Marcee Smith & Rebecca Sherman
Rising Stars Parent Coordinators
risingstars@laguardiahspa.org 

VOLUNTEERS
Parent volunteers are needed during performance weekend. We have a SignUpGenius page where you can volunteer for various days and times. Any help you can provide is very much appreciated. 

RISING STARS ART SHOWCASE
If you have not yet submitted your Google form to be part of the Rising Stars Art Showcase there is still time. We would love for you to be part of the event. Space is limited so please submit your Google form as soon as possible. Contact Tracy Ballas with questions at president@laguardiahspa.org. Deadline to submit this Google form and your artwork is Friday, January 19th. 

BOOSTERS
We are still offering booster ads to celebrate our student participants. Click HERE to purchase a booster ad.  We are not longer accepting ad purchases. 

If you have questions about anything related to Rising Stars, please email risingstars@laguardiahspa.org.

Financial aid is available to juniors, sophomores, and freshmen to study in their arts discipline during the summer of 2024. The deadline to apply for these scholarships is Monday, January 22nd. 

Detailed information and instructions can be found HERE.

The online application form can be found HERE..

Click HERE for a listing of some summer programs in art, dance, theater, and music. There are so many more but this will help you get started.

The deadline is approaching quickly, so don't wait to apply. If you have any questions about the process or the online application, please reach out to Karen Kramer at awards@alumniandfriends.org.

Principal Marwah has created LaGuardia's official Facebook page and Instagram account. Friend and follow! 

Facebook: LaGuardia Arts

Instagram: laguardia.arts 

The PA is also on Instagram at laguardia_pa. 

Thank you for fully funding Mr. Steffa's most recent project request for softball equipment and Ms. VanScoy's most recent project request for a document camera and laminator.

Your help is still needed.

Be the first to donate to Ms. Gomez's project request for a laptop to help with special education coordination/IEP creation. This is Ms. Gomez's first project request ever. 

Ms. Sefaj's project request for a laptop to help her AP Calculus BC classes expires in 14 days!

Let's spread the word to help get these projects funded.

There are currently seven teachers' projects on our DonorsChoose page. Please review all of the projects and share the links with your networks, family and friends. Anyone can donate, and all donations are tax deductible. Your generosity and support is greatly appreciated.

Please email Erica Blum at eblum2@schools.nyc.gov for more information about college rep visits. College visits are over for the winter. We will resume in the spring. 

FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

Contact Federal Student Aid for any questions: https://studentaid.gov/help-center/contact and go to https://www.youtube.com/user/FederalStudentAid for more videos.

SUNY financial aid webinars:https://engage.suny.edu/portal/fafsa_workshops
Next workshop date is 1/30/24 @ 6:00 p.m. (registration required).

NEW HESC webinar and ONE-ON-ONE help: You have to register for this one in advance! TITLE: FAFSA/TAP COMPLETION EVENT - 1/10 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. 
Get one-on-one help completing your FAFSA or TAP application to be sure you get all the financial aid you’re entitled to by going to https://startheregetthere.ny.gov/events. Click on the event name and then click on REGISTER to sign up. I strongly encourage you to sign up!

Also please continue to check out otherHESCwebinars at this link https://startheregetthere.ny.gov/events and HESC On-Demand Video Library at this link https://startheregetthere.ny.gov/e-Library.

uAspire-January 9th is the next FAFSA walkthrough; registration is required! Register at this link:
https://www.uaspire.org/news-events/financial-aid-events

More uAspire resources at this link https://www.uaspire.org/resources/financial-aid-resources

• Please reserve Monday, February 5th for an Academic Forum meeting with parents - details to follow next week! 
• For students taking the SAT test prep course through Academic Approach, they will be rescheduling the final two classes to take place on a Saturday prior to the March 19th test date. AA sent an email last week with a form in order to determine student availability on all Saturdays in February and March. The form is available HERE. The time slots with the most availability will be chosen as the make up session. You will be notified on February 1st. Please feel free to reach out to Meagan Moore at AA if you have any questions.
  Office: 773.348.8914
  Direct: 773.692.6933

RISING STARS ART SHOW
If you have not yet submitted your Google form to be part of the art show, there is still time! If interested, please submit one piece you would like to display during the show. Space is limited so please submit your Google form as soon as possible. Contact Tracy Ballas with questions president@laguardiahspa.org. Deadline to submit this Google form and your artwork is Friday, January 19th.

