Parent & Student Handbook

PS 10 PTA

Parent & Student Handbook

2019-2020

PS10 | 511 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215 | (718) 965-1190 main office

Principal: Laura Scott

Assistant Principals: Barrett Braithwaite, Robert Grant, Gary Nusser, Gary Wong

Parent Coordinator: Madeleine Seide

¿Hablas español?

Si su hijo o hija estudia en PS10 y necesita alguna información en español, llame a Maddie Siede al (718) 965-1190.

PTA (Parent Teacher Association)

Who we are

The PS10 PTA is an all-volunteer group of parents and guardians who work collaboratively to support the school community.  All parents and caregivers of PS10 students, as well as the teachers and school staff, are automatically members of the PTA and have a voice in decision-making.  Last year we grossed close to $300,000 which we donated back to the school. We also manage and run the PTA after school program (PS10 PTA Extended Day.)


Where to find us

The PTA Office is located in Room 107, on the first floor, next to the Cafeteria.  Sign in at the Security Desk and come by. Someone is usually in the room between 8:20 am and 9:00 am to answer questions or address concerns.  If the door is locked and you have something to leave, please utilize the locked mailbox to the left of the door. Call us at (718) 965-1190 or e-mail us at pta@ps10.org. with any questions/concerns.

What we do

Our activities fall into 3 main categories: fundraising, community building and in-school enrichment.  Every event we do is 100% volunteer and we welcome and need your help! We also run the PS10 PTA Extended Day Program to provide a safe place for our kids to interact and grow after school.

Contacting us

Come find us in Room 107 in the Cafeteria;  call us at (718) 965-1190
; or email us at the general PTA address, pta@ps10.org.

Donating to the PTA

Visit our website and click the “Give to PS10” icon to make an online donation. Please consider making a recurring monthly online donation.  Even a small amount every month adds up and helps us fund vital programming for the students at PS10! You may also make out a check payable to ‘PS10 PTA’ and drop it off in the PTA mailbox located to the left of the PTA Office door.  All contributions are tax deductible.  

PTA Executive Board

The PTA Executive Board is an all-volunteer group, elected yearly in May.  The Board meets monthly to coordinate with the Principal, examine the budget and track the goals of the PTA.  All are welcome to observe without prior notice, and anyone is welcome to speak after first contacting the Board and asking to be placed on that month’s agenda.  See the School Calendar for meeting dates. Please contact us at pta@ps10.org, or reach out to any individual Board Member, with questions, comments or suggestions.  

2018-2019 PS10 PTA Executive Board

PRESIDENT
Heather Volik heather.volik@gmail.com

CO-VICE PRESIDENTS

Alex Flannery    alexandraelectric@gmail.com
Amy Miller-Krezelak amy.nichole.krezelak@gmail.com

CO-SECRETARIES

Melody Aberg melodyaberg@gmail.com
Amanda Desroches desroches.ae@gmail.com

CO-TREASURERS

Jenn Cribbs jennmillercribbs@gmail.com
Christine Sneva christinesneva@gmail.com

CO-TRANSLATORS

Velia Jurado Velia322@gmail.com
Araceli Ortiz          chelly5252.Ao@gmail.com

PARENT LIAISONS

AnnMarie Anderson    annmariehanderson@gmail.com
Dania Ahmad               dahmadpr@gmail.com
Laura Garnett       laura.garnett@multivu.com
Kelli Hardiman       kelliersing@hotmail.com
Erica Nieves-Negron   erica.nieves@corcoran.com
Christie O'Brien            christie.p.obrien@gmail.com
Carly Thomas       carly.thomas.usf@gmail.com

EXTENDED DAY TREASURER
Alex Low            afhlow@gmail.com

Monthly Meetings

PTA general meetings take place on the 3rd Thursday of each month, alternating evenings at 6:00 pm and mornings at 8:30 am.  The PTA provides free pizza and childcare for PS10 students during evening meetings. All parents are welcome at these meetings, where Principal Laura Scott addresses the group, and the PTA Executive Board presents upcoming events and activities, discusses how to spend PTA funds, and facilitates voting when necessary.  Meeting dates are listed in the online School Calendar on Konstella and at ps10.org.

