Check out Groundhog Day at our own Staten Island Zoo this Saturday, February 2nd. The gates open at 7:00 a.m. Link to the Staten Island Zoo site here:
Monthly Archives: January 2008
January PTA Meeting Minutes
PTA MinutesJan 17, 2008 Officers present: Siri Kagan, Ida Gilman, Laura Strohm
December minutes were passed around.Treasurer’s Report: see attachment.
Opening Balance: $5,783.38 (11/15/07) Closing Balance: $5,173.59 (1/15/08)
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Interim PA Financial Report reviewed- see attachment
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Valentine Craft Vote: PTA to pay for and help children make craft. The valentine craft was well received last year. Vote for “I Love You Heart.” A motion was made by Siri Kagan, seconded by Laura Strohm- motion passed to provide $160.00 for Valentine Craft.
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A motion was made by Siri Kagan to purchase 2 tickets for the Grace Foundation Crop for Autism, seconded by Laura Strohm, motion passed.
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Carnival: May 14, 2008 PTA to send solicitation letter for $5.00 per family to generate income for the carnival.
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Federation for PTA’s is selling $5 boosters toward their scholarship and awards ceremony. Consider purchasing one towards this cause prior to April. Flyers will be sent home with the children.
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$150.00 Federation dues to be paid for this year.
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The purchase of a copier was considered for PTA use. Much opposition was expressed. Will revisit when we have actual cost information.
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Motion made by Kirsten Rorke to purchase a digital camera for PTA. We have a new bulletin board where pictures can be displayed. $200.00 motion passed – there was no opposition.
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A proposal to purchase magnetic business cards with PTA & PS373 website info for $120.00. Motion passed. No oppositi
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Announcements:
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Women’s Health Day 1/29 at IBR, A nurse practitioner to come and speak at 10AM.
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Rise and Shine with Martine (parent coordinator for NYC) 1/24 anyone with issues? Overcrowding and bussing to be brought up.
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Camp Day is this Saturday! If you want to carpool, call Siri!
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School Governance Forum with Randi Weingarten 1/17@ 7PM.
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Free Yoga 1/22 at the main site.
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Lobby Day in Albany 2/12. All 3 meals provided. Talk to Siri if interested.
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Weekly overcrowding planning meetings are being held- next 1/24 @1PM @ main site.
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Federation Special Education Committee workshop/ meeting- Monday 1/28@ 930AM.
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Overcrowding Press conference 2/8 @11AM
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CCSE put us in their priority list for consideration in the 2009 budget.
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SI Advance does not have an education writer. The PTA Federation is pushing for this. The editor is considering hiring someone. Email campaign- hack@siadvance.com MargeHack is the city editor at the SI Advance. WE have too many critical issues not to have an education writer! Please send your email to the above address.
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CCSE opening- (city wide council special education committee SI CEC has 2 openings- See Siri if interested.
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Speaker: Jackie Tripodi of Parent to Parent NYS- handouts available or go to; www.parenttoparentnys.org
Meeting adjourned at 11AM Next meeting on Thursday, 2/28. Respectfully submitted by Laura Strohm, PTA
Greenbelt Nature Center
700 Rockland Avenue (at the intersection with Brielle Avenue)
Staten Island NY 10306
Call us at 1-718-351-3450
- Sunday, February 3rd: Gung Hay Fat Choy—Happy New Year! Come join the Greenbelt educators as they celebrate the Year of the Rat. Discover traditional foods, and learn about the festivals surrounding this festive weeklong holiday. Make a lantern for the Lantern Festival while you snack on authentic Chinese New Year treats. Fee: Greenbelt Conservancy members $5; non-members $6. Registration and prepayment required. Call (718) 351-3450.
- Tuesday – Friday, February 19-22nd: School’s Out—We’re In! 10 am – 12 pm: Let the Greenbelt educators lead you through a fun-filled and educational program at the Greenbelt Nature Center covering these fascinating topics: Wind, Lenape Indians, Litter Critters and Dinosaurs. Suitable for children age 8 and up. Fee: Greenbelt Conservancy members $8; non-members $9. Register for all four workshops and save Greenbelt Conservancy members $26; non-members $30. Registration and prepayment required. Call (718) 351-3450 to register.
- Sunday, March 16th: Leprechaun Hike 1 pm: Join the Greenbelt educators as they search for elusive leprechauns and their pots of gold in this pre-St. Patrick’s Day hike. Dress appropriately for hiking. Suitable for children age 6 and up accompanied by an adult chaperone. Meet at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Avenue (Map). Call (718) 351-3450 to register.
DailyCandy.com/KIDS NY – Special Events
READ
How Groundhog’s Garden Grew
What: Celebrate the occasion with a special reading and puppet-making project.
Why: The shadow knows.
When: Sat., 3 p.m.
Where: The Scholastic Store, 557 Broadway, b/t Prince & Spring Sts. (212-343-6166).
