The North Hills News
A publication of the PTA at P.S. 221, The North Hills School, A 2013
National Blue Ribbon School
February 2015
A Message from our PTA President, Michelle
Stein
I hope that you all enjoyed the snow and before we know it, spring weather
will be upon us.
I wanted to send a very big thank you to the parents who volunteered for the
Multi-Cultural Fair. The students enjoyed learning about the different cultures that make up our school. We also look forward to all the events yet to
come. The Sky Dome program will be held on February 9th and the 3rd
grade recorder concert will be on February 13th. Our annual Scholastic Book
Fair will be held on March 18th and 19th. Please be sure to visit during the
evening of Parent Teacher Conferences. The students in 2nd and 3rd grade
will have their Fun and Games Party on March 20th.
The Yearbook and 5th grade Committees have been busy putting together
and planning the 5th grade memorable events. Please submit photos and
baby pictures if you haven’t already. Also, please keep and eye out for the
notices about 5th grade activities. Although the International Food Fair will
be held in May, it’s never too early to plan ahead. If you are interested in
participating by chairing a table, joining a country’s food table or taking
part as you have in the past, we would love to see the tradition of many cultures of P.S. 221 represented.
Information regarding the positions available for the 2015-2016 Executive
Board slate will be coming home within the next few weeks. If you are interested in running for a position on the PTA Executive Board or SLT
(School Leadership Team), please return the tear off and submit to the PTA.
Running for the Executive Board is a way that you can support the school
community and make a difference in the lives of our students. The Nominating Committee will be established at our March meeting, if you are interested in becoming a member of this committee and are not planning on running for an executive position, please consider joining.
Thank you for your continued support. It is all team effort to make all of
our efforts successful. I look forward to seeing you at the next PTA meeting on March 12th.
Happening
in
February
Thursday, 02/05
Family Art Night
Monday, 02/09
Sky Dome
Tuesday, 02/10
Anti Bullying School
Assembly
Friday, 02/13
3rd Grade Recorder
Concert
02/16 through 02/20
Midwinter Recess
Thursday, 02/26
S.O. Crazy Look Day
P.S. 221 PTA
www.ps221pta.org
[email protected]
“I have decided to
stick with love.
Hate is too great a
burden to bear.”
Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.
Page 2– February 2015
Fundraising Updates
Stop & Shop 2014 - 2015 Program YTD
total earned:
$209.28-Thank you and keep shopping
through March 19, 2015 to earn more
rewards for our school!!!!
Box Tops for Education
This year's earnings:$584.60
This year's goal:$1,000.00
Keep Sending in those Box Tops!!!
Muddworks Fundraiser
Fundraising Total Funds Raised: $250
Barnes and Noble Fundraiser &
$890.00
$41.25
Panera Bread Restaurant Night
Programming News
Sky Dome will be setting up shop in our gymnasium on Monday, February 9th. P.S. 221 students will
be taken on a 45 minute journey through the universe from the comfort and security of our own school.
Sky Dome’s portable, inflatable planetarium will be set up in our gymnasium and it will dazzle our budding astronomers as they are taken on a tour of the solar system. Students will enter the dome and be
introduced to a "star filled" sky. The navigator with the use of a laser pointer, will guide students
through the stars of the Northern Hemisphere exactly as they appear on the day of the
presentation. Students will learn how to identify stars and constellations. They will be
introduced to Greek mythological characters and see how these heroes of the past can
be found in the stars. Students will witness the night sky in different seasons and
from different global perspectives. They will also be treated to a slide presentation
which enhances the presenter's tour of the Solar System!!
The 3rd Grade Recorder Concert is scheduled for 9:00 AM on Friday, February 13th in
the school auditorium. We are sure the 3rd graders have been working hard and they will
put on an excellent concert!!
The Renaissance Program for the lower grades commences on Friday, February 6th. The
lower grade students are given the opportunity to delve into the arts and sciences by choosing an area of study from painting without a paintbrush to baking to Spanish classes. They
are encouraged to channel their inner Picasso and create to their hearts content. Ask your
Kindergartner, 1st or 2nd grader which classes they chose!!!
Thank you to our programming chairs for securing such wonderful programs and thank you
to the parent and school community for participating in our various membership and
fundraising events making programs like these possible for our children.
Yearbook
ATTENTION 5TH GRADE PARENTS & GUARDIANS
The 2014-2015 Yearbook is well underway. For our graduating class and school to receive the yearbook in
June, the yearbook committee must have the yearbook designed and finished by April! That is why it is so
important that we have full parental cooperation when asking for items to be included in the yearbook. The
yearbook will be a very significant keepsake for our graduating class since it will feature their experiences in
P.S. 221 from Pre-kindergarten through 5th grade!!
Thank you to all the parents and guardians who have submitted one baby photograph of their children. The
5th graders will certainly enjoy trying to guess whose baby photo belongs to whom when they receive their
yearbooks!!! If you still haven’t sent in a baby photograph please do so immediately!!!
