In this Newsletter
Upcoming Events
Equity Committee Meeting - Wed, Feb 12, 6:30 pm Zoom
No School, Winter Break - Feb 17-21
PTA General Meeting - Wed, Feb 26, 6:30 pm, Zoom
No School, March 6 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
PS 154 Nets Game - Sun, Mar 16, 6 pm, Barclays Center
The Talk, Sex Ed 2.0: A Workshop for Parents - Tues, Mar 18, 6:30-8pm, MMR
No School, Eid al-Fitr, March 31
A Note from Principal Fitzgerald
Read-A-Thon 2025 - WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
The Talk, Sex Ed 2.0: A Workshop for Parents
Book Market Update
Spring Auction — Volunteers and Donations Needed!
Fifth Grade News
A Note from Principal Fitzgerald
Dear Families,
I am thrilled to share the success of our recent Family Morning events, where we came together to celebrate Black History Month in a meaningful and engaging way. Our students had the opportunity to learn about and honor the incredible contributions of Black individuals throughout history, and I was so proud to witness their excitement and enthusiasm during the activities.
In Kindergarten, our young learners explored the life and achievements of Garrett Morgan, an inventor whose work revolutionized safety and traffic control. First graders focused on George Washington Carver, delving into his innovations in agriculture and his legacy as a pioneer in sustainable farming practices. In second grade, students were introduced to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a trailblazing musician who blended gospel and rock and roll, influencing generations of artists.
Third graders studied Marie Van Brittan Brown, the pioneering inventor of the home security system, empowering communities with greater safety. Our fourth-grade students will focus on the iconic artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose unique and powerful art continues to inspire and challenge the world of contemporary art. Finally, our fifth graders will explore the work of Augusta Savage, a sculptor who used her art to elevate African American culture and fought for the inclusion of Black artists in the mainstream art world.
It was heartwarming to see the students' deepened understanding of these extraordinary individuals, and I am so grateful to our families for their support in making this event a success.
As a reminder, we will be closed next week for Presidents Week, so please take note of the school closure dates. We look forward to welcoming everyone back after the break!
Thank you for being a part of our vibrant school community.
Best,
Kathryn
Read-A-Thon 2025 - THANK YOU!
The Read-A-Thon ended last week, and we just want to say - THANK YOU! It was a bit of a nail-biter, but when the dust settled, we exceeded all of our goals!
We tallied everything up, and PS 154 read more than 223,462 minutes, SMASHING our school-wide goal of 200,000 minutes. You know what that means: Principal Fitzgerald is getting S-L-I-M-E-D!!!
We also raised $42,609 beating our fundraising goal of $40,000! This means our PTA President Sarah Gartenberg is getting S-L-I-M-E-D, too!!
Other winners are as follows:
🎉2-206 - Gets an extra recess for raising the most money in the school! 🎉
Grade-level class winners:
K-110, 1-207, 2-206, 3-305, 4-304, and 5-306!
Grade-level reading goal meet-ers (Terrace Books gift card):
K-Vivian DeGraaf, 1-Miles Chin, 2-Miles Lincoln, 3-Wes Krulwich, 4-Niko Stoll, 5-William DeBery
Thank you so much to everyone who participated. If any parents have a cute story about their kids and their reading joy this month, we’d love to hear it—and see the photos, too! pta_info@ps154.org
The Talk, Sex Ed 2.0: A Workshop for Parents
The PTA will once again host Rachel Lotus for “The Talk: Sex Ed 2.0: A Workshop for Parents”.
The Talk Workshop is for ALL elementary parents, not just 5th grade. Everyone is welcome! The workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 18th from 6:30-8:00 p.m in the MMR. The Talk itself is 50-60 mins, with 30 mins for Q&A at the end. Babysitting will be available (information to come). More information about Rachel can be found on her website. Please join us for this very informative session!
Book Market Update
The book market is officially taking donations again! We are taking all books except picture books. We are especially in need of chapter books (all levels), graphic novels, and non-fiction (specifically I Survived series and Who Would Win series). As a reminder, we only accept books in great condition, and we do not accept board books, religious books, or workbooks. Please bring book donations to the MMR and leave the bag by the bins on the stage. Thank you, and happy reading!
Spring Auction — Volunteers and Donations Needed!
We are soliciting for the Spring Auction, one of our biggest fundraisers of the year! Can you help?
We need volunteers! No matter how much or how little time you have, there’s a role for you. We need people to:
Contact prior business/parent donors
Identify and/or reach out to potential new business donors by email or by walking around and speaking with (friendly!) neighborhood businesses.
Help with communications
We need donations! Are you willing to donate an item or experience for a silent auction? Examples include a gift card to a local business, tickets to a game or show, or a stay in your vacation home — just to name a few. Ask a friend, too! Or please pass on a name or idea using the form above and we can get in touch.
Please fill out this short form to let us know you’re willing to volunteer or donate. You can also email Auctions & Sponsorships Chair Judd Gartenberg (judd.gartenberg@gmail.com).
Fifth Grade Updates!
WE ARE AT 68% PARTICIPATION ON OUR DUES! LET'S GET TO 100% SO WE CAN COVER ALL OF OUR EVENT COSTS!
Other HOT 5th Grade Reminders!
Overnight Aquarium Trip 3/8/25-3/9/25
WE STILL HAVE TICKETS TO THE AQUARIUM OVERNIGHT AVAILABLE! PLEASE PURCHASE BEFORE 2/15
Cost is $105 per person (children and chaperones alike)
This cost is NOT part of your 5th grade dues and this event is completely optional
Siblings are welcome! Do note that all guests need to be over the age of 5
Your kid wants to go to the Aquarium but you'd rather not? Please email me and I will help you find a “pod". If you have any other questions - please email me crystal.orraca@gmail.com or text 917-691-1000
Graduation T-Shirt Design Contest A WINNER HAS BEEN PICKED!
The kids have voted and a winner has been picked! I will share the final design next week - in the meantime - PLEASE REMEMBER TO FILL OUT THE SIZE FORM IF YOU HAVEN'T YET!!!
5th Grade Events
Here's the lineup of events specifically for our 5th graders:
5th Grade Graduation - June 20th 2025 in the MMR
5th Grade Class Trip - Wagon Road (ropes course and outdoor fun event in Chappaqua) - June 4th 2025
5th Grade Ball Room Recital (concluding event for PTA funded 5th Grade Ball Room Dance Enrichment) TBD May 2025
5th Grade Picnic TBD June 2025
5th Grade Students vs. Faculty Kick Ball competition June 18th 2025
Overnight Aquarium Trip (optional for families) March 8th 2025
5th Grade Spring Bash May 1st 2025
All of these events (unlike the aquarium) - are covered by our 5th grade dues.