March 2004

PTA NEWSLETTER

PS 11

The William T. Harris School

Office: 212-929-1743  /  www.ps11pta.org   /  PTA Voice Mail: 212-496-4520

February Newsletter

 

 

 

 

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!

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

Mar. 16 ~ Early dismissal: 11:30 a.m.

Mar. 16 ~ Parent/Teacher Conferences, 12:30–2:50

Mar. 18 ~ Parent/Teacher Conferences, 5–8 p.m.

Mar. 25 ~ Multicultural Night

Apr. 5–13 ~ Spring Recess

Apr. 22 ~ PTA meeting, 8:30 a.m.

May 21~ A Taste of Chelsea, evening

 

 

Principal’s Message

It is hard to believe that it is already March! I actually met with teachers this past week to plan graduation trips, dances and ceremonies!

This is always a very hectic time. We are setting up ways to have an extended day to support the tests that await our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders while also registering children for next year’s kindergarten class starting this week. To our 3rd Grade parents dealing with the anxieties surrounding the new promotional policies: We will do all we can to guarantee that all our 3rd graders are promoted. Although a great deal will hinge on the test, we are planning afterschool support, possible Saturday academies, and small group support in every 3rd Grade classroom for both math and reading. Please make sure that if your child is being asked to attend extended day or Saturday academies, they do.We need your support.

Please come and meet with us to make sure we are all working together to support your child or children at this month’s Parent/Teacher Conferences. March is also the month that we come together as a community to celebrate the rich diversity of our PS 11 family on Multicultural Night.

We are now at an important time. Our teachers have been focused since the first day in September and understand that the time to relax will be the first day of summer vacation. We need you there also, as you have been, through June 25.

As always, thanks for all your support in making PS 11 a caring, concerned community. We need each other's support every moment of every day if every child is to reach their true potential. Knowledge means nothing if not shared.

Sincerely,

Francis Del Monaco

From Your PTA Co-President

Our first morning PTA meeting was a success! Approximately 50 people attended and heard about both the Oasis and PS 11 summer camp programs. Ten lucky people won two tickets to the Broadway musical Thoroughly Modern Millie thanks to Linda Osborne's sister's generous donation!

Our Valentine's Day Bake Sale ended on a disappointing note. Not enough families brought in baked goods and there were many tears shed in the afternoon when children came down to empty tables. Won't you please bring in some sweets next year? If you don't have time to bake, you can just pick up a package of cookies and drop them off. The children's disappointment was heartbreaking and so easy to avoid with more participation.

Speaking of participation, elections for next year's PTA Executive Board are coming up! Many current Board Members will be stepping down (myself included) and we need parents to fill these spots. Please consider being on the Board and if you are interested or have questions, don't hesitate to speak with me or Linda Osborne. Our contact information is above.

I hope to see you at our next PTA meeting on Wednesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m.

Barbara Somlo

 

 

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

212-929-2679.

Parent Coordinator: Benefits of Summer Camp

The first 6 weeks of the fall semester—the transition for students back into a school routine—is a challenging time for parents, teachers, and especially students. Valuable time is often lost as children readjust to the rules of behavior, a new teacher, an academically driven schedule, and a new classroom community. As parents, what can we do to help? One solution is summer camp!

Good camps provide fun activities along with the reinforcement of important social skills modeled by competent counselors and staff. A well-designed camp program instills positive values, teaches children how to work as a team, encourages them to try new things, and often teaches an appreciation for nature. An opportunity to excel at a nonacademic activity is always great for a child’s self-esteem. Most camps have a code of behavior that fosters a sense of fairness, loyalty, and community, which can only benefit a child’s social development.

There is a large variety of camp programs to choose from that focus on sports, crafts, dance, drama, or whatever may interest your child. Camp is not for everyone; however, it can be a very positive experience for some children. The time to register for most camp programs is now. Great camps book early; so don’t wait! You can contact the American Camping Association at www.acacamps.org to access their camp search tools and information.

Stephen McGill

 

Camp at PS 11

PS 11 Programs, Inc., who bring us our wonderful afterschool program, will again be offering a summer camp, with a full array of activities including arts and crafts, capoiera, dance, tennis, sports, and many other choices. It runs July 6–30, Mon–Thur, 8:30–5:30. Cost: $220 or $135 (qualifying for free lunch) per week. Half-day sessions and per day rates available. Children attending summer school will be accommodated. Space is limited; please sign up early! Call 917-653-0594 or stop by the afterschool office.

 

Be a Star this Summer!

Camp TheatreWorks is making its debut this summer and you can get in on the act. It's a 1-week day camp for kids 8–13, July 19–23, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., at Chelsea Studios, 151 W. 26th St. For $750, campers get to rehearse with Broadway professionals, go to a Broadway show, perform at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, and much more.  Lunch, beverages, and snacks provided. Scholarships available. For more information, call 212-647-1100, X149 or see www.TWUSA.org/camp.cfm.

 

Multicultural Night: March 25

Please join us for a night of food and fun celebrating our school's cultural variety. This event requires all of our families’ input to make it a success. Please feel free to help in any way you can. We will be posting information about donating food and helping with the decorations and about entertainment, and sending updates in your children's home folders. We look forward to seeing you there.

Allia Matta and Martha Gallo

 

 

Fundraising News!

 

Taste of Chelsea at Chelsea Market

Mark your calendars: May 21 is the date for A Taste of Chelsea, PS 11's biggest fundraiser of the year! If you've attended this event, you know that it's an evening not to be missed. If you haven't been there before, you're in for a wonderful surprise—a chance for parents, teachers, friends, and neighbors to enjoy great food and wine while raising money for our children. Twenty of the finest restaurants and food merchants in the area will offer tastings, and there will be a silent auction and a live auction, complete with a professional auctioneer from world-famous Christie’s. The money raised goes directly to our school. Expect to see a lot more information about this event in your child's home folder in the coming weeks. But of course, we need volunteers! If you 'd like to help right away, please contact Deborah at 212-268-8471 or Pam at 212-977-9857.

Deborah Traussi and Pam Winberry

 

Box Tops Visa

Keep those box tops for education coming, and sign up for the Box Tops Visa. A full 1% will be donated directly to our school, and there is a low APR and no annual fee. If purchases are made before March 31, 2004, you will be sent a bonus certificate of 50 box tops. Apply online at boxtops4education.com or call 1-800-650-0235. Thanks.

Marion Lederer

 

Thank You, North Fork Bank!

The North Fork Bank branch on 23rd St. between 6th and 7th Aves. has been very supportive to our school. They took out a very generous ad in our Holiday House Tour, donated a huge box of toys for our children for Christmas, and sent us over 5 cases of copy paper. Please keep them in mind if you're thinking of opening up a new bank account—or just stop in and say "thanks."

Kathy Ellman