Last spring, a group of parents partnered with Friends of 187 and held a S.O.S. – Save our School – campaign in reaction to budget cuts. The campaign was motivated to stem the devastation of budget cuts and raise money to fund teaching and instruction.

Thanks to you – our donors & supporters – we succeeded in raising $70,000 between May and July 2011! It was an amazing feat. We were able to fund science, art and foreign language programs. Check out the full list at http://friendsof187.org/what-has-friends-funded/

While the budget isn’t in yet, the sad reality of cuts are not going to go away. Our school has lost over $1 million in funding over the past 4 years. This does not account any cost increases. We have gone down from 58 teachers five years ago, to 51 teachers this year, without any significant decrease in students.

Now it’s time to do it again. This year, the S.O.S. in our name stands for Support Our School. While we wish we had abundant art, science, music and more programming, the reality is that without private fundraising – our kids will go without.

We have an ambitious goal this year. But building on the momentum of last year and the amazing teaching and programs we were able to provide this school year, we aiming high. Our goal for May – July 2012 is to raise $225,000 for:

• Teaching and instructional programs that reach whole grades
• Funding the equivalent of three full-time teaching positions in
  • Art
  • Science
  • Foreign Language

Please help us! Here are some ways you can:

Make a tax-deductible donation to Friends of PS/IS 187. We welcome donations of ANY amount!!

Recurring monthly donation: In many NYC public schools, parents are contributing $1,200 per year (or more) towards their children’s education. Last year we had sixteen PS/IS 187 families sign up for recurring donations. The average was $78/month. Join us!! Our goal is to get 50 families to sign up for recurring donations. If we do, we could raise close to $50,000!!

Click here to sign up: http://friendsof187.org/sos-donations/

By check: Write a check payable to “Friends of PS/IS 187″ and send it with the attached donor slip at the end of this email to: Friends of PS/IS 187, 809 West 181st Street #130 NYNY, 10033

Please give by June 30th. ANY AMOUNT WILL HELP!

We are excited to announce the creation of the Friends Founders Circle Award that was dedicated at this year’s Gala. This award recognizes the outstanding contributions local parents, businesses and community leaders make to PS/IS 187.

The 2012 Founders Award recognizes the vision and significant contributions of the Founding Executive Board of Friends of 187

Friends of 187 Founders’ Awards

HONOREE: LEONISA ARDIZZONE

Leonisa Ardizzone has worked tirelessly on behalf 187, its families and children. Not only did she co-found and launch and shape Friends of 187 and serve as Co-President but also found time to serve on the SLT and as Co-President of the school Parent’s Association.

Leonisa was also instrumental in pulling this event together year after year. And smart enough to recruit her parents — the amazing Marie and Ron – to help. We thank Leonisa and her parents for their efforts, advocacy and boundless energy!

HONOREE: ARYN CHAPMAN

Aryn Chapman was a founder of Friends of 187 and helped to shape the organization’s mission early on. As well, Aryn serves as producer extraordinaire of the highly successful School-A-Palooza. School-a-Palooza, as you all know, is a Parent and Teacher Variety show that raises funds for classroom libraries and supports the annual 187 County Fair. Thank you, Aryn, for your commitment and your time and your ability to bring the school, families and community together.
HONOREE: JIM CORONA

Jim Corona lent his talent as a musician and producer to this event for many years. Jim is also a founder Friends of 187 and producer – along with Aryn – of School-A-Palooza. Although he tends to shy away from the spotlight, everyone knows that the nearly flawless production of these events has much to do with Jim!

Jim could not be with us tonight but his lovely wife, Kate, will accept the award on his behalf.

HONOREE: TORY FRYE

Tory Frye — as you certainly all know — is an educator and an outspoken advocate for public education. Tory helped to shape the vision for Friends of 187 and served as Co-President for two years. Tory is also a member of the SLT and the District 6 Community Education Council (CEC).