PS10 PTA Extended Day

Extended Day was created and is operated by our PTA and is a legal 501(c)3 nonprofit subsidiary of the PS10 PTA.  It provides a service to PS10 families who need organized child care beyond the regular school day. Its mission is to give students an opportunity to learn a craft, develop a talent or enjoy a hobby in the safe, nurturing environment of our PS10 community.  Students are separated into age-appropriate groups and are in the continuous care of PS10 teachers, co-teachers or outside teaching artists until they are picked up by their guardian. Visit the Extended Day tab on ps10.org for schedules & registration; stop by the PTA/Extended Day office in Room 107;  or contact Extended Day Director Qushema Johnson at (347) 946-5767 or extended.day@ps10.org.

Volunteering

The PTA sponsors a a robust selection of fundraising and community-building events, workshops, festivals, parties and talks each year.  PTA monies raised during these events support PS10 for special enrichment programs such as partnerships with Met Opera and Off the Page;  for in-kind supplies; for push-in teachers, and much more. Producing these events, and keeping parents engaged and informed, takes the work of many volunteers.  The PTA encourages and welcomes all help. No contribution of time or talent is too small. The PTA is always in need of writers, graphic designers, event planners, web developers, photographers, and even just extra hands to help sort and distribute flyers to teacher mailboxes.  Email pta@ps10.org if you would like to volunteer.

 PTA Committees, Events, and Annual Fundraisers

There is always something happening at the school! There are so many ways to help. Our events, committees and fundraisers are listed below.  For more information or to volunteer for a particular event, click on the Konstella committees tab or email pta@ps10.org to have your information forwarded to the appropriate event chair/coordinator.


PTA Committees

To join any of these committees contact the PTA at pta@ps10.org. or any board member of the PTA.

........................
¿Hablas español?
Si su hijo o hija estudia en PS 10 y necesita alguna información en español, llame a Maddie Siede al (718) 965-1190.

Auction Committee

This committee oversees one of the biggest PTA fundraising events of the year. The annual auction is an amazing adult-only evening for our parents and other community members who want to support our school while enjoying delicious food and drinks and bidding on fantastic donated items and experiences. This committee starts preparing in July, and the event is typically held in the late fall.

Audio Visual Committee:

Helps with AV needs for events, including movie nights, music events (DJing), and more!

Bake Sale/Concessions Committee

Organizes bake sales throughout the year, especially during local elections (when the school is used as a polling place) and during Tenstock, on Valentine’s Day, during STEAM Fair, and at the school science fair.  Members of this committee solicit donations of baked goods and run the sales at events.

Barnes & Noble Book Fair

Organizes a one-day fundraiser in early December at our local branch of Barnes & Noble on 7th Avenue. Parents and community members who shop at the store on the day of the event help raise funds to support PS 10 and the PTA.

Chess Committee

Assists the PS 10 Chess Club & Team in building the chess program at PS10, including in classroom teaching, hosting tournaments, and promoting chess at PTA events. The PS 10 Chess Club & Team is an afterschool program that meets every Wednesday to prepare for local city, state, and national competitions. With beginner, advanced, and team groupings, the goal of the team is for all PS 10 players to experience the joy and social/educational benefits of learning and playing chess. Those interested in the program can sign up at PS10chess.com.

Class Parent Committee

Each class has one or more parent volunteers who help teachers communicate with the other families in the class and help plan in-class events. The class parents act as liaisons between parents and the PTA, passing on important information, and help recruit volunteers to assist with Teacher Appreciation Feasts held on parent-teacher conference days.

Communications Committee:

Produces the PTA’s email Newsflash, assists with marketing PS10 events in print and social media, and keeps the website up to date. We are looking for writers, graphic designers, web designers, and photographers. Graphic designers are especially needed!

Development, Grant Writing and Fundraising Committee

Spearheads the PTA’s direct appeal efforts to raise funds from parents and from corporate sponsors in the community. Works with the administration to identify the school’s needs and to write grant applications.

Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Committee

Educates the PS10 Community about the rich cultural diversity that exists in our school and neighborhood. In addition, this committee oversees Community Service and Diversity Education activities and plans the annual International Potluck Dinner, which is usually held in January.

Facelab Committee

FaceLab trains parent volunteers in K–8 schools to help teachers lead hands-on robotics and technology activities. FaceLab’s goal is to create opportunities for teachers to work with parents to enrich students’ Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education. The program also gives parents an opportunity to develop new skills.

Fifth Grade Committee

Led by the PS10 administration, the Fifth Grade Committee helps raise funds for fifth grade events, including a dinner dance, moving up ceremony, a senior trip, graduation and a yearbook.

Flower Sale Committee

Organizes the annual spring flower sale, where students can buy reasonably priced flowers and plants for the special people in their lives.

