Do You GoodSearch?

What if even a fraction of the $6 billion generated by search engine advertisers was distributed to organizations like the RGA Parents Association?

That's the concept behind a new search engine, GoodSearch, powered by Yahoo. GoodSearch donates 50% of its revenue, approximately a penny per search, to charities designated by its users. You use it exactly as you would any other search engine and the pennies add up quickly— just 500 people searching four times a day will earn around $7300 in a year! More than 30,000 nonprofits are now actively generating revenue via GoodSearch and more than 100 charities and schools are registering daily.

Using GoodSearch is simple. Because the site is powered by Yahoo, users are assured of high quality results - but each time you search, money is generated by the advertisers for the PA.

All of our parents want to do good but may not have the time or the money to help out the PA. GoodSearch makes it as easy as possible, by taking something many of us do every day—searching the Internet—and has turned it into doing good.

Do you GoodSearch for the RGA PA? Let's challenge ourselves over the summer to use GoodSearch for the best possible cause — our kids!

Venezuelan Cultural Village at Riverside Theater, Tomorrow— FREE!

Workshops For Dance, Percussion, Rythm and Masks
Saturday, June 30, 2007
1:00PM - 6:00PM
Riverside Theatre
The Riverside Church
490 Riverside Drive
New York, New York 10027
212-870-6700
Click flyer for more info!! FREE!

Midsummer Night Swing Kids Day: Ballroom, Tango and Swing for Kids!

Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing's Kids Day is tomorrow, Saturday, June 30th from 11:00 AM-12:30. Ever wanted your kids to learn ballroom, tango and swing from Pierre Doulaine himself (the inspiration for the films Mad Hot Ballroom and Take the Lead)? This is your opportunity! Tickets are $5 and free for kids five and under!

Borders Summer Reading Program, Buy 3 Get 4th Book Free!

Need to get your kids their summer books? Take advantage of the Borders Summer Reading program: Buy 3 and get the 4th book free through July 30th. Buy 2 Junie B. Jones books through July 2nd and get the 3rd free!!

Kindergarten Stepping Up Ceremony and Central Park Picnic!

Here's a slideshow from KA's Stepping Up Ceremony and KA-KB picnic in Central Park! (Thanks, Louis!)

IMPORTANT CITYWIDE DOE INFORMATION ON CONTRACTS FOR EXCELLENCE!!

The Governor and Legislature of New York State approved an unprecedented increase in education aid this year to address decades-long funding inequities in school districts including NYC. A portion of this funding, called the Contracts for Excellence, will be spent on specific programs for improving educational opportunities for our city's high-needs students. Click the flyers above, in English and Spanish, about upcoming public hearings for parents and community members to provide comment on the Citywide and Community School District Contracts for Excellence. The hearings will be held July 9-12th from 6-8pm in each of the five boroughs. To view Citywide and Community School District preliminary Contracts, visit the Department of Education’s website after July 5th.

For copies of the flyer translated in an additional seven languages, please send an email here.

RAFFLE!!!

Watch for amazing items at the first-ever PA raffle, which will be held on Wednesday, July 18th, during the First Annual School-Wide Community Picnic. Proceeds benefit the Parents Association, which will use the funds to provide enrichment resources for our children. Other items soon to be announced! Thanks to those below for their generosity!

To make a donation, please contact Isadora Bolton!

iPod (Mary Shanahan)
New Victory Theater Tickets (Lisa Trollbäck)
The Ultimate Rolling Stones Swag Bag (DVDs, CDs and Attire for the Rock 'n' Roll Family) (Meilyn Soto-Chapman)
Star Wars USPS gift basket (Camera Miley)
$100 Lands' End gift certificate (Margaret  Ng & Michael Chan)
Christopher Norman Chocolates (Margaret Ng & Michael Chan)
Three-piece luggage set (Ray Rawls)
$50 J. Crew gift card (Tahisha Fields)
Homework pass (Dr. Clagnaz)
Lunch with Mr. Damweber
Sunday matinee with Mr. Rosenberg
Bike adventure with Mr. Brown
Lunch or music video with Mr. Noguera

URGENT: Spanish Translator Needed!!!!

The new PA Board, in its mission to improve communication with parents, urgently seeks a Spanish translator for quick turnaround of PA correspondence, including a current, urgent letter to parents regarding afterschool services, which requires immediate parent response.

If you or any parent you know can offer volunteer services to the PA as a Spanish translator, please contact new PA Co-President Reada Edelstein at 646.414.7262.

Word for Word Kids: Pinkalicious— FREE!!

The runaway best-selling book, Pinkalicious, comes to life with storytime with authors Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann and a performance by the Vital Children’s Theatre cast of Pinkalicious, The Musical. FREE!!
Saturday, June 30
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Bryant Park Reading Room
Outdoors at the Bryant Park Reading Room, on the 42nd Street side between 5th and 6th. In case of rain, the event moves to Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 555 Fifth Avenue (at 46th Street).
(This post is dedicated to soon-to-be 2nd Grader Zoe Sheares!!)

Please Take The Independent Parent Survey!!!

Please participate in the Independent Parent Survey posted on the website of the National Center for Schools and Communities at Fordham University. This survey, developed and coordinated by Class Size Matters and other parent activists, provides a forum for parents to express their opinions about some of the issues you won't find in the official DOE parent survey.

Please fill out the survey as soon as possible, and encourage other public school parents to participate as well. If you know a number of parents in our community who do not have computer access but who would be interested in filling out a pen and paper survey, the Center will make up a bubble version and email to you for distribution collection, and return (or fax).

Thanks for your participation.
John Beam
Executive Director
National Center for Schools and Communities
Fordham University
33 West 60th Street Second Floor
New York, NY 10023
212-636-6617
www.NCSCatFordham.org

End the Use of Styrofoam Trays in NYC Schools!!

