HSA Minutes – November 2024 Meeting Minutes

HSA Meeting

November 15, 2024

Attendance: 13 in person, 9 online

School Updates  – Dr. Oates presented

ESL teacher visit Ellen Ramido –We have a growing ESL population at Somerville. Ms. Ramido discussed how to best to support families with English Language needs, including translation of documents. Ms. Ramido is working on building conversational English with kids.

School Theme – Continued focus on respect. Dr. Oates showed STAY GOLD video.

Donation of the month – K/1 – Stuffing; 2/3 -Cranberry; 4/5 -Mashed Potatoes

Upcoming Parent Book Club in November – 11/21at Paris Baguette

Curriculum Corner: Dr. Oates shared NJ ELS scores. Discussed I & RS – additional support for various academic needs in general education. Discussed process of referral for additional needs and eligibility for special education.

Looking Ahead:

• 11/18 Ways of the Lenape Assembly
• Boostheron Fun Run – 11/22 (9am and 10am) . Working on distributing the gifts discretely.
• 11/27 – K concert and feast (½ day, 11:30 am concert begins, parent refreshments following)
• 12/2 – Somerville Squad
• 12/3 – SCT Begins
• 12/5 – TREPS marketplace – Thursday, December 5th, 6pm
• 12/6 – Marking period 1 Ends
• 12/10 – Science, History and Geography Bee  (3-3:45pm). More news coming in E News. Grades 3-5
• 12/13 – Winter Concerts (10am and 11am)
• 12/17 – Report Cards Live
• 12/20 – Singalong (internal)

HSA Updates – Nicole Ragains presented.

HSA Fundraising Overview – Emily Peroni discussed how we use the money HSA raises – including Promethean Boards in every classroom, stairwell updates, AC units in cafeteria, school assemblies, Zen den, visits from authors, 4^th of July parade, student planners, teacher and staff appreciation events, science fair, bingo, lip synch, pumpkin fest, intentional day. Fundraising this year (including boosterthon) is for playground updates. If anyone has feedback re: uses of fundraising funds, please reach out to HSA.

Boosterthon Launch – Nov 11 – 22 – Doing well with fundraising. Fun run if for all.

Following activities were successful and many enjoyed: Art Docent – Oct 23, Ladies Night Out – Oct 24, Daffodil Planting Oct 25, Halloween Festival – Oct 26

Looking Ahead

• Progressive Dinner – Nov 16
• Bake Sale – Nov 26
• Family Ice Skating – Jan 11
• Glow Party – Jan 24

Questions/Concerns

NEXT HSA MEETING:  Jan 17th @ 9:00am I Room B1