Want to know what happened at a PTA meeting? Did you miss a meeting and want to know what you missed? Then check out the minutes of each meeting below.

PTA Meeting held on September 17, 2026 # of Attendees – 30

Presentation of the Agenda and Pledge of Allegiance: Rachel Denehy

2026-27 PTA Executive Board Introductions:

Review Minutes from June PTA Meeting: Approved by –  Christal Forti  / Michele Neddermeyer

Treasurer’s Report – Theresa Cavinee

• Starting balance as of June 12 – $38,296.40
• Income
  • Swag – $145
  • Pop Up Shop – $46
  • Family Yoga – $120
  • Total Income = $311.0
• Expenses –
  • Swag – $1260.00
  • Joy and Sorrow – $54.95
  • Prizes – $1,359.8
  • Fun – $76.49
  • Graduations and 8th grade offset – $3900.00
  • Total Expense = $6,651.28
• Ending Balance as of June 30th – $31,955.62
• Starting Balance as of July 1st – $31,955.62
• Income
  • Total Income = $0.00
• Expenses –
  • Scoreboard & Communication Board – $10,281.50
  • Parks Permit – 25.50
  • Prizes – 133.69
  • School Events (Mr. Softee) – $900
  • Scholarship Check -100
  • Total Expense = 11,440.69
• Ending Balance as of July 31st – $20,514.93
• Starting Balance as of August 1 – $20,514.93
• Income
  • Membership – $25
  • Total Income = $25.00
• Expenses –
  • Amazon Prime – $129.00
  • Reimbursement Prizes – $26.68
  • Scholarship Checks – $200.00
  • Prizes – 67.39
  • Website Fee – $18.32
  • Total Expense = $441.39
• Ending Balance as of August 31st – $20,098.54
• Starting Balance as of September 1 – $20,098.54
• Income
  • Membership – $325
  • Swag – $570
  • Total Income = $895.00
• Expenses –
  • Reimbursement Prizes – $1616.75
  • Total Expense = $1616.75
• Ending Balance as of September 14 – $19,456.79

Principal’s Report – Mrs. Porras

Schoolyard Renovation

• Happy to report that the schoolyard is fully open and in daily use after a long closure. Lunch periods are structured so different grades access the yard at different times. A few minor punch-list items remain; new benches delivered, garbage pails being added, one backboard/netting element replaced.

New Staff

• Ms. Bach — 6th grade teacher
• Mr. Castillo — Spanish teacher
• Ms. Anderson — Adaptive Physical Education
• Ms. Clark — Community coordinator (temporarily assigned from another school while finding her permanent site)
• Mr. Esposito — Transitioned from 7th/8th grade math teacher to Dean of Academics and Culture

Dress for Success (Middle School Uniform Initiative)

• Every middle school student received one polo shirt to start the year; acceptable colors are black, navy blue, or light blue — any polo shirt in those colors qualifies. Although school has only been in session for 6 days, Middle School Dress For Success has already made an impact. An order form for additional polo shirts will go home within the next week for families who want extras. In addition, the PTA/Mr. Esposito is working on a middle school logo T-shirt (separate from the uniform polo); these will be available for purchase soon.
• Elementary students will continue under existing dress code guidelines.

Scoreboard & Outdoor Communication Sign

• The new Scoreboard is up and running in the gym
• The outdoor LED/digital sign has been installed and is operational. It is currently blank because the software used to program it requires a new AI/technology approval process under recent mayoral/chancellor directives — we are awaiting that clearance before any message can be displayed.

Technology & AI Restrictions (New City/State Policy)

