PTA NEWSLETTER – October, 2002

PTA Executive Board

Linda Osborne, Co-Pres. 212-924-1797

Barbara Somlo, Co-Pres. 212-255-4921

Allia Matta, Co-VP 718-353-9190

Deborah Traussi, Co-VP 212-268-0292

Pam Winberry, Corresp. Sec. 212-977-9857

Didi Re, Recording Sec. 212-675-1088

Anna Matos, Treasurer 212-627-7298

Lucia Santiago, Financial Sec. 212-691-6058

Members at Large

Delia Acosta 212-243-9254

Andrea DiFiore 212-366-4621

Kathy Ellman 646-336-8649

Anne Finkelstein 212-242-6706

Ann O’Dell 212-268-8106

Martha Gallo 212-736-3974

Gil Santiago 212-691-6058

Mark Your Calendar!

Feb. 11 ~ PTA meeting, 8:30 a.m., auditorium

Feb. 12 ~ Valentine's Day Bake Sale

Feb. 12 ~ 4th and 5th Grade Valentine's Day Dance, 5:30–7:30 p.m., cafeteria

Feb. 13 ~ 100th Day of School Celebration

Feb. 13 ~ Teacher and Staff Appreciation Day

Feb. 16 – 20 ~ School closed (Winter Break)

Mar. 10 ~ PTA meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Some parents and guardians have asked the PTA to hold monthly meetings in the morning after drop-off so that they can attend more easily. Some people can only attend in the evenings, and some only in the mornings. In an attempt to accommodate as many people as we can (and we know this will not work for everybody) we will have three morning meetings between February and June. Hopefully this will allow a larger pool of parents and guardians to attend meetings. We are trying our best to accommodate everyone's requests. Our apologies to those who may be inconvenienced in any way.

All meetings will be held in the auditorium.

Here's the revised PTA General Meeting schedule:

February 11 — AFTER DROP-OFF , 8:30 A.M. Hot Topic: Time To Talk About Summer Camp! RAFFLE: 10 lucky winners to get two tickets to the Broadway Hit Thoroughly Modern Millie! Must be present to win.

March 10 — EVENING, 6:30 P.M.

April 22 — AFTER DROP-OFF, 8:30 A.M.

May 12 — EVENING , 6:30 P.M.

June 10 — AFTER DROP-OFF, 8:30 A.M.

Barbara Somlo

From Your PTA Co-President

Five months! That’s all that’s left of the school year. The PTA and school staff are making the most of the time we have left with a wonderful line-up of winter and spring events including: the 4th and 5th Grade Valentine’s Day Dance, the Valentine’s Day Bake Sale, the 100th Day of School Celebration (all in February; see “Mark Your Calendar”), Multicultural Night (March 25, tentatively), Taste of Chelsea (May), the Incoming Pre-K and K Party, Field Day, and the 5th Grade Graduation Dance, all in June. More details to follow on each event and how you can get involved.

With only five months left in the year, what can you do to help your child’s school? Five ideas to consider:

1. Attend PTA meetings. See over for our new meeting times, including some mornings.

2. Sign up to help out at an event, in the library, or as a lunchtime volunteer. Leave a note in the PTA mailbox in the main office and we’ll get in touch with you.

3. Give to the Annual Fund—we need to raise $7,500 more this year to meet our goal. Please leave your donation in the PTA mailbox.

4. Take action! One person can make a big difference. Kathy Ellman convinced a local Washington Mutual branch to donate money to our school. Can you think of a similar way to help out?

5. Talk to your teacher and ask how you can help in

the classroom.

The PTA has been working hard to make sure our legislators also keep our school in mind. Anne Finkelstein and I recently met with Assemblyman Dick Gottfried, who promised to do anything he could to help our school. Barbara Somlo and I will be giving Councilwoman Christine Quinn a tour of the school this month while discussing capital improvement ideas.

Five months isn’t a lot of time, but if we all work together we can get a lot done. Let’s make the second half of the school year even better than the first!

Linda Osborne

Thanks to Kinko’s at 24th St. and 7th Ave. for donating the printing of our newsletter —

212-929-2679.

PS 11 Gets a Buck for Every New Account!

The PTA is proud to announce that PS 11 is now registered for the WaMu program at Washington Mutual Bank at 13th Street and Broadway. WaMu is a program developed by Washington Mutual that allows each branch to designate one public school and donate $1 for every checking account opened at that branch. Last year they donated a total of $1 million to public schools in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. If you or anyone you know is thinking of opening up a new checking account, please consider doing so at theWashington Mutual branch at 13th Street and Broadway. Every dollar that helps our school counts!

Do your kids need . . .

New Winter Reading?

Remember the Book Exchange! Bring in books your family has outgrown; get great new reads others have contributed. In the cafeteria near the security desk.

Highlights: Jan. 14 PTA Meeting

(1) PRINCIPAL’S REPORT: $10,000 GAP grant earmarked for small-group instruction; ROSIE’S KIDS to perform with 5th graders on Jan. 27 in the auditorium.

(2) TREASURER’S REPORT: Annual Fund: $10,469; Holiday Fair netted $2,197 ($75 to each teacher to reimburse for crafts expenses).

(3) OVERVIEW OF WINTER EVENTS:

Valentine’s Day Bake Sale: Feb. 12.

4th and 5th Grade Valentine’s Day Dance: Feb. 12.

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Day: Feb. 13 (flowers and chocolate for teachers and staff).

100th Day of School Celebration: Feb. 13 (pre-K—2nd grade).

(4) VOLUNTEERS’ CAMPAIGN: Sign-up sheet to be posted for library and lunch and recess volunteers.

(5) TASTE OF CHELSEA: May 2003 at the Chelsea Market. Volunteers needed.

(6) CLASS SIZE MATTERS: Campaign to place the question of class size on the ballot through the City Council.