We thank Tory for her unwavering commitment to the school and her efforts to bring together parents in this District — and citywide — in support of our mutual goal of providing an excellent education New York’s 1.1 million public school children.

HONOREE: BEVERLY MILLER

Beverly Miller has spent the past five years making things happen. She was instrumental in establishing a universal pre-K at 187. Helped ensure that the schools afterschool program, Roads to Success, was truly a road to success for our children. Beverly was a founding Board member of Friends of 187 and helped put together the highly successful silent and live auctions. We thank Beverly for her un-wavering belief in our children, teachers and the power of a strong neighborhood school.

The School Leadership Team (SLT) is comprised of four parents elected by the PTA, the PTA President, Ms. Chory and five teachers, one of whom is the UFT (United Federation of Teachers) representative. The teachers are made up or both lower and uppers school teachers. For a complete list go to www.hudsoncliffs.org.

On that website, under the School Leadership Team tab, you will also find our schools’ Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP). The CEP lays out our goals for the year – mostly focused on curriculum and learning.

The primary charge of the SLT is to write the CEP and align the school’s budget so that the school can meet the goals. Every public school in NYC must have a CEP and SLT. One thing I found interesting as I got involved is that SLTs are charged with making decisions by consensus. Some schools struggle with that, and I must say, we are doing well! If you are interested to learn more about SLTs in general, go to http://schools.nyc.gov/Apps/Forms/factfinder/ServiceDetails.aspx?id=71.

But let me tell you more about our SLT. I love serving on the SLT because I get to hear how the money we raise through Friends is impacting our school – and I can report that it is being used well! The Marquis Studio program happening in grades 4, 5 & 6 has been a great hit. Not only have the kids gotten to make awesome architectural models (check out Oskar’s work in this video: http://friendsof187.org/friends-ps-187/marquis-studios-architecture-program-inspires/) but the teachers love it as well.

Jan Hirsch who teaches 5th grade and sits on the SLT was thrilled with how Marquis Studio staff came to meet with her ahead of implementing their program in her class – to learn about her academic goals for the year, and how they could collaborate to help meet them.

Plus, Friends Board member Jane LeCroy (parent of 5th grader, 3rd grader and pre-K student) did classroom visits and kept in communication with providers and teachers to facilitate successful program implementation, laying the groundwork for sustained relationships with these programs to become a regular part of our school. This is a great way to make sure the money Friends has donated to the school is working well for everyone – the school, the teacher and of course, our kids.

If you have questions about the SLT, please feel free to email at: elenaatwork@yahoo.com.
Elena Deutsch, SLT Chair, Friends Board Member and parent of Elias Stein – 2nd grade, and Laszlo Stein – 1st grade

• Literacy Grant from the Cornell Family Foundation
• Three F-Status Teachers
• Afterschool Enrichment Programs for 7th and 8th grades
• Artist-In-the-School Enrichment Programs
  • City Kids for Kindergarten – Provided by (local!) Artist Donetta Riley
  • Young Audiences New York (YANY) 3^rd grade
  • Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas Program 4^th grade
  • Marquis Studio grades 4, 5, 6 – Provided by Architect Joseph Zaboi

See all the details!

The Manhattan Times
The bilingual newspaper of Washington Heights and Inwood

THE FOURTH FRIENDS OF PS/IS 187 WINTER GALA DEBUTS SUNDAY, MARCH 4TH

Community News
Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The fourth annual Friends of PS/IS 187 Winter Gala will be held on Sunday night, March 4th, from 7-10 p.m., at the Founders Hall of the Mother Cabrini School campus, 191st and Fort Washington Avenue.

The event, usually held on a Monday night in January or February, has been moved to the first Sunday in March to give more people a chance to attend.

The Gala, as always, will feature wine and hors d’oeuvre, live jazz and a silent auction.

“It’s hard to believe it’s only been four years since Friends was founded. It has made such a difference to our school in such a difficult time. We are truly blessed to have Friends as part of the 187 community and we’re particularly thankful to the Founding Executive Board for having the courage and vision to make this possible,” said Cynthia Chory, principal of PS/IS 187.

