Our high school students, as well as all parents in the Rivertowns, are going to get the benefit of a very rare opportunity.
On January 7, all Hastings High School students will hear former NBA basketball star Chris Herren share his struggle with career-ending addiction and heart-wrenching path to recovery. Mr. Herren, a motivational speaker on substance use and wellness, will touch on such topics as drinking, smoking marijuana and vaping, pill use, peer pressure, bullying and cutting. He will urge our teens to write their own story during this profound assembly.
On January 9, at 7 pm, all parents in the Rivertowns are invited to a screening of The First Day, the innovative documentary directed by Hastings’ own Jon Hock, which chronicles Chris Herren’s struggle with addiction and journey to recovery. Mr. Hock, along with Fred Muench, President of the Center on Addiction, will be taking questions after the film.
Support for these two programs was provided by the Hastings PTSA.
2 • Superintendent’s Book Study Group on November 7
Anne Cunningham and David Pugh invite you to their home for a book study group run by Superintendent Valerie Henning-Piedmonte and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Melissa Szymanski on November 7, at 7 pm. Dr. Henning-Piedmonte will lead a discussion on the book What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers Across America, by Ted Dinters. This is a unique opportunity for you to discuss creative and dynamic teaching practices with Dr. Henning-Piedmonte and Ms. Szymanski.
Space is limited! Email Anne Cunningham (acunningham@ptsahastings.org) to find out if space is available and, if so, an address will be forwarded.
3 • Celebrating Veterans on November 8!
Each year, the PTSA and SEPTA co-host a day celebrating veterans in all three of our schools! The celebration is a favorite with both students and veterans. To make sure everything runs smoothly, we need volunteers to escort veterans to classrooms at FMS and HHS (from 10 am to 12 pm, on November 8). Please email Anne Cunningham (acunningham@ptsahastings.org) to volunteer.
4 • HHS Student Advisory Committee
The PTSA met with the HHS Student Advisory Committee to learn from the source about student concerns and needs. The PTSA learned, among other things, that students believe it is very important to learn from experienced students about course expectations and workload, especially with respect to honors or other high-level courses. As a result, the PTSA plans to organize springtime meetings run by students, for students to discuss course expectations and workload.
Expect more PTSA initiatives stemming from our meetings with the HHS Student Advisory Committee!
5 • PTSA Traffic Safety Subcommittee
The PTSA’s Traffic Safety Committee has been hard at work meeting with Village and District stakeholders to establish safe drop off zones around FMS and HHS.
In the works is a springtime Bicycle Safety Workshop for our students. Special thanks to Hastings Velo!
Be on the lookout for more information in the coming months.
6 • PTSA Spirit Wear
Shop for holiday gifts from home while supporting the PTSA! The last logo wear sale of 2019 will be exclusively online! The PTSA's online spirit wear store will be open from Monday, December 2 through Thursday, December 5. All orders can be picked up locally at a designated time TBD or by arrangement. Please note that quantities of some items are limited. Email kefiraw@gmail.com with any questions. Shop here: ptsahastings.org/logo-wear.
7 • New Book Fair at Hillside
The New Book Fair will run on Friday, November 1, from 3 pm to 7 pm, and Saturday, November 2, from 9 am to 1 pm. Don’t miss Author Night on Friday, November 1, 5:30 - 6:30 pm! MacKenzie Cadenhead, author of the graphic novel series Marvel Superhero Adventures, will be giving a presentation and signing books. Stock up on quality holiday gifts for the whole family! All profits support our schools.
If you haven’t already done so, please volunteer to help shoppers find books and/or box-up all the books at the end of the fair. Please contact Patty Fernandez (prfnyc@gmail.com) to volunteer. The PTSA can’t do it without your help!
Grants
For the 2019-2020 school year, the PTSA has awarded the following grants:
HASP students will go to West Side Story on Broadway.
Chris Herren, a motivational speaker on substance use and wellness, will talk to HHS students about such topics as drinking, smoking marijuana and vaping, pill use, peer pressure, bullying and cutting.
The First Day screening and parent program facilitated by the filmmaker Jon Hock and addiction expert Fred Muensch, President of Center on Addiction.
DJs for FMS dances.
Family University dinner for HHS parents and students.
Sweethearts and Heroes anti-bullying program for all children at Hillside.
Professional Development at the Windward Teacher Training Institute for Hillside and FMS special/general education teachers.
The Omer String Quartet will visit FMS and HHS. The quartet will perform for students and then break off to work with our string chamber groups.
Additional grants funded by the PTSA on an annual basis:
Field Trip Busing for each grade K through 12
Scholarship Fund for Each School (allowing each school to anonymously provide instruments, lunches, and field trip scholarships to families in need of financial assistance)