PTSA Post - Spring 2023

Briarwood, Brookview, Colebrook, Dake, Iroquois, IHS, Listwood, Rogers, Seneca, Southlawn

By our mission statement, WICPTSA unites home, school, and community as advocates for the health, education, and well-being of all children so that they may become productive citizens in tomorrow's world.

Spring presents a perfect opportunity to acknowledge the work of those around us! Thank you to our dedicated volunteers- our Building Representatives, Central Committee Chairs, and each of the PTSA volunteers in our buildings that have helped to make this school year successful. It is a direct result of these volunteers’ time and dedication that West Irondequoit Central PTSA has been able to live our mission of bettering the lives of all our children. So, thank you for what you each did behind the scenes of all Family Events, Book Fairs, Cultural Arts assemblies, and the upcoming carnivals, playground nights, graduation events, and other celebrations that connect our families and provide our children with opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime.

Each spring, PTSA starts to plan for the next school year. Your membership helps to support a wide-range of opportunities for our children. We are always looking for individuals to chair our central committees and serve on the Executive Board. Our buildings always have opportunities for members to serve as Building Representatives, chair events, serve as bookkeepers or help out with various family events. Please consider partnering with us. There is no substitute for the connection between school and home and volunteering with PTSA provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen that connection. Please feel free to email us at westirondequoitcentralptsa@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering or have any questions or suggestions for us.

WICPTSA is committed to becoming a more inclusive, equitable, and accessible organization that connects families across our diverse community with each other and with our teachers and schools. This year, we have made significant progress in understanding some of those opportunities. Thank you to those of you who responded to our spring community survey - it has been humbling to hear about the aspects of our work that you appreciate as well as where we have fallen short. If you are able to join us at our May 9 WICPTSA meeting at 7 pm at the District Office, we will be discussing the results of that survey and how we can use them to set goals and expectations for the coming year.

This is also the time of year when we vote on the District Budget and elect members for the Board of Education. Please take some time to review the information about the District Budget Vote and to learn about the candidates running for the West Irondequoit Board of Education. The voting will take place at the St. Paul Blvd. Fire Dept. on Cooper Road. Be sure to let your voice be heard. Remember to vote on Tuesday, May 16th! And stop by the food trucks at IHS from 4 pm to 6 pm to support our Senior class!

Enjoy your spring and have a safe and restful summer,

Kate Copeland

President, WICPTSA

District Vote

Tuesday, May 16th, St. Paul Blvd. Fire Dept.

6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Residents are asked to vote on the 2023-2024 School Budget, a proposition and two seats up for election on the Board of Education.

The proposed budget is $88,689,971. The proposal meets the tax levy cap of 2.30%.

There will be one additional proposal on the ballot, the R.I.S.E. Project. This $19,075,000 capital project includes renovations, repairs and improvements to maintain our properties, including a new bridge connecting IHS and Dake, playground additions at Rogers-Southlawn and Iroquois schools, Library Media Center renovations, security improvements, and renovations for the relocation of the Dept. of Environmental Services. The project would be funded through money already saved in our Capital Reserve Fund and through State Building Aid. There would be no local tax impact.

There are two residents running for two seats on the board. In ballot order, they are: John T. Vay and Victoria Bournival. Candidates’ Night will be held on Monday, May 8th, at Irondequoit High School at 7:00 p.m.

For more detailed information on the proposed budget, the proposition and BOE candidates’ information and statements, see the District’s Website at www.westirondequoit.org and watch for the budget edition of the Quote, to be mailed in early May.

You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. Citizen, you have lived in the West Irondequoit School District for at least 30 days prior to the vote and you are at least 18 years of age by the day of the vote. You will be asked to show proof of residency, such as a driver’s license.

Questions about the voting process and absentee ballots should be directed to Jenna Lustig, District Clerk: jenna_lustig@westiron.monroe.edu / 585-336-2983.

WICPTSA will be presenting Candidates' Night on May 8, 2022 at 6:30 PM. This event will be in person at Irondequoit High School Campus Center (small cafeteria) and then posted on the District site/YouTube channel. There are two candidates running and two open positions. In keeping with the format, we are offering this opportunity for the community to submit questions for the candidates. Please submit your questions to kathrynecopeland@gmail.com by 3 pm Friday, May 5th. Our moderator, Amy Thomas, will review the questions and present them to the candidates.

For more information and to apply online, visit our website

WICPTSA STEAM Scholarships

Deadline: Friday, May 12, 2023

WICPTSA needs community support in order to keep programming and traditions alive in our district. We are looking for community members that would like to become involved by volunteering - there are many ways to give the gift of your time and talents!

WICPTSA Building Representative Responsibilities:

● Attend our monthly Central PTSA meeting the second Tuesday of each month to collaborate with other members and share an update of events in your building

● Meet with your building school principal monthly to discuss family events and areas in need of PTSA support

● Help plan and schedule school events both for fun and learning

● Be a voice for all families in your school and help promote positive communication between home and school

● Communicate with building teachers to show support and identify areas in need of support by PTSA

● Have fun and enjoy the time with the children and give yourself the credit you deserve. You are performing a wonderful service to the families of West Irondequoit!!!!!

Want to be involved but looking for a different opportunity than serving as a building rep, with more flexibility, a different time commitment, or the ability to serve families across our district?

Please consider stepping in as a central committee chair or in another role with our central WICPTSA organization. The majority of these positions can be done from home, and some are only a few hours a year but have a big impact on our community. We currently have many openings to complement the talents of all our community members.

For more details about the available opportunities, visit our website at Volunteer with WICPTSA and click "Find Out More"!

To sign up to volunteer or have someone reach out to you to talk about available opportunities, you can fill out the Google form here and we will be in touch soon! We'd love to hear from you.

WICPTSA thanks you for all of your support!

~ WICPTSA Executive Committee