PARENT COORDINATOR UPDATES
Dear PS 107 Families.
We still need some assistance creating a video that helps to capture everyday life here at PS 107 for families interested in attending our school. We have volunteers to edit the video, but are still looking for the special someone who will create a video for us.
If you would like to take on this much needed labor of love , please contact either Ms. Joanna or Nadia. Ideally, this is something that would be ready for our tours that begin in early December.
Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Please see below for Ms. Joanna’s weekly message and updates from myself and the PTA.
MESSAGE FROM MS JOANNA
Dear PS 107 Families,
Last week was quite a busy one at PS 107! On Monday, we celebrated Halloween; on Wednesday, we hosted an evaluative visit with our Deputy Superintendent (it was very positive!); and on Thursday, we had Parent-Teacher Conferences. By Friday, our staff was worn out. I am incredibly grateful to all of them for their dedication to our students and to the time and energy they put into sharing children’s progress with you during conferences (and beyond!).
November is the month of gratitude, and we’ve been actively cultivating a practice of gratitude at PS 107. Our brains are wired to focus on the negative — this helped our ancestors recognize threats and get away from them as quickly as possible. So we have to actively recognize what’s positive in our lives and train our brains to see it. All month, during morning announcements, students are sharing what they are grateful for, and our staff will be doing the same with one another.
Generally speaking, our school community is fortunate to have our basic needs met. As someone who has worked in vastly different NYC public schools, PS 107 is not the norm. Across the system, 72% of students are considered “economically disadvantaged.” At PS 107, that figure is 8%. By comparison, 90% of students are considered economically disadvantaged at my previous school, PS 169 in Sunset Park.
I am incredibly grateful for the many ways in which our school community has rallied to support communities with significant needs, including a free children’s book giveaway for families in Sunset Park that was held this past weekend (big thanks to Brittany Manley and Sarah Foster for organizing this, and to Emily Hager — and 107 kids Oscar, Ella, Stella, and Charlotte – for volunteering at the event), as well as a coat drive, Halloween costume drive (thank you, Joanna Lumbang!), and fundraising drive to support families in need at our neighbor, PS 124, which has seen an influx of students in temporary housing and asylum-seeking families.
There are also families in our own community who have immediate needs. We have put together anonymous Amazon wishlists for each family, and would be grateful for any contributions you can make towards helping our families meet their basic needs.
Your generosity is having an impact on our students, too. Two weekends ago, several 107 students held a neighborhood lemonade stand, the proceeds of which are going directly to 107 families in need.
In this time of division and where the dominant political discourse contributes to the othering and marginalization of entire communities of Americans, I am grateful that, in our little corner of Brooklyn, we are coming together to support our neighbors. Related to that, please remember that this Tuesday is Election Day! Your individual votes matter more than ever this year. Take a look at the NYC Voters’ Guide and make a plan to vote!
Warmly,
Ms Joanna
To see all of Ms Joanna’s weekly updates, click here.
PS Don’t forget to follow our official PS 107 Twitter account! https://twitter.com/ps107brooklyn
SCHOOL NEWS
- We will host our Parent to Parent Information Session for Fifth Grade Families on Monday, November 7th at 6:30 pm. This event for PS 107 5th grade families is a valuable tool in helping you and your students rank our D15 schools. Zoom link here
- Picture day proof sheets arrived and should go home with your student by tomorrow the latest. Please keep an eye out for them in your child's folder or backpack.
FAMILY INCOME FORMS - School Funding
Did you know that completing these forms helps our school receive money for programs, regardless of whether your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch? If you haven’t done so already, please complete the Family Income Inquiry Form as soon as possible and help PS107 receive the funding we deserve. Deadline is coming up!
LOST AND FOUND
Thank you so much for stopping by the Lost & Found on Thursday. It was so nice to see some of you and to return some of these items to their rightful owners. Items are bagged for donation.
No Virtual Lost & Found to post this week
LABEL PLEASE
Please label your children’s items with their Full Name (First,Last) and classroom. We make every effort to return items back to students if we can identify who they belong to.
LOWER GRADES
Our in house stock of extra clothes has dwindled. Please be sure to send your children to school with a full change of clothes and make sure they are season appropriate. Accidents can happen easily when they are younger as they often get distracted and don’t check in with their bodies. Please be sure to return your child with a new set the next day if they need to be replaced and please send back clothes that were used from our supply (keep the underwear!)
ENTERING THE BUILDING
Please be sure to bring your photo id and proof of your first vaccine dose with you when you enter the building. School Safety Agent Sharon must ask for both of these items when visitors enter the building.
Pro Tip: Take a picture of both and save them to your home screen or in your camera on your phone. This way if you have your phone with you, you will have both items easily accessible.
MAKING SCHOOL DAY DISMISSAL PICK-UP CHANGES
If there is a change to your child’s dismissal, please be sure to note the change on the Daily Dismissal form in Operoo. If it is a same day change, please email your child’s teacher and cc Nadia at parentcoordinator@ps107.org in addition to any changes on the Daily Dismissal form. You can also call the main office at 718-499-2054, ext 1031
MAKING AFTERSCHOOL DISMISSAL PICK-UP CHANGES
If your child attends our in house After-school program, please be aware that they will only release your child to people on your Pickup Contacts list in 6crickets
Click HERE for directions on how to add someone to your Pickup Contact list.
COVID UPDATES
Positive cases of COVID in students must still be reported to the DOE’s Situation Room; therefore, if your child tests positive, please alert our Parent Coordinator, Nadia Benlarbi, at parentcoordinator@ps107.org and copy Principal Joanna Cohen on your email at jcohen@ps107.org .
PTA UPDATES
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Parents' Special Education Support Committee - 12:00 pm Nov. 9
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Powerhouse Book Fair - Nov 15-18
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PTA Meeting - 9am Nov. 17
ANNUAL FUND UPDATE
Many families have asked about involving extended families and friends in giving to the Annual Fund. Gifts can be made through Konstella using this link (a special link for non-Konstella users). See our last Annual Fund announcement here for an update on how things are going and how you can help. And a big THANK YOU to those who have already given!
PARENTS’ SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT COMMITTEE
The Parents' Special Education Support Committee is hosting its second meeting of the year on Wed, Nov 9 at noon. All are welcome to join. We'll be planning events and offering a forum to discuss our children's needs. Zoom link here and more information in the Konstella announcement here. Questions? Message co-chairs Ginny Wiehardt (glwiehardt@gmail.com) or Amber Lewis (lewis.amberlynn@gmail.com)
POWERHOUSE BOOK FAIR
Once again, Powerhouse will be graciously hosting our classes for bookstore visits. 20% of all sales will support the PS 107 PTA, so please shop anytime that week and mention PS 107. We are looking for three chaperones for each class (PRE-K will NOT be making a class visit). For more information and to sign up click here or if you have any questions, please reach out to Laurie Tamis ltamis@gmail.com
IMPORTANT DATES
- November 7 - Parent to Parent 5th grade meeting 6:30 pm- zoom link here
- November 17 - PTA meeting 9:00 am
- November 15 -18 - Powerhouse Book Fair
- November 22 - Picture Make Up Day
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS
- November 8 - Election Day - No school for students
- November 11 - Veterans Day - School is closed
- November 24 - 25 - Thanksgiving Recess - School is closed
Thank you
Nadia