PTA HANDBOOK

2017-2018

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FRANK G. LINDSEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION HANDBOOK

Table of Contents PAGE Letter from the Principal 2 Message from the PTA Co-Presidents 3 PTA Membership and Meeting Schedule 4 PTA Year Overview 5 PTA Executive Board & Committee Chairs 7 Class Parents 9 Cultural Enrichment Programs 10 Ashokan Expenses 11 SEPTA Information 12 Frank G. Lindsey Teachers and School Staff 13 Important FGL School and Building Information 15 Affiliated Hendrick Hudson District Organizations 19 Quick Ways You Can Help the PTA 20

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October 2017

Dear Families: Frank G. Lindsey has opened its doors to another wonderful school year, and to another group of delightful students. Each school year gives us the opportunity to cultivate the minds of our students in mathematics, the arts and sciences, music and language. The time we have with our students and their families is very special and an essential element in our working together to guide student development. Coming together as a school community - parents, administrators, teachers and staff - we form a partnership and affirm the importance of each partner's role in student learning. Please accept the challenge to remain actively involved in your child's learning:

• Share responsibility at school and at home to give students a better education. • Monitor homework completion and television watching. • Take the time to talk and listen to your children each day. • Share positive dialogue at breakfast or dinnertime. • Enjoy reading good books with your children. • Get to know your child’s teacher, the principal and other staff members. Keep in

touch regularly through written communication, phone calls, or electronic mail. • Encourage daily attendance for your children; good attendance is key to learning

success.

Please join us and meet the FGL PTA Executive Board. Our PTA meetings are generally held the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Our staff will continue to focus on learning that matters, and that results in measurable achievement. This will ensure that our students continue to master the basic skills that give them access to higher-order content. Donna Torrisi Principal

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October 2017 Dear FGL Community: Welcome to Frank G. Lindsey Elementary School’s 2017-2018 school year! We would like to welcome both new and returning families and staff to FGL. We hope you will use this Handbook throughout the year as a resource guide to the numerous events that make our school special. The PTA completely underwrites every field trip that students take at FGL, and hosts numerous special events and assemblies to complement the Common Core curriculum. The PTA is also proud to serve as a voice for our community by advocating our parent’s wishes during meetings with Superintendent Hochreiter and the Board of Education. Our volunteer community is strong and thriving (we had 90 parent volunteers at our Fair last year!), and we are grateful for your continued financial support as well. The PTA spent $502 on each of the children who graduated from FGL last year, from Kindergarten to their 5th Grade graduation. Whether you become a PTA member for as little as $10, buy some gift wrap or cookie dough from one of our fundraisers, purchase tickets for a raffle basket at our FGL Fair on May 12th, or are able to make an outright donation to FGL PTA in the amount of $260 (the amount it will cost to send one of our 5th Graders to Ashokan this year), there are numerous ways you can help. Please join us and stay involved in your child’s education! Here’s how:

- Attend our meetings; the schedule is on Page 4 - Visit the PTA page on the FGL website:

https://www.henhudschools.org/Domain/493 - Read our email blasts - Like “FGL PTA” on Facebook - during the summertime this is the only way we

can communicate with parents while the district email lists are offline for updating.

Rebecca is in her final year as Co-President, and has a daughter in the Fifth grade at FGL and a daughter in Sixth grade at BMMS. Erica is in her third year as Co-President, and has a daughter in Fourth grade at FGL, and a son in Seventh grade at BMMS. All together our Executive Board members are parents to six children in our school district. There is no question or issue that is too little, please reach out to us at any time with any of your concerns. On behalf of the FGL PTA we would like to wish all of you a happy, healthy and successful year. Best, Rebecca Quigley and Erica Mills FGL PTA Co-Presidents

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IMPORTANT PTA INFORMATION PTA Membership The PTA is an all-volunteer organization working exclusively to

improve the education, health, safety, and well-being of all children and youth. Look for opportunities to join the FGL PTA at every PTA meeting, the Class Parent Tea, and Meet the Teacher nights in the FGL lobby. All Class Parents must become members of the PTA. Your involvement, whether at home, in school, or in the community, makes the difference for our children. Contact Renee Lieb-Caracappa (reneelieb@yahoo.com), or Therese Sinks (TOSullivanSinks@gmail.com) for more information about joining. You can also join our PTA online. Visit: http://www.nyspta.org/AboutPTA/AboutPTA_BecomeaMember.cfm. And in our continuing efforts to go green, PTA membership cards will no longer be printed, but emailed to all members. Our levels of Membership Dues for the 2017-2018 school year:

