The Central School PTA supports a wide array of programs and enrichment throughout the year for Central students. Check out our PTA calendar for specific event dates for this year.
Building Bridges
Building Bridges is an interactive week-long program held at Central School each year. The objectives are to: increase students’ knowledge and understanding of people with different abilities; allow students to experience what it is like to live with these differences; and reinforce the idea that all people have the same social needs and feelings. Building Bridges features both in-class activities and inspiring outside speakers. Past speakers have included a vision-impaired woman with a guide dog, a paralympic athlete, and a panel of MHS high school students who have successfully overcome learning disabilities.
Theater Arts
The show must go on! The PTA welcomes the incredible team of KJK Productions back to produce a virtual, fun, and talent-filled student musical this Spring.
Please visit our Theater Arts page for more information and to register.
Kindergarten Square Dance
Kindergarten students and their parents are sure to remember this hoedown! Come do-si-do with your new Central student and meet other kindergarten parents at this beloved event.
After School Clubs
The Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle facilitates After School Clubs at Central. There are typically 3 sessions–fall, winter and spring. For more information, go to the BGCNR website [https://www.bgcnr.org/electives/central-school.html].
CORE: Communicating with Others Respectfully Everyday
Central administrators, teachers and PTA volunteers collaborate to support CORE. The goal of CORE is to nurture a community where students come to school feeling positive and eager to learn, diversity is celebrated, all community members feel welcome and respected, and everyone has the communication and problem-solving skills to resolve conflict in a positive way. The themes of community, respect, communication, cooperation and conflict resolution are examined each year through guided reading and discussion, school-wide assemblies, and buddy activities to promote a common language of respectful communication and behavior.
Garden Committee
The Garden Committee works with classes to develop, plant and harvest the ever-growing Central Garden. The goals for the Central Garden are to encourage healthy eating choices, expose children to growing, caring for and harvesting vegetables and other plants, develop a greater sense of community and promote environmental awareness and education. Each June students enjoy a Salad Celebration, where they can taste some of the garden’s harvest in our courtyard.
Grants Program
The Central School PTA Grants Program supports teachers and staff in their pursuit of new projects that enhance the education of our students. It was designed to be a transparent and inclusive way to give all faculty members at Central an opportunity to use PTA funds. The PTA Grant Committee studies all proposals and makes recommendations on approvals, with the goal of awarding money across all classes and grades annually so as to benefit the most students possible.
Green Committee
The Green Committee coordinates programs and events designed to build awareness and promote sustainability among Central students and families. As of Spring 2019, Central participates in the Town of Mamaroneck’s Food Waste Recycling Program, which entails educating students how to properly dispose of food waste at lunch so that it can be turned into compost for our own beautiful gardens! The Green Committee also meets regularly with student “Green Tigers” to explore new green ideas and initiatives that we can implement at school and in our homes.
International Picnic
The International Family Picnic is a fun end of year event that celebrates all the different countries and cultures that are part of our Central community. All Central families are welcome to bring and share food from their heritage at the picnic.
Crunchy Carnival
Central’s annual Crunchy Carnival is the best way to get “food-ucated” with the whole family! Students and families learn about nutrition and wellness while taking the “Fear Factor” Food Challenge, doing the Sit Up Challenge, making smoothies and salad dressings, and relaxing in the Zen Den. It’s always a great evening filled with lots of healthy fun!
Spirit Days
On the first Friday of every month, students and staff celebrate the Central “spirit” by wearing our school colors–orange and black–or Central clothing to school. Be on the lookout for information on buying Central gear and spirit wear, either via order form or pop-up shop!
Bike Safety Rally
The PTA hosts an after school Bike Safety Rally in May, where children can participate in a bicycle obstacle course and have their helmet inspected. The rally is designed to promote and raise awareness of safe bicycle riding.
Walk to School Week
Twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring, the PTA encourages students and their families to walk or bike to school–or join the famous “Central Walking School Bus” led each morning of Walk to School Week by Central teachers starting across from Walter’s Hot Dogs! These two weeks promote the health benefits of walking or biking each morning as well as the positive environmental impact we can make one day at a time.
Cultural Arts
Our Cultural Arts Committee brings an annual arts-based program to our students. The program varies year to year to give students a wide array of experiences from dance with Alvin Ailey, to learning the Afro-Brazilian martial art of capoeira, to creating grade-wide masterpieces with resident artists from the One River School of Art and Design.
Recess Clubs
Recess Clubs are physically active clubs offered to students in grades 2-5 once a week for four weeks during their recess periods in the winter months when indoor recesses may occur more often due to inclement weather.
PARP Week: Pick-a-Reading-Partner
During PARP Week, the PTA teams up with our teachers and administrators to encourage reading in and out of school with a week full of activities to foster a love of reading. We ask children to read at home for at least 20 minutes every day during PARP Week with a partner. That partner can be a parent, grandparent or caregiver. Reading partners visit Central for a full school read-in near the end of PARP Week.
Tinkering Nights
The STEM Alliance and PTA team up to create hands-on STEM evening fun! These events are typically separated into two evenings: K-2 and 3-5.
5th Grade Activities & Committee
The PTA supports our Central 5th Grade Committee, which organizes fundraisers, such as our used book fairs, to fund special 5th grade events throughout the year, including graduation celebrations.