First meeting of the 23-24 School Year!
HSA Update
Sam Introduced new board and the main focus of the year: inclusivity, communication and community-building. Working very closely with school to learn about and provide support. Amplify, don't duplicate, eachother's efforts.
A. Communication - website is an ongoing project. (***If you would like to help develop communications and the website, please email leahomeandschool@gmail.com or sign up for the Last Minute stuff on the Volunteer page.).
B. Inclusivity - working to get materials out in different languages. Working to make meetings and events attractive and accessible to upper and lower school and all families.
C. Community Building - Strengthen the fami-lea and make a better experience for teachers, staff and learners at Lea by hosting events to bring people together. See below for the upcoming projects.
Lea Update
Mr. Gerwer shared metrics of success. Lea improved across most academic categories and in attendance last year. This year Lea will focus on attendance as well as academics. The `Leadership Team is reconstitued and helping to make things go more smoothly and effectively.
Upcoming Projects
Back-to-school Night
Rich Liuzzi shared the plan for BTSN. Partner fair 4-5, then teacher time. See more here:
Frozen treats for all!
Mr. Gerwer asked HSA to provide support in helping parents navigate new math curriculum website, which is designed with parents inmind. https://www.philasd.org/curriculum/#math
HSA will also have fliers explaining our work (and that of SAC), as well as a box for a mini school supply drive, and sheets to sign up for upcoming projects, including the Family Movie Night.
***If you would like to help man the HSA table for Back-to-School Night, please email leahomeandschool@gmail.com or sign up for the Last Minute stuff on the Volunteer page.
Book Fair
Rachael explained the book fair, why we do it, and how we've organized it in the past. The book fair is a way for Lea to earn "scholastic dollars," which can be used to boost library and class library collections. We can also use those funds to provide free books for kids at the fair. Some cash is also generated. Over the past several years, focus has shifted from fair as a fundraiser to fair as an opportunity to encourage love of reading.
Some parents shared how they weren't familiar with the goals of the book fair, and others how the book fair may not always evoke positive memories. Group discussed the need to clearly communicate with families the goal of the fair, that the proceeds benefit Lea, and that free books are available for every student. Discussed the need for a leader to organize this year's fair(s). Given the needs and the packed fall schedule, tentatively agreed to focus on a spring fair. (Cooler weather fairs are not as successful, mostly for logistical reasons). If you are interested in joining the team that leads the book fair, or if you are interested in staying in the loop and volunteerting to staff it later, please email leahomeandschool@gmail.com or visit the Volunteer page.
Library
Rachael described Lea's partnership with arents, Penn and West Philadelphia Alliance for Kids in staffing our library. Our volunteers have doubled since last year, and we are currently staffed! However, if you are interested in learning more and joining the roster of library volunteers, please reach out to Rachael at rachael.gaeta@gmail.com.
Movie Night
Sam discussed HSA's first big community building-themed fundraiser. October 20, 7 pm will be a movie family movie night in the big yard. We'll have a small charge for tickets, a discount for families, and prizes (hopefully lawn signs?) as a giveway for purchasing a family pack. We'll also have concessions. Will ask parents to contribute some baked goods. Walnut Hill Community Assoc. will also provide financial backing for concesssions.
Proposed Movie: Spider-Man, Across the Spider-Verse. Licensing fee about $550. Need some equpiment. Stephanie and Adam are looking into possible partnership/donations from Clark Park Outdoor Cinema.
In addition, we'll host a Lost & Found Coats Pop Up Store to "sell" (pay what you want) good-condition, clean coats collected from Lost and Found. Sam is going to collect, sort, cull and clean these coats over the next several weeks.
If you are interested in helping out with the Movie Night, there are many ways to do so: sell tickets, contribute baked goods, set up or take down, help with concessions, prep coats and host coat sale and more! Please email leahomeandschool@gmail.com or visit the Volunteer page to sign up.
Final Thoughts
Lea HSA is going to work closely with Rich and the school to support volunteers going through the clearances process. Developing; will keep everyone posted.
Additional fun events are coming up -- a school store cart, a family holiday social, Chil-LEA Cook-off. Many parents have expressed an interest in after school athletic, music and foreign language programming, so we'll be working on that. AND, we will support the school during project exhibitions and muscial productions. Please see the Volunteer page to learn more about any of those upcoming opportunities.