News

Date: Friday, March 21 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Join us for PS 111 Family Reading Night!

Cafeteria: Free food will be served, including empanadas (cheese, chicken, beef), cheese pizza, assorted bags of chips, homemade cookies, and various drinks. While enjoying your food, listen to read alouds from volunteers, including Principal Giligan! Free (used) books will be available to take home.

Library: See the work-in-progress library, and read to your child in a more relaxed environment. The library is a food-free area. Library books stay in the library, as our check-out process isn't yet ready.

This is an entirely free event. Children are welcome to wear pajamas if they'd like, or they can come as they are!

Date: Friday, March 21, after Family Friday until noon

Support the library renovation project! Library Friday is tomorrow, Friday, March 21. Come at any time after Family Friday ends and noon, and stay for whatever amount of time works for you.

We'll be cleaning up the library to put it into a usable state for the Family Reading Night later that day.

Date: Wednesday, 3/19 at 6:30 pm

This is a remote meeting on Zoom.

• Link:
• Meeting ID:
• Password:

Thank you to kidsgardening.org and Crescent Garden for awarding the PS 111 PTA a grant to start a community container garden program at PS 111!

Our composting project, which is in its initial pilot phase, will help provide nutrient rich compost for the garden.

We hope to get parents and students involved in this gardening project, and to expand it over time. More details to come as we enter the Spring planting season.

Date: Friday, 2/28 from 8:30 to noon.

Help the library renovation project by volunteering on Friday, 2/28. We'll be there between 8:30 and noon; come at any time for as long as you can stay.

We'll be:

• Cleaning the few remaining books and shelves that haven't yet been cleaned.
• Adding the school's name and address to as many books as possible using our new school library stamps.
• Scanning books using our two barcode scanners.
• Putting together the six remaining double-sided shelving units.

Thank you to everyone who attended our seventh PS 111 Family Movie Night on Friday, February 7!

A big thank you as well to the PS 111 community members who give so much of their time to volunteer at these events, including parents, middle schoolers, and high schoolers. Without you, these community events wouldn't be possible.

Date: Tuesday, 2/25 at 8:45 am

This is an in-person meeting in the school cafeteria.

February 10th through 14th is PS 111 Spirit Week!

• 2/10: Wacky Hair Day 🤪
• 2/11: School Colors (Blue & Gold) Day
• 2/12: Sports Day ⚾⚽🏈🏀
• 2/13: Pajama Day 🧸
• 2/14: Pink & Red Day

Thank you to everyone who supported the PS 111 PTA and our school by shopping the Book Fair!

Didn't get a book you wanted? The PTA earns 25% back on all online purchases through February 16. Plus, get free shipping on book orders over $25.

Movie: The Wild Robot

Please join us on Friday, February 7 for a showing of The Wild Robot!

Doors open at 5:00, movie starts at 5:30 and ends at ~7:15.

Thank you to everyone who voted in-person at the January Movie Night and online on the PTA's site, as well as to our volunteers who make these Movie Nights possible!

We're holding a Book Fair on Tuesday, February 4 through Friday February 7!

All funds raised are dedicated to investing in our classrooms.

• Support the school by volunteering
• See when your child's class is going to the Fair
• Shop with your child at family hours:
  • Tuesday, 2/4 through Friday, 2/7 @ 2:35 to 3:30
  • Friday, 2/7 @ 4:45-5:20, before the movie (dependent on volunteer availability)

Payment methods: Cash, Scholastic eWallet, Credit/Debit Card, Tap-to-Pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay).

On 1/16 and 1/17, the school library's walls and columns received direly needed fresh coats of paint!

The walls, which had been painted multiple shades of white over the years, were standardized to a single, warm white color. The columns — formerly lime green — are now yellow, bringing the missing school color into the library to contrast with the dark blue on the window panes.

Thank you to the West Side Community Fund, CD3 Council Member Erik Bottcher, and the PS 111 PTA's donors and event volunteers for financially supporting the library renovation project!

We're holding our next Movie Night on Friday, 2/7/25! This will be an indoor movie, in the auditorium.

Vote for the movie at ps111pta.org/vote!

Movie options:

• The Wild Robot
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Soul
• Garfield
• The Princess and the Frog

Date: Wednesday, 1/15 at 9:15 am

This is a remote meeting.

