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Originally delivered on 10/26/2025 7:50 pm

SUBJECT: SNN 10/26, PA Meeting THIS Tuesday

Issue 9, October 26, 2025

We took this photo early on so there were many more volunteers throughout the night. We thank each and every one of you so so much. Prospective families were also so grateful and I know I spoke to some who were impressed by how many parent volunteers of current families were there to answer their questions and share their experiences. 


Are we awesome or what? 😎

PA MEETING - THIS TUESDAY

Join us for our October Parent Association Meeting this Tuesday, October 28th at 7:45pm on Zoom!

We’ll hear school updates from Principal Marwah, discuss upcoming events like Rising Stars, and share ways to get involved this season. Check out the agenda and last month's minutes HERE


Join Zoom Meeting HERE

Meeting ID: 899 9495 0097

Passcode: 487055 

SLT VACANCY

We have an opening for the IEP parent rep for our School Leadership Team. The representative must be a parent of a student with an IEP and must be able to attend in person meetings at 4:30pm, held one Tuesday per month. Please contact president@laguardiahspa.org with interest. We will hold this election at the next PA Meeting on Tuesday, October 28th (see above for details).

Rising Stars 2026 - Get On Your Feet

Our legendary variety show is back! Open to all grades and all studios.

Couldn't make an audition slot? Email your video audition submission no later than TOMORROW, Monday, October 27th to risingstars@laguardiahspa.org.Don’t miss your chance to shine!

And meet our Rising Stars parent producers, Traci Graper and Kimberly Turck!

Thank you both for all your time and dedication to our community. We can't wait to see the amazing talent our students bring to this show. 


Remember to follow @lagrisingstarsofficial for the latest updates.

ALL SCHOOL MUSICAL

WSS Key Art designed by Karolina Dyachenko; Ms. Kim, Instructor.


Tickets on Sale Early November

Be a Star Sponsor!

Now is your chance to promote your business, celebrate your student, or thank a teacher!


SPONSORSHIP LEVELS from $20 to $5,000 (though we would not turn down $10,000!)


Find out HERE what each Sponsorship Level includes.

Parents of West Side Story WhatsApp Chat

We would like to extend an invitation to parents of students participating in the West Side Story All School Musical—in cast, crew, production, or orchestra pit—to join the Parents of WSS WhatsApp Chat. This group serves as a space for updates, coordination, and community throughout the production. To join, please click HERE.

ACADEMIC FORUM

Karen Gillen
Nathifa Lewis
Kathy Pence
Jonathan Wynne

academicforum@laguardiahspa.org

The Academic Forum is excited to share that 50 LaG students are taking the SAT prep class offered through our partnership with Academic Approach.

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Study Strategies

High school is a time when the brain is still wiring up for focus, organization, and decision-making, and every teen learns differently, so finding the right study approach matters. 

Strong study habits include taking clear, organized notes (in your own words, not just copying), reviewing them a little each day, and staying engaged in class by asking questions or joining discussions. Breaking assignments into smaller steps and setting short-term goals can help make big projects less stressful. A consistent, distraction-free study spot helps most students, though some might need background music or movement breaks to focus. Using a planner — paper or digital — keeps deadlines visible, and studying with peers can make learning more social and motivating. Regular breaks, healthy snacks, and good sleep also go a long way toward keeping the brain alert.

Adults can make these habits stick by focusing on support, not control.

  • Help set up the right environment: quiet and tidy for some teens, or flexible for those who need sensory input.
  • Encourage planning: help teens figure out what study routines and tools actually work for them, then let your teen take ownership.
  • Celebrate progress: praise effort, focus, and problem-solving, not just grades.
  • Model balance: show that rest, movement, and time away from screens are part of being productive.
  • Connect learning to life: talk about how school topics show up in real-world situations or your teen’s interests.

Work with your student to find what truly fits them so that studying can be a skill they enjoy improving.

COLLEGE RESOURCES

Shelliann Roach
Assistant Principal, Counseling Support
sroach2@schools.nyc.gov

Monday - Friday 8:15am - 4:15pm
Room 243
212-496-0700, ext. 2206


Click HERE to read the latest (October) Counseling Support Team newsletter.

CLASS NEWS
Class of 2026

Senior Class Representative, Limor Nesher
seniorrep@laguardiahspa.org 

Get Advice from LaG Alumni

Senior students, mark your calendars for a session with LaGuardia HS Alumni who will share tips and advice for college and life after high school. 

October 27 at 6:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting HERE.
Meeting ID: 872 7683 0703
Passcode: 968877


Reminder - Red Lion Showcase

Please sign up HERE if interested. This is a first at LaGuardia, where we are organizing to have our own showcase at the iconic Red Lion club. We are excited to have our seniors showcase their talents, but to get a date we need to get students' commitment to perform in this iconic location where the Beatles and endless popular performers started out.