Did you know that RGA children eat off of Styrofoam trays each day at school? Each day, NYC public schools, including Ross Global Academy, serve meals on Styrofoam trays. It is estimated that 850,000 trays are used daily throughout the public schools. These trays are then thrown out, discarded, into our already overused landfills. These trays do not decompose. These trays, as they fall apart, prevent other trash from decomposing. These trays cannot be recycled. Additionally, studies suggest the possibility of chemical migration into the food our children eat each day. Demand that the NYC Department of Education find a healthier and more environmentally-friendly alternative!!! Please take less than a minute to go to the following link and sign a petition.

From Today's New York Times

An article mentioning Ross Global Academy in today's New York Times.

Urgent: Let the PA Know If You Depend on AfterCare!!!

Do you need AfterCare? Send an email ASAP to the RGA PA with a reply to the following question:

I am interested in a fee-based after-school program from 4:30 to 6:00 pm during the regular school year.

_____Yes _____No _____Maybe

Your Name_____________________

Your Contact Information_________________________________

Your Child’s(Children’s) Name(s) & Grade(s) as of 9/07_____________________________________________

Click the notice above from the new PA Board for more information.

Summer Uniform Savings — 30 Percent Off and More!!!

Newly reelected PA treasurer Isadora Bolton points out that several RGA uniform items can be found in the Lands' End overstock section. Stock up for fall while prices are low!!

Items include:
Big Kids' Drifter Vest
was $24.50 now $17.99

Kids' Drifter Cardigan Sweater
was $29.50 now $22.99

Big Kids' Short Sleeve Solid Mesh Polo Shirt
was $12.50 now $9.99

Little Kids' V-neck Drifter Sweater
was $29.50 now $19.99

Kids' Drifter Crew Sweater
was $26.50 now $19.99

Girls' Slim Uniform Long Chino Skort
was $19.50 now $14.99

Uniform Girls' Curved Hem Cropped Pants
was $22.50 now $15.99

Shop via SchoolPop for Lands' End products and the Parents Association earns five percent of each of your purchases!!!

The RGA office still has a big stack of discount cards: A $25 coupon costs $21.

Huge Thanks to Parents for 2006-2007 Contributions!!!

The parents of the Ross Global Academy community have worked incredibly hard for the students this startup year!!

The Parents Association would like to celebrate the last day of the 2006-2007 academic year by taking a moment to offer HUGE thanks to all of the hardworking and resourceful parent volunteers who have contributed so much of themselves, their creativity, energy, patience, resourcefulness and dedication to enriching our children's lives this year!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!

RGA Parents Association
• Launch of a Ross Global Academy Parents Association, January 2007
• Two Elections of Officers of the RGA PA

Fundraising
• School photos fundraiser (Irvin Simon Studio; $880)
• Scholastic Book Fair fundraiser (30 percent of $4100 sales)
• Scholastic One for Books Program: A donation of 160 books to RGA by parents and students.
• SchoolPop fundraiser (ongoing)
• GoodSearch.com fundraiser (ongoing)
• Time Out New York Kids subscription fundraiser (ongoing)
• UseYourPhotos.com fundraiser (ongoing)
• Five middle school bake sales ($500)
• Box Tops 4 Education/General Mills fundraiser (ongoing)
• Raffle for the community picnic on July 18th (so far give-aways include an iPod, New Victory 2007-2008 tickets, and Star Wars USPS gift basket, plus much more!!)
• Spearheaded and co-wrote three grant applications, including for Airborne Teachers Trust and Center for Arts Education Parents As Arts Partners; new grant application in process for Center for Arts Education Parents As Arts Partners.

Special Events
• Basketball Championship Celebration
• Diversity Day
• Stepping Up Ceremonies for Kindergarten (co-sponsored by parents)
• Schoolwide Community Picnic (upcoming, July 18th)
• Teacher Appreciation Day acknowledgments and classroom-specific events.
• Lunar New Year: Chinese stories and activities
• Several In-class Holiday, End-of-Year, and Pizza Celebrations
• Lower school: Snacks and drinks schedule—weekly rotation, by family
• Millennium High School Thanksgiving Collaboration; Pairing Millennium 10th and RGA 1st Grade Class
• Donated refrigerator to a Kindergarten class to provide healthier snacks like cheese and fruit; and kids can bring more choices for lunch.
• Gifts and loans to class libraries from teachers’ wish lists
• Entertainment for a final class picnic

Enrichment

Field Trips
Initiated, organized, chaperoned, and subsidized many field trips, including:
1. Carnegie Hall Educational Concert Woodwinds Concert
2. Metropolitan Museum of Art guided tour and hands-on sketching exploration (“The Four Seasons”)
3. Brooklyn Museum of Art guided tour/hands-on sketching exploration, Egyptian Collection
4. Museum of Natural History African American History Month Special Program: Hall of African Mammals Small Group Explorations; Special African American History Month Performance
5. Museum of Natural History Hall of South American Peoples: Small Group Explorations; Special South American Artist Performance
6. Museum of the American Indian: Special Native North American Performance
7. Mahayana Buddhist Temple (largest Buddhist temple in NYC), Chinatown: Lunar New Year celebration
8. Poets House: Tour and Reading
9. Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum: Guided tour and Robot Workshop
10. Paper Bag Players “Dandelion”
11. Ballet Hispanico @ City College
12. Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
13. New York Aquarium (Coney Island)
14. Charlotte's Web, the movie—school paid for the kids but parents arranged the trip
15. The Nutcracker at the Winter Garden
16. Rose Center for Earth and Space
17. Alexander Calder in City Hall Park: Walking Tour of Calder public sculpture exhbition, with video and book references.
18. Jazz at Lincoln Center's JazzED program with Wynton Marsalis at the Apollo Theater
19. Lombardi's (oldest pizzeria in America), luncheon and tour
20. Dim Sum Luncheon at Jin Fong Restaurant, Chinatown/Lunar New Year celebration
21. Central Park/Heckscher Playground Sprinkler Trip: Ice pops for all of first grade; served as chaperones.

In-school Authors/Artists Series
Parents initiated and set up special visits from many prominent authors and artists, including:
• Mary Ellen Mark and Martin Bell, well-known photographer and filmmaker
• Yibin Li, Chinese-born virtuouso violinist, play-and-talk session
• Laura Ljungkvist, Swedish-born, NY-based children’s author/illustrator
• Mari Takabayashi, Japanese-born children’s author/illustrator
• Kam Mak, Chinese-born children’s author/illustrator
• Jakob Trollbäck, Emmy-winning motion graphics designer/director
• Annie Wright (widow of James Wright) from the Poets House, Poetry
Reading
• Laurie Rosenwald, children’s author/illustrator (upcoming, fall 2007)).

Extracurricular
• Launch of a Girl Scouts Troop for Next Fall
• Coaching for the Step Team
• Launch of dialogues with Third Street Music School Settlement, Alvin Ailey, and Piano School of NYC for potential after-school and Saturday enrichment programming.

Community
• Launch of a Uniform Exchange Program (in progress)
• Service as volunteer school aides, and in other capacities, five days a
week, in the case of several parents, since October 2006.

Internet Community
• Launch of an active PA website within a month of forming the Parents Association.
• Hundreds of links to education organizations, news groups, educational sites, fundraising opportunities and much more.
• Online suggestion box
• Timely School information, updated daily
• Approx. 400 individual news items posted since the site’s inception

Whitney Kids ROCK! Summer Festival—FREE!

Families with kids ages 4 to 12 are invited to discover the spirit of the 60s this coming Saturday at the Whitney Kids ROCK! Summer Festival, in conjunction with the special exhibition, Summer of Love: Art of the Psychedelic Era. Enjoy outdoor performances by students of "The Paul Green School of Rock All Stars." Create your own wearable art work inspired by the music and mood of the era!

Saturday, June 30, 2007
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Whitney Museum of American Art
945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street

FREE for families with kids ages 4 to 12.
Transportation:
Subway: 6 to 77th Street (walk two blocks west to Madison Avenue)
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4 to 75th Street
All children must be accompanied
by an adult.

Registration is recommended, but not required.
To register, please call the Whitney's Family Programs hotline at 212-671-5300.
Rain date: Saturday, July 7, 2007

(Thanks to Michael Chan for this tip!)

Do You Need AfterCare?? Hurry and Make Your Voice Heard!!!

Hurry and make your needs and wishes known regarding AfterCare programming for the 2007-2008 school year!!! The Board of Trustees and Dr. Clagnaz are reviewing AfterCare options, so now is the time to put in your two cents!! So far, not many families have responded to the questionnaire that recently went home with children in backpack mail. (Feedback via the PA's online suggestion box is kept anonymous, by the way!) The form that went home by backpack mail can be found here. Send it in ASAP today; the Board of Trustees meeting is at 4 PM this afternoon!!

Kindergarten Stepping Up Ceremony Held This Afternoon!

Ms. Yamaguchi's kindergarten class held its Stepping Up Ceremony this afternoon. A BIG congratulations to all of the families of the first Kindergarten class of Ross Global Academy!!

GreenNYC!

Friends of Trollbäck + Company at HunterGatherer, NY, created this great animated spot for the City's new environmental consumer-education campaign. Watch it with your kids! (Thanks to Exec Producer Julie Shevach for sending this!)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES FINAL MEETING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR ON TUESDAY!!

ROSS GLOBAL ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL WILL HOLD A PUBLIC BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING (THE FINAL MEETING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR) ON:

TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2007
FROM 4:00 P.M. UNTIL 5:30 P.M.
LOCATION: ROOM 115

PARENTS, PLEASE ATTEND!!

A Letter to the Community from Dr. Clagnaz

Click to read a letter from today from Dr. Clagnaz!

RGA Community Potluck Picnic—Save the Date, Wednesday, July 18th!!!

Click the flyer above for details of the the First Annual RGA Community Picnic, on Wednesday, July 18th, from 5 PM until dusk!! Look for a copy of the Save-the-Date flyer in backpack mail on Monday, June 25th!

The Potlock Picnic will include music by our middle schoolers and great raffle items (to benefit our Parents Association), including New Victory theater tickets, an iPod, great Stars Wars USPS gift basket, a homework pass from Dr. Clagnaz, and much, much more!! Come celebrate RGA's first year and our wonderful community!!

All families of current and incoming students, faculty, staff and trustees are invited!!!

Special thanks to Mary Shanahan and Isadora Bolton for co-chairing the event, reserving the beautiful Washington Market Park Gazebo, securing the Parks Permit, etc.!! Thanks, also, to Henning Trollbäck, an illustrator from Stockholm, Sweden and Stina Trollbäck's cousin extraordinaire, for the fun save-the-date illustration!

For more information or to volunteer to help with the event, please contact Mary or Isadora!

Kindergarten Stepping Up Ceremony Held Yesterday!

A Stepping Up Ceremony was held yesterday for the fabulous Kindergarten kids of Ms. Lacina's class!! Proud families convened to watch performances and to celebrate the occasion with flowers and food. Ms. Yamaguchi's class holds their Stepping Up Ceremony on Monday, June 25th. Congratulations to all of the families of the very first Kindergarten class of Ross Global Academy!!

First Grade End-of -Year Field Trip to Heckscher Playground in Central Park!

Equipped with bathing suits, sunblock and picnic gear, the first-grade classes spent a jubilant day in newly renovated Heckscher Playground, Central Park's largest playground at over three acres. The kids had a wonderful time running through the sprinklers, picnicking with classmates, and eating ice pops!

Parents Association Officers Elected!

In today's Parents Association election, Reada Bunin Edelstein and Sherrill Collins became Co-Presidents and Albert Yau became Vice President. There were no other candidates for either president or vice president. Isadora Bolton, the only incumbent PA Board member, won re-election as Treasurer.

Congratulations to the new team!!

Elections Are Today — Remember to Go Vote!!!

Elections for officers of the Parents Association are open today!! You must be present to vote! See earlier post for details!

Soccer Team Takes Home Silver in NYC Charter School Soccer Championship!!!

