HOMESTEAD SCHOOL NEWS

 Homestead October 2026 Newsletter

So long sweet Summer, hello Fall! 

September at Homestead was an amazing kickoff to what is sure to be a great year! I hope that you and your families are all settling into the school year routine. 

It was so wonderful to see many of you at Homestead’s BTSN. I hope you enjoyed connecting with teachers and parents while visiting the classrooms. We appreciate the phenomenal Homestead staff who took time to share about our children’s classrooms.  A special thank you to our wonderful class parents and grade level reps who have generously volunteered their time to help create community, conduct lotteries for crafts and field trips, and keep us all organized and informed. 

Homecoming 2026 was a huge success as Homestead students and staff were visited by members of the HS Sports Teams on Friday, September 18 at the Pep Rally. Students enjoyed performances by the marching band, cheering with the cheer leaders, and meeting the athletes! Students and teachers then gathered on Saturday, September 19 to watch the Homecoming Parade! Huge thanks to Patricia Mergenthaler, Spirit Committee Chair, and her committee for helping to create these special memories! 

We enjoyed seeing all the children and staff looking their best at Picture Day on September 29! Our dedicated volunteers helped the day run smoothly! Proofs will be delivered to your inbox in a few weeks. The date for make-up pictures is TBA.   

PTA/SEPTA Meetings & Membership

Thank you to those who attended SEPTA’s general membership meeting. Look out for upcoming meetings and updates throughout the year. 

We look forward to seeing you at Homestead’s PTA meeting on Tuesday, October 13th at 9:30am.  This meeting will feature important updates from Mrs. Quezada, the PTA, and a speaker from Northwell Health. The All Schools PTA meeting will be at the Middle School on Wednesday, October 21st at 7:30pm.

In the meantime, if you have not done so already, please be sure to join both the PTA and SEPTA so you can be part of all our wonderful committees and events.

Help Needed

Thank you so much to those who have already made contributions towards our Fall Initiatives which include Fall Beautification, Indoor Recess Bins for Health & Safety, and the Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee for Family Fun. 

If you have not yet made a contribution, please consider supporting these programs.  We are particularly in need of item contributions for our Indoor Recess Bins.  These items are all from Amazon and are sent directly to our Health & Safety Committee Chair’s home! 

We are also looking for a few volunteers for our Service Learning Project for our First Graders.  Volunteers will help select and facilitate the program at Homestead in conjunction with volunteers from Hemlock & Locust schools.  Interested volunteers should email Jessica Mullins at homestead@gardencitypta.org.  

Storybook Parade and Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee

Homestead’s Storybook Character Parade is on Friday, October 30th, at 10:30am. All students are invited to wear school appropriate costumes to school while parents/caregivers watch the parade on Stratford Avenue. 

Our Family Fun Committee, led by Jennifer Martin, has been hard at work planning the Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee! Our first graders, and their families, will enjoy the event prior to the parade from 9:20am-10:20am.  Kindergarteners, and their families, will participate after the parade from 11am-12pm. 

We kindly ask for no more than two parents/guardians/caregivers per child.  Unfortunately, we cannot include siblings in this event. 

Health & Safety Committee Update

Our Health & Safety Committee, led by Kerry McKeever, has started preparing for inclement weather by replenishing our indoor recess bins.  These bins are used by students during inclement weather days to keep the magic of fun and play going strong! 

We also wanted to take a moment to educate our families about October’s initiative called The Teal Pumpkin Project which focuses on allergy awareness! 

Don’t forget to wear ORANGE on October 21st as we celebrate Unity Day! Unity Day promotes kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and reminds us all that everyone has a place at Homestead! 

Reflections Committee Update 

Reflections is a nationally acclaimed student recognition program to encourage artistic creativity in the classroom and at home. This year’s theme for Reflections is “What My Culture Means to Me.” Submissions can be accepted through November 4, 2026. Categories include accessible arts, dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts! Be on the lookout for additional information! 

Upcoming Field Trips

Tanglewood

Thursday, October 22nd - Scheuer/Nendza & Camacho

Friday, October 23rd - Connelly and Cardinale 

Monday, October 26th - Dell’Olio and Bradley 

Firefighters’ Museum

Tuesday, October 27th - Bennett & Oppedisano

Wednesday, October 28th - Hutton & Roffman

Thursday, October 29th - Thompson & Welch 

Thank you so much for all of your support and participation!  

Jessica Mullins 

Garden City PTA 

Homestead Director

homestead@gardencitypta.org

www.gardencitypta.org

GC District Calendar