HSA Minutes – March 2024 Meeting Minutes

HSA Meeting 

March 15th, 2024, 9:00

Attendees: 15 in person, XX online

 

Updates from Dr. Oates

 

Teacher Representative – Ms. Finnegan on Executive Functioning Skills & Parent Book Club 

This year 5th graders will start to receive executive functioning training, not to be confused with study skills.  Fifth graders are at an age where they are able to hone these types of skills that are developmentally difficult for younger students. This training deals with the emotional states that can affect their ability to function successfully.  Students will learn how to help regulate their brain to achieve goals.  They will explore the practical (organization, time management, planning)  versus the emotional (initiating tasks, persevering, flexible thinking) steps of tasks.  

Some strategies they will be learning include:

• working backward and breaking a task into steps: 1. Get ready, 2. Do, 3. Done 
• Marry objects – ie shin guards go with cleats or music book with instrument.
• Play games that help to build skills (memory, rummikub, jenga, etc) 

At home parents can:

• Share systems that work for you such as to do lists 
• Create a family calendar to share important dates and review regularly

 

There will also be a new parent book club reading Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy. Parents can attend either Thursday, April 25 at 7pm in the Somerville Library OR Friday, April 26 at 9am in Somerville’s Room 208.

 

New Social Studies Curriculum – Next year the Social Studies curriculum will shift from TCI to inquirED: https://learn.inquired.org/.  The inquirED approach involves a collaborative focus on dialogue and conversation.  Some teachers are piloting parts of  the program this year.

 

Parents Entering the School at Dismissal – With students and parents more involved than ever we will be tightening up dismissal procedures to assist teachers in packing up students and delivering them to the correct person.  All students must be dismissed from school before participating in an after school activity that is not a club run by Somerville.  Students attending scouts, lip sync rehearsals, international day rehearsals, SCT, etc will all need to leave the building to meet with their leaders before reentering if necessary.  Students involved in school clubs may be dismissed from their classroom to go to their club from within the school.

 

Room Bookings – All bookings of school spaces must go through the Master Library program on the district’s website.  Rooms must be booked 30 days in advance.  Emails to the Somerville front office asking for bookings and room cannot be accommodated.  For large events such as lip sync and international day chairs may book large spaces and work out rehearsal schedules to easily facilitate several groups sharing space.  

 

Spirit Week – Spirit week kicks off next week with special themes chosen by the student council.  Monday – St. Patricks Green or March Madness, Tuesday – Tie Dye, Wednesday – Comfy Cozy, Thursday – Tropical, Friday – Somerville.

 

Earth Day – April 12th  Students will have activities and 2 exciting assemblies to celebrate.  One assembly will be from Frank the Bee Man and a second with a giant Earth dome.  A Somerville parent will also be donating 400 tiny saplings for students to take home and care for. The Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission this year will also be working in the Somerville area to plant up to 100 mature sapling trees.  Families will apply to have a tree planted between the street and their property and agree to water the tree.  In addition to applying for a tree you can also volunteer to deliver and prepare holes for the trees around October 19th. Keep an eye on Enews for details.

 

Social Services Collection – This month we will be collecting Pasta and Sauce.  At this time of year stock is usually low at social services so your donations are particularly needed.

 

DEI –  A campaign called “Don’t Yuck My Yum” will be launched next month to help students have positive discussions around food they aren’t familiar with. Somerville has a rich diversity of students and we want to help students not feel self conscious about their lunches or snacks.  Families can share pictures of what their students’ lunches look like as well as participate in a bingo board of tasks to help explore different foods, spices or ways of shopping for food.

 

Zen Den –  This restorative space for students and staff is coming together with new paint, furnishings and counseling tools.  There will be a parent open house to view the new space.

 

Promethean Boards – Installation of the new boards is expected to take place the Tuesday of Spring Break. 

 

Staff News – We’re happy to announce that Ms. Vitale is expecting in September!  Ms. Zahn will be on maternity leave after May 31. We are also sadly saying goodbye to Mr. Lupia who will be retiring after 25 years at Somerville.  We are putting together a digital card for both teachers to leave a message or photo.  Check ENews for the link to the template and please share with alumni who may like to leave a message as well.

 

Past Events

• Teacher Appreciation Breakfast – February 16th –  Sponsored by 2nd and 3rd Grades
• Make Your Own Pizza – February 23rd – raised close to $500
• Science Fair –  Monday, February 26th
• HSA Board Nominations Due – February 28th
• Dad’s Night – March 2st & 2nd
• DEI Parent Workshop – March 5th
• ABCs of Hip Hop Assembly – March 6th
• Somerville Children’s Theater (SCT) presents Frozen – March 14-16
• Marking Period 2 Ends – March 15th – report cards live April 2nd

Upcoming Events 

• • Broadway Bound – March 21st – 5th graders to see Aladdin
  • Holiday Docent Presentation – Ramadan & Eid – Friday March 22nd
  • Spring Break – March 25th – April 1st
  • No School – Eid – April 10th
  • Earth Day – April 12th
  • Author Visit – John Parra (Grades K-2) – April 15th
  • Author Visit (Virtual) – Chris Grabenstein (3-5) – April 23rd
  • Art Docent Day – April 24th
  • Clothing Donation Drive – April 27th – behind Somerville
  • Young Musicians Showcase – April 27th – 12pm: Elementary, 4pm: Middle School 

• International Day & Night – April 30th

• Parent Spring Social – Saturday May 4th – Kentucky Derby Theme

HSA Updates:

DEI (Parent Workshop and Story Walk) – On March 5th parents had the opportunity to meet with Afrika Afeni Mills again.  Small groups discussed scenarios around race and discrimination.  There will be a follow up meeting in the near future.

There is also a new story walk for families to explore along the fence of Kenilworth Field;   Bilal cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed.  This charming picture book is about a young boy,  Bilal, as he invites friends over to try his favorite dish and wonders if they will like it.  The theme and message tie into the “Don’t Yuck My Yum” campaign. The Committee hopes to do one more story walk this year.

Teacher Grants – The HSA and Dads Night received 15 grant submissions and is happy to approve and fulfill all requests!

Science Fair – Over 100 projects were registered and classes had a great day seeing their peers present their work.  Thank you to the chairs and volunteers who coordinated this event.

International Fair – Celebrate Somerville’s diverse cultures and backgrounds at  International Day on Tuesday, April 30th! This year there are new health department rules in place for all events in the Village; the chairs are working closely with the office to ensure compliance at the evening food event. 

Next HSA Meeting will be on Friday, April 19th at 9am in room 208 and on zoom.