Coach Jon Leizman reports that the RGA soccer team captured Second Place in the New York City Charter Middle School Soccer Championship!! RGA defeated OWNCS 7th grade 3-2 in the semi-final game! Dejevan Guy scored two goals and Trevor Wan scored one. Shequel Jones and the defense of Xin Shi, Jake Waldo, and Elloys De la Rosa all played great. Elisabeth Yang had the play of the game, saving what seemed like a sure goal by sprinting and kicking the ball away just before it crossed our goal line. Hassan White, Olivia Yau, and Kenner Del Orbe controlled the ball at midfield.

In the Championship game, OWNCS eighth grade defeated RGA 2-0. RGA played extremely well, losing to a very strong squad. We are all already looking forward to our season next year!

Congratulations to Trevor Wan, Shequel Jones, Jake Waldo, Hassan White, Shi Zhang, Marshal Lewis, Jared Thompson, DJ Guy, Elloys De la Rosa, Kenner DelOrbe, Olivia Yau, Elizabeth Yang, Xin Shi, Eleena Roman, Jenna Bunin, Yusef Lewis, Nathaniel Szeto, Erik Lin, and Elijah Bunche.

Candidates for Office of the Parents Association Announced!

Below is the list of candidates running for office for the Parent Association of Ross Global Academy Charter School for the 2007-2008 school year along with bios for those who submitted them. Voting will take place on Thursday, June 21, at the school, at the election table, from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM and, again, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM at which times ballots will be provided. Call (212) 995-9722 if you have any questions.

CANDIDATES FOR CO-PRESIDENTS

READA BUNIN EDELSTEIN - 5B (running with Sherrill Collins)
Reada has more than 25 years experience in non-profit management and resource development. She is highly skilled in project development, special events, grant writing, major individual gift fundraising, operations, board relations and training, budgeting and communications. She is a co-founder and principal of E&R Event Design Inc., a special event fundraising consulting firm. Her experience includes seven figure special events honoring CEOs of F500 corporations and multi-national financial institutions, theater benefits, film screenings, golf outings and auctions. Prior to forming her own firm, Edelstein was Associate Executive Director for Communications and Development for the YWCA of the City of New York, responsible for conceptualizing, implementing and managing all private sector fundraising, communications and public relations activities, including special events, member communications, media relations, sponsorships, creation and production of printed materials. On a personal level, she is a single parent with two children: Jenna, age 10, a fifth grader (5B) at Ross Global Academy and a son, Damian, 17, attending Humanities Preparatory Academy (HPA), an alternative NYC public high school. She is currently the alternate Class Rep for 5B; is on the School Leadership Team (SLT) at HPA; was Co-President of the HPA Parent Association; and served on the SLT at Jenna's previous school, PS 163. She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Adelphi University.

SHERRILL COLLINS – KB and 5A (running with Reada Edelstein)
History of Parent Involvement at Ross Global Academy. I am PA Board Member/Class Parent Representative, Saturday School Program Assistant, Parent Volunteer. Serve on the Code of Conduct Committee. Served on the Summer Planning Committee Assisted with the Saturday School Program. Reported on both Middle School & School Wide issues as Class Parent Rep. Established a Relationship with Faculty Members. Involved in School Functions (Basketball Championship Celebration, Holiday Events. Clothing and Book Drive , Cultural Day, Bake Sales etc.) Presently training for Junior Girl Scouts for RGA middle school students. Café breakfast volunteer. St. Joseph's School in Greenwich Village. P.T.A Board Member/ Class Parent Representative. Officer of Community Service. Initiated after school volunteer program consisting of thirty NYU student volunteers a semester. Structured and implemented programs: Homework Help, Class Room Support, Tutoring One-on-One, Mandarin, Spanish, Cooking, Knitting, Arts and Crafts, Story Time.Participated in Fundraiser Events. My commitment has been and will continue to focus on creating a community amongst students, faculty, parents and administration. My mission however, is to help fulfill the vision of RGA and the expectations of RGA families. Education is my first priority; if our educators are lovers of education then our children will do more then learn, they will become great thinkers and thrive. Fundraising stands next in line; a vision needs more than funding it needs supporters that believe in a long term worthwhile cause. We have approximately a little over 164 children that fit that description. Facility; we can all hold everyone accountable but at the end of the day we the parents are responsible for our children. While I believe in giving people a chance to fix what is broken, I also believe in the power of a united voice. The P.A.; I believe it is the P.A's job to keep parents informed, involved and united by holding monthly P.A. meetings, parent workshops, social gatherings and creating committees that will benefit the good of the whole school community.

CANDIDATE FOR VICE PRESIDENT

ALBERT YAU – 5A
I'm a father of three. Currently I'm running a studio specializing in fine jewelry designs, special orders and hand made elegant jewelry. My child, Olivia, is currently in class 5A. I enroll her in RGA to the same believe that this is the century for globalization. Understanding that this experiment needs time to succeed, we had not see many academic achievement this year in RGA as promised prior to our arrival. Like many of the parents that want the school to succeed, I decided to run in the PA board so that this sentiment and opinions can be represented. I would like the PA work closely with the RGA Board & administration in the following areas: 1) to develop a sound academic curriculum at grade level and beyond. Science subject which is missing this year must be restored , Qualified teachers must be hired a.s.a.p., 2) to focus on the school facilities. Everyone in the RGA community knows that This Court House is not build for a school & we just got limited in a lot of normal school functions such as science labs, gyms, library..........etc. The school building search must be active and strategic in cooperation with the RGA Board & local politician. 3) to increase parents' involvement in the whole RGA community.

CANDIDATES FOR TREASURER

RICHARD KIXMILLER – 6B
Shi Zhang in 6b is my step-kid. In April I was elected at a PA general meeting to fill the vice president's position vacated by Chandra Osborne. For 14 years I've had a volunteer position as portfolio manager of a small tax-exempt foundation. For 12 years I've been treasurer of Central Park Track Club. For 7 years I've been treasurer of my building's condo association. For all 3 of these organizations, I've served on their committees to amend bylaws or certificate of incorporation. I'm familiar with the 501(c)(3) application process for IRS tax-exempt status.
Since becoming involved with the PA upon the suspension of Mr. Marchese in February, I don't believe I have missed a PA meeting and have only missed one trustees' meeting. During this time period the incumbent treasurer missed 90% of the meetings. Our bylaws say: "Any officer who fails to attend three (3) consecutive executive board meetings without good cause following written notice from the executive board, shall be removed from office…". Our bylaws also say: "The treasurer shall also prepare and provide regular treasurer reports in addition to the January 31st interim and June annual accounting reports." To my knowledge no such reports have been issued. If elected I plan to maintain my attendance record and deliver timely financial statements.

ISODORA BOLTON – 1B
I am the Payroll/HR Associate for a nursing home and manage a $1.4 million dollar payroll budget as well as write checks to pay our biweekly and monthly bills. I am well aware of my fiduciary duties as a person who is entrusted with money and bank accounts. During my time as Treasurer of RGAPA, I have secured an EIN that was needed to open a bank account for the PA of which I am solely responsible. I initiated the first Scholastic Book Fair, which was very successful, thanks to the parent body of RGA. Robert Fighera and I are in the process of working with a pro-bono attorney to file for the PA's 501c3 non-profit status. This will enable the school community to fundraise on a larger scale. Having a non-profit status will allow us to subsidize or pay for field trips, special events and special after-school and summer programs that Ross Global Academy will not pay for or offer to the students. Filing for non-profit status at this time is not a popular idea for most of the people on the PA, but if we are truly about the children, this will benefit them in ways beyond our expectations. It would be a mistake to wait until the fall to begin the process of filing for this status. We will not be eligible for grants from major companies like Wal-Mart and Lands end, for example, to aid in funding our 2007-2008 after school enrichment and summer programs because they only give to non-profit organizations. I would like to continue as the Treasurer of the PA to complete the filing for the non-profit status and to be in the position to work towards raising money to help get what we were promised when we signed on to have our children attend RGA and to always be moving forward.

PA Elections — Nominations Close at NOON TODAY!!

Nominations for officers of the Parents Association close at NOON TODAY!

Election/Voting: Will take place on Thursday, June 21, from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM and from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Candidates are encouraged to be present. You must be present to vote.

Term of office: July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.

Number of positions available:
Per the bylaws, 4 positions must be filled
Per the bylaws, 3 others may be filled as indicated below.
Positions and general duties (see bylaws for specific duties):
President (must) Heads association & presides at meetings
Co-Presidents (may) Shares president’s responsibilities
Vice President # 1 (must) Assist president & performs duties in absence
Vice President # 2 (may) Assist president & performs duties in absence
Secretary # 1 (must) Maintains all official records, prepares meeting minutes
Secretary # 2 (may) Shares responsibilities of the secretary
Treasurer (must) Conducts & responsible for all financial affairs

Candidates: Candidates may run as individuals or on a slate with others. Co-presidents must run with a candidate of their choice. Nominating: You may nominate yourself or another (only if you have their permission) by completely filling out the below form and emailing it or giving it to a member of the nominating committee or to parent coordinator, Brooke Rogers. Eligibility: Per the bylaws, whether or not you pay the suggested dues, you are automatically a member of the Parent Association if you are a parent, guardian or person in parental relation to a child attending Ross Global Academy Charter School. A member is entitled to vote and to run for any position. There will be one vote only for each family unit. The election process and officers' duties are outlined in the Bylaws, accessible via the lefthand sidebar of this website (or see Parent Coordinator Brook Rogers). Please contact the Nominating Committee directly with any questions you may have: Xavier Chavee, Tricia Mecklembourg or Ayo Harrington, Chair at (212) 995-9722.

The PA Thanks Tanisha Gaskin For Leading A Successful Cultural Day!!

The Parents Association thanks Tanisha Gaskin for initiating and organizing Cultural Day, an enormously successful and well-attended event celebrating the diversity of the population of Ross Global Academy. There were lots of fantastic dance routines —wonderfully choreographed and implemented by Ms. Cassandra Hudgen-Grace—and fabulous Latin American dancing from the middle school students who are taking the "Musica, Musica!" enrichment cluster class taught by Ms. Patricia Cabal, RGA's Theater Coach. Other highlights included a fashion show, silent auction, beautiful face painting, and great food, including delicious Chinese cake! Thanks to Tanisha, all the parent volunteers, faculty, and kids for making the event so enjoyable and memorable. With luck, it will be the start of an RGA tradition!

Afterschool Programs for 2007-2008

What are your needs for Afterschool? The Board of Trustees, in its meeting on Friday afternoon, discussed whether or not to offer afterschool programming next year at all, and, if so, discussed possible programming options and scenarios. Do you know of a great afterschool program model or potential organization with which to partner? Would you pay a fee for programs that address your child's wellness, academic and extracurricular interests? Now is the time to make your and your child's wishes and needs known! If you work and need an at-school afterschool program option, make sure to let the PA know here! (The RGA Suggestion Box form has been newly revised to reflect current priorities for parental input.)

This Afternoon: BAC's FOLK FEET: CIRCLE 'ROUND BROOKLYN 2

WHAT: FOLK FEET: Circle 'Round Brooklyn 2, Circle Dance Workshops and Performances

WHEN: Sunday, June 17, 2007 from 3 – 5pm
WHERE: Fort Greene Park, on the lawn near the Martyrs’ Monument. Enter the park on the DeKalb Ave. side. (Take A/C to Lafayette; G to Fulton; Q/R to Dekalb; or 2/3/4 to Atlantic Avenue)

Join Folk Feet: Circle ‘Round Brooklyn 2, a participatory dance event, held from 3 – 5 p.m. TODAY, Sunday, June 17 at Fort Greene Park featuring performances by soloists and troupes, whose traditional dance forms relate to shapes such as the circle and line. The audience will have an opportunity to learn dances suitable for all ages. Learn hula, Haitian rara, African American juba and experience Korean poongmul and Brazilian capoeira. Bring out the whole family for this special Juneteenth and Father’s Day celebration.

Circle and line dances bring people together. Many cultures throughout the world retain circle dance traditions and here in Brooklyn still join together in the round at weddings and festivals as dancers reaffirm community through longstanding forms such as African American juba and Haitian rara.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

2:45 DJA-Rara
Haitian rara procession with audience participation starting from Myrtle Ave side of Ft. Greene Park to the lawn near Martyrs’ Monument

3:20 Capoeira Brooklyn
Brazilian capoeira taught and roda demonstrated

3:50 Kaina Quenga
Hula performance and workshop

4:20 Adia Whitaker
African American juba workshop

4:50 Vongku Pak
Korean drumming and dance

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

We're fortunate to have a parents community with very active guys — including a Parents Association President (Ian Pearce) and Vice President (Richard Kixmiller), along with many other engaged and involved fathers. To all of these guys: Have a great day and thanks for doing so much to support the school!

Parents as Arts Partners

If you're interested in helping to create a Parents as Arts Partners program for RGA, please get in touch! Click the flyer for details.

T Shirt Sales and Schedule for Cultural Day Program!

Click flyer for details!

Get Your Girl Ready for Girl Scouts!

For more information about involving your girls in the girl scouts, please contact Isadora Bolton! Click flyers for details!

PUBLIC BOARD MEETING THIS FRIDAY!

ROSS GLOBAL ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL WILL HOLD A PUBLIC BOARD MEETING ON:
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2007
FROM 4:00 P.M. UNTIL 5:30 P.M.
LOCATION: ROOM 115

No Need for a Trip to the Newsstand!

Gather all the education news you need—for FREE and without a trip to the newsstand (not to mention without harming a tree)! A New York Daily News Education news feed has been added to the group of education-news readers in the lefthand sidebar. Feeds on this site also include those from The New York Times, NPR, CNN, Washington Post, Education Week/Charters and Choice, Google charter school news, eSchool News, the U.S. Dept. of Education, and New York State Dept. of Education. There are also direct feeds from the New York Public Library for daily FREE kids' events at branch libraries. If you have another idea, please submit it!

First Grade Robokids!!

Nathan Damweber's first-grade class participated in a first-rate robot workshop today at the Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum. The kids first saw and discussed several examples of robots in the current National Design Triennial, including Natalie Jerimejenko's impressive feral dog robots (which sniff out toxic waste); WowWee's robotoys (including the raptor pictured here); Hanson Robotics' talking Einstein robot (see the video!); and Joseph Ayers' LoBot lobster robot, whose job it is to seek out underwater mines.

The kids then had their own time in the Cooper-Hewitt studio, where they developed their own robot concepts, deciding what task they wanted to design their robot to perform, identifying the attributes it would therefore need, and then naming and drawing their robot. Before embarking, they did an excercise where a blindfolded child was "programmed" by another child to complete a task. It was hard! The hands-down, most popular concept: a homework 'bot!

The kids then ate their lunch in the Cooper-Hewitt garden and ran around in a Central Park playground before heading back to school for Art and Chinese!

New York Charter Schools' 2006-2007 ELA Performance!

The New York Charter School Association has issued its report on the percentage of New York State charter school students meeting or exceeding state standards on the 2006-2007 English Language Arts exams. Look up RGA's 5th and 6th grade scores!

Asheba Performs at Bank Street on Saturday

Children's Concert with Bank Street Favorite Asheba
Saturday, June 16th, 11:00 AM

Young siblings can take a walk on the wild side while big brother or sister are in school this Saturday—with Putumayo Kids' Animal Playground Concert featuring Trinidad-born artist, Asheba. Animal Playground is the latest release in the award-winning Playground CD series from Putumayo Kids. The new album presents a multilingual collection of animal-themed songs from around the world. For a preview, check out Asheba's video here! This event will take place in the Bank Street Auditorium next door to the bookstore. Ticket Prices: Adult $8.00 / Child $5.00. To purchase tickets, stop by the bookstore or call 212.678.1654. Bank Street Bookstore, corner of 112th Street and Broadway.

PS Art 2007

Have you been through the rotunda at school recently and wondered about the art show? P.S. Art 2007 is a display of outstanding artwork of school students in kindergarten through grade 12. Up through August 24th, the exhibition includes 58 works, selected by a jury from more than 600 submissions. In addition, the P.S. Art 2007 catalog will be distributed nationally to policy-makers and educators to promote the value of art in schools. This year’s exhibition marks the fifth anniversary of P.S. Art, which celebrates art education in New York City.

New York Students Post Higher Math Scores

In every grade tested, New York City saw jumps, often in double-digits, in the proportion of students performing at grade level over the year before. Read the Times article! Look up the percentage of Ross Global Academy 5th and 6th graders who passed, according to the Times. [Note that the Times has misspelled Ross Global Academy as Global Academy.]

Special Education — Hear from the Office of Special Education Initiatives Tomorrow!

The Citywide Council on Special Education invites you to come hear Linda Wernikoff, Senior Instructional Manager, Office of Special Education Initiatives, speaking tomorrow evening on the topic of Children First Special Education Reforms.

Wednesday, June 13th, 2007
P3721K – The Children's School
512 Carroll Street
Brooklyn, New York 11215
(718) 624-5271
6pm
Members of the Public are enouraged to sign up to speak or ask
questions. Please keep comments to within four minutes.

AMC Summer Movie Camp!

Families, schools, and camp organizations are invited to see great kids’ movies for FREE during AMC Summer MovieCamp®. Available at select AMC Theatres: FREE movies from June 27 – August 15* (*Excluding July 4th). Shows start at 10:00 a.m. every Wednesday. Great field trip opportunities: groups can reserve FREE tickets one week in advance at the box office at participating theatres. Participating theatres in the Bronx, Westchester and New Jersey. See schedule and theater locations.

NEW PA Elections Thursday, June 21st!!

There were no winners in the June 2nd PA election, therefore nominations for officers are re-opened! Here is a new opportunity to run, vote and get involved! Nominations will take place now through Tuesday, June 19th at 12:00 PM. Nominee bios are required and due June 19th at noon. The election and voting will take place at Ross Global Academy on Thurs, June 21, from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Candidates are encouraged to be present. You must be present to vote. For more information, please click the election flyer above. For any questions or to submit a nomination, please email Ayo Harrington, Nominating Committee Chair.

