2021-22 GCS PARENTS ASSOCIATION COMMITTEES

Activities and events may vary in the 2021-22 school year.

Want to get involved? Please email pa@gcsct.org

FAITH - SERVICE - OUTREACH

Chairs: Magda Chrostowski- Service Day. Service Day cochairs needed.

St. Raphael’s - Diane Manello and Mags Conroy. Inspirica chair needed.
PA Board Contact: Sarah Gengo

This committee serves to encourage spiritual growth and fellowship for all GCS families by coordinating service opportunities and charitable drives to support various organizations in our community. There are multiple ways to get involved, depending on your area of interest.

BEAUTIFICATION

Chair: Raul Perez rperez3@aol.com Jennifer Spaziante
PA Board Contact: Jen LaPietra

This committee helps to enhance the beauty of our school, year-round, starting with the 1^st day of school.  With the help of volunteers, the Beautification committee decorates our school with back-to-school, holiday, and seasonal decorations and plantings to create a warm and welcoming environment for our new and returning students and families.

FACULTY LIAISON

Co-Chairs: Maria Elena Gaztambide mtrullols@hotmail.com and Nicole Hartman.
PA Board Contact: Jason Drexel

This committee runs the Apple Program, which provides teachers with donated gifts throughout the school year.  On a monthly basis, this committee, with the help of volunteers, puts together gift baskets which are handed out through a lottery amongst the teachers. 

In addition, this committee is in charge of putting together, with volunteers, 2 teacher luncheons during the year – one during Catholic Schools Week in late January/early February, and the other during Teacher Appreciation Week in early May.  The committee also provides goodies each day for our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, as well as a gift for each teacher/staff. This committee also coordinates volunteers to donate snacks to be brought to the teachers' lounges on a bi-monthly basis.

LIBRARY & ART COORDINATOR

Chair: Kristin Galvin kmaygal@hotmail.com
PA Board Contact: Sarah Gengo

This committee organizes both the library volunteer schedule for the library classes in 1^st – 5^th grades as well as general volunteers for the Librarian. These volunteers assist the Librarian in stacking and examining books. They also go online to find replacement books when needed.  These volunteers also assist them with special projects, curriculum support, helping teachers with research, supporting children during class time, and checking books in and out. These volunteers also coordinate volunteers for the art classes for 1^st and 2^nd grades.

BOOK FAIR

Chairs: Laura Aybar; Maureen Maguire; Stephanie Heffner; Joe Kreisberg
PA Board Contact: Jen LaPietra

The Book Fair Committee runs two Book Fairs throughout the year, in the fall and the spring. With the help of Scholastic Books, and potentially other sources, the committee offers age-appropriate, best-selling books as well as puts together teacher wish lists and required reading lists.  The Book Fair is open for four days to the entire GCS community.

PIZZA LUNCH

Chairs: Donna Malusis mickey6151@aol.com Maureen Maguire
mmaguire730@gmail.com Laura Aybar
Pizza Treasurer: Kat Blanding
PA Board Contact: Jason Drexel
This committee organizes a pizza hot lunch service that the students enjoy on Wednesdays throughout the school year.  Each Chair is responsible for 1 Wednesday a month.  Committee chairs are responsible for distributing and keeping track of student signups, ordering pizza and ice cream for Wednesday’s Pizza days, and organizing volunteers to help serve each week.  The kids love seeing their parents during their lunch hour!

WELCOME

Chair: Marisa McDonnell marismcdonnell08@gmail.com
PA Board Contact: Jen LaPietra

This committee, with the help of volunteers, welcomes new families to GCS.  “Buddies” are assigned to new families over the summer months to assist with any questions and to help make new families and students feel welcome to our community. Additionally, the Welcome Committee hosts a cocktail party in the Convent to welcome new families to the school.  This committee also serves as the parent ambassador committee which is responsible for coordinating with the Admissions office to organize school tour volunteers.

HALLMARK
Chair: Jen LaPietra
This committee is responsible for sending cards, flowers, and gifts to families and staff for thank
you’s, birthdays, deaths, etc. This committee also provides thank you gifts/cards to committee
chairs throughout the year and at the end of the school year.

ANGEL DAY

Chairs:   Meghan Novack and Veronica Buzzi.
PA Board Contact: Maura Lynn

This committee plans and coordinates a day when GCS families can invite Angels into the lives of their students (grandparents, aunts, uncles, special friends) to share part of the school day with them.  The Chairs main responsibilities include:  meeting with the appropriate faculty and staff to plan the day, creating invitations, tracking responses, organizing Mass for the students and Angels, arranging a sit-down breakfast for the Angels, purchasing ornaments for the Angels, organizing many volunteers who help make the day possible and coordinating classroom visits. The time commitment of this Committee runs from October through the beginning of December with an increased amount of time spent in the days before the event.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Chairs: Diana Crai and Katy Nelson
PA Board Contact: Maura Lynn

This committee organizes a breakfast for the lower school to meet Santa during the holiday season.  Held in the Convent, Santa comes and brings a small gift for each child. Grades PreK - 1st, plus siblings, are invited.

BINGO NIGHT

Chairs: OPEN
PA Board Contact: Jason Drexel

This committee organizes a Family Fun Night event for all the families at GCS to take place during the second half of the school year. Traditionally, this night involves the coordination of up to 500 participants for the playing of Bingo with prizes and raffles for all.  The cost for tickets includes pizza.

FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE

Chair: Chris Keen
PA Board Contact: Sarah Gengo

This committee organizes a dinner/dance for PreK-8th grade girls and their fathers to be held in the gymnasium.  

MOTHER/SON OUTING

Co-Chairs: Amy Kreisberg
PA Board Contact: Sarah Gengo

This committee organizes an outing or game night in the school gymnasium for PreK-8th boys and their mothers.

FIELD DAY

Co-Chairs: Kim Higgs, kimjhiggs@hotmail.com
PA Board Contact: Sarah Gengo

This committee works with the athletic director to organize field activities and lunch for grades K-7 in June.

CULTURAL

Co-Chairs: Rosemary Chakko Kallickal & Elizabeth Rogers
PA Board Contact: Maura Lynn

This committee strives to increase students’ awareness of different cultures, within the United States and across the globe, by offering a variety of programs. These programs will be planned for the entire student body or smaller grade-level groupings to help students increase their cultural understanding.

HALLOWEEN PARTY

Chairs: Magda Chrostowski, (mkchrostowski@gmail.com )
PA Board Contact: Jason Drexel

This Committee organizes a Halloween Party in the gym for the students of GCS. Chairs will coordinate fun, seasonal activities, pizza, music, and games for an afternoon of fun.

CELEBRATE THE ARTS DAY

Chair: Magda Chrostowski (mkchrostowski@gmail.com )
PA Board Contact: Maura Lynn

This Committee organizes a day to bring a variety of local artists to the school. The kids will explore different kinds of art filled with interactive presentations and hands-on art activities.