Jefferson PTA Hosts Block Party to Kick-off Year

The Jefferson Primary School PTA helped kick-off the new school year by hosting a welcome back block party for parents, students and teachers last Friday night.

There was face painting, hand tattoos and bracelet- making among other fun activities for students. Participants were served pizza, cotton candy and drinks. There were smiles all the way around.

“There was a beautiful flag created out of our handprints to remember 9/11,” Jefferson Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide said. “It was wonderful to see so many Jefferson Primary School families, faculty members and staff out to celebrate the beginning of the school year.”

The Jefferson PTA is led by co-Presidents Angela Ackerly and Jackie Colin; co-Vice Presidents Jessica Buttafucco and Kerri Roskot; Corresponding Secretary Christine Waer Van Kirk; Recording Secretary Erin Piersa; Treasurer Amanda Perfetto and PTA Council Delegates Katie Becker and Amy Sherwood.

Want to get involved with the Jefferson PTA? Send a message to jeffersonprimarypta@gmail.com.

Ms. Capitulo-Saide has been the principal of Jefferson Primary School since August 1, 2012.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative studies-dance at Hofstra University. She pursued graduate level studies at LIU-C.W. Post College, obtaining a Master of Science in elementary education and a certificate in educational administration-school building leader.

Ms. Capitulo-Saide came to Huntington after serving three years as principal of PS 101Q-The School of the Gardens in Forest Hills, Queens. She earlier worked for two years as that school’s assistant principal.

Prior to embarking on an administrative career, Ms. Capitulo-Saide worked in Community School District 26 in Bayside for two years as a dance teacher in a "literacy through the arts" program for students ranging from pre-kindergarten through ninth grade. She then taught grades three, five and six in elementary classrooms at PS 173Q and PS 213 in Bayside from 2001 to 2005.

Ms. Capitulo-Saide was a math coach and academic intervention services team leader at PS 101Q in Community School District 28 in Forest Hills from 2005 to 2007. She has engaged in a wide variety of professional training and development activities, including the Principal's Institute, NYC leadership mentoring program, advanced leadership mentor program for assistant principals, City College of New York Mathematics Institute mentoring program, Marilyn Burns Math Solutions Institute, Columbia University-Teachers College summer institutes in reading and writing and various experiences with the Educational Leadership Institute.