Grants – Hastings PTSA

Grants Showcase

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Grants: 2025-2026

HILLSIDE

Enrichment – HES Recorders
Enrichment – Hillside Garden
Enrichment – Lauren Tarshis author visit
Enrichment – Meredith Madden professional development
Enrichment – Kindergarten Forces of Nature
Other – 250th T-Shirts

FMS

Enrichment – 6th Grade Author Virtual Visit
Other – Bee a Buddy T-Shirts
Enrichment – 7th Grade Frost Valley Trip

HHS

Cultural Arts – HASP: Broadway The Outsiders
Enrichment – Robotics Team Cameras
Cultural Arts – Musical Trip Philadelphia
Other- NYSSMA bus
Other – HHS Olympics Food
Other – 9th & 10th Social
Cultural Arts – SUPA Broadway
Enrichment – Academic Challenge

FMS & HHS

Enrichment – Birding Club Binoculars
IWG – Pride Works
Cultural Arts – Jose Limon

Grants: 2024-2025

HILLSIDE

Funded author presentation by Peter Brow.
Funded Path to Rhythm assembly.
Funded a traveling Planetarium for grade 1

FMS

Funded author presentation by Lynne Cox
Funded a traveling Planetarium for grade 5
Funded No Place for Hate t-shirts

HHS

Funded transportation for 11th grade trip to Philadelphia to study US History.
Funded new TI-Nspire CAS calculators to enhance Physics education.
Funded HASP Broadway Show tickets to Suffs.
Funded lunch for the High School Olympics.
Funded new Wacom Tablets
Funded National Honor Society tutoring lunches.

DISTRICT-WIDE

Team Building event for Administration.
Funded enrichment for the IWG.
Funded busing for Robotic Team event.
Quiz Bowl Entrance Fees.
Contributed toward Model UN entry fees to the conference.
In conjunction with the Yellow Jacket Booster Club, the PTSA supported the rental of lights for a weekend of night home games in October.

Grants: 2023-2024

HILLSIDE

Performance by Pilobolus, an acclaimed dance theater organization committed to creating collaboratively and finding beauty in unexpected places.
Framing for artwork created by students for visit by Minnijean Brown-Trickey visit.
Scope Night – Nighttime experience to use telescopes and learn about astronomy for Hillside students.
Funded STEAM 3rd grade Circus to support learning.
Hillside Teacher Wellness Meeting Ice Cream party

FMS

Funded Movement Workshop for 5th grade Wellness Day.
Funded 5th grade Salsa Program.
Funded Gordon Korman author visit for 4th – 6th grade students.
Contributing to transportation for 6th Grade additional bussing to Boundless Adventures.
Funded PE Department – Adjustable rims.
Visiting Artist Vanessa Cruz presentation.

HHS

Funded transportation for 11th grade trip to Philadelphia to study US History.
Funded Poster Boards for Science Research
Purchase of skirts for Hudsonettes.
Funded Graff tour and Street Art Workshop.
Funded National Honor Society Tutoring lunches.
Funded busing for Senior Class trip to Six Flags Great Adventure.
Quiz Bowl Entrance Fees.
Enrichment for High School Physics Dept.

DISTRICT-WIDE

In conjunction with the Yellow Jacket Booster Club, the PTSA supported the rental of lights for a weekend of night home games in October.
Team Building event for Administration.

Highlighted Grants: 2021-2022

Team building activity for administrators;
HoH spirit wear for administrators;
Ice Skating for the students of HASP to deepen their sense of community and belonging;
DJs for the FMS socials;
Streaming for the HS One Acts;
Streaming for the FMS One Acts;
African dance performance and demonstration for FMS students;
A teaching artist to work with students to create a new composition for 4th graders to sing at their moving up ceremony;
Author Marc Tyler Nobleman’s presentation “Heroes without Capes” at Hillside
PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support) “prizes” for FMS
Buses for 6th graders to Boundless Adventure and 4th graders to their pool party in Dobbs Ferry

Highlighted Grants: 2020-2021

Enrichment Grants

Materials
- Spanish Novels for Levels 4H and 5H
- Science Whiteboards
- Bell covers for music instruments
- Molecular Model Kits
- Big Life Journals
- Onyx Book Note 3E Reader
- Microcontrollers
- Onyx Math Software
- Inclusion Working Group purchased racial equity themed books for classrooms that were requested by HHS teachers

Programs
- Out of Rushmore’s Shadow Virtual Video
- Virtual Anthropology

Teacher Training
- Dr. Price-Dennis of Teachers College provided professional development to enhance teachers’ culturally responsive teaching practices

