THE MESSENGER
April 2009
Principal’s Message
Hello MTW. March roared in like a lion and seems to be roaring right out. The month has been full. Thank you to all families, students and teachers for doing such an admirable job on the Math Assessment. Many members of our staff were called away to fulfill an obligation to the city and grade these exams. Everyone is now back in the building and we are happy to be back on regular schedule.
I am happy to report that the Wine Tasting was lovely and successful. The team that put together this event is amazing. It was nice to see so many new faces from families at the school. I hope that this tradition continues and that we have many more "first timers" in the coming years.
The Asian Cultural Event was an great success this year, as well. The celebration went from a small morning celebration to an inclusive community-wide event. It was very well attended and I believe everyone enjoyed the activities, demonstrations, and food. I look forward to next year and send my appreciation to everyone on the committee who worked so hard to make this a memorable evening.
Please note as the year moves towards the home stretch that there is much learning and many activities still to take place. We always need volunteers to assist us with the events planned for Spring. From field trips to Field Day, it will require collaboration from all families to make everything run smoothly. I appreciate your support as do your classroom teachers.
The Library at MTW is now open for students. They love the new space. We are still waiting for the construction to be completely finished. The plan is to finish the details and then celebrate with a ribbon cutting event, so that we can appropriately thank Speaker Quinn and the partners that made this possible. I will let everyone in the community know when this open house is scheduled. Please stop by and see the room.
If you have any questions or concerns, please remember to ask your child's teacher, the SLT (school leadership team), the PTA Officers, or me, directly. Everyone is here to help, so that you, your child, and your family get the services you need to have a positive and successful school year. During this unsettling time in our country it is important to stay positive, and to be as helpful as possible to anyone in need. MTW does a great job of developing positive solutions to issues or concerns that come up during the school year. Please share your ideas and your solutions. We are a better community when we consider every voice.
Spring vacation is long this year. I hope you all are planning ahead so that the transition for your children is smooth and that the time off is rewarding for everyone. Have a wonderful April and get ready for the MTW Auction.
Sincerely,
Dean
REMINDER: PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND IN YOUR PARENT SURVEYS !
PTA Co-Presidents
Dear Midtown West Families:
Elena and I are still recovering from all the fun we all had at the PTA Wine Tasting event. The event was hosted by Moore Brothers Wine Co. and the incredible food was donated, prepared, and served by MTW parents. The event raised about $4,000 for the Midtown West PTA.
PTA funding has been supporting Midtown West Programs this winter including trips to the Jazz Standard and Lincoln Center, the ice skating trip, an art grant for Karl, a grant for the second grade to go to the Top of the Rock as part of their Central Park Study, smart boards for more classrooms, and more.
Our biggest fundraiser of the year, the Virtual Auction, is speeding up. We have received many great donations, but still need more. The deadline for donations has been extended. We strongly urge every family to participate. Please check the Fundraising column to get answers about: when, what and how.
The PTA/SLT election committee is seeking candidates for next year’s PTA and SLT. The election committee is hosting a breakfast on Tuesday, April 7 from 8-9am for anyone who is interested in learning more about the PTA and SLT positions and potentially becoming a candidate. We encourage all families, especially from the lower grades, to attend.
Our next PTA meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 23 at 6:00 pm and Friday, April 24 at 8:45 am.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Elena van Schendel (Nicole’s, Kay’s) and Jennifer Collins (Jeremy’s, Yolene’s)
FUNdraising NEWS
OUR DROP DEAD DEADLINE FOR THE AUCTION IS NOW APRIL 8!
Thank you all for the items that you have solicited and donated to the school, but we are only halfway there. We still need 300 more donations in order to make this auction a success—museum memberships, theatre, jewelry, restaurants, electronics, services, classes…We will sell it...! No matter what city, state, country, or planet it comes from. Not sure if it’s right? Check out midtownwest.cmarket.com and see what has already been posted. We know that the MTW community always comes through so...bring it on! If you happen upon a donation after the deadline, please contact one of the co-chairs listed at the bottom of the page or contact Elena Van Schendel at midtownwestfundraising@gmail.com. Not sure your donation has come in or if a company has been solicited? Contact Andrea Casson or Marion Mackles at midtownwestfundraising@gmail.com.
REMEMBER: Our auction runs online from Monday April 27 at 6PM to Thursday May 14 at 11PM. Send our link to friends and family: midtownwest.cmarket.com.
What to do once you’ve secured a donation:
Fill in donor forms, which are available on the MTW Web site, on the PTA bulletin board, outside the Family Center, in the main staircase, outside the main staircase, and scattered around much of the school. Return completed forms to the PTA lockbox in the Family Center. To drop off donated items, contact Marion Mackles, Andrea Casson or ElenaVan Schendel. Please do not leave donations in Dean’s office without our knowledge.
or
Enter the donation information online by clicking on "Donate an Item." You will be prompted through the steps to enter an item into the system. We will edit all entries before they go into the online catalog. So don't worry if you're not a clever writer, we'll give it pizzazz.
