Category: General

ABOUT PPAS STARS

At PPAS, creativity is everywhere: in the classroom, on the stage, in the studio, and wherever our students are dreaming up what comes next.

The PTA works year-round to raise funds that enhance the school experience for our students and our entire community, and PPAS Stars is at the heart of that effort.

With the support of our families and our incredible Arts Partners, we help bring learning to life through inspiring classes, creative workshops, rehearsal opportunities, performances, and experiences that go beyond the traditional curriculum. Public education funding provides the foundation, while PPAS Stars helps us build on it — creating more opportunities for our students to explore, create, collaborate, and shine.

HOW TO BE A PPAS STAR

Every family can be part of PPAS Stars! We invite you to make a contribution at whatever level feels right for your family. Every gift makes a difference, and no gift is too big or too small.

Whether it’s $5, $50, $500, or a monthly gift, your support helps make the extraordinary possible for PPAS students. Contributions are tax-deductible, and giving is quick and easy.

Ready to help our students shine? Please give today!

Thank you for being a PPAS Star and for investing in the creativity, talent, and possibilities of our students. Together, we can make this an incredible year!

We look forward to seeing you this fall! We hope to greet you in person at our informal Back-to-School PTA Potluck and Welcome Event at PPAS from 6:30–9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30th.

Come share a favorite dish, meet other families, and connect with PTA members, faculty, Arts Partners, and students. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our programs, welcome new and returning families, and kick off the school year together. Click here if you wish to bring a favorite dish to share with our community (no obligation!).

To stay in the loop on PTA news, updates, and upcoming events, be sure to sign up for our weekly PTA e-newsletter.

Thank you for being an important part of our PPAS community! Your involvement helps PPAS be an extraordinary 6–12 school with incredible staff, inspiring partnerships, and endless student talent, and we are sincerely grateful.

We look forward to gathering with you, sharing good food and good company, and celebrating the wonderful community that makes PPAS so special. Here’s to a terrific school year with you and your family!

Your support helps all of our students reach for the stars!

We’re grateful to all who have already donated to our PPAS Stars Annual Fund— an investment in the dreams and discoveries that will shape our students’ futures. With your support, our classrooms transform into vibrant studios, rehearsal halls, and creative workshops where imagination takes center stage. Public education funds provide the basics, but it’s our collective generosity that fills our annual funding gap and powers the arts for every PPAS student.  We’re inviting each family to contribute at whatever level is right for you, so that together we can realize the magic that our community can create! Every donation is tax deductible, and whether you’re making a one-time contribution or setting up a monthly gift, the process is quick and easy.  Please give here today! No gift is too big or too small and your generosity is always greatly appreciated!

Congratulations to the newly elected Executive Board! The new term begins July 1st

Officers

• President: Ruth Hawkins, president@ppaspta.org
• Vice President: Linnie Belcher (contact info coming soon)
• Co-Treasurers: Laura Mendez and Charlene Ilardi, treasurer@ppaspta.org
• Financial Secretary: unfilled
• Recording Secretary: Erin Clancy-Balsamo, recordingsecretary@ppaspta.org
• VP of Membership: Nadia Voukitchevitch, vpmembership@ppaspta.org
• Co-VPs of Fundraising: Danielle Kojic-Tingwell and Lynn Stirrup, vpfundraising@ppaspta.org
• VP of Communication: unfilled

Delegates

• Cultural Delegates: Raven Catlin and Jennifer Whipple, culturaldelegate@ppaspta.org
• Dance Delegate: Wendy Estrada, dancedelegate@ppaspta.org
• Drama Delegate: Daniel Rozzi, dramadelegate@ppaspta.org
• Musical Theater Delegates: Chris Hunt and Holly Hunt, mtdelegate@ppaspta.org
• Vocal Delegate: Michelle Pravda, vocaldelegate@ppaspta.org
• Film Delegates: Dominique Anderson and Fernanda Santos, filmdelegate@ppaspta.org
• Middle School Delegates: Kimbirdlee Fadner and Danielle Soares, msdelegate@ppaspta.org
• 9th Grade Delegate: Kerri Edge (contact info coming soon)
• 10th Grade Delegates: Lili Feliciano and Michelle Lee (contact info coming soon)
• 11th Grade Delegate: Maria D’Elia (contact info coming soon)
• 12th Grade Delegates: Ketsia Poitevien and Deborah Weitz, seniordelegate@ppaspta.org
• School Leadership Team (SLT) Members: Raven Catlin and Mar Fitzgerald (two more SLT members will be elected this fall)

Thank you for making our Benefit Bash such a blast!

We’re thrilled to report that the 2026 PPAS PTA Benefit Bash on May 3rd was a huge success and a good time was had by all! We set an all-time attendance record and we’re on track to exceed our fundraising goal by 50%!