Parent Education
- Participated in Rivertowns Parents, a consortium of Rivertowns PTSAs with the mission of promoting and fostering communication in the Rivertowns among parents, students, and schools and to provide educational resources to our communities.
- Inclusion Working Group contributed funding to Hastings RISE online workshops on racism and racial equity

Other
- Silent in Volume Anti-Racism Signs
- Contributed to Senior Prom
- HASP T-shirts
- Hastings Masks for All District Employees
- Photographers for 4th and 8th grade graduations
- Inclusion Working Group Partnered with Race Matters on the Multicultural Book Fair

Cultural Arts Grant

Virtual Tour of Brooklyn Graffiti Art and Workshop
Zoom composer in residence and original composition for HS band and orchestra
Brazilian Dance Assembly

Grants Funded From COVID Relief Fund (jointly with HEF and SEPTA) and “Sponsor an Air Purifier for a Classroom” Fundraiser (jointly with SEPTA)

Outdoor Classroom Furniture including tables, chairs, storage sheds, portable white boards
Outdoor Cafeteria including outdoor picnic tables, barriers, and canopies
Golf Equipment for PE Classes
Smart Music Web Subscription
Air Purifiers for Classrooms

Highlighted Grants: 2019-2020:

Enrichment Grants
Line Dancing at FMS; 5th grade Liberty Science Center field trip, class visits and Professional Development; Arch 4 Kids – enriching the study of social studies through architecture (grade 4); Sweethearts and Heroes – program to encourage kindness and discourage bullying (Hillside); Ajna Indian Dance Arts Education Program (Hillside), David Coffin – music from King’s Court – Paleolithic, Renaissance, Baroque and contemporary version of woodwind instruments (2nd grade); Salsa Dancing Residency (FMS 2020), Caramoor String Quartet (HHS 2020), Current Events with Claudia Heitler (Hillside),”Out of Rushmore’s Shadow” (2nd grade – done virtually) and Sewing with Seniors. Funded the Hillside Outdoor Classroom and the FMS playground, going forward into 2020/2021. Yearly, we fund the buses for each grade to have at least one field trip, the bird feeders at Hillside, the nature program at Hillside, and one big “ask” per school. In addition, we funded music trips, Broadway trips, a composer in residence, the Academic Field Day/Olympics and author visits that were unfortunately cancelled. We look forward to funding those programs in the future.

Teacher Training Grants
Partner with SEPTA to send multiple teachers to professional development courses run by the Windward School.

Student Run Activities Grants:
Be Yourself Club.

Parent Education Grants
Provided refreshments (along with SEPTA) for Family University (workshops for parents and HHS students); Parent screening of “The First Day” with filmmaker and addiction experts; and Inclusion Working Group (supports district and community initiatives that highlight, explore, and illuminate issues of diversity, inclusion, oppression and resilience) operating and events budget. The Inclusion Working Group funded the RISE parent workshops of 7/20.

Supplies/Equipment Grants

Hospitality Grants
Back-to-School Breakfast; Newcomers Dinner; Incoming Kindergarten Picnic; Staff Appreciation Lunches; Gifts for retiring teachers; FMS Socials – DJs, motivators and decorations; Compostable party supplies for Hillside (parent-driven); 3D Printer for Hillside, used by Hillside teacher to make PPE for first responders.

Highlighted Grants: 2018-2019:

Please see what a difference your donations and membership have made. They enrich curriculum, sponsor teacher training, provide needed supplies, support student activities, and offer education for parents. We spent over $42,000 this year and earmarked even more for next year.

Enrichment Grants:

• Afro Peruvian Music and Dance for Hillside and FMS

• To Kill A Mockingbird – Paid the bulk of ticket costs for 8th graders to attend the Broadway play

• HASP Broadway Play (HHS)

• Liberty Science Center Field Trip – 5th grade

• Judith Altman, Holocaust survivor, speaks to 7th and 8th graders about hate and anti-semitism

• Dan Yaccarino – author visit for Hillside

• Arch 4 Kids – Enriching the study of social studies through architecture (grade 4)

• A Bullying Awareness presentation with Chris Poulos, motivational speaker and world champion bicycle stunt rider (Hillside)

• David Coffin – Music from King’s Court – Paleolithic, Renaissance, Baroque and contemporary version of woodwind instruments (2nd grade)

• Sewing with Seniors

• Alternatives on Weekend Nights – Movie Night

Teacher Training Grants

• Image, Sound, and Story program from Jacob Burns Film Center – professional development for Ms. Forman and Dr. Mitlak – media literacy, film analysis through lighting, props, setting, and character, and media creation (Sept. ‘19)

