School Calendar through January

October

8 (Monday) School closed for Columbus Day, no school
9 (Tuesday) School Leadership Team meeting, 4:00 pm.
9 (Tuesday) PTA meeting, 6:00 pm – COLLEGE NIGHT
12 (Friday) End of first marking period
17 (Wednesday) PSAT Day (10th and 11th Grades), College Day (12th Grade)
24 (Wednesday) Report cards distributed
25 (Thursday) Parent Teacher Conferences, 5:30 – 8:00 pm
26 (Friday) Parent Teacher Conferences, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, no afternoon classes
31 (Wednesday) Halloween (Captive lunch for all students)

November

6 (Tuesday) Election Day, no school
12 (Monday) Veterans Day, no school
13 (Tuesday) School Leadership Team meeting, 4:00 pm
13 (Tuesday) PTA meeting, 6:00 pm in the Library – CURRICULUM NIGHT
22 (Thursday Thanksgiving recess, no school
23 (Friday) Thanksgiving recess, no school
28 (Wednesday) End of second marking period

December

10 (Monday) Report cards distributed
11 (Tuesday) School Leadership Team meeting, 4:00 pm
11 (Tuesday) PTA meeting, 6:00 pm in the Library – HEALTHY HOLIDAYS
24 – 31 Winter recess, no school

January

1 (Tuesday) New Year’s Day, no school
2 (Wednesday) Classes resume
8 (Tuesday) School Leadership Team meeting, 4:00 pm
8 (Tuesday) PTA meeting, 6:00 pm in the Library – SCHOOL SAFETY/SECURITY
21 (Monday) Martin Luther King Day, no school
22 –25 (Tues.-Fri.) Regents Examinations, no regular classes
28 (Monday) Rating Day, no school
29 (Tuesday) Chancellor’s Conference Day, no school
30 (Wednesday) Second semester begins, full day of classes

Four New Committees

Based on parent sign-ups to-date, we have formed four working committees for the 2007/2008 school year.

Fund Raising -- Co-chaired by Deirdre Rose and Don Redish, the Fund Raising Committee is charged with planning and arranging parent and/or parent-student events designed to generate funds for the PTA. This year's Fund Raising committee will include grant writing, purchase and resale of school logo items, and activities related to MCSM's 25th Anniversary celebration.

Membership and Communication -- Chaired by Steve Koss, the Membership and Communication Committee will focus on building and improving parent communication as well as collecting PTA dues donations. Such varied activities as the Parent Newsletter, this blog site, and parent phone or email masters fall under this committee's responsibilities.

Parent Education and Resource Center -- Co-chaired by Patricia Huggins and Steve Koss, this committee will address programs, activities, and resources for parent education. Topics could range from legal, immigration, and social services to money and credit management, teen health, parenting skills, computer training, or cultural activities. One aspect of this program will be working with Parent Coordinator Julia Valentin to initiate a new Parent Resource Center in Room 152, funded by a $5,000 grant from Lowe's Corporation.

School Safety and Security -- Chaired by Jayne M. Hunt, this committee will work with MCSM School Safety and local Police Precinct personnel to communicate parent concerns about student safety and explore ways in which the parents and PTA can help improve our children's security in and around their school.


Parents interested in participating on any of these committees should contact Parent Coordinator Julia Valentin at jvalentin@schools.nyc.gov or Steve Koss at mathman180@aol.com.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 25 from 5:30 - 8:00 pm and Friday, October 26, from 1:00 - 3:00. Parents, come to meet and talk with your child’s teachers and learn more about how your child is doing in each class. As parents, this is your best chance to identify and address any problems your child is having while the year is still young.

When you arrive at MCSM, you will be given a copy of your child's report card and instructions as to which classroom you can find each of your child's teachers. In the front lobby of the school, the PTA will have a table with more information for parents as well as coffee, donuts, and school logo items for sale.

Please stop by and visit us at the PTA table during the conference days. We would love to meet you.

Special Election at November 13 PTA Meeting

Due to a resignation, we will be holding special elections at next month's PTA meeting on November 13, 2007 at 6:00 pm to fill two vacancies: PTA Secretary and a parent representative spot on the School Leadership Team (SLT).

Any parent interested in being on the SLT or serving on the MCMS PTA Executive Board as PTA Secretary should plan to attend the November 13th meeting. We are obligated by the Chancellor's Regulations to fill both positions as timely as possible, so will take nominations at the meeting and hold any necessary votes at that time.

Parents wishing to serve in either position but who are unable to attend the PTA meeting should contact Steve Koss at mathman180@aol.com to express their interest.

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