Grandparents Day Committee

Organizes an event in May when grandparents and other special adults are invited to join the PS10 family for breakfast, an art auction, music, and a visit to their grandchild’s classroom. Flowers are sold at drop off and pick up.

Harvest Day/Food Drive Committee

Plans a fun, PTA-sponsored in-school event that celebrates autumn with a live band in the lunchroom and games in the playground. This event coincides with a food drive for The Center for Family Life in Sunset Park.

Health and Wellness Committee

Focuses on the health and wellness of the school community. This committee hosts yoga nights for families, supports the school health center (which offers free flu shots to all students), and helps organize the PTA Fun Run— a 5K in Prospect Park sponsored by city councilmember Brad Lander that benefits the schools in our community (a percentage of the proceeds raised come back to our school). A subcommittee runs the school mindfulness program, which in past years has included in-class mindfulness instruction for students and a weekly mindfulness meetup for parents.

Merchandise Committee

This committee sources and sells PS10-branded merchandise to the community at events throughout the school year. Items vary each year and have included sweatshirts, T-shirts, tote bags, hats, and water bottles.

Parent Action Committee

Organizes political actions related to education and PS10.

Photography Committee

Documents the events, people, and adventures at PS10 through photography. This committee helps plan and run school photo day, a PTA fundraiser held in the early fall. Each student has an individual portrait and class photo taken. Volunteers are needed to help with readying the students for photos and keeping the classes organized.

Progressive Dinner Committee

Plans an adults-only progressive dinner in the homes of PS 10 families. The fun progresses throughout the night as guests move from appetizers to dinner to drinks and dessert! This fun event is a great way to meet other parents and raise money to support the school.

PS10 Community Safety

This committee shares ideas that can help support initiatives in and around the PS10 community, including those advocating for safer city streets.

PS10’s Got Talent Committee

Plans the annual school talent show, where students in grades 3-5 have the opportunity to share their unique talents with their peers in a supportive environment. This is an all-inclusive showcase, not a competition. The event usually takes place in March.

PTA Extended Day Committee

This committee meets monthly to create classes and programming, set guidelines, and manage procedures and policies for the Extended Day program.

Raffle Auction Committee

Plans and builds beautiful, creative themed raffle gift baskets for various fundraising events such as the auction and holiday performances. Bring your glue gun and your creativity!

Read-a-Thon Committee

Works with the PS 10 administration and teachers to plan the school’s annual read-a-thon, a month-long PTA fundraiser that takes place in February. Students are asked to read daily at home, either with their families or on their own, and they are also encouraged to raise money to support the school. This committee also plans “Reading Under the Stars,” a fun, free community-building event for families that takes place during the read-a-thon.

Recess Committee

This committee coordinates volunteers to help the school staff supervise students on the playground and in the cafeteria during lunchtime and recess. Please join if you’d like to help create solutions for student engagement during recess, especially during inclement weather.

STEAM Fair Committee

Plans PS 10’s annual S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Fair, a community event for exhibitors, makers, and inventors. Planning begins in the fall, and the event typically takes place in the spring. For more info, email ps10steam@gmail.com.

Sustainability Committee

Works closely with teachers, staff, and students to increase recycling at the school and to increase awareness of environmental issues in general.

Teacher Appreciation Feast Committee

On parent-teacher conference days, this committee organizes direct donations in the form of meals from each classroom. Volunteers decorate the teachers’ lounge and lunchroom and run an all-day feast. Conferences are such a long and hard day for the school, and the meals and treats offered go a long way and really show how much we value our amazing team of teachers, administrators, and staff.

Technology Committee

Keeps our website up-to-date and running smoothly while integrating new technologies to facilitate communications between the school, PTA, and the parent community. This committee also assists with events and in classrooms.

Tenstock Committee

Plans and organizes Tenstock, PS10’s autumn celebration of community, crafts, food and music! Students, teachers, parents and neighborhood friends join together to celebrate the beginning of the year in the school yard. This fantastic, fun day is open to the neighborhood community. Committee members plan the event and recruit attendees and parent volunteers to help set up, oversee craft and activity tables, sell food, and clean up.

Translation Committee

Helps translate documents and announcements for the PTA. Members translate many languages represented in the PS10 community including Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Hebrew.

Visiting Author Committee

Coordinates in-school visits by published authors for students in every grade. Last year’s authors included Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Joshua David Stein, Javaka Steptoe, Tracey Baptiste, Melissa Walker, George O’Connor, and R.J. Palacio. This committee also plans and hosts an annual weekend author event that is open to all and serves as a PTA fundraiser.