Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic School  Pre-K ~ 8th grade

Holy Childhood Organization of Parents and Educators

The purpose of this organization is to promote the spiritual enrichment of its members and their families; to foster a closer union between the home and the school; to promote the physical welfare of the children in our school; and to support and give the necessary material aid for the maintenance and improvement of the school so that it may better carry out the purpose of educating our children.

For example, HOPE raises money to purchase educational items for the classes, send the classes on field trips, purchase necessary items for the school, sponsor parties (Fall Festival, Christmas, and School Picnic), etc.

All parents who have children registered in Holy Childhood School, as well as teachers, and faculty of Holy Childhood School are automatically members of the organization.  All Lifetime Members of Holy Childhood Mothers’ Club are members of the organization.

Skating Party – 

Magazine Fundraiser – August 27, 2008 until September 12, 2008

HOPE Christmas Party Potluck – December 2, 2008

HOPE Dinner Meeting - February

Meetings

Regular meetings shall be held on the first Tuesday of each month from September to May unless advised otherwise.  The time of the meetings shall be at 6:45 p.m., unless announced otherwise.  A 50/50 drawing is held at each meeting, wherein members can purchase a ticket for $0.50, and at the end of the meeting, a winner(s) is drawn.   At each regular meeting, an attendance trophy is awarded to the class that has the highest percentage of parents in attendance at the meeting.  The winning class keeps the “attendance trophy” until the next meeting.  At each regular meeting, every attendee receives an attendance ticket.  If your ticket is drawn, you receive a $40.00 credit toward your family’s lunch bill, which is paid directly to the school.

Refreshment Schedule

Please bring baked good items with you to the meeting or send in with your child that day. OR you may send in $3 to HOPE Refreshments prior to the meeting. Thank you for your support.

Starting with the 2000-2001 school year, there will be no dues for membership.

Special Activities

Best Choice Labels – Our club saves “Best Choice” labels from products that can be purchased from the local grocery store, Tom’s Supermarkets.  For every 1000 labels that we turn in, our club receives $30.00.  In addition, we receive a $30.00 bonus at some point during the school year.  What an easy way to make some money for the school! 

Box Tops – Our club saves Box Tops for the “Box Top$ For Education” program offered by General Mills.  We receive 10¢ in cash for every Box Top we turn in.

Magazine Sales – Our major fundraiser is a magazine program. Each HOPE family is asked to purchase their magazine subscriptions and renewals through “QSP” (a Reader’s Digest Company), as well as to ask friends to purchase their subscriptions.  We ask that students and their families do not go door to door selling magazines.  Our club receives 40% of the profits from the sales.  Our first year we made over $2,000 with only approximately 40 families participating.  The last two years we made over $9,000 in a two to three week time frame. 

Campbell's Soup Labels – Our club saves Campbell's Soup labels for the “Labels For Education” program offered by Campbell's.  We turn in the labels in exchange for school related merchandise.

Tom’s Super Savers – Our club saves the “Super Savers” stamps from Tom’s Supermarkets, the local grocery store.  For every stamp we turn in, we receive 1 cent (or $0.40 per filled Super Saver Check).

Playground/Cafeteria Helpers – Parents and grandparents are asked to volunteer a few hours a day, a week, or a month, to help at lunch in the cafeteria and supervise the playground during lunch recesses.  Each month a grade(s) is assigned primary responsible to find volunteers.  If we can provide volunteers, this frees up more time for our teachers to work on other projects, grade papers, give them a break, etc.

First Reconciliation Reception – The Room Parent Chairperson coordinates with the 3^rd Grade Room Parent to sponsor a reception after First Reconciliation.  Snacks and drinks are provided to the 2^nd Grade class and their families. 

Confirmation Reception – The Room Parent Chairperson coordinates with the 5^th and 6^th Grade Room Parents to sponsor a reception after Confirmation.  Snacks and drinks are provided to the Confirmation class and their families. 

School Picnic – Each year, our club sponsors the annual School Picnic for all students.  The picnic is typically held in May with the site and activities to be determined.  Club members are encouraged to volunteer as needed.

Skating Party – Each year, our club sponsors a Skating Party for Holy Childhood Students and their Families at Fun Spot Skating Rink, Belleville, Illinois.  Skate rental is not included.

Officers and Their Duties

President – The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint chairpersons of the Standing Committees, appoint two auditors to audit the books at the end of the club year, sign all official papers and documents of the organization, promote the club to prospective new members, and perform such other duties as are usually attached to the office of President.

First Vice-President – The First Vice-President shall have all the powers and perform all the duties of the President in the absence of the President, shall be chairperson of the Membership Committee, and shall appoint the Finance Chairperson in January.

Second Vice-President – The Second Vice-President shall perform the duties of any office that may be vacant.  He or she shall also be Chairperson of the Public Relations Committee.

Secretary – The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the organization and Executive Board meetings and submit these minutes at the following meetings.  He or she shall notify the Board members of the date and time of the Executive Board meetings, conduct the correspondence of the organization, notify the membership of special elections, and sign all documents, resolutions and papers of the organization.

Treasurer – The Treasurer shall pay all obligations of the organization after they have been authorized by the members or by the Executive Board, keep a record of all moneys received or disbursed, provide change in containers for all club projects when needed, and present a report of the financial conditions of the organization at all meetings of the organization and the Executive Board.

Standing Committees

Executive Board – The Executive Board consists of all officers of the organization, as well as appointed standing committee chairpersons.  The Executive Board shall supervise and promote the activities of the organization.  They may authorize expenditures of the organization not to exceed $100 with exception of Christmas gifts.

Membership – The Membership Chairperson shall promote the attendance of the members at the activities of the organization, keep a record of all members and of their attendance at the meetings, remember members and their immediate families on appropriate occasions (often referred to as the “Sunshine” committee), and appoint assistants as needed.

Social and Program – The Social and Program Committee shall plan programs for the meetings, (including the annual Christmas Party), and assist other club projects at the President’s request.

Public Relations – The Public Relations chairperson shall notify the diocesan and local papers of all special events and shall publicize all club projects.

Finance - The Finance Chairperson shall plan and arrange all financial activities of the organization with the approval of the Executive Board of the general membership, and may form a committee and delegate the responsibility of any project to one or more members of this committee

Refreshments – The Refreshment Committee shall plan and arrange for the serving of refreshments at the monthly meetings and other club projects.  Each month several parents from a designated class are asked to either donate snacks or drinks for the meetings (for example, parents of the 7^th grade class may be asked to bring snacks for the October meeting).

Room Parents – The Room Parents Committee shall consist of a chairperson and a parent(s) representing each class.  The committee shall arrange, supervise or assist at assigned school projects, and plan and supervise the annual Christmas Party and School Picnic.  Room parents will also be responsible for communicating with the class teacher to assist in finding chaperones for field trips, finding volunteers to help with playground duty, etc.

Special Committees

HOPE shall also establish committees and/or sponsor the following as necessary: Pro-Life Liaison, Baby/Raffle quilts, Library, Officer Nominations, Athletic Banquet, Vacation Bible School, Sergeant at Arms, Auditors, Beta Banquet and School Uniforms.

Conclusion

Our Parish Renewal Prayer says it all: Holy Spirit, open our minds and hearts to receive your wisdom. Give us the courage to become more like Jesus in all that we do and say. Amen.

Providing a quality Catholic education for the children of  Mascoutah and the surrounding area since 1882.

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Last modified: 07/11/08