Hamden / North Haven Camp Fair

Parents Get Ready for Summer!
Come Check Out the

4th Annual PTA Council Summer Camp Fair

Saturday, April 4th, 2009
11:00 am until 2:00 pm
Hamden Middle School
2623 Dixwell AvenueHamden, CT 06518

One-stop shopping for camps and programs for kids in grades K - 12!

Learn about the many different sporting, enrichment, academic, fun and adventure options available in Hamden, Connecticut, New England and beyond.

Stop by to pick up information and speak with camp representatives.
Already on the list of attendees…
· Awosting & Chinqueka
· Camp Farwell
· Camp Kaizen
· Camp Mohawk (YMCA)
· Camp Mt. Laurel (YMCA)
· Camp WA-KLO
· Camp Woodstock (YMCA)
· Choate
· Creative Arts Workshop
· Dance Unlimited
· Eli Whitney Museum
· Foote School
· Girl Scouts
· Hamden Park & Rec
· High Rock
· Incarnation Camp
· Mantis Kung-Fu
· Neighborhood Music School
· North Haven Park & Rec
· Peabody Museum
· Schooner
· SJ Ranch
· South Shore YMCA
· Tennis Central
· The Basketball Factory

Admission is free and open to the public.

Questions? Email PTA Council, VP Mary.Clough@yale.edu

February Meeting Follow Up

Many thanks to Hamden Councilman Jim Pascarella for getting us acquainted with the true gravity of the town's financial situation. Without a miracle, the proposed 3.5% increase to the education budget (one of the lowest in the state) is going to have to be trimmed. (BTW - this number does not include any change in Wintergreen funding). It's inevitable without a gigantic ( 2-3 mill) tax increase, (which will never fly) because we have a shrinking grand list, lower revenues from slowed construction and home sales and a devistated pension fund, not to mention contractual, energy and healthcare increases.

His best advice: contact your state representatives and the Governor and ask them to not cut educational funding, special grants or PILOT reimbursements. We can probably hold the line on local spending, but not if our state funding for the school system or PILOT is reduced.

The fate of Wintergreen is still undecided. There are many options on the table and Supt. Rabinowitz is negotiating with all pertinent parties to find the best solution.

Our 4th Annual Summer Camp Fair is scheduled for Saturday, April 4. It's being organized by our VP Mary Clough and will be our largest to date. We'll be setting up in the Middle School Gym and Atrium. There will be at least 40 camps, day and overnight, for K-12. We'll need help to set up, manage and take down this event, so please let us know when you can pitch in.

Perhaps I'll see you around town at one of the following events this week:

Hamden Board of Ed Meeting
Tuesday, Feb 10, 7 PM
60 Putnam Street
Items of interest:
Superintendent’s Report on
1. Governor’s Budget
2. CMT/CAPT Assessment
3. Introduction of Interim Finance Director

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"What's Brewing?" with State Representative Elizabeth Esty
Thursday, February 12
10am to noon, at the Giant View Café
3584 Whitney Ave., Hamden
(103rd District / Mt. Carmel / West Woods)

“What’s Brewing?” is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and concerns with Elizabeth, ask her questions and get help. Elizabeth is particularly eager to hear your ideas about how to close Connecticut's budget gap and restart our economy.

Contact: Rep. Elizabeth Esty, 103rd District
Room 4037, LOB, Hartford, CT 06106-1591
800-842-8267 -- Office (Toll Free)
203-699-9621 – Home
http://www.elizabethesty.com/.
elizabeth.esty@cga.ct.gov

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CT PTA Hot Topics Training - Nuts & Bolts of Educational Funding
Thursday, February 12, 7 PM
With CT Appleseed at Hamden High School
Snacks & babysitting provided
Free and open to the public

Thanks for all you do,
Marjorie

Federal Education Funding Under Attack

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a call to arms.

I was alerted by Supt. Rabinowitz's office, via the National School Boards Association, to call or email Sen. Lieberman's legislative assitant, Rachel, ASAP regarding educational funding in the stimulus package legislation currently before the Senate.

ACTION ON THIS AMENDMENT MAY BE TAKEN TODAY!

I urge you to call his office at 202-224-4815 or to email Rachel_Sotsky@Lieberman.Senate.Gov and ask the Senator not to support any reduction to the House's stimulus bill on education funding. Please forward with abandon and ask people to personalize.

Here's what I wrote:

Dear Rachel,

I’d really like to understand how Sen. Lieberman can, in good conscience, support the Collins/Nelson amendment, which would drastically reduce funding for education in the economic recovery package. It would eliminate the $15 billion Performance Incentive
Grants from the State Stabilization Fund, an additional $24.8 billion from the State Stabilization Fund, $6.75 billion from IDEA, $6.5 billion from Title I, and $50 million from the Teacher Quality State Grant program.

Title I and IDEA do create jobs in schools, as well as prevent people from losing jobs.

• The impact to Hamden would be devastating, as the majority of our schools receive Title 1 and IDEA funding. His support for the amendment will take important funding away from key K-12 education programs. Now is the time for increased federal investment to ensure that our schools can maintain the level of services needed for student achievement. The State is trying to close a billion dollar shortfall and local revenues for education are in a serious decline because of the recession (e.g. falling property values and assessments, declining sales tax receipts, etc.). We are counting on the Federal government to help the nation’s educational system weather this storm.

• Cutting funding in the stimulus is not the answer, especially when many school systems are trying to mitigate thousands of teacher/personnel lay-offs. The stimulus legislation is key to both job creation and to job retention, especially for the nation's school districts.

• The investments to education programs in the stimulus are critical and will help school districts continue the level of services for key education programs and federal mandates, such as special education, that are already underfunded.