• Individual Membership ($10, 1 adult vote) • Family Membership ($20, 2 adult votes) • Sailor Club ($60, 2 adult votes, contributor member, includes $10 spirit wear or

school store credit) • Captain’s Club ($120, 2 adult votes, sustainer member, includes either a $20

spirit wear credit or one free wrist band to FGL Fair) PTA Meetings The following is a list of general membership meetings for the 2017-2018 school year. Meetings are usually on the second Tuesday of the month, and begin at 7:30pm in the cafeteria. All FGL parents are welcome to attend, however you must be a paid PTA member in order to vote. All general meetings will have babysitting available. September 12, 2017 Tuesday Kindergarten & New Parent meeting. 7pm FGL PTA Meeting, 7:30pm October 10, 2017 Tuesday Fifth Grade Parent Meeting, 7pm FGL PTA Meeting, 7:30pm November 14, 2017 Tuesday FGL PTA Meeting, 7:30pm December 12, 2017 Tuesday Holiday Dinner TBA, 7:30pm January 16, 2018 Tuesday FGL PTA Meeting, 7:30pm February 13, 2018 Tuesday FGL PTA Meeting, 7:30pm March 13, 2018 Tuesday FGL PTA Meeting, 7:30pm April 10, 2018 Tuesday FGL PTA Meeting, 7:30pm May 8, 2018 Tuesday FGL PTA Meeting, 7:30pm June 12, 2018 Tuesday End of Year Dinner TBA, 7:30pm

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PTA YEAR OVERVIEW 2017-2018 All dates subject to change. Like FGL PTA on Facebook for

updates throughout the year.

September • Flag Raising Ceremony – Friday, September 11 at 9:30am. All are welcome. • Meet the Teacher Night – Tuesday, September 19 at 7pm. Grades K-2. • Meet the Teacher Night – Monday, September 25 at 7pm. Grades 3-5. • Fall School Photos & 5th Grade Photo – Thursday, September 28. All students. • PTA Fall Fundraisers – Gift Wrap and Cookie Dough will be for sale, with all of the proceeds benefitting the PTA. October • School Spirit Week – Runs October 2-6, in conjunction with Homecoming at HHHS on 10/7. Children encouraged to wear different outfits each day to school (Pajama Day, Sports Day, etc.) • Spiritwear Sale – Flyers sent home in October. Stock up on your FGL gear for the year! Orders will be available for pickup in November. • Scholastic Book Fair – Runs Wednesday, October 25 to Saturday, October 28. Classes will visit during school to make wish lists; Fair open during and after school, and evenings for shopping. • Halloween Extravaganza Dance – Friday, October 27 from 7-8:30pm. Grades 3-5 in costume only. • Halloween Trunk & Treat – Saturday, October 28 at 9:30am. All students welcome to attend in costume, parade for candy will take place in parking lot behind gym. • Halloween Parade – Tuesday, October 31 at 2pm. All students will change into costumes at school and parade around the driveway at FGL. Parents welcome to attend. November • Change for FGL – Week of November 13th. Fifth Grade Fundraiser for Ashokan. • FGL Night at Barnes & Noble – Tuesday, November 28, from 5-8pm. Crafts, teacher readings, and student performances at the store. A portion of all purchases made will be donated back to the PTA. December • Poinsettia Sale – Wednesday, December 6 and Thursday, December 7. • All-Elementary School Spirit Week – Runs December 4-8. Children encouraged to wear different outfits each day to school (Pajama Day, Sports Day, etc.) • Breakfast with Frosty – Saturday, December 9. Celebrate the holidays with students from all three elementary schools. • PTA Holiday Dinner – Tuesday, December 12. All PTA members are invited to celebrate the holidays at a local restaurant. January • Chess Lunch Bunch – Students compete in lunchtime chess tournaments under the

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supervision of a chess instructor. Grades 2-5 only. • Family Bingo Night – Friday, January 19 (snow date January 26). Open to all FGL families. • Kindergarten Registration – Runs in January. For new Kindergarteners starting at FGL in September 2018. • School Spirit Week – Runs at end of January. Children encouraged to wear different outfits each day to school (Pajama Day, Sports Day, etc.) February • Apple of My Eye Dance – Friday, February 2, from 7-8:30pm (snow date February 9). All grades, students must be accompanied by a chaperone. March • LIVE! on the Hudson – Saturday, March 3, from 7:30-11:30pm. This district-wide fundraiser has raised thousands of dollars for our schools since its inception, join the fun with your friends for an adults-only night out! • Ashokan – Wednesday, March 7 – Friday, March 9. 5th grade students only. • Science Fair – Thursday, March 15 and Friday, March 16. Grades 3-5 only. April • Used Book Fair – Runs April 25-27. Donate books your family no longer needs and scoop up gently used books for a steal. • Spring Fling Dance – Friday, April 27, from 7-8:30pm. All grades, students must be accompanied by a chaperone. May • Kindergarten Orientation – Thursday, May 4. For new students entering FGL in September 2018. • Spring School Pictures – Thursday, May 8. All students. • Mother’s Day Plant Sale – Wednesday, May 9. Shopping available during school for students and afterschool for parents. • Children’s Fair – Saturday, May 12. A day of games, food, raffles and prizes open to all FGL families. June • Field Day – Friday, June 8 (rain date June 15). Teams of students compete on outdoor games and challenges. • 5th Grade Moving Up Day Ceremony & Graduation Party – Friday, June 22. Celebration for 5th grade students only.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

