Parents Association General Meeting Minutes - January 16, 2014

Meeting held at PS130M Auditorium on January 16, 2014 at 9am.

 

Parents Association Board Members 2013-2014: 

President: Lulu Yuen

Co-Vice Presidents: Leslie Ng & Dorothy Shu

Co-Treasurers: Nathaniel Conan

Co-Secretaries: Xuan Sue Huynh & Sonali Mistry

Parents Association Event Coordinator:     Lisa Wong

Parents Association Email:                            ps130mpa@yahoo.com

Parents Association Website:                       www.ps130pa.blogspot.com

FB Page                                                                    www.ps130pa.blogspot.com

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 3/11/14 - Parent Teacher Conference

Sign-up sheets will be posted outside the Auditorium

5/16/14 - 12^th Annual Arts Benefit

All money raised at the Benefit is used to support our rich Arts program which consists of violin classes, Rosie’s Theater, Inside Broadway, Young People’s Chorus, and the National Dance Institute – something special for every child in the school from Pre-K through Grade 5.

 Only $63 per child is given by the Department of Education towards the Arts which doesn’t cover very much. Without the success of our Banquet, we would not be able to continue to provide all of the program offerings in the school. The programs are expensive but well worth it since they help our children enjoy school and improve their academic performance.  Last year, we were able to raise over $130,000.  We would like to at least match that this year.

Reaching out to our families and the community to buy ads in our Benefit Journal is one way to raise additional money for the programs.  $2 Raffle tickets will also be available for purchase before and during the Benefit.  All donations for raffle prizes are welcomed and the value can be considered for a tax deduction.  Please come to the Parents Association Room 101 for more information.

6/21/14- Staten Island Yankees Baseball Game

We have arranged for a wonderful outing for our PS 130 families on June 21st that will also help us raise some funds. For every ticket sold, $3.50 will be donated to the school. Tickets are $22 and include food.  A separate section will be designated for PS 130 to sit together if enough tickets are sold. It is a wonderful event that can be planned as an end of the year class or family event. Order forms will be distributed to the children on Friday, January 17^th. The Ticket orders are due JANUARY 30^th.

 

UPDATES

·       Mr. Epstein officially retired last year and has been volunteering and working on a part-time basis.  Due to the amount of work and for a school as large as ours, another Assistant Principal is needed.  Mr. Fong, our computer teacher, will be serving as Interim acting Assistant Principal beginning Tuesday, January 21^st.  As a result, there will be another technology teacher in Mr. Fong’s place.

·       VOLUNTEERS NEEDED- The fifth grade caps and gowns have arrived. If any parents are able to help sew collars for the cap and gowns, please contact the PA office. THEY MUST BE DONE BY MARCH 3, 2014.

 

·       MUFFIN CLUB- Due to the drop in scores on the NYS Exams in all schools last year and the fact that the exams are expected to be much harder this year, we are trying to aid the children to the best of our ability.

 

Only 26% of New York City children passed the ELA exams. In comparison, PS 130 actually scored much higher (54%) but it is not up to the expectations that we want our students, especially if we want them to make it into the better middle schools.

As a result, this second Session of Muffin Club from January 2, 2014- March 28^th is different from our regular sessions. The focus is emphasized on grades 3, 4, and 5. Kindergarten, 1^st and 2^nd grade teachers are working with these children in the morning instead of the younger children.   After March, a normal session of Kindergarten, 1^st and 2^nd grade kids will resume Muffin Club with the teachers.

There are currently 4-5 teachers in each classroom working with small groups of kids for a half hour every morning.  Upper grade G&T teachers will work with their own students since they have the highest performing students in their classes.  Teachers ask that parents to be punctual bringing their children in the morning. They need to be here at 8AM because their lessons begin promptly at 8:15AM.

·       Funding for after school Extended School Day support is generated by the students who scored Levels 1 and 2 on last year’s NYS reading and math exams. These children are being offered Extended School Day on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:10-4:40 from January 2^nd through March 28^th.  There will be a Saturday Institute practice exam for all 4^th Graders on Saturday, March 29^th.  More info on this when the date is closer.