September PTO Meeting: Playground & silent auction

Tuesday night saw this year's opening meeting for P.S. 9’s PTO, held in the auditorium. Approximately 70 people attended. At the meeting, Ms. D’Avilar announced that the first phase of the playground construction will be done in three weeks, around October 14. The noisy drilling for constructing play equipment, she said, will be completed by Thursday this week, according to the contractor.

The PTO officers encouraged parents and family members to buy discounted tickets in advance for the Oct. 22 Silent Auction, which is traditionally the school’s biggest fundraiser and supports the arts programs. To learn more about tickets, please see the forms sent home with students, or visit the auction website. The officers also announced their main goals for the year. You can read the goals here.

Please click here to read a fuller summary of the meeting, including news about the afterschool program, announcements of upcoming fundraisers and school events, and more of what Principal D’Avilar said.

Recent fundraising results: $10K

The P.T.O.'s recent fundraising has brought in more than $10,000.

November's candy sale: $5,400

December's boat cruise: $2,300

Online donations (starting in mid-Dec.): $3,090

Librarian update, movie night, and baseball game

At last week's P.T.O. meeting, Principal D'Avilar stated that interviews for the librarian position would start after the coming break. P.S. 9 and M.S. 571 will split the cost of the librarian, she said.

In other plans, the P.T.O.'s executive board decided to revive a Friday Movie Night. Movie nights were held twice last year.

Also being discussed: scheduling a P.S. 9 Family Night during a Brooklyn Cyclones game.

Online donations are now possible—fundraising push underway!

"P.S. 9 seems to be aiming high" concluded the Metro newspaper in last weekend's Best of New York capsule review of family life in Prospect Heights.

Yes we are! But that means the P.T.O.'s fundraising needs to aim high—tens of thousands of dollars high. And so we've launched online donation by credit card. Several reasons exist for you and your family to give to the P.T.O.:

• Budget cuts over several years has led to staff cuts.
• The school needs a librarian for our new library.
• Arts programs still need to be funded.
• Every grade needs to upgrade its classroom technology.
• The P.T.O.'s new status as a non-profit carries a few new costs.
• P.S. 9's neighborhood, school leaders, and high parent involvement give it a good chance to become one of Brooklyn's standout schools.

If you have the means, consider being one of 5 donors to give $5000 or more. Or one of 10 donors to give $2000. Or one of 25 donors to give at least $1000. Once the P.T.O. raises $60,000—$100 per student—to pay for P.S. 9's core supplies and programs, the principal can hire another staff member—a librarian or an art teacher, say. No amount is too small, and all donations are appreciated and tax-deductible.

Please ask your extended families and network of friends to help make P.S. 9 one of the jewels in Prospect Heights, and in the New York City school system. Every property owner in Prospect Heights has an interest in P.S. 9 flourishing. Grandparents can help their grandchildren's school soar to new heights of excellence.

To donate by check or money order, please make checks payable to P.S. 9 P.T.O. and send to:

P.S. 9 P.T.O. c/o P.S. 9, 80 Underhill Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11238.

To donate online, visit this URL:

http://www.nycharities.org/donate/c_donate.asp?CharityCode=3093.

If you want help completing your donation, please don't be shy—call or email:

718-638-3260 x1320

ptops9@gmail.com

To find the Metro mention, search for "PS 9," in "Best overlooked neighborhood to raise a family."

Cruise fundraiser sets sail on December 11

Tickets are now on sale for P.S. 9's magical December fun-raiser—the Harbor Cruise. Last year's event ended up a huge playdate on water. On a dazzlingly sunny winter morning, kids danced, played and soaked up the sights of the city. This year the cruise will be a twilight tour on the Zephyr, taking in the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. The ride will include entertainment, snacks, and the chance to win a giant teddy bear. (Bring a new toy to donate to Toys-for-Tots and your child's name will go into a draw for the prize.)

Last year the event sold out with 450 people on board, and raised over $3,000 for the school. P.S. 9 parents Fiona and Travis Noyes organized the event. Travis's company, New York Water Taxi/Circle Line Downtown, donates the use of the Zephyr, a yacht.

