PTA MEETINGS COMING UP: *May12th *NOTE CHANGE Jun.11th

STOP THE EDUCATION CUTS!

Contact your state representative or call or email Governor Pataki direct, to protest the huge cuts in education spending. Save our schools and save our kids!

Dear parents and families of PS 11, This has been a long and difficult year with all the changes coming from the Dept. of Education. I want to thank you for all your continued support - and rest assured that we will continue to base our teaching on our assessments of your children, and on our continued discussion about what we see works in our classrooms. I hope to see everyone at the Taste of Chelsea. My manicotti dish is not to be believed! Sincerely, Francis Del Monaco, Principal

PTA ELECTIONS ARE NEAR� AND SLT ELECTIONS ALSO� Come to the next PTA meeting, May 12th at 6:30pm and vote for the new PTA Board, and new members for the School Leadership Team. Also, there will be further questions and discussion of the SLT's statement. Make sure your voice is heard!

GRANT-WRITING SEMINAR� �to be held by the Department of Education. For more information, call Alan Brown at 212 645 4619.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR THE TASTE OF CHELSEA EVENT! Volunteers are needed to help out on the night of the Taste of Chelsea event (May 16). The event runs from 6:00PM to 9:00PM (tastings and silent auction from 6:00 - 8:00, live auction from 8:00 - 9:00). If you've been feeling guilty about not doing enough for the school, now is your chance help. You can work as little as one hour, or as long as three or four hours. You can sign up to volunteer at the ticket-selling table outside the school on mornings starting Monday, May 5, or by contacting Deborah Donenfeld at 212 675 4420 or .

DONATIONS ARE STILL NEEDED FOR THE AUCTION. If every family got just one donation, we'd have over 400 items to auction off. So get out there and get a donation! Remember, all the money we raise at this event directly benefits our kids.

Check Out Our Website Log onto our wonderful PTA website and get all the school info. Also posted there (and available in the office) is the 2002-3 CEP (Comprehensive Education Plan) for PS11. Logon at www.ps11pta.org

PS11 Kids At Apple Store May 14th at 6:30 pm, check out 4th and 5th graders presenting their computer projects at the new Apple Store (corner of Prince Street and Greene Street) and get a special discount on Apple computers while you're there.

PS11 Yearbook - You Can Help A team of teachers and children are already hard at work on this year's yearbook. Support their efforts, and help defray their costs by soliciting advertising. Call Faye Ellman at 212 243 3759 to see how you can participate. The children will thank you for years to come! Also, look for the advertising flyer in your child's home folder, if you're interested in taking out an ad.

South St. Seaport Summer Camp South Street Seaport summer day camp for 8-12 year-olds. "Let your child explore the history of New York through exciting workshops taught by artists, marine biologists and certified Board of Education teachers. ...hands-on educational units, field trips, healthy lunches and a family sail on the Museum's 19th century schooner." Call Ken Struve at 212 748 8742 for more information.

SUMMER OASIS For the past few summers OASIS has run a very successful summer camp in Central Park for children ages 6-13 (continuing this summer), and now has a new program starting this year on the Lower East Side (Oasis Downtown) using East River Park and a school on Houston Street, "New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math". This program is for children ages 4-7. For more information: Or call the director of enrolment: Anna Lacina 718 596 4900

See a Dream in the Making
GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE PS 11 OUTDOOR SCIENCE GARDEN!
May 27, 2pm, in the yard. Stop by the library and see Gil Santiago's grand plan for this outdoor science center in the PS11 yard: you won't believe your eyes.

SUMMER CAMP AT PS 150 Camp Invention will be at PS 150 for one week this summer, and will provide a great science, math, and art based curriculum. A nationwide program, this is their first time in New York City. For kids going into 1st grade through 5th grade. Camp runs from August 4th-8th, from 9am - 3pm. Cost is $190. Register at www.campinvention.org or call 1 800-968-4332 and use a credit card.

SCHOOL CHANGES - UPDATES By now you should have all received the principal's letter re the curriculum. Here are a few links with more information about the Chancellor's top schools list, related Dept of Ed links and other helpful places. DOE logon to

"Ask Dr. Math," a question and answer service for math students and their teachers. Logon to

You are also invited to meetings of "Children First" throughout the city, on various dates. You can also reach Chancellor Klein; logon

PARENTING HORIZONS Workshops on parenting issues are offered in different locations; to find out more about their programs call 212 765-2377

After School Program Questions? Call 917-653-0594.Leave a message on voicemail and someone will soon get back to you.

STOP THE PRESS! Teacher appreciation week is May 4-10 so take the opportunity to tell your child's teacher just how much you appreciate all the loving care they give, every day. Circle-in-the-Square Residency Third graders' original plays will be performed May 21 from 8:30-10:30 in the library.