2025-2026 PTA COMMITTEES AND ACTIVITIES
6th Grade Social Events: Plan activities and coordinate chaperones for social events for 6th graders.
Chairs: Rachel Rilander, Amanda Schlappig & Ronna Schneider
7th Grade Social Events: Plan activities and coordinate chaperones for events/initiatives for 7th graders.
Chairs: Tamara Lal & Rachel Rilander
8th Grade Social Events: Assist the Community Council in planning and coordinating chaperones for 8th grade events.
Chairs: Annie Katzenberg
Audit: Audit SMS PTA financial records in July after close of fiscal year (June 30).
Chair: Zhendi Shi
BOE Budget Study: Attend/watch videos of Board of Education budget meetings and budget study sessions in winter to help inform the SMS community of school budget issues.
Chairs: Pranjal Gambhir & Mariuxi Menzer
Book Fair: Coordinate fall and spring book fairs.
Chairs: Cecilia Schiera (advisor), Alicia Bowman & Iris Liang
Clothing/Spirit Wear: Select, order and distribute school clothing and spirit wear for limited sales periods in fall and spring.
Chairs: Lauren Dubin & Dalia Strum
Communications: Compose weekly PTA e-blast communications throughout the year.
Chair: Lauren Rubino & Amanda Glattstein
Community Service: Suggest and assist with community service activities and events during the year such as the post-Halloween candy drive, the canned food drive, and used school supplies collection
Chairs: Lori Perla & Andrea Burinescu
Compact Committee:
Parent representatives: Gina Chon, Andrea Valenilla, Diksha Mudbhary, & Erica Papir
Directory/Membership: Compile, edit, proofread, and disseminate SMS student directory, and track membership.
Chair: Amanda Glattstein
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion: Develop initiatives and programs to encourage and enhance DEI practices at SMS.
Chairs: Ammr Vandal & Fei Lu
Environmental/Sustainability: Support and bring awareness to environmental and sustainability initiatives and efforts in the District and, specifically, at SMS, such as the SMS garden, recycling, and the walking school bus
Chairs: Kate Zelenova & Alicia Bowman
Hospitality: Set up refreshments at PTA general meetings and events and at grade level parent coffees
Chair: Esthela Lecuona
Legislative: Study and disseminate information concerning federal, state, and local legislation impacting schools and educational policy (under guidance of PT Council)
Chairs: Jeanette Rosen
Library Services: Assist school librarian with author visits, book shelving, and library activities
Chairs: Laura Bower & Priya Kumar
Multicultural: Plan and coordinate events to unite and celebrate SMS's diverse cultures and traditions, such as the Welcome Coffee (for parents and Youth Outreach Workers), Potluck Lunch in conjunction with SHS PTA (for parents and District administrators) and Spring International Lunch (for students only); welcome and facilitate introduction of new families from abroad to SMS and to the Scarsdale community.
Chairs:Trish Chen & Priya Kumar
Nutrition/Cafeteria Lunch Liaison: Liaison with various District administrators and SMS regarding healthy nutritional options and quality food service in the SMS house cafeterias.
Chair: Anita Mirchandani
Programs: Plan speakers, panels, and other topics for discussion at SMS PTA meetings and coordinate efforts with counterparts in other PTAs within the District.
Chair: Erica Papir
School Supply Kits: Coordinate with House Counselors to create back to school supply lists. Coordinate with vendor to sell online in June-August.
Chair: Andrea Valenilla
SMS Community Book Club: Organizes a few book reading and book discussion events during the school year.
Chairs: Jessica Zellner & Shana Frazin (librarian)
Pizza Lunch: Coordinate the sale of pizza during lunch on selected days throughout the year.
6th Grade chair: Emily Hira
7th Grade chair: Julie Balsam
8th Grade chair: Allison Rosenzwaig
SMS Voices: Arrange dinner for volunteer judges of the annual 7th and 8th grade speech (public speaking) contest in March.
Chairs: Jeff Millman & Manisha Sachdev
Staff Appreciation Lunch: Plan and organize a spring thank-you luncheon for SMS administrators, teachers, and staff (parents and students do not attend).
Chairs: Michelle Groark & Courtney DeMiero
Webmaster: Create and update all SMS PTA webpage content, including sales forms and reports.
Chair: Amanda Glattstein
Wellness: Create and organize initiatives/messaging to promote wellness within school community.
Chairs: Sapna Panjabi & Dina Dababneh Dardas
Liaisons to PTC, District, and Community Organizations 2024-2025:
Friends of Music and Arts: Marisa Yang
Nutrition/Cafeteria Liaison: Anita Mirchandani
PTC Voting Delegates: Jeanette Rosen
Scarsdale Adult School: Diksha Mudbhary
CHILD: Becky Lipkind
Scarsdale Action for Youth (SAY) - formerly Drug & Alcohol Task Force: Alison Geldowitz
SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College: Andrea Valenilla
SMS Community Council (formerly the Student Organization): Gina Chon & Andrea Valenilla
Sports Swap: Yaqin Yang
Technology Policy: Staci Greene
Upcoming Events
- Tuesday, August 26
- Thursday, August 28
- Thursday, September 4
- Friday, September 5
- Monday, September 8
- Wednesday, September 10
- Wednesday, September 17
- Thursday, September 18
- Friday, September 19
- Friday, September 26