Hillside PTA Meeting Minutes

June 21, 2022

10am 

(Zoom Meeting)

PTA co-president Yvette Frazier welcomed everyone.

Recording Secretary Amber Reed presented the minutes of the May 13th meeting and they were approved unanimously.

President’s Report by Betty Shvetz and Yvette Frazier:

• Commemorative T-Shirts have been ordered – 2nd order placed for 38 shirts. The shirts will be delivered very soon.
• Field Day 6/10  was a great success.
• Fireball moved to Friday 6/24 @Pineapple Express @ 7-10pm. A few tickets are available.
• 5th Grade events:
  • Celebration at MAM all day on 6/21
  • Moving Up Ceremony at 11am on 6/23. Drop off by 10:30am at Woodman Field. If it rains, we will be at school.
• May events
  •  International Night on 5/19 attended by 150-200 people with performances and food. Congratulations at all and special thank you to Bonnie Hendrix for covering the entertainment, and the families who donated the food.
  • Car wash on 5/21 was a fun day that raised a lot of money. Thank you to the parents who supported this.
  • Nishuane/Hillside picnic on 5/25.
  • Looking for three parent volunteers to be at school on 6/22, 24, and 27 to help with Chromebook returns.
  • Today is final day for teacher gift-giving.

Nominating Committee update:

• Nominating Committee member Stacie Hawes presented the slate for the PTA Exec Board 2022-2023 and described their roles.
  • Co-Presidents: Lani Sommer-Padilla and Justin Taylor
  • VP Events: Caitlyn Yeykal
  • VP Communications: Christina Joseph Robinson
  • Recording Secretary: Tsihai Hanson
  • Treasurer: Michael Barrett
• With no further nominations from the floor, the above slate was approved unanimously by voice vote.
• President Yvette Frazier thanked the nominees and the Nominating Committee members for their work.

PTA Treasurer’s Report by Dana Rizzo: 

• Thanks to some creative fundraising and generous open donations, the budget did better than initial expectations.
• The PTA funded a range of programs, from Explorers to teacher stipends and appreciation events.
• Will likely end year with net income of $5,000-7,000.

Principal’s Report and Q&A:

• Dr. Anglin thanked the 2021-22 for their hard work during another unusual year and acknowledged the importance of the PTA in enhancing Hillside’s climate and culture.
• Staff members must receive non-renewal notices by May 15th. Dr. Anglin and Mr. Adamo did not hear about non-renewal notices at Hillside until a few days before and were not asked for input into which positions to cut. They have been fighting to preserve Hillside’s electives.
• No staffer has received a paper contract yet. Even though some teachers who received nonrenewal notices have now gotten emails saying they would be renewed, trust has been lost.
• They believe they have made a case for needing a full-time Visual Art teacher and full-time Music teacher who is also the Drums of Thunder teacher.
• 5 paraprofessionals cut. Need 19 paraprofessionals to legally support IEP needs in SY2022-23 and only have 11 left right now.
• Ms. Smeriglio will be on leave next year. A new health and PE-certified teacher with dance background has been hired.
• Looking for a special ed teacher in math/science and a new Spanish teacher.
• Will meet with new PTA co-presidents to talk about dates and plan for next year.
• Secretary Maura Mazar is a 10-month employee and will be out this summer. Stacy will be available.
• Will present Governor Educator of the Year awards at BOE meeting tonight.
• Comment: Colleen Dougherty invites other families to join for mass action at BOE meeting in support of Hillside’s arts program and Ms. Y.
• Q: Will Aesthetics and CI schedules for next year be the same given staffing and budget challenges?

A: Yes, everything is on track and will be similar to this year.

7. SATp Updates by Stacie Hawes

• In May/June, we had:
  • Hillside Rocks in honor of Pride Month.
  • Double Dutch and Soccer Stuff was canceled due to inclement weather and low enrollment.
  • Pride cupcake sale went well and raised about $900.
  • Juneteenth and Caribbean Heritage Festivals in collaboration with Nishuane SATp, held at Nishuane, were very successful with great turnouts.
  • Dee Thompson thanked everyone for their support of SATp’s initiatives this year.
• Social Justice updates:
  • Caribbean Heritage celebration drew many of our own families as well as some from neighboring towns.
  • Juneteenth celebration at Nishuane was on Thursday, last event for year.
  • Still recruiting more people interested in working on Social Justice committee next year. Hope to set up new committee for success beginning with Hispanic Heritage Month from Sep. 15-Oct. 15.
  • Will support new committee members with Google Drive of lesson plans, etc. Please help get the message out and recruit new parents.

• Yvette and Betty presented an extensive year-end list of the many people who contributed to the PTA’s initiatives and the health and well-being of the Hillside community this year.

The meeting adjourned at 11:15am.

Attendees:

• Betty Shvetz
• Yvette Frazier
• Dana Rizzo
• Jacqueline Ahern
• Justin Taylor
• Colleen Dougherty
• Varsha Hathramani
• Allison Silverstein
• Stacie Hawes
• Dee Thompson
• Diane
• Ian Hall
• Jennifer DiLullo
• Josie Williams
• Lani Sommer-Padilla
• Nicole Chalfoun
• Samanthaa Anglin
• Thomas Adamo
• Cristina Barbosa
• Leslie Houseworth-Fields

Hillside PTA/SATp Meeting Minutes

April 7, 2022

7pm 

(Zoom Meeting)

1. Welcome 

2. Approval of minutes from March 11, 2022 meeting –  Recording Secretary Amber Reed presented the minutes from the March 11th meeting and they were approved unanimously.

3. President’s Report (Yvette Frazier)

• Commemorative T-Shirts – special edition on sale! T-shirts $25, Raglan shirts $30: Pre-order only. 
• Spring Cleaning: Organized lost-and-found items. Please pick up if you can (last chance).
• Middle School 101, Kids Edition (82 attendees): Invited students from all three middle schools; seemed like a great event for all of the 5th graders. Thank you to our moderator, Mr. Jon Fortt.
• Smashburger Fundraiser: Total raised is not in yet, but many people participated.
• 2021 – 2022 STEM + Families Science Festival Grant, Sponsored by Bayer Fund
  • PTA assisted Ms. Barton in assembling Science Day take home activity on April 1st.

4. Nominating Committee update (Christina Joseph Robinson)

• Two information sessions were sparsely attended. Received some responses but still short of a full slate.
• Hope to have full slate by May meeting.
• Have VP of Events and Treasurer candidates.
• Need President, Recording Secretary, committee chairs. Please get in touch at nominatingcomm@hillsidepta.org if there’s any interest. 

5. PTA Treasurer’s Report (Jacqueline Ahern)

• Finished Explorers with net of $4700.
• Have presold over 25 commemorative t-shirts so far with proceeds to art department.
• Popcorn fundraiser raised over $1500.
• Expenses coming up include hospitality, beautification, possible field trips.

6. Principal’s Report and Q&A (Dr. Samanthaa Anglin)

• District policy now requires someone NARCAN-certified for K-12 field trips; may require additional funding.
• International Night is coming up, along with Field Day and the Spring Concert.
• We also have NJSLA testing for two weeks. Self-contained students will take the DLM. At the same time, building leaders are planning for the upcoming school year.
• Having conversations with Aesthetics teachers about programming and content next year. Work needs to happen now because teachers will not be available after June 28th.
• Eblast tomorrow will remind parents to check in with their children on their stress levels and mental health. Dr. Anglin and Mr. Adamo are seeing a lot of atypical behavior with regard to social skills and conflict resolution skills. The pandemic has taken a toll on kids. In 9 years of being a building administrator, feels like the most behavioral issues Dr. Anglin has ever seen. Working with kids in non-punitive way using restorative justice approach.
• Social media is playing a role in the behavior of 5th graders; having to approach students about conflicts and being told things like, “Well, they posted this video on Tiktok.” Please have intentional conversations with your children and make sure you know how they are using social media and what they are posting.
• Administrators’ and educators’ time that could be spent working on instructional matters is instead having to be spent on behavioral issues and education around social media.
• 5th graders are having conversations around dating and being in romantic relationships at much higher level than pre-pandemic.
• Dr. Anglin and Mr. Adamo understand students may need devices to stay in touch with parents. There are ways of managing settings so that social media use can be monitored.

7. Special Guest – SEPAC (LaNa Jones-Jules)

• The Montclair Special Education Parent Advisory Council is a state-mandated, volunteer-run group working to provide network of parents and caregivers of children with IEPs and 504s. They collaborate with district professionals and community members to encourage understanding, acceptance, and inclusion. They offer advocacy and resources for families of students with disabilities and special education needs. They meet regularly with administrators to share input and concerns. 
• There are parent liaisons in each school building to facilitate connections and help resolve building-based questions or concerns.
• You can join SEPAC if you are the parent/guardian of a student who receives special services of accommodations, or if you think your child has a learning challenge or would like to learn about special education.
• Benefits of joining:
  • Supportive network of other parents and caregivers
  • Share your own experience and expertise
  • Learn about services available and how to advocate for your child’s needs
  • Advocate
• Monthly meetings (currently on Zoom) feature experts, community members, opportunity to share with each other.
• Schedule is on calendar on district website and on SEPAC’s Facebook page.
• To learn more and be added to confidential email list, visit https://montclairpta.org/sepac/ or www.facebook.com/montclairsepac. Email montclairsepac@gmail.com or sepac@hillsidepta.org.
• Goal of 504 plan is to remove obstacles for students with disabilities to participating fully in public education.
• Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is plan/program to ensure students with identified disability receive specialized instruction and related services. The IEP is developed by a team of individuals from various educational disciplines, the child, family, and designated advocates.
• District offers in-class support, pull-out support, resource centers, self-contained classrooms, extended school year, and in some instances home instruction. OT, PT, speech, social skills, and counseling also offered.
• Hillside provides array of programs and can individualize a student’s schedule, always keeping in mind least restrictive environment. Programs offered are based on needs of current students.
• If you think your child may need services, please talk to your classroom teacher first. Every child in Hillside is considered as an individual on a regular basis. There is an I&RS process for children working below grade level. Hillside tries to exhaust all GenEd interventions and supports before additional testing is done.
• Parents can request evaluation at any time by writing to Dr. Goldblatt.

8. PTA Calendar Review/Event Planning (Betty Shvetz)

• Fundraising events:
  • Commemorative T-Shirts – special edition on sale! Pre-orders – changed to 4/14.
  • May Fundraising Events – Car Wash, Movie Night, Mothers’ Day Plant Sale, My Adult and Me Paint Night (tentative).
• Committee and other May events updates:
  • Hillside School Tour 4/28 @ 6pm & 7pm: Need a few more volunteers.
  • May Fundraising Events committees (see above)
  • Cyber Committee – May workshop TBD
  • Teachers Luncheon 5/4
  • International Night 5/19: Keep an eye out for SUG.

9. SATp Updates (Dee Thompson)

• Skate date was great success and raised $2000 for SATp. Would like to repeat next year.
• Double dutch and soccer stuff event on May 13th (free event).
• Hillside Rocks! Pride Month Display: Collection in May for display in June. Hoping to make heart of painted rocks on Hillside lawn.
• Hillside Community Rainbow Cupcake Sale in June
• Juneteenth celebration in collaboration with Nishuane.
• Social Justice updates (Jenn DiLullo):
  • 2nd year of Student Voices book club, led by Ms. Graham and Ms. Solo with two parent volunteers. Focused on racial equity and continuing lessons of BLM Week of Action. Lesson plans to Dr. Anglin by 4/11, book club will start in May.
  • AAPI Heritage Month: in-school “Discover India” assemblies for each grade on May 6th, using SATp and AAPI Montclair funds. Lesson plans will also be refreshed.
  • Volunteers are also putting together lesson plans for Jewish American Heritage Month (in May).
  • Hillside/Nishuane collaboration for Caribbean American Heritage celebration on June 3rd; will ask people to sponsor tables with info about their country of choice.
  • Actively seeking 3rd and 4th grade families to support this work next year.
• Huge thanks from Dr. Anglin et al. to everyone driving the SATp work.

10. BOE Updates (Allison Silverstein)

• Budget will be introduced at next Wednesday’s meeting and be adopted May 9th (tentative).
• Long-range facilities plan: have authorized architects to make applications with DOE.
• Two new members sworn in yesterday. Three more will be elected in November.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15pm.

Meeting attendees

Hillside PTA/SATp Meeting Minutes

March 11, 2022

9:30am 

(Zoom Meeting)

1. Welcome 

2. Approval of minutes from January 14, 2022 meeting: Amber Reed presented the minutes and they were approved unanimously.

3. President’s Report (Yvette Frazier)

• January Trivia Night 1/22
• Talent Show 2/7 – You can still watch the video; wonderful to see the kids perform.
• 2021 – 2022 STEM + Families Science Festival Grant, Sponsored by Bayer Fund – Working with Ms. Bartol to put an activity together for Science Day.
• Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser 2/21-2/25 – Thank you for participating.

4. PTA Treasurer’s Report: No report.

5. Principal’s Report and Q&A by Dr. Samanthaa Anglin

• Recently sent communication on updated COVID protocols and mitigating measures. There is updated quarantine and isolation guidance on district website and in email.
• Communication to play production families: Parent viewing will be on Wednesday, 3/16 at 1:30pm for parents/caregivers of cast and crew.
• Masks are not required even in large events. We cannot require it but would encourage people to mask up to protect others.
• Found out at PTAC meeting that there may be in-person tours during daytime. Tours will be run by PTAs. Dr. Anglin and Mr. Adamo will speak, but teachers will likely not participate uncompensated.
• Building leaders have requested that Central Office organize and streamline Q&A sessions for 5th graders moving up to middle school.
• 5th grade picnic and moving-up ceremony are in the works. Scheduled for Woodman Field. PTA is working on plans.
• Dr. Anglin has requested more details from B&G on readiness of Room 2 and overtime approval for staff to set up the room.

6. Principal’s Q&A

• Q: We did not receive Dr. Anglin’s email to play production families.

A: We will re-send to all families.

• Comment: PTAC will be hosting a Welcome to Middle School event for parents on March 29 at Glenfield School, with representatives from all three middle schools.
• Q: Concern about masks not being required at large events.

A: Dr. Anglin and other building leaders advocated to maintain mask requirement for large events, but it did not ultimately make it into the district guidance.

• Q: Guidance says contact tracing will still be in place. How will we track when kids were unmasked next to other kids?

A: Dr. Anglin asked Nursing Supervisor and Mr. Cooper how we can identify close contacts now that it is impossible to manage and know the groups. Is it anyone in a child’s classes during the day now? They did not have answers at the time. We will keep trying to find answers.

• Comment: Asked Dr. Ponds for guidance on when family members are positive, even if vaccinated.
• Comment from Betty Shvetz on MS event for 5th graders at Hillside: PTA is looking to coordinate student panel for students, with sixth graders from all three middle schools.

Response: It seems like students at every school should have access to the same information, so concern is that these things are not being normed across schools.

• Q: Have you heard back about Beautification Committee’s questions?

A: Things have gotten muddied with referendum – overlap between work of Beautification Committee and turf/new playground that requires bonded money. There was discussion of some things the Beautification Committee could proceed with on their own. Everyone lamented the state of the front lawn.

• Comment: Happy to hear about walkthrough to identify locations of Little Free Libraries. Thank you.

A: There will be two Little Free Libraries on Hillside grounds, one on front lawn and one on St. Luke’s. 

• Q: Will 2nd graders from Nishuane be able to visit Hillside this year?

A: Yes, it’s on the calendar in June along with the 2nd grade picnic.

• Q: How’s it going with the new mask policy?

A: Hard to gauge numbers. Feel like she sees about as many people masked as unmasked. Mr. Adamo and Dr. Anglin are still wearing masks so that kids whose parents have instructed them to stay masked don’t feel alone.

7. PTA Calendar Review/Event Planning (Betty Schrem Shvetz)

• Fundraising events:
  • Commemorative T-Shirts:  Will send ordering info soon and should have them in mid-April. Shirts are commemorating return to school.
• Committee updates:
  • Fireball: planning in progress, please reach out if you can help.
  • 5th grade moving-up celebration: will be a picnic on June 21st during school hours.
  • Explorers Volunteer Information session: Yvette is still looking for more Explorers volunteers and there will be an info session soon.
  • Cyber Committee meeting next week: Trying to organize cyber information events: cyber bullying, safeguards, etc.
• Bingo night:  waiting to see if we can do something in person.
• February Membership raffle – $25 gift card: only one new membership in Dec/Jan. Will do raffle after we have 10 new members. 156 members now, goal is 200.
• Hillside hoodies (currently in stock) will be on sale at the SATp Hillside Skate Date on 3/11.

8. BOE/PTAC Updates (Brian Fleischer)

• Good to get into habit of keeping up with district website, especially Board reports page.
• Timeline for budget presentations has shifted later due to shift to Type II budget. Doesn’t look like it will be a year for major cuts, and Governor recently announced increased funding. You can still watch PTAC Budget 101 forums recorded last year.
• PTAC will be hosting forums/info sessions for those new to elementary schools, middle schools, high school.
• Saw list of projects submitted by each school for bond referendum. Focus will be on ventilation and end-of-life systems. District needs to quickly decide which items can be included as well.Referendum will be at least $60m but could go as high as $120-130m depending on how many projects they think they can design and execute.

• PTAC has Board position openings – please contact Amira Williams for information.

9. SATp Updates and Overview of Social Justice Committee

General updates (Dee Thompson): 

• Skate date tonight.
• Women’s History Month: new Inspiring Woman initiative will invite women of Hillside community to participate in a FlipGrid and talk about a woman who’s inspired your family. Look for info in eBlast later today.
• Double Dutch and Soccer Stuff in spring: two teams of Double Dutch on soccer field, led by parent volunteers.

Social Justice presentation (Jenn DiLullo):

• Trying to get word out about Hillside Social Justice committee. Started in Fall 2020 and is part of SATp. A number of schools in district were setting up equity committees at this time. Connected to PTAC DEI committee. Hillside Social Justice is about creating programming and education around social justice concerns.
• We’ve had two virtual Kwanzaa celebrations, a Lunar New Year celebration, a Spanish heritage fiesta, and an author event during AAPI Heritage Month.
• Trying to create and promote education around social justice. In addition to events, have created lesson plans to support teachers with social justice. Several teachers are involved in committee and Dr. Anglin and Mr. Adamo support this. 
  • Example: Black Lives Matter Week of Action lesson plans created by parents and distributed to teachers. Other examples shown.
• Student Voices Spring 2022 initiative: opportunity for students to start talking about race and racial equity.
• Most volunteers are 5th grade parents. Need new volunteers who can continue this work next year. 

The meeting adjourned at 10:47am.

Meeting attendees