PTA News - June 2015

Dear Spruce families,

As we enter the final month of the school year, it is worth recognizing that this will be the end of Spruce 'elementary' education for some of the original families that started out in the Tweed courthouse (where Spruce was incubated before moving to our current home). It has been quite a ride! From the initial pioneering days to facing challenges together along the way. Always educational and ultimately rewarding. Congratulations to the 5th graders, we're all proud of you!

Also, in case you forgot, Spruce Street Rocks! Yep, the annual DVD (or digital file, new this year) will be available soon for $20 (an email will go out notifying you when it is ready). To reserve your copy, please reach out to [email protected] and we'll charge your auction number. If you didn't register for the Gala, we'll have a paypal link set-up when the announcement goes out.

Have a great final month of the school year to all!

Spruce Street School fifth graders 2014/2015

Meeting Schedule

• The June General PTA meeting is on Tuesday, June 16th @8:30AM in Cafeteria (please note the time/location change) All EB and SLT elections will be held at this PTA meeting AND budget approval and celebrate and reflect on the year that is ending and look ahead to previewing next year.

• The June PTA EB meeting is Friday, June 5th @ 8:15PM in PTA Room 

• The June SLT meeting is on Tuesday, June 16th @ 3PM-4:30pm in the Library

Events

May Recap
Gala: Wow, what a night! Big thanks to the Liz Chen, Sonni Mon and the rest of the amazing Gala Team. We raised needed funds for the PTA and had a fun time doing it.
Family portrait fundraiser (March): Great job Laetitia Damiani for organizing and we are happy to announce we raised $1,040 after all the orders were processed.
Coin drive (March): All the coins were gathered and counted and the final tally towards library books is $1,274. Thanks to Joanna Williams, Danielle Galbraith, and Shara Cunningham.
Harvest Day: Great job Yasmeen Hoosenally and the Wellness/Green Team.
Science/Math night: What a fun event showcasing the older grades' science presentations! Thanks to the teachers for a great event.
Magical Dave: Thanks to Grace Lee & the rest of the volunteers who made this a 'magical' night.

June Events 
Drum Concert - Bomba!
Enjoy a night of drumming and dancing on Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:15PM in the Auditorium tickets on sale now, for questions please contact Shelley Grams [email protected]!

Wednesday, June 3rd @6:15PM in the Auditorium. Tickets $10/Adults $5/Children

5th Grade Graduation
Join the school in sending off our 5th graders and they move up to middle school. Monday, June 22nd at 6PM

PTA Executive Board

Co-Presidents
The June PTA meeting is very important! All EB and SLT elections will be held at this PTA meeting AND budget approval. The time was changed to the morning because we really need a good turnout. There will also be coffee! 

• As you may have noticed, the screen in the hallway is now active, thanks to Jennifer for making that happen.
  
• Please use the Amazon link at the bottom of the website home page when ordering from Amazon so the PTA can get up to 8% back.

Overall, it was a wonderful year with great events and we're grateful for all the volunteers. 

Treasury
The Budget Committee is getting close to finalizing a FY16 budget. It will be presented at the June PTA General Meeting for approval. Thanks to all who took part in the process.

Fundraising
An anonymous donor has offered to match all donations up to $10,000 during a 24 hour period of Direct Appeal. Keep an eye out for an email announcing the specific dates.

Thank you for all of our fundraising events throughout the 2014-2015 year.  As you know, these activities bring our families together in worthy, collaborative projects with a collective goal: to enrich our children’s educational experience.

Website/Tech
Register on the website to have access to your child's Classroom page.  A place where class parents and/or teachers can post pictures, assignments or any other classroom specific info.

Merchandise
The old pink beach bag is now GREEN! Come get yours in time for summer.
$30. They also make great teachers' gifts.  Teachers' price $15.

Other new merchandise:

• Natural/Blue bag (same style as black/silver bag)
  
• Klean Kanteen vacuum insulated bottles.
  
• Adult small and youth hoodies for cool summer nights!  

Buy online, ask Shara or Laetitia, or buy on Thursday's in June outside at pick up.

Public Relations

• There is a new Spruce Parents forum on Facebook. Check it out here.
• Like the Spruce Facebook page
• Follow @PS397PTA on Twitter

Nominations
If anyone wishes to be nominated to the EB they should send their name to Shab Boettle [email protected]. 

Spruce Street Beach Bag

Committees

New Programs Committee (NPC) - SLT
The NPC will be evaluating this years' enrichment programs and communicating its recommendations to the SLT about whether or not to continue the current programs next year (includes NDI, Brooklyn Beanstalk, etc.)

Inclusion & Special Education Committee - SLT
No report

Communications Committee - SLT
No report

Middle School Committee - SLT
No report

Art Committee - PTA
No report

Wellness and Green Team - PTA
The generosity of the PTA and all Spruce parents has funded compostable plates in our cafeteria for the last few years. We are thrilled to announce that the plates will now be supplied by the DOE’s Office of School Food to all NYC public schools. The era of styrofoam has ended! In other good news, the chicken served in the cafeteria is now anti-biotic free, and starting next year, we will have compostable cutlery.

Our goal is to get the composting program in the cafeteria up and running by the first week of school in September. 

The Spring Harvest Festival was a great hit with all the kids, many of whom enjoyed meeting our chef for the day. Many thanks to Garden to Cafe and Battery Urban Farm! Look out next for BUF produce in the salad bar at school which is open to ALL children.

We have replenished the school supplies of non-toxic hand sanitizer, hand soap and wipes. The Green Team thanks the PTA for funding these items going into our second year and they will no longer appear on the school supply lists.

A big shout out everyone who has worked on Green/Wellness this year. If you would like to help next year, please let us know at [email protected]

Taste of the Seaport Committee - PTA
The TOTS Committee is meeting on June 3rd at 8:30am at the new Peck Slip cafeteria. The actual Taste of the Seaport is on October 17, 2015. Please email Tami Kurtz, [email protected] to get involved in this great event.

Spirit Project Committee - PTA
The Spirit Project will NOT be happening this year due to loss of key sponsorship, however, we already have some great ideas for next year.

Silent Disco at the South Street Seaport

Community

Update: The police caught the woman who was involved in a hit & run outside the school. The police have also agreed to take steps to install a crossing guard on Beekman Street. Thanks to the police for their great work and to all those who went to the 1st precinct meeting to help make this happen.

1ST Precinct
1st precinct community council meetings are held at 6:30PM on the last Thursday of each month at:
First Precinct, 16 Ericsson Pl. (in Tribeca).

Manhattan Community Board 1 (CB1)
Get involved in the community, attend CB1 Meetings & Events.

75 Morton Community Alliance Meeting: June 1 at 6:30 p.m. at PS 33 
This is a working meeting for parents, school representatives and community leaders who want to get involved in needs assessment and setting the agenda for the fall 2015 75MCA envisioning meeting. If you plan to attend, please RSVP at [email protected]. 

School

Last day of school and Report cards distributed Friday, June 26th
Thank you for a wonderful 2014/2015 school year.

Enjoy your summer!

Thanks for reading!