Schools
Nanuet PTA members and their kids ready to dive into the School Year
The members of the Nanuet Schools' PTA are eager to begin the new year as are their children.
As summer winds down, parents and kids alike are fidgeting for school to start. Some of the Nanuet PTA members have eager children awaiting school's first day.
Christine Camillieri, president of the PTA Council, has a one child in three of the schools this fall.
"I have one child going into high school, one going into 6th grade and another starting kindergarten," she said. "My high-schooler is definitely nervous but he's looking forward to it and my kindergartener is very excited."
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Michelle Mazzaro, president of the Elementary PTA, has two boys that were in different schools last year but now are starting at Highview Elementary together.
"Last year they were separated because they were in 2nd and 3rd grades," Mazarro said her kids will be in the same school now. "That kind of adds to the excitement.
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They're two doors down from each other and they're going to run into each other."
"They're kids, so they're looking to going back to school to see their friends," Mazzaro said and laughed saying she was also "excited that they're going back to school."
Mazzaro wrapped up her summer by squeezing in a Florida vacation and was smart enough to do all her school shopping before she left.
"We're all done [with shopping for school supplies]. I did all that stuff prior to leaving," she said.
Although Mazzaro knows September will be a busy month for the PTA, she's ready to start.
"September's the craziest month for the PTA because everything's starting all over again," Mazzaro said. "But I'm looking forward to it. I like organizing all [those events]."
Camillieri also plans to keep herself busy.
"I have lots of plans while they're at school," she said with a laugh.
Lynda Chesterman, secretary of the High School PTA, also has a son eager about getting back into the swing of things.
"He's definitely excited about going back to school," she said adding that the fact that Nanuet has a smaller district than others, it cuts down on first day jitters.
"[Elsewhere,] there could be three or five elementary schools, but in Nanuet, it's a small school district. It's one contained school district," Chesterman said. "Pretty much if you stay in the area you know all the kids in the school. I guess that's why they're not so nervous. Maybe later on they'll have to deal with the anxiety of going to college but right now they're really comfortable.
Monica Nicolucci, president of Bar Middle School PTA, also agrees with Chesterman.
"I like the way our school district is. It's a small community and there're no schools merging," she said. "They've been going to school with the same kids since kindergarten so there are no first day jitters."
With a 2nd grader, 7th grader and a first-time freshman, Nicolucci has one child in almost all the schools like Camillieri.
"I have one going into high school for the first time. Just the idea of being in high school, she's looking forward to it," Nicolucci said. "The other two, they can take it or leave it but my 7th grader is excited because he can start playing in sports."
Nuria Valdivia, co-president of the high school PTSA, also has an incoming ninth-grader.
"This is my second round through the Nanuet School District. My son will be a freshman at the high school this September. He is looking forward to the the beginning of school, as he was exposed to the high school while his older sister attended and while I volunteered at the PTA level," Valdivia said. "He does seem to be nervous, but exited to see his friends. I believe that the high school did a great job in providing the incoming freshmen with a comfort level both before school ended in June as well as last week."
Valdivia added that this year there is a how board of "dedicated, caring and professional parents."
"We have a lot of work to do this year to ultimately implement programs that benefit the high school students throughout the year, she said. "We will be looking for parents to volunteer and help us activate the many programs and activities."
All these mothers had just their kids all summer, but with school starting up, PTA is going to be added into the mix. They expect to be busy, but are amped up and ready for school as much as their kids are.
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