Please ask the Senator, on behalf of myself, my family, and all of the children, families and businesses in Hamden, to OPPOSE the Collins/Nelson Amendment.

Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Clark

And thank you for your attention and action.

A recap of our council meeting on 2/4/09 coming soon...

Marjorie

Forum with Hamden Legislators January 8, 2009 - Reminder

The format this year is going to be a bit different – more of a round table than a formal question and answer. Here are the main topics that we will be covering:

· ECS funding
· Wintergreen – enrollment, sustainability
· Moratorium on Mandates – and other cost cutting measures that don’t cost anything
· Regionalization / SmartGrowth
· Funding from the Fed / Fate of NCLB
· Tax Reform / Property Tax

We’re in quite a mess, on many levels, but there will be no finger pointing tonight. We already know that we all need to “give a little” to meet the state’s budget requirements.

The main question is, “what is the best course of action that does the least harm, while putting us in a stronger financial position?”. We have invited our legislators to share:
· what theyknow of the current situation in Hartford
· what we should prepare for
· what they are suggesting AND,
· most importantly, what we can do as a town and organization to help find a solution.

BTW – The meeting at Wintergreen (6 PM), which Sen. Looney is attending prior to our meeting, has gotten a lot of press today. I urge you to alert anyone who thinks that their meeting is our meeting (6:30 PM), that our meeting is just as important to attend.

I look forward to seeing you this evening.

Marjorie

Forum with Hamden Legislators January 8, 2009

On the first draft of our January 8 PTA Educational Forum announcement (below), one of the bullet points was "lower quality of schools and lower test scores." Supt. Rabinowitz commented that she didn't think that a diminished education budget would have any impact on her ability to maintain the quality of our schools and their test scores, so I took it out. I really hope she's right; if anybody can work that kind of magic, it's Fran.

Even with such a miracle worker, we need every able-bodied person in Hamden to insist that educational funding at the State level be maintained. We're not asking for more, just to maintain the status quo. If they want to cut 12% from ECS funding, cut it from what WE SHOULD GET not what we DO get.

Make sure your legislators and Governor Rell hear your opinions and suggestions on how to do that. Here's your opportunity:

Tell your legislators “NO! You can’t reduce

Hamden’s educational funding!”

at the Hamden PTA Council/Board of Ed Forum

with CT Legislators
Thursday, January 8, 6:30 PM
Hamden Middle School Cafeteria

Babysitting provided by Hamden High Cheerleaders

For Hamden, cuts in educational funding at the state level could mean:

• Fewer teachers and larger class sizes
• Wintergreen Magnet losing its charter and becoming a Hamden Public School
• Less funding for art, music and TAG programs
• Less electives and career programs
• Fewer offerings from Adult Education
• Higher property taxes

This could lead to:

• Resident flight to other towns
• Hamden High dropping out of top 35 high schools in the state
• Hamden no longer being #33 in Fortune’s top 100 towns to start and own a small business

“How can I stop this threat to my thriving town?
I’m just one person.”

You are ONE of MANY who will voice your opinion and solutions to our state legislators and the Governor. YOU elected them and they work for YOU.

Join us on Thursday, January 8th and/or…

Call or email your legislators.
· Sen. Martin Looney, 800-842-1420
Looney@senatedems.ct.gov
· Sen. Joe Crisco, 800-842-1420
Crisco@senatedems.ct.gov
· Rep. Brendan Sharkey, 800-842-8267 / 203-281-4647
Brendan.Sharkey@cga.ct.gov
· Rep. Peter Villano, 800-842-8267 / 203-562-5251
Peter.Villano@cga.ct.gov
· Rep. Cam Staples, 800-842-8267 / 203-773-9123
Cam9123@hotmail.com
· Rep. Elizabeth Esty, 800-842-8267 / 203-271-3248
ElizabethEsty08@gmail.com

Write letters to the editor of the Hamden Chronicle and New Haven Register.
· hamdenchronicle@ctcentral.com
· letters@nhregister.com

Review the budget and give Governor Rell feedback at www.ct.gov/governorrell.

Share this information with your friends and family and ask them to take action with you.Things always work out better when we work together

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, January 8, 6:30 at the Hamden Middle School.

Marjorie

Hamden Public School Brag Sheet

• Hamden High School is named #32 out of 139 CT public high schools ranked by Connecticut Magazine in October 2008.
• Hamden High had a “Cool Day” where over 650 students showed up at 5 AM, complete with live news coverage. Principal Highsmith got pies in the face.
• Church Street’s Principal, Joyce Kossman, awarded the Hamden Chamber of Commerce 2008 Educator of the year award.
• Grace Griffin, a Church Street school teacher was given the prestigious Milken Award and a $25,000 grant. Griffin and other teachers at Church Street have helped to boost student performance in math, writing and reading on state mastery tests.
• More info at Hamden Public School's site, http://www.hamden.org/

Please comment to share your school's accompolishments.

Education Budget 2009 - All Hands On Deck

The following were ideas we shared on how to increase awareness of all the great things you do for your schools, and ways to frame the argument for fully funding the upcoming education budget:

• Get kids involved in the process, as spokespeople for their school. What has their experience been like? What do they get out of it? Tim Nottoli has will lead a kid letter writing campaign in early spring.
• Always accentuate the positive and offer solutions, rather than just complaining.
• Make the correlation of property values and town prosperity to educational system.
• Build / talk about alliances between the Hamden business community and Hamden Public Schools.
• Get testimonials from parents, alumni and grandparents. Where are they or their children now and how did HPS help them get there? Ask council members, Mayor Henrici and his staff, BOE members, teachers, staff, business leaders, HHS alumni group and family members.

Please Post Testimonials in Comments Below ...