Issue 19, January 11, 2026

December meeting minutes can be found HERE.

See you Wednesday!

ANNUAL GALA NEWS

Waste no time on making your contribution. Go HERE and be sure to share it widely so we can continue to be THE best public arts school in NYC and 15th in the nation!

TICKETS

Tickets for Rising Stars are on sale now! The Box Office link can be found at the top of the Rising Stars 2026: Get On Your Feet website and here and from the main school page under 'BOX OFFICE'!

ART SHOW

Please participate in the Rising Stars Art Show. Sign up HERE as soon as possible. The deadline to have participants' names in the program is January 19, but completed artwork can be turned in the week of January 26.

ADS & SPONSORSHIPS

Celebrate students, promote a business, or thank a teacher in the Rising Stars Playbill!

Rising Stars Sponsorships

$5,000 — STAND UP 

6 reserved tickets, LaGuardia Fame Hoodie, Tote Bag & Mug

$2,500 — TAKE ACTION 

LaGuardia Fame Hoodie and our new journal

$1,000 — DON'T STOP  

LaGuardia Tote Bag & Mug

All sponsorships include a full-page ad, acknowledgment on our PA website, Instagram, and Sunday Night News.

Program Ad Levels

$500 – FEELING GOOD

Full Page playbill ad

$250 – FLY ME TO THE MOON

Half Page playbill ad

$125 – ANGEL DREAM

Quarter Page playbill ad

$75 – BACK TO THE BASICS

Business Card playbill ad

To learn about how to submit artwork, go HERE.

RAFFLES

Enter the Rising Stars Raffles below for a chance to win exclusive and incredible prizes and support our students!

To learn more about all of the raffles, go HERE.

A NOTE FROM OUR STUDENTS

Vote for the Design to Represent LaG!

The LaGuardia HS CANstruction Team is asking you to help choose the design that will best represent our school at CANstruction NY, an annual public event. Vote for your choice HERE.

Our humanitarian, community service team’s mission is to fight hunger! We will create a giant sculpture out of unopened canned foods and will compete against engineering firms, architectural firms, and contractors from all over NYC.

The Common Goal: All competitors bring awareness to the hunger crisis. It is a truly awesome and large-scale community service project, collectively contributing to one of New York City’s largest food donations.

We hope you vote!

To find us on Instagram, click HERE.

ACADEMIC FORUM

Karen Gillen
Nathifa Lewis
Kathy Pence
Jonathan Wynne

academicforum@laguardiahspa.org

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the seniors who have completed - or are nearing completion of - their college applications. This milestone reflects months of dedication, resilience, and thoughtful planning, supported by families, counselors, and teachers every step of the way. We are incredibly proud of our students for rising to the challenge and wish them confidence and success as they await the next chapter of their journeys.

This week, the Academic Forum met with Principal Marwah. Among other topics, he shared that his team has made considerable progress on one of the Academic Forum’s recommendations to add more academic overview content to the school website. Check out the recent changes HERE.

This month, the Academic Forum is hosting two information sessions:

Join us Tuesday, January 13 at 7:30pm for a conversation with Florence Lehr, founder of ARTriculate, a college consulting service for creative students. This information session will take place on Zoom, link HERE.
Then join us again on Tuesday, January 27 at 7:00pm for a panel discussion with LaG parents whose students applied to college early action / decision. We’ll hear about why some students are choosing to apply early, the process, timing and what parents wished they knew sooner. This information session will take place on Zoom, link HERE.

End of term is this Friday, January 16; be sure to complete all assignments by that date.

See below for a poster regarding the academic advisement parent information sessions planned by LaG’s Guidance Team.

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 access LaG's Guidance Department page.

CLASS NEWS

Class of 2026

Senior Class Representative, Limor Nesher
seniorrep@laguardiahspa.org

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.

IT'S HERE!

Please join us tomorrow for our first Tech Parent Happy Hour of 2026! We are looking forward to getting to know new families, catching up with returning ones, and enjoying some casual time together (without our kids!)

Date: Monday, January 12

Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm

Location: Morty's Wine and Beer Bar, 15 West End Avenue (btwn W 59th and 60th Streets) Manhattan

Cheers!

SUPPORT WHAT'S NEXT

From Rising Stars to the operetta to the SDF's, our Tech students are involved with them all. Your donations help us help them keep running the show and enhance their learning experiences.

Giving is easy with our Annual Studio Appeal link HERE or just text LAGTECH to 44321. Please check with your employer or human resources department about matching donations. Monthly donation schedules are available too.

Any questions please email tech@laguardiahspa.org and many thanks to everyone who has donated so far!

TOTES NEEDED

Ms. Dombrowski is requesting grocery totes for Urinetown (one of the SDF’s) costumes! Please send in plastic or cloth grocery totes! Any color, with a design or name on it or not; anything is welcome. Drop off at costume shop.

Jennifer Dumlao
Vanessa Enriquez
Marlene Smoot
Diane Vasquez

music@laguardiahspa.org

WINTER SEMI-ANNUALS 2026
Following a brilliant week of Musicales, the Music Studio's performance filled January continues this week with the Winter Semi-Annual, which will take place Wednesday, January 14 and Thursday, January 15, at 6:30pm. Tickets are available HERE now! The Semi-Annual features LaGuardia's most senior orchestral and vocal curricular ensembles, Philharmonic Orchestra and Senior Chorus, performing separately and then coming together for a show stopping display of talent with hundreds of our accomplished students.

