What HSA Does to Support Your School and Family

Did you know...

Many social, service, and fundraising activities at STM are sponsored by the Home and School Association (HSA) -- a collaborative organization to which all school families, faculty, and staff are members.

HSA owes its long history of success to parent and grandparent volunteers on whom HSA is completely dependent. An extraordinary amount of voluntary time is donated each year to ensure the ongoing success of the Association and its sponsored activities.

Thanks to HSA fundraising efforts and the generosity of STM families, each year HSA is able to provide significant support to benefit the faculty, students, families, and the school facility.

The Auction, Gift Wrap, and Christmas Tree sales comprise the largest of HSA’s fundraisers, which collectively raised $100,000 this year.

Did you know...

HSA annually provides faculty with:

• Training and Development programs ($5000 this year);
• Resources for the classrooms. Last year, HSA contributed $10,000 to teacher wish-list requests;
• Luncheons and celebrations of birthdays and other special events;
• Appreciation gifts for all the faculty and school staff.

Did you know…

HSA provides many programs, activities and services for students and their families:

• HSA coordinates every facet of the Hot Lunch Program, a program that is also subsidized by HSA. HSA is responsible for developing the Online Lunch Order System that will be available for the 2006-07 school year.
• HSA provides 100% of the resources to support Academic Enrichment programs such as Math Superstars and Jr. Great Books;
• HSA provides 100% financial support for Cultural Enrichment programs to bring performers and entertainers to the school. Five unique programs were presented this year.
• HSA coordinates and subsidizes many social activities for students and families, including the Halloween Carnival, Pasta Night, Newcomer’s Picnic, Spring Fling, and school dances and other social events for upper school students (six dances, a team-building event and Community Center athletic social were organized for the upper school students this year);
• HSA developed, maintains, and supports users of an email list system to facilitate and improve communications between committees, classes, parents and teachers.

Did you know…

HSA provides 10% of fundraising profits to the school Endowment Fund for tuition assistance to families in need ($12,000 last year);

HSA used its funds to purchase 30 new school computers two years ago.

Did you know…

Many HSA funds are used for making lasting improvements to the school.

15% of HSA's net fundraising profits each year go to the school’s Capital Reserves Fund toward long-term capital improvements ($18,000 last year);

Some projects funded by HSA in the last four years include:

• Installation of automatic doors at the entrances of the lower and upper schools ($3,500);
• Improvements to the playground ($34,000);
• Upgrading of the lower school intercom system to permit two-way conversations;
• Installation of new locks between the church and upper school doors to improve safety during school hours;
• Painting of the large and welcoming mural at the lower school entrance;
• Re-carpeting of the school library.

A number of “School Renovation” projects are planned for this summer (some have already been completed) using HSA funds raised THIS year:

• Construction of new storage units in 13 classrooms in the lower school ($70,000);
• Installation of a hot water heater to provide warm water for the bathrooms in the lower school ($5,000);
• Installation of new fencing in the parking lot behind the lower school to better secure the playing areas ($5,000);
• Upgrading of the surface of the soccer-playing area and improved drainage on the playground; ($3,000; sodding completed);
• Installation of bollards (large posts) near the back gym door to protect children and teachers on the car pool line ($1,500; completed);
• Installation of synchronized clocks in all lower school classrooms ($1,000);
• Improved signs at the school entrances and on campus;
• Installation of a large bulletin board near the lower school entrance to display news, pictures and events "Brought To You By HSA".