Our children will be filling out their P.S. 221 Memories and Favorites Survey this month.
There is still time to purchase a Recognition Ad for your graduating 5th grader.
Recognition Ads are a great way to say "I love you and I'm proud of you" as well as
share favorite childhood photos and memories of your child in the yearbook. For more
information visit our website and click on the 5th Grade Activities tab at
www.ps221pta.org.
To subsidize the cost of the yearbook and 5th grade activities we are also asking for businesses to advertize
in the 2014-2015 P.S. 221 yearbook. If you own a business or know of anyone who would like to show their
support for our graduating class by advertising in the yearbook please email us at [email protected].
Additionally, by the first week of March The Yearbook Committee will be accepting Booster orders from the
P.S. 221 community. Boosters are short messages of congratulations, well wishes, or appreciation to a
student, teacher, faculty, staff, or a group of P.S.221 individuals. Anyone can purchase a booster message
for someone in the P.S.221 community. Letters will be going home after the winter break.
5th Grade Activities
The 5th Grade Activities committee is going to plan the senior trip which is currently being discussed.
There were over 75 submissions for the Senior T-Shirt Contest! The winner will be chosen in the next few
weeks and the yearbook will showcase the top 20 designs!
Letters are going home regarding the senior T-Shirts. We need the sizing information for your child. Once
that form comes home please make sure to fill it out and send it back right away to the school. We will be
ordering their senior T-Shirts in the next few weeks.
A meeting will be arranged with the 5th grade staff and administration to go over the senior trip, buses,
costs, dates for the Senior Trip, Yearbook Signing Party and Graduation. Once that meeting has taken place
a letter will go home to the 5th grade parents and guardians regarding the senior activity fee.
Once again thank you all for your cooperation and assistance.
Page 4-February 2015
Valentine’s for Vets
The Student Organization is participating in the19th Annual Valentines for Vets
card and candy drive. We will be collecting candy, preferably sugar-free, to show our appreciation to
hospitalized and disabled vets. Please have candy donations in by Monday, February 9th.
Thank you for your support!!!!
Bylaws Committee Update
The bylaws committee presented the final draft for membership at the January PTA meeting and the draft was
approved. The changes in the bylaws will be effective for the creation of the executive board slate in the spring.
Our Kindergartners, 3rd and 4th graders will enjoy Circus Arts and Hands on Science programming in April!
Kindergarten Circus Arts: April 1st
Grade 3 Hands On Science (Weather): 4/30
Grade 4 Hands On Science (Matter): 4/28 & Grade 4 Hands On Science (Electricity): 4/29
Multicultural Day was an enormous success. The students were able to learn about the many cultures that make up
our school community. Thank you to the parents who volunteered and spent the day setting up, running a table and
cleaning up! This year’s cultural tables were Greece, the Dominican Republic, Italy, South Korea, Israel, Hungary,
Turkey, Ireland, India, Ecuador and China. We hope to see you all again next year!!!
Catching Up! PTA Meeting
Minutes from January 2015
Page 5-February 2015
P.S. 221 PTA Meeting – January 13, 2015 at 7 PM
PTA & SLT members in attendance Michelle Stein, Virginia Tam, Joann Pikramenos, Jieun Yu,
Gina Fini, Katherine Ang, Lize Wong, Selina Cho, Marissa Chmela, Marie Principe, Cindy
Kontente, Alessandra Sumowicz McNally, Christine Chung, Beth Chiariello
PTA President Michelle Stein
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Called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM; asked to adopt the minutes. Minutes adopted.
Welcomed Everyone-Wished everyone a happy New Year
Minutes will be posted on newsletter and website
We will move to adopt the bylaws tonight
Multicultural Fair is January 21st; very important and exciting day for the children.
Interim Audit will be completed by 01/30; these are financial documents that need to be presented to Mrs. Bullard and Mrs. Strauzer by 01/30. That information will also be at the next PTA
meeting for everyone to see.
We will be opening up elections for our nominating committee; it is going to be made up of parents who are not seeking election for next year to help vote in the ballots and procedures in
May.
The talent show is 01/23
The book fair is 03/18 & 03/19
2nd & 3rd Grade dance is 03/20 from 2:40 to 4 PM
The Treasurer’s report - 23, 375 in the account as of January 4th.
Holiday Boutique profits were $3200
Muddworks fundraiser raised $250
Stop and Shop funds raised in December - $131
Box Tops –we received check for $248
Thank you to all of you who have participated in our fundraisers.
SLT- we have an open position; we do not have any written requests to run, please make sure
you email the PTA formally and we will have an election at the next meeting.
Programming -Sky Dome will be coming soon for the children in February.
