Good afternoon!
We are covering several important topics in today’s weekly newsletter.
Please make sure to read about Participatory Budget voting. It affects our school. The deadline is April 2nd – THIS SUNDAY!
We also need a chairperson to run our Basket Raffle fundraiser this spring. Please see the details below.
We are resuming our Community Coffee events in April. See you on April 28th.
Participatory Budget Voting
It is time to vote for the Participatory Budget again and Center School has the opportunity to benefit from funding. Your vote can help!
Center School needs an upgrade to its electrical service to support increased use of technology in classrooms.
PLEASE VOTE: #7 – Upgrade Electrical Wiring and Capacity at Center School [MS 243, 100 W 84th St.] $150,000.
Every participating City Council Member is allowed $1 million in discretionary funds to distribute among community-suggested and selected infrastructure projects within their districts. Suggestions were submitted by community members and vetted by volunteers. Nine finalists were selected. The community now votes, with each voter selecting three finalists. The projects with the most votes are funded, until the $1 million runs out.
Voting started on Saturday, March 25th and concludes this Sunday, April 2nd.
We have included an attachment that provides directions on voting. You can vote in-person or online. VOTE ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE.
If you prefer to vote in-person, you may do so at the following six locations:
- COUNCIL MEMBER BREWER’S DISTRICT OFFICE, 563 Columbus Ave. Monday–Friday 10am–5pm, Weekends (3/25-26, 4/1-2) 10 am–4 pm;
- RUTGERS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 236 W. 73rd St. Monday–Friday 10 am–5 pm;
- LINCOLN SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AT GODDARD RIVERSIDE, 250 W. 65th St. Monday–Friday 11:30 am–2:00 pm
- WEST SIDE YMCA, 5 W. 63rd St. Monday–Friday 10 am–5 pm;
- CHURCH OF ST. PAUL AND ST. ANDREW, 263 W. 86th St. Monday–Friday 10 am–5 pm Weekends (3/25-26, 4/1-2) 12 pm–3 pm;
- ST. AGNES LIBRARY, 444 Amsterdam Ave Monday–Saturday 10 am–5 pm.
Basket Raffle
One of the fundraising events we do annually every April at Center School is the Basket Raffle.
It’s a great activity that involves everyone – teachers, students and families and it’s easy to execute and manage. Not to mention, it generates a lot of money that helps support our kids and their school.
Our current Basket Raffle coordinator is unavailable to manage the event this year and her child is graduating this spring so we are looking for a new volunteer to manage the process. The good news is she is available to help assemble the baskets (as are the volunteers from last year). She is also available to help provide guidance on running the event. The coordinator is mainly responsible for communication and organizing the volunteers.
Ideally, we are looking for a candidate who has a 5th or 6th grade student and who could manage the fundraiser for the next few years. If you are interested in getting involved with this fundraiser or have any questions, please contact us at Centerschoolpta@gmail.com.
Auction
The Auction team will be holding an “Interest” meeting on Monday, April 17th right after drop off across the street at Lenwich. Join us at approximately 8:45am to learn more about the magic of the auction… and how to get more involved next year! Questions? Email us at centerschoolauction@gmail.com.
CRJE
Coming in May: (tentative date is 5/10) An opportunity for Center School families to gather to discuss questions and opportunities for our community regarding race, representation and justice. Look for an invitation soon.
Special Events
Writers Night confirmed for April 26 @ Prohibition
Please join Center School parents and teachers as they read from their original work at Prohibition (503 Columbus Avenue at 84 street) on Wednesday, April 26th, at 6pm. If you have any questions, please contact Rita Mullaney.
Chamber Music Night is Monday, May 1
- There are still a few spots left.
- Please RSVP to CenterSchoolSpecialEvents@gmail.com
- Deadline to RSVP is Friday, March 31
Singer / Songwriter Night is Tuesday, June 14
- Please email CenterSchoolSpecialEvents@gmail.com if you’d like to perform
PTA and SLT Opportunities
We will be hosting our PTA and SLT elections in May. We currently have several positions that will be vacant next year so we are looking for members of our community to run for office.
If you have questions about these opportunities or positions, please contact the PTA Presidents at centerschoolpta@gmail.com.
Panel for Educational Policy
The PEP application is up on the DOE website and is available in 10 languages. We encourage as many parents as possible to apply. Candidates can submit their applications to PEPParentApplications@schools.nyc.gov by April 15, 2023.
The Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) consists of 23 voting members. Each borough president will appoint one member, 5 members are elected by CEC presidents (one member from each borough), and 13 members appointed by the mayor – including 4 NYC public school parents, with at least one parent of a child with an individualized education program, at least one parent of a child who is in a bilingual or English as a second language program, and at least one parent of a child attending a District 75 school or program). These members are in addition to the Chancellor and the New York City Comptroller serving as ex-officio, and two high school students serve as non-voting members. The parent representatives will serve a one-year term from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
Safe Haven Spring Break Basketball
Players ages 7 to 13 who love basketball will enjoy full days of supervised games and instruction during public school Spring Break from April 11 – 13.
The Safe Haven West Side Basketball League’s instructors will facilitate a dynamic program geared to meet the needs of all players—from beginner to advanced skill levels.
- Location: PS 84 on West 92nd Street between CPW and Columbus
- Hours: 9am – 4pm. (Doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
Choose all three days or single days; your child will have a great time getting “court smart!”
REGISTER ONLINE at www.safehavenhoops.net. See download below for details.
Mark Your Calendar – Important Dates
- April 6: School CLOSED for Passover
- April 7: School CLOSED for Passover/Good Friday
- April 10-14: School CLOSED for Spring Recess
- April 21: School CLOSED for Eid al-Fitr
- April 24: PTA Meeting
- April 26: Writers Night
- April 27: SLT Meeting
- April 28: Community Coffee
- May 1: Chamber Music Event
- May 22: PTA Meeting & ELECTIONS
- May 25: SLT Meeting
- June 1: 8th Grade Show
- June 12: PTA Meeting
- June 15: SLT Meeting
Kindly, Sarah Courtemanche & Joshua Weinberger
Parent Volunteers
on behalf of The Center School
-THE CENTER SCHOOL- 