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  2. Parent Coordinator Updates - 4/2/23
Parent Coordinator Updates - 4/2/23
Sun, Apr 2 2:33pm

 

PARENT COORDINATOR UPDATES

 

Hello PS 107 Families!

 

I heard the STEM Day was a huge success! So happy to see the school return to all of the pre-pandemic activities :) I wish you all a wonderful break and a Happy Easter and Passover to our families who celebrate.  

Please see below for Ms. Joanna’s weekly message and updates from myself and the PTA. 

 

MESSAGE FROM MS JOANNA 

 

Dear PS 107 Families, 

 

I’m writing to you having just left STEM Day, another fantastic community event that we are so grateful to have been able to bring back this year. I cannot thank parent Reem Berro enough for her incredible event planning skills, bringing together such a wonderful group of organizations, as well as 107 and PSACC staff members, to share with our community the magic of science, technology, engineering, and math. Thank you Reem and thank you to the countless parent volunteers who made STEM Day such a huge success!

 

I am also writing to you following yet another tragic mass shooting at a school, this time at the Covenant School in Nashville, TN. These horrific events have become far too common in the United States, and after each one, we wonder and worry about our children’s safety in school. Dr Harold Koplewicz, the founding President and Medical Director of the Child Mind Institute and a strong advocate for children’s mental health, wrote in a letter this week, “all of our children are in a house with a gun, and that house is called America.” 

 

Unfortunately, Dr Koplewicz’s words are not hyperbole: Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. While school shootings are the most visible reminders of this, they account for only a fraction of firearm-related deaths. Still, the regular exposure to incidents of gun violence, or even the possibility of gun violence, is affecting all of our mental health. For tips on talking to children about school shootings, please take a look at these resources from the Child Mind Institute. 

 

At PS 107, the safety of your children is our highest priority. We have in place a Building Response Team (BRT) who are trained to use the NYC Department of Education’s General Response Protocols for emergencies. We conduct regular drills for evacuations (fire drills), as well as soft lockdown drills. We recently conducted a soft lockdown drill and will conduct one more before the school year ends. These lockdown drills are presented in developmentally-appropriate ways and children are told that, similar to fire drills, which we practice in the unlikely event of a fire, we have lockdown drills in the unlikely event that a person gets into our building who shouldn’t be there. It provides time for our safety agent and our BRT to sweep the building and ensure everyone’s safety. 

 

Many parents have asked why the main doors to our school building are unlocked. This is the current NYC DOE policy. We are not permitted to lock the main doors of our school building unless we are in a lockdown or a shelter-in-place. However, following the shooting in Uvalde, TX last year, the NYC DOE began investigating the possibility of locking school doors and installing intercom/buzzer entry systems. In February, the Panel for Education Policy, the NYC DOE’s governing body, approved a $43 million contract with Symbrant Technologies, Inc, that will provide schools with video cameras and buzzers monitored by school safety agents. While the timeline for installation remains unclear, we feel that this is a step in the right direction. 

 

Following the spring break, we will hold a Town Hall for parents that will detail our safety protocols at PS 107. Please keep an eye out for a date and time for this meeting. We also strongly encourage parents to get involved in advocating for common sense gun reforms and recommend donating to and organizing with Everytown for Gun Safety and Sandy Hook Promise. We cannot allow politicians’ inaction to dull us, for it is only sustained public pressure that will lead to change.  

 

Spring Break starts this week on Thursday, 4/6, and we are hoping to once again avoid the dip in attendance that we often see in the days prior to (and following) a school break. We will have full days of instruction this Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and encourage you to send your children to school. We understand that families have travel plans and suggest that, if you are heading out of town before the end of the school day, that you send children to school for a partial day and pick them up early. As a reminder, our after-school program will be closing early (at 5 pm) on Wednesday, April 5th, so that staff members can attend the first Passover seder. 

 

Please note that this week, we will also be sending home 6 COVID tests per student — this includes two tests per student to be used before returning to school on Monday, April 17th, along with each student’s regular four-tests-per month allocation. These tests can be used by anyone in your family. 

 

I hope that you and your children have a relaxing and restorative spring break. Happy Passover and Happy Easter to our families who celebrate! These holidays mark the beginning of spring, the season of renewal and rebirth. Though we face many challenges as a society, being part of the wonderful PS 107 community brings us comfort, connection, and joy. I’m looking forward to sharing this season of new beginnings with all of you. 

 

Warmly, 

Ms Joanna

 

PS Our Science program needs some basic supplies! Can you help? Check out Ms Abby’s Amazon wishlist. 

 

NEWS

 

SUMMER RISING

Enrollment for Summer Rising begins the week following break on April 17th.  For more information please click here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/summer/grades-k-8

There will be a Summer Rising parent workshop on Tuesday, April 18th 10 -11am. Many questions about enrollment and program structure can be answered during this workshop.  Please see the attached flyer for zoom information.

 

ADMISSION INFORMATION
Kindergarten 

  • Offers will be released to families the week of April 3rd, including offers to kindergarten G&T programs.
  • Families have until May 5th to accept their offers, and until June 27th to provide registration documents.

Middle School

  • Middle School offers will be released on Tuesday, April 25th, 2023, after school hours. 

 

SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

In case you missed it, here is the March Edition of the 5-Day Week

                                                                            

REMINDERS

 

ABSENCES

 

LICE

Please remember to keep checking your children for lice. The best way to combat these pests is vigilance and due diligence. COMB, COMB, and COMB some more :) I have attached the recommended comb out method for your information. 

