DeSales Catholic School, Lockport, NY

The DeSales Home School Association (known at many schools as the PTA or PTO) is an organization made up of DeSales families, teachers, and administrators. Our primary purpose is to enhance the learning environment at DeSales by promoting school unity, supporting the home-school connection, and providing financial support to our school.

Join us at our meetings, held in the school cafeteria at 7:00 pm on the first Tuesday of each month. In addition to committee reports and an update from the Principal, most meetings feature an interesting guest speaker, or a showcase of our children's talents. Free babysitting is provided.

You can get involved by chairing a committee, being an extra set of hands, sharing ideas, or just listening. And you never know, you may just be the lucky winner of the drawing for a free month of tuition held at every meeting. As an added bonus, children of all the parents in attendance will receive an "Out of Uniform" day later in the month!

Each year the HSA sponsors two major fundraising events, a Cash Raffle in the Fall, and an Auction in the Spring. Participation by every family is strongly encouraged, because a portion of the funds raised at these events is pledged to the school's operating budget. Their success has a direct impact on all of our families ....without these fundraising efforts, our tuition rates would rise dramatically.

Get involved with your Home School Association - It makes a difference in your child's life!

This year's event is Sat., March 7th! This fundraiser has something for everyone! FIRST you do your part to keep tuition costs down by selling your family's allotment of raffle tickets. Then you can help from home, you can help set up, you can help clean up, and most importantly, you can help gather gifts for the auction. After all the prep work is done you can invite some friends and relatives and come out and have a very entertaining evening! This event provides much-needed funds for our school and is also a whole lot of fun!

Cash Raffle – Chairmen: Mary & Jeff Miller

The 2nd of our two major fund raisers will be held this year on November 15th. Each $100 raffle ticket purchased gives you a chance at over 20 cash prizes, including the grand prize of $5000! Each ticket also provides admission for two aduults to a fun party where the lucky winners are announced. Committee members serve as team captains to coordinate the sale of the tickets, and help with set-up on the night of the raffle. All DeSales families are asked to support the event by purchasing one ticket for themselves, or by selling a ticket to friends or relatives.

Easter Candy - Chairman:
Everyone loves Easter Candy, so why not get yours from us! Orders for delicious Niagara Chocolates are taken in the months preceding Easter. This committee needs help with collecting orders and manning the candy pick-up at school just before Easter recess.

Family Mass - Chairman: Joe & Kim Treanor
Help this committee organize a DeSales family Mass at one of our supporting parishes during Catholic Schools week. People are needed to plan the liturgy, help out at Mass, and clean up after the social.

Field Day - Co-Chairmen: Karen Smeal and

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 - Help the kids enjoy their day of fun at the end of the year. Volunteers are needed to organize and staff this huge event. HSA provides a day of activity at school for the students in grades 1-5, as well as fun at Briarwood Pool Club for the Middle school students.

Graduation - Chairman: Mary Murphy
Help us continue the tradition of giving our graduates a memorable send off in June. Led by parents of 6th or 7th grade students, this committee organizes the annual pre-graduation breakfast, and the reception held at church after the graduation mass. Volunteers are also needed to help craft a DeSales keepsake presented to the graduates at the breakfast. Graduation is set for Thursday, June 25, 2009.

Halloween Party - Chairman: Ann Murphy-Beaulieu

Help to plan a spooky night of fun for our families. Help is needed with costume contests, decorations, and treats for the kids.

New Family Welcome - Chairman: Ange Koeppen

Kick off the school year with a great gathering of DeSales families one week before the start of classes. The members of this committee plan a picnic dinner on the school lawn for over 800 people! Many hands make light work, so join in the fun!

The Pipeline - Chairman: Jim Fox
This monthly newsletter keeps parents and teachers up to date on the latest news from DeSales and the H.S.A. Click on the link to email your good news to Jim.

Room Parents - Chairman: Beth Mullane
Help us keep the teachers and parents connected. Room parents assist with holiday parties, special classroom projects, and coordinate each homeroom's contribution to the Spring Auction.

Scrip Program - Chairman: Kathy Good

Scrip is a wonderful fundraising program run by HSA. When you purchase Scrip, you’re purchasing negotiable gift certificates and prepaid cards that are used like cash. Scrip is purchased at face value and each retailer gives DeSales a discount, anywhere from 2% to 25% of the face value of the certificate. Click here for Scrip ordering information.

Sunshine - Chairmen: Stacey Pellicano & Terese Alex Prayer Chain: Kelly Preisch
Be part of a committee that makes others feel better! You can cook, bake, write notes, make phone calls, and provide practical help of all kinds for DeSales families in need.
Also, email Kelly to participate in the Prayer Chain! We all know how powerful prayer can be - join our e-mail prayer chain and help make a difference in other's lives!

Trash to Cash - Chairman:
Here's a committee that raises money all year long. Save your General Mills Box tops, Campbell's soup labels, as well as fax and printer ink cartridges and send them all into school. All this "trash" is redeemed for school supplies and cash to purchase necessities for DeSales. Join in to help with counting and sorting throughout the year.

Teacher Appreciation - Chairman: Connie Cox
Help show our teachers how much we appreciate them. We give gifts to our faculty members for Birthdays, Christmas, and at the beginning and end of each school year. This committee is active all year round and often needs bakers and occasional helpers at school.

Uniform Exchange - Chairman:Cindy MacDonald, and Lynn Dimond
This free service provides gently used school uniforms for our students. Members of this committee help keep the donated items sorted and organized, and work to fill requests for items as they come in throughout the year. For a printable copy of the uniform exchange request form, Click here

Check out the lastest edition of the H.S.A. newsletter!

Click on the link for a printable version of this month's Pipeline

Click on the link below to see minutes from our monthly meetings:

DeSales Catholic School

Home School Association Officers 2008-2009

H.S.A. Overview