Event sponsorships range from $250 to $1,000 and include acknowledgement in the program. Individual tickets for the gala are $50 each and Friends Tickets are $100 each. All net proceeds go directly toward the school.

For further information, please visit the Friends of 187 website at www.friendsof187.org.

Simone Song Properties’ vision of celebrating their 25th anniversary was to celebrate our neighborhood, and benefit our school.  To achieve our goal of $10,000 in ticket and raffle sales, all funds going to PS/IS187, Friendsof187 collaborated with Simone Song to create a double-header fundraiser on December 11th providing two events, one for families and one for adults.  More than 60 children enjoyed face painting, juggling and plate spinning, cookie decorating, neighborhood bingo and more. Goody bags provided healthy snacks for the children while the parents were served refreshments. The evening program for adults included: a three-piece jazz ensemble, a professional belly dancer, 14 raffle prizes, a wine bar and wine tastings with an endless array of different cuisines all contributed by local eateries.

This fantastic event brought participation and contributions from every corner of the community.  Our thanks to Simone Song for so generously sharing their anniversary, Councilman Robert Jackson, Cynthia Chory, Marcella Calabi, co-founder of the Hudson Heights Owners Coalition, for her insightful description of how Hudson Heights evolved, The Board of Directors of Hudson View Gardens, Mary Dino for her circus arts workshop, Donetta Riley for face-painting, The neighbors who donated raffle prizes: Risa Hirsch Ehrlich, The Flowing Hand, Odalis Nail Salon, Le Chiele Restaurant, Hudson Pilates, Ahn’s Market, Mike Fitelson Photography, Jordan Matter and Brian Skinner Photography, Monarch Cleaners, Tom Wolf of  USANA and the businesses who completed the evening with their endless supply of delicious eats & drinks: Cabrini Wines, Vines on Pine, Frank’s Market, Kismat, Next Door, Bleu Evolution, Ta Cocina, Café 181, Vicky’s Diner and GottaGetCupCakes.

For more information about where the money raised goes visit: What has friends funded?.

Open School Week 2012
& The Challenges of Communication
by Erin Hinchey, Co-President

For the first time ever, every morning for one week in the fall, Friends of 187 set up an information table outside the school and greeted the school body with coffee, donuts and the opportunity to chat. A significant portion of the school body was unaware of the organization and the numerous programs it had funded.

It was a great opportunity to meet and talk with many many folks who we hadn’t reached before. We were encouraged and inspired by the feedback. Parents were handed an extensive report on what the organization has funded this school year with the $110,000 raised last year. Thank you!
Open School Week also afforded Friends of 187 the opportunity to ask the parent body to sign up for its database. Even though we are a non-profit entity, whose entire fund raising proceeds go to the school, we are still prohibited by DOE regulations to put the majority of our communications into a message from the school.

As you can image, this presents serious challenges, the majority of our focus has had to be directed in trying to “reach and capture” our base. Since Open School Week, more than 60 new families signed up for the database. Continue to pass on the message that the best way to communicate with us, is to SIGN UP.
Additionally, after a huge data entry “push” this year with data collected via the hugely successful fundraising campaigns like SOS and the Simone Song events, we were able to add hundreds of new contacts into our database so that now we have over 900. All of this information is now entered into a computerized system that will really help us with effective communication and record keeping.

Last year’s record-breaking budget cuts resulted in the loss of the elementary school art teacher, as well as the science faculty for first and second grades. In response, Friends of 187 has donated more than $30,000 since the start of the 2010-11 school year. The money provided funding for an F-status art teacher for the entire elementary school, restoring art cycles for children in kindergarten through fourth grades. And when parents from the school identified a science and engineering program for first and second graders, Friends voted to finance it. Friends of 187 is also funding a dynamic after-school theater program for the intermediate school. Stay tuned to this website for details on the program!