Student government will hauntify classroom 440 and show scary movies starting at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 (permission slips will go home for middle school students). Snacks will be available for purchase. And if the gym is available, there will be a middle school Halloween dance from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Stay tuned for details.

The high school student government has organized a canned goods collection for the victims of Tropical Storm Erika, which on Aug. 27 devastated the Caribbean island of Dominica. Please bring donations to Room 440. Parent Mary Iorio, who is from Dominica, is helping to coordinate PSC's efforts.

At last week's packed PTA meeting (great turnout!), the following new board members were elected: Donna Walrond, Ivan Zavala, Anne Sherman and Maribeth Batcha – co-vice presidents Kali Leben – co-treasurer Helodia Aragon – co-secretary And these parents stepped forward to serve on the School Leadership Team: Mary Iorio, Wendy Marshall, Lorraine Jones, Guy MomPremier, Melissa Moskowitz, Corinthia Carter, Lucia Burns, and Lynn Husum. Thanks and welcome to all!

If you loathed the middle school placement process, you're not alone. Parents for Middle School Equity, a group of District 15 parents--led by PSC parent Miriam Nunberg--is working to change the way children are assigned to middle school. As this slideshow makes clear, a survey the group conducted last year found enormous dissatisfaction with the current process. The slideshow also demonstrates how the process results in segregation by income, race and national origin. If

Last month, a PSC contingent traveled to Howard University in Washington, D.C., for the National Coalition on School Diversity conference. Jill Bloomberg, ninth-grade ELA teacher Rahsan Williams, and high school students Theola Carbon, Feyisola Oduyebo, and Amanda Lee spoke on a panel about PSC's work on integration. For the students, it was an exciting, if nerve-wracking, moment in the spotlight. They talked about the ways PSC facilitates conversations through weekly c

Food; who doesn't love it? Anyone who's been to a PSC event, such as the welcome-back picnic or holiday party, knows there's a lot of deliciousness happening. Please share your favorite family recipes and any stories that go with them for the PSC cookbook. Contact eighth-grade parent Nancy Workman to submit your recipe and story.

Hey all you writer/editor types, put your literary chops to work while lending a hand to our high school seniors. Ms. Sandusky is looking for volunteers to help seniors improve their college essays. Last year this took place in a workshop, and it was a great experience all around. If you're interested, contact Ms. Sandusky at JSandusky@schools.nyc.gov or leave a message at the school.