Sept/Oct 2017 PTA Office: 718.605.1241 Issue 1 School Office: 718.984.1688

The Giffords School P.S. 32

Staten Island, NY

GATOR GAZETTE

PTA Officers

Co-Pres.: Trisha Altuna-Byrnes April Mastrangelo 1st VP: Diane Silvestro 2nd VP: Tara Scarpelli Rec. Sec.: Yvonne Barra Cor. Sec.: Christine Basso Treasurer: Celina Levy

Dear Parents, Guardians and Staff, We would like to welcome all students and families back to P.S. 32 for a fantastic year. To all the new students entering PS32, WELCOME! We hope you had a fabulous summer. We would like to introduce our new PTA officers for this year: Trisha Altuna-Byrnes - Co-President April Mastrangelo - Co-President Diane Silvestro- 1st Vice President Tara Scarpelli - 2nd Vice President Yvonne Barra - Recording Secretary Christine Basso- Corresponding Secretary Celina Levy - Treasurer We are all looking forward to working with you in making 2017-2018 a successful and wonderful year. The PTA has recently sent out our Meadowbrook Farms fundraising flyers. All forms and payments are due by October 6th. Picture day is scheduled for October 5th and 6th. Please return your envelope with payment on your child’s class scheduled date. The PTA office hours are currently 9:00am to 2:00pm. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call us 718-605-1241. Please join us for our next Executive Board meeting on October 6th at 8:15am in the school cafeteria. Every person who attends the meeting will get a raffle ticket to win a prize. If you bring in box tops you will receive an extra ticket to increase your chances of winning. Our next general meeting will be Monday October 16th at 7:30 PM. October 31st will be our annual March of Dimes Halloween walk. For safety reasons, we request all parents to please avoid standing on Steig Avenue due to current construction. We look forward to seeing you all there! Sincerely, Trisha Altuna-Byrnes and April Mastrangelo PTA Presidents

Principal: Nancy Spataro Assistant Principals: Jennifer Doren Jodi Rosenberg Evy Schultz

For the safety of all at dismissal time, please follow some simple guidelines:

Do not bring pets around the perimeter of the school (on a leash, carried, etc.)

Do not have a lighted cigarette around the perimeter of the school.

Please monitor little ones on their wheeled toys and keep them near you.

Allow teachers to bring their classes to the designated line spots to dismiss the students

Do not park in the designated school bus areas during drop-off and pick-up times

Do not double park or park in neighboring driveways. It is illegal and it endangers the life of your child as well as others.

Police have advised us that they will be periodically driving by our school ticketing any vehicles that are parked illegally and /or double parked.

Thank you for your cooperation and have a great school year!!

A Message from your principal… Dear Parents/Guardians, Welcome back! I would also like to welcome our newly enrolled Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students, and newly enrolled students and their families to our school. It was wonderful to meet many of you at the “Meet and Greet.”

October is bringing us cool weather and special events. Picture Day is on October 5th and 6th so please check your child’s backpack for the schedule which will be distributed shortly. In observance of Columbus Day school will be closed on October 9th. Halloween is right around the corner and we are always excited to see our students dressed up as we watch them participate in the March of Dimes Halloween Walk. The walk will take place on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 8:30 am. The students will exit the school building at Barlow Ave. and make a right onto Steig Ave. The students will then make a right onto Elverton Ave. and proceed into the school yard. If you plan on attending, for safety purposes, please either stand in the front of the building on Barlow Avenue or closest to the school yard on Steig Avenue or Elverton Avenue since we have bridging around the building due to the construction. This will allow you to get a better view of your children as they walk in the parade. The DJ, “Terrific Tunes” sponsored by the PTA will put a beat in their step as they walk into the schoolyard and re-enter the building through the gym doors where they will receive a pretzel to celebrate this exciting event. Many classrooms will participate in Halloween festivities after the parade. I hope you can join us as we start off another remarkable school year at P.S. 32. October

10/05/17 & 10/06/17 Picture Day 10/06/17 8:15am PTA Executive Board Meeting 10/06/17 School Spirit – Wear your PS32 Hat 10/09/17 School Closed – Columbus Day 10/13/17 School Spirit – Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness 10/20/17 School Spirit – Wear School Spirit Clothes/Colors 10/20/17 PTA Candy Sale Ends 10/16/17 6:30pm PTA Meeting 10/27/17 1st Marking Period Ends 10/27/17 School Spirit – Wear an Orange and/or black shirt 10/27/17 Pumpkin Patch 10/31/17 March of Dimes Mini Walk

Grants We also have some exciting news. We just received grants totaling $1.2 million dollars from Councilman Borrelli, Boro President Oddo and the Trust for Public Land to renovate of our entire schoolyard resulting in a state of the art playground for recreational and sports activities. We are very thankful for this opportunity. Our students will participate in the design of this project. Its beautifully, landscaped grounds will be place for all to enjoy! In addition, we just received a grant for Virtual Realty software that we will be using in our STEM program. We are thankful to Senator Lanza for this grant and already participating in trainings and preparing materials for its use. Students will have yet another type of technology to enhance their learning.

