Issue: 2019-2020-5
   Justina Ketyer, Editor
October 30, 2019  
In this issue:
  • President's Pen
  • Early Voting Locations and Times
  • HCT Members Feeling in the Pink
  • Virtual Food Drive for Island Harvest
  • Enjoy BIG Savings this Friday!
  • Workshops for All HCT Members
  • Introducing NYSUT's Nassau Regional Office
  • Professional Learning Center

  • Try your luck at Jake's 58!

  • Do you have what it takes?

  • Condolences
  • News Around the Schools
President's Pen
As October comes to a close, we have now found ourselves entrenched in the business of our classrooms. The first quarter is close to completion in our secondary schools, and the elementary schools have begun parent/teacher conferences. 

I would like to bring the following issues to your attention: 

First,  Election Day is right around the corner . If you didn't receive my email last week about the new election law, here is the link to the email and the law. Paperwork  must be filed by October 31st . Refer to the charts below for early voting times and locations in Nassau & Suffolk Counties.

Another law which you should be aware of is the  Cancer Screening Law . This law states that any public employee may have a maximum of four hours for any cancer screening. Click here for more detailed information pertaining to this law.

Finally, last week the  HCT hosted a financial workshop for our members. I hope you were able to take advantage of this opportunity. Please remember that any financial institutions/accounts the district offers us, is a negotiated item between the Business office and the HCT. They will not add any new companies without it being brought to the leadership. They will not negotiate with individual members.

I hope you have a Happy Halloween.

In unity,

Stephanie Sullo
President
Early Voting Locations & Times

HCT Members Feeling in the Pink
HCT members and district staff were feeling "in the pink" Friday, October 18th in support of the American Cancer Society's Making Strides for Breast Cancer program. Teachers donated generously to help fight this deadly disease.    
Virtual Food Drive for Island Harvest
This year, HCT will host a  Virtual Food Drive for Island Harv est in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. The system is set up like a supermarket where donors scan virtual grocery items, which are listed at wholesale price, and are meant to illustrate what a contribution like that could provide to the community. Please note the system accepts only credit card donations, not food. Below please learn how your donations help people on Long Island. You can access the HCT Virtual Food Drive here .
Enjoy BIG Savings this Friday
Plan to shop this Friday, November 1st and enjoy big savings at
LOFT Woodbury.

$35 Cardigans
$35/$25/$15 Select Tops
$35 Leggings
$35 Wraps
$25 Scarves
$15 Sunglasses
40% off Jewelry
30% off Outerwear
30% off Lou & Grey
$39.50 for Denim
Teachers will get an extra 20% off any purchases of $100 or more.

Ask about the 15% off teachers discount!
Workshops for All HCT Members
Student Debt Clinic
TRS Retirement Workshop
Student Debt Clinic
Thursday, November 7 4:00-6:00
Nassau Regional Office
Deadline to Register: 11/7/19 

With college costs skyrocketing to unprecedented levels, two categories of NYSUT members struggle to avoid being overwhelmed by student debt - newer members who recently attended or are currently enrolled in college or graduate programs and middle aged members whose children are now entering higher education. Unfortunately, many members confronting this problem are unaware of the resources available to them to help manage and mitigate student debt burdens. Both of our national organizations, AFT and NEA, offer debt relief counseling and assistance. This workshop will assist members to figure out how to manage the college debt nightmare.

_____________________________________________

TRS Retirement Workshop
Tuesday, November 20 4:00-6:00
Nassau Regional Office
Deadline to Register: 11/13/19
 
If you're planning to retire this year or if you're simply thinking about retiring sometime in the near future, this workshop will be extremely useful in providing you with the information you need to know in order to make informed decisions about retirement options and benefits. The workshop will be presented by Ron Gross who is one of NYSUT's four members of the NYSTRS Board of Trustees.

Introducing NYSUT's Nassau Regional Office
Professional Learning Center
This year the Nassau Regional Office is introducing a series of
CTLE credit-bearing professional development courses for teachers and SRPs presented by NYSUT's Education & Learning Trust (ELT) . 

Below is a listing of the courses and dates. For more details and to register,

12/4/19
Supporting the Social-Emotional Needs of English Language Learners Who Experience Trauma
1/16/20
 Working Safely in Schools: Preventing Illness and Injuries when Toileting Students
1/23/20
Trauma Awareness in Education: Supporting Resiliency and Preventing Conflict
Try your luck a Jake's 58!
$20 in Free Slot Play for You and a Guest!
Jake's 58
3635 Express Dr N
Islandia, NY 11749

Saturday, December 14th
9 A.M to 9 P.M.

You and your guest  MUST pre-register list by Monday, November 25th.
There can be no exception to the pre-registration.

If you have questions and/or to pre-register you and a guest, please email your name and the name of your guest to Alison Silvestri at [email protected]
You do not need to be a New Player Club member to participate in this promotion.
Do you have what it takes?
Imagine this.
You are trapped in a room. As you look around you start to notice strange objects and messages - or are they clues? Can you and your friends solve the puzzles, decode the locks, and escape within one hour ?
Join  fellow HCT colleagues for a night of fun, mystery and camaraderie as you try to Escape the Room!
180 Michael Drive
Syosset, NY 11791

November 16, 2019
4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
$40 per person

Cash or check payable to the
Hicksville Congress of Teachers is accepted

DEADLINE to Register is November 6th
Please arrive by 4:15 PM
We don't want to begin without you!

Food will be provided from 5:30-6:30
(pizza, salad, garlic knots, soda & dessert)
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If you will be joining us, please download and complete the following form and send it via interoffice mail to Alison Silvestri at Hicksville High School. Please contact Alison at [email protected] with any questions.
Condolences
Condolences to Scott Starkey (East Street) on the passing of his mother.
News Around the Schools

Want to celebrate or share news about a colleague?  Complete this short form . We'll post the info in the next Connected!

STAY CONNECTED:
HCT office hours are 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday