October meeting

Monday, October 5, 2026 · 7:00 PM · School cafeteria

The HSA’s October meeting opened with a call for nominations for next year’s Co-President and Co-Treasurer positions, along with reminders about Sign-Up Genius, translation, social media, and Virtual Backpack timelines. The board also flagged an email forwarding issue and reviewed the community guidelines for the new grade-level WhatsApp chats. The treasurer reviewed account balances, and the Board of Education representative and the principal shared district and school updates, including a busy October calendar. Ms. Pontoriero reported on art, music, K-Kids, and the Green Team. Committee reports covered the Pumpkin Patch, Class Parents, Kids Tricky Tray, Fall Social, Membership, Spirit Wear, 6th Grade, Community Service, Mini Fundraising, Basketball, Beautification, Programs, Pep Squad, Fundraising, and Community Kickball.

Decisions & highlights

• Board openings for next year: Co-President and Co-Treasurer.
• All Sign-Up Genius events for the year are now live.
• Email issues: some messages to the HSA are bouncing back because of a forwarding problem. If you’ve emailed and haven’t heard back, please talk to any board member at school.
• Committees should leave enough time for translation and webmaster requests, and should format social media submissions correctly.
• WhatsApp: QR codes are available to join your grade’s chat. Class parents are asked to moderate their class chats.
• The HSA has 207 registered members and counting.
• Spirit Wear has brought in $997 across 105 orders.
• The Class of 2027 car wash and Bengal Brews raised $1,865.15. The clothing drive total is still to come.
• Angelo’s raised $150 last month, and Community Kickball brought in $111.75.
• The district has a new school photo vendor this year, chosen after complaints from parents and staff about last year’s vendor.
• Basketball (grades 4–6) needs coaches. The 4th grade girls and 5th grade boys teams may be cancelled if no coach is found.
• The Fundraising committee is raising money for HSA programs and playground updates, with a focus on making the playground more ABA-friendly. The first Bengal Carnival & Food Truck Festival is planned for spring, and volunteers are needed.
• Kids Tricky Tray needs about 100 prizes, worth roughly $10 each, plus $1 consolation prizes. Gift cards and cash are also welcome. Please bring donations to the main office.
• Families who need financial help with the 6th grade sweatshirt or other needs can contact Ms. Beesley. Support comes from the HSA Community Fund.

Coming up

• Oct 5–16: Candy Monster collection for the Fall Social. Label candy with your teacher’s name, and the class with the most donations wins an ice pop party.
• Oct 8: Free Halloween costume shop on the blacktop, right after school
• Oct 9:
  • HSA-sponsored Roots of Puerto Rican Music assembly (all grades)
  • Pep Squad practice
• Oct 12: Schools closed for Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day
• Oct 13: Board of Education meeting
• Oct 16: Fall Social and Trunk or Treat, with costume and trunk contests, a Haunted Hallway, and a scavenger hunt. Decorating a trunk gets you in free.
• Oct 17: Beautification Day, 9am–12pm, as part of the townwide clean-up. The town provides tools.
• Oct 20: 6th grade yearbook photo deadline for baby pictures, virtual learning pictures, and car wash pictures
• Oct 21: Pumpkin Patch (rain date Oct 22)
• Oct 30:
  • Halloween Parade and class parties
  • Basketball registration closes
• Nov 5–6: Soar & Bounce fundraiser, with 20% of sales donated when you show the flyer or social media post
• Nov 11: School photo make-up and retake day
• Nov 13: Kids Tricky Tray, Friday evening in the gym
• Nov 20: 6th grade yearbook deadline for group photos
• November HSA meeting: remote, with a Zoom link to follow

Meeting archives