School Website

Our school Website will help you stay informed. You can visit our school website at

www.ps32statenisland.com. The website has a plethora of information for the entire P.S.32 community. You

can stay informed on the common core learning standards by visiting our website. One of the most

informative aspects of this website is the feedback you can provide to us through our monthly parent surveys.

This will allow us to provide you with more resources to help your children excel. We encourage the entire

family to enjoy the website and participate in the interactive components, such as: learning games, poster

contests, and essay contests. The Student Council will assist in our incentive programs.

Attendance Please submit a note or letter explaining your child’s absence from school. A note from a doctor or health-care professional should be provided in cases of extended (3 or more days) or frequent absence due to illness. If students have been absent from school for reasons other than illness, documentation of the reason for the absence is to be presented to the school (e.g., examination schedule of special examination, court order, etc.). If your child is going to be absent you can notify the school by dialing (718) 984-1688 and press extension 8.

Ongoing Progress Reports You will be receiving ongoing Progress Reports which will provide information on your child’s progress/performance in all core subject areas, as well as, his /her instructional goals and results of scheduled benchmark assessments. It is critical that you review this Progress Report in order that we work together to assist your child in his/her needs, as soon as possible. Please sign these reports and return them to your classroom teacher. If you have any concerns, it is important that you contact us at (718) 984-1688 and follow the prompts on the new menu to speak directly to a supervisor as soon as possible. Academic Intervention If your child is in need of any additional support: academically, socially/emotionally, please contact your child’s teacher so that we can provide additional support early on to address his/her needs. If you have any questions or concerns you can also call Mrs. Rosenberg, Assistant Principal, at 718 984 1688. NEW SCHOOL YEAR = ROUGH TRANSITIONS FOR SOME (Excerpt from Reading Rockets 2008)

What can parents of struggling students do during these first few weeks of school? Here are a few ideas:

Set up a conference with your child's new teacher. See if you can't find a 10-15 minute window to sit down one-on-one. Advocate for your child's needs within the classroom. This article, Taking a Closer Look: My Child's Academic Success may be helpful.

Help your child's new teacher get to know your child. What does he like and dislike? What subject areas are challenging for him? What extra support do you provide to your child? What are your goals for the year?

Was your child tutored over the summer? If so, see if your tutor would be willing to write a summary of what they worked on and any work habits that may be useful for a teacher to know.

Breathe. Your child will pick up on your anxieties. Trust that a few simple actions on your part will help your family get off to a great start.

9 Steps to Comprehension (Excerpt from Reading Rockets)

1. When you read with your child, ask them questions as they move through the book: Why did Mr. Smith do that? How do you think Suzy feels?

2. Help your child make text-to-self connections. Ask them how they feel about a situation in the book or what they would do if they were the character in the book.

3. Help them make text-to-text connections. Ask them: What other stories have you read that talk about going on a trip?

4. Make sure they are reading at their level. A book that is too hard frustrates a child. A book that's too easy doesn't challenge him.

5. Set aside at least 20 minutes to read every day. 6. Help your child find books that they enjoy. This keeps them motivated. 7. Make reading more important than TV. 8. Model reading yourself. Children need to see parents read for fun. 9. Encourage writing. Have children write about what they have read or keep a daily journal.

Favorite Kids' Books for Struggling Readers

(Excerpt from Reading Rockets)

Children who struggle with reading due to learning and attention issues often need extra encouragement to

read for fun. Sometimes finding the "right book" can be just the motivation a child needs:

A graphic novel with a good balance of text and pictures — and page-turning drama

An informational book filled with fascinating photographs, diagrams, and timelines

A picture book biography about a favorite sports hero

A story character that a child relates to

A book series that has familiar characters, story structure, and illustrations

An "easy reader" with a riveting storyline (full of adventure)

An audio book narrated by someone with great flair

When Trick-or-Treating... (Master Teacher Catalog) A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds. Here are some other things to keep in mind and tell trick-or-treaters so that they can have a safe Halloween: Reminders Before Trick-or-Treating... Use a flashlight. By doing so, you can see and be seen by others. Stay in a group, and communicate where you will be going. Go only to homes with a porch light on. Remain on well-lit streets and use the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic. Never cut across yards or use alleys. Never enter a stranger’s home or car for a treat. Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations. Always walk. Never run across a street. Cross the street as a group and only in established crosswalks. Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway, or alley. Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car

stops, it doesn’t mean others will. Never consume unwrapped food items or open beverages that may be offered. No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an adult at home. Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity. After Trick-or-Treating... Wait until you are at home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should

closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped, or suspicious items. Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween. Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking, such as hard candies, are given

only to those of an appropriate age. We hope these tips will help you and your families have a safe and happy Halloween. Before Nightfall on Halloween

As interest in Halloween decorations and activities seems to increase each year, the range of factors affected by the holiday seems to grow as well. The following tips may help make your holiday a pleasant one: A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on

Halloween treats. Consider fire safety when decorating. Do not overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or special

effects. Keep jack-o’-lanterns and electric lamps away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials, or areas

where children will be standing or walking. Confine, segregate, or otherwise prepare household pets for an evening of frightful sights and sounds. Be

sure that all dogs and cats are wearing collars and proper identification tags. Remind all household drivers to remain cautious and drive slowly throughout the community. Adult partygoers should establish a designated driver.

