This Week @ PS 88Q
April 7, 2024
No School on Wednesday, April 10th in observance of Eid al Fitr
A Message From Mrs. O'Shaughnessy
I hope everyone is enjoying this weekend. Finally, I break from the rain!
On Friday, New York and New Jersey experienced something that we never thought we would, an earthquake. As some of you know, I was not in the building, as I traveled for a weekend wedding. Within minutes, Ms. Lowe and Ms. Herman were on the phone with me, as well as our custodial engineer, Mr. Balcerzak. They did an amazing job ensuring everyone was safe, the building was safe and that everyone remained calm, not an easy task to reassure a nervous staff and even more nervous student population. I never like to be away from the building, but with the amazing team we have at PS 88Q, we are always supported.
This past week we celebrated our paraprofessionals for Paraprofessional Appreciation Day. Our 40+ paras are nothing short of superheroes. They were many hats, and do many things. We are so proud of our paraprofessionals.
We also celebrated our amazing assistant principals, Ms. Lowe and Ms. Herman. Ms. Lowe has been a part of PS 88Q for 20+ years, and Ms. Herman joined us this year, but working alongside them feels like we have been a team forever. Time and place is always what I think matters, being in the right place at the right time. I feel that our team, admin, teachers, support staff, families, community, everyone, is at the right place at the right time to succeed. Many of you shared your words with Ms. Lowe and Ms, Herman on the padlet, but I will link it again. https://padlet.com/loshaughnessy/celebrating-our-stars-national-assistant-principal-week-for--n1c5fzoph3coj5tn
This week we are off on Wednesday in observance of Eid al Fitr. We return on Thursday, and our Grade 3, 4 and 5 students will be taking the NYS ELA test.
Have a wonderful week!
Solar Eclipse on Monday
We are writing to inform you that on Monday, April 8, the New York City area will experience a partial solar eclipse beginning around 2:00 p.m. A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth. This casts a shadow that may make the sky dark for the eclipse's duration, as the sun will become approximately 90% covered in NYC during the peak coverage time, around 3:25 p.m.
While this may overlap with school dismissal times, please know that there will be no changes to dismissal, and after-school programming will remain in effect. Please also be prepared for increased traffic throughout the area and consider using public transit instead of driving during this time.
If you and your family are planning to view the eclipse, please make sure to do so safely by using proper, specialized eye protection. Regular sunglasses and other filters are not a safe replacement for solar eclipse glasses. Glasses are available at the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, and New York Public Library while supplies last. It is recommended to call in advance to ensure supplies are available. Please take precautions, whether inside or out, as looking at the sun without protection can cause loss of the ability to see colors, loss of vision, or even permanent blindness.
For more information on solar eclipse eye safety, please visit the New York City Department of Health guidance: nyc.gov/site/doh/about/press/pr2024/solar-eclipse-safety-precautions.page(Open external link).
Our Pre-K Engineers
This week our 3k and PreK students completed the buildings unit of study, and created their own city! Our littlest engineers and architects brought in their masterpieces! What an amazing job by families for learning alongside their child. The learning that they have been doing, the vocabulary, the understanding of structures, and how to build them, and the fun! Check out some of them below!
Friday's Earthquake
For those who did not receive my email on Friday, please see below.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We hope this message finds you well. We want to inform you about an earthquake that occurred in New York City earlier today. We understand such news can be concerning, especially when it comes to the safety of our students.
We want to assure you that all students and staff at PS 88q are safe, and there has been no impact on our school facilities. After a thorough assessment, we have confirmed that it is safe to continue with our scheduled classes and activities as normal.
The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priority, and we are prepared to respond promptly to any situation. Should there be any changes or updates, we will communicate them to you immediately.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school administration.
Warm regards,
Linda O'Shaughnessy
Grade 5 News
Please complete your survey! We want your feedback!
Survey has been extended to April 19th
Check Out Our New T-Shirt
The PTA has partnered with Mama's Got Heart to create a limited edition T-Shirt showing our Seneca School Pride!
PTA News
PTA UPDATES
PTA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING - Thursday April 11, 5:30pm-7pm
We look forward to seeing you all at our next meeting! There is always a lot to discuss and many opportunities to get involved or to just learn more about PS88!
5:30-6pm: NY Fire Department fire safety discussion
6pm-7pm: PTA Meeting for adults; Kids Activities with PS88 Teachers and Aides!
On the Agenda: Planning for Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week (May 6-10), Upcoming elections in May (including PAC Chairperson, SLT parent member, and PTA Executive Board)
PS88 LIMITED EDITION MERCH! Available until 4/14!
The PTA is partnering with Mama’s Got Heart to raise funds for afterschool programs!
Go to mamasgotheart.com to order. Use passcode 088 to log in and to get free shipping. Everything will be shipped to PS88 for distribution in April.
OPEN POSITIONS FOR PARENTS at PS88
All of these positions will be up for election at the May PTA General Membership Meeting. These are all very exciting ways to get involved and make a difference at PS88! There are varying levels of commitment with each position, so please check out the links to learn more and feel free to get in touch with Ms. Ivett, Principal O’Shaughnessy, or Samantha Desz (PTA88President@gmail.com) with any questions.
PAC CHAIRPERSON Learn more about the Title 1 Parent Advisory Council here:
SLT PARENT MEMBER Learn more about the School Leadership Team here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/get-involved/families/school-leadership-team
PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD Learn more about the Parent/Teacher Association and the Executive Board here https://www.schools.nyc.gov/get-involved/families/parent-associations
Feel free to reach out to your PTA Executive Board with any questions, concerns, or ideas!
Sam (PTA88President@gmail.com), Sabita (PTA88Treasurer@gmail.com), and Camila (PTA88Secretary@gmail.com)
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From Our Chancellor
Dear New Yorkers,
This spring, students in grades 3-8 will take the New York State exams in English Language Arts and math. Fifth and eighth graders will also take their state science exams. We all know that “testing season” brings a wide range of emotions for our students, staff, and families. It can be a stressful time!
But there's another way to think about these exams—as an opportunity for our kids to show what they know. Day after day, they have been working hard at their learning. They have practiced decoding and developed phonemic awareness through NYC Reads. They have built problem-solving skills in math class and experimented in science class. They have tackled real-world issues in Social Studies. They are ready! Last year, our results showed promising growth, and I’m excited to see that trend continue in 2024.
Families and staff, how can you support our students this spring? Here are few ideas:
- Set them up for success. Ensure students get a good night’s sleep and eat breakfast, either at home or at school, leading up to the tests. Emphasize that this is their time to shine. Give them lots of encouragement before the exams—a post-it note on their desk, a reassuring high-five, or a quick pep talk can go a long way.
- Remind them what the tests are meant to do, and what they’re not meant to do. These tests provide our schools with critical information about students’ progress and how we can support them, but they’re not the only measure. Grades, classwork, writing samples, and other assignments are just as important.
- Prepare fifth and eighth graders for computer-based testing. This shift to computer-based testing is a requirement from the State, as the first leg in a three-year transition to online testing statewide. Schools can also choose to administer online tests for other grades. Either way, our students are prepared; all participating grades and schools administered practice tests as part of a statewide simulation in January. Students can also practice on their own if they’d like.
For more information on this year’s exams, check out our student participation guide and the State’s parent resources. And remember, these exams are in service of something greater than a score. They’re an opportunity for students to show what they know and a call to action for us, as adults, to ensure we are guiding our kids toward bright starts and bold futures.
Soaring high,
David C. Banks
Chancellor