THE MESSENGER
October 2008
OCTOBER 2008
1 WED NO SCHOOL – ROSH HASHANAH
2 THU Martin Luther King Jr. Committee meeting, Art Room #316, 8am
2 THU Special Garden Committee meeting to organize the Octoberfest, Cafeteria, 8:45am
3 FRI Fundraising Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 8:40am
3 FRI 3rd grade bake sale, Cafeteria, 3-6pm
7 TUE School tour*, Family Center, 8:45am
7 TUE Octoberfest, MTW Garden, 3:15pm
8 WED Hispanic Heritage Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 8:45am
9 THU NO SCHOOL – YOM KIPPUR
10 FRI Fundraising Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 8:40am
13 MON NO SCHOOL – COLUMBUS DAY
14 TUE Picture Day**
14 TUE PTA executive board meeting, Family Center, 8:15am
14 TUE Garden Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 8:45am
15 WED School tour*, Family Center, 8:45am
15 WED Hispanic Heritage Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 8:45am
15 WED Class Rep meeting, Cafeteria, 8:50am
16 THU PTA meeting, Family Center, 6pm
16 THU Innisbrook Catalog orders in-school deadline
17 FRI PTA meeting, Cafeteria, 9am
17 FRI Costume Sale, Cafeteria, 3-6pm
20 MON School Leadership Team meeting, Room #205, 4pm
21 TUE School tour*, Family Center, 8:45am
22 WED Hispanic Heritage Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 8:45am
23 THU Principal’s Breakfast, Family Center, 8:45am
23 THU MTW Messenger deadline
24 FRI Fundraising Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 8:40am
24 FRI 2nd grade bake sale, Cafeteria, 3-6pm
27 MON Extended Day Committee meeting, Extended Day Office, 6-8pm (childcare available)
28 TUE Book Club, Family Center, 8:45am
29 WED School Tour*, Family Center, 8:45am
29 WED Hispanic Heritage Committee meeting, Cafeteria, 8:45am
30 THU Hispanic Cultural Heritage Celebration, Cafeteria & Yard, 5:30pm
EARLY NOVEMBER 2008
4 TUE NO SCHOOL for students – ELECTION DAY Mini-Camp available, pre-registration required
4 TUE Professional day for teachers
5 WED School tour, Family Center, 8:45am
7 FRI MTW 80’s Night at the China Club, 6pm (see Fundraising, page 3, for details)
*Volunteers needed for school tours (contact Tisa at: tfarley@schools.nyc.gov).
**Volunteers needed for Picture Day (contact Desiree – Mary’s class).
Inch by Inch, Row by Row
Autumn is here, and it’s time once again to celebrate the bounty of our magnificent MTW’s Children’s Garden, so please join us for our annual Octoberfest on Tuesday, October 7, in the garden after school! We will have refreshments and activities for the children, such as botanical face painting, bug hunting, and garden crafts. Herb bundles & spring bulbs will be available for purchase at a modest fee. Everyone in the MTW community is invited and encouraged to attend this very special seasonal occasion.
It is bulb-planting season, and just a little time remains to participate in our flower bulb fundraiser. Fifty percent of all sales go to MTW! Check with your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues to see what bulbs they need. Catalogs/posters are posted at the entrance to all classrooms and order forms have gone home with each child. Order forms should be returned by October 10 to the main office. Consider adding to your order items from the MTW Garden Committee’s “Wish List” and help make our garden more beautiful than ever in the coming year. You can also place an order at the Octoberfest!
Consider becoming a part of MTW’s Green Team. Don't fret if you think you don’t have a green thumb. There are many ways to participate in this committee, and who knows, you may find that you have a latent talent for gardening after all. The Garden Committee meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 8:15 in the cafeteria. Feel free to contact committee chair Aimee Margolis (Ted)
--Sharon Daly (Gina & Mary)
Save the date: MTW-80's Night at the World Famous China Club!
Friday, November 7, 6:00 - 10:00pm
DJ & Dancing, Karaoke, Hors D'oeuvres, FREE wine and beer!
All welcome, open to the public, so invite your friends, family, neighbors!
$50 per person--(have 4 people outside of MTW purchase tickets and your ticket becomes $25!)
Look for your “totally rad” invitation coming soon!
Your ticket is 100% tax deductible and ALL OF THE PROCEEDS GO TO MTW!