• School Store – Open to all students during lunches each Wednesday, running from roughly the end of September to the beginning of June. Items range in price from $.10 to $10. Students should bring money in a bag with their name on it to lunch, parent

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volunteers help with purchases. • Afterschool Academy – An afterschool program open to all students for a nominal fee. Classes are run by teachers and parents from 3:30-4:30pm one day each week for a six- or eight-week session. Details on this year’s classes will be announced shortly, but previous classes have included Lego Club, knitting, flag football, yoga, beginning Italian, board game club, math enrichment, acting, and science lab. • Yearbook – FGL students can purchase a yearbook each year they attend the school. Yearbooks go on sale in November, and are created in partnership with Josten’s. 5th grade students will have the opportunity to be editorially involved in its creation and layout. Yearbooks are delivered during the last week of school in June.

PTA Executive Board and Committee Chairs 2017-2018 Executive Board Co-President Rebecca Quigley rhquigley@gmail.com 707-0617 Co-President Erica Mills erica620@aol.com 830-8306 Vice President Stacey Retallick Stacey3B22@msn.com 391-1218 Treasurer Jamie Chaparro jamiemccormack@optonline.net 618-0666 Secretary OPEN! Please contact Rebecca or Erica if you would like to join the Board. Committee Chairs Barnes & Noble Night Penny Hine Penny.Hine@henhudschools.org 257-5500 Birthday Book Club Sarina Reddy sarinareddy@aol.com (646) 765-1185 Board of Education Representatives

Carol Abraham carol.abraham@henhudschools.org 788-5475 Mary-Pat Briggi marypat.briggi@henhudschools.org 737-0627 Barbara Petterson barbara.petterson@henhudschools.org

739-1573 Book Fair Melissa Potuzak meb311@hotmail.com (917) 597-8064 Rebecca Quigley rhquigley@gmail.com 707-0617 Box Tops Tami Booth james.n.tami@gmail.com 391-3506 Boy Scouts Anissa Brown anissapack36@hotmail.com (917) 822-2572 Chess Lunch Bunch Michelle Piccolo-Hill piccolom@aol.com (347) 524-7599 Ray Jones rjonesglobal@aol.com 589-4552 Children’s Fair Rebecca Quigley rhquigley@gmail.com 707-0617 Erica Mills erica620@aol.com 830-8306 Sabrina Pereira ssdiva12@gmail.com 325-2659 Class Parent Chairpersons Therese Sinks (K-1) TOSullivanSinks@gmail.com 953-7845 Stacey Retallick (2-3) stacey3B22@msn.com 391-1218

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Amanda Perez (4-5) amanda992@optonline.net 409-8601 Grade Coordinators: Kindergarten: Theresa Motko Theresa.motko@gmail.com (917) 687-0094 1st Grade: Renee Lieb-Caracappa reneelieb@yahoo.com (917) 744-5134 2nd Grade: Melissa Driver mdriver-68@verizon.net 815-5006 3rd Grade: Christine Krupa jkandctk@verizon.net 539-2386 4th Grade: Veronica Parks gvmm@optonline.net 737-8322 5th Grade: Tawana Haynes ms.tawanahaynes@gmail.com 557-4500 Cookie Dough Fundraiser Gillian Azzaro gazzaro268@gmail.com 434-7110 Megan Dietz meghall22@hotmail.com 403-9485 Cultural Enrichment Tamar Donikyan tdonikyan@gmail.com (917) 251-6743 Fall Gift Wrap Fundraiser Merrill Mager merrillmager@aol.com 471-0509 Family Bingo Night Anissa Brown anissapack36@hotmail.com (917) 822-2572 Fifth Grade Activities & Graduation Rebecca Quigley rhquigley@gmail.com 707-0617 Andrea Andrade andreaeba@hotmail.com 382-8635 Christine Krupa jkandctk@verizon.net 539-2386 Girl Scouts Rose Howard rosehoward22@gmail.com 879-2395 Halloween Extravaganza Veronica Parks gvmm@optonline.net (914) 737-8322 Membership Renee Lieb-Caracappa reneelieb@yahoo.com (917) 744-5134 Therese Sinks TOSullivanSinks@gmail.com 953-7845 Mother’s Day Plant Sale Sarina Reddy sarinareddy@aol.com (646) 765-1185 Sabrina Pereira ssdiva12@gmail.com 325-2659 PTA Afterschool Academy Karen Costa mckennacosta@gmail.com 804-3941 PTA Handbook Rebecca Quigley rhquigley@gmail.com 707-0617 PTA Teacher Representatives Penny Hine Penny.Hine@henhudschools.org 257-5500 Marisa D’Itri Marisa.Ditri@henhudschools.org 257-5500 PTA Website Annie Tan anniextan@gmail.com (917) 331-1086 School Pictures Rianna Jimdar abishag@optonline.net 737-3889 Christine Krupa jkandctk@verizon.net 539-2386 School Spirit Wear Stacey Retallick stacey3B22@msn.com 391-1218 School Store Sarina Reddy sarinareddy@aol.com (646) 765-1185 School Toolbox Kits Amanda McNamee mandymc24@gmail.com 548-9517 Yearbook Erica Mills erica620@aol.com 830-8306

