Hillside Elementary School PTA

Gifted and Talented Magnet

|

Hillside PTA Meeting Minutes October 21, 2021

Hillside PTA Meeting

October 21, 2021

6:00pm

(Zoom Meeting)

 

Welcome and Review of Recent Accomplishments

 

  • Co-President Yvette Frazier welcomed everyone. The Oct. 15th movie night was fantastic with great turnout. Thank you to Obie Miranda-Woodley and family for loaning the screen.
  • Thank you for donations to the Explorers Scholarship fund, the tents donated and set up by parent volunteers, pumpkin donations, and the laundering of items from the Hillside basement that were mildewed after Hurricane Ida.
  • New spiritwear is available: picnic blankets with Hillside logo.

 

Approval of minutes

 

  • Recording Secretary Amber Reed presented the minutes from the September 24, 2021 PTA/SATp meeting. Betty Shvetz moved to approve. Brain Fleischer seconded. The motion carried.

 

Treasurer’s Report

  • Co-Treasurer Jacqueline Ahern presented an update on the PTA budget. She noted revenue from Explorers, Amazon Smile, membership dues, and other sources. 
  • Expenditures: We recently purchased some new spiritwear. Hospitality has been a major expense early in this school year. Have not yet paid teachers for Explorers. May need to dip into Fireball funds to break even this year.

 

PTA Calendar Review/Event Planning 

 

Co-President Betty Shvetz offered an overview of upcoming events and fundraising initiatives. Other ideas are always welcome.

  • Car Wash, 10/23 from 1-4pm: A fundraiser with the assistance of adult volunteers and GMS student volunteers.
  • Halloween Trunk or Treat on 10/29: thank you to those who have signed up. May request GMS volunteers. 
  • Beautification/Playground Committee: will do clean-up of playground area and plant tulip bulbs. Girl Scout Troop 22774 will help plant on Nov. 7 and work on the clean-up.
  • Election Day bake sale on 11/2: attendee Nakeisha Haley volunteered to manage this. 
  • Parent Social Connect in Nov, date TBD: needs an organizer and a venue.
  • Book Fair: Scheduled for 11/8-11/12.
  • Jason Didner Live Stream Concert 11/13 at 8pm – info on how to attend will go out soon. All funds raised will be donated to PTA.
  • Dinner fundraisers (Panera, Smashburger, Chipotle, Anthony’s): please reach out if you’re able to help facilitate these.
  • Commemorative T-shirts: Hoping to run a contest for kids interested in designing t-shirts.

 

SATp Updates

  • Dee Thompson offered special thanks to the Hispanic Heritage Month committee for creating HHM lesson plans for teachers and throwing a wonderful family event on Oct. 1. 
  • Hillside Cares Coat Drive started earlier this week; will be collecting coats through Nov. 29. Please drop off gently used coats of any size in bins located outside door K (parking lot side) and door F (St. Luke’s side). Goal is 175 coats.
  • Holiday food drive next month; info to come. 
  • In December, hoping to relaunch Student Voices Book Club in collaboration with Ms. Graham. Would like to see same energy as in initial launch. Looking for two additional volunteers. Contact Jenn DiLullo.
  • If interested in Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion work – reach out to Jenn DiLullo, parent organizer. Social Justice team meets monthly. Please attend to learn more detailed info on events and goals, and the ways SATp supports involvement, community connections, and cultural awareness. WIll announce next date soon.

 

BOE/PTAC Updates

  • Special guest Tessie Thomas, PTAC President, shared an overview of the work and role of PTAC (Parent Teacher Association Council) in our district. PTAC advocates for all of the children in our district, with representation from all 11 schools. This year it believes it is time to heal the community and remind everyone we’re all in this together.
  • Brian Fleischer shared a BOE update.
    • Brian explained the dynamics at the Board of School Estimate underlying the as-yet uncertain status of school facilities funding to implement phase 2 of the HVAC remediation plan and other high-priority capital work. 
    • District leadership has determined that allegations of corporate malfeasance against the pooled testing vendor do not affect the program itself, and pooled testing is scheduled to begin Monday, 10/25. 
    • Referendum on 11/2 would decide whether district will move from appointed to elected BOE, which would also expand BOE from 7 to 9 members and dissolve the BOSE, with capital project funding approved by voter referendum instead. Please educate yourself on this referendum through opportunities such as Montclair Local forum immediately following our meeting.

 

Principal’s Report

 

Mr. Adamo presented in place of Dr. Anglin:

  • Third graders will start moving more independently through building as they travel to Aesthetics classes during periods 3 and 7 and come down to lunch on their own. Teachers will remain in hallways and supervisors will be in cafeteria and on playground.
  • Intervention supports: Dr. Anglin and Mr. Adamo have been working on meeting with teachers and supporting students with interventions they may need, under I&RS state-mandated process. Working closely with Dr. Jill McLaughlin, director of PreK-5th grade elementary education in ECI.
  • As weather gets colder, Dr. Anglin and Mr. Adamo have been in touch with Buildings & Grounds and the Business administrator about whether heating could be provided in tents so students can continue to eat lunch outside. District is consulting with the Fire Department. Mr. Adamo encouraged families with ideas to email him; he will share with the Business Administrator and copy Dr. Ponds.
  • Principal’s Q&A:
    • Several questions were asked about lunch. Mr. Adamo clarified the following:
      • Lunch lasts 22 minutes, followed by recess (also 22 minutes).
      • Mr. Adamo believes Dr. Ponds is conferring with neighboring towns about best practices around outdoor lunch, as is his typical practice.
      • If no satisfactory solution is found to enable kids to eat outdoors in cold weather, lunch periods could be split indoors, with half the student at cafeteria tables and the other half in the auditorium.
    • Regarding pooled testing, Mr. Adamo shared the following:
      • Pooled testing will begin at Hillside on Tue., Oct. 26 from 11am-2pm.
      • A “large number of kids” are participating at Hillside.
      • Pooled testing will be outside.
      • Mr. Adamo was not sure whether kids would swab their own nostrils or someone from the vendor would swab them. Last year, kids swabbed themselves.
      • Mr. Adamo will find out whether someone will be available to help, and who that person would be, should a student need assistance with swabbing.
    • Multiple questions were asked about the state of Hillside’s buildings and grounds.
      • The playground benches were actually fixed today.
      • Custodial staff has been working to manage weeds around the playground, but Mr. Adamo is still pressing B&G to address other intractable patches of weeds, including on St. Luke’s side.
      • During work to repair and power wash Hillside’s facade, damage was done to sidewalk. Company involved will remedy this.
      • The Beautification committee asked about whether B&G could help prep the grounds for planting, and about bringing parent and child volunteers. Mr. Adamo recommended getting as many people involved as possible.
    • A question was asked about whether parents will be notified if Ms. Scott, the school counselor, meets with their child. Mr. Adamo clarified that while they may not be contacted if Ms. Scott steps in for a brief meeting in a particular moment, should there be a more serious interaction or recurring issue, she will certainly be in touch with the child’s parents/caregivers. 

 

  • The meeting adjourned at 6:57pm. Next meeting: Nov. 19 at 9:30am.

 

Attendees: