PTA Meeting Minutes 2024-2025

September Minutes, 9/17

Attendance

Luella Joyner
Eme
iPhone (135)?
Jackie Tejada
Carolina
Penelope Belfort
Ofelia
Kam Hall
Chana Markel
Janina
Stephanie Ramsey
Janae Moret
Brandi E
Syntia
Rosa
Sunita Rao
Michael Fishman
Guang Lin
Raquel Tipani
iPad
Pie Min Ren
Janyl R
Lilly Cormier
Joelle + Sungjin Oh
Jamie Valdez
IPhone
Esther Shin Smith
Amy Hawley Alvarez
Priya Singh
Kimberly
Michael Caracappa
Alison Andrade
Jason’s IPhone
Tiana Green
Charisma Chanele
Solange

6:25pm Ms. Verdiner logs on Zoom

6:33pm Chizz welcomes Ms. Verdiner to the meeting

6:34pm Ms. Verdiner addresses parents to New School Year.

plumbing issue has been addressed. Now upper school as well as lower school have functioning refill stations.
Double digit gains over the previous school year; we are performing above city level.
Currently assessing students (upper and lower school) via iReady, etc.
opening school day feedback via survey has been favorable. Currently fully staffed.

6:42pm Curriculum Night

first curriculum night since 2019
Sessions are 4:00pm-5:20pm; and 5:30pm-7:00pm
Pre-K thru 5th grade, movie night (Inside Out 2 showing during both sessions)!
6th through 8th grade will be watching a “Day in the Life of Middle School”.
10 minute rotation from each teacher in middle school.
Highest attendance is awarded a Pizza Night :-)
Also selling raffles during curriculum night.
Will be selling uniform shirts-stuck is low.
There is no virtual option, in the event you can attend, please set up meeting teacher.

Important Dates

application process for 8th graders into high school will be discussed on 9/24 from 5:00pm-6:00pm
Meeting for 7th graders heading into 8th grade will be held on 9/25, 5:00pm-6:00pm
Meeting for 5th graders preparing for middle school will take place on 10/1, 5:00pm-6:00pm.

*ALL MEETINGS VIA ZOOM*

6:55pm Amy, Representative for Teachers College addresses the meeting

6:56pm Treasurer’s Report

opening balance in $7,562.94

6:59pm Welcome Back Picnic Recap

held on 9/8, in Morningside Park from 11:00am-3:00pm
BYOP (bring your own picnic)
we had an amazing turn out from pre-k thru 8th grade. Including new parents!

7:00pm Annual School Supplies Drive

supplies are purchased in bulk to mitigate costs, and are ready for students by first day of school.
100% participation is the goal. $30 suggested per student.
Accepting Zelle, cashapp, PayPal and cash.
Don’t leave cash or checks unattended in the office.

7:06pm Announcements

curriculum night 9/19
School Supplies Drive (ongoing)
1st parent social @ Plowshares on 9/27
Sign up for Commitees (1. Class parents, 2. Events/fundraising, 3. Community engagement, 4. School Garden, and 5. Buildings).

7:11pm Fall Bake Sale

10/9 upper school, 10/10 lower school
Session in the morning before school, then after school from 2:30pm-5:00pm

7:12pm Picture Day

10/22 lower school, 10/24 upper school.
Both sessions take place in the morning.
Retake day is in December.

Closing Remarks.

October Minutes, 10/15

Attendance

Alisha martinez
stephanie Ramsey
Niambi Rollins
Syntia
Joelle and Sungjin oh
Meizhu liu
Tasha’s a15
Eloisa iPhone
Amy Harley Alvarez
Dionne bBeckford
Michelle Verdiner
Pei Ren
Tiana green
Mariela Gomez
Esther Shin Smith
Jason
iPhone
Ranique
Mrs. Williams
Andonis
Aissatou

6: 33 ms. Verdiner address

Families as learning partners

Pre k thru 5th

Last Friday for every month

First period

First will be the 25th

Immediately after is coffee with principal

First time at lower school, will alternate between between schools

We stop in may. Don

6:36

Character Day is on 31st not 30th; error on calendar.

No mask, no weapons.

Parade at the end of the day.

Pre k thru 5th

School leadership team

3rd Thursday of the month

Uniform

Culturally sensitive and inclusive

Details on website

Fall festival on 10/19

123rd -124th Ralph Bunche School playground

Crafts games open to community

All families welcome

Popcorn fundraiser, 4th annual

Double good, will have instructions for families to set up stand

Supports 5th grade and 8th grade class for end of year senior trip, with extra focus on 8th grade. We need two charter buses which are expensive

Prizes for top sellers

November 15th thru 19th

Evacuation drills

Will receive notifications for drills, must have 8 before December and 4 after.

Children are notified before drills

Monthly newsletter coming soon

6:48

Bake sale recap

Was Wednesday and Thursday of last week (10/9 and 10/10)

Raised over $1100

Hoping we can another sale following the success of the first

6:53

School supplies drive is ongoing

Aiming for 100% participation

PTA Commitee

class parents, would recommend 2 per classroom
Events/Fundraising
Community engagement
Buildings
School garden

6:57

PTA Announcements

picture day 10/22 (lower school) and 10/24 (upper school)
School supplies drive (ongoing)
Parent coffee social Friday 10/18 at Harlem Cafe)
Sign up for committees (class parents, etc)
Coffee with the principal (10/25, lower school
Giving thanks 11/25 (Monday before thanksgiving)

7:01

Closing remarks/questions

Website updated

Teachers are on website!