Class of 2027

Junior Class Representative, Yvette Frith-Raymond
juniorrep@laguardiahspa.org 

Class of 2028

Sophomore Class Representative, Rasheedah Brown-Harris
sophomorerep@laguardiahspa.org 

Class of 2029

Freshman Class Representative, Sandra Lau-Mui
freshmanrep@laguardiahspa.org

STUDIO CONTACTS & NEWS

Shira Eisenberg

tech@laguardiahspa.org



TECH: The small studio with a huge impact.

NOV POTS MTG

We're pleased to announce our Special Guest at the November POTS meeting will be: Scott Stokke. Scott is a senior parent and Chair of the All School Musical Committee. We'll hear about all the ways you can support LaG's amazing production of West Side Story, info on blackout days, and more. Date/time TBA.

Meeting minutes and recordings from past POTS meetings are available HERE.


BEST WISHES

The studio's Amazon Wish List currently has some needed items on it HERE. Please sort the list by 'Priority (High to Low)' to view what's most urgent. All items ship directly to the school, making this an easy way to support Tech's ongoing work. Your generosity is greatly appreciated, thank you!


TECH FAQs

A reminder that a full rundown for everything Tech can be found in the Studio Handbook HERE.

Jennifer Dumlao
Vanessa Enri
quez

Marlene Smoot
Diane Vasquez

music@laguardiahspa.org

ONE GREAT SHOW DOWN, MANY TO GO!

Thank you to everyone who helped sell out the Little Flower Theater for the fall Jazz Concert, the first Music Studio concert of the year. We can't wait to see you at many more shows. Special thanks to our parent volunteers Nadia Boncheva, Nathifa Lewis, Jasmi Bonnén, and Lara Bursor.

NOVEMBER LINEUP

November is chock-full of exciting events—mark your calendars!

Summer Camp Meeting
Representatives from top music camps will speak to the LaG community about their programs. Teaser alert: a few LaG students will also share their own camp experiences—don’t miss it!

Nov 6–10: Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser
Help support the studio by participating in our Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser! The popcorn is delicious, easy to sell, and ships straight to customers’ doors. Best part? 50% of the profits go directly to the Music Studio!

Nov 9: Music Studio Showcase @ Hill Country BBQ
Join us for this amazing event featuring a wide range of performances—rock, jazz, new age, and more. It’s going to be an unforgettable night!

Nov 18: Senior College Meeting
Calling all seniors and juniors (sophomores and freshmen welcome too)! The Music Studio will host a student-led college conservatory meeting. Recent alumni will share their experiences with the audition process—great insider info for anyone planning ahead!

Nov 21: DiMenna Center Event
The Senior Chorus and Philharmonic will perform at the DiMenna Center, presenting a live score from The Highlander movie. It’s sure to be an incredible performance—come out and support our talented musicians!

Mindy Greenberg
Jamie Ganey

drama@laguardiahspa.org


“I think like with anything in life, in the schoolroom in an artistic endeavor, if you have just a really good teacher, it's inspiring.”

– Amy Ryan

If you take the “o” and the “m” out of “Tom Hanks” you get THanks. And that’s what all the volunteer PODS who came out to help at the Open House deserve – our heartfelt Tom Hanks goes out to you!


WE SAVED YOU A SEAT (IN YOUR OWN HOUSE)

Grab your popcorn, toss in some whoppers, raisinets or sno-caps (trust us, it’s a wonderful combo) because it’s time to gather once more! Our next PODS meeting is TOMORROW, October 27th, and yes — we saved you a seat (that looks a lot like your own couch, chair or floor pillow). You bring the snacks. We’ll bring the updates. 

Join Zoom Meeting HERE.

TALENT WANTED

Dual fundraisers on the same day??? Wha??? Well, you might have heard us talk about it in Sunday Night News’ past, but we’re like a broken record of a dead horse being beaten (eew) – meaning, we like to repeat ourselves. But in the spirit of not bludgeoning you with the exact same old information, we’re throwing in a new wrinkle – Student RECRUITMENT! Here are the details:


December 21st

1:00pm – Holiday Cabaret @ Chelsea Table + Stage (stay tuned for more info!)

7:00pm – Our seniors will perform at the historic and iconic Players Theater in Greenwich Village – and they need performers to sign up! So sign them up!

DONATE OR DONUT?

Which one is better for you? The answer is revealed by clicking HERE and selecting Drama Studio!


MERCH ALERT!

Did you know you could order sweet LaG Drama swag online? Of course not. We just told you! Also, it just went live, so…. HERE's an Online Merch Order Form so you can stock up for the holidays.

Katie Miller
Barbette Leonard

dance@laguardiahspa.org

Dear dance families,


Thank you to the families who attended our first dance PA meeting of the year and thank you to Mr. Sinacori for being our guest star!

