Our School

PS 118, the Maurice Sendak Community School opened its doors in September 2013 to two Pre-K classes and two Kindergarten classes. Named after children’s author-illustrator and Brooklyn native Maurice Sendak, the school gradually expanded, adding one grade each year until reaching full scale in 2019. It currently serves grades K-5.

Our PTA

While our PS 118 educators and staff work tirelessly to ensure our children learn and grow, the PTA provides volunteer time and additional funds via fundraising initiatives to enhance each child’s educational experience. Here are just a few ways the PTA contributes:

  • Hosting monthly community events, like school dances, Marathon Fun Day, and movie night.
  • Lessening the effects of DOE budget cuts by funding additional classroom support staff in younger grades.
  • Supporting enrichment programs like chess, the garden, hydroponics, field trips, and more!

The PTA’s contributions to our school are only possible with engagement from our wonderful community, and we can’t wait to team up with you to make this a successful year for P.S. 118. The PTA—including the Executive Board—is a volunteer-based organization, and the best way to contribute is to dive in! We know life gets busy, and we’re ready to meet you where you are and are excited to collaborate together to make this school year a success!

Our Board, 2023-2024

Kayla McCaffrey & Scott Nitz – Co-Presidents

Paul Hyun – Vice President

Hilda Juliani & Rion Stassi – Co-Treasurers

Francesca & Adam Brody – Co-Secretaries

Our PTA Meetings

Our PTA meetings occur every third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. All are encouraged to attend.

Our SLT

The School Leadership Team (SLT) is comprised of five staff members, including Principal Garraway, and six parent representatives, including the PTA President. It is a unique forum where parent concerns can be voiced directly to the school’s administration, and those concerns can be addressed and resolved under a consensus-based decision-making framework. Some SLT duties of parent representatives include reviewing and developing the school’s annual Comprehensive Educational Plan, reviewing the school budget, and bringing concerns from parents to the attention of the school administration. The meetings are held monthly and usually last an hour. Parents/caregivers are welcome to attend any of the meetings; however, only SLT members can discuss the topics on the agenda during the “meeting time.” Fifteen minutes are reserved at the end of each meeting to address additional queries from visitors. Parents are invited to submit questions prior to the meetings via the SLT PTA representatives. Questions/topics of consideration can be emailed to: slt@ps118pta.org

Members of the School Leadership Team

Elizabeth Garraway, Principal
Annie Giovino, Assistant Principal
Victoria Morey, UFT Representative
Jaclyn Bernier, teacher
Kevin Steinmuller, teacher
Maria Teresa Bazzi, parent coordinator
Kayla McCaffrey & Scott Nitz, PTA Presidents
Sivia Weintraub, parent representative
Risha Foulkes, parent representative
Tara Hayward, parent representative
Amanda Hazai, parent representative