PS 372 PTA MEETING

April 19, 2023

Virtual

Attendees: 34

KATHLEEN CONNER, PTA President

Welcome Back from Spring Break!

New gear available at the PTA store (https://ps372pta.square.site/)

MS. BRIDGET NASH, Assistant Principal

First day of State Testing today, everything went well.

Safety Updates

School improvements

• Addition of cameras to the Main Site:
  • Cameras will be installed at all major corridors and the perimeter of the building
  • No cameras inside classrooms and where instruction is given
• Weekly Meeting with NYPD

NYC DOE Improvements

• DOE will enhance visitor control procedures in every school.
• Installed monitored locked entrances into the school.
  • One way in and out of school.
  • Door locks cameras and buzzers, starting this Spring.
  • Citywide and starting with elementary schools

• Lithium Ion Batteries Safety
• More E-bikes out there, with the increasing number of fires because of counterfeit batteries
  • E-scooters and E-bikes are to be parked outside and at least six feet from the main entrance;
  • Lithium-ion batteries are not to be stored or charged near school entrances and exits;
    • When schools recharge the laptops’ batteries, they have to be in a safe container;
  • Lithium-ion batteries must have a designated storage area with a door that closes; 

COVID-19 Updates

•  COVID-19 test kits will now be distributed upon request for students and staff.
• Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 5 days and can return to school on day 6 if they have no symptoms or symptoms are improving. They should wear a mask until day 10 after symptom onset or the date of a positive test, whichever is earlier. Masks may be removed during this period if the person has received two negative rapid tests 48 hours apart.
• Situation room is no longer operating.
• Limited updates on cases – parents are still encouraged to report positive cases to school administration.
• Please keep your kids at home if they test positive for Covid-19!

Safety drills 

2 more drills to come

• 1 lockdown drill
• 1 evacuation drill with warmer weather.

MS. YVETTE AGAS-BAUTZ, Parent Coordinator

• Please check your emails and join Konstella which is the official communication channel between the school and parents. 
• NYC School Survey deadline is tomorrow (04/20):
  • Parents can submit through their MySchool account or paper forms.
• No School on Friday, April 21st for Eid.
• Next Parents as Partners is Friday, May 5th
  • Reading with families
• Field Day is Back! This year at J.J. Byrne Park – located between 4^th and 5^th Avenue and 3^rd and 4^th Street – from 10am-12:30pm.
• Both sites (ICT and ASD) will participate this year.
  • May 17th for Grades PreK-2
  • May 18th for Grades 3-5
  • no rain dates
• Permission slips from Mr. C (Gym teacher) will fill in the details, please complete and return them!
• A few volunteers are needed to help coordinate kids at the Park.
• Parents are encouraged to come and cheer for their kids.
• Parents cannot dismiss their children directly from the field.
• For attendance reasons, please use normal arrival schedules, do not head directly to the field.
• T-shirt design winner – Daniel Flores (ASD site).
  • A shout-out to:
  • Camille Lawson, that thought out of the box;
  • Liam (3^rd Grade);
• If you have questions, you can email Yvette at yvette.agasbautz@ps372.net

CHARLIE HART, PTA Treasurer

KATHLEEN CONNER, PTA President

Treasurer’s report

Major Fundraisers for PTA in 2023

• 30 for 30 Annual Appeal – $33,670.
• Pizza Friday is back after many years raised over $30,000.
• Readathon raised around $20,000.
• Auction & Party: expectation of raising $35,000 – Mini-Camp auction raised $4,800 already!

The PTA budget is public, and anyone can ask for a copy from the PTA President (president@ps372pta.org).

PTA Expenses Include but are not limited to

• Mini-Grants for each classroom and specialist.
• Arts Enrichments for each grade.
• 5^th Grade musical.
• Because we had an amazing fundraising this year, we were able to fund $6,700 to buy a new microphone system that should last us for around 7 years.
• Free Admission to all events (Valentine’s Day Dance, Movie Night, Roots and Community, Carnival, etc.).

Co-Treasurers needed for 2023-2024

• It’s a mandatory position for the PTA operation!
  • Ideally, we should have 2 Co-Treasurers.
• An important supporting role to PTA President.
• Oversee finances of the PTA.
• Support Executive Board and President in budgeting.
• Manage accounts including paying vendors, reimbursements to parents and staff, managing donations and fundraising proceeds.
• Reporting to DOE on PTA finances twice a year.
• Attend monthly EB meetings.
• QuickBooks’ prior experience is strongly desired.
• If anyone at this meeting (or watching the recording) is interested in this position and could dedicate a couple of hours each week, please reach out to the PTA President (president@ps372pta.org) or PTA Treasurer (treasurer@ps372pta.org). 

KATHLEEN CONNER, PTA President

Upcoming PTA events:

• Bike to School Day is Monday 4/24 – to celebrate Earth Day (4/22)
  • You can start where you want or join one of the routes (check on Konstella’s announcement)
  • You can bike, walk, or scoot.

• Outdoor movie night – next Friday, April 28^th (last movie night of this school year)
  • Movie: “Yes Day” – rated PG, running time 89 minutes.
  • Movie starts at sunset (around 7:25pm) and Whitwell gates will be opened at 06:45pm.
  • Admission is free.
  • Concessions will be sold – CASH ONLY.
    • Proceeds will benefit 5th grade graduation festivities.
  • Bring blankets or beach chairs to sit on.
  • No rain date – will be indoors in case of bad weather.
  • Families from both sites are encouraged to attend.

Mr. FRANK AMIRATTA, Assistant Principal

One school one book

• “The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Temple Grandin”
• Already have parents volunteering to read
• The link and more information will be sent via Konstella on Monday or Tuesday

CALLIE SIEGAL, Auction and Party Co-chair

Spring Auction & Party

• June 2^nd – save the date!
• Adults-only events – plan ahead!
• The Game Room – Industry City
• Come and encourage your friends to come!
• Tickets will go on sale soon. Tickets will have a similar price to last year, they may go up just a bit due to the increase of expenses.

• Silent auction
• DJ
• Time with teacher’s raffle
• We need auction items
  • Anything you think it’s a good auction item send an email to auctiondonation@ps372pta.org
  • Bid is on “Bidding for Good”, an open platform where people from all over the world can bid on our items – once the link is available, please share it widely with your family and friends.

KATHLEEN CONNER, PTA President

Thank you to:

• Costa, Ms. Sarah, and Ms. Fiona for organizing the Tree Caring event. 
• Adelphi St parents and staff for organizing a beautiful celebration for Para-Professional Appreciation Day.
• All the students, teachers, Kathleen Conner, and Raquel Cunha for the incredible “One Great Thing About …” cards for our paras at Carroll St.
• Raquel Cunha for her work with PTA Gear.
• Sarah Graham for giving so much support to all of us with her tech skills!

Next PTA Meeting is Wednesday, May 17^th, 6:45pm