PTA Committees and Chairs

SG PTA Committee Descriptions and Chairs for 2024-2025

• Annual District Election & Budget Vote: 

Chair: Penny Apsilos  

Disseminates info related to the annual district election and budget vote in May. Attends BOE Budget meetings and Hearing meeting and the Know Your Candidate event in May. There are several night meetings from January until May. 

• Back-To-School Social: 

Chairs: Hira Akmal / Jing Leng / Fathima Marzook

Plan & organize an after school event to welcome students and their families in September. Includes DJ, snacks, drinks, & raffles. 

• Blood Drive: 

Chairs: Jing Leng / Amy Lichtenstein

Along with LI Blood Services, coordinate blood drive at South Grove. Coordinate 5th grade students participating in the “Little Doctors” program who assist at the drive. 

• Book Fairs: 

Chairs: Sonia Ahsan-Tirmizi / Dawn Pascucci

Book sale is held at the school twice a year and once at an outside bookstore; the committee works directly with the Scholastic company and with Barnes & Noble. 

• Bulletin Boards: 

Chair: Hira Akmal

Decorates designated school bulletin boards seasonally. 

• Clothing Sale/ Spirit wear:

Chairs: Penny Apsilos / Alli Federico / Kristen D'Angelo

Create & sell Syosset/South Grove spirit wear usually twice a year. 

• Communications Conference:* 

Chair: Queena Shi (Yin Qin)

Solicits and coordinates the unit topics for submission to the District Administration prior to the Fall and Spring Communication Conference. Reps meet 4 times a year (two meetings at night/two meetings during the day.) 

• Coat Drive: 

Chair: Jing Leng / Amy Lichenstein

Coat Drive Collect & distribute coats & winter clothing donations. 

• Color Run: 

Chair: Lisa Bishop

• Cultural Unity* 

Chair: Nashma Usman

A Council Committee whose members work together to bridge and support cultural differences while also encouraging and facilitating participation in PTA and school programs. 

• Curriculum Enrichment* 

Chairs: Penny Apsilos / Amanda Mareci/ Dawn Pascucci

(formerly Arts in Education) A Council Committee which, in conjunction with the principal, plans in-school assemblies. 

• Family Nights 

Chair for Bingo and Movie Night: Lisa Bishop

Chair for Skate and Islanders Game: Penny Apsilos 

The PTA provides students & families an opportunity to socialize during after school hours. Activities may include raffles or bake sales. Bingo Night; Bowling Night; LI Ducks Game; NY Islanders Game, Movie Night, etc. 

• Field Day 

Chairs: Penny Apsilos / Fathima Marzook

Plan Field Day, held in the spring. Includes outdoor activities, snacks & creation of field day tee shirts for purchase. 

• Fifth Grade Committee

Chairs: Penny Apsilos / Lisa Fiocco

 A committee made up of parents of 5th graders that plan 5th grade activities. Requires 1 or 2 main chairperson(s) to budget and to coordinate subcommittee chairs for other events including: Breakfast, Car Wash, Graduation Party,Yearbook, Fundraising. Fundraising Assists the 1st VP in setting up fundraising opportunities and solicits raffle prizes for the PTA Evening Out. 

• Gentleman’s Boutique 

Chair: Hira Akmal

Organize in-school boutique with a Father's Day theme. 

• Halloween “Monster Mash” 

Chairs: Hira Akmal / Jing Leng 

Held in late October, the PTA sponsors a Monster Mash Carnival for all students & families. Includes carnival games, prizes, raffles.. 

• Health, Nutrition & Safety*

Chair: Hira Akmal

 A Council Committee that coordinates activities/programs throughout the district encompassing social and physical wellness related to drugs, alcohol, bullying, AIDS awareness, positive decision-making, nutrition, etc. Organize and attend district wide and in school programs. Meetings held approx 3-4 times during the year. Events for students will be held during the day but events for parents will be held at night. 

• Holiday Boutique 

Chair: Amy Lichenstein

Organize an in-school Holiday Boutique for students and families. 

• Kindergarten Orientation 

Chairs: Hira Akmal / Jing Leng 

Working with the teachers to help organize “Welcome to Kindergarten” for all incoming kindergarten students for the following year. 

• Legislation* 

Chairs: Penny Apsilos

A Council Committee which helps disseminate info to Unit Reps on NYS PTA resolutions and current PTA legislation items of interest, including NYS budget. Helps plan Legislation Breakfast with neighboring districts. Meetings held approx 2-4 times during the year.

• Newcomers' Reception 

Chairs: Hira Akmal / Jing Leng 

Organize the meet & greet with refreshments prior to the September PTA meeting welcoming new parents.

• PARP 

Chair: Penny Apsilos / Nicole Eisenberg/ Jing Leng

"Pick a Reading Partner" is a state-wide, multi-week program of fun activities & events to encourage & foster the love of reading, including adult volunteers reading in the classrooms.

• Parent Resource Group* 

Chair: Xu Zhang

A Council Committee which organizes district wide presentations and/or parent roundtables to discuss relevant topics on education, parenting and district resources. Possible topics can include gifted & talented students, homework strategies, navigating the parent portal, etc. Meetings held approx 4 times during the year. Presentations/roundtables will be held at night.

• Plant Sale 

Chairs: Hira Akmal / Jing Leng 

Order, organize and sell plants prior to Mother's Day weekend. Sales are held 2 evenings and during the day.

• Reflections* 

Chair: Sonia Ahsan Tirmizi

A Council Committee that coordinates our entries in the annual National PTA Reflections competition in the areas of Visual Art, Music, Literature, Dance Choreography, Film Production & Photography and helps organize the Council's reception of district winners. Meetings held approx 2-4 times during the year. Also requires attendance at the district Reflections ceremony held at night in February.

• Room Reps:

Chair: Erica Napolitano

• SEPTA 

Chair: Hira Akmal

Liaison between the Special Education PTA & the South Grove PTA.

• Scholarship Mailing* 

Chair: Sienna Xing

A Council Committee that organizes the PTA/STA Scholarship Fund direct mailing portion of the fund drive. Assist with mailing at the beginning of the year and promote the scholarship fund throughout the year. Meetings held approximately 2 times during the year.

• School & Community* 

Chair: Dawn Pascucci

A Council Committee that keeps PTA informed of community happenings that affect the schools and neighboring communities. Must be able to attend a Town of Oyster Bay Board meeting. Organize a community service event/drive and participate in BravesFest in June. Meetings held approx. 3-5 times during the year.

• School Supplies 

Chair: Sienna Xing

Sell boxed school supplies tailored to each grade for the following school year.

• Social Media/Email Announcements 

Chairs: Jing Leng / Hira Akmal

Coordinates and moderates the South Grove PTA Facebook and organizes the email blasts.

• Staff Recognition Luncheon 

Chairs:  Penny Apsilos / Kristen D'Angelo / Anne Sung/ Dawn Pascucci

Coordinate lunch for teachers & staff with donated food items in May.

• Sweetheart Dance: 

Chair: Kristen D'Angelo

• Thanksgiving Feast: 

Chairs:  Jing Leng / Hira Akmal /Penny Apsilos 

* The South Grove PTA, in conjunction with PTAs from all Syosset schools, participates in many district wide committees & works in cooperation with the Syosset Administration. If you chair a Syosset School District Council Committee (those marked with an *) you must attend a few district wide Committee meetings a year.