PA Elections Are Happening this month! If you want to be part of a great team and make a difference for our school, think about running for a position on the Parents Association Executive Board. Elections are Tuesday, May 27th, 6:30pm on Zoom. To learn more about PA Executive Board positions CLICK HERE. |
|
LaGuardia Chess Club ♔♕♘♗♙♖ We invite students of all levels of chess experience (from new-to-the-game to advanced) to join the LaGuardia Chess Club. Please register at the link below to receive information about upcoming virtual meetings (for learning strategies and playing games) and in-person tournaments (typically weekend days in various locations around Manhattan). LaGuardia Chess Club Registration Thanks, and we hope to see you soon!
Emmanuel Tsao emmanuelt2796@nycstudents.net Eli Elkin elie9@nycstudents.net Faculty Advisor: Mr. Deniss Vinogradov dvinogradov@schools.nyc.gov |
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Join us on May 12th @ 6:15 PM for a zoom session with Meagan Moore, the Director of School Programs from Academic Approach, about the benefits of taking the SAT or ACT when applying to college.
Join Zoom Meeting HERE.
Meeting ID: 865 7241 1253
The next Academic Forum session after that - and our last zoom meeting of the school year - will take place on June 4th and will feature senior students who have been accepted to college as well as senior parents. They will offer “inside tips” about the college application process (link to be provided later).
Both events are for current juniors, sophomores, and even freshman who want to get a jump start on applying to college!
We look forward to seeing you online then!
The Academic Forum |
Post Secondary Counselor, Suzette Persaud
spersaud@schools.nyc.gov Contact Ms. Persaud with college application questions. All college representative visits are listed in Maia Learning under Events.
Click HERE to read the latest (April) Counseling Support Team newsletter. |
Important reminders and updates on Senior To Do's and activities. Please note that Senior trip information will be shared as well once finalized.
Prom Wednesday, June 18, 2025 City Winery - Pier 57, 25 11th Avenue (Near 15th Street) 7pm-11pm - Cost: $225 per person; Prom Contract & Payment is made through the school's website. (Scans of Prom Contract(s) and non-LaGuardia guest ID must be uploaded at time of payment.)
- Prom is a formal, all-inclusive Dinner/Dance.
- No person shall be admitted after 9:00 PM.
- There is no readmission once a person leaves.
- Students are responsible for their own transportation.
- Smoking is not permitted at the facility.
- The student and the guest must enter together.
- All ticket holders must show picture ID before entering the venue
- There are no refunds.
- Dr. Stricklin-Witherspoon must approve, in advance, any change in guest.
- There are no school-sponsored post-prom events.
Some helpful information: - Beginning May 1, Seniors may be able to pick up copies of the Prom Contract/Permission Slip from outside the Deans Office, Room 229. Pick up one copy per attendee.
- Signed Contracts must be uploaded at the time of payment.
- All students must have a Prom Contract, even if the person is 18 years old or older. (This is for emergency contact information.)
- Payment is made through the school website (STUDENT section).
- Non-LaGuardia students must have a picture of an ID Card uploaded at time of purchase. (School or state ID are acceptable.)
- Seniors with Prom questions should go to Room 261 to speak with Dr. Stricklin. This is the fastest -- and preferred -- way to receive an answer.
- Seniors requesting a reduction in ticket price (financial assistance) will NOT receive information until June 1 at the earliest.
Financial AidSenior Dues are required of all Seniors, and the Parents Association graciously provides financial aid to assist families who cannot afford the expense. Prom, however, is an optional activity; therefore, there are no funds set aside for Prom financial aid.
Whatever funds the school can cobble together each year for financial aid, here is how it is distributed: The amount is divided by the number of recipients.
For example, if $100 is available to distribute and 1 Senior requests it, then $100 is taken off the ticket price. (The Senior knows the reduced price and can decide if they can afford the ticket.) If $100 is available to distribute and 10 Seniors requests it, then $10 is taken off the ticket price. (The 10 Seniors know the reduced price and can decide whether they can afford the tickets.) It is doubtful that the entire ticket price is covered.
The financial aid is meant for the Senior's ticket for those who cannot afford to attend; it is not meant so you can afford to pay for a date, buy a nicer dress, go in on a limo, etc. |
Senior Trip The senior trip is still in the planning stages, but here is what we know so far: Location: Six Flags Date: Tentatively the first week in June. Date has to be approved by the administration. Cost: The PA is trying to subsidize the trip with money raised by senior class parents. We are trying to keep the cost to $50-$60 per student but this is not confirmed yet. This would include the cost of the amusement park ticket, bus, food & drink. Confirmation and more details about this trip probably will not happen until April.
Other Senior Activities The SGO (Student Government) is trying to plan some smaller senior activities too, but nothing has been finalized yet. If your student has a suggestion, please have them reach out to SGO leadership.