The 2024 Winter Dance Showcase performances are this week.

January 19th @ 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.
January 20th @ 3:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased HERE. 

Please click HERE to volunteer to sell merchandise, snacks, and to help with the meal for our seniors. 

Thank you in advance for your participation. 

NEXT PODS MEETING will be Wednesday 1/24 @ 7 p.m.
Zoom link will be sent at a later date.

If you're not receiving emails from the Drama Studio reps, please create an account HERE.

Don't forget our fabulous Drama merch! New items coming soon! Check it out HERE.

Don't miss two exciting winter concerts this week!

LaG Gospel Choir presents Freedom
Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 6 p.m.
Conductor - Dr. Daryl Jordan
Music Director - T.J. Walker
Band Director - Roslyn White

LaG Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony
Saturday, January 20, 2024, 6:30 p.m.
Conductors - Kimberly Roof & David Blumenthal

Please purchase tickets HERE. 

Check out our Tech Studio webpage, you'll find SO MUCH useful information for all of our POTS.

We'll see you all at our next  POTS meeting on Zoom at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31. 

If you want to get involved, volunteer, or have any questions, please email us: tech@laguardiahspa.org.

-Annie, Rosalie, Cynthia, Rina & Carmen

If you are a parent/guardian of a student with an IEP or 504 at LaGuardia, please join our WhatsApp chat group. The purpose is to support each other regarding questions/concerns related to our student's IEP or 504 at LaGuardia.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/EmBGFw7VnNZJ98GJZIaQFS**

It is recommended to take the time to regularly review and bookmark the LaGuardia Special Education section of the website HERE. There is updated and pertinent information there from the Special Education Department. 

For general Special Education questions, please carefully review the NYC DOE regulations for Special Education services for 504s and IEPs:

NYC DOE IEP Information
NYC DOE 504 Information

NYO Jazz invites young musicians to audition for its summer 2024 season. Outstanding young musicians from across the US showcase the legacy and bright future of American jazz in a free rigorous training residency with world-class jazz masters. Apply by 1/19/24.

Ocean Awareness Contest invites students to share your personal climate story through art, writing, performance, film, or multimedia. Creatively express your personal experiences, insights, or perceptions about our changing climate reality. Apply by 6/10/24.

Believe and Inspire After School Programs offer interactive virtual after-school programs that aim to empower underserved youth to become successful leaders. Participants learn practical life skills to help accomplish their life goals. Ongoing. 

NYU Youth Leadership Councils are a network of youth focused on policy, practice, and advocacy to make real change happen in their school, neighborhood, or community. Students join peers and adult allies to act on issues that matter the most to you. YLCs are in all five boroughs and need students to make NYC a better place.

2025 WhatsApp Chat**

2026 WhatsApp Chat**

2027 WhatsApp Chat**

Yellow Sheet

2023-2024 Bell Schedule

LaG Faculty & Staff Directory

2023-2024 LaGuardia Performance & Exhibition Calendar

School Year 2023-24 Calendar

NYC Schools Account (NYCSA): track your child's progress

DOE Student Accounts: access all student learning platforms

Parent University

Multilingual Learners

Office of Language Access

For questions about, and/or to submit content for consideration in the Sunday Night News, please email: snn@laguardiahspa.org. 

*DISCLAIMER: The LaGuardia High School Parents Association Inc (LAGHSPA) and its officers and elected members do not endorse third-party content shared in our communications, nor do they profit from third-party promotions featured in our communications.

**DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in listed WhatsApp chats and Facebook groups are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Parents Association or school administrators. 

LAGHSPA Photo/Video Disclaimer