If you still have not received e-mail directing you to the auction site, check your spam/junk mail folder, and add "midtownwest@cmarket.org" to your accepted inbox or from addresses so that you can stay on top of auction updates. To access the site, go to www.midtownwest.cmarket.com (".org" is the address from which the e-mails are sent). Questions about corporate sponsorship for our cmarket auction site, contact Marion at the Fundraising email address.
SAVE THE DATE: Friday, May 1! LIVE AUCTION PARTY TICKETS COMING YOUR WAY SOON! Place TBA. Ticket price TBA (you can donate extra to sponsor a teacher) Amazing 4-star food, free drinks, singing, and music performed by our very own MTW talent, and of course the company of the greatest people in NYC...our Midtown West Community. Please note: this is an adult only event.
A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who attended the wine tasting fundraiser this year. The event raised $4000 for our school. A special thanks again to MOORE BROTHERS WINE located at 33 East 20th Street. If you’re in the neighborhood stop by and thank them for sponsoring the event.
Attend a screening of one of the featured films of the New York Children’s International Film Festival on April 18 and 19 (recommended for ages 10 and up). Or take younger children to short films for tots (same dates). For every ticket purchased, $3 goes to the school. For more information go to www.gkids.com and click on SELECT A SCHOOL. Choose: PS212/Midtown West, then purchase your tickets.
• And while we’re waiting for the Auction to start, remember….1)Send in Pledge to MTW; 2) Remember to send Pledge into MTW; 3) Actually send in your Pledge! Give often, it’s good karma!
• Loose change lingering in your life? Give it to the BIG Change Jar on Fridays at drop-off. Bring it in, drop it off, and help the school. Common cents…it could not be easier. You’ll be surprised how fast that change adds up.
• Got scissors? Snip those Box Tops for Education.
• Remember you and your family can still buy beautiful wrapping paper on line from Innisbrook. Use school code 101672.
• On-line with One Cause: And lastly, when on-line shopping, make sure you hit the stores via onecause.com (your cause is Midtown West School-PTA). Then they give money to MTW! You simply enjoy your purchase…..got to love it!
• Tone and stretch with MTW and Broadway sensation Jodi Moccia (child in Mary's) in her Stance Class. Given every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9am in the PPAS 5th floor dance studio. Price is $15 per class, cash or check made out to MTW/PTA. All proceeds go to MTW! Questions? Contact Jodi. Take a stance!
JOIN US EVERY FRIDAY after drop off in the Family Center or contact us at midtownwestfundraising@gmail.com, or just stop us in the halls. We are here for you and our children!
--Fundraising Committee Co-chairs: Andrea Casson (Jessica's) and Marion Mackles (Jennifer's)
Asian Cultural Connection Celebration
Thanks to the following sponsors for helping to make the Asian Cultural Connection Celebration a great success:
Itoen (North America), Inc.
Kodama Sushi
Kyotofu
Mee Restaurant
The success of this special event involved more than just the Asian Cultural Connections Committee. Without your help, we would not be able to have come so far. We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all of you who made this so extraordinary.
Sincerely,
Sachie Hirayama & Yoko Ebihara, Asian Cultural Connection Committee
Family Center
REMEMBER TO SEND IN YOUR PARENT SURVEYS ASAP!!!
Surveys count towards 15% our school’s letter grade. We are looking for a 100% response rate– so mail your survey in as soon as possible. If you have lost your hard copy please contact the Survey Hotline at: 1-800-690-8603 in order to get your Serial ID number to complete the survey online.
We had a wonderful Asian Celebration on March12th – food, music, performances, art & craft demonstrations, traditional clothing…It was fabulous! I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to make it such a remarkable event. I’m already looking forward to next year.
Attendance reminder from the MTW Office Staff: Please be sure to contact the school office if you are planning to take your child out of school on a trip. We need a letter and a copy of the child’s plane tickets. The office staff also needs to be notified every day that your child is out of school sick. Please bring in a doctor’s note whenever possible.
Tisa
Parent Coordinator
Extended Day
We are currently planning for next year’s Extended Day’s activity schedule during April and May. If you have any ideas or suggestions now is the time to share them. Your input is always welcome. Call, email, drop by the office, or slip a note into the “suggestion” box outside the office door.
Please remember that with the warm weather children want to play outside more often. Occasionally, teachers will decide to cancel their scheduled activity to allow children to play outside and enjoy the weather. This decision will be left up to our MTW teachers, who assess the needs of their group as we move toward June. If you have any questions please speak to your child’s teacher.
Remember to check the bulletin board on the Extended Day door for important notices and information about the program. Also, look for your emailed statements and don’t forget to bring in the tuition amount specified on the bill. If you have questions about your statement please come into the office for help. Payments are due the first of the month. A $15 late fee is charged after the 10th and children cannot remain in the program if there is any outstanding balance at the end of the month.