• Literacy conference at National Council for Teachers of English for literacy coach (FMS/HHS)

• Standards Institute Winter Conference – 5 day program to improve instructional practices – Math Coach (FMS)

• Partner with SEPTA to support professional development for summer 2019 literacy workshops

Student Run Activities Grants

• Culture Shock – This completely student-run club has three major components: art, cuisine, and charity. Their goal is to highlight the art of various cultures through a variety of captivating performances in an annual show. They attempt to unite students of all backgrounds by giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents with the community. After the show, they sell food from various regions of the world to raise money for various charities. This year funds raised went to Rise Against Hunger and Kerala Flood Relief.

• Be Yourself Club – This PTSA sponsored club is open to all students, is social, and completely child-driven. It’s the only club that bridges all three schools as high schoolers from GSA serve as mentors. This year the group raised money to help environmental causes by selling t-shirts they designed, painted gorgeous, positive affirmations in the bathrooms at Hillside and FMS. The kids designed t-shirts, sold them at Farmer’s Market to raise money, and donated $1000 to an environmental group that they chose. They want to continue the club at Hillside next year and are looking for a way to make it happen at FMS next year. (The PTSA funded supplies for their projects.) Thank you to Marie-Louise Miller and Nicole Miziolek!

Parent Education Grants

• Family University – Workshops for parents and HHS students about the dangers of drugs, drinking, and the internet (PTSA & SEPTA provided food for attendees)

• PTSA’s Inclusion Working Group (IWG)

– Be Yourself Club – raised $1001, which they donated to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation that supports the Environment.

– Partnered with Race Matters to bring the first Multicultural Book Fair and Festival to Hastings from May 29 – June 2. Local food vendors, talented musicians, and students read books, created crafts, and performed for our book festival patrons. It was a huge success, and we look forward to next year being even bigger.

– Partnered with Hillside Principal Amy Cazes to provide parent workshops that correlated with the Diverse Book Initiatives rolled out this year. Teachers received professional development to support those areas. The IWG had two of three presenters provide workshops to parents to allow them the same training and understanding as the teachers.

▪ Center Lane Parent Workshop on Gender. Open to all parents.

▪ Parent workshop given by Learning Differences – Parent workshop on Strategies to Support All Learners by David Luhman, Director of School Partnerships and Innovative Practices. Open to all parents.

▪ Fostering Racial Literacy – Denis Price-Dennis, assistant professor from Teachers College, Columbia University. Open to all parents.

Needed Supplies/Equipment Grants

• Document Camera and books for Spanish 3 (HHS)

• Point and shoot digital cameras (HHS)

• Prom Bus (HHS)

• Recess Equipment (Hillside)

• Xylophone mallets for music (Hillside)

• Bird feed for bird feeders (Hillside)

• Due to high demand, the PTSA paid for an additional 300 copies of The Buzzer, A Special Issue on Race by Ross Abrams’s class (HHS)

• The PTSA surveyed FMS students during recess to get their input for additional equipment to be added to the playground. Equipment coming soon. (FMS)

Hospitality Grants

• Back to School Breakfast hosted by PTSA (Hillside)

• Newcomers Dinner hosted by PTSA (All 3 schools)

• Picnic for families with children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2019 hosted by PTSA (Hillside)

• Three Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheons – PTSA coordinated, ran, and provided additional food (All 3 schools)

• Pool party for 4th grade graduation – funded ice cream for all (Hillside)

• 8th grade graduation party – PTSA coordinated and run (FMS)

• Pre-prom pretzels and lemonade get together and bus for the senior prom (HHS)

• Gifts purchased for five teachers who are retiring after many years in our district

• Food for 6th grade Grecian Festival (FMS)

• Food for 5th grade Latin Festival (FMS)

Grants Earmarked for 2019-2020 = $52,216

• 4th grade Arch4Kids

• Partial funding of current events grades 3 – 5

• FMS playground equipment

• Salsa dancing residency for grade 5

• HHS literacy conferences

• Math conference (FMS – Ms. Pak)

• Literacy conference (FMS – Dr Mitlak)

• Hillside’s outdoor classrooms

• Teacher workshops through Windward School

Total $15,600.

For next year, the PTSA also is offering each grade $1,200 for buses to encourage a meaningful field trip for every grade.

Highlighted Grants: 2017-2018:
The Physics Bus – A mobile exhibition parked at the schools from Sept. 18 to 20 with more than two dozen science exhibits. It was a huge hit with the third-to-sixth-grade stu- dents from Hillside and FMS who participated. The Physics Bus was made possible through a PTSA grant, one of many special events held during the school year thanks to your contributions.