Volunteers are needed for these events!

The Music Studio needs parent volunteers to assist with selling refreshments and merchandise before the shows and at intermission. These concerts are vital opportunities for the Studio to acquire the funds it needs to support our students' education and future performances. Sign up HERE!

Mindy Greenberg
Jamie Ganey

drama@laguardiahspa.org

“As an actress, you have to give your character a life, a history, and make it full and rich for yourself.”

– Cara Buono

NEW YEAR, NEW SQUAD GOALS

Was your resolution to be more involved in the Drama Studio? Good news! All you need to know about everything our studio is up to, and how you can join in on the fun, will be revealed at our January PODS meeting on Tuesday, January 27 at 7:30pm. All YOU have to do is click HERE and show up.

MERCH MADNESS: RISING STARS EDITION

Our performers are rising. Our merch is ready. Now we just need you.
We're looking for volunteers to help run the Merch Table during each of the Rising Stars shows (Feb. 5–8). It's fun, it's easy, and it supports the Studio. Sign up HERE.

PUT A SPRING (DRAMA FESTIVAL) IN YOUR STEP

Welcome to our new weekly “substack” – all devoted to our Spring Drama Festival. Because it’s that big of a deal to our seniors (and parents!).

THE POWER OF THREE

Mark your calendars now, because this year’s SDF is a titanic triple-header of theatrical talent. A holy trinity of hot takes. A Cerberus of productions, if you will (#iykyk). Anyway, jot these dates down.

SDF #1 – Urinetown: March 26–28
SDF #2 – Noises Off: April 30–May 2
SDF #3 – Macbeth: May 29–31

Volunteer sign-ups for merch & concessions are coming soon, so get your snack smiles and Square app thumbs ready too.

CALLING ALL SPACE WIZARDS AND GENEROUS HUMANS

Here's the deal: We need rehearsal space during our February and April breaks, AND we need a donor to help make it happen (because unfortunately, this stuff costs money). Here's what we're looking for:

Feb 17-20, 9:00am - 3:00pm: Two studios (one with a piano) for Urinetown and Noises Off
April 6-8, 9:00am - 3:00pm: Two studios (no piano needed) for Noises Off and Macbeth

Know someone who can help? Have a lead on space? We're all ears! And vocal chords, etc. Bonus: your heroism will be tax deductible.

Katie Miller
Barbette Leonard

dance@laguardiahspa.org

Our dancers are so excited to showcase their work this Thursday and Friday!

Shows will be at 6:00pm this Thursday and 4:00pm and 7:00pm this Friday. Have you bought tickets yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Tickets are available HERE.

And when you are not watching please help us sell gear! Not only will you be supporting your dance community but you will have easy access to the amazing new items that will be on sale. Be the hero who scores the coveted limited edition hoodie before it sells out! Signup is HERE.

Not around this week? We will be sorry to miss you! But donations will help us dry our tears. All donations go to support the magic happening in the studios. Every dollar counts. Please donate HERE now!

Warmly,

Katie and Barbette

Kristin Leigh

Cindy Wolf

art@laguardiahspa.org

MEETING THIS WEEK!

Please join us on January 12at 7:00pm for our Art PA Monthly Meeting. Zoom link HERE! Meeting ID: 890 1397 8453, Passcode: 119924

Please disregard the Zoom link sent in last week’s SNN. Meeting ID 890 1397 8453 is the correct one!

We’ve invited Mr. Stehle, Art Coordinator, to join us and discuss the curation process for the various art shows throughout the year, as well as share any other updates on what to expect in the next part of the year. Other agenda items include: an update on fundraising, an update from our Treasurer, and updates on the Visiting Artists Program. Hope to see you there!

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE SEMI-ANNUAL!

Wow, what an awe-inspiring event the Winter Semi-Annual Art Show was! The work by our students was incredibly inspiring. Thank you to all of the families who came out to see the exhibit. And a special thank you to the amazing volunteers who helped sell merch at the event, including: Pelin Levend, Yoon Chang, Yun Joo Shin, Ofelia Salgado, Rebecca Rand, Meredith Finn, Dan Beers, Reina Nakagawa, Siofra Campbell, Gretchen Hanser, and Isabel Vaz Pires. Thank you to others who popped by to help as well! We greatly appreciate it!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ART STUDIO

Our school relies on the Art Studio PA to fund many of the art supplies and materials needed for the school year, repairs and purchases of equipment for art classes, support for the Visiting Artists program, 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.

Feel free to email us anytime at: art@laguardiahspa.org. We'd love to hear from you!

Have a great week ahead!

Kristin Leigh & Cindy Wolf

LaGbrary News

PA Reminders

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!)

OUTSIDE & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

The WindowsWear Mentorship Program connects brands with students from around the world! Brands like Coach present ideas to identify new talent, and students submit projects to win exclusive opportunities and paid internships!

See more details HERE and to apply.

Any questions, please email Dr. Wright-Campbell at EWrightcampbell@schools.nyc.gov.

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

SUBJECT: SNN 1/11, PA meeting this Wednesday, NEW gala date, and more!