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The Pachyderm Press
Somers Middle School PTA Newsletter

Summer 2010
2009/2010 SMS PTA Officers

Co-Presidents:
Julie Gorecki &
 Kim Moros

Vice President:
Virginia Maloney

Treasurer:
Linda Graffitti

Recording Secretaries:
Carolyn Worsley &
 Gayle Mottola

Corresponding Secretary:
Linda Morgante
In This Issue
2010-2011 SMS PTA Officers
8th Grade Celebration
Flea Market
Walk & Talk-a-thon
PTA $ at Work
Internet Safety
2010-2011 PTA Council Officers
SEPTA News
SHS PTSA Book Fair
SEF News
NYS PTA
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Consider a Book Dedication to your school library as a wonderful way to celebrate a graduate or honor an outstanding teacher!



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This is the last issue of the Pachyderm Press for the 2009/2010 school year.

Thank you for reading!

Have a submission for the 2010/2011 school year?
Send it to :
Gayle Mottola
SMS PTA Newsletter Editor
gbdm@optonline.net


Dates taken from PTA Calendar
and other sources with updated info.

June

1st - 3rd & 7th - NYS Grade 8 Science Test

5th - Somers PTA Flea Market

6th - Somers PTA Flea Market Rain Date

14th & 15th - NYS Grade 8 Social Studies Test

11th - 8th Grade Dance

15th - Board of Education meeting 7pm @ Primrose

Important Changes to the SMS June Schedule:
Visit http://somersschools.org and click on Our Schools, then click on Middle School,then scroll down the page for details on important changes in the SMS June schedule as compared to the district calendar.





SMS PTA Officers for 2010-2011 

Congratulations to the SMS PTA officers for the 2010-2011 school year!  The following officers were elected at the May 12, 2010 General PTA meeting.

President: Linda Graffitti
Vice-President: Virginia Maloney
Treasurer: Linda Morgante
Recording Secretary: Teresa Lombardi
Corresponding Secretary: Karen Collura 
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8th Grade Graduation Celebration

The SMS PTA invites all students in the class of 2014 and their families (grandparents & siblings) to attend a celebration at Reis Park immediately after the 2pm graduation ceremony at Primrose.

Please visit our website to see all the details and to find our reservation form.  RSVP NO LATER THAN JUNE 9th, 2010

Submitted By: 8th Grade BBQ Committee


Somers PTA Flea Market

The Somers PTA Flea Market is Saturday, June 5th from 10am - 4pm at the Somers High School. (Rain date Sun. June 6th) Lots of vendors with both new and old items. Food will be available.

For more information, call Erika Sherman at 914-245-7933.

Submitted by: Erika Sherman, Chairperson


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Lynn Adams Memorial 5K Run/1 Mile Walk & Talk-a-thon
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Your PTA Dollars At Work

The SMS PTA sponsored the Traveling Science show about "Energy!"

 

The SMS PTA sponsored "A Midsummer Night's Dream" performed by the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival.

 

The SMS PTA co-sponsored the Internet Awareness Program, with Thomas Grimes, of NY Finest Speakers as seen on "The Today Show".

 

The SMS PTA sponsored the visit from Award-winning Poet, Writer, Anthologist, and Educator Naomi Shihab Nye. 

 

The SMS PTA has purchased Shakespeare DVD's and books for the 8th grade.

 

The SMS PTA has purchased a Kindle and digital books for a pilot program in the 7th grade.

 

The SMS PTA supported the Red Ribbon Week festivities including ice cream sundaes for all those that participated in the Book Mark contest.    

The SMS PTA has hosted a 6th, 7th and 8th grade social.

 

The SMS PTA has organized and run a Book Fair at SMS.

 

The SMS PTA has arranged for the Franklin Institute to bring a traveling science show to the 7th Grade called "The Human Body".

 

The school store is also sponsored by the SMS PTA has been open since the beginning of September, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during lunch. 

 

Please continue to visit our website to see what we have in store for our children and the SMS community for this school year.

Submitted by: Linda Graffitti, SMS PTA Treasurer



Internet Safety

The internet can be your best friend or worst enemy...

