MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

 Happy February and congratulations to our students on completing the first two quarters of the year.  We are halfway through!

GC Cares-a-Thon

It was wonderful to see so many of our middle school families at the GC Cares-a-thon on Friday, 1/31.  The event was a huge success, with 235 student volunteers and over 300 participants.  Our students spent countless hours preparing stations to inform the community about their chosen causes and charities, and their hard work was apparent on Friday.  I am so grateful to the parents and student volunteers who were instrumental in making sure the event ran smoothly.  Thank you to the teachers and middle school staff who coordinated the event and provided help and guidance to the students on Friday, and throughout the past few months.  And our highest thanks to Dr. Greenwald who spearheads this event every year.  She inspires our students to think about how to support not only the middle school community, but also the larger Garden City community and beyond.  She gives up countless hours, lunches and her office to allow them the space to make their vision a reality to share with all of us.  We cannot thank you enough for what you do for our children.

PTA Dinner

The biggest PTA fundraiser of the year, the PTA Dinner, is scheduled for March 26 at 6:30 pm at the Garden City Hotel.  The theme this year is “Ascending to New Heights”.  The dinner committee is seeking donations for raffle baskets and silent auction items.  They are also seeking donations of actual baskets to use for the raffle baskets.  They are lastly seeking volunteers to help with all aspects of the dinner event.  If anyone is interested in donating or volunteering, please email us at dinnerdonations@gardencitypta.org, or text 516-816-1705.  The Middle School grade representatives are working hard on a raffle basket from each grade.  An email will be coming out in the next week if anyone is interested in donating!

Board Games

The middle school is seeking new or gently used board games to make available for our students during homebase.  We hope that the games will provide an opportunity for students to socialize, work together and have some fun.  A few donations have already rolled in and I’m told that they are a huge hit.  Homebase is fairly short, so think games that can be played quickly.  If you want to purchase new and need ideas, check our wish list.  That said, as long as games are in good shape and contain all the pieces, we are happy to accept them!  Games can be dropped outside the front doors of the Middle School in the bin labeled ‘Donations’.  

PTA Meetings

It was wonderful to see so many of you at our January hybrid PTA Meeting.  Thank you to Keegan Baker, our school social worker, for his informative presentation on effective communications strategies with our tweens and teens.  If you were not able to make the meeting, you can find the minutes and presentation here.  If you are interested in learning more strategies around active parenting, Mr. Baker will be starting his next round of Active Parenting Class for Teens on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.  Sign up here.  

Our next PTA meeting is an All Schools PTA Meeting scheduled for Monday, March 3, 7:30 pm at the Garden City Middle School (in person and zoom).  Please note the new date of the meeting.  

And mark your calendars for meetings through the rest of the school year:

• March 11, 9:30 am, High School and Middle School Joint Meeting,  in person and zoom
• April 9, 7:30 pm, zoom

I sincerely thank you for your continued support of the PTA and look forward to our continued work together this year.  Please feel free to contact me at middleschool@gardencitypta.org if you have any questions or concerns.  

Sincerely,

Tara Kelly

Middle School PTA Director

www.gardencitypta.org

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