PTA Vision Statement Recognizing that each child deserves excellence in education and a quality of life, our vision is to provide enhancement to the instructional program at Frank G. Lindsey Elementary School. We shall provide opportunities for enrichment for each child through our alliance of parents,

teachers and administrators. We take seriously our charge to educate parents as partners in their child’s education. We maintain a strong commitment to serving as advocates for each child while fostering a sense of belonging to, and pride in, the Frank G. Lindsey community.

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CarmelaSaraireh* 309-6886 oxoxcarmela@yahoo.com OpenclassparentpositionAliceRivera 373-9545 sugardotdesigns@yahoo.comEmilyPettersen 882-3405 eepettersen@yahoo.com

AnnieWong* 917-306-8807 schmoopus@aol.comJoannaHarbolic 804-0128 mythreesons3@optonline.net

TheresaMotko* 917-687-0094 Theresa.Motko@gmail.com MichelleBellizzi-Ortiz 646-662-4207 wedd0922@yahoo.comKristyNadler 917-576-7330 kms2118@gmail.comEmilyShea 419-5010 emily.ann.shen@gmail.com

AmandaPerez* 409-8601 amanda992@optonline.netLisaMcCool 917-573-1530 mccool.a.n@gmail.com

AnnieTan* 917-331-1086 anniextan@gmail.com JessicaVanDekker 803-2374 jessvandekker@gmail.comVanessaConroy 914-806-7987 vjconroy@gmail.comRalikMartin zisamazing@gmail.com

ChristineKrupa* 539-2386 jkandctk@verizon.netClaribelLaker 739-0603 steven.clary@yahoo.com

MattZoni* 917-586-9626 matthew.zoni@gmail.com StaceyRetallick 391-1218 stacey3b22@msn.comGuerlyneSeptembre 845-784-2228 septembre679@yahoo.comFrancesStoohs 462-0613 stoohs@yahoo.com

JennDiSclafani* 426-0672 NNEJ6377@aol.comKimKoski 804-1886 Mommyk3sons@optonline.net

ThereseSinks* 953-7845 TOSullivanSinks@gmail.com MeganDietz meghall22@hotmail.comRosyFernandez 396-7814 fernandez.malaver@gmail.comTamiBooth 391-3506 james.n.tami@gmail.com

JeannieParker* 689-1232 flakeydane@gmail.comPhillipaSeltzer 715-1442 somommy@yahoo.com

StephanieHickey* 924-1613 shickey@northrockland.orgMarisaD'Itri 438-0185 Marisa.Ditri@henhudschools.orgElizaStephens 486-4286 elizarose1228@gmail.com EricaMills* 830-8306 erica620@aol.com

VeronicaParks 737-8322 gvmm@optonline.netKarinGomes 347-218-0048 karin.gomes@yahoo.com

GleiceBeloff* 980-9895 ggarzini@hotmail.comJamieCondon 384-4152 jtimm09@aol.comLisaDeFrenza 396-7001 lmdmusicmaker@yahoo.com ReneeLieb-CarraCappa* 917-744-5134 reneelieb@yahoo.com

LisaHentze 917-902-2514 lhentze@outdoormediagroup.comRoseHoward 879-2395 rosehoward22@gmail.com

NadiaCaterino* 208-1055 nadiacaterino@yahoo.comMelissaDriver 815-5006 mdriver-68@verizon.net TawanaHaynes* 557-4500 ms.tawanahaynes@gmail.com

