😁

🗓️TAKE NOTE! Important Dates 🗓️

2/7 Deadline to complete the Perception Survey
2/10: Virtual PTSA Meeting, 7:00 Link Here
2/11: Pine Brook Drama Club Performance
2/12: Family Skate Night at Horizon, 6-8
2/15-2/23: NO SCHOOL
2/26: Parent Engagement Night at Pine Brook, 6-7
2/27: PTSA Panera Fundraiser Info Linked Here!

February 7, 2025

A Message from the Principals

Dear Panther Families,

Happy Friday! This week, we want to take an opportunity to share a message regarding technology use. Generally speaking, screen time use in children is on the rise and there are a number of repercussions that adults may not have heard about.

Did you know that children are:

Getting dry eyes from being on their devices so long
Messaging and FaceTiming at night and not getting enough sleep
On their devices for extended periods of time
Getting upset that their friends aren’t responding to their texts at night
Sneaking to use devices when adults have told them not to
Using social media sites to chat and connect with other kids
Seeing YouTube as the main form of “social media”
65% of 4th graders use YouTube each week, while 51% use FaceTime

When we strike a balance with devices, we can have screen time and also do other important, fun things! Our fantastic Counseling Team (Mrs. McAdam and Mrs. Schneider) will be starting lessons in classrooms regarding cyber safety. Be sure to follow up with your Panther about what they are learning and all of our families have access to the Parent Toolkit from The Social Institute. This toolkit is a quick-read resource with the latest social media tips & trends and suggestions for monitoring usage. You can register for access to the Parent Toolkit by following the instructions in this flyer.

Please reach out to our counselors for more information or support with device-use at home. We also provided a list of apps that families should know and what they are used for below.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Andrea and Allie

Panther Pride Ticket Winners

Congratulations to our Panther Pride Ticket winners: Jordyn, Presley, Ruby, Penelope, Andrew, Zayvion, Ilyana, Jackson S., Matt F., Mrs. LaMonaco's class, Mrs. Geglia, Ms. Schneider, Ms. Irons, and Mrs. LaMonaco!

Our attendance winner for most improved attendance is Makiyah!

🏆 Golden Tray Award 🏆

🎉 Congratulations to Ms. Autore's Class 🎉

Family Perception Survey

Please complete the GCSD Family Perception Survey by Friday February 7th for our school. This annual anonymous survey helps our district to understand how families feel about their school. Question categories include culture, relationships, safety, instruction, and discipline.

By completing the survey, you can enter to win an accompanying sweepstakes for a chance to win a one of two $50 Visa gift card prizes, courtesy of the Center for Youth. To enter the sweepstakes please email your name and phone number to parent.helpline@greececsd.org and mention that you are entering the Family Perception Survey Sweepstakes by February 7th. You do not need to complete the survey to enter.

In addition, if you complete the survey and send in your name, student's name, and their classroom teacher you will receive a Panther Pride vinyl sticker! (Please let your Panther know to bring it to Ms. K. at the front desk!)

Celebration of Black Excellence

The event will feature:

* Student Artwork

* Greece Arcadia HS Jazz Band, 5:30pm-6:15pm

in the GPAC Lobby

Student Performers: 6:30pm-7:30pm

* Paddy Hill 4/5 Chorus, Greece Arcadia HS cast of Into The Woods

* Demi Olaode from ATH

* Step Team from ODY

* Spoken Word from OLY

* Tessa Meyers from ARC

* Shaddai Simmons, ODY Social Worker

* K'lynn McCloud from ATH MS

In addition, we have Joseph Joubert, Grammy nominated Orchestrator, Music Arranger and Supervisor for The Wiz!

🛼 Family Skate Party 🛼

PTSA Fundraiser

Lost and Found

📣 Volunteers Needed 📣

We Want to Hear from You!

Greece Central School District Superintendent Jeremy Smalline invites you to take this brief ThoughtExchange Survey and share your thoughts on what the district is doing well and where we can improve. Your feedback will help us identify key priorities and set goals for the 2025-26 school year. Once finalized, these goals will be shared with the entire school community as part of his commitment to transparency and collaboration.

For those who may not know, Mr. Smalline began his role as superintendent on January 2 and is currently implementing a six-month entry plan focused on listening, learning, and leading Greece Central forward. You can learn more about him, his leadership team, and their plans in the district’s winter newsletter, which is on its way to your mailbox. If you prefer, here is a link to the electronic version.