Link:
Meeting ID:
Password:

Movie: Despicable Me 4

Please join us on Friday, January 10 for a showing of Despicable Me 4!

Doors open at 5:00, movie starts at 5:30 and ends at ~7:05.

Thank you to everyone who voted in-person at Winter Wonderland and online on the PTA's site!

Winter Break is 12/21/24 through 1/1/25

We wish an enjoyable and relaxing Winter Break to all PS 111 families. See you in the new year!

Our four-month-old email news list has reached a milestone: 100 subscribers! Thank you to everyone who has stayed in touch with the PS 111 community by joining the list!

The PS 111 Title I Parent & Family Engagement Plan was passed on 12/18.

Programs:

• Family hours at the new PS 111 school library.
  • Read with your children to instill a love a reading
  • Check out books
  • Funding permitting: Board games to encourage social-emotional development.
• School Newspaper (partial funding)

Available funding is ~$3,400. Because of funding and other constraints, many good ideas couldn't be incorporated into this plan, but all ideas have been forwarded to the PS 111 PTA to inform its priorities.

Voting Dates: Saturday, December 14 through Thursday, December 26

We're holding our next Movie Night on Friday, 1/10/25, to welcome everyone back from Winter Break. This will be an indoor movie, in the auditorium.

Vote for the movie at ps111pta.org/vote!

Choices:

• Despicable Me 4
• Garfield
• If
• Kung Fu Panda 4
• The Tiger's Apprentice
• The Wild Robot

Date: Wednesday, 12/18 at 6:30 pm

This is a remote meeting.

Link:

The School Leadership Team, which is responsible for PS 111's Comprehensive Educational Plan, as well as working with the Principal to develop PS 111's school based budget, is meeting at 2:45 pm on Wednesday, 12/11. This meeting is open to the public.

On Wednesday, 11/20 at 8:45 am, the PTA will hold its first in-person meeting since 2020.

Topic highlights:

• Vote on whether March 6, 2025 will be a half-day or a day-off.
• Update on the library renovation & restocking project.
• Discussion and potential vote on whether to install tree guards to protect the young trees along 52nd & 53rd.

Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal unfortunately had to postpone her visit.

Doors open at 8:30 am. Meeting is in the auditorium. Free coffee, tea, donuts, and fruit will be available. Translation will also be available.

Thank you to the West Side Community Fund (WSCF) for awarding the PS 111 PTA a grant to support literacy programming at PS 111!

This is the second grant that WSCF has awarded to the PS 111 PTA. Their previous grant supported free family programming, including our successful outdoor Movie Nights!

The West Side Community Fund is a consortium of leading companies based on the west side of Manhattan that have come together to support local and neighborhood initiatives in Chelsea, Hudson Yards, and Hell’s Kitchen.

On Sunday, 11/10, PS 111 families and our HK neighbors

• Planted native plants in the two 10th Ave tree beds next to PS 111;
• Aerated, and added compost to, the rock-hard soil in many of the 53rd St tree beds;
• Mulched nearly all of the 52nd & 53rd St tree beds.

Thank you to the PS 111 families who participated, as well as the Hell's Kitchen Conservation Corps, Trees NYC, and the Hell's Kitchen Litter Legion for working with the PS 111 PTA on this project!

Interested in hearing about events like this? Sign up for the PTA's email list!

The PS 111 Title I Parent Advisory Committee wants your help deciding how this money should be used! Learn more about this funding, and submit ideas, at ps111pta.org/title-i.

Click here to see the ideas that have been submitted so far.

As Halloween brings its playful spirits and Diwali lights up our lives, may we all be graced with joy, laughter, and positivity. Let’s celebrate the magic around us—whether it’s the mystery of Halloween or the warmth of Diwali’s glow. May your path be bright, your treats be plenty, and your hearts be full. Here’s to love, light, and a bit of Halloween fright! 🎃🪔🌟

Please join us for our second outdoor Family Movie Night on Friday, 10/25 for a showing of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas!

• Free admission for the PS 111 community
• Doors open at 5:15, movie start ~5:40
• This is an outdoor movie, held in the Large Yard. Blankets/towels to sit on are welcome. We'll also set up as many chairs as we can find.
• The weather is expected to be mid-to-high-50s. Please dress warm!
• Concession sales — drinks 🧃, pizza 🍕, fresh-popped popcorn 🍿, hand-pulled cotton candy — support free family programming at PS 111.
• Subscribers to the PS 111 PTA email list will receive a discount code for half-priced popcorn!

