November 18, 2021 Meeting Minutes

HSA Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2021 7pm

4 people live, 17-20 participants via Zoom; and Dr. Oates

School Updates from Dr. Oates:

• Book of the month: for grades K-5 (typically a picture book) “The Bad Seed” Theme of finding the good within each person
• Thanksgiving food drive: pick up of donations is tomorrow so bring any further food donations first thing (K “won” with box full of stuffing donations)  Thank you to all who donated!
• Kelly Creegan Coat Drive is happening now;  Box for donations in Somerville office + drop-offs Saturday after Thanksgiving in Graydon parking lot
• Dad’s Night Turkey drive this weekend in Somerville parking lot (Nov
• Leopard Leaders “5th grade club” Run by Ms. Finnegan the guidance counselor- They created a Powerpoint presentation and gave it to the Kindergarteners to help with boosting their confidence especially with their concert next week  
• Concerts will be in person in the gym;  K is happening next Wednesday; Grades 1-4 will be Dec. 17; 5th grade in January

Protocol: Parents enter/exit through gym; 2 grown-ups per student performer; windows open, air purifier; spacing between seats; everyone masked

• Outdoor lunch coming to an end; sitting still and eating is different than moving around with recess so will still have outdoor recess unless frigid
  • 1 class per 2-3 tables in cafeteria (in past it was 1 class per 1.5 tables)
  • Sitting by class (no classes sitting together)
  • Grades K & 1 eat by themselves; grades 2-3 eat together in cafeteria; grades 4-5 eat together in cafeteria
• District is putting together an extended day (ESSER III grant money) starting in January for grades 2-5. Students will be invited based on need (testing, teacher recommendation); 2 afternoon sessions taught by Somerville teachers; one afternoon for ELA and one afternoon for Math (15 weeks in length).  Invitations to students who qualify for this program will be sent out after Thanksgiving.
• Art Docent Day was October 20 – Carving out specific days for Art Docent was a great success; great vibe around the school; children loved it (next Art Docent day is in January)
• Picture Day retakes occurred
• First field trip in over 20 months: K went to Secor farms and 4th grade went to Meadowlands
• Career Day (for grades 2-5)….lots of great energy; first time doing this event; great involvement with lots of positive feedback (Thanks to Jamie Cariddi for organizing)
• Holiday Boutique is coming (Dec 1-3); envelopes and handouts went home today with students.  This is a great opportunity for students to  practice budgeting as well as chance to gifts for the special people in their lives

HSA Updates:

• HSA Membership; 75% participating; still on website if you need to pay even though it is not being  “advertised”
• Career Day: sign ups for next year will be on volunteer sign ups at the end of the school  year so be on the lookout for that if interested in participating
• 208# of Halloween candy collected and donated to food pantry in Patterson
• Mail box drop for the teachers this past week ( “S’More” bag) to show appreciation
• Bake Sale is coming next Tuesday, November 23: 8:15-9a as well as 2:15-3:15p (Cash only)
  • $1 items “Nut-free”; plus soups, quiches, bigger items available
  • A few limited Spirit Wear items (Cash and venmo)
  • Also donations/gift cards for SSA for December drive will be collected
• Art Docent Day in January….all slots filled.  Thank you to everyone for signing up and participating!
• BINGO Night (Live on January 14):  This event will have limited capacity to help make sure the gym is not too crowded.  You will need to pre-purchase tickets to attend.  Be on the lookout for information about this in the E-News and HSA website and social media.
• Wizards game: fundraiser for Federated HSA  will be occurring January 27 & 28. Stay tuned for details
• Spirit Wear  updates- Joggers were delayed; should come home Monday in youngest child’s bag

• December Social Service Donations: Collection of money and gift cards (Target) for Social Services Association of Ridgewood to help provide holiday gifts and food to families in the community in need.  Money & gift cards are being collected in the office (through December 7) as well as out front of Somerville at dismissal on these dates (11/23; 11/30; 12/6)

Questions: 

Any sense of how vaccinations are going?  Dr. Oates said at least  in her opinion; quite a few children getting vaccinated; still relatively low with COVID numbers at Somerville; parents very cooperative with getting tested, keeping them home; mask wearing crucial

To work in school in NJ; teachers/staff have to be vaccinated or show proof of a weekly negative COVID test; no talk about Boosters but it seems like many are moving onto Boosters at this point

Next Meeting: January 20 at 9am in library with Zoom option