School Leadership Team
The School Leadership Team (SLT) is the central unifying committee of Midtown West School whereby members advise, revise, and disseminate school policies. School Leadership Teams in public schools are advisory committees, mandated by the state, and provide a structure for collaborative, school-based decision-making. The SLT’s core responsibility is to develop the school’s Comprehensive Education Plan and make sure that it is aligned with the school-based budget. The team represents the key stakeholders in the education of the children--administrators, families, teachers, and school staff. The number of staff members and family members must be balanced by maintaining yearly elections. The mandatory core members are the principal and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) chapter leader. The remaining members include family members, teachers, family members and teacher member- at-large from any age group and one alternate. Midtown West families are invited to attend meetings as observers. Minutes and schedules are posted on the PTA bulletin board. Families may submit agenda items to SLT members and/or class representatives and PTA officers up to one week before the meeting time. For more information regarding SLT, please visit our school’s website at www.midtownwest.net for more information.
--Randall Flinn
UWS Girl ScoutTroop
Crystal Williams (Kristen’s class) has room in her Girl Scout troop, which meets every Monday at 3:30 on the Upper West Side. Crystal picks girls up at MTW but parents would have to pick them up after the meeting. For more innformation, contact Crystal (Kristen’s class).
The MTW Papas Band at the 2008 Hoe Down: Marshall Messer (alumni dad), Russ Traut (alumni dad), Russ Anixter, drummer Giampaolo Biagi behind MTW uncle Hank Chapin, Gary Thomas, Michael Gorin (alumni dad), and Steve Kenyon.
Architect Meg Chapman (Jeremy) supervising construction of the new library. Below: the hallway outside the new music room.
From Robin Casey: Keep Your Dream
Dear MTW Families,
As many of you know, my dear friend, Joseph Diamond, passed away suddenly on August 28. He was an extremely talented musician, composer, and generous spirit who left us much too soon. He worked with all of our students and was a presence at every MTW event, always bringing our concerts to a higher level with his brilliant performances. He was already a fixture here at MTW before I came to the school 11 years ago. I loved working with Joseph. He will be missed terribly.
The Diamond family has generously donated Joseph's sound system to our school. We are very grateful and look forward to "keeping Joseph's sound alive" in this way at our community events. We will have a dedication to Joseph at our MTW Winter Concert on Thursday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m.
The family has set up a fund called "Keep Your Dream" with a two-fold purpose: to assist with the production of Joseph's third CD so that we can help to keep his dream alive and enable his music to reach many people, and to use contributions and CD proceeds to provide assistance to musicians, schools, and causes that align with Joseph's values and philosophy of helping others.
Finally, for those who may be interested in attending, there will be a tribute for Joseph on Monday, November 17, at the Ellington Room at Manhattan Plaza located at 484 West 43rd St. More details to follow.
-Robin
From the Principal--Annual Hoe Down Swings at MTW
Welcome to October. Wow! What an incredible Hoe Down! True to MTW form there are too many individuals to thank--both parents and staff for making this event so memorable. The weather again gave us respite from the rain and allowed for a beautiful evening, sans starry sky.
I am so excited to kick off our parent Book Club for another year. We are reading Madeleine L’Engle’s Time Trilogy. This continues to be a great forum to discuss literacy in the school. Everyone is welcome--drop by for the conversation.
October is full of holidays. I hope that all of you enjoy this time with your families. Please check your calendar for the days that school will not be in session.
Vision screening at MTW is almost complete. Tisa will be sending letters to families about the screening if needed. If you have any questions please contact Tisa in the main office and she will be happy to assist you.
Please visit the MTW website. This new and improved website has current information, class, staff, and curriculum information as well. The site also features updated reminders for events going on right now. Give us your feedback as the team that developed and are maintaining the site would love to hear from you.
School tours are right around the corner. Thanks to everyone who volunteered to assist with these tours. We are expecting big groups as usual.
I will continue to keep you posted about any changes at the Department of Education as well as any initiatives the school is working on throughout the year. Thank you all for your continued support. It is a wonderful luxury to show up to work each day in a school where the glass is always more than half full. Have a wonderful October!
--Dean
PTA Co-President’s Letter
Dear MTW Families
Thank you all for coming to the September PTA meetings, both of which were well attended and productive. Also thank you to all who made our first all-school event--the Hoe Down--a big success. It really shows MTW’s spirit.