Teacher Thank Yous! Please have your student take some time to write a nice Thank you note to teachers who wrote them college recommendation letters or helped them prepare for auditions. These teachers were not paid to do this, but did it because they believe in your student. It would mean a lot! |
FANTASTIC VOYAGE It was smooth sailing at the merch table and beyond during Peter and the Starcatcher thanks to our fabulous volunteers! Thank you Jake Daehler, Sasha Domnitz, Carmen Lamar, Tanya Mauler, Rebecca Sherman, Max Surla, Veronika Surla, Kathy Uggen-Merget, and Lara Voss for keeping us afloat! Next up, SDF3 The Seagull! Volunteer sign up HERE.
JUNE ELECTION Nominate a friend or nominate yourself! Help our studio thrive by running for one of our open PA positions. Please email us at tech@laguardiahspa.org with any questions. Role descriptions HERE.
DONATION HOMESTRETCH Please help us cross the year end finish line strong and reach our donation goal by adding on a donation during your ticket purchases by choosing "TECH STUDIO SUPPORTER" on the Support Live Performances page or text LAGTECH to 44321 or just click HERE. Thank you!
MAY POTS MTG Date TBA this week! |
Join us this week for the Musicales! Tuesday, May 6, 6pm Musicale#1, featuring: - Percussion Ensemble
- Concert Orchestra
- Elementary Chorus
- Treble Chorus
- Operetta Workshop
Thursday, May 8, 6pm Musicale #2, featuring: - String Orchestra
- Cambiata
- Cantare
- Symphony Orchestra
- Jazz Ensemble
No need to have FOMO, get your tickets for both shows HERE! |
TAKE A BOW! Let’s hear it for our SDF volunteers, selling merch and candy and monitoring the halls for all the performances of Little Shop of Horrors and Peter and the Starcatcher! You can still sign up to help out on The Seagull. So many roles to choose from… select your way to pitch in HERE. GET SDF TIX ASAP! Speaking of The Seagull, this is it - your last chance to see the Class of 2025 Drama Students perform in their final SDF, May 29-32. Tickets HERE. THAT’S A WRAP! Please join us at our final PODS meeting on Monday, May 12th at 7:30PM (zoom link here HERE) when we will hold our Elections for Drama Board Positions! Please mark your calendars now or suffer FOMO later! Run for something! And/or vote for your 2025-2026 board members. GET ON BOARD! The success of our studio lies with us and the many skills and experiences we bring. We have many exciting and necessary open positions! Please review the Position Profiles below and reach out to us with your interest or questions, and if you decide to run for a role, please let us know by Sunday, May 11th. Co-representatives (2) Recording Secretary Secretary of Communication Treasurer Merchandise Coordinators (2) Social chair Freshman Class Drama Studio Rep Sophomore Class Drama Studio Rep Junior Class Drama Studio Rep Senior Class Drama Reps (2-4) SDF Co-Reps (2) Fundraising Chair Grants Specialist |
Dear Dance Families,
Please mark your calendar for our final Dance LaG PA Meeting of the year on May 20 at 7pm. We will be electing our Dance PA Reps for next year and taking nominations for other important roles on the dance board. Please email us at dance@laguardiahspa.org if you are interested in helping out next year. Please consider lending a hand. We will need support in merchandise, fundraising, and on the very important senior planning committee, among other areas.
Please also note that we have extended our deadline for dance donations to May 10th to sponsor a dance, or make a donation towards our upcoming senior show. Please help us support these special students! All sponsors and donors to the general dance PA will be recognized in the senior dance program.
Please reach out to us if you are still interested in sponsoring a dance at dance@laguardiahspa.org. You can read more HERE.
Lastly, donations to the general Dance PA continue to be most welcome and necessary! We need your support to ensure we hit our fundraising targets and can continue to enrich the experiences of all of our LaG dance students. Thank you in advance! You can donate HERE.
Warmly, Katie and Joslin |
Art Studio Meeting Please join us at our next Art Studio meeting on May 12th at 7:30pm. |
| During April, the LaG Visiting Artist Program welcomed professional illustrator, artist, and instructor Sam Weber. Sam presented a fascinating slideshow of his work and process to students. Sam talked about the importance of keeping a sketchbook, combining traditional and digital painting techniques, working as an art director at the New York Times Op-Ed page and hiring illustrators, making cover illustrations for books like Dune, Fahrenheit 451, and Lord of The Flies, making abstract work in addition to his representational work, working as an instructor at the School of Visual Arts and the value of going to an arts-focused college. Sam also shared a selection of impressive original drawings and paintings with students. |
|
|
|
| LaG VAP also welcomed sculptor Jennie Jieun Lee. Jennie presented an inspired slideshow to students on how she makes her ceramics. She talked about molds and making masks with clay, working in the fashion industry while she figured out how to be an artist, being inspired by her arts community and breaking out of artistic ruts, self produced pop-up shows as a way to start showing your work as a young artist, finding her artistic voice through abstraction, applying glazes like a painter, getting color ideas from her upstate flower garden, and the ceramics department at the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston, where she is an instructor. |
|
|
|
| Last, LaG VAP welcomed painter Hilary Pecis. Hilary presented a beautiful slideshow of her still-life paintings to students. She talked about why she uses acrylic paint instead of oil paint, working as a registrar at a gallery for 7 years while she figured out how to be a professional artist, her love for running (she's run 9 marathons), phone photos as the starting point for her paintings, and how still-life paintings and landscapes can be a type of portraiture. Hilary also gave students a tour of her LA-based studio (via Zoom), and a preview of her newest paintings. |
|
|
|
| Vote in CEC Elections and have LAG represented! Voting has begun for the Community Education Council members. These members help shape policies and priorities for New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), and this year, we have some of our very own parents running! So be sure to check our their profiles and those of all candidates running. You can view all candidate profiles for Manhattan High Schools HERE. You can also view the Candidate Forum held on March 14th HERE. Voting is easy; you’ll just need to log in to your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA). If you do not already have an account with your NYC public school student(s) linked, you can sign up at schoolsaccount.nyc today. If you need help creating an account or linking your children to it, please reach out to our parent coordinator Jerrianna Phenix (JPhenix2@schools.nyc.gov). Voting ends Tuesday, May 13. |
|
|
|
| Have a library card? Did you know that EVERY student in NYC, regardless of borough, is eligible for a New York Public Library card? Yes! Students can visit our awesome librarian, Ms. Elizabeth Healy, with questions or visit the Riverside branch (or any other!) to fill out an application and get a card. Once you have the card, you can access all of the resources of the NYPL. |
|
|---|
|
|
Find Library News HERE. Library Resources (How to library) HERE. |
DONORS CHOOSE: SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS |
Thank you all for supporting our teachers who give our kids the most amazing educational experience.