Thank you A very special thank you to our parents who will be assisting and coordinating the Pumpkin Patch and Picture Day, as well as, those who are serving on various committees throughout the year. I would like to thank the PTA for their help with arrival and dismissal at the start of this year and also for their continuous dedication to our children at PS 32.

I look forward to a productive and successful school year.

Thank you, Nancy Spataro Principal

Box Top Leaders

TBD

Do you have used children’s books and don’t know what to do with them? Just send them to the PTA office and we will put them out during our Holiday Fair for a minimal cost to the students. The proceeds will go towards various PTA activities for the students. (Please, children’s books only) Thank You!

Box Tops for Education contest has begun for the new school year. Start collecting box tops and send them to the PTA office in an envelope with your name and class. You can also earn box top credits for your school by shopping at your favorite on-line store through boxtops4education.com. Good luck to everyone!!!

PTA GENERAL MEETINGS

September 13, 2017 7:30 pm February 9, 2018 8:15am October 16, 2017 7:30 pm March 15, 2018 7:30pm November 10, 2016 8:15 am April 23, 2018 7:00pm December 7, 2016 8:15am May 23, 2018 6:30pm January 12, 2017 8:45am June (TBA) Installation Dinner

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS

September 15, 2017 8:15am February 9, 2018 8:15am October 6, 2017 8:15am March 9, 2018 8:15am November 10, 2017 8:15am April 20, 2018 8:15am December 7, 2017 8:15am May 11, 20178 8:15am January 12, 2018 8:15am June (TBA)

Important Dates to Remember October

10/05/17 & 10/06/17 Picture Day 10/06/17 8:15am PTA Executive Board Meeting 10/06/17 School Spirit – Wear your PS32 Hat 10/09/17 School Closed – Columbus Day 10/13/17 School Spirit – Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness 10/20/17 School Spirit – Wear School Spirit Clothes/Colors 10/20/17 PTA Candy Sale Ends 10/16/17 6:30pm PTA Meeting 10/27/17 1st Marking Period Ends 10/27/17 School Spirit – Wear an Orange and/or black shirt 10/27/17 Pumpkin Patch 10/31/17 March of Dimes Mini Walk

PS 32 P.T.A.

Revised Statement of Income and Expense

For the Period of June 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017

Beginning Balance $ 31,285.73

Income:

Fifth Grade $ 237.00

Fundraising $ 1,621.41

Incentive $ 8.24

Installation Dinner Income $ 2,908.64

School Services $ 414.06

Yearbook $ 2,055.00

Total Income $ 7,244.35

Expenses

Fifth Grade Expense $ 7,996.65

Fundraising Expense $ 877.00

Holdover Copy Machine $ 153.84

Holdover Dancing Classrooms $ 75.96

Incentives $ 306.54

Installation Dinner $ 3,177.76

Kindergarten/Pre-K $ 293.90

Presidents Fund $ 208.00

PTA Supplies $ 371.79

School Services $ 392.91

Social Secretary $ 133.96

Telephone $ 45.19

Yearbook Expense $ 15,118.70

Total Expenses $ 29,152.20

Ending Balance: $ 9,377.88

*Revised due to accounting error

Attention Parents: The PTA is still looking for volunteers to help with the following: Pumpkin Patch – 10/27 March of Dimes Halloween walk – 10/31 Book Fair – 11/16 Holiday Fair - TBA Auction - TBA Yearbook - TBA Please contact us at 718-605-1241 if you have any questions or concerns.

Please write your answers in the box and cut out and return to your teachers by October 10th.

PLEASE NOTE: Do not put cut out in an envelope. Please put it in your child’s home folder paper clipped to the Math Mission bookmark. {If your child did not get a bookmark, the teacher is holding

them in class.}

Pre-K Count the pumpkins

Answer: ______________________________ Name:_________________________________ Class:__________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Grades K-2 Jayla baked 32 Halloween cookies. She ate 6 cookies and gave 10 away to her friends. How many cookies does Jayla have left? Name: ___________________________________ Class:_____________________________________ Answer:__________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Grades 3-5 Mr. Autumn is giving out pumpkins for fall to all of the third graders. There are 6 third grade classes, each having 27children in each class. He bought 250 pumpkins. Will he have enough pumpkins for each class? How many pumpkins will be left over? Name: _________________________________ Class: __________________________________ Answer: _______________________________

Please tear off and send completed form along with $1.00 in an envelope marked Newsletter Birthday Announcement to the PTA Office. Please submit your requests before the 10th of October. Thank you! NAME:________________________________CLASS____________ BIRTH DATE:____________________________________________ SENTIMENT:_____________________________________________

Announce your child’s birthday (or any other special occasion) for the month of September and October in our school newsletter. The $1 donations are given back to the

students through various PTA activities.