AndreaAndrade 980-5031 andreaba@hotmail.comCindyBarry* 201-336-4996 cynthiabarry311@yahoo.com MarzenaPrzybylowska 374-4614 Strovka@hotmail.comSamanthaGoldman 720-6213 samanthalynn_@Hotmail.comKatePfeifer 282-2829 kate.pfeiffer@gmail.com

DawnLennox* 906-0916 vb4dawn@aol.comRebeccaQuigley 707-0617 rhquigley@gmail.com

KellyMcKinley* 471-2450 Kelly.pakcreative@gmail.com HeatherBouza 201-910-6033 hcrelling@gmail.comKarenCosta 804-3941 mckennacosta@gmail.comShirleySoto 646-300-2620 shirleymgs@gmail.com

CarrieLitos* 382-9347 Carrielitos@yahoo.comJenniferUniack 646-673-5815 Jennifer.uniack@ogilvy.com

Openclassparentposition AnitaCallan 330-7592 anitajcal30@gmail.com

*=LeadClassParentOpenclassparentposition

Ms.Stack-3

FrankG.LindseySchool•TeachersandClassParents2017-2018Chairpersons:ThereseSinks(K/1)953-7845•TOSullivanSinks@gmail.com/StaceyRetallick(2/3)391-1218•Stacey3B22@msn.com

AmandaPerez(4/5)930-7306•amanda992@optonline.net

Mrs.Cavalieri/Sharkey-3

MissRibeiro-1

Mrs.D'itri/Mrs.Small-K

Mrs.Hafemann/Valerioti-K

Mrs.Masterson-K

Mrs.EllisK

Mrs.Mulqueen-3

Mrs.Hofbauer-ABCII

Ms.DeLuca/Mr.Moreno-3

Ms.Duffy-4

Ms.Giacomantonio-ABCIII

Mrs.Neff-1

Mrs.Antonini-1

Ms.Dyckman-5

Ms.Ryan-2

Mrs.Rosen-5

Mrs.Sheehan-ABCI

Mrs.Many-5

Mrs.Pereira-2

Mr.Leonardo-2

Mrs.Manner-4

Mrs.Aversano-4

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Cultural Enrichment Programs

The Cultural Enrichment Committee, in consult with grade teacher representatives, and in conjunction with the Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) Arts in Education program, is responsible for providing FGL students with enrichment programs such as field trips, author visits, and workshops. These programs are the main focus of the PTA fundraising efforts. In the 2017/2018 school year, $29,824 was spent to bring programs to the FGL student body. The programs were funded by the FGL PTA and the BOCES Arts in Education program, and were as follows: School Wide Franklin Institute – Assembly: The Science of Flight $1,000. Lunchtime Chess Instruction (Grades 2,3,4,5) $2,130. Kindergarten Graduation Celebration $300. A, Bee, C’s of the Honey Bee (Madden Science Wkshp) $465. First Grade Bronx Zoo $1,459. Second Grade Stepping Stones Museum $1,095. Dr. Helen Pashley – “Energy” science workshop $550. Third Grade Wolf Conservation Center $747. Fourth Grade Philipsburg Manor – Millers & Merchants program $606. Journeys Indian Long House $1,960. Fifth Grade Anthony’s Nose Hike $545. **Paid for by the 5th Grade Fund Ashokan $19,512. (See details next page) If you have any questions, or would like to help plan programs for the 2017-2018 school year, please contact Tamar Donikyan at (917) 251-6743 or tdonikyan@gmail.com.

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Ashokan Expenses In addition to the Cultural Enrichment activities outlined on the previous page, FGL sends its fifth grade students to the Ashokan Center in the Catskills for three days each March. This year’s trip is planned for March 7-9, 2018. This is a once-in-a lifetime field trip – where students sleep in cabins (often for the first time away from their parents), hike in the woods, study ecology and resource management in person, learn blacksmithing, and engage in group bonding exercises before heading to Blue Mountain Middle School – is the single largest expense borne by the PTA each year. The Hendrick Hudson School District stopped paying for Ashokan in 2012; this program is now paid for entirely by FGL parents and the PTA. In 2013-2014, for the first time ever, the PTA had to dip into our savings to cover this bill. The PTA has made substantial changes to our Cultural Enrichment and fundraising activities so that we can continue to shoulder this priceless experience.