Thank you also to the parents who volunteered at this year’s open house! So much fun to welcome our potential future LaG dancers.

Get excited for our dance observation week coming up in early December! We will also be selling some brand new gear created by our merch team then. Yay!


We are planning a dance parent and guardian get together for Monday, November 3, so please save the date! We will also be launching a special fundraising event - focused on our guest artists - so keep your eyes open for that! And in the meantime, please donate HERE if you can! We need your support to maintain all of our amazing programming.


Warmly,

Katie and Barbette

Kristin Leigh

Cindy Wolf

art@laguardiahspa.org


IMPORTANT DATES!

  • November 14th - Student Curated Art Show. More details coming soon! 
  • November 17th - Art PA Monthly Meeting at 7:00pm via Zoom. Link to be shared closer to date.  

 

VISITING ARTIST PROGRAM!

We are so excited to share an early update on the Visiting Artist Program, organized and sponsored by the Art PA. An incredible group of artists are lined up this year to share their work and experiences with the Fine Arts students, including: 

A huge thank you to Joseph Hart and Victoria Asness for their hard work and dedication to make this happen! 

 

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ART STUDIO

Our school relies on the Art Studio PA to provide support for the Visiting Artists program, many of the art supplies and materials needed for the school year, repairs and purchases of equipment for art classes, field trips, and more! To contribute, donations of any size are greatly appreciated! Thank you for your support! We couldn't do this without you! Please click HERE to donate.


If you have questions, ideas, or just want to say hello, please feel free to email us at anytime at art@laguardiahspa.org. We'd love to hear from you! 


Have a great week ahead!

Kristin Leigh & Cindy Wolf

PA Reminders

REMEMBER TO MAKE $$$ FOR LAG WHILE YOU SHOP!

For every new user that installs Give Freely for the rest of the year, they'll match it with a $10 donation to LaG!  Sign up HERE.

Get Some New LaG Swag!

Visit our online shop for general LaGuardia merch. Make your purchases HERE. (You can also still purchase more items and Studio-specific swag in person at school events and shows!)


HELP LAG GET FUNDING FROM THE DOE by filling out this form HERE. Formerly known as the School Lunch Form, you may find that you are eligible for college application and exam fee waivers based on your income. Please note that you can always select not to provide your personal information and just sign the form. Signing the form will allow the DOE to calculate funding toward the school more accurately. Thank you!


The next PA Meeting is on October 28 on Zoom. 
Join Meeting HERE.
Meeting ID: 899 9495 0097
Passcode: 487055

OUTSIDE OPPORTUNITIES
High Line Fellows: Emerging Leaders Program

Are you a high school sophomore? Do you go to school or live in Chelsea, the Meatpacking District, or Hell’s Kitchen? Apply to become a High Line Fellow! Applications are open through November 5, 2025.

The High Line Fellows: Emerging Leaders Program is a paid opportunity focused on skills-building and leadership development through civic engagement, arts and culture, horticulture and sustainability, public programs, and strategic partnerships. For up to three years, Fellows gain professional skills and hands-on experience as critical practitioners while building connections with other teens in public spaces throughout the city.

Job applications for the High Line Fellows: Emerging Leaders Program will be accepted from October 1 – November 5, 2025, with the new cohort starting in late January.

Learn more and apply HERE.

NY Youth Debate & Public Speaking Festival

Lumos Debate is hosting a fun day celebrating youth public speaking and leadership at the New York Youth Public Speaking & Debate Festival! This is an exciting way to spend your Saturday or Sunday and give your children exposure to the world of public speaking and debate. Families can enjoy a championship-level debate (and vote on the winner), a keynote from Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur Zeph Chang, plus food, games, and a charity auction.

  • Saturday, Nov 8 (1:00–3:30pm) – Purchase College, Purchase, NY
  • Sunday, Nov 9 (10:00–12:30pm) – Marymount Manhattan College, 221 E 71st St, New York, NY

Get free tickets HERE.

DONORS CHOOSE: SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS

Thank you for your continued support, community!


Ms. Navedo is still looking to obtain a laptop to support differentiated learning in her Biology and Chemistry classes. She'll be able to create engaging, data-driven lesson plans quickly, more efficiently and make real-time adjustments during class—such as modeling solutions to problems, pulling up digital resources, or providing immediate feedback to students. We can do this!


Click HERE to see all the projects that need your support!

IEP/504 NEWS

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 Parent Association VP for Special Education, specialeducation@laguardiahspa.org

SCHOOL CONTACT LIST

If you need a comprehensive list of who to contact at the school for various questions, click HERE

LAG ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Parent Association Instagram: Laguardia_pa
Parent Association Facebook: LaG Families and Friends

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
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
USEFUL LINKS
Explore the LaGuardia PA Website

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

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