September was time for orientation and organizational meetings. Most all committees have started their work and are planning a lot of activities and events for this school year. Just looking at our October calendar on the front page may overwhelm not only new but returning families as well. We are really busy. It means we need your help--your expertise and skills, extra pairs of hands, and donations. Get involved. Anything and everything is greatly appreciated.
In particular we will need your help at the Hispanic Heritage celebration on October 30. This event is potluck so please sign up to bring a dish and help out.
How to stay informed about all upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, fundraising, etc.?
- Read the Messenger
- Look at the bulletin board by the Extended Day office–on the left as you enter the school--with posted flyers abut current and coming evens, including our school calendar that outlines major school events, family conferences, recesses, and holidays for the whole school year
- Check our PTA bulletin board, located opposite the main office
- - Check your children’s mailboxes daily
- As soon as our school-wide directory is updated, you will receive weekly reminders from our Parent Coordinator Tisa Farley about upcoming events.
- Check our updated website: www.midtownwest.net
Please keep your copy of the September Messenger as a reference guide to our committee contacts, PTA officers, School Leadership Team (SLT) members, and dates for SLT meetings. If you need another copy, you may get one from Tisa.
Our next PTA meeting will be held in the Family Center on Thursday, October16, at 6:00 PM (childcare and pizza provided) and Friday, October 17, at 8:45 AM.
--Elena van Schendel (Nicole, Kay) and Jennifer Collins (Jeremy, Yolene), PTA Co-Presidents
Get to Know Your Neighbors
As the school year moves forward, it’s time to remind and inform you “who’s who” in our building--the folks who help MTW be a special and successful place. Please find a moment in your busy schedule to smile and thank them for their work.
Security: Priscilla Snipes, Treva Bennett, and Dan O’Brien are the first people you see when you enter the building and who stay until all students and parents have left.
Kitchen: Mary, Ricky, and Laurel are at their workspaces as soon as the school opens to prepare and serve breakfast and lunch to both schools--MTW and PPAS.
Nurse: Marcelle Lee is taking care of our children’s health concerns in such a way that they are inventing excuses just to go to her office to say “Hi.”
Main Office: Tory and Toni are always ready to answer most of your questions.
Family Center: Our parent coordinator, Tisa, is always around and helps our community to get involved and to stay informed of current events.
Custodian: Glen’s office is located by the serving area of the kitchen. Thanks to him and his staff, the whole building shines every morning.
--Elena van Schendel (Kay, Bryan), PTA Co-President
School Partnership Committee
. We invite everybody who is concerned about nutrition, balanced meals, service, and parental assistance in our school cafeteria to attend. You will also have a chance to taste samples from the school menu and to learn more about cafeteria rules.
We would like to remind you that your children are welcome to have free breakfast in school, served daily from 7:30 until 8:30 AM. Monthly breakfast and lunch menus are posted on the cafeteria board on the wall between serving area and the doors to the schoolyard. The menus are the same citywide.
If you cannot attend the meetings but have some questions, suggestions, leave a note in the mail pockets outside my children’s classrooms or in the mailbox in the MTW office.
Our next meeting is scheduled for October 16 at 8:45 in the cafeteria.
--Elena van Schendel (Nicole, Kay)
The deadline for the November issue is October 23. Send all submissions to mtwmessenger@verizon.net. Please be advised that all submissions are subject to editing, deadlines (late copy can be posted on the web site), and space considerations.
Midtown West School 328 W. 48th St., New York, NY 10036
(212) 247-0208 midtownwest.net
THANKS TO MIDTOWN WEST SUPPORTERS!
42nd Street Redevelopment Corporation
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi
Best Buy Children’s Foundation
Christine Quinn, NYC council president
The Council on the Environment
of New York City
Excellent Beginnings National Network, Inc.
Greentree Foundation
Materials for the Arts
Morgan Stanley Foundation
The Plan for Social Excellence
Random House, Inc.
Theater 315 at The Salvation Army
Sumitomo Trust
The Times Square BID
Toshiba America Foundation
US Trust
Verizon Foundation
VH1—Save the Music
Whole Foods Market Columbus Circle
Xtec Media
AND ESPECIALLY TO MORGAN STANLEY FOR PHOTOCOPYING THIS ISSUE!
The children and families of Midtown West greatly appreciate your generous support. Thanks for being a part of the Midtown West community!
