PCEC Newsletter | November 2016 by Fit to B'Hurst

FROM THE

PARENT COUNCIL EXCECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Sa FAMILIES BENSONHURST

november 2016 newsletter

WhaT’S iNSiDe 1 Opening Letter 2 Let’s Start at the Beginning Our First Parent Council Meeting 3 Play-dates Thank You! 4 Calendar of upcoming Events

Sa-bh PCeC Madeline Vega PRESIDENT

Michael Curcio VICE PRESIDENT

Yuri Nazarov SECRETARY pcec@sabhfamilies.com Facebook.com/groups/ sabhfamilies Facebook.com/groups/ sabhparents sabhfamilies.com

BeST WISHeS kINDERGARTEN SCHOLARS FROM THE “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. DANT” VIDEO ON YOuTuBE

MOre gOOD Last week I realized maybe I should start thinking about a November newsletter. Showing up for Wednesday Choice period or Gamesday seemed like a good idea, but there also seemed to be a lot of information that needed to get in front families in case you are not opening emails or checking blue folders. It might be too late now to tell you “Don’t buy candy for your scholar’s class” or “Be sure to take off tomorrow morning for a parade,” but it’s worth one more shot. Check us out on sabhfamilies.com/info for more information about creating gifts for teachers, volunteer opportunities, and play-dates. To see pictures of what happens during Wednesday Choice, visit issuu.com/sabhsharing —Madeline

Let’s start at the beginning Everyone is automatically a member of the Parent Council. We welcome all moms, dads, stepparents, guardians, and relatives who help scholars succeed.

celebrating heritage Be sure to have your scholar wear something to represent your family’s culture and talk to other families in your class about what you can contribute to the potluck for Nov. 18. Also, add to our map of the world on the bulletin board outside the Main Office with pictures and facts about your family’s heritage.

The Executive Committee are the moms and dads elected in Spring 2016: • Madeline Vega, President • Michael Curcio, Vice President • Yuri Nazarov, Secretary • Jennifer Mauro, Treasurer We do not sell candy or wrapping paper or magazine subscriptions to raise money for the school, but we are currently collecting money from families who are willing to contribute to a fund for giving holiday gifts to teachers. We will all work together to give all the teachers and staff (including the safety officers, janitors, and therapists) gifts in December. If you have an idea for crafts scholars could make in addition to gift cards, please share your idea with pcec@ sabhfamilies.com. You can find more information about gifts at sabhfamilies.com/collect

Scholars should not wear uniforms on Tuesday, November 1! Parent Council Meeting On Wednesday, Oct. 19, the Parent Council held a meeting to talk about community building. Madeline spoke rapidly about why we collect money and how important it is for everyone to actually talk to each other. She wanted to emphasize the volunteer opportunities available if you, like Madeline, need an excuse to talk to other people. Some of the ways you can help us strengthen our school community: a. Volunteer i. Chaperone a field study ii. Help with bulletin boards iii. Help with cultural events b. Talk to people around you at arrival and dismissal c. Talk to teachers d. Attend an outing or host a play-date

SA-BH PCEC Newsletter November 2016

THANK YOU! everyday fun Scholars have been gathering at the park across the street since 2014.

Play-dates Last year, the PCEC strived to host a play-date or outing on a monthly basis. This year, rather than use all of our resources to create and promote gatherings, the PCEC wants to narrow school-wide gatherings to seasonal events (like the canceled Adventurer’s Park outing). We are hoping that with the introduction of a parent directory and parent portal, families will have an easier time connecting and creating get-togethers with classmates and friends. Just because we are looking for seasonal schoolwide outings that does not mean that we can’t pencil in which playgrounds to meet at on a regular basis.

Thank you so much to all the families who contributed to our fund for teachers’ holiday gifts! We have met our goal for gift cards for SA staff. We would also like to show our gratitude to the therapists, safety officers, lunch ladies, and janitors who keep our school running so smoothly. If you have ideas for crafts scholars can make or clever ways to present the gift cards, please email pcec@sabhfamilies.com In the past, families have customized T-shirts and ornaments, drawn portraits, written thank you cards, and decorated paper flowers. Pictured below is Ms. Raser with thumbprints of all her 2014-’15 scholars. Send us your ideas!

The Gravesend Playground on 18th Avenue and Lenape Playground on Ave. U are both worth the trip.

If you have an outing you would like see added to the sabhfamilies.com/info calendar, please contact pcec@ sabhfamilies.com with details. Parents are currently brainstorming indoor ideas for a November outing on Facebook.

November 2016 SA-BH PCEC Newsletter

november 2016 sun 30

mon

tues

wed 2

Last Day to contribute to Teacher Gifts

TV Commercial Filiming—Do NOT wear uniforms

thurs

fri

sat

Halloween

Set clocks back one hour

Literacy Night 6 p.m.

Daylight Savings

Election Day

Veterans Day

Cultural Event 2:30 p.m.

No School

Thanksgiving

What’s Happening This Month Halloween, National Elections, Global Potluck, and Thanksgiving Break Collection for Teachers’ Gifts Through Oct. 31 We hope you can contribute. paypal.me/jennmauro Halloween Oct. 31 @ 8:30 a.m. Scholars are free to wear costumes to school. Parents and other family members should line the sidewalks on W 11th and W 12th to cheer scholars as they parade around the block. Dress-Down Day Nov. 1 Scholars should not wear uniforms to school. Contact the Main Office with questions or concerns about your scholar’s participation.

SA is Open Nov. 8 and Nov. 11 Unlike other schools, SA is open on Election Day and Veterans Day.

share dishes that represent their culture for potluck in classrooms. If you would like to help, visit sabhfamilies.com/globalpotluck

Literacy Night Nov. 10 @ 5:30 p.m. Leave your scholars at home and come to school to discuss and learn more about reading.

Thanksgiving Break Nov. 21 - 25 Unlike other schools, SA takes off the whole week.

Cultural Event Nov. 18 @ 2:30 p.m. Scholars should dress in clothes to represent their heritage, not uniforms. In the morning, volunteers will guide scholars through a virtual tour of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods. In the afternoon, families will

SA-BH PCEC Newsletter November 2016

Have an idea for a play-date or want to share information about a mini camp? Send the details for your play-date or outing to pcec@sabhfamilies. Families discuss where to send scholars during Thanksgiving Break in the SA-BH Facebook groups.