Beautification Projects

Let’s Spruce Things Up! 🌿✨ 
This year, we’re starting with some TLC for our teachers’ lounge — their cozy corner of respite. Whether you love clearing clutter, organizing, decorating, reimagining spaces, or flexing your green thumb, we have a task with your name on it!

📅 When: Thursday Aug. 21 and Friday Aug. 22, 10am to 3pm EST

🍽 Perks: Lunch provided!

🤝 Why: Meet fellow families, connect with our community, and help us celebrate our amazing staff as we kick off a new school year.Pop in for an hour or stay all day — every bit of help counts! To RSVP or voice your interest in future volunteer opportunities, contact president@ppaspta.org

🌿✨ Donations welcome: Think small plants to brighten the room, desk décor to add some personality, organizers to keep the chaos in check, wall hooks to hang those runaway jackets, and chalk markers + erasers to keep our ideas flowing!

PTA Co-Presidents Letter

Say it Loud, Say it Clear — We’re Building Community Here!
Hello PPAS Community,
As we gear up for the 2025-26 school year, we are filled with excitement and pride to welcome back every member of our one-of-a-kind PPAS family. Together, we carry forward a legacy of passion, creativity, and community that’s made our school a shining beacon of arts and learning.

We are the PPAS PTA — a dedicated team of parent advocates, arts champions, and school partners who cheer loudly from the sidelines, fill seats at performances, support our incredible school leaders, and ensure the voices of our students and families are heard. Because when PPAS shines, we all shine!

Our commitment this year is to continue rallying behind our kids, fueling the arts, and turning parent power into community magic — one performance, meeting, and high-five at a time.Our values guide us every step of the way:

1. Support Through Service: We uplift students, teachers, and arts partners by actively fundraising, volunteering, and providing the resources needed to help every learner and program succeed.

2. Connection Through Equity: We foster a welcoming, inclusive community by building strong, empathetic relationships among parents, teachers, and staff — ensuring every voice is heard and valued.

3. Empowerment Through Engagement: We promote leadership, collaboration, and transparency by encouraging parent participation in school governance, decision-making, and community-building.

As our Principal Leah Dyer says, PPAS is “one extraordinary 6–12 school with incredible staff, inspiring partnerships, and endless student talent.” Together, we are honored to be part of this story — adding our energy and enthusiasm to the chapters yet to come.

We look forward to an unforgettable year of growth, creativity, and community with you all!

Warmly,
Ruth & Raven (“R&R”)

Meet Your New PTA Board Members!

The 2025-2026 Executive Board of the PPAS Parent Teacher Association is looking forward to meeting you and building community with you this fall! All families are members of the PTA simply by having a student at PPAS. Feeling inspired to help the PTA reach our goals? Contact our Co-Presidents and VP of Membership to learn how you can pitch in!

Co-Presidents: Raven Catlin and Ruth Hawkins president@ppaspta.org

Treasurer: Laura Boschetti Bonilla treasurer@ppaspta.org

Recording Secretary: Erin Clancy Balsamo recordingsecretary@ppaspta.org

Vice President of Membership: Mary Dennis vpmembership@ppaspta.org

Co-Vice Presidents of Fundraising: Danielle Kojic-Tingwell and Lynn Stirrup vpfundraising@ppaspta.org

Co-Vice Presidents of Communication: Linnie Belcher and Kelly Heisler vpcommunication@ppaspta.org

Co-Cultural Delegates: Janvieve Williams Comrie and Ejim Dike culturaldelegate@ppaspta.org

Co-Dance Delgates: Kristen Palmieri and Wendy Estrada dancedelegate@ppaspta.org

Co-Drama Delegates: Jeff Cavalli and Elizabeth Elsass dramadelegate@ppaspta.org

Film Delegate: Leah Zepel filmdelegate@ppaspta.org

Co-Middle School Delegates: Kimbirdlee Fadner and Danielle Soares msdelegate@ppaspta.org

Co-Musical Theater Delegates: Ketsia Poitevien and Debra Weitz mtdelegate@ppaspta.org

12th Grade Delegate: Jessica DeLorenzo seniordelegate@ppaspta.org

Vocal Delegate: Gwendolyn Kingsberry vocaldelegate@ppaspta.org

Free TDF Membership: Senior Grad Gift

TDF is offering free TDF Memberships to all 2025 graduating seniors from New York City’s public and charter high schools!

TDF Members can purchase deeply discounted tickets online for Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, music, opera and dance performances up to 70% off. Tickets range from $11 to $60. Graduation Gift TDF Members also receive access to exclusive special offers.

PPAS grads can register for your free membership here.

PPAS Stars Annual Fund

Thank you for supporting our MOST IMPACTFUL fundraiser of the year!

If you haven’t participated yet, please DONATE HERE.

Every dollar and every donation helps! Can you donate:
$50 monthly?
$30 monthly?
$10 monthly?
ONE-TIME donation of any amount?

Every family matters and each family helps to build our community. Through the annual fund, the PTA provides funds to improve our students’ performing arts experience and supplement the Department of Education’s funding.

Give as much as you feel comfortable with, but please give!
Make Your PPAS PTA Annual Fund Donation Here!

Museum of Broadway

When the front row just isn’t close enough, head on over to THE MUSEUM OF BROADWAY, an immersive theatrical experience devoted to musicals, plays, and the people who make them.

Featuring the work of dozens of designers, artists and historians, THE MUSEUM OF BROADWAY highlights groundbreaking moments in Broadway’s history in a series of exhibits that showcase – and show off – dazzling costumes, props, renderings, rare photos, videos, and more.

Students get in with a special discount. Get info and tickets.