This year, MSC parent activism working in coordination with our Principal has enhanced our children's school experience through curriculum enrichment, community development, and teacher support. This year's highlights include:

• Leading Change in the Science Curriculum: the Greenhouse at MSC Parents culminated years of work with the launch of the Greenhouse Project at MSC. The Sun Works Science Lab is designed to operate as an integrated part of science curriculum;
• Protecting Teacher Professional Development Parents re-funded teacher and classroom development programming with the nationally recognized curriculum programs Math in the City and Teachers College Reading and Writing Project;
• Protecting Lincoln Center Institute and Arts Programming Parents guaranteed funding for Lincoln Center Institute's arts programming for all grades; started the popular World Music program featuring international musicians; Launching Afterschool Programming Kids K to 8 for the first time were able to participate in school-sponsored Afterschool Programming;
• Ensuring Healthy, Safe, and Green Lunches The work of the Wellness and Green Team transformed kids' lunch experience by eliminating Styrofoam trays, replacing them with safe biodegradable trays, marketing Zero-Waste Lunch containers and laying the groundwork for Wellness in the Schools at MSC for the 2011 – 12 school year;
• Supporting MSC Teachers Parents hosted the annual teacher holiday celebration and monthly team-building lunches;
• Adding “Fun” to Recess New parents took the initiative to fund new equipment for indoor recess;
• Sharing the MSC Message Parent support led to development of a sister Website to MSCnet to provide school information to outside donors and prospective families;
• Community Building Parents lead the first ever “Wellness Week” and Movie Night; brought Community Supported Agriculture to MSC; rolled out meeting PA Podcasts; launched MSC Business Booster Program;
• Teaching Community Responsibility Parents organized several bake sales with proceeds supporting causes ranging from Teacher Wish Lists to Japan Earthquake Relief;
• Preparing for School Budget Challenges Friends of MSC expects to start next year with a surplus that will be dedicated to our school's most urgent budget needs at the start of the 2011 – 12 school year.

Next Year's Challenges

The administration and a large group of parents are in the process of outlining the budget for next year so we can prioritize our spending and plan our fundraising accordingly. That budget will be presented at the June meeting. Not only are we bracing for large DOE budget cuts, but many of our most seasoned parent fundraisers are phasing out and looking for replacements. We need new leaders to step up so that we can continue to stand strong as a community.