaces: As many parents are aware, our playground was unexpectedly removed over the summer owing to construction. A big thank you to the CSA and school parents for working together to make sure the kids have safe, engaging spaces to play in outside. 
• Mark your calendars for Conway Kickoff: The Conway Kickoff (previously known as Curriculum Night) will be Tuesday, September 13th. This is a parent-only opportunity to hear more about the school year ahead from your childrens’ teachers. There will be two sessions for parents of multiple children. A shuttle will be running between the high school and Conway.
• CSA Parent-Teacher Liaison: Mackenzie Mintzer, one of Conway’s 2nd-grade teachers, will once again be taking on this role. 

• Co-President Updates (Hillary Dutcher and Stephanie Margolis) 

• CSA Summer Recap: The CSA spent the summer coordinating with the school to figure out how we can create fun, safe outdoor spaces for all students in the absence of a formal playground. Thanks to CSA-funded resources such as the gaga ball pit and basketball hoops, students will have a number of activities to choose from during their outdoor recess. 
• New Monthly Calendars: This year, the CSA will be sending home a monthly calendar in your child’s Friday Folder. This calendar will include upcoming events and activities to plan for and look forward to. 
• Tennis Carnival: All district elementary schools and the Fifth Grade Center are participating in a fundraiser for the CSA on October 1st, from 6pm to 8pm, at the Frontenac Racquet Club. More details will be sent out shortly. 
• Spirit Wear: The CSA will have spirit wear available for purchase at the Conway Kickoff
• Upcoming Trivia Night and Auction: CSA will be hosting a trivia night and auction at the JCC on November 4th. 
• Teacher Wish Lists: All Conway teachers were asked to create wish lists for items that would make their classrooms that much more engaging and enriching for students. Room parents will be sharing these lists in the coming weeks. 
• Membership Toolkit Reminders: It is crucial that all families register for the Buzz Book, as well as considering contributing their annual CSA dues (which CSA Treasurer Maru Sanchez will speak more about, below). They can do so here: https://conwaycsa.membershiptoolkit.com/ 
• Membership Toolkit is how we communicate with parents. While some school-related communication can come from the office, the school is legally not able to share everyone’s contact information with the CSA. As a result, any families not registered in MTK will not receive a majority of communication about school events. 
• Membership Toolkit also functions as Conway’s Buzz Book. That means it is the primary resource for other parents to communicate with one another. 
• ***Even if you registered for MTK for previous school years, you will need to update your child’s teacher information in order for your contact information to be considered “active” in the system. 

• Treasurer Updates (Maru Sanchez)

• Where Your CSA Dues Go: The CSA is proud to provide a robust, well-rounded experience at Conway for all students. However, we can’t do it alone! We rely on the support of our Conway community as well. When you contribute your suggested $75 per-student dues to the CSA, you’re helping us achieve:
• Student Support (field trips at each grade level, classroom activities and parties)
• Teacher Support (teacher appreciation, holiday gifts, conference meals, classroom needs)
• Community Building (Popsicles in the Park, First-Day Coffee, Family Fun Nights, Year-End Carnival)
• Administrative Support (website maintenance, operation expenses)