5th Grade Parents -upload your baby photos for the yearbook and any other photos that you
want to send to the PTA electronically. More information will be forth coming for the next stages
of the 5th grade activities; trip is in discussion.
Bylaws that were presented at the last meeting only have grammatical and structural changes;
they are available for review now. The structure of the Executive Board will change for next
year; the # of positions available will be decreased. There will be a motion today to have the
new bylaws go into effect for April to coincide with the election of the new Executive Board for
the 2015-2016 school year. Copies are available at the school office.
Principal Mrs. Bullard –
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Welcomed everyone and Happy New Year to everyone.
We have 2 presentations tonight from I-Ready and the NYS ELA and Math assessments.
Since our last meeting in November, we had a very successful Barnes and Noble Night; thank
you to everyone who came out; due to profits from that evening we were able to purchase two
more of Doreen Rappaport's books for every class; one on Abraham Lincoln and one on Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and we still have a credit. Thank you to Mrs. Bianco for her efforts .
Catching Up! PTA Meeting
Minutes from January 2015
Continued….
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Page 6-February 2015
We had our evening of ballroom dancing on Dec 2; our students impressed us with their dance
skills and grace; our competitive dance team went on and won the gold on the 1 st round and the
silver on the 2nd round. We are very proud of them.
We had our quality review on January 7th; it was conducted by our Superintendent Mrs. Giunta;
What a quality review is, is like a check up for the school to see how the school is doing as far
as teaching and learning, our culture, our community. I'm thrilled to report that we were rated
well developed which is the highest rating we can get. I feel our results truly reflect the high
quality teaching, the active learning, and the parent support that we get here. At the end of the
day there is a feedback conference. I was there with our Network Leader and our Superintendent and the Superintendent shared that something happened for the first time. She meets with
a parent team that is comprised of SLT, the PTA President and other parents that make up our
school body and a student team that represents the different grades of the school. She asked a
question to both parents and students -what would they do differently in this school and both
groups said that they are so happy with what happens in our school that they'd like to do more
community outreach programs –more food drives, more performances for the nursing homes
etc. This was the first time for Mrs. Giunta that both groups expressed the same ideas. It was
very amazing to hear that from both groups.
This week our chancellor will speak at MS 67 if anyone is interested, please attend.
We received a grant through Senator Tony Avella's office this year; through the grant we are
able to provide our second graders with a chess program from NY Chess. They will all be learning the game of chess for the next 12 weeks. We were also able to have a holiday music assembly in December and were able to purchase books for our classrooms.
We were just notified that we received a 200k grant through the city council, Mark Weprin’s office, and that's going to be used to update our computer lab.
We had an issue at pick up yesterday. We have people that double and triple park outside during school dismissal. Our #1 concern is the safety of our children. It is a hazardous and dangerous situation outside of school. It's a matter of time before someone gets hurts. The NYPD was
here yesterday because there was an altercation between the bus driver and one of our parents. The sergeant came to visit me today and said that the 111 th precinct will be here and will
be ticketing anyone who is double and triple parked. Ms. Chiariello has offered this year to chair
a committee that will come up with a plan to alleviate the pickup problem. If you are interested
in being in the committee please contact Ms. Chiariello. The officer could not come in to speak
to us tonight. They will come to the March meeting. It is unsafe to come here and double park,
please look for parking. It is about the safety of our children. The police will put notices up and
the precinct will provide the school with a letter to go out to parents.
I-Ready Presentation
ELA & Testing Presentation
PTA President Michelle Stein Motion to accept Revised Bylaws – Motion Approved.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM. Respectfully submitted by Joann Pikramenos,
Recording Secretary 02/01/2015
ELA & Testing Workshop for 3rd, 4th & 5th Grades
Page 7-February 2015
March
PTA Calendar
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Scholastic
Book Fair
19
Scholastic
Book Fair
Parent Teacher
Conferences
20
2nd & 3rd
Grade Fun &
Games Dance
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Visit our website daily at www.ps221pta.org for important information
& events from the PTA!
Email us at [email protected] and ask to be added to our email
list for the latest news and happenings from the P.S. 221 PTA!
PTA Executive Board
The North Hills News
February 2015
57-40 Marathon Parkway
Little Neck, NY 11362
Main: (718) 423-8825
Parent Teacher Association
P.S. 221
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.ps221pta.org
President: Michelle Stein
Treasurer: Virginia Tam
Co-Recording Secretaries: Joann Pikramenos,
Jill Eisenberg
Financial Secretary: Christine Chung
Corresponding Secretary: Alessandra McNally
VP Fundraising: Cindy Kontente, Marissa Chmela
Jieun Yu, Winnie Wu, Katherine Ang
VP Membership: Gina Fini, Misun Park-Cha
VP Programming: Marie Principe, Jeanne Kwon, Selina
Cho, Lize Wong
Parliamentarian: Maria Katranis
February 2015 Issue– Joann Pikramenos, Publications Committee