Go Green, Go to the Movies, and Earn Money for RGA!

How would you like to “go green” this summer and earn contributions for Ross Global Academy at the same time? Universal Pictures, Fandango and SchoolPop have teamed up to promote "Get on Board," a Conservation Fund campaign centered around the release of Evan Almighty, a family comedy, starring Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman and Lauren Graham.

Simply "plant" a virtual tree in the Almighty Forest as a $5 contribution to the Conservation Fund or buy a ticket through SchoolPop on Fandago to see Evan Almighty on opening weekend, June 22-24, and our school could win a BONUS contribution up to $2500! Click the image above for more info!

Did you know...?

BrainPOP is a great, educational program, providing content spanning 7 main subjects including: Science, Math, English, Social Studies, Health, Arts and Music, and Technology. RGA has a school subscription, which you can use for FREE at home! User Name: RGA; Password: RGA.

Metropolitan Opera FREE Tomorrow and Wednesday in Central Park!

Join thousands of opera lovers as the Metropolitan Opera returns to the parks of New York City and New Jersey. A summertime tradition in New York since 1967 and in New Jersey since 1987, the series opens with back-to-back concerts in Manhattan's Central Park on Tuesday, June 12th and Wednesday, June 13th, with six additional performances in each borough of the city and two locations in New Jersey. Here are some tips on how best to enjoy the parks concerts.

Performances are at 8:00 PM, FREE of charge, and no tickets are required.
Tuesday, June 12 La Bohème Central Park, Manhattan
Wednesday, June 13 Faust Central Park, Manhattan

Class 1B Heads to Cooper-Hewitt!!!

Mr. Damweber's first graders are headed to the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum tomorrow, June 12th for its special Tour + Workshop = DESIGN program. The program invites students to "think like designers" as they discuss key objects from the current exhibition, Design Life Now: National Design Triennial 2006. The group will receive a 40-minute guided tour, followed by a 45-minute hands-on workshop in the Museum’s Design Studio. Special bonuses will include seeing the WowWee Robosapien pictured above and work by Stina's dad, creative director of Trollbäck + Company, one of the design companies selected for the Triennial. The exhibition is on view through July 29th, 2007. A huge thanks to Mike Chan for setting up the trip!!! (Below: Trollbäck + Company's ambient ad campaign for Court TV.)

Word Central!

Meilyn Soto-Chapman sent in this tip: Word Central is a fun kids' vocabulary-building destination! Sign up for the daily Buzz Word!! Middle school kids can sign up for A Word A Day from Wordsmith! (Thanks, Meilyn!)

A Plan to Pay for Top Scores on Some Tests Gains Ground

Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he is receptive to a controversial idea to offer cash incentives to students, paid for with private money. See the Times story. What do you think? Post a comment!

Reminder: Two Board of Trustees Meetings This Week!!!

ROSS GLOBAL ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL WILL HOLD PUBLIC BOARD MEETINGS ON:
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2007 FROM 4:00 P.M. UNTIL 5:30 P.M.
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2007 FROM 4:00 P.M. UNTIL 5:30 P.M.
LOCATION: RGA, ROOM 115

SAVE THE DATE: RGA School-Wide Picnic, Wednesday, July 18th!!!

The school-wide RGA Picnic date has been changed to Wednesday, July 18th!! Please Save the Date!!!!

Date: Wednesday, July 18th
Time: 6 PM-9 PM
For: All families and faculty at all grade levels at Ross Global Academy—everyone in the school community is invited!!
What: Potluck Picnic!!! Please bring a dish to share and a blanket for your family!
Beverages will be supplied by the Parents Association!
Place: The beautiful Gazebo at Washington Market Park!
The Gazebo has been reserved for RGA, and the park's caretakers will provide tables!
Raindate: Friday, July 20th, 6 PM-9 PM

RAFFLE: A raffle to benefit RGA will be held at the picnic with a fantastic basket of goodies to be graciously donated by Raschelle Parker!!! Stay tuned for more details!

Washington Market Park is located on Greenwich Street between Duane and Chambers Streets. The main entrance is on Greenwich Street at Duane. Just a few blocks west of the school on Chambers St.! (A big thanks to Mary Shanhan for the research and reservation!!!)

RGA Step Team Wins Second Place in the NYC Charter School Step Competition!!!

Jon Leizman reports that the RGA Step Team won Second Place in the NYC Charter School Step Competition! They performed a great five-minute routine!! Our team consisted of Captain Tamara Olivares, Captain Kimberly Lopez, Amalia Garced, Stephanie Sheridan, Keishla Delorbe, Cassandra Solano, Ijeoma Uzoukwa, Tiera Richardson, Debony Green, and coaches Sue Gonzalez and Althea Holmes. Congratulations on a great job, girls!!!!

Heart Made of Sound

Whiz animator/director Kris Moyes created this fantastic, kid-friendly stop-motion film for the The SoftLightes "Heart Made of Sound." August and Stina love it. Pause to discover fun details.

Afternoon Performance & Dance Party on the Hudson—FREE

Afternoon Performance & Dance Party
2:00 PM–4:00 PM on Sunday, June 10, 2007

Pier I (70th Street) on the Hudson River
Shout along and laugh out loud at an afternoon performance and dance party featuring the infectious high-energy rock band AudraRox, the silly stunts and comic magic of The Hover Brothers, and the hula-hoop antics of GrooveHoops.

Full summer calendar!

5th Annual Cultural Mix — TODAY in Prospect Park!

Saturday, June 9
5th Annual Cultural Mix, TODAY until 6:00 PM
The Bowling Green by Prospect Park’s Youth Resource Center hosts this celebration of Brooklyn’s cultural diversity. With various ethnic performances, like Brazilian capoeira, congo drumming, as well as poetry readings, food from around the world and opportunities for kids to get involved with the community, this festival truly honors the melting pot that embodies New York. All ages. A festival of great entertainment and delicious food from many cultures around the globe—hosted by the Prospect Park Youth Council. FREE!!

