Parents Association

The PA enhances the mission of Barrow Street by organizing and implementing activities that bring the community together and by acting as a liaison between administrators and parents.

It is the goal of the Parents Association (PA) to support parents, children and teachers by helping to create a positive environment at Barrow Street Nursery School at Greenwich House (BSNS).

Class Parent HandbookPA Event Guidelines

Monthly Meetings

The PA meets monthly to organize various school events and to support our parents and teachers throughout the year. Coffee and bagels are served. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend.

2022 – 2023 Board

Co-Presidents

Alana Axelrod and Taryn Blank

Co-Vice Presidents

Rachel Wexler and Cassandra Ryan

Treasurer

Emily Stackman

Secretary

Guggy Gill

2022-2023 Committees

Committees

Auction Committee

The auction raises money for scholarships, professional development, and various school projects. It is the sole fundraising event for the school’s scholarship fund which enables Barrow Street to maintain an economically diverse student body. This committee organizes every aspect of the auction and there are many ways to show support. This is truly a community effort – the more people the better! Meetings are held on a monthly basis, typically after the PA meeting.

Vice-Chairs and Volunteers Needed for: donations (soliciting and organizing), video and art project (to be shown/sold at event), event & décor, marketing/social media/graphics, night of support, flexible organization work done remotely from a computer.

Contacts

Becca Mignanelli
Mariel Sholem

Commitment

2-4 hours per month, more in March/April (Auction occurs in April)

Timing of Event

April, planning throughout the school year

Bake Sale Committee

Funds raised by the bake sale support classroom needs as identified by the school as well as a local charity selected in conjunction with the Community Engagement Committee. Volunteer opportunities include: baking, buying, helping to organize the event, and working event shifts.

Contacts

Nidah Ahmed
Katie Lee

Commitment

1-4 hours per event

Timing of Event

October and May

Community Engagement Committee

Barrow Street has a rich history in community service. The Community Engagement Committee is responsible for planning and executing 3 to 5 school-wide community projects each year. Past examples include: a zero waste initiative, a partnership with Hudson River Parks, and necessity drives for clothes, food, diapers, and more. The group works with Barrow Street’s Associate Education Director to support in-class community engagement initiatives.

Contacts

Heather Summe-Aleksinas
Lollie Pilcher

Commitment

1-4 hours per project

Dad’s Committee

No meetings, no minutes. Primarily a social committee, they host 1-2 events per year and lend a helping hand with activities sponsored by the PA and school.

Contacts

David Stockel
Omar Issa

Commitment

1-4 hours per event

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee

The mission of this Committee is to support Barrow Street’s commitment to creating an inclusive community. The Committee promotes the value of diversity, particularly through the perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences represented in our children, teachers, and families. This Committee endeavors to support, celebrate, and embrace all of our families by hosting various events throughout the year. Events may include coffee chats with parents & faculty, book readings, and a speaker series, as well as collaboration with other committees.

Contacts

Danielle Graziano
Emma Bloomfield

Commitment

1-4 hours per event

Fall Fair Committee

Fall Fair has an array of stations for each classroom to visit throughout the day and is a fun-filled event in the gym for the children and teachers!

Contacts

Serena Peck
Elisa Toha

Commitment

5-8 hours, possibly more surrounding the fairs

Timing of Event

Late October

Family & Parent Events Committee

This committee hosts a Parent/Teacher Cocktail Party and a Winter Brunch at the school. The brunch is an opportunity for parents and children to come together and enjoy a social event on a weekend. The Events committee organizes and plans all aspects of these events, and works directly with the parent body to determine the need for additional events.

Contacts

Phyllis Seevers
Tal Waksal

Commitment

2-4 hours per event

Timing of Event

September (cocktail), January (brunch)

Literacy Committee

The Parents’ Association takes pride in organizing an annual book fair in the fall and an author visit in the spring as well as providing organizational oversight for the library. This committee selects and orders new books, handles the pick-up/delivery from the vendor, organizes the set-up and breakdown, reconciles financial transactions, and runs the actual book fair.