2016 2017 2018 projection $260/student [1] $18,000 (75 students) $20,400 (80 students) $16,120 (62 students) $260/chaperone [1] $1,440

(6 chaperones) $1,785 (7 chaperones)

$1,300 (5 chaperones)

Nurse Fee $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 Two evening programs $800 $800 $800 17% BOCES Fee [2] $3,396 (15%) $3,807 (15%) $3,505 Busing [3] 0 0 0 TOTAL TRIP COST $26,036 $29,192 $24,125 Parent Contribution ($70) [4] ($5,250) ($6,580) ($4,340) Cookie Dough Fundraiser ($1,845) ($3,100) ($2,500) TOTAL FUNDRAISING ($7,095) ($9,680) ($6,840) Trip Balance owed by PTA $18,941 $19,512 $17,285

[1] *On average, this fee has been rising every two years. In 2015, the cost per student was $240. This was raised to $260 during 2016, but trip coordinator Mrs. Rosen was able to negotiate a one-time price of $255/student. The cost is $260/student for 2017. [2] Note that the BOCES fee used to be 15% and has increased in 2017 to 17%. [3] The elementary PTAs have once again asked the school district if they would be willing to absorb the $1,900 busing cost for each school’s trip. [4] The PTAs from each of the elementary schools voted to cap the Parent Contribution at $70. Parents who wish to donate more than this amount will have the opportunity to do so after the Ashokan planning meeting in January.

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Hendrick Hudson Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA)

The Hendrick Hudson Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) is a district-wide organization representing all students who are served by our district including community preschools and out-of-district placements. SEPTA membership is comprised of school district administration, educators, parents and community members interested in a fair and differentiated education for all students. We strive to represent and advocate for all of our families with children that have different learning styles. Our goal is to create a community that values and respects each student's learning abilities.

Executive Committee 2017-2018:

Co-Presidents..........................Andrea Justo and Rachel Fenty

Vice President.......................Melissa Roush

Treasurer..............................Adriana MacGilvray

Recording Secretary................Emily Pettersen

Corresponding Secretary............Alexandra Ramirez

2017-2018 Meeting Dates

Time: 7:30pm Location: Hendrick Hudson High School Library

Tuesday, September 26th, 2017 Tuesday, October 24th, 2017 Tuesday, December 19th, 2017 Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018 Tuesday, March 27th, 2018 Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018

Additional meetings may be scheduled during the year for special speakers and topics.

To contact us please email: se.pta@henhudschools.org

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School Staff

Teacher emails are available under “Staff Directory” on the FGL website:

https://www.henhudschools.org/Page/10077 Principal Donna Torrisi Principal’s Secretary Frances Van Tassel Main Office Secretary Lisa Caruso Art Kristen Dini, Kathy Irwin Band Doug Franck Behaviorist Amy Bitondo ELL Gretchen Ward Horizons Valier Haviland Library George Montenegro Music Rebecca Correllus, Mary Landry Nurse Helen Kokinchak Occupational Therapist Veronica Mayo, Jessica VanValkenburg Psychologist Katie Emminger Phys Ed Joseph Bruno, John Glashoff

Physical Therapist Dianna Palmisano Reading Penny Hine, Katrina Rocco, Laura Shields

Resource Room LuAnn Bieronski Speech Sue Burke-James, Karen Burstein, Rachel Heese, Sandra Higgitt

String Orchestra Samantha Hecht

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Teachers Kindergarten Marisa D’Itri / Victoria Small Dianne Ellis Janine Hafemann / Kimberly Valerioti Belin Masterson First Grade Dory Antonini Cindy Neff Carmen Ribeiro Second Grade Todd Leonardo Sabrina Pereira Jean Ryan Third Grade Amy Cavalieri / Halette Sharkey Danielle DeLuca / Christopher Moreno

Jennifer Mulqueen Jennifer Stack Fourth Grade Kristy Aversano Dana Duffy Marie Manner Fifth Grade Kelly Dyckman Rita Many Elisa Rosen ABC I Kristen Sheehan ABC II Desiree Hofbauer ABC III Lindsay Giacomantonio

Teaching Assistants Vicky Ashley Gillian Azzaro Marla Blitzer Doreen Byrnes Jodi Chavez Bobby Curran Megan Dietz Liz Doyle Perci Grudzina Emilia Kaufman Kathy LoGuidice Eva Lupica Nicole O’Keefe Jacqueline Pasquale Patti Peters Tracy Segelbacher Nicole Selvaggi-Landry Megan Whalen Maryann Whitson Tom Wiener Christine Winch Trina Wolfersteig Carmen Yee

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Teacher Aides

Jill Lingg Joseph Link Stacey Retallick Lisa Rodriguez

Monitors Kalinia Bustamante Kathleen Craft Maryann DiPietro Jennifer DiSclafani Sandra Forman Lena Furfaro Concetta Jackson Gerri Robertine Tyler Rodriguez Kathleen Sanchez

Custodians Frank Anderson Ray Gilbert Maria Kelly Bill McClane Tom O’Reilly Mike Sowin