Thank you to the West Side Community Fund for awarding the PS 111 PTA a grant in support of our free family programming, and to our volunteers — who are all PS 111 parents — for organizing and running this event!

Date: Wednesday, October 16, 6:30 pm

• Election for parents who want to join the PTA board
• Budget discussion & vote

• Zoom Link:
• Meeting ID:
• Password:

On Wednesday, 10/9, the PTA provided bagels, pastries, and fruit to our teachers & staff to thank them for their support during our September Book Fair, and to celebrate World Teachers Day!

Thank you to our volunteers for picking up the food at 7:00 am and setting up, to Amish Market for generously providing the pastries for free, and to everyone who donates to the PS 111 PTA for making this possible!

Picture Day is Friday, 10/11. Thank you to everyone who signed up to volunteer to help our students get their pictures taken!

Thank you to everyone who attended the first-ever PS 111 Outdoor Family Movie Night on Friday, 9/27!

A huge thank you as well to the West Side Community Fund for awarding the PS 111 PTA a grant in support of our free family programming, and to our volunteers — who are all PS 111 parents — for organizing and running this event!

Please join us for our outdoor Family Movie Night on Friday, 9/27 for a showing of Inside Out 2!

• Free admission for the PS 111 community
• Doors open 5:30
• Movie starts ~6:20
• Estimated end time is 8:10
• This is an outdoor movie, held in the Large Yard. Blankets/towels to sit on are welcome. We'll also set up as many chairs as we can find.
• Concession sales — drinks 🧃, pizza 🍕, fresh-popped popcorn 🍿, hand-pulled cotton candy — support free family programming at PS 111.
• Subscribers to the PS 111 PTA email list will receive a discount code for half-priced popcorn!

Thank you to the West Side Community Fund for awarding the PS 111 PTA a grant in support of our free family programming, and to our volunteers — who are all PS 111 parents — for organizing and running this event!

Support the new PS 111 library!

We're holding a Book Fair on Thursday 9/26 & Friday 9/27!

All proceeds will be used to renovate and purchase books for the new school library. Scholastic is also generously donating 100 books to our library!

Students will shop with their classes on Thursday or Friday. Your teacher should reach out if your class is going, but if you don't hear from them, please contact us and we'll try to find out which day your child is going.

Payment methods: cash, Scholastic eWallet, credit/debit card, tap-to-pay.

Family shopping times:

• 9/26: 2:45-3:30 (Lobby)
• 9/27: 8:00-8:30 (Lobby)
• 9/27: 2:45-3:30 (Large Yard)
• 9/27: 5:30+ (Large Yard during Family Movie Night)

Inside Out 2 will be played at the PS 111 PTA's 9/27 Family Movie Night!

* Vivo and Encanto tied in the first round. Vivo was eliminated, because it had more last-choice votes: 29-17.

Thank you to everyone who voted!

Date: Monday, September 16 through Friday, September 20

Today, Friday, 9/20 is the last day to vote! There are 59 votes as of 6:00 am, which is an incredible turnout!

We're holding our first Family Movie Night on Friday, September 27 (time coming soon). Rank the movie options at https://ps111pta.org/vote!

All PS 111 community members are welcome to vote, including students, family members, and school staff.

Date: Wednesday, September 18, 9:15 am

We'll discuss the programs and projects that the PTA has planned for this year, including the renovation of our new school library!

An election for the Title I Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Chairperson and Alternate Chairperson will be held. All PS 111 parents/caregivers who are not school employees are eligible. Parents & caregivers, including those who are school employees, may also volunteer to serve as non-elected members of the PAC. Interested parents/caregivers can submit the Title I Willingness To Serve form to Principal Gilligan, or may announce their interest at the meeting.

• Zoom Link
• Meeting ID:
• Password:

Date: Tuesday, September 17, 6:30 pm

Learn about the new Wit & Wisdom literacy curriculum. For parents who were unable to attend the in-person Welcome Back night on Thursday, 9/12.

• Zoom Link
• Meeting ID: 912 9441 5420
• Password: 111111