November minutes 11/19

Attendance

Ofelia

Ms. Joy

Amy Hawley

Tiana Green

“iPhone”

Jacyr

Esther Shin

Jason

Gigi

Adriana Carranca

Mariela

Sapphire

Glenny

Rebecca LaParra

Allegra

Niambi Rollins

Collette

Teara Eggleston

Bronyn Starr

“CC”

Sarai Corniel

Meizhu Liu

Kam Hall

Stephanie Ramsey

Afriyie

Michelle Verdiner

6:34pm-Ms. Verdiner addresses Parents

We made $31,000+ in sales for Double Good fundraiser (highest sales to date!). 50% goes to the school so we keep $15,780.

Top seller was Snypes ($3,795)

Lyla Card ($1,414)

Ribbon Even ($1,314)

FLP (Family Learning Partners) held this Friday (11/22) in both buildibgs during first period. We will also have Middle School Mingle during first period. Immediately following is Coffee with the Principal, held at the upper school. Parents as Helpers are needed to help organize and assemble tailored material per each grade.

District 5 summit happened today, 5 principles came and visited several classrooms and observed how classrooms functions. We received great feedback! We will most likely be visited by superintendent around March.

We will soon share Parent survey, 75% strongly agree with how school functions.

NEW! Student survey available for grades 3-8. Example of some questions are “Do you feel safe?” And “Do you know where you are?” And “is there someone in the school that makes you feel safe?” Answers are anonymous. 178 students responded.

6:53pm- treasurers report

$9491.97 as of 11/19

We are currently at 25% participation for the School Supplies Drive, the goal is 100%.

6:56pm-Giving Thanks Potluck 11/25

4:00pm-5:30pm at MPR (Multi-Purpose Room) in upper school. We need more dishes! Plz drop them off in the morning or around 2:30pm. Will feature some gently used uniform for “Uniform Swap”.

7:05pm-Winter Bake Sale

NEW! 12/11 at the lower school, 12/12 at the upper school. 8:15am-9:00am and 2:30pm-5:30pm. We are asking that everything be individually wrapped, and maybe more savory items? Also hot drinks and of course NUT FREE.

7:08pm-PTA Announcements

Picture retakes (12/3 lower school, 12/5 upper school)

We are still looking for parents to sign up for committees, especially class parents.

December minutes 12/17

Attendance

Joelle +Sungjin Oh

Amy Hawley Alvarez

Tiana Green

Collete

Guang Lin

Jacyr

Eme

Pei REN

Niambi Rollins

Allegra Jones

Teara Eggleston

Raquel Tipiani

Cinthia

6:36pm- Collete addresses parents

Winter Bake Sale-great turn out! In climate weather did not hinder success!

6:38pm-Ms. Green addresses parents.

Attendance breakfast-45 students were recognized for perfect attendance (September thru December). If your child attends school everyday in theonth of December, they’ll be rewarded with “Wacky Waffle” in January. This will be held during first period in both upper and lower school.

Sprit week-coming up! So is Winter Wonderland, let’s all spread the word regarding potluck. Our basketball team had their game today!

Water refill stations-as of today stations at both the upper and lower school are operating at 100%

6:45pm-Amy Hawley Alvarez addresses parents.

Plz remember to sign up for robotics program.

We are in need of Class Parents. The role of the class parent is to be a point of communication between parents and school.

6:54pm-parent expresses concern regarding class size (4th grade class combined).

7:02 closing remarks

No parent social, our next meeting is 1/21

January minutes 1/21

General Meeting 1/21

Attendance

Janyl

Shamone

Amy Hawley

“iPhone”

Kam hall

Joaquin Ramsey

Pei ren

Patrice Arrington

Allegra

Niambi

Esther

Raquel

Ofelia

Mariela

Rebecca

Collette

Teara

6:34- meeting starts

Collete addresses parents

Patrice Arrington address parents on behalf of Ms. Verdiner

Reminding parents to keep children home when exhibiting sick symptoms

Congrats on parents for “Wacky Waffle”

Next initiative will be in feb “Designer Donuts”

DOE Parent surveys will roll out soon, great data for prospective parents

6:37pm Kam addresses Parents

Surveys can be filled out via paper and iPad

Families with learning partners on 1/31, coffee with principal will be held in lower school as well as middle school mingle

6:41pm -

Jan bank $9,918

Total expense (zoom) $16.37

6:41pm -winter soirée

Ticket prices are live!

+21, will sell raffle tickets and have a cash bar. If anyone has a business in mind to solicit a gift card or sponsorship for soirée that would be awesome!

6:48pm-lower school retakes today (1/21), the 27th will be retakes for upper school AND senior pics

PTA February will be earlier than usual, will get back to you with date

6:51pm- closing remarks