Tickets cost $10 per person. Please buy your tickets soon, before they run out. You may return payment in the envelope that teachers backpacked home last week (look for a pink flier), or order tickets from parent coordinator Charmaine Derrell-Jacobs (cderrell AT schools.nyc.gov; Room 112; 718 638 3260 x1121). Please dress warmly—the boat will be toasty inside, but many find it hard to resist a ride on the outdoor decks. Guests must be at the pier by 4.45 p.m., as the boat leaves promptly at 5 p.m.

-Kirsten Denker

Photos courtesy Portia Fong and Circle Line Downtown

Committee Spotlight: Grant Writing

The Grant Writing Committee of the P.T.O. first met a couple weeks ago. For researching grants, it formed working groups to focus on three areas: art and music; technology (with a focus on providing computers for the lower grades) and equipment for students with special needs. A fourth group is researching corporations to approach for tax-deductible donations. As part of this, the committee is preparing a file with the school information that funders most commonly request.

"If any parents have expertise in any of these areas, we would love their help. If they feel that their time is too limited, they can just be readers for the grants and offer feedback," says Ivana Espinet, the chair of the committee. "For the research on approaching corporations, if anyone has any connections to companies that we can contact, it would be great if they let us know." Ivana can be reached at ivanaespinet AT yahoo.com.

On Monday Nov. 15, the committee applied for a grant to acquire a salad bar for the school, which it prepared together with the Wellness Committee. Ivana welcomes collaborations of this sort. She asks that anyone who wants to pursue a specific grant, or believes that the school should, to please contact her.

The committee's next meeting will be in January.

-Christine Scanlon and Matt Fleischer-Black

Silent Auction Raises $18K+

Heartfelt thanks to all the businesses, organizations, and individuals who donated food, drink, entertainment, and auction items to October 22nd's Silent Auction to Save the Arts at PS 9. Miriam Alexandra Milord of BCakeNY.com donated the delicious chocolate cake pictured here. The musical menu opened with the First Street Quintet, featuring P.S. 9 parent and French horn player Gretel Smith. The jazz band 9 to 5 followed. Upwards of $18,500 has been raised to date. Final figures will be available once all the highest bidders have claimed their prizes, which they can do by seeing Charmaine Derrell-Jacobs in Room 112. Monies raised will go toward paying for arts programs run by such partners as Studio in a School, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Ailey Dance Kids Program. Congratulations to the School Leadership Team on pulling together this festive fundraiser at Prospect Park's Picnic House for the third year in a row.
--Karen S Fein

School year’s first house concert raises $600—parents experience a lovely night out

On Saturday night, some P.S. 9 parents launched a series of house concerts in impressive fashion—entertaining a full room while raising over $600 for the school. Professional musicians Stephan Crump and Jen Chapin (parents of kindergarten student Maceo) host the benefit shows. Each event consists of drinks, dinner, dessert and two sets of music: one by the organizers’ group, The Jen Chapin Trio, and another act that features a P.S. 9 parent.

Saturday night’s concert showed that these gatherings can be a delightful chance to talk with other community members and enjoy wonderful and revelatory music. The Jen Chapin Trio started the night with their acclaimed mix of jazz and folk music, highlighted by powerful songs inspired by Jen’s and Stephan's children. The audience enjoyed a brief break for dessert and refills of wine (much of it donated by Fermented Grapes on Vanderbilt Ave.). Then P.S. 9 parent/guitarist John Cabán and his group Brother Hijinx played a funky mix of original songs and covers—a standout being their rendition of William DeVaughn's “Be Thankful for What You Got,” which spurred an audience clap-along.

At every event, childcare is available, making it simple for parents to attend. The children are fed dinner and spend time doing activities with their schoolmates at Jen's brother's apartment in the same building.

The night demonstrated that P.S. 9 has some very talented parents—and that a vibrant community surrounds the school.