Sing Us A Song – At Hillside we funded Sing Us A Song a Song for the 4th grade: Sing Us a Song has created a musical portrait of colonial times in NY for our students. They will learn how colonists lived, their forms of entertainment, their musical instruments, songs, hymns, anthems, and stories.

Pocket Lab – At Hillside, we funded a PocketLab that will be used for physical science, weather and climate studies, and engineering projects.

Family Diversity Project – he new exhibit for the Family Diversity Project at FMS is entitled “Building Bridges: Portraits of Immigrants and Refugees.”

Bash the Trash – We have funded an assembly for Hillside to promote recycling, reducing, and reusing trash in our community.

Flexible seating for two 4th grade classes – Recent research shows that the ability to move in an environment enhances learning, concentration, and attentiveness. Two 4th grade teachers asked for funding of NeoRok stools, Bungee chairs, and balance ball chairs. The PTSA gave them the funding they were looking for.

Highlighted Grants: 2016-2017:
Multicultural Book Fair – Showcasing books and authors to explore multicultural issues (district-wide)

Black History Month Inventors and Achievers Exhibit (district-wide)

David Coffin See Chanty Assembly – Learning about maritime traditions through song (Hillside)

Soul Steps Assembly – Learning about step dance through interactive performance, as part of Black History Month (Hillside)

All Kinds of Families – Photo Gallery and discussion points for exploring diverse families (FMS)

Community Service Club – Supporting the new after school club to provide opportunities for students to perform community service (FMS)

Screenagers – Screening of this documentary, which explores how technology impacts kid’s development and the challenges of parenting in the digital world (district wide)

Gettysburg Trunk – Learning about American history through artifacts (FMS)

Arch4Kids – Building a model of colonial NYC and learning about its history and applying concepts in engineering and architecture (Hillside)

Ozobots – Supporting MakerSpace, programming and coding activities (Hillside)

Birds of North America – Supplying our birdfeeders at Hillside, teaching students to identify birds

Grow With It – Applying math and science concepts through growing plants (FMS)

Internet Safety – Hosting a speaker to discuss Internet safety and awareness (FMS)

Academic Challenge Team and Quiz Bowl – New buzzer systems (HHS and Community)

Dear Evan Hansen – HASP field trip (HHS)

Academic Field Day – Luncheon (HHS)

Hastings-on-Hudson
PTSA Grants 2026-2027 Information and Application

Each year the PTSA is pleased to provide grants for projects that enrich the school experiences of our students. The projects typically supplement the curriculum by providing materials or resources not covered in the school budget.

What kinds of grants are there?

1. Cultural Arts grants are those that expose students to some sort of “cultural arts.” This includes but isn’t limited to: performances, artist in residencies and field trips to museums and theaters. Typically, these student experiences should align with the NYS standards for the Arts and be focused on one or more of the following: Creating, Performing/Producing/Presenting, Responding to or Connecting with the Arts. (Arts is broadly defined.)

CA grants are administered by the PTSA as a representative parent/teacher committee, but are paid for by New York State. The district is reimbursed by BOCES for CA expenditures up to a certain amount, set by the state, each year. If we exceed the state funds, the PTSA becomes the granting agency.

Because of their funding structure, we highly encourage faculty and staff to apply for CA grants; any allocated funds that remain unused are lost.

2. Enrichment grants are those grants that allow teachers and faculty to try new things in their classrooms, introduce programming, enrich student experiences and allow for some “extras.” Enrichment grants are used for things that aren’t covered in the yearly budget and would not be possible without outside funding. Enrichment grants are dependent solely on PTSA funds and therefore on PTSA fundraising. Once a program or activity has been granted, proven successful, and in place for a few years, the expectation is that the district will take over the funding.

3. Inclusion Working Group (IWG) grants support teachers and staff to strengthen the mission of inclusivity, belonging and equity.

The link below includes additional information and the PTSA Grant Application.

Follow the button above to complete the PTSA Grant Application Form. Please email your completed form to your building or district leader for approval and forward their approval to our Grants OfficerAmanda Wright.

Please do NOT place this application in the PTSA mailbox in the school office. All Cultural Arts grants “cc’d” to Maureen Caraballo at CaraballoM@hohschoools.org.

Grants Showcase

Hastings-on-Hudson PTSA Grants 2026-2027 Information and Application

Hastings-on-Hudson
PTSA Grants 2026-2027 Information and Application