• AI Policy: Generative AI (ex: chatbots) is banned in NYC schools. Only adaptive AI is permitted – this type of AI adjusts difficulty levels and provides targeted feedback based on diagnostic tests.
  • Zearn has completed the approval process and shown a positive impact on math learning, including prerequisite practice, support for struggling students, learning specific math skills, and additional practice. Zearn is expected to become a homework expectation, but assignments should be relatively short; the exact implementation is still being worked out.
  • Lexia was used across all grades last year, but this year the likely plan is to use it primarily in K–2. For older students, we may use iReady instead. No final decision has been made because the school is still reviewing pricing, the number of licenses needed, and which grades would use each program. Lexia/iReady could also be used for homework.
• Screen time limits by grade:
  • K–2: No screen time (with exceptions below)
  • 3–5: Maximum 30 minutes per day
  • 6–8: Maximum 45 minutes per day
• Exceptions that do NOT count against the daily limit:
  • Core curriculum-approved programs (e.g., Amplify Science — used daily by 6th–8th graders; science investigations require computer access for up to 20–30 min/day)
  • Online assessments (K–8 still permitted to use devices for tests)
  • STEAM activities: coding, robotics, Lego, Minecraft — K–2 may use devices for STEAM; 3–5 may use devices for STEAM in addition to their 30-minute classroom allowance
  • Remote instruction days (see below)
• State exams (grades 3–8) are still administered online; students need computer experience beforehand to prepare — though there is ongoing discussion about returning to pencil-and-paper. We will communicate any changes to State exam administration to families as soon as possible.
• Remote instruction remains in effect: Election Day is still a remote instruction day; snow days are not expected — students will be required to log on during school closures.
• Families without a device at home should contact the school office; Esposito can assist with device access
• Further guidance regarding technology and AI usage from the Department of Education is still pending; updates will be shared as they are received.

Parent paperwork & Meet the Teacher

• Families were reminded to sign the required letters in the parent handbook, return the final page, and submit video consent form
• Meet the Teacher is September 30, from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The evening will have at least two sessions, possibly three, to accommodate families with multiple children. A flyer will be sent home soon.
• Thanks to the PTA, Mr. Softee is expected to be there!

President’s Report

Proposed PTA budget – Theresa Cavinee

• Preliminary budget presented; the PTA will vote on approval at the October meeting.

• Reviewed major expenses, including $14,000 for school trips/8th-grade trip support, moving-up and graduation expenses, curriculum supplements, office/startup expenses, scholarships, school events and rewards, staff appreciation, merchandise, miscellaneous expenses, and possible after-school enrichment.
  • The curriculum-supplement line had previously funded Lexia. Because this year’s software mix was undecided, we held last year’s spending level as a placeholder.
• Estimated expenses were $81,100. With the checking balance just under $20,000, the fundraising target was $61,643.21.

Fundraising – Rachel Denehy

• PTA membership includes a suggested $25 donation, however; all families are PTA members regardless of whether they make a financial contribution.
• The summer School Toolbox fundraiser sold 10 more boxes than last year, generating additional proceeds.
• The pop-up swag shop is active through September 18^th; another shop will open in November
• A Regal fundraiser was held through September 12th and is expected to return around the holidays.

Shark Representatives – Rachel Denehy

• The PTA is seeking approximately one or two parents per class to serve as Shark Representatives.
• Representatives act as a conduit between the PTA and classroom families, passing along information and helping establish class group chats.
• Class chats can also help parents communicate about practical classroom matters, particularly in younger grades.
• Information will be provided to representatives to help establish the group chats.
• Returning Shark Representatives are welcome to volunteer again.
• Shark Representatives also help curate class gifts for the November Election Day event.

Election Day raffle & donations – Rachel Denehy and Jackie Ciarletta

• Gifts are sourced through businesses and school families.
• The PTA also has a registry through which families can purchase gifts for the raffle.

Back-to-school/Meet the Teacher support  – Rachel Denehy

• PTA volunteers are needed to assist during the event.
• Morning/afternoon outdoor swag sales have ended. PTA will be selling swag at Meet the Teacher. You can also order online from the PTA website.

Upcoming school events  – Rachel Denehy

• School photos: October 15th
• Movie Night: October 23, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM; movie still to be determined
• Slime Fest: being planned for a Saturday at the Community Center.
• Holiday Social: planned at the Harlem Yacht Club at 7:00 PM as a new fundraising event.

Annual event calendar & PTA newsletter – Rachel Denehy

• Reviewed a tentative calendar of activities for the year and invited ideas for fundraisers, activities, and community-building.
• The mock-up of the PTA newsletter was previewed. The concept was to consolidate PTA updates, flyers, relevant links, and meeting minutes in an easier-to-use format.

Community events 

• September 26^th, 10:00 am-3:00 pm – Viva La Sound is a community event that focuses on bringing the living shoreline to life and giving families a chance to learn about the Sound while enjoying activities
  • Students can complete a bingo card by visiting stations and enter a raffle for prizes.
• October 25^th – Breast Cancer Walk at Orchard Beach
• October 18th, 10:00 AM – Battle of Pell’s Point reenactment at Orchard Beach 

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at: 8:02 pm.

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