IMPORTANT SCHOOL AND BUILDING INFORMATION

1. Main Office Main Office (914) 257-5500

Main Office Fax (914) 257-5501 Donna Torrisi, Principal (914) 257-5512 Fran VanTassel, Secretary to the Principal (914) 257-5512 Lisa Caruso – Main Office Secretary (914) 257-5513 2. Nurses Office: (914) 257-5590, or Option 2 on the Main Office line, Helen Kokinchak – School

Nurse (See #17 below for a full listing of school health procedures). 3. FGL (Hendrick Hudson School District) Web Address: www.henhudschools.org 4. District Office:

District Office (914) 257-5100 Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter (914) 257-5112

Dr. Margaret Ruller, Office of Curriculum, Instruction & Personnel (914) 257-5122 Dr. Matthew Swerdloff, Director of Technology (914) 257-5170

Liz Gilleo, Department of Transportation (914) 257-5203 Laurie Bauer, Interim Director of Pupil Personnel Services (914) 257-5143 Clare Carey, Director of Food Services (914) 257-5160

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Important School and Building Information, continued: 5. School Hours: 9:00 am to 3:05 pm 6. Arrival Time in the Morning: Students should not arrive before 8:30 am. There is no

supervision before that time. 7. Morning Drop Off Area: Trolley Road entrance. Please follow posted signs and arrows. It is

important to drive all the way forward to allow for additional cars dropping off students. Patience is key to the safety of all students being dropped off. Students should be dropped off at 8:55 am; after 9:00 am, students should be dropped at the front door.

8. Half Day Dismissal: Consult your school calendar. Typically, half-day dismissal time is 11:30. 9. School Closings and Delayed Openings: All registered students will be robo-called by

Superintendent Hochreiter in the event of a school closing. On the radio: WLNA 1420AM or WHUD 100.7FM. On cable TV, Channel 12 (News 12). On the web: www.whud.com or

www.ctweather.com. 10. Visitors to School During School Hours: All visitors, including parents, are expected to

register in the main office to state their reason for being in school, sign in, and to wear a visitor’s sticker.

11. Building Lock Down: In adherence to the Hendrick Hudson School Safety Committee, the

main doors in front of the building are left locked throughout the day. Individuals will be buzzed in and identified with our camera system.

12. Notes to the School Main Office: Under no circumstances is a child to leave school with an

adult or on a different bus unless a permission slip has been approved by the office. Notes should also be submitted to school when there is a change to the student’s afterschool activities (Scout meeting, Afterschool Academy, etc.), or the student is going on a playdate. When writing a note, please include the following information:

1. Child’s full name (first and last) 2. Bus number or color, if applicable, and 3. Friend’s full name (first and last) Each year, a special “Note to School” pad is provided for your convenience. Additional pads are

available in the School Store. 13. Late Arrivals: If a student arrives after attendance has been taken, the student must report to

the Nurse’s office. Students in grades K-2 will be escorted to their classroom and students in grades 3-5 are expected to report to their appropriate classroom.

14. Pick-up Area: If students are not going home on the bus, all students must be picked up in the

FGL cafeteria. All children must be signed out. FGL reserves the right to ask for an individual’s Driver’s License if they are unfamiliar to the school staff.

15. Parking Lot Safety: Please park cars in the parking area. Avoid parking in the handicapped and fire zones. The center of the building must be kept clear of vehicles. Children should be

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Important School and Building Information, continued: crossed to your parked car. Never pass a school bus that is discharging students. Do not

drop students off in the front of the building. Use the Trolley Road entrance only for morning drop-offs.

16. Lunch Schedule: Each day school is in session students may choose to purchase a hot lunch

from the cafeteria. Lunches can be purchased with either cash, or with online payments made using the website www.myschoolbucks.com. The daily lunch menu is available on the district website monthly. Student lunch periods are as follows: Kindergarten 10:50am – 11:15am 1st Grade 11:10am – 11:35am 2nd Grade 12:00pm – 12:25pm 3rd Grade 11:40am – 12:05pm 4th Grade 12:50pm – 1:15pm

5th Grade 12:30pm –12:55pm 17. Health Office Procedures: School Nurse: Helen Kokinchak (257-5590) School Physician: Dr. Schaff. Gym Excuses: Occasional gym excuses and “stay-in” lunch excuses will be honored upon the

request of a parent. However, if a child is well enough to come to school, generally he/she should be well enough to participate in all activities of the entire school day. Gym excuses of long duration must be from the family physician.

Health Examination/Information: Annual health examinations will be given to Kindergarten

students, students in grades one, two, and three, and all new transfers. However, if you wish to have this done by your family physician, please obtain the proper form from the school nurse,

have the form completed by the physician, and return it to school. Weights and measurements, hearing tests and visual acuity tests are also part of the annual examination and are given to all students. Please inform the nurse of any new or pertinent health and emergency contact information regarding your child, such as immunization dates and changes in work or

cell phone numbers. Medication Policy: These apply to prescription and non-prescription medications.

