Meetings

Lancer Parent Organization

General Membership Meeting Minutes

Monday, September 08, 2025 7:00pm

Lafayette High School Room 180

Attendees: Suzanna Ney, Deanna Vardeman, Monika Sud, Jen Adams, Karen Calcaterra, Rhonda Shrum, Aleta Harris, Jenny Champlin, Stacy Nagel, Chelsea Watson, April Ladner, Sara Robeson, Jennifer Zeck, Elizabeth Nolan, Jeanne Flowers, and Giovanna Lear, Dawn Hagen, Marnell Dickson, and Joe Kanapas.

Welcome/Call to Order, Giovanna Lear

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm.

Secretary, Suzanna Ney

-       Jenny Chaplin motioned to approve 8/11/25 meeting minutes. Deanna Vardeman seconded the motion. The motion carried. 

Principal, Karen Calcaterra

-       Thank you Dr. Cain for presenting to LPO on Prop S.

-       No cell phone policy going well. Nice to see students interacting in the hallway. - US News World Report: Lafayette is ranked #5 in the State, #4 in St. Louis, and #1 in the Rockwood School District. Congratulations!

-       Excited to report Lafayette is fully staffed, including all support staff. This is the first time in 3 years all support staff positions have been filled.

-       The Homecoming Dance will be held from 7:00 - 9:30pm.

-       Parent/Teacher Conference Dinner will be on October 9, 2025.

-       September 11th Ceremony - 1st Responder breakfast and ROTC presentation.

President, Giovanna Lear 

-       Jen Adams motioned to vote on Standing Rules. Rhonda Shrum seconded the motion. Standing Rules passed - all in favor.

-       Direct Donation Goal met - exceeded last year’s goal. Personal thank-yous will be distributed. - The Annual President’s Forum Leadership Conference is September 10, 2025 at 5:30 pm.  - LHS to host President’s Forum Coffee with the Superintendent on November 12th at 9:00 am. Room location will be decided and shared soon.

-       Membership Toolkit (MTK) is the main location for volunteer sign-ups. All Class and PTO volunteer shifts for 2025 - 2026 are posted and open for parent sign-ups.

-       The MTK now has a Direct Donation Form which allows people to access the form as guests and not require creating an account.

-       Parent Coffee prior to the first day of school was well received, recommending scheduling the coffee for next year prior to school start.

-       School Store was open August 13th - August 15th and August 27th was a success. Many parents and students stopped in to buy their spirit wear. Recommend opening the School Store prior to school start next year.

-       We are researching the podiums to purchase as gifts from Class of 2024 and 2025

-       LHS and the Special School District of St. Louis County have partnered to make Lafayette a Vocational Skills Program site. Contact Chelsea Watson for any questions and feedback on the program and/or intern positions in the school store as a liaison.

-       The District is completing a district-wide key inventory and therefore additional School Store keys are currently not available. Currently Dr. Calcaterra, LPO President, LPO Treasurer, and Lancer Landings Store Manager have a set with one extra set in the Welcome Center for Store Shift Leads.

Treasurer, Deanna Vardeman 

-       Sara Robeson motioned to vote on 2025 - 2026 Operating Budget. Deanna Vardeman seconded the motion. 2025 - 2026 Operating Budget passed - all in favor.

-       Reviewed the July and August 2025 Financial Report.

-       Reminder to complete the Financial Responsibility Form in the MTK.

-       The 2024 - 2025 Compliance Review is in process and will be completed by October. - The LPO has opened a Savings Account for Surplus Funds. Discussion around Interest Income and the Treasurer will research options.

-       Discussion around Surplus Funds and allocation of excess funds between Classes. Each Class decides where to allocate their surplus funds upon graduation. As stated by the President, will be purchasing the two podiums. Additional surplus with no direction will be discussed with Dr. Calcaterra for school needs/wish list. 

VP Communications, Aleta Harris

 

Newsletter:

-       Reminder to respond to weekly requests for Newsletter information.

 

MTK:

-       The MTK Directory has been updated based on the Parent Square Directory. - The MTK database currently has 1,620 students (290 Freshman, 427 Sophomores, 446 Juniors, and 457 Seniors), including dual family households. There are still 175 more students listed in the Parent Square Directory compared to MTK Directory. Will follow-up once the LHS Registrar completes the FERPA process.

 

Social Media:

-       Social Media Chair position is open. Looking for a volunteer.

-       Class Representatives will have administrative access to LHS Community Events on their social media pages to post for fundraising events.

-       Class Directors are engaged and very active on the Class Facebook groups, which are an extension of Lafayette Lancer Parent Facebook page and newsfeed.

