This dance is FREE to students and their families.  Parents, please attend with your children or arrange a chaperone. This is NOT a drop off event.  

We are going to have club sign up next Sunday at noon, but the clubs offerings will be very limited.  

What has changed?  With the growth of our school, space is limited.  This summer Huntsville City Schools developed a new Facilities Use Structure and Rate Schedule per the Board of Education.  These items determine new requirements for who/how space within the school is charged.  They also no longer allow PTA to be a club sponsor.  All clubs must now pay hourly for the space provided to them and secure a $1million liability insurance policy - unless sponsored by a teacher staff member.  Those clubs sponsored by a staff member must be free for students.

Where did my favorite club go?  With the above changes, German has decided she cannot continue and Art is questionable.  Chess is being sponsored by a staff member and SteamWorks and Fantasy Playhouse, which already carry insurance as they are non-profit companies, are incorporating any new fees into their rate structure.  I am still waiting to hear from FitKids, but time is rapidly running out.

Why is this happening only to us?  Trust me, it is not.  These new fee and insurance requirements are district wide as it is a directive from the school board.  Other schools are feeling the same strain on clubs.

 

What does this mean for this semester?  I have confirmation for SteamWorks to offer two clubs per day on two days, Chess, Fantasy Playhouse, and possibly FitKids and Art.  Right now the calendar looks like this:  

	Monday	Tuesday	Thursday
Library:	SteamWorks K-2	SteamWorks K-2	Chess
Library:	SteamWorks 3-5	SteamWorks 3-5
Outside:	Fit Kids??	Fit Kids??	Fit Kids??
Library Media:	Art ??	Art ??	Fantasy Playhouse

What does this mean going forward? Next year and on??  Honestly, I do not know.  The PTA board is in discussion right now on the feasibility of the After School Enrichment position in the future.  With the new requirements it appears clubs is leaning more toward non-profits coming in the schools and away from the parent or volunteer led activities.  With the growth of HCES we are running out of space to host clubs.  If you believe hosting clubs is a priority, please let PTA know and we will forward your concerns to Ms. Spivey.

I have included the above information, as well as the policy and rate sheets to our website, here. 

~ Every little bit counts ~

Do you input your phone number when you check out at Publix?  This is a super easy way to support HCES.  Simply create your account and select HCES PTA, then input your phone number when you check out.  This has replaced the key chain cards, and is so easy!

Box tops:  keep clipping and scanning those receipts!  We will be collecting again in the new year.

Bottletops:  please make sure that you are washing the bottle tops and sending them in clean.  We really don't want to bring bugs or mice into our schools!