Contacts

Louise Hart
Breanna Khoury

Commitment

2-5 hours per event

Timing of Event

Library organization is throughout, November (book fair), Spring (author visit)

New Family Committee

This committee supports our admissions office by volunteering to help with Open Houses and Tours in the fall. The committee also welcomes our new families in the spring by organizing events and introducing newcomers to other parents, teachers, and staff. This committee organizes buddies for new families, Family Playdates, the New Parent Cocktail, and the Getting Ready for School Event.

Contacts

Jackie Stockel
Jenny Dutton

Commitment

2-4 hours per event

Timing of Event

September – January (Open House/Tours), April – June (Cocktail, Workshop, and Play Dates)

Social Committee

This Committee hosts informal events where parents can connect. Past examples include: coffees, gallery tours, cocktail events, shopping events, parent volunteer opportunities and work-out events. This committee allows working parents and others with busy daytime demands to stay connected to the Barrow Street community.

Contacts

Zara Tisch
Stephanie Brag

Commitment

1-4 hours per event

Yearbook Committee

BSNS produces a single school-wide yearbook featuring the children and documenting their activities. The Committee includes a representative from each class who will take and gather pictures of their students throughout the year. In late spring, the classroom representative will submit the best 10-15 photos to the yearbook organizer.

Contacts

Isidra Vega
Michaela McKenny

Commitment

2-4 hours over the course of the school year

Merchandise/Spirit Committee

This committee creates and sells merchandise like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs and more at a yearly Spirit + Spirit event.

Contacts

Kate Burke
Julie King
Nell Diamond

Commitment

2-4 hours over the course of the school year

Teacher Appreciation Committee

This committee helps us show the teachers how much we appreciate them, from an annual catered brunch to chalking the sidewalks to coordinating teacher appreciation week.

Contacts

Marin Khanduja
Val Toomey

Commitment

1-4 hours

Flex Committee

This committee is for parents who want to be engaged but have sporadic availability and are open to being contacted for last minute projects either at home, work or school. This committee will receive monthly requests with projects and volunteer opportunities that need to be done. Parents can opt to sign up on an as-needed basis. This committee is also a great way to explore which committees you may want to commit to more permanently.

Contacts

Caroline Spencer

Commitment

1-2 hours per project

Class Parents

Each classroom has 2 class parents. These parents help facilitate communication between teachers and the other parents primarily through weekly emails. Class parents focus on building cohesiveness in the classroom, planning teacher appreciation, arranging class parties, and encouraging school-wide participation in these activities. At least one parent from each class should attend the monthly PA meetings.

Commitment

3-4 hours per month

A collaboratively designed learning experience

Fundraising

A collaboratively designed learning experience

Book Fair

The Parents Association organizes a book fair annually during parent-teacher conferences. The book fair provides parents with the opportunity to purchase great books while at the same time raising funds for various school projects.

Auction

Each spring, the Parents Association organizes an auction to raise money for the scholarship fund, professional development for teachers, and other programming needs. This is the sole fundraising event for the school’s scholarship fund and enables Barrow Street to serve an economically diverse student body. As of now, approximately 15% of our students receive some type of financial support, but we hope to be able to increase that number for next year!

Bake Sale

The Parents Association holds two bake sales (fall and spring) to raise funds for PA activities. It is organized and run by our community of parents. The bake sale is held on the corner of 7th Avenue and Barrow Street (weather permitting) and the whole community is welcome.

Amazon Affiliate Program

Barrow Street has an affiliate program with Amazon.com and a portion of all purchases made through the affiliate link goes toward the Barrow Street Nursery School PA Fund. This helps to support school events and activities. Click here for a general shopping link so that a portion of your purchases goes to the Barrow Street PA.