THE MESSENGER
September 2008
SEPTEMBER CALENDAR
SEP 8 MON Volunteer Orientation Workshop, Family Center, 8:45 AM
SEP 9 TUE PTA Executive Board meeting, Family Center, 8:15 AM
SEP 9 TUE Garden Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 8:45 AM
SEP 11 THU PTA meeting, Family Center, 6 PM (childcare with pizza provided)
SEP 12 FRI PTA meeting, Family Center, 8:45 AM; election for open SLT position
SEP 12 FRI DEADLINE FOR SCHOOL DIRECTORY
SEP 16 TUE Grantwriting Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 8:45 AM
SEP 17 WED Class Rep meeting, Family Center, 8:50 AM
SEP 18 THU School Partnership (Cafeteria) Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 9 AM
SEP 23 TUE Book Club, Family Center, 8:45 AM
SEP 24 WED Fundraising Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 8:40 AM
SEP 25 THU Hoe Down, Cafeteria & Yard, 6 PM
SEP 25 THU Messenger deadline
SEP 29 MON Extended Day Committee meeting, Extended Day office, 6-8 PM
SEP 30 TUE NO SCHOOL, Rosh Hashanah
EARLY OCTOBER
OCT 1 WED NO SCHOOL, Rosh Hashanah
OCT 3 FRI Grade 3 bake sale, Cafeteria, 3-6 PM
OCT 7 TUE School Tour, Family Center, 8:45 AM
OCT 9 THU NO SCHOOL, Yom Kippur
OCT 13 MON NO SCHOOL, Columbus Day
OCT 14 TUE Picture Day
New SLT Member Needed
There is an opening for a parent representative on the School Leadership Team. SLT is an advisory board to the Principal and members act as representatives for the MTW community. The SLT makes recommendations to the Principal and works in cooperation with the staff to construct a Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP) for the school. The SLT meets monthly (usually on the 3rd Monday of each month at 4:00 PM). The new member will be an alternate and should be available when standing members are unable to attend meetings. If you are interested in running for this position, please contact Tisa in the school office, call her at 212-247-0208 ext. #4, or, email her at: tfarley@schools.nyc.gov
The election will be held at the PTA meeting on Friday, September 12, at 9:00 AM.
Fundraising News
Welcome back! Repeating families will already have noticed for the third year in a row: the classroom supplies provided courtesy of a corporate donation and PTA funds, taking a load off our individual backs and pocketbooks. This and other budget items, including crucial support for programs in music, art, literacy, and science, are sustained by a year-long cycle of fundraising efforts that will aim, once again, to raise about $500 per student.
To this end, the Fundraising Committee meets most weeks to hatch battle plans--Friday mornings this year, after 8:40 drop-off, in the in the cafeteria until our new Library/Music Room opens. Our first meeting will be on Wednesday, September 24. Whether or not you can join us, it is expected that all families will find a way to contribute a minimum of six hours toward some volunteer effort(s) over the course of the year. Be alert for notices of help needed in this column, on the PTA bulletin board, in your child's mailbox, in your e-mail, and via your class reps. If you would like to be added to the Fundraising Committee e-mail list, or if you would like to volunteer for a job (even if you can't regularly attend meetings) please contact one of us directly, or drop us a note in the PTA lockbox (the wooden box on the floor to the right of the kitchen as you enter the Family Center) or through the slot in the PTA office door (just off the kitchen area in the Family Center).
We ended last year almost exactly on budget, thanks to the hard work and generosity of the MTW community, friends beyond, and matching grants. This year we are concentrating on getting even more buck for the bang, yielding as much profit from our efforts as possible. The best example of this continues to be our annual Pledge Drive, which last year raised about $50,000, roughly 40% of our total goal. This year we are aiming for 100% participation. You will receive brightly colored pledge forms in your child's mailbox very soon if you have not already. Please sign up to give what you can--tax-deductibly and confidentially. (Thanks to those of you who have already responded to the summer mailing.). We take checks, credit or debit cards. Check at your place of business for matching grants. We also take monthly pledges. Questions? Contact Marge Greenberg (Gina's class).
More to come soon on our gift-wrap sale, Picture Day, wine tasting, TADA!, grade bake sales, and our biggest fundraiser, the spring auction. We look forward to meeting new families and seeing our much appreciated returning families.