In March 2010, twenty-year veteran law enforcement officer Thomas Grimes of NY Finest Speakers addressed Somers parents and students at the middle and high schools about the safe use of the Internet by children.  His dynamic presentation covered topics including predators, identity theft, cyber-bullying and repercussions of incriminating or embarrassing texts, photos and videos online.  The lecture was organized and paid for by the SMS PTA and SHS PTSA. 

Students and parents commented that the presentation was "excellent" and "powerful."  One middle school student said that after the discussion he immediately changed his Facebook settings to "private."  Another removed all "friends" who were not actually known.  A parent noted, "If nothing else, I will be teaching myself to be more technically savvy so I can keep up with [my children]!  As parents we can't nor should we stop them from using the Internet, but we can still protect them." 
 
For more information about Thomas Grimes and NY Finest Speakers, please visit www.nyfinestspeakers.com.  Mr. Grimes, a graduate of Somers High School, spoke on "The Today Show" in March 2009, and at numerous local schools.

Mr. Grimes aims to teach parents and students to use the Internet wisely.  His analogy:  If you're going to allow your children in a pool, you should teach them how to swim!


Learn to Swim!

 

The discussion about Internet safety continues...

 

Wednesday, June 16th at 7pm, in the SMS Library

 

Finding Balance: Protecting Yourself and Your Child Online While Keeping Your Computer Usable

 

Topics will include:

 

Ø       Computer setup and safety for reliability and stability, as well as protecting yourself in the online world

Ø       Parental monitoring

 

Hands on tips and tricks and opportunities for questions and discussion.

 

Presenters:

Jeff Sampson ~ a Somers resident and local computer wizard

Laura Sweig ~ PTA Council webmaster

 

Look for more information about internet safety on the Somers PTA Council website:  www.SomersPTACouncil.org.

 

Submitted by:

Susette Acocella & Teresa Lombardi

SMS Parent Programs



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Somers PTA Council Officers for 2010-2011 

Congratulations to the 2010-2011 Somers PTA Council officers who were elected at the May 25, 2010 Somers PTA Council Meeting! 

President: Judi Callan
Vice-President:  Becky Williams
Treasurer:  Jessica Goldberg
Recording Secretary:  Colleen Olifiers
Corresponding Secretary:   Kim Moros


 
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SEPTA

Somers SEPTA is pleased to announce the addition of the Gifted and Talented Child Committee to its Executive Board. This committee will focus on supporting and addressing the needs of Gifted and Talented Children and the Twice Exceptional Child (a gifted child with a disability). Sign up to receive SEPTA constant contact messages to find out about future meetings and events.  To sign up, visit our home page http://somersptacouncil.org/SEPTA/HOME.htm and scroll down to where you see "Sign Up For PTA Email Here".
 
If you are interested in becoming a member of SEPTA or assisting on this committee, contact Cathy Vinci @ catherinevinci@hotmail.com 

Submitted by: Cathy Vinci, SEPTA President


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SHS PTSA Book Fair

Mark your calendar for the SHS PTSA Book Fair at Borders Bookstore, June 4-5.  Get your soon-to-be 9th grader their summer reading books and & support the PTSA!  Visit the SHS PTSA Website for details.


SEF News

Thanks to everyone who supported our recent Gala Dinner Dance and Auction. More than $12, 000 was raised and Carol Cirieco, Corinne Procopis and Terry Reynolds were inducted into the SEF Hall of Fame for their tireless efforts to help the children of Somers.

The Harlem Wizards made a return appearance to Somers on May 14, delighting a sellout crowd at SHS as they played a dogged team of teachers and staff. Thanks to everyone who attended this event, in its 12th year.

SEF raised more than $50,000 through its events this school year and awarded more than $30,000 in grants and scholarships. Watch for our calendar of events for the 2010-2011 year! Please visit www.sefny.org for more information.

Submitted By: Glenn Hintze


NYS PTA Advocacy Newsletter

Visit the NYS PTA Advocacy Newsletter's May issue.  It is filled with information and links on a wide range of important topics.
"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it."  ~ Michelangelo
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Somers PTA | P.O. Box 126 | Lincolndale | NY | 10540