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