Sunday, January 26, 2014

Valentine's Day Dance Catered by Award-Winning Charles Sally Charles Catering

 As if our annual Valentines Day dance didn’t bring enough delights, we have one more to add to this year’s event: Charles Sally Charles Catering will be donating some of their legendary food!  Dinner will be served, and PS 39 will benefit 100% from the sales. Suh-weet!


The dance takes place on Friday, February 7th at Camp Friendship (mark your calendars with a little heart).

On the menu: savory tarts, pasta salads and greens for adults.  Specifically for picky little eaters, PS39 mom Annie Gallo will be making her amazing Mac and Cheese if we say please. 

The catering connection is local: Co-owner Sally Krause is a PS 39 alum herself, and great aunt to Samantha and Alexa Goldfarb (yep, Jo’s kids). She’s also a soon-to-be grandma to a future 39er, due in March.



Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz recognized Sally’s catering company with the prestigious Brooklyn Bridge Award, being that the company has been the exclusive caterer to The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens since the 1980s (have you ever eaten at the Terrace CafĂ© at the Gardens? That belongs to Charles Sally Charles!).

Sadly, Sally kept the business going strong while her husband and partner, Charles, fought a long-term battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Charles Sally Charles Catering received a Zagat rating of 25. All restaurant fanatics know that this is pretty awesome.

At PS 39 last year, Sally spoke at our Grandparents/VIP Day (see the photos). She shared her experiences of growing up in Brooklyn (which included listening to the radio coverage of the Brooklyn Dodgers playing the final game of The World Series in class, with her teacher!).  

Be sure to send your love to Sally at our upcoming Valentines Day dance (and at the Botanical Gardens), and check out her website here.


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Fitness Fridays Score Big

The early bird not only catches the worm, but catches the ball.  Our very first Fitness Friday took place on 1/17/14 (this week featuring a friendly but fierce volleyball workout, with other activities to come). First serve was at a nice-and-early 7:30, and Camp Friendship sure was getting everyone’s blood pumping.
Councilman Brad Lander, Colorado Rockies pitcher Adam Ottavino,  PS 39 teacher Eve Ottavino
PS 39’s Wellness Council believes in the benefits of moderate exercise before school, which contributes to the young brain’s ability to focus and process information (many studies show a relationship between morning exercise and brain power). That goes for moms and dads as well as kids.

Our own PE teacher, Ms. Deedrick
Also, Fitness Fridays are in response to our budget’s lack of physical education funding (our kids only get part-time gym class). As part of our steadfast commitment to fitness, we received a grant from the Department of Education for this ten-week mini-Olympics.
Principal De Paz, Assemblyman Jim Brennan, students




If over 100 families attending weren’t awesome enough, our event also had a special guest:  Colorado Rockies pitcher Adam Ottavino, who happens to be a Park Slope native and PS 39 alum, as well as the son of 
PS 39 4th grade teacher Ms. Eve Ottavino. 

The media was on hand as well: thanks to BK News12 and DNAinfo for their interest in the story. This is a slam-dunk for our Lisa Hoffman, PTA leader of PS 39’s Wellness Council and for our awesome principal, Anita De Paz. As well, big thanks go to NY State Assemblyman Jim Brennan and City Councilman Brad Lander for their support and willingness to jump in and play volleyball with our families.


Be there for the remaining Fitness Fridays at Camp Friendship, 339 8th Street (between 5th and 6th Streets).  Please remember to RSVP each week so we can manage attendance and make the events worthwhile for all who come out bright and early to participate!

As Nike says, “Just do it!”

by Ron Sklar, reporter at large