HIP HOP GENERATION NEXT: FREE — TODAY!

HIP HOP GENERATION NEXT
June 9, 2007
Coffey Park, Red Hook, Brooklyn
2 PM-7 PM TODAY!

Dancing in the Streets and its partners are throwing a free five-hour block party that celebrates the roots of hip hop as a creative and constructive catalyst for joyous artistic expression. HIP HOP GENERATION NEXT puts the spotlight on a global cultural phenomenon that has sprung from New York City streets. (212) 625-3505. lDirections to Coffey Park and more info!

2 PM: MAIN STAGE
Ase Dance Theater Collective
Neg Mowan (excerpts)
RadioACTIVE

2:30– 4:30 PM: CIPHER AREA
Cipher: Dance and Open Mic
Brandon Albright and Illstyle and Peace Productions will “warm” the cipher up with some fresh moves and encourage others to participate. Those wishing to participate in the Dance Off and Rhyme Off will have to sign up, this will take place ongoing for the first hour, then the official competition will begin. Three judges will pick the top 2 dances and lyrical performances to advance to the feature performance part of the program. The winner will be picked based on who gets the loudest crowd cheers during the Feature Performance segment.

4:30-6:30 PM: MAIN STAGE
PS/MS 27’s 6th Grade
Drip Drop

Idle Hands Dance Project
Drains, Doors and Lotus Flowers

PS/MS 27’S 5TH Grade
Red Hook RaRa 2

Best New Dance
Selected at the afternoon’s cipher

Urban Assembly School of Music and Art’s 9th & 10th Grades

Best Original Rhyme
Selected at the afternoon’s cipher

Illstyle & Peace Productions
Same Spirit Different Movement

6:30 PM: MAIN STAGE
Jam Session

Annual Citywide 8th Grade Science Expo

More than 150 8th graders from NYC public schools in all five boroughs show off their stellar research projects this afternoon from 1 PM-4Pm at the American Museum of Natural History. Inspire your middle schoolers! FREE with museum admission. [212.769.5200]

RGA Fifth Grader Camera Miley Is NYC Top Girl Scout Cookie Seller!!!

RGA Fifth Grader Camera Miley was recently recognized for selling the most Girl Scout cookies of any girl in Brooklyn, and as one of the overall top sellers of the city! She and her helpers sold a whopping 1,204 boxes of cookies! For her extraordinary sales efforts, Camera's troop leader presented Camera with a brand-new shiny Roadmaster bicycle and the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York presented her with Broadway tickets, dinner and limo service for four people! Congratulations, Camera! Look out, everyone! Cookie sales begin again in December!

Reminder: Board Of Trustees Meeting on Monday at 4 PM!

Scholastic Summer Reading Buzz

This summer, every book your child reads and logs on Scholastic's Summer Reading Buzz website feeds the Reader Meter! That is, for every four books that your child reads and logs, one book is donated to Reading Is Fundamental. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.5 million children with 16 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. Engage your child in reading — and in making a difference in other kids' lives!!

Around the World in 1,000 Kicks

One World Taekwondo Foundation presents Around the World in 1,000 Kicks, a fundraiser to subsidize children’s scholarships to Harlem Taekwondo, the Foundation’s school. Master instructors lead participants as they execute 1,000 kicks from the Taekwondo repertoire, a barbecue follows, and all participants receive a commemorative t-shirt. In Morningside Park, at 120th Street. [347.624.5546]

Date: Saturday, June 9th
Time: 12:30 PM-4 PM
Cost: $10 suggested donation
Ages: 5 and up

Chancellor's Day Activity: Chinese Theatre Works

Looking for something to do on the non-attendance day tomorrow? Head to Madison Square Park at 10:30 AM for a FREE Chinese Theatre Works "Morning of Peking Opera"! Classically-trained artists dressed in ornate costumes present an interactive tale of The Handsome Monkey King, a masterpiece of Chinese opera. Introduced in English, and sung in Mandarin. Come watch what happens as the mischievous Monkey King tries to steal the heavenly peaches! Stick around for arts and crafts after the show. [212.538.505]

Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule Revised!

ROSS GLOBAL ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL WILL HOLD PUBLIC BOARD MEETINGS ON:

MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2007 FROM 4:00 P.M. UNTIL 5:30 P.M.
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2007 FROM 4:00 P.M. UNTIL 5:30 P.M.
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2007 FROM 4:00 P.M. UNTIL 5:30 P.M.

LOCATION:
TWEED COURTHOUSE BUILDING
52 CHAMBERS STREET
1ST FLOOR ROOM 115
NEW YORK NY 10007

IMPORTANT NOTICE: IT IS THE POLICY OF THE TWEED BUILDING & THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF CITYWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO BE NOTIFIED IN ADVANCE OF INCOMING VISITORS. IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND, PLEASE GIVE 24 HOUR ADVANCE NOTICE TO ERIKA ELLISON, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, AT 212-374-5049.

NEW AILY EXTENSION SUMMER CLASSES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE!

The Ailey Extension is currently registering young people ages 12-17 for two newly announced 6-week classes: Teen Ballet and Teen Hip Hop. These 90-minute classes will introduce teens to the basic principles used in ballet and Hip Hop. Beginners are welcome and encouraged to enroll. (There is no placement audition for these classes and no prior dance experience necessary.)

Sundays, June 17 through July 22
Teen Ballet at 11:30 am
Teen Hip Hop at 1 pm
Cost = $200 for each six-week course; $375 if enrolling for both.
For more information, please call (212) 405-9500.

American Museum of Natural History Mythic Festival!

Celebrate the new American Museum of Natural History exhibition, Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns, and Mermaids, with Mythic Fesitval, an afternoon of FREE programming for the whole family. The lineup includes performances featuring Indonesian, Haitian, and Chinese mythical creatures; demonstrations with artist Takeshi Yamada; storytelling events; puppet-making workshops; and a curatorial talk, all in celebration of Mythic Creatures. You can also enjoy a new program with Scooter, Dr. Nebula's assistant.

Sunday, June 24 12:00 noon–5 p.m.
See the full schedule!