Welcome to the 2026–2027 School Year from the Hillside Grade School PTA!
Welcome Hillside Grade School Families, Teachers, and Staff!
Whether you’re returning to our hallways or walking through our doors for the very first time, we want to say it loudly and clearly: you belong here, and you are a valued part of our school community.
What is the PTA?
If you are new to Hillside Grade School, or new to how our association works, you might wonder what the PTA actually does! "PTA" stands for Parent Teacher Association.
We are a non-profit group where parents, family members, teachers, and staff come together as equal partners to support our school.
Think of us as the bridge connecting home and classroom: we host fun events, raise funds for classroom supplies and enrichment programs, support our educators, and advocate for our kids. You don’t need any special experience or endless free time to be part of it, if you care about our students and our school, you belong here!
Partnering with Our Educators & New Leadership
To Our Wonderful Teachers & Staff: We Are in Your Corner
To our teachers, specialists, aides, and support staff: thank you for everything you bring to Hillside Grade School every single day. You create the environment where our children grow, discover, and feel safe.
As your PTA, one of our primary goals this year is to listen to you, support your classroom needs, and celebrate your hard work. Whether through classroom grants, teacher appreciation events, or jumping in to help with special projects, we are here to back you up so you can focus on what you do best: inspiring our kids.
Welcoming Our New School Leadership
We are also thrilled to begin this school year alongside Ms. Meghann Tedesco as our new Principal and Mrs. Kelly Setiadi as our new Assistant Principal! Both bring so much dedication and care to Hillside Grade School. We look forward to working side-by-side with our administration, teachers, and parents to make this year safe, nurturing, and full of joyful learning.
Every Voice Matters (In Every Language)
Our New Hyde Park community is rich in diverse cultures and languages, and we want every parent, guardian, and teacher to feel fully included in our conversations and events.
Open Door Policy & Feedback: Your ideas, perspectives, and feedback are what shape our school community. Please never hesitate to reach out to us with questions, suggestions, or thoughts, we are always listening and eager to learn together!
Welcoming Every Language: We celebrate the diverse languages in our community and want everyone to feel included. Please feel free to reach out in your preferred language—we're here to connect. You can also easily translate our Givebacks site and updates using your device's built-in tools.
Our Shared Goals & Values for This Year
At Hillside Grade School, our core values center on trust, community, inclusion, and joy in learning. Together, our focus this year is simple:
Keep Kids First: Keep our students' happiness, well-being, and growth at the center of every single decision we make.
Strengthen Home-School Connections: Build strong, open relationships between families, teachers, administration, and our New Hyde Park neighborhood.
Equip Our Classrooms: Ensure our teachers have the resources, volunteers, and community encouragement they need to thrive.
How You Can Get Involved (Small & Large Ways!)
No matter how much time you can give, be it 10 minutes, 10 hours, or none at all, there is no single "correct" way to take part in the PTA. Every single bit of support and involvement helps make our pack even stronger:
Small, Everyday Ways to Participate
Join the PTA: Becoming a member (parents, guardians, teachers, and staff alike!) directly funds student programs, classroom resources, and school events. Joining doesn't obligate you to attend meetings. It simply shows your support and gives you a voice, including the right to vote on how PTA funds are used to support our kids.
Attend an Event: Bring your family or join your colleagues at movie nights, ice cream socials, or book fairs. Showing up and connecting builds our school spirit.
Help from Home or Classroom: Donate needed supplies, send a quick note of encouragement, cut out materials, or help translate a flyer.
Larger Ways to Lend a Hand
Volunteer at an Event: Spend an hour helping out! Whether you prefer social, face-to-face roles (like running a game booth) or quiet, behind-the-scenes tasks (like setting up tables, organizing supplies, or decorating before an event starts), every helping hand counts.
Chair or Join a Committee: We rely on committee leaders and team members to plan and run our events, handle outreach, and coordinate programs. Stepping into a committee role is the best way to ensure we can keep offering wonderful traditions and new experiences for our students! Curious but afraid of making a commitment, ask us how to make it work!
Attend PTA Meetings: Come listen, learn, and stay informed about what’s happening at Hillside Grade School. You are welcome to share your ideas and vote on how PTA funds are spent, but there is zero pressure to speak out loud if you prefer to just sit back and listen!
It truly takes a pack to raise strong, happy Huskies. We are so honored to serve as your PTA Co-Presidents this year, and we look forward to partnering with all of you—parents, teachers, and staff—in the days ahead!
With warmth and Husky pride,
Your 2026–2027 Hillside Grade School PTA Executive Board
🐾 Stronger Together for Our Kids 🐾