Thanks to all who attended, volunteered, donated, sponsored, celebrated, provided auction items and in-kind donations, and joyfully cut a rug and had a fab time dancing to our DJ’s beats!

Special thanks to those donors helping us honor Parent Coordinator Teri Gindi, the 2026 Reach for the Stars Award recipient, while supporting the performing arts experience for all our fabulous kids at PPAS. Every amount, gesture and volunteer moment – no matter how big or how small – is contributing to our success!

We’re grateful to our mighty volunteer Benefit Bash Leadership Committee, who are still working to bring every facet of this effort to life!

If anyone would like to help with next year’s event – to find a venue, help secure in-kind beverage and auction donations and more – please contact our Co-VPs of Fundraising at VPFundraising@ppaspta.org. We intend to meet and kick off 2027 planning as soon as possible this fall!

Our amazing and inspiring Parent Coordinator Teri Gindi received the Reach for the Stars Award at the Bash event! 

Be sure to check out the video featuring PPAS alumni and students helping us celebrate Teri by congratulating her here. They share how Teri has inspired them and how truly special she is to the PPAS community!

Special Thanks to our Generous Sponsors & Gold Medal Committee

We’re grateful for your support and help to make the 2026 PPAS PTA Benefit Bash a blooming success!

The PPAS PTA e-newsletter is a must-read! Subscribe for the latest news so you never miss a thing!

Subscribe here and view the archive here

Final 2025-26 school year issue: June 21, 2026

Previous 2025-26 school year issues:

June 15, 2026 here

June 8, 2026 here

June 1, 2026 here

May 25, 2026 here

May 18, 2026 here

May 11, 2026 here

May 4, 2026 here

April 27, 2026 here

April 20, 2026 here

April 13, 2026 here

April 6, 2026 here

March 30, 2026 here

March 23, 2026 here

March 16, 2026 here

March 9, 2026 here

March 2, 2026 here

Feb. 23, 2026 here

Feb. 16, 2026 here

Feb. 9, 2026 here

Feb. 2, 2026 here

Jan. 26, 2026 here

Jan. 19, 2026 here

Jan. 12, 2026 here

Jan. 5, 2026 here

Dec. 29, 2025 here

Dec. 15, 2025 here

Dec. 8, 2025 here

Dec. 1, 2025 here

Nov. 24, 2025 here

Nov. 17, 2025 here

Nov. 10, 2025 here

Nov. 3, 2025 here

Oct. 27, 2025 here

Oct. 21, 2025 here

Oct. 14, 2025 here

Oct. 6, 2025 here

Sept. 29, 2025 here

Sept. 22, 2025 here

Sept. 15, 2025 here

Sept. 8, 2025 here

Sept. 1, 2025 here

Aug. 18, 2025 here

Our beloved Parent Coordinator Teri Gindi received the 2026 Reach for the Stars Award at the PPAS PTA Benefit Bash on May 3, 2026, in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to our students, our school, our alumni, and our community for nearly 30 years.

Many thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate Ms. Gindi!

We’re grateful for your support and help to make the 2026 PPAS PTA Benefit Bash a blooming success!

PPAS has launched a fun and informative new school website featuring academic and arts program overviews, student testimonials and an expanded alumni section.

Check it out here: www.ppasnyc.org

Say it Loud, Say it Clear — We’re Building Community Here!

Hello PPAS Community, As we gear up for the 2025-26 school year, we are filled with excitement and pride to welcome back every member of our one-of-a-kind PPAS family. Together, we carry forward a legacy of passion, creativity, and community that’s made our school a shining beacon of arts and learning. We are the PPAS PTA — a dedicated team of parent advocates, arts champions, and school partners who cheer loudly from the sidelines, fill seats at performances, support our incredible school leaders, and ensure the voices of our students and families are heard. Because when PPAS shines, we all shine! Our commitment this year is to continue rallying behind our kids, fueling the arts, and turning parent power into community magic — one performance, meeting, and high-five at a time.Our values guide us every step of the way: 1. Support Through Service: We uplift students, teachers, and arts partners by actively fundraising, volunteering, and providing the resources needed to help every learner and program succeed. 2. Connection Through Equity: We foster a welcoming, inclusive community by building strong, empathetic relationships among parents, teachers, and staff — ensuring every voice is heard and valued. 3. Empowerment Through Engagement: We promote leadership, collaboration, and transparency by encouraging parent participation in school governance, decision-making, and community-building. As our Principal Leah Dyer says, PPAS is “one extraordinary 6–12 school with incredible staff, inspiring partnerships, and endless student talent.” Together, we are honored to be part of this story — adding our energy and enthusiasm to the chapters yet to come. We look forward to an unforgettable year of growth, creativity, and community with you all! Warmly, Ruth & Raven (“R&R”)