Present a completed medication request form, signed by both the parent and physician; (or) present a note from the physician stating: student’s name, date, name of medication, dosage and time to be administered, and list of possible side effects; (and) present a note from the parent or guardian giving school nurse, teacher, principal, or other designated school personnel permission to administer the medication; (and) the medication must be brought to school by an adult in the original prescription container.

Absentees: Please call the nurse’s office for each day your child will not be in attendance. Upon your child’s return to school, make sure a note is provided with an excuse for their absence.

18. Compact for Learning Frank G. Lindsey Site Based Team: The Hendrick Hudson School District is committed to achieving standards of excellence for our students. We endorse the principles of the Compact for Learning which are:

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Important School and Building Information, continued:

• All students can learn. • Focus on results. • Aim for maturity. • Provide the means. • Provide authority with accountability. • Reward success and remedy failure.

The Frank G. Lindsey Compact for Learning Mission Statement: “The mission of Frank G. Lindsey Elementary School, recognized as a foundation for excellence in education, is to ensure that all children develop self-confidence, upstanding character, compassion and a desire to learn through a system characterized by:

• An enriched core curriculum that incorporates differentiated instruction

• A cohesive school community that provides a nurturing and supportive environment, and promotes effective communication

• An understanding of differences through mutual respect and good citizenship

Committee members include the Principal, 4 Teacher representatives, 2 Parent representatives, a Teacher’s Aide representative, and a Community representative. You can review the Strategic Plan on the District website: www.henhudschools.org

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AFFILIATED HENDRICK HUDSON DISTRICT ORGINIZATIONS

1. Hendrick Hudson Community Educational Foundation (HHCEF): Contact: Beth Gruber, Vice President – beth.gruber@henhudschools.org The Hendrick Hudson Community Educational Foundation, Inc. is a community-based, non-

profit organization. We exist for the purposes of raising and granting funds in support of educational activities to benefit the citizens residing within the boundaries of the Hendrick Hudson School District. Since our founding in 1995, we have granted over $250,000 to fund educational initiatives throughout our community.

2. Cortlandt Community Coalition:

Contact: Colleen Anderson – (914) 734-1052 or colleena@townofcortlandt.com The Cortlandt Community Coalition is a group of concerned citizens and parents intent on keeping the youth of our community drug free. Coalition members include youth, officers

from Westchester County police force, school resource officers, school board officials, student assistance counselors as well as a number of parents, local businesses and various volunteers all within the Hendrick Hudson and Lakeland School Districts.

3. The Mother Connection – Before and After School Center: Contact: Laura Mattioli, Executive Director – (914)737-8976 The Mother Connection is a not-for-profit organization, licensed by the Department of Social Services to provide the before and after school child care programs for children in grades K – 5. The before school center program includes breakfast and supervised study and play

activities from 7:00am to 8:45am. The after-school program offers supervised study and homework help, special projects, programs, parties, and indoor/outdoor quiet and active play from 2:45pm to 6:00pm. The centers operate whenever school is in session.

4. Scouting Organizations:

These scouting organizations depend on parent participation to keep the programs running. Call the contacts below with any questions.

Girl Scouts: Rose Howard rosehoward22@gmail.com 879-2395

Cub Scouts - Pack 36: pack36montrose@gmail.com Cub Master: Pat Leach (646) 201-1886

Asst. Cub Master: Tom Walsh (917) 647-4495 Co-Chair: Anissa Brown 391-4979 Co-Chair: Amanda McNamee 548-9517

Treasurer: Christine Krupa 539-2386

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QUICK WAYS YOU CAN HELP THE PTA

Box Tops for Education Did you know we raised $1,600 for FGL last year by clipping Box Tops? Please help! There are Box Tops on thousands of everyday items,

just clip them and send it in to school with your child. There is also a Box Tops collection box in the school lobby. NEW Box Tops Bonus App! Earn even more cash to help FGL. Turn your everyday receipts into cash for our school. The app is free. Here's how it works: browse the app for specials and deals before you shop, then scan your receipt when you return from the store. FGL earns double points on items you use all the time! Contact Tami Booth with questions, james.n.tami@gmail.com.

Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards Support FGL with every purchase at Stop & Shop. This Program runs from October 6, 2017- March 15th, 2018. Customers register their Stop & Shop Card online and select up to 2 schools to support with every purchase. FGL will earn money from your qualified purchases during the program year.

AmazonSmile AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when customers shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the

AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers. Log in to AmazonSmile, and follow the prompts to select FGL PTA as your charitable organization beneficiary.