January 2025 Newsletter

JANUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER

Welcome Back to School!

We hope you had a restful and rejuvenating holiday break. The PTSA is excited to kick off the second half of the school year with our signature programs like Family Movie Night and Science Fair. We are also starting the recruiting and nomination process to fill vacancies on our Executive Committee next year, so stay tuned for the application (opens in February).

As an all-volunteer-run organization, we count on the time and dedication of our community to help us advance our mission and support our schools. Join our volunteer database to get involved or contact us at hello@irvingtonnyptsa.org with any ideas, suggestions or comments. Best wishes for the remainder of the school year!

PTSA General Membership Meeting Notice

Jan. 15 | 7 - 8PM | ZOOM

Join us for our 2nd general membership meeting of the year via ZOOM to vote on the proposed general membership volunteers for the nominating committee (LINK), hear from advocacy committees, and get updates on our grants and programs.

Zoom Link

Family Movie Night Kicks Off This Week!

A BUG’s LIFE | Fri. Jan. 10

INSIDE OUT | Fri. Jan. 17

6PM | Dows Lane Gym

Grab your sleeping bag, blanket and pillow and join us for our annual Family Movie Nights! This year, we’re offering a choice of two films: A Bug’s Life (Rated G) or Inside Out (Rated PG). Click HERE for details.

Book a Family Ticket!

HeadsUp Rivertowns Committee Updates

The PTSA HeadsUp Rivertowns (HUR) Committee aims to bring awareness, education, support and advocacy to encourage a screen smart community in the current and changing age of technology.

Make your voice heard by completing the HUR Committee’s parent survey on smartphone use at schools.

All community members are invited to the next HeadsUp Committee meeting on January 23rd at 7:30PM in the Ark at the Shames JCC, or by Zoom.

To get involved with HeadsUp, email headsup@irvingtonnyptsa.org and join the HeadsUp email list!

New Irvington Spirit Wear for Winter 2024!

Support Irvington schools and celebrate the Bulldogs by purchasing spirit wear for local pick-up!

A portion of the sales support the PTSA General Fund which brings grants and programs to our schools.

Shop Now

PTSA-Funded Grants - December 2024

A major focus of the Irvington PTSA is to support teacher- and administrator-driven projects/programs and provide the necessary resources for our schools. During the first half of this school year, we funded over $32,000 in grants including a portion of the IHS Band/Jazz/Wind/Flag and Marching Band Trip to perform in Philadelphia ($4,550).

Your membership and donation is vital to helping the PTSA enrich and support our schools, and fund grants for programs and infrastructure. Please renew your annual membership today!

PTSA members can access our online student and parent directory. Here’s how to access the directory.

Join the Dows Lane

Birthday Book Club

Looking for a special way to mark your child’s birthday while commemorating their legacy at Dows Lane Elementary School? Join the birthday book club to donate a book labeled with your child's name to the Dows Lane library.

Join Today!

Got a Question for School Administrators? Here's How!

All parents are encouraged to utilize the Parent Advisory Council or PAC, which is a forum to anonymously raise questions/concerns or share suggestions with school administrators about topics that impact the District, the school, the grade or a class. Each school (Dows Lane, Main Street School, Irvington Middle School and Irvington High School) has its own PAC which is composed of that school’s principal and assistant principal, and the PTSA Vice Presidents (VP) and Grade Parents. This group meets monthly to discuss the questions and concerns submitted by parents, and the PTSA representatives are there to be your voice and advocate.

Submit a PAC Inquiry

No Idea Whom to Contact? Here's Help!

Also, the school district's administration, teachers and staff can always be contacted directly. The IUFSD Board of Education has created a detailed communication resource matrix to help parents and guardians identify who, how and in what sequence to raise and escalate questions and concerns.

See the IUFSD School District Communications Matrix!