-       Since the creation in August, 2024, Lafayette Lancer News Instagram has reached over 1,000 followers, Lafayette Lancer Facebook profile has 1.1K followers, Lafayette Lancer News Facebook page has 443 followers, LHS Community Events Instagram (formally TOWC page) has 182 followers, and LHS Community Events Facebook (formally TOWC) has 245 followers.

 

Website Manager:

-       Currently working in coordination with the Rockwood School District Communications department to update the LPO page on the LHS site.

-       LPO Meeting Minutes and Financials are current and posted on the LPO page

-       MTK site includes one page with Class News, which includes contact information, social media links, volunteer sign-up links and current announcements.

VP School Community, April Ladner 

 

Volunteer Coordinator:

-       Looking for Class of 2029 Co-Directors and other Class of 2029 position volunteers. - Continue to receive volunteer interest each week

 

Community Events:

-       Homecoming Theme is “Lancer State of Mind”

-       Homecoming Parade is Friday, September 26, 2025 with a start time of 5:30pm. The parade will have three judges. We have invited the Wildwood and Ellisville Mayors. Looking for a theme related judge (maybe someone from NYC or theater?).

-       The Special Olympics has tentatively been scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2026.   

 

Staff Appreciation: Staff Dinners:

-       October 9, 2025 will be the night that dinner will be offered to teachers/staff during Parent/Teacher Conferences. The staff survey is available to gather feedback on meal preferences.

-       Donuts were provided to all staff the first Friday of school (August 22, 2025).

VP School Support, Monika Sud 

 

Lancer Direct Donation Campaign:

-       As shared by the President, our Goal has been met. A total of 70 families donated. Would like to continue advertising the campaign for awareness. Please share ideas.

 

Lancer’s Landing - Inventory, Chelsea Watson

-       Students are slowly adjusting to the new food guidelines for “smart snacks.”

-       Upcoming Pretzel Days: September 16, 2025, September 30, 2025, and Fun Food Fridays: September 19, 2025.

-       Currently re-evaluating some prices due to increased cash sales and shortage of quarters.

 

Lancer’s Landing Operations:

-       School Store gift card sales are steady and a good solution for lack of Apple pay - Store Operating Manual is complete and located in the store. Will need to make some minor updates to the manual in the future.

-       Successful shift lead volunteer training and now have four Morning Shift Leads. Open Shifts include Morning Shift Leads for Tuesday/Thursday and some Wednesday/Friday shifts.

-       Looking for Store Operations Manager volunteers.

-       The Substitute Sign Up List is empty - looking for substitute volunteers.

-       The Spring Semester Store Sign Up will be live and advertised in October 2025.

 

Spirit Wear:

-       Committee Chair(s) position open - May have a volunteer interested.

-       There is a staff discount of 20% currently being offered through September 12, 2025 on all new items.

-       Order placed to replenish men’s black polo shirts with the embroidery.

-       New merchandise will be purchased in October 2025 for the holidays.

Class Updates

Class of 2026 Director’s Report, Elizabeth Nolan/Rhonda Shrum

-       Senior Class Parent meeting tonight was a success with 14 total parents in attendance, 6 new parents.

-       Senior T-shirt sales are open between August 27 and September 11, 2025. Looking for Senior parent volunteers to distribute once a date is selected.

-       Boots, Bling, and Brunch Mother/Special Guest & Daughter Event is November 8, 2025 at 10:00am at Forest Hills Country Club.

-       Casino Royale Father/Special Guest & Son Event is November 8, 2025 at 7:00 pm at Forest Hills Country Club.

-       Senior Class Parent Volunteer Sign-up is current and open.

-       Looking for Blink of an Eye Video volunteer(s).

-       Mother/Special Guest & Son and Father/Special Guest & Daughter Events are scheduled for March 7, 2026.

Class of 2027 Director’s Report, Jen Adams/Jenny Archambeault

-       TOWC Parent Volunteer Sign-up is current and open.

 

Class of 2028 Director’s Report, Jenny Champlin/Stacy Nagel/Sara Robeson

-       Class Trivia Night Parent Volunteer Sign-up is current and open.

-       Parent meeting planned for September 15, 2025.

Class of 2029 Director’s Report, Open

-       Welcome to the Class of 2029 Treasurer, Tara Sintek.

-       Class Winter Carnival Parent Volunteer Sign-up is current and open.

Next Meeting

-       Monday, October 13, 2025 at 7:00 pm 

Adjournment by President Giovanna Lear at 8:37pm