Is There School on Halloween Day?

In response to a parent question, I obtained the following information about school sessions for Halloween Day from Principal David Jimenez and Assistant Principals Mike Salek (School Safety) and Devorah Zamansky (Operations).

Wednesday, October 31 is a regular school day with a regular class schedule, ending after 8th period with rapid dismissal. Under rapid dismissal, all students must be out of the building within about 10 minutes of the end of 8th period classes, and there are no after-school programs or activities. No costumes or masks are permitted to be worn in school that day. In addition, the school safety officers check all student backpacks on the way into the school building in the morning, and students will not be allowed to leave the building for lunch. They must stay in the cafeteria.

In the end, parents must decide whether they want to send their children to school, but classes will be meeting that day. For what it's worth, my son went to school on Halloween last year as a 9th grader and encountered no problems. He will be at school again this year on Halloween Day.

New School Leadership Team Members

Congratulations to the following parents who were elected as representatives to the MCSM School Leadership Team (SLT) at the year's first PTA meeting on Tuesday, September 11:

-- Nevis Almeida

-- Sherrand Hawker

-- Patricia Huggins

-- Rosalind Lee-Nelson

-- Yara Rodriguez

-- Yolanda Varona

The School Leadership Team consists of the Principal, the UFT (teacher's union) chapter leader, the PTA President, and representatives of the Assistant Principal, teachers, para-professionals, parents, and students. Their purpose is to discuss issues concerning school direction and learning atmosphere, new instructional initiatives, budgeting, and preparation of the annual, DOE-mandated Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP). Parents with issues or concerns they wish to voice through the SLT are welcomed to attend the meetings or contact one of the parent representatives to speak on their behalf.

SLT meetings are held monthly at MCSM from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on the second Tuesday of each month.

An Exciting Year Planned by the PTA

Parents, we have an exciting year planned for 2007/2008. We hope you will join us for PTA meetings to learn more about your children's school and how you can help them succeed. We meet every second Tuesday of the month at 6:00 pm in the school library. Light dinner and refreshments are served, and Spanish translation is available.

Following are the monthly programs we are currently planning.

September 11, 2007 – Meet the new Interim Acting Principal, J. David Jimenez, and MCSM’s new H.S. Superintendent, Francesca Peña.

October 9, 2007 – COLLEGE AND GRADE ADVISOR NIGHT
Get important college planning information and hear presentations with Q&A from MCSM grade level advisors. Parents will meet in smaller groups according to their children’s grade level: 9, 10, 11, or 12.

November 13, 2007 – CURRICULUM NIGHT
Assistant Principals summarize the curriculum and policies in their respective departments.

December 11, 2007 – HEALTHY HOLIDAYS
Celebrate the end-of-year holidays with ethnic foods and demonstrations from MCSM’s new, full-time nutritionist about healthy cooking.

January 8, 2008 – SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY
Hear from MCSM Assistant Principal for School Safety, Michael Salek, and representatives of the local NYC Police Department Precinct.

February 12, 2008 – HANDS-ON COMPUTER NIGHT FOR PARENTS
Set up your own email account, learn how to use the DOE website, find out how to research colleges for your child, and more!

March 11, 2008 – TEEN HEALTH NIGHT
Learn from professionals what parents should know about teen health issues and how to communicate with your teen-aged child.

April 8, 2008, May 13, 2008, June 10, 2008 – TO BE ANNOUNCED

School Calendar -- September/October

Here are some important dates for September and October (M=Monday, T-Tuesday, W=Wednesday, R=Thursday, F=Friday):

September 4 (T) -- First day of school (early dismissal)
September 11 (T) -- PTA meeting (6:00 pm)
September 13 (R) -- No school (Rosh Hashanah)
September 14 (F) -- No school (Rosh Hashanah)
October 8 (M) -- No school (Columbus Day)
October 9 (T) -- PTA meeting - College Night and Grade Advisors (6:00 pm)

We'll be adding more details soon.

HS Superintendent Francesca Pena to Speak at September 11 PTA Meeting

The year's first PTA meeting on Tuesday, September 11 at 6:00 pm in the school library promises to be an important and informative event for at least three reasons.

First, MCSM parents will have a great opportunity to learn more about the many changes taking place in the NYC Department of Education and how they might affect MCSM. Joining us as a guest speaker will be our new High School Superintendent, Ms. Francesca Pena. Ms. Pena will help us understand some of the many changes the DOE has implemented or is planning to implement and will answer parents' questions.

Second, parents will have their first opportunity to meet and hear from MCSM's new Interim Acting Principal, Mr. David Jimenez.

Third, parents will be asked to vote for six parent representatives to MCSM's School Leadership Team (SLT). Any parent wishing to know more about SLT or interested in being nominated as a candidate for the SLT can post their questions on this site, send them by email to Steve Koss at mathman180@aol.com, or contact Julia Valentin, MCSM's Parent Coordinator.

New Interim Acting Principal

You may recall that a C-30 committee was formed last June to select a new Principal to succeed Corinne Vinal. This committee included seven parent representatives. Two finalists were chosen from that meeting, but subsequent events eventually led to neither of the two candidates being hired. As a consequence, MCSM's new High School Superintendent Francesca Pena has named Mr. David Jimenez as our Interim Acting Principal.

Mr. Jimenez will serve as MCSM's Acting Principal until such time as a permanent Principal can be hired. We anticipate that a second C-30 committee will be formed in the early fall to interview prospective Principal candidates. Parents interested in participating in that C-30 meeting can contact Steve Koss at mathman180@aol.com or Parent Coordinator Julia Valentin at MCSM.

PTA Meeting Schedule for 2007/2008

The MCSM Parent Teacher Association meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm in the Library. All parents are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Dinner and refreshments are served at each meeting, and Spanish translation assistance is available as well.

Listed below are the anticipated PTA meeting dates for the coming school year.

September 11, 2007
October 9, 2007
November 13, 2007
December 11, 2007
January 8, 2008
February 12, 2008
March 11, 2008
April 8, 2008
May 13, 2008
June 10, 2008