PS 15 News & Notes- 6/15

Dear Families, 

It is very hard to believe that we are two weeks away from the end of this unprecedented school year.  Thank you for being in partnership with us!  Thank you for your patience.  Thank you for reaching out and letting us help when we can!  Please be sure if you want a spot for your child in Summer Rising, you sign up ASAP!  The link is here:  https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/SummerRising.page and if you need assistance, please contact Ms. Cavanagh directly.

As announced by the Mayor and Chancellor, there will be no remote learning option next year.  School will reopen for children on September 13th, five days a week.  Further guidance will be coming regarding social distancing, masking, as well as the school day schedule.  The daily schedule will be similar to previous years (8:10-2:30), but we are hoping to extend the school day a little bit for children (and it looks like we will be able to do that by an additional 13 minutes!), more as soon as guidelines are finalized!

Good News!  Students staying with NYC DOE will be permitted to continue to have their iPad devices assigned to them!  If you would like us to hold on to your child’s DOE issued device over the summer to keep it safe, please label the device with your child’s name and they can leave it with us on 6/25, the last day of school OR you can drop it off on 6/28 anytime from 12-4.  Students will be expected to bring their DOE issued devices to and from school next year for instructional purposes.  If you have a PS 15 owned device, you MUST return it to us on 6/25 or 6/28.  

If you are leaving NYC or going to a private school or charter school, you MUST return your DOE device or your PS 15 device.  Please label the device with your child’s name and they can leave it with us on 6/25, the last day of school OR you can drop it off on 6/28 anytime from 12-4.

June at a glance:

• Week of 6/14:  Field Day/Olympics for each grade (see schedule below)-- Bring water, dress for the weather, wear sunscreen.  Remote children can be dropped off and picked up on the playground at their designated time; coordinate with your child’s teacher!

• 6/18:  In-person and Remote Juneteenth Jamboree