*We are working on scheduling a follow up visit from the Lady Bug ladies for the week we return from Spring Break. As soon as I confirm the date, I will send it out to you.

 

SCHOOL SURVEYS  - EXTENDED UNTIL APRIL 20th!

All classes with 95% completion of the NYC School Survey can win a PIZZA PARTY!!                        How can you help to make this happen for your students:

  • Parents/guardians should complete a separate survey for each child enrolled at PS 107
  • Parents/guardians can take the survey online at NYCSchoolSurvey.org
  • To access the survey, parents/guardian should enter the letter “f” (lowercase) followed by their student’s identification (OSIS) number which can be found on their report card, student ID card, NYCSA account, or Operoo (e.g. f123456789)
  • The deadline to take the survey is now April 20, 2023
  • The online survey is available in 10 NYCDOE supported languages: English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Urdu

Once you complete the survey, please complete this google form so we may track your child's classrooms progress.                                                                                                                                                      Questions? Contact: parentcoordinator@ps107.org 

  

COVID-19 UPDATES

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 . We are still reporting positive cases to the situation room and notifying classrooms and staff.

 

LOST AND FOUND 

Please click here to view the virtual lost and found. I have hats and scarves temporarily bagged for two weeks due to our current lice appearance. They will make a reappearance after the break :)

Please continue to label your children’s items with their Full Name (First,Last) and classroom.  The full name is important as we do have students with the same first name and including the classroom saves the extra step of looking up children in Operoo to find their classrooms to return the items to them.  

 

PTA UPDATES

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • CHiPS Food Drive - April 5th (and every Wednesday)

  • Square 1 Art Order Deadline - April 12th

  • Auction/Gala - April 28th 

  • Movie Night - May 1st

  • Brooklyn Cyclones Game - May 7th, 2pm 

  • Art Day - May 13th 

  • Spring Fling - June 7th

 

OPEN EXEC BOARD POSITIONS
The PTA is looking to fill its open positions ASAP as voting will happen in May. Please take a look at the open positions here. There are roles suited for all types, so please consider joining the best PTA in all of Park Slope! If you are interested in a role or simply have further questions about the role and/or commitment, please email Davina davina@ps107.org or Cynthia cynthia@ps107.org

SPRING AUCTION GALA
The P.S. 107 Spring Gala is SOLD OUT! We thank you all very much for your support and we look forward to seeing many of you at the event on April 28th! Regardless of whether you are attending the Gala, please check out the following updates open to everyone:

 

  • TIME WITH TEACHER
    This week, before break, look for a flyer in your child's backpack with a preview of our TIME WITH TEACHER Raffles.  The PS 107 teachers and staff have come up with fun experiences that they are donating for students.  Students can purchase raffles for a chance to win an experience (time with their favorite teachers).  Raffles will be for sale the week of April 17th.  Look for tables in front of the school to purchase. Tickets are $3/ticket; $5/2 tickets $10/5 tickets.  You can pay by check, cash or cc in person.

 

  • SPRING AUCTION
    ONLINE AUCTION GOES LIVE Thursday April 20th.

 

  • GRADE THEMED AUCTION BASKETS
    Please drop off grade themed donations on Tuesday morning in front of school. Check with your class parent if you don't know your theme.


COFFEE SPONSOR FOR MATH MAGIC

Math Magic is off to a great start! It has been so fun to see so many people come together and enjoy math and each other's company.  The Math Magic team would love to continue the mornings with coffee and hopefully treats, but in order to do so we are looking for a coffee shop that is willing to sponsor the group.  If you know of a local coffee shop that might be willing to sponsor the Math Magic group by providing a box of coffee and a few treats weekly please reach out to our two Math Magic leads, Jake (jakewilhelmsen@gmail.com) and Derek (derek.bestreich@gmail.com).

 

SQUARE 1 ART FUNDRAISER
Thinking ahead about Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day gifts? Immortalize your children's artwork on mugs, keychains, potholders, and more, while raising funds for PS 107!  Use this link to order from Square 1 Art by April 12th, selecting "New York" and "PS 107 John W Kimball (Brooklyn)" from the dropdown menus, and PS 107 will receive 20% of proceeds. For tips on choosing, photographing, and uploading your kids' art, check out Square 1 Art's helpful guide. Happy crafting!

 

WEEKLY GREEN TIP FROM PS107 GREEN COMMITTEE

 Safely dispose of hazardous products! And SAVE the DATE

NYC Dep. of Sanitation safe disposal event: Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook on Sunday, April 16th. safely discard old chemicals, paints, harmful items, electronics, and more. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/services/harmful-products/safe-disposal


SUPPORT THE PS 107 PTA
- Donate to our Annual Fund by clicking here or share this link with friends and family (a special link for non-Konstella users)
- Scan your groceries receipt with the Box Tops for Education app on your phone. It only takes a minute and any purchases with the Box Tops label on them will automatically make money for our school!

 
 

IMPORTANT DATES

  • April 17- Summer Rising Enrollment period opens
  • April 18 - Summer Rising Parent Workshop 10-11 am (see attached flyer)
  • April 19 - D15 Superintendent Town Hall 6:30 - 8pm (zoom information to follow)
  • April 26 - Parent Workshop by Ron Lieberman 6:30-7:30 pm (details to follow)

 

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS

  • April 6 -14 - Spring Recess school closed
  • April 21- Eid school closed

 

Thank you,

Nadia