As we begin our third week of school, it feels so new and like a routine at the same time. The students are settling into their routines, making new friends, learning new things and things seem to be returning to what we know to be "normal". We are still in the midst of the pandemic, and we are reminded often. Whether it be on the news, or news from other schools about closures, we know that our full return is still dependent on many factors. What I do know is that the second our students enter our door, they are reminded that THEY MATTER! That we do all of this for them, so that they may continue to grow up and know what it is like to be a kid! I had so much fun this week stopping by their classes, playing with them in the yard, or chatting with them in the cafeteria. You children are amazing!! They are resilient. They remind us everyday how important of a job we have.

What to expect this week:

Arrival will transition to indoor in anticipation of the colder weather. Continue to enter through the same gate.

• Grade 4 and 5 will proceed to the auditorium (small school yard)
• Grade K and 1 will continue to enter the large yard and line up in the cafeteria
• Grade 2 and 3 (front of the building) will enter the same way and line up in the gym.

MAP TESTING

• Students in grades K-5 will be taking a diagnostic test beginning Monday, Sept. 27th. The MAP test is specific to each child (similar to I-Ready). All students in District 24 will be taking this diagnostic. I sent a letter to families this week about the MAP, requesting that your child bring their DOE device to school on the day of their test. Please see attached memo with the schedule for classes.

Covid 19 Health and Safety Protocols

• Testing has been increased to weekly. As per the DOE, every school will randomly test, on a weekly basis, unvaccinated students who have submitted consent for testing. Testing will be conducted at a threshold of ten percent of unvaccinated students per school population. This way, if there is a positive case, action can be taken right away to protect the school community. Students and staff who are fully vaccinated are not required to be tested.

Have a wonderful week!

Starting Monday, September 27, the DOE will increase random COVID-19 testing in all elementary, middle, and high schools for students in grades 1-12 from biweekly to weekly. We can only test students whose parents have provided an updated testing consent form to their school. If you completed a form last year, it expires September 30, 2021. You are encouraged to provide this consent for your child if you have not done so. If you have already submitted a testing consent form for the 2021-22 school year, that consent form remains in effect. If you have not yet submitted your consent, you can do so one of three ways:

• Fill out the form using your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA): schoolsaccount.nyc or

• Download the form online at schools.nyc.gov/covidtesting and bring the completed form to your child’s school.or

• Complete the form in Operoo (the updated form has been sent to all families through Operoo)

To maximize our school’s Title I funding, all families must complete the online Family Income Inquiry Form (located on MySchool apps). The online form will reduce the number of paper forms that your school needs to collect and allow the DOE to process forms more quickly. Title I funding is vital to providing support and resources for the school. For example, our funding is used for parent engagement/empowerment workshops, after school programs, technology, books, our new STEM lab and so many other things. To qualify, our families must complete the form. Ms. Yvonne Wang Silonga is our PAC (Parent Advisory Council) Chairperson. The Title I Parent Advisory Council (PAC) represents the Title I parent community. The Title I PAC participates with the School Leadership Team (SLT) in the joint review, planning and improvement of the school’s Title I program, and the development, revision and review of the parent and family engagement policy.

Our SMILE and Social Justice Committee have combined efforts to continue our own radio station. Mr. Canales, our resident DJ and creator of the most impactful and thought provoking videos for our students and for us. This week's episode, that students have viewed in class and discussed, deals with the past year and a half and the effect COVID-19 has had on them. Please watch and perhaps have the same discussion at home. To view all the past videos, subscribe to our channel PS88Q Counseling Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHAEihtqfhfuE30-leOaMkw. Below is this weeks episode!

What word would you use to describe this past year?

What feelings do you have about this upcoming year?

What were your best school memory or moment?

Everyday Learning Moments, Tuesday September 28 at 6 pm

Bring the whole family to join Rebecca, Popcorn, and the Family Fun crew. They’ll share simple activities any busy family can use to learn and play daily! See the flyer for details and register here.

Ready4K is an evidenced-based family engagement curriculum shown to increase student growth by two months. The curriculum empowers families by texting them simple, achievable ways to incorporate learning into everyday moments. Families can get messages in Arabic, Chinese, English, Spanish, or Vietnamese. We have also incorporated messages linking families to NYC resources like food and health services. Ready4K comes at no cost to your families or your program.

Register here for a Fall 2021 Ready4K Onboarding Session!

Sessions take place between Sep 1 – Oct 12, 2021

Attached is the September 28th CEC24 Meeting Agenda. The meeting location will be at Public School 19 at 6:00 pm – 9:00pm. Bengali, Mandarin and Spanish Interpreters will be available in-person only. The meeting will be held thru Zoom and only in English. The information is listed below and attached.

Zoom Information: (English only).

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87308745394?pwd=UWZkWnUrS0NLajJjWDQrNGJ2R0xDQT09

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,87308745394#,,,,*254569# US (New York)

Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 873 0874 5394 Passcode: 254569

Operoo is the platform we use for all student informations. Blue Cards (Student Emergency contacts), media release, walking home slips, covid consent are all forms that have been sent to your email. Each student. must have on file a current emergency card. Please update any information. Staff will be reaching out this week if we are missing anything. If you have any questions about Operoo, passwords , etc, please reach out to Maggie Ramos at 718-821-8121 or MRamos71@schools.nyc.gov