HOMESTEAD SCHOOL NEWS

Happy November Homestead! It was lovely to see all the children dressed up in their Halloween costumes for the Storybook Character Parade and I hope everyone enjoyed the Jack O’Lantern Jubilee as much as my family did. 

Information on upcoming events can be found on the Homestead Calendar, your monthly Class Newsletter from your class parents, and committee updates below.

Please keep in mind we have a few days off this month and Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 7th, 8th, and 13th. All the primary schools are participating in Bring a Can to Conferences, donating the proceeds to the Life Lutheran Church Social Services in Uniondale. Labeled boxes can be found in the main lobby of Homestead by the PTA table.

I hope to see you at our Joint Primary PTA Meeting on Tuesday, November 19th at 9:30AM at Hemlock School which will feature a presentation from our new Digital Citizenship Committee.

Committee Events and Updates

PARP (Pick A Reading Partner)

PARP kicked off the year with the theme “I Count My Lucky Stars” by providing a copy of “How Grizzly Found Gratitude” by Dennis Matthew to every primary school student, classroom, and library on Unity Day. Mark your calendars for a virtual visit with the author on February 11th @ 7:00PM. PARP Gratitude Flyer 

PARP is also hosting a Movie Day, showing Disney’s “Wish”, on Tuesday, November 5th @ 10:00AM at Bellmore Movies and Show. PARP Movie Flyer and PARP Movie Sign Up

Reflections

This year’s Reflections theme is “Accepting Imperfection” and the program is open for submissions until Wednesday, November 6th. Thank you to Homestead’s Reflections Rep, Daniela Saka, for decorating our submission box, which can be found in the main lobby of Homestead and for reading “The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes” to all 13 classes. Entries can be submitted online (except Visual Arts) or physically dropped off in our Reflections box. Entry form and submission requirements can be found at https://gardencitypta.org/reflections - don’t forget your artist statement and remember to sign your form.

Photography

District-wide Photo Make-Up Day is on Friday, November 15th for any students that were absent or require a retake. Please send a note to your teacher if you would like your child to participate. If you have more than two children, please see the Irvin Simon Family Plan (photos for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th child are free!). If you have any questions or concerns about proofs or photos, please visit our photography page for FAQ or contact the district Photography Chair, Stephanie Cohen, at photography@gardencitypta.org. Thank you to anyone who purchased picture day photos for supporting this PTA Fundraiser. 

Sportswear

Thank you to everyone who ordered from our Fall Sportswear. Sportswear pick up is at the Garden City Middle School on Saturday, November 16th @ 9:00AM-12:00PM. 

1st Grade Service Learning 

Just before Thanksgiving, Homestead First Graders take part in a Service Learning Project. This year, Homestead is participating in the 15th Annual Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive with Scholastic and non-profit, Pajama Program. For the month of November, students are invited to help around their home and community, earning enough to purchase and donate a brand new set of pajamas for a child facing adversity. For every pair of pajamas donated, Scholastic will match the donation with a brand new book to Pajama Program - a nonprofit organization that promotes equitable access to healthy sleep so all children can thrive. Students will make a bookmark, provided by the PTA, in class which will be included in our school donation. Students will have an assembly on Tuesday, November 26th to learn how their donation helps others.

Family Fun

We hope everyone had the best time at the Family Fun Jack O’Lantern Jubilee on Halloween. Thank you to everyone who donated or volunteered their time and to the class parents for assisting the classes move to each station. Special thanks to Tanya Bankewitz and Daniela Saka, who lead the Family Fun Committee, for outdoing themselves and making this year’s event such a success! Please see your class November newsletters for photo links.

Health and Safety

Thank you to everyone who donated to the Health and Safety Indoor Recess Bins. The committee, led by Kerry McKeever and Kristina Vaccaro, organized 11 bins (picture) that are rotated between classes and will be used during inclement weather when students are unable to go outside due to inclement weather. We hope you also saw the wonderful allergy-friendly Halloween options the committee put together for the Teal Pumpkin Project display in the Homestead main lobby.

Beautification

Thank you so much to the Beautification Committee, led by Katie Sampson and Lindsey Finneran, and to all who generously donated for making Homestead festive for all the fall activities! Homestead Fall Beautification Photos

SEPTA

SEPTA is kicking off their SEPTA Connect program - a way for veteran special education parents to connect with parents who may be navigating the special education world. If interested in participating please fill out this intake form and the SEPTA Connect Committee will match individuals based on responses from the form.

SEPTA is also hosting Election Day Fun at Empire Adventure Park on Tuesday, November 5th at 10:00AM-12:00PM.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me, Class Parents, your teacher, and/or Dr. V. at any time. 

Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving.

Hana Noble

Garden City PTA 

Homestead Director

homestead@gardencitypta.org

www.gardencitypta.org