Please take a few moments to share your honest feedback. The survey is open now through Feb. 28. Together, we can help shape the future of the Greece Central School District. Thank you for your input and support.

Your support is critical in making this effort a success. Together, we can use this feedback to inform our work and continue striving to meet the needs of our school community.

⛄ Ideas for Winter Fun ⛄

🐸 Early Childhood Information 🐸

Children who will be four years old on or before December 1, 2025 are eligible for our free Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) programming during the 2025-2026 school year.

The UPK application opened on January 13, 2025 and applications are due March 1, 2025. Click here to complete the application or call 966-2472 to have a printed application mailed to you. To learn more about our GCSD UPK program and lottery system, please see our website.

Follow the link below if your family is in need of assistance:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVnPlzusVqrcWClPJoM0ndWbXkryEwjikevYKQIIZ2TTQD5g/viewform

💙🖤 Pine Brook Apparel Store is Still Open 💙🖤

Big News, Panthers! Our apparel store is open for business! Orders can be placed now! A portion of each sale goes toward helping the PTSA provide Field Trips, Grow Your Genius Club support, School-wide celebrations and more! Wear your gear AND help the school at once!

Click the link for Pine Brook apparel: https://www.bonfire.com/pine-brook-ptsa-2024

Click the link for Pine Brook hats: https://www.bonfire.com/pine-brook-hats/

Donations Needed

🏫 Pine Brook PTSA 🏫

Please follow this link to sign up to volunteer! We need a few parents to help with future events.

Upcoming Meetings

We will meet on the following dates at 7:00 pm for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year:

February 10th:

Agenda Items:

Budget Approval
Bylaws and Committee
Election Committee
Yearbook Update
5th Grade Parents for 5th Grade Event
Remaining Field Trip Requests
Summer Kick Off Party Update

Microsoft Teams

Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 257 199 326 087
Passcode: 4kZ7gu2m

Dial in by phone
+1 469-998-6074,,511323091# United States, Dallas
Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 511 323 091#

March 10th - Form an Election Committee
May 12th
June 9th - Elections

Upcoming PTSA Fundraisers

Please support Pine Brook through the following restaurant fundraisers:

2/27 - Panera Bread Company at 800 Greece Ridge Center Drive from 4:00pm-8:00pm
3/13 - Red Robin at 104 Greece Ridge Center Drive ALL DAY

Link for PTSA Membership!!!

Click the button to join!

Follow us on the App formerly known as Twitter!

Click on the Photo to Give a Panther Pride Shout-out!

From Previous Editions of the Pine Brook Press

📱 Who to Call 📱

Who to Call With Questions is a Resource for Families

Building trust and ensuring that there are open lines of communication between home and school are essential for student success. We want to be sure you know who to contact with questions or concerns. In December, the district shared a new resource for families. In case you missed it, this linked Who to Call with Questions, Concerns and Compliments reference guide is a step-by-step guide families can use to ensure questions are answered quickly and effectively. Please refer to it whenever you need to speak to someone about your child’s progress. Whether your inquiry is about academics, safety, or services and supports, there are people at the school and district level who are ready to help whenever a question or concern arises.

For Step 1 concerns at Pine Brook, please start with the person closest to the situation. They should be able to help you navigate the situation. If the concern rises to a Step 2, please contact the Assistant Principal. For your convenience there is a list below of contacts at Pine Brook:

Step 1:

Safety, Health and Wellness:

Nurse: Jen Curatalo jennifer.curatalo@greececsd.org

Registration, Daily Schedules, and Other Questions:

Main Office Secretary: Janine Layne janine.layne@greececsd.org

Mental Health, Counseling and Social Work Questions:

Counselors: Anne McAdam anne.mcadam@creececsd.org

Counselor: Debbie Schneider deborah.schneider@greececsd.org

Social Worker: Danielle Binn danielle.binn@greececsd.org

Academics and Instructional Questions:

Please contact your student’s teacher

Step 2:

Principal: Andrea Geglia andrea.geglia@greececsd

Assistant Principal: Allie Weise allison.weise@greececsd.org

🧃 Help Pine Brook Collect Box Tops 🧃

Authors: Andrea Geglia, Pine Brook Principal

Allison Weise, Pine Brook Assistant Principal

The Greece Central School District does not discriminate in employment or in its educational programs and activities against qualified individuals on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, disability, veteran status or age and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources

Compliance Officer

P.O. Box 300 (585) 966-2300

North Greece, New York 14515 gina.larsen@greececsd.org