Our next Extended Day Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, 4/27 at 6:00 PM. Childcare and pizza are available. Please notify Tisa at mtwextendedday@verizon.net if you plan to attend. All are welcome!
A Little MTW History
Did you know that Midtown West has always been on the cutting edge of innovative educational programs? We first created a Family Center in 1990 as a major component of the National “Learning for Life” grant from the Plan for Social Excellence. Very few schools in the city have space dedicated to parent involvement programs. In 1990 we had a Director of the Family Center, a pre-cursor to the Parent Coordinator position that was begun city wide as a bold new idea in 2004. Our School Leadership Team, now a state mandate in every school, transitioned smoothly from our Steering Committee begun at MTW in 1993. The SLT committees have evolved through several permutations over the years as the state and city kept trying to create viable collaborations between parents and school staff. Our collaborative work at MTW was a highly successful cohesive organization model when other schools across the city were anxiously struggling with the concept. I remember presenting our model at the District 2 Parent’s Council back in the late 90’s to help ease the transition for other parents and schools grappling with the new revolutionary program. Everyone knows that parent involvement has been a cornerstone of the MTW philosophy. These are some of the ways we historically put the ideas into practice.
Tisa Farley
MTW Parent Coordinator
(former MTW Family Center Director, MTW PTA President, District 2 Parent’s Council President)
April Calendar
APR 3 FRI Fundraising Committee Meeting, Family Center, 8:45am
APR 3 FRI 1st Grade Bake Sale, Cafeteria, 3pm-6pm
APR 7 TUE MTW PTA/SLT Election Committee informational breakfast meeting for all parents, Family Center, 8am-9am
APR 7 TUE Sprucing Up the Garden for Spring! Spring planting starts in the MTW garden, 8:15am (Rain date April 9, 8:15am)
APR 7 TUE Garden Committee Meeting, MTW Garden (in the Cafeteria if it rains), 8:45am
APR 8 WED Class Rep Meeting, Family Center, 8:50am
APR 8 WED Deadline for Auction Items: PLEASE DONATE
APR 9 THU NO SCHOOL – SPRING RECESS through Friday, April 17
Extended Day Holiday Camp with pre-registration
APR 20 MON 1st Day of School
APR 20 MON SLT Meeting, Library, 4pm
APR 21 TUE Book Club, Family Center, 8:45am
APR 22 WED PTA Executive Board Meeting, Family Center, 8:15am
APR 23 THU PTA Meeting, Family Center, 6pm
APR 24 FRI PTA Meeting, Family Center, 9am
APR 24 FRI MTW Messenger deadline for May issue
APR 27 MON MTW Auction begins online at 6 pm
Early MAY 2009
MAY 1 FRI Live Auction Party, place & time TBA
MAY 7 THU Online Auction categories (Toys, Clothing, Video Games) close 11:59pm
MAY 8 FRI Fundraising Committee Meeting, Family Center, 8:45am
MAY 10 SUN Online Auction categories (Health/Beauty, Home, Jewelry) close at
11:59pm
MAY 11 MON 3rd Grade Overnight Trip (to MAY 12, TUE)
MAY 11 MON SLT Meeting, Library, 4pm
MAY 12 TUE Garden Committee Meeting, Cafeteria, 8:45am
MAY 14 THU Online Auction Final Closing (remaining 15 categories) between 10:00
and 11:00pm.
Inch By Inch, Row By Row
Sharon Daly (Gina’s, Mary’s)
Mother Nature gave us a blast of snow on the first day of Spring this year, but the Garden Committee’s Green Team is pushing ahead with its plans for Spring Planting. Seed Week took place at the beginning of March and hopefully our children's crops are now germinating? Watering during the Spring Break is being arranged. Unfortunately, in the past some of our seedlings have not made it through this period due to insufficient watering over the holidays. So on the second week of April, before we all go off for Spring Break our kids have the option to plant their little seedlings in the garden.
In April, the Green Team has scheduled a morning to “Spruce Up the Garden. ”It will be time to prune, edge, and aerate the soil so it will be ready for the classes to plant. The Green Team plans to get started in the garden at 8AM Tuesday on April 7th. Anyone interested in helping should plan to come in their dungarees!
We look forward to the official opening of the new MTW Library. Aimée Margolis updated the MTW Children’s Garden Book she designed last year containing seasonal photographs of the garden and children’s poetry. It is an absolutely beautiful and one-of-a-kind book, which will be donated as a gift to the library for all to read for posterity.
Consider becoming part of MTW’s Green Team. The next GardenCommittee meeting will be on April 7th at 8:50 in the garden (weather permitting), the same day as the "Spruce Up the Garden Event." Feelfree to contact co-chairs Aimée Margolis (Ted’s) or Elena van Schendel or our new co-chair Roger Puckett with any questions.
