Hallelujah

We are so honored to have The National Chorale as our vocal partner. Below is a special message from our PTA Vocal Delegates along with an amazing video dedicated to the memory of our beloved vocal instructor Matthew Truss. It brings tears to my eyes:

In celebration of the National Chorale’s December 20 virtual performance of Handel’s Messiah—which our vocal students will be part of—we wanted to share with you this beautiful homage to health care workers that National Chorale made last month, featuring National Chorale members singing the Hallelujah chorus from the Messiah. Please watch until the very end for a very special dedication to someone dear to our hearts.

Be well, everyone!

Vocal Delegates

Dance Newsletter Dec 2020

Thank you, families!

Happy December, PPAS Family!

Thank you to all of the parents and guardians who joined us for our virtual curriculum and cocktails last month. It was great connecting with you and getting to see our school family during these difficult and unprecedented times. We enjoyed meeting you and we hope that we were able to get some of your questions answered while providing you with an overview of the Ailey dance major’s curriculum.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at dancedelegate@ppaspta.org. We’ll do our best to have your questions and concerns addressed in a timely manner.

Alvin Ailey’s Revelations turns 60!

December 2nd marked the kickoff to The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s first ever virtual season and its absolutely free to view. Register to view the Opening Night Virtual Benefit featuring Revelations Reimagined now through December 9th. Continue to watch for new works from the company through December 31st.

Master Classes and Workshops For Our Dance Majors

Coming up in January, PPAS Ailey majors levels C and D will have the opportunity to participate in a 4 masterclass series with MICHIYAYA Dance. Students in levels A and B will participate in a contemporary workshop also taught by MICHIYAYA.

Last But Not Least

Last but not least, would you be interested in a virtual paint night fundraiser taught by Black Village Arts? Donation would be $30- $35 and would include all supplies. All funds would go to providing support to our dance majors. Please complete the interest survey. Be sure to include any ideas you may have as well!

On behalf our PPAS Dance Co-delegate Jasmine Battiste and myself, I would like to wish you and your families a joyous and safe holiday season and we look forward to connecting with you all in the New Year.

Dawn Bowen

PPAS/ Ailey Dance Co-Delegate

Pre-Med Club

Pre-Med Club is back this year!  

Our mission statement: Anyone who is interested in science and/or wants to be in the medical field, come join the Pre-med club! In our club you will learn about what doctors do, the kinds of places they work, jobs they have, and tools and resources they use to help people stay well or get better when they are sick. We’ll talk about what you can do to help get on a path to apply to medical school and learn about medicine in your community.

Please go to our google classroom link for more information and to join us.

Thank you so much,

Kassaundra Ferm, founder and co-president

Reminder: School Meal Application

Although many students do not take advantage of the free lunch program, it remains important that all families complete the School Meal Application.

Information received from the application may result in Title I funding for supplementary programming and:

 • College fee waivers for students 
• Tutoring programs
 • PSAT, SAT and ACT fee waiver for students.

The deadline to submit the application is December 21st

It only takes a few minutes!
Please complete the application.

Thank you!

Self-Esteem Rising Club

Hello Everyone! 

We are Maria Palagian and Mollie Grodsky. We are sophomores and presidents of the new club called The Self Esteem Rising Club! We are so excited to start and can’t wait to meet you all. 

To be great in every other aspect of your life, you have to be good with yourself. This club is going to focus on self confidence, growth, and loving yourself. 

To join us, please visit us on Google classroom.

Thanks, and please join us if you are interested!

Yours Warmly,
Maria and Mollie

In-Person Learning Update

From Principal Ryan:

As you have likely heard, the NYC DOE will be phasing students back to in-person learning, starting with Pre-K through 5th grade next Monday, December 7th. As of this morning, the DOE has not determined a return date for grades 6-12. We will update you as decisions are made by the NYC DOE. Meanwhile, there are a few important elements of the return to in-school learning that you should be aware of even before the date is announced:

When in-person learning continues, it is only available to those students who are currently enrolled in the BLENDED learning program. All students currently in the REMOTE program, will continue to learn remotely.

Although the mayor has been publicly speaking about increasing the amount of in-person days, this is wholly dependent on space in our building and social distancing rules. Currently, we do not anticipate increasing the in-person days because many class sections are already at social distancing capacity. We have run models of reprogramming for more in-person days, but we cannot solve issues of social distancing and safe in-person instruction as per the CDC. Therefore, the rotating A-B-C day structure will stay in place.

All students in the BLENDED program are now required to provide consent for COVID-19 testing in order to participate in in-person instruction. If you have NOT already consented, you can do so by filling out the attached consent form and sending it with your child on the day they return. You can also complete the consent form on-line if you have NYC School Account. If you do not have an NYC Schools Account but would like one, you can get a registration code from Ms. Gindi – request one from her by emailing tgindi@ppasshare.org. Schools Account is a hub for your child’s school records: grades, test scores, attendance, school records, etc.

Please see the chancellor’s letter attached about the return to in-person learning for BLENDED students, and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Thank you, be safe, and be well.

Sincerely,
Keith Ryan

Holiday Art Auction

Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS)

WELCOMES YOU TO OUR FIRST

Art Auction Fundraiser

~Featuring Affordable Gifts~

~something for everyone~

Follow this link to access the auction:

https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?auctionId=341697207

Online Bidding:

November 30-December 15

Proceeds to Benefit PTA at PPAS

Curated by StudioJackie.com

Save the Shows!

From our Drama delegates:

The budget deadlines for the upcoming DR3 (Junior Year Drama Majors) show and the Holiday Concert are approaching fast and the budgets for these shows will be structured based on how much we raise before December 1. So far, we have only reached 30% of our goal. If you have already contributed, THANK YOU! If you have not contributed, please do as soon as possible so that Waterwell can provide our kids with the kind of quality performance opportunity that they have worked so hard to experience!

Ways you can help:

Donate ANY amount, $5, $20, $50, $100, $500! If EVERY family donated $50, our goal would be met! We understand that times are very difficult, and not every family contribute $50 so we are so grateful for any contribution. If you can give more, please do!

Spread the word! Post our link on Facebook!

Ask family and friends if they would like to contribute!

These donations are tax-deductible! And the end of the year is coming up fast!

https://wdpsavetheshows.funraise.org/

Sincerely,

Margaret and Rosa
Drama Delegates
PPAS – High School

Giving Thanks for Support

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping PPAS!
We couldn’t shape the lives of so many performing arts kids without the generous support from parents like you.


PLEASE CLICK TO SUPPORT PPAS

During this Thanksgiving Holiday leading into Giving Tuesday, please consider a gift to the PTA’s Annual Fund which supports PPAS and means so much to our kids. We still need your generous support to reach our fundraising goals for this unique and challenging school year.  Donating is super easy and only takes only a few minutes on your computer or smartphone at this website: ppaspta.org/donate
Your generous donation directly funds:


Just a reminder: these events are not funded by the Department of Education. Each year our amazing PPAS community works together to help support our children’s hearts and minds.
We encourage you to give any amount your family is able to give (parents, grandparents, etc). Every dollar counts to meet our goals for this school year! All donations are tax deductible and truly make a difference in our community! Online donations are being accepted now at ppaspta.org/donate

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL AND SAFE THANKSGIVING WITH YOUR FAMILY!