March 18, 2022 Meeting Minutes

HSA Meeting Minutes
March 18, 2022 9am

10 people live, 12 participants via Zoom; Dr. Oates and Ms. Lauren Carr

School Updates from Dr. Oates:

• Boosterthon: Claudia Fortunato speaks on this Huge Fundraiser! 

Week long event focused on character development ending in a Fun Run! 
Fundraiser is to raise money for the HVAC for the 
Gym/Multi-Purpose room. Goal: $24,000 or higher (amount raised in 2019)
Encouraging registration. 2019 Registration was 96%. Pledging was 80%.
Register now…it is FREE to register and kids receive a prize!

Look for emails and website/social media for details! It is a fun week at Somerville! Looking for pledges from different states, and even countries! If we raise more than $24,000 we will have an Ice Cream truck visit the school for all children. 

• Book of the Month: Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed about Mae Jemison. It is Women’s History Month.  We are also using the Ordinary People series by Brad Meltzer in each classroom. Each grade has 5 different books with 5 people to focus on.  
• Collection of the Month: Cleaning Supplies
• Covid Updates: Coming up on two weeks of Mask Optional. Smooth transition. No spike in Covid19. Rise is some illness but not Covid. Wearing a mask on a school bus has become optional too. 

Past Events: 

• Science Fair: Excellent structure of having it in school only and having the classes attend the Science Fair. It was an improved format. We will eliminate the evening and just have it as an in school event going forward. Great turnout. 79 Projects!! 
• End of Marking period 2. Report Cards go out on Tuesday, 3/22/2022.
• Great Assembly on Dad’s Night morning: Samba to Salsa
• Dad’s Night was great!! So many great skits!

Upcoming Events:  

• 1st grade field trip to the Meadowlands today, 3/18. 
• Teacher and Lunch Aide Appreciation Week. Week of 3/21.

• Spirit Week: March Madness Tournament in the school. Theme dress up days for the week of 3/21.

• Youth Art Month Event: March 23rd. 

• Somerville Children’s Theater: Peter Pan. Tickets on sale now. Shows are 3/25 and 3/26. There will be an SCT assembly on Thursday with a few songs! 
• Wizards Games: Sold Out. March 30th, and 31st. 
• Fun Run and Boosterthon April 7th
• Spring Break: April 9th-17th
• Earth Day Event: April 18th
• HSA meeting Friday, April 22nd
• Broadway Bound: Spoken by Ms. Carr The 5th Grade will be going to see Aladdin in early June! 
• Rachel: International Day: 18 countries so far and 42 volunteers. March 24th email to encourage more countries to sign up. Still time to join! There will be an introductory Zoom meeting so people of same countries can connect. International Night will be 

HSA Updates:

• Great turn out for the Science Fair! 
• Collection for the Ukraine: $1,300 raised in the donation. Dad’s Night, Somerville and Hawes. Way to go! 
• International Day
• Social Services Donations: Cleaning Supplies

• Make your own Pizza Night: Pick up today around 2:30pm on front lawn. Great HSA fundraiser. 
• Teacher Drop: March 30th
• SCT: Peter Pan ticket sales online extended until Sunday afternoon, also selling on the lawn Thursday and Friday leading up to the show. 
• Wizards Game: March 30th and 31st.
• April 21st Green Day for Earth Day. Assembly, and children will be planting that day! 
• Clothing Donation: April 30th from 9am-12pm back parking lot of Somerville. 
• Shoes Drive for the month of April. Any size from toddler to adult. 
• Plant sale/ Ladies Night in the works for end of April. Stay tuned for more information on that.
• Art Docet Day is April 27th. Focus on “Green Living”, Nature, and possibly poetry. 
• Author Visit: Dan Santat coming virtually on May 4th. Books can be ordered online at http://somerville.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/ 
• HSA Board Nominations: The slate will go out in the beginning of April. The next HSA meeting in April, the new board will be voted in for next year. 
• Any questions about the news of Dr. Gorman. Dr. Oates taking questions. No questions. 

Thank you to all who attended today’s meeting in person, for those who joined us on our Zoom call. Thank you Dr. Oates, and Ms. Carr for your updates and meeting with us today.

Next Meeting: April 22nd at 9am in the old Music Room or the front lawn (TBD) and with a Zoom option.