HSA Minutes – February HSA Meeting Minutes

HSA Meeting 

February 16th 2023, 9am

Attendees: 9 in person, 16 online

Updates from Dr. Oates

Super Science Saturday – Guest Sheila Brogan – Super Science Saturday is back for its 35th year on March 4th from 9-1:30 at Ridgewood High School.  There will be presentations from Liberty Science Center (science circus for elementary and middle school kids), Nasa (measuring ice melt), Newbridge Medical Center (vaccine benefits), IBM, Health Barn, Bergen Silent Fliers (drones) and many more.  There will also be virtual presentations from the Omaha Zoo (penguins) and the Marine Lab at Woods Hole (vet presentation with octopi and sea creatures).  The Hall of Experiments will have Dr. Tennis talking about sports physics, robotics demonstration, egg drop construction stations, and a preschool corner. Bagels will be available in the morning and hot dogs at lunch. The day will end with the rocket launch.

Teacher Rep – Ms Fischetti – This year each grade has been assigned 5 books from the Ordinary People Change the World series by Brad Meltzer. These books humanize larger than life characters and each book teaches a life lesson about how we can change the world in our own way.  At the April team Somerville assembly each class will present one of their characters to the school.

Superintendent Search -There are currently 40 candidates and interviews will begin soon.  The goal is to have a new superintendent in place for July 1st.

Book of the Month – Happy Dreamer by Peter Reynolds. This book is about curiosity and imagination and how great ideas can start with small wonderings.

Paw Print Press – This club, run Ms. Kiernan, is giving 5th grade students the opportunity to practice their journalism skills.  The online paper features school news, interviews, articles and even comics. Check your Enews for a link to the paper.

Past Events

• DEI Meeting – Wednesday, January 23rd 
• Wizards Game – January 25th and 26th 
• Fifth Grade Concert – January 27th
• Author Visit – Kelly Yang – February 8th.  Virtual visit for 4th and 5th grades
• Planetarium Visit – February 8th & 9th – A great experience, sponsored by Dads Night, that we hope to bring back next year.
• Lip Sync – Friday February 10th, 7pm.  Thank you to Beth Pfeil, Chrissy McCormack and Lara Geraghty for chairing this event!
• HSA Meeting – Thursday February 16th
• Teacher Appreciation Breakfast – Friday February 17th – Thank you to the chairs and the 2nd and 3rd grade families who contributed.
• February School Break – Schools Closed February 20th & 21st

Upcoming Events 

• Dine Out Fundraiser – February 24th – pick up at 3pm at Somerville
• Team Somerville Assembly – March 1st
• Book Donation Drop Off – March 1st-3rd
• Read Across America Day – March 2nd – Teachers will swap classrooms to read to students.
• Science Fair – March 3rd – Students will present to their classes during the day
• Super Science Saturday – March 4th, 9-1:30 at Ridgewood High School
• 5th Grade Field Trip – March 9th – Liberty Science Center 
• Music Assembly – March 10th – Ms Vitale will present a journey through African American Music.
• Dads Night – March 10th & 11th
• No School – Professional Development Day – March 13th 
• Marking Period 2 Ends – March 17th
• HSA Meeting – March 17th, 9am Room 208 or Zoom
• Earth Day – April 14th
• Eid School Closure – Friday, April 21st
• Auction – Friday, April 21st – Tickets will go on sale soon!
• International Day & Night – April 25th.  

HSA Updates:

TicToc Art Contest  – This contest is open to all 5th graders.  The theme is Metamorphosis and submissions are due March 2nd to the Midland Park Library collection box next to the main desk.  Please visit the TICTOC website for more details and submission information: https://tictoc.org/ 

Wizards Game – This year the Wizards games raised just under $30,000 for Ridgewood Schools.  Each elementary school will be awarded $1,800 to be allocated to a mental health initiative from the 2022 Wizards Game to be earmarked by June.  The theme for next year will be decided by the Federated HSA in June.

Social Services Donations: In January we collected approximately 500 cans for donation! Ms Stankiewicz built a “canstruction” of a car driven by Dr. Oates to go with the year’s theme of “Enjoy the Ride”.

Book Donations– On March 1st-3rd the Somerville Green Team will be collecting used books.  There will be donation bins outside the school specifically for hardback graphic novels, early reader books and any of the One School, One Book books.  A list of previous books will be emailed.

International Day & Night – April 25th. Students and their families are encouraged to share their countries at this fun full day event.  This year’s theme is Music.  During the day displays will be in the gym and students will visit with “passports” and learn about various countries.  This year the night portion (food & performances) will be at Benjamin Franklin Middle School.  You do not need to participate in all three portions, we’d just love to have as many countries represented as possible.  Additionally you do not have to be from a country to represent it.  If you have ties to a country that you may have lived in or are familiar with please feel free to share as well.

HSA Board – Nominations for next years board are open for the positions of Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Communications Secretary.  Please contact our nominating committee chair Allison Brown at beanallison@hotmail.com to nominate yourself or someone you know, or for more information by February 24th.

Thank you to all who attended today’s meeting in person and those who joined us on our Zoom call. Thank you Dr. Oates, Sheila Brogan and Ms. Fischetti for meeting with us today!

Please keep an eye on the Tuesday E-News to stay up to date on all the latest information and announcements. 

Next HSA Meeting will be March 16th at 9:30am.  Room 208.