To volunteer, please contact Patty Fernandez (prfnyc@gmail.com).
Wed–Sat, October 30– Nov 2,
W: 8am - 4pm
Th: 8am - 4pm
F: 3pm - 7 pm
S: 9am - 1 pm
Hillside
SEPTA HHS Community Conversation
Wednesday, October 30, 7pm
Lloyd Library
Hillside Halloween Parade
Thursday, October 31, 9:30am
Hillside
PTSA New Book Fair Breakdown
Saturday, November 2, 1–3pm
Hillside
Initiatives
1 • PTSA Spirit Wear
The PTSA Spirit Wear team was busy this summer choosing new styles and logos and getting the spirit wear ready for fall sales. The response was tremendous at the Back-to-School Breakfast and Back-to-School Nights at Hillside, Farragut, and HHS and we sold out of some styles and colors. Never fear . . . many styles are back in stock! Look for our spirit wear table at the Homecoming football game on October 5, and the Hillside New Book Fair from October 30 through November 2. If you can't make those sales, email Kefira (kefiraw@gmail.com) or Robin (rlmuskin@gmail.com) to make alternative arrangements. Remember, all profits from spirit wear sales support our schools.
2 • New Book Fair
The New Book Fair at Hillside is just around the corner, October 30 through November 2. It is an excellent opportunity to stock up on quality holiday gifts for the whole family! As always, all profits from the book fair support our schools. Each Hillside classroom is assigned a date and time to visit the book fair on October 30 and 31. (Schedules will be sent home from Hillside.) Parents are welcome to join their child’s class at the book fair and/or to visit any other time the fair is open.
To make sure the book fair runs smoothly, the PTSA needs MANY volunteers for set-up (arranging the room and putting books on shelves), sales (helping kids and other shoppers find books), and breakdown (boxing up all the books). To volunteer, please contact Patty Fernandez (prfnyc@gmail.com). The PTSA can’t do it without you!
3 • The Be Yourself Club at Hillside and FMS
The Be YourSelf Club - the only club for kids led by kids!
This club provides a place for kids to come as they are and explore ways to work together for the betterment of the world around them. Last year, the club put up permanent affirmations on the bathroom walls at Hillside and FMS. The kids also raised money for an environmental group by designing their own images, creating t-shirts of collaged images, and selling them. Not to mention the dance parties, games played, and time spent being themselves!
The Hillside Be YourSelf Club will relaunch in November and meet on Monday afternoons. The parent supervisors are Megan Foley and Lexy Casano. Be on the look-out for a Hillside blast announcing sign up.
New this year, the FMS Be YourSelf Club for 5th graders will launch in October and meet on Mondays. High school seniors Griffin Joerger, Yakira Sameth, and Derex will mentor the students in the FMS club. The adult supervisors will be Nicole Miziolek and Marie-Louise Miller.
If you are interested in getting involved with the club as a parent volunteer, please reach out to Marie-Louise (marie.miller@navamill.org). The PTSA supports the Be YourSelf Club through the Inclusion Working Group subcommittee.
4 • Green Team at Hillside
The Green Team is a newly formed group of concerned parents focused on helping Hillside operate in a more environmentally sustainable fashion. The group aims to raise awareness around environmental issues, work with the community to implement climate and eco-smart changes, and to create a better world for our kids and community. Some projects, considered or underway, include waste reduction and recycling projects, educational events, environmental curriculum recommendations, and a spring Eco Fair. If you are interested in volunteering for the Green Team, please email Tamsin Taylor (tamsinltaylor@gmail.com).
5 • Box Tops Go Digital
Box Tops are going digital! Download the Box Tops for Education app and scan your receipt on participating products to automatically submit earnings (10 cents for each item) to Hillside. Take a moment to download the app now! If you (or your kids) loved collecting the old Box Tops, we have good news for you: clipped Box Tops can still be submitted to Janet Pesto in the Hillside office. Any Box Top related questions can be directed to Dorothy Neagle (dneagle@ptsahastings.org).
Please note, the Box Tops program has helped Hillside earn between $1,000 and $1,500 each year. Our 4th grade Student Council members work with an advisor to brainstorm ideas for how to use the money and vote on the final choice, which has led to not one but two Gaga pits and so much more!
6 • HHS Student Advisory Committee Volunteers
Is your high school student looking for leadership opportunities?
Ask your child to consider joining the Hastings PTSA Student Advisory Committee. The PTSA formed this committee to learn about students concerns, and help determine which programs, speakers, and policies our students want and need. If your student is interested, please mail Anne Cunningham (acunningham@ptsahastings.org) for an application.
7 • PTSA Membership
If you haven’t already done so, please join the Hastings PTSA! As a Hastings PTSA member, you help fund local enrichment programs and initiatives, hospitality events for our community and faculty, and efforts to advocate on behalf of all children. Simply follow the link (ny-ptsa-membership-copy.cheddarup.com) and use a credit card or eCheck. Our membership committee will make sure you get your PTSA calendar!
Grants
For the 2019-2020 school year, the PTSA has awarded the following grants:
Sweethearts and Heroes anti-bullying program for all children at Hillside.
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)