HEAR
AudraRox
What: Musician and teacher plays a funky, family show as part of the Just Kidding series.
Why: Bring down the playhouse.
When: Sat., 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Where: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, at 95th St. (212-864-5400).
SEE
Lunar New Year Celebration and Flower Market
What: Welcome the Year of the Rat with the Red Silk Dancers, bamboo planting, martial arts, and more.
Why: Sky’s the limit.
When: Sun., 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Where: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 900 Washington Ave. (718-623-7220).
Teddy Atlas Shows his Generosity to our School!
The Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation
is hosting
The 81st Daily News Golden Gloves
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open 6:30)
At The Michael J. Petrides School, 715 Ocean Terrace
General Admission $20.00 and Limited Ringside Admission $50.00
Proceeds to Benefit The Atlas Foundation
Celebrities Attending are Iran Barkley – Mark Breland – Ken Daneyko – Lou Duva – John Franco – Jr. Jones – Eric Mangini – Michael Moorer – Rinaldo Snipes – Chuck Wepner – Carl (The Truth) Williams & Many More
TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED by calling 718-980-7037
As you may remember, Teddy Atlas and Santa Claus gave every child at our school a Christmas present. When Teddy visited our school in December, he promised he would come back to inspire one of our kids in crisis to try to manage his behavior. Today, Teddy visited our school once again and gave that child two tickets to this event. He is going to follow up with this student and continue to help him to reach his goals. He ALSO gave ten more tickets so that five more of our students, each with a chaperone, could attend. THANK YOU TEDDY ATLAS!!
Our PTA will be purchasing RINGSIDE TICKETS to raffle off to our school. If you are interested, please contact the parent coordinator, Kirsten Rorke (718) 816-8897 ext. 210.
Free Dinner and Guardianship Workshop with Tony Calabrese
To all parents of children with special needs: you are invited to attend a workshop on “PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR CHILD OR DEPENDENT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS”. This workshop will be presented by MetDESK Specialist Anthony R. Calabrese, MetLife’s Division of Estate Planning for Special Kids.
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Date: Wednesday February 20, 2008
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Time: 6:30 p.m. Complimentary Dinner Will Be Served
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Place: Ocean 3 Restaurant, 2481 Richmond Rd. Staten Island, NY
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RSVP: Anthony Calabrese @ MetLIFE (718) 966-3281
Important Issues that need to be addressed:
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Government Benefit Eligibility
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Guardianship and Conservatorship/Guardian Ad Litem
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Financial Security and Funding Options
WOMEN’S HEALTH DAY – Spring Into a Healthier You!
Parent to Parent will be hosting a workshop on women’s health called “Spring Into a Healthier You!”. It will be presented by Barbara O’Brien, R.N. and the Staten Island Healthy Women’s Partnership. This event is part of “Women’s Health Day” on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Institute for Basic Research (IBR) located at 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island.
They will talk about heart health, breast health, Gynecological health (w/Guardisi information), bone health and much more. A light breakfast will be served. For more information please call Parent to Parent at (718) 494-3469.
Need Help with a Mental Health Issue? Link to NAMI’s Resource Page
NAMI-NYC Metro has an important RESOURCE LINKS PAGE. National Alliance on Mental Illness – NYC has a page of VERY INFORMATIVE links if you need to find out more about what is out there for people with Mental Health issues.
There are advocacy links, emergency services links, entitlement links, medical links, forensic, prison & law links and much more. I found this extremely helpful on so many levels. Please check out their website: http://www.naminycmetro.org/links.htm#city
PUBLIC MEETING OF THE PANEL FOR EDUCATIONAL POLICY
New York City Department of Education
Tweed Courthouse
52 Chambers St, Manhattan, NY 10007
January 28, 2007
6:00 pm
Speaker sign-up will begin at 5:30pm at the door and will close at 6:10pm. Each speaker will be allowed two minutes to speak during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.
Translation services will be provided in Spanish. American Sign Language is available through reservation only: (212) 374-2437or kburney@schools.nyc.gov
Special Needs Camp Fair 2008- Find a Camp for Your Child!
23rd Annual
SPECIAL CAMP FAIR 2008
FREE ADMISSION
Saturday, January 26, 2008
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
at the
Church of St. Paul the Apostle
in Manhattan
(Entrance on Columbus Avenue near West 60th Street)Resources for Children with Special Needs’ Special Camp Fair brings together 70 representatives of day camps in New York City and sleep away camps all over the Northeast that serve children with disabilities. This is your opportunity to talk to camp representatives about your needs and how the camps can serve those needs.
• Admission to the Fair is free and adult attendees (one per family) will get a free copy of Camps 2008. •
• The Camp Fair is a unique opportunity to find just the right summer program for your child, so please join us. • • Spanish and sign language interpreters will be available. •
• Children are invited to attend, but no child care will be available. •
PS 373R Robert Randall School 
