For the benefit of the new families to our school (and as a review to our existing families), the following is a brief synopsis of the St. Catherine Laboure Home and School Association (better known as the HSA).

The present HSA came into existence as a result of various previous incarnations including FACE, the FAA, and for an extended period the FSA (Family and School Association). The objective of these groups was to foster parental involvement in the school, assist in school fundraising activities, develop and run social events under school guidelines, and assist the school through parental volunteer programs in the conduct of many daily or weekly activities (e.g. hot lunch, computer lab, etc.). In effect, these groups carried out the traditional role of a public school’s PTA, but went far beyond that in being an important part of every day school life.

The HSA carries on the traditions of its predecessor’s, in addition to working with the school administration and the school board in tactical and strategic planning for both academic and facility needs of the school. The HSA also serves to assist in communicating the ideas and comments of parents to the school administration. In this role, the HSA does not recommend school policy, but may act in assisting the school administration in the conduct of these policies via mutual understanding of the school administration, school board, the HSA, and the Pastor. The HSA basically runs and manages its own affairs, but under the authority and jurisdiction of the Pastor. Any monies collected by the HSA via fundraising efforts are the property of the school/parish.

The general membership of the HSA consists of all fathers, mothers, guardians, and sponsors of the students of St. Catherine Laboure. In addition, the Pastor, school principal, and all members of the faculty and clergy are part of the general membership. General membership meetings are held four times a year, with the first meeting being the back to school meeting, and the last meeting being the election of officers.

The officers of the HSA consist of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary (the latter being an assistant officer position). The term of office for the officers is one year, although an individual may serve up to two consecutive years in the same post. There is also an HSA Executive Committee which meets once a month and is comprised of all officers, committee leaders, the school principal, the vice-principal, the Pastor, and a teacher representative. Others may be invited to the Executive meetings as the need arises.

The actual committees which the HSA manages and runs include fundraising (via parent efforts and endowments), socials, the development and maintenance of the school directory, the HSA newsletter, the annual Science/Humanities Fair, and Special Projects (these being tactical objectives such as facility improvements, academic programs, etc.). The committee leaders and their volunteer coordinators are responsible for communication with their committee membership, and the planning and conduct of their various activities. There is a coordination of these groups with the school administration/parish in following school guidelines for the use of facilities, dates of events, and other regulations.

There exist a number of other committees that are not under the HSA, but the school administration. These include, but not limited to, hot lunch, computer aides, field trips, homeroom parents, etc. The distinction between these committees and the HSA are that these are primarily activities conducted during the normal school day/week, where the HSA activities may straddle various time periods including after school/evening. The common factor is the need and appreciation of parent volunteers to assist these groups. Please refer to the committee job descriptions elsewhere in this handbook for more specific information.