Remaining dates: Saturday, January 15th 2011, featuring the Jen Chapin Trio and Pyeng Threadgill......Saturday, March 5th, 2011, featuring the Jen Chapin Trio and Candice Anitra......Saturday, May 14th, 2011, featuring the Jen Chapin Trio and Andy Friedman (to be confirmed)

Tickets are $60 per couple and $35 for individuals, available at Brown Paper Tickets. A sell-out will raise approximately $700 for the school. —Kirby Pulver

OCTOBER 2010 CALENDAR

10/5/2010: Grade 5 Parent Meeting 5:30pm

10/5/2010: Curriculum Night 6-8pm

10/6/2010: PTO Candy Sale Kick-Off Assembly 12:30pm

10/4/2010: Silent Auction On-line Bidding Begins

10/8/2010: Family Reading & Math Buddies Opening Meeting 8:45am

10/8/2010: Silent Auction Ticket Pre-Sale Ends

10/11/2010: Columbus Day Observed - School Closed

10/12/2010: PTO & Title I Meeting 6:30pm

10/12/2010: Gifted & Talented Application Begins

10/13/2010: Silent Auction Scooter & Helmet Lottery Drawing

10/14/2010: District 13 Middle School Fair @ MS 113 300 Adelphi Street

10/15/2010: Early Childhood Open House 9:00am

10/15/2010: Hispanic Heritage Celebration

10/18/2010: School Leadership Team Meeting 4:00pm

10/21/2010: Class Parent Meeting 9am

10/21/2010: Safety Meeting 9:30am

10/22/2010: Silent Auction at Prospect Park's Picnic House 6pm

10/26/2010: Special Needs Parent Orientation 9am

10/29/2010: Literacy Parade and Harvest Festival

10/29/2010: Candy Sale Monies Due

Election Day Bake Sale!

PS9 PTA

BAKED/HOT FOOD SALE

ELECTION DAY

TUESDAY

NOVEMBER 3, 2009

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Once again it’s that time of year for one of our biggest fundraising event.

We are asking for your support in helping us to make it one of the best that it has ever been. To make this happen WE will NEED Parents/Guardians to donate Non-Perishable/ Perishable Items and/or volunteer their time in order to make this a success. Below you will find a list of items of which you can select from to donate.

MY REMINDER

I will be donating ________________ on this day.

　

I will volunteer time for the ___________ shift on this day.

　

PS9 PTA ELECTION DAY BAKED/HOT FOOD SALE

Please check off items, complete the shift schedule on the bottom and return to the P.T.A by Monday November 2, 2009.

Donation List

------ Juice Packs (Individual) ----- Apples

------ Canned Soda ----- Bananas

------ Cases of Bottled Water ----- Grapes

------ Bags of Ice ----- Oranges

------ Milk (Whole, Half/Half) ----- Yogurt/ Go-Gurt

------ Tea (Variety pack) ----- Baked Goods (Muffins, Cakes,

------ Coffee (Fresh/Instant, Caffeinated/Decaffeinated) Cookies, Cupcakes, Brownies)

------ Hot Chocolate/Coca ----- Bagels (Variety)

------ Coffee Creamer ----- Other: Please specify_____________

Dishes

Please circle choice for dishes with more than one selection. (i.e.: Chicken)

----- Baked Mac & Cheese ----- Rice (White, Yellow, Rice & Beans)

----- Baked Zetti ----- Tri-Pasta Salad

----- Lasagna ----- Veggies (Mixed, Green Beans)

----- Chicken (Baked, Fried, Curry, Stewed) ----- Garden Salad

-----Beef (Stew, Pepper Steak) ----- Cabbage

----- Potato Salad ----- Hot Dogs /w buns (Beef, Chicken,

Condiments

----- Cream Cheese ----- Foam Plates

----- Butter/ Jelly ----- Cups

----- Sugar ----- Napkins

----- Salt/Pepper ----- Plastic Forks, Spoons ,knives

----- Salad Dressing ----- Aluminum Foil

----- Ketchup, Mustard ----- Straws

----- Mayonnaise, Hot Sauce ----- Plastic Gloves (For Serving Food)

Shift Schedule: 7-9am, 9-11am, 11-1pm, 1-3pm, 3-5pm, 5-7pm, 7-9pm

I ________________, parent of ________________,

class___________ will volunteer for the _________ shift. My contact # is ___________________.