Summary and action items from the September 2025 PTA general meeting — the first in-person gathering of the 2025–2026 school year.
PTA General Meeting September 2025
Summary
Community Spirit and Welcome
• First in-person PTA meeting of the year emphasized community building and gratitude
• Parents expressed thanks for smooth start to the year and positive classroom energy
• Strong call for parent unity and advocacy as a cohesive community
School Operations & Staffing
• 3K and Pre-K programs entirely full with waitlist
• Successfully avoided classroom closures for K-1, now actively recruiting
• New science teacher Ociel Torres serving 3K-5th grade
• Parent Coordinator Denise highlighted as crucial liaison resource
• Two parents joining Superintendent's Parent Advisory Board
Upcoming Events & Initiatives
• Curriculum Night: September 17 (6:00-7:30 PM via Zoom)
• Fall Family Play potluck event with wine
• Movie Nights for community building
• NYC Reads Initiative - goal to get every family library cards
• Original Works art fundraiser
• Dyanthe's Morning Hour discussion forum restarting October 9
PTA Fundraising & Volunteering
• Biggest expense: $40,000 for K-1 teaching assistants (must-have)
• Studio in a School art program (must-have)
• Camp subsidies ensuring all students can attend regardless of ability to pay
• Urgent call for recurring monthly donations via Zephy
• Critical need for volunteers across all committees
• Bottleneck in manpower despite many good ideas
Budget & School Leadership Team (SLT)
• Next month's meeting will focus on budget review and approval
• SLT meetings are public, held last Tuesday of month (8:30-10:00 AM)
• New option to join SLT meetings via Zoom
• SLT focuses on school policies and comprehensive education plan
• Parents strongly encouraged to attend as "most important committee"
Action Items
• Review Community Agreement document
• Set up recurring donations on Zephy or make one-time gift
• Join a volunteer committee (Auction, Bake Squad, Communications, Library, Garden, etc.)
• Attend Curriculum Night (September 17, 6:00-7:30 PM via Zoom)
• Prepare for next month's budget meeting
• Consider attending SLT meetings (last Tuesday, 8:30-10:00 AM)
• Get NYC Public Library cards for all family members
• Sync school calendar to personal calendar
• Join Konstella for school communications
• Speak with Brooke, Elena, or Denise about P Flag representative role
• Join Parent Ambassador committee on Konstella
Notes
Principal Dyanthe on the year's start:
"I'll echo what I'm hearing around the circle which is it's been a really smooth start to the year. It feels really wonderful. I feel like the energy in classrooms is just so positive."
On community unity:
Parent emphasized that for effective advocacy on superintendent's advisory board, the community needs to be "locked in for real" - "we have to marry one another" and "stick up for us as a unit."
Math Streaming:
Beginning in 2nd-3rd grade, students split into different math groups based on grade-specific content. Continues into 4th-5th grade with specific breakout groups at Curriculum Night.
PTA Financial Priorities:
1. K-1 Teaching Assistants: $40,000 annually (biggest ticket item, deemed "must-have" as non-ICT classes only have one teacher)
2. Studio in a School weekly art program (must-have)
3. Overnight camp subsidies for 2nd/3rd and 4th/5th graders (ensuring "every kid can go if they want to even if they can't afford anything")
Volunteer Opportunities:
• Auction Committee (needs heavy lifting)
• Bake Squad (cookie/chocolate walks)
• Popcorn Sales (monthly)
• Library & Garden Committees (described as "therapeutic" with lower stress)
• Communications Committee (newsletters, social media, photos)
• Yearbook Committee
• Parent Ambassadors Committee (via Konstella)
School Leadership Team (SLT):
• Composition: Administrators, 4 teachers, 5 elected parents
• Focus: School policies, comprehensive education plan (literacy, academic achievement, student safety)
• Public meetings in PTA room, last Tuesday of month (8:30-10:00 AM)
• Now available via Zoom (described as "unheard of" opportunity)
• Parents can speak but cannot introduce proposals unless elected
• Described as "most important committee or information streaming" for public school parents
• "It truly is about the kind of education your children want be having"
• Where school's "philosophy of progressiveness" is maintained and debated
Community Agreement:
Linked in calendar as reminder to "have grace," "treat each other with kindness and respect," and remember "everyone here is doing their best."
Attendance
Adrianne Rubenstein, Alejandro Torres, Angela Moore, Asha Monge, Brooke Moreland, Clayton Lamar, Danielle Billotti, Denise Soltren, Dyanthe Spielberg, Elia Timpanaro, Elisabeth Devine, FelEsia Rodriguez, James Washington, Jharred Williams, Joana Giacinto, Joseph Hellebusch, Kiara Baez, Kristen Majewski, Leigh Mangum, Malia Baker, Mario Bastianelli, Milya Zakirova, Naomi Garcia, Najaterry Gonzalez, Phoebe Kreutz, Robert Murtfeld, Rose Friedman, Stephanie Cardi, Stephanie Skaff, Stratford Wallace, Tatiana Prisco, Tony Sklar, Yuisa Principe