HSA Minutes – May HSA Meeting Minutes

HSA Meeting 

May 12th 2023, 9:00am

Attendees: 19 in person, 6 online

Updates from Dr. Oates

Teacher Representative Ms. Kaplan – The curriculum for the Library includes Tech Safety and Ms. Kaplan has been teaching each grade about various topics.  A lot of great resources exist for educators and parents on Common Sense Media (https://www.commonsensemedia.org/)  including contracts for digital rules.  Here is a breakdown, by grade, of what the students are learning:

First – First graders learn about media balance and what happens when you have too much screen time.  They learn how to stay safe online and what to do if you are uncomfortable.

Second – Second graders review lessons from first grade and learn about what device free moments are like and how important they are. They learn what’s not appropriate to share online and what not to do.  In conjunction with their animal presentation projects they learn to give credit to sources for information that is not your own thinking.

Third – Third graders learn about the power of words and when you communicate digitally how things can be out of context.  They’re introduced to digital footprints and how shared items never really go away, there is always a trail.  They learn about credibility: Is seeing believing?  Is something true?  How do you know?

Fourth – Fourth graders learn more about digital footprints and how shared content stays with you even when shared through gaming.  They have discussions about cyberbullying and how to be an upstander and not a bystander.

Fifth – Fifth grader learns about digital literacy and digital friendships.  They look at what clickbait is and what to do about cyberbullying.  

Teacher Representative Ms. Droske – Kindergarten update – The students have recently hatched chicks and ducks.  They have been writing “All About” books about their new class pets, been scientists observing the life cycle and even incorporated chicks and ducks into their addition and subtraction lessons. 

Book of the Month – Sky Color by Peter Reynolds. This book explores using your creativity to think outside the box.  Lessons in art will tie into the book.

Teacher Appreciation – May 8-12 – Somerville celebrated our teachers all week with goodies, meals and activities.  Thank you to Suzanne Wert and Liz Mazzurco for coordinating such a special week.

Staff Changes – There will be some changes to teaching staff next year. Additionally, a special education teacher will be assigned to grades 1-5 to co-teach in the classrooms. Next years teachers are: 

Kindergarten – Ross, Droske and Pia 

First – Ms. Janowski, Ms. Koropchak and Ms. Middleton with Ms. Buzzard, Special Ed

Second – Ms. Kowalski, Ms. Witham and Ms. Kirk with Ms. Calaman, Special Ed

Third – Mr. Dembin, Ms. Bielicky and Ms. Foerch with Ms. Fabish, Special Ed

Fourth – Ms. Lupia, Ms. Fischetti, and Ms. Calandra with Ms. Marchioni, Special Ed

Fifth – Ms. Kiernan (writing), Ms. Pilkington (reading) and Ms. Burke (math) with Ms. Petrick, Special Ed

 

Social Services Donations – Donations for May will be cleaning products.

 

Past Events

• Eid School Closure – Friday, April 21st
• Auction – Friday, April 21st 
• International Day Assembly – April 24th
• International Day & Night – April 25th.
• Art Docent Day – April 26th
• Third Grade Field Trip – April 28th – NYBG
• Clothing Drive – April 30th – Behind Somerville 9am-12
• Field Day – May 5th and assembly by Skate4Life
• First Grade Field Trip – May 11th – Health Barn
• Second Grade Field Trip – May 11th – Bronx Zoo
• Teacher Appreciation Week – May 8th-12th
• Bake Sale – May 12th

Upcoming Events 

• • NJSLA Testing – May 15-23 – Grades 3-5
  • LSHSA Parent Social – May 18th 9:30-11am at 204 Avondale Road
  • Third Grade Walking Field Trip – Wednesday, May 24th – to Ridgewood Library
  • Memorial Day Break– May 26th and 29th
  • Scoop Night at Kilwins – May 31st
  • Kindergarten Visitation – May 31st & June 1st
  • SOMA Art Show – June 1st
  • Frosty Fridays – June 2, 9, 16
  • Concerts Grades 1-4 – June 2nd
  • Book Fair – June 7th & 8th
  • Concert (5th Grade) – June 9th

• Biography Day (5th Grade) – June 9th

• Rocket Day (5th Grade) – June 12th
• Movie Day (5th Grade) – June 13th
• Flag Day– June 14th – Veterans will come talk about the flag and how to honor it
• Woodmont Day Camp Field Trip (5th Grade) – June 14th
• Kickball and Kona Ice (5th Grade) – June 15th
• Bagels & Yearbooks (5th Grade) -June 16th
• Juneteenth Holiday – No School – June 19th
• Promotion (10am) and Step Up Day – June 22 – Dismissal 12:45

HSA Updates:

Auction – Thank you to everyone who attended and helped out at the auction.  The event raised over $60,000.  Some of these funds will be used for teacher grants

Bake Sale – Thank you to everyone who contributed baked goods and to Arti Kachla and Kim Wong for coordinating this fundraiser.

Book Gifting – This year we have raised $2300 for Ms Kaplan to purchase new books for the library.

Clothing Drive – Raised just over $500.  Thank you to everyone who donated!

Frosty Friday – Through June Frosty Fridays is back! Ice pops will be available for $1 after school.

HSA Slate for 2023/24 was approved:

• President: Miranda Soffian
• Vice President: Nicole Ragains
• Treasurer: Courtney Morley
• Assistant Treasurer: Katie Finston
• Recording Secretary: Melissa Bowley
• Communications Secretary: Ktanya Schwartzberg

Thank you to Ms. Kaplan and Ms. Droske and all who attended today’s meeting in person and those who joined us on our Zoom call. Thank you Dr. Oates for meeting with us today!

Please keep an eye on the Tuesday E-News to stay up to date on all the latest information and announcements. 

Next HSA Meeting will be a Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast June 16th at 9am.