PMCT Wins NYSUT Solidarity Grant

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The Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers is proud to announce that it has won a New York State United Teacher’s Solidarity Grant.   Our executive board designed a strategic plan in 2015 that focused on building member engagement and building stronger coalitions within our community.  Through the hard work of our Political Action Chair, Syndee Zegel and past PMCT secretary, Linda Nowicki, a grant was written to help fund our plan.   The $15,000 award will be used to build member engagement through the use of “PMCT TV”.  Each faculty room will have an LCD display installed and a continuous loop of information will be available for members to view so as to keep up to date.  Also, each faculty room will have a bulletin board installed that will be dedicated to keeping  the PMCT up to date with pertinent information

The plan also calls for ways to work with our community groups.  Each elementary teacher will be providing note pads to the parents of their students to keep the lines of communication open. Teachers will also be using new stationary purchased through the grant for parent/teacher communication.  Along with the Chamber of Commerce, we’ll provide educational activity books branded with a PMCT Logo for a “Safe Halloween Event”.  Finally, our local will construct a float for use in local parade events.

The PMCT is dedicated to meeting the needs of both its members and the community: working together to educate the whole child.

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These bulletin boards are in faculty rooms in all our buildings to keep members informed.

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These TV’s are in faculty rooms in our buildings highlighting all our activities.

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Notepads were given to all K-5 parents at open house nights.

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A tweet from a happy parent thanking us for the notepad.

 

Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walk – Sunday Oct. 23, 2016

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Sunday, October 23, 2016
at Suffolk County Community College – Riverhead Campus.
Walker check-in: 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Walk begins: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Please check in at the NYSUT Suffolk table when you arrive.

Proudly wear your Patchogue-Medford Breast Cancer T-shirt.
(To receive a T-shirt your $10.00 donation and T-shirt order form must be given to your Building Outreach Rep. by Friday, September 30th.)
You can also wear your PMCT T-shirt/apparel
or Pat-Med colors!

DIRECTIONS FOR ON-LINE DONATIONS
1. Go to: www.makingstrideswalk.org
2. Go to: DONATE
3. Enter: PMCT Outreach
4. Click on: DONATE (in green)

Donations can be made online, or if you prefer, you can give
your donation to the Outreach Rep. in your building.
Checks made payable to the American Cancer Society.

A Making Strides Walk will also be taking place on Sunday,
October 16, 2016 at Jones Beach. PMCT Outreach Chairs will be present at this event. Please stop in to say hello and join us for snacks.
(You will also have the opportunity to hand in cash donations at the NYSUT tent on this date.)

https://patmedteachers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Making-Strides-Walk-Flyer-.pdf – Click to see the flyer

Pat-Med Welcomes 39 New Teachers

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On August 24-25, 2016, 39 new teachers started their Pat-Med Careers at New Teacher Orientation. They were welcomed by Superintendent, Dr Michael Hynes, and PMCT President, Beth Warnken. Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Joey Cohen, put together an informative and welcoming two day orientation that included a bus ride around the district to all our buildings. PMCT provided breakfast and lunch on the first day. At lunch on the first day the new teachers met their PMCT mentors/buddies, and headed off to see their buildings and classrooms. PMCT looks forward to a long and collaborative future with all our new members.

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PMCT Exec Board Members Attend AFT Convention

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The 2016 AFT convention was held at the Minneapolis Convention Center from July 17-21, 2016. Representing PMCT at the convention were Beth Warnken, PMCT President, Kevin Toolan, PMCT Vice President, Alicia Connelly-Foster, PMCT Secretary, Syndee Zegel, PMCT Political Action, and Linda Nowicki, PMCT Past Secretary and Delegate. At this years convention AFT celebrated 100 years of representing educators. You can read more about the 100 year celebration at this link http://www.aft.org/100years.

The PMCT delegates attended the educational issues committee where ESSA, recess and the I Refuse resolutions were discussed and debated.

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Syndee Zegel, Linda Nowicki, Kevin Toolan, Alicia Connelly-Foster and Beth Warnken at the Minneapolis Convention Center representing PMCT.


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The pin wall with our PMCT solidarity pin front and center.

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Linda Nowicki and Syndee Zegel at the 100 years pin display.

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Beth Warnken and Kevin Toolan at the 100 Years pin display.

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Our PMCT delegates pictured with UFT MORE leader Jia Lee.

Judge Calls Evaluation of N.Y. Teacher ‘ARBITRARY’ and ‘CAPRICIOUS’ in Case Against John King

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Read some of the press on the huge win by Sheri Lederman!!

Education Inc Screening – TUE, MAR 29 AT 7:00 PM

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Join community members, teachers, and parents to watch Education Inc. This movie cronicles the way that schools have been starved of resources, closed, and taken over by corporate interests. Join us to find out what you can do to stop this madness.  The movie is approximately an hour and fifteen minutes and there will be a discussion with Q & A to follow.  Admission ticket and refreshments will be provided by the sponsors.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/education-inc-screening-tickets-21386449446 – Click here to register for a free ticket.

WHEN
WHERE
St. Joseph’s College – 155 West Roe Boulevard Patchogue, NY 11772 – View Map

 

 

Educational Crossroads Forum

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On Tuesday January 5, 2016 a large group of parents, teachers, administrators and school board members attended a forum entitled “Educational Crossroad…Where Do We Go From Here?” at the Saxton Middle School in Patchogue. PMCT President, Beth Warnken started the night off with an inspiring introduction to the forum. Speakers included Dr. Steven Cohen, Superintendent of Shoreham-Wading River Schools, Mrs. Lori Koerner, Educator, Administrator and Professor of Special Education, Dr. David Ferrin, Psychologist, CPSE Chair, Director, All About Kids and Dr. Michael Hynes, Superintendent, Patchogue-Medford Schools. They spoke at length about the damage Common Core and High Stakes Testing has done to public education and to the children attending out schools. The stress of testing is hurting out kids because of the emphasis on good scores being more important than understanding. Producing good scores has become more important than cultivating the mind of our students. Common Core is one size fits all and children cannot be standardized. Of special concern are our youngest students who are doing grill and drill work instead of having time to play. Play is the language of a children’s cognitive development. PLAY IS LEARNING. There is also a great concern that we will not have enough highly qualified teachers in the future as the teacher training programs have seen a tremendous decrease in enrollment this year. The speakers stressed that all of us must become vocal, informed and involved. We must keep the love of learning flowing from elementary to high school.

Video Stream can be seen here – http://www.mevee.com/s/sHEHRel4th

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PMCT Exec Board Members all “Red For Ed” – Kerri Simeone, Syndee Zegel, Beth Warnken, Kevin Toolan and Lynda Nowicki

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Speakers – Dr. David Ferrin, Mrs. Lori Koerner, Mrs. Beth Warnken, Dr. Steven Cohen and Dr. Michael Hynes

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Brian O’Neil and Chris Angelora

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