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Be a media baron or baroness and edit the monthly Messenger. Learn first hand from the MTW powers-that-be about who, what, when, and where in our community—and then spread the word. Editing experience a major plus, along with knowing which movers and shakers to go to for information about what’s going on in our school. Contact Ada (Jeremy) at mtwmessenger@verizon.net if you’re interested and able to commit to to the job for a few years.
FUNDRAISING UPDATE
In order to help ensure 100% PARTICIPATION, Fundraising is pleased to announce the New, Improved PLEDGE drive! As always, your pledge is 100% tax deductible, and remains a most direct and efficient way to help out our school…and NOW there are multiple ways to make your contribution: you can continue the old-fashioned way of dropping a check into the lock box in the Family Center; you can charge it –monthly or one time only—to your credit or debit card, and YES, we now take AMEX and Discover cards! Makes giving feel like shopping….Budget cuts have upped our per-child goal to $750, but we are grateful for any and all contributions—big or small! Check with your company about matching gifts.
Our annual Innisbrook gift wrap sale (lots of holiday goodies, too) began Friday, September 26. Catalogues can be found in your child's classroom. We have extras in the Family Center. Please return orders placed at school to PTA lockbox in the Family Center or in the box in the main office by Thursday, October 16…our new extended deadline. Or, shop online anytime at www.Innisbrook.com – click on “Student Registration” to qualify for prize credits! Don’t forget to enter our school name (Midtown West) or number 101672 so that MTW receives credit for the order. Online orders can be delivered wherever you like—free shipping on orders over $85.Contact: Elena van Schendel, . SPREAD the WORD! TELL YOUR FRIENDS and FAMILY!! REMEMBER : 50% OF EVERY INNISBROOK WRAP SALE GOES TO MTW !
PLAN YOUR PLANTING AHEAD OF TIME – buy bulbs. Forms and payment can be dropped in the designated drop box in the main office. Questions? Contact: Elena van Schendel.
Halloween means costumes and coats—bring in your gently used winterwear and costumes for our annual Halloween sale, October 17. Contributions are eagerly accepted in the Family Center/PTA office. This beats fighting the crowds for costumes at Party City and--but of course—all proceeds go straight to MTW. Questions? See Elena van Schendel ( Nicole).
And why should only the kids dress up?? Announcing our first DOG costume party: Spend a Saturday afternoon watching the dog costume parade and vote on the chicest canine! Date TBA, all tickets sold go straight to MTW.
Or maybe you’re in the mood for a more grown-up costume event? Then Friday, November 7, is for you: 80’s Night at the China Club. Dig out your old 80’s outfits and call the sitter. Come for an amazing night of dancing, wine and beer, and endless appetizers. For those needing more, cash bar awaits you—as does karaoke and prizes for the best 80’s get up. Start balancing on those platforms now so you’ll be ready to boogie down….tickets are $50 each, but if you sell 4 to people outside of the MTW community, your ticket will quickly become $25 ! Tickets will be going on sale at MTW very soon. Ready to get down tonight and purchase tickets online right now…Go to www. midtownwest.net click on Fundraising, then drop down Events menu. Look for 80’s Night at the China Club and sign in to pay through PayPal. Please note: the $25 “Incentive Tickets” and discounted “Teachers Tickets” can only be purchased in person at MTW. Questions? See Erika, Trini, or Mary in Gina’s class or go to MTW80sNight@nyc.rr.com. Be there or be square! MAKE OUR DAY!
Picture Day--Tuesday, October 14. Volunteer to help. Fill out the envelopes and purchase pictures for all your loved ones while raising money for our MTW. Thank you in advance for participating. We hope all that “CHEESE” bring in the dough!
Shopping online? Check out ONECAUSE.COM . You can find hundreds of vendors, such as Lands End, Amazon.com, Pottery Barn, Avon, and the list goes on! A percentage of each order goes to MTW. Tell your friends and family members who want to help to support our children's education to shop onecause.com (Midtown West School – PTA or code # 99373).
Do you own scissors? Try cutting out BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION – found on many products located on your grocery store aisles and kitchen cabinet shelves. Drop them in the marked envelopes by your child's classroom.
And it’s never too early to think about the Auction: We need volunteers with good computer skills: mail merging, data basing, etc. We need people to head solicitation gathering by category. We need people with humor and patience to make this event as wonderful as last year’s. Feel free to join our Fundraising meetings Friday mornings in the cafeteria after drop off, or contact Marion in Jennifer’s class or Andi in Jessica’s class.