Ms. Greene is raising funds to build her classroom collection with meaningful plays that not only engage students with compelling stories but also expose them to diverse perspectives, histories, and voices often underrepresented in standard curricula. Alongside building the classroom library, Ms Greene would like to provide students with materials to create personalized bookmarks as they engage with these works.
Click HERE to see all the projects that need your support! |
Summer Internship Social media intern opportunity for the summer with a start up hair brand. Perfect for someone in art or tech (or elsewhere) who is into fashion / culture / content. Read more detail HERE. For questions, please contact Alec Helman (alec@scatterhair.com). |
(Extra)Ordinary Teen Photography Camp (Extra)Ordinary Teen Photography Camp is a series of summer photography workshops in New York City for teenagers, ages 14-18 years old, led by professional photographer and instructor Andrew French. LaGuardia students receive a 10% discount using the code SUMMER2025. This collaborative workshop will inspire teens to explore the art and craft of photography. Many students who’ve attended this camp have won awards and been accepted to top-tier colleges and universities. Click HERE for more information. |
 | FREE Membership: Are you a NYC teen between 13-18? Then the Teen Circle is made for YOU! Get ready to explore the Guggenheim for FREE and bring up to four guests with you. Membership includes exclusive events, performances and other offers for you and your friends. Sign up HERE for Teen Circle today to explore your creative side and get inspired! |
| Benefits: - Unlimited free admission + 4 guests to Guggenheim New York
To receive tickets for museum admission, please present both your digital membership card and a valid school or government-issued ID at the Admissions desk. Admission tickets are not available for advance reservation and must be obtained onsite. - 15% savings on-site at the Guggenheim Store
- 15% savings at Café Rebay
- Subscription to the Teen members’ email newsletter
- Invitations to Teen members events, including exclusive hours
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
If you are a parent/guardian of a student with an IEP or 504 at LaGuardia, please join our WhatsApp chat group HERE. The purpose is to support each other regarding questions/concerns related to our student's IEP or 504 at LaGuardia. For questions, please contact Michele Brandt, Parent Association VP for Special Education, specialeducation@laguardiahspa.org. |
If you need a comprehensive list of who to contact at the school for various questions, click HERE. |
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION & INTERVENTION |
Alex Falk is LaGuardia's Substance Abuse Prevention & Intervention Specialist: AFalk@schools.nyc.gov The NYC DOE Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialists (SAPIS) program provides a range of prevention and intervention services in grades K-12. The goals of the program are to: - Reduce the prevalence of substance abuse among youth
- Delay the initiation of substance abuse behavior among youth
- Decrease the negative health, social, and educational consequences associated with substance abuse
- Prevent the escalation of substance abuse behaviors to levels requiring treatment
|
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER |
Jerrianna Phenix Family Engagement Manager |
| |
|---|
|
|
Coffee & Donuts - This Friday! The Coffee & Donuts will be this Friday, May 9th, 9:00am - 10:30am. Conversation will focus on the leadership vision for our math department and 2025-2026 course offerings. AP Bechard will be joining Jerrianna for this important discussion. If you are able to attend, please email Jerrianna no later than Thursday, May 8th, by 12 noon. Upon entering the building, you will be directed to The Mezzanine. If coming to campus is not possible, please reach out to Jerrianna directly with any questions or concerns. |
For questions about, and/or to submit content for consideration in the Sunday Night News, please email: snn@laguardiahspa.org. *DISCLAIMER: The LaGuardia High School Parents Association Inc (LAGHSPA) and its officers and elected members do not endorse third-party content shared in our communications, nor do they profit from third-party promotions featured in our communications. **DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in listed WhatsApp chats and Facebook groups are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Parents Association or school administrators. LAGHSPA Photo/Video Disclaimer
|
|
|