Fundraising Committee Co-Chairs:
--Marion Mackles (Jennifer's class) and Andi Casson (Jessica's class)
Check Out schoolpop.com
When you shop online, start at onecause.com, where a percentage of your purchases from hundreds of vendors (including Staples, Land’s End, Target, and Dell) will go to Midtown West at no extra cost to you. Be sure to select “Midtown West School-PTA” or code #99373 as your beneficiary.
Principal’s Message:
MTW Community Begins New YearI would like to extend a warm welcome to all the new Midtown West families and a huge hello to everyone who is returning this year. The summer provided a very quiet and lonely building for Tisa and me. We are thrilled to see all the new faces and warmed by old friends returning. This is going to be a very exciting year and we are off to a great start.
The library project is almost finished. Keep your fingers crossed that there are not any last-minute delays. The space is amazing and we have big, big plans for utilizing it throughout the year. In addition, heartfelt thanks to HSBC for a $1,000 grant to help stock our library shelves. We will let everyone know when it opens and will plan a ribbon-cutting ceremony to thank everyone in NYC who helped us acquire the necessary funds for the project.
Please check your calendars and plan on joining a group or two this year. We offer many workshops throughout the year and will let you know when and where as they are scheduled. I will be having Parent Book Group once a month and hope many of you will join us. We have ordered about 20 books for each month but can order more if necessary. Everyone is welcome.
Many of you in the Midtown West community are already aware of the sad news: Our long-time concert accompanist and friend, Joseph Diamond, died of a sudden heart attack on Thursday, August 28. The staff was very saddened by this news and we will miss him dearly. Please speak to your children as you see fit since many of them have known him for several years.
Please know that if you have any questions or concerns throughout the year I am available. You may schedule a meeting with me through Toni Bettis, the secretary, or just drop by the office.
The positive beginning of this year is great indicator of the support this community provides to the school. Stay positive and thank you for all of the well wishes to start the year.
--Dean
MTW 2008-2009 PTA OFFICERS
Co-Presidents
Jennifer Collins (Jeremy’s class, Yolene’s class)
Elena van Schendel (Nicole’s class, Kay’s class)
1st Co-Vice Presidents (Enrichment & Administration)
Jennifer Pedraza (Jeremy’s class, Ted’s class)
Juana Henriquez (Jennifer’s class)
Alice Riese (Nicole’s class)
2nd Co-Vice Presidents (Communication)
Jeanette Buckley (Jennifer’s class, Gina’s class)
Kim Foley (Jennifer’s class, Mary’s class)
Lisa Rivera (Kristin’s class)
3rd Co-Vice Presidents (Parent/School Outreach)
Karen Trott (Mary’s class)
Catherine Kleszczewski (Mary’s class)
Co-Recording Secretaries
Andrea Casson (Jessica’s class)
Vanessa Hayward (Jennifer’s class, Gina’s class)
Corresponding Secretary
Kris Jensen (Kay’s class)
Co-Treasurers
Mike Gordon (Gina’s)
Elena Nord-Levin (Kay’s )
2008-2009 SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM—PARENT MEMBERS
LOWER GRADE REP
Ruth Margeson (Gina’s class)
MIDDLE GRADE REP
Charley Hayward (Jennifer’s class, Gina’s class)
UPPER GRADE REP
Jessica Hecht (Jeremy’s class, Kay’s class)
ALTERNATE REP
Bryna Levin (Gina’s class)
REPRESENTATIVE-AT-LARGE
Claude-Andree Louissaint (Mary’s class)
Ask Not What Your School Can Do For Your Child, But What You Can Do For Your Child’s School
Midtown West’s history of family involvement is stressed when prospective families tour the school. Parent volunteers play a major role in supporting the teachers and staff and provide exemplary models for their children with their commitment to work for the benefit of the entire school. Working together strengthens our close-knit community.
In addition to the various committees, parents volunteer throughout the year as lunch and recess attendants, accompanists, club leaders, newsletter editors and distributors, mailbox stuffers, web site designers, food servers, field trip escorts, sound technicians, Picture Day hair-combers, photocopiers, cupcake bakers, and so on and so on. Find your niche and become a contributing member of the Midtown West community.
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE
See the Fundraising column on page 3. Meetings are held weekly. Contact co-chairs Marion Mackles (Jennifer's) and Andi Casson (Alessia/Jessica's)
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR CELEBRATION COMMITTEE
Now in its fourteenth year, this event honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The planning committee begins meeting in late September to plan and organize our annual MLK celebration and other MLK-related events. Contact co-chairs Yee Yip (Jeremy’s, Mary’s) and Karl Heist, art teacher.
EXTENDED DAY COMMITTEE
This committee coordinates the after-school program, providing high-quality classes that stimulate children intellectually, socially, and physically in a safe and nurturing environment. MTW facilities and staff are used whenever possible. Contact Jennifer Pedraza (Ted’s, Jeremy’s) or Tisa Farley, mtwextendedday@verizon.net or call the ED Office: 212-307-5523.
GARDEN COMMITTEE
The Salvation Army generously allows Midtown West to use the garden located a few steps to the east of the school not only as an urban haven but a learning laboratory with class projects tied to curriculum. Parent volunteers keep the garden free from trash daily and assist class visits as needed. Contact Aimee Margolis (Ted’s) or PTA Co-President Elena van Schendel (Nicloe’s, Kay’s) to join.
LIBRARY COMMITTEE
Volunteers check-in and reshelve books weekly, assist classes with checking out books, follow up on overdue books, and otherwise support and supplement the work of our Library/Media specialist, Jenny Virgopia. If you’d like to join this committee, contact PTA Co-President Jennifer Collins (Yolene’s, Bryan’s)
SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE
This committee’s highest priority is to provide our children with healthy, quality food in a welcoming environment. Chaired by our School Food Service manager, committee members include parents from MTW and upstairs neighbor Professional and Performing Arts School (PPAS), the school nurse, and the cafeteria staff. Meetings are open to the PPAS and MTW communities. Topics of discussion include Office of School Food policies, cafeteria procedures, and good nutrition, as well as food tasting (children included) and concerns from parents. The first meeting of the year will be on Thursday, September 18, in the cafeteria after drop-off. Contact PTA Co-President Elena van Schendel (Nicloe’s, Kay’s) to join.
HISPANIC HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Please contact Parent Coordinator Tisa Farley (347-563-5081) if you are interested in volunteering for the National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration scheduled for October.
BE A CLASS REP
Facilitate communication between parents in your class and the greater MTW community and assist teacher in coordinating volunteers for class activities. Contact 2nd Co-Vice Presidents Jeanette Buckley (Jennifer's, Gina's) and Kim Foley (Jennifer's, Mary's) for details.
GRANTWRITING COMMITTEE
Contact Jenny Shaffer (Kay’s),
Family Center
Welcome back to school. This had to be the fastest summer ever. It’s been fun watching the library and music room take shape. Although we don’t have an exact date, they should be completed pretty soon. Until then, our Family Center activities will take place in other rooms, probably the cafeteria.
The big news will be the updated website which will be going live any day. We’ll let everyone know when.
Try to check out the glass bulletin boards in the entrance hall every morning when you enter the building. They will be updated regularly with current announcements and information. We are planning some great workshops and breakfasts in the coming months so look to our calendars for specific dates.
Please, always feel free to come to the office with any questions. We are here to help.
--Tisa Farley, Parent Coordinator
Extended Day
Extended Day began the first day of school on Tuesday, September 2. Children have free play activities during the first week. Scheduled activities will begin the week of September 8. You can see your child’s schedule listed on the bulletin board outside the Extended Day office. If you have any questions please let me know. Most children got their first choices with only a few second choices thrown in. Some of our activities are now full and closed for the first semester but children will have another chance to sign up for favorite classes in February. Please remember that there will be no class changes until the second semester starting in February. You will not be able to drop a day until the second semester but you will be able to add or switch days if your family schedule requires it.
We will be e-mailing notices throughout the year starting with our Extended Day calendar. Please be sure we have your correct e-mail address. If you do not receive the e-mailed calendar by next week, contact us at mtwextendedday@verizon.net
Your monthly statements will also be e-mailed to you at the beginning of each month. If you don’t receive your statements via e-mail, let us know. (Your payment is still due though even if you haven’t received the statement). Generally tuition is the same each month but look at your outstanding balance to be sure. Remember, September tuition is paid so the first tuition payment will be due on October 1.
We do have ongoing registration during the year but remember that new registrations must be returned by the 12th of the month in order for your child to begin the program on the 1st of the following month. We require those two weeks for processing.
Welcome to Extended Day. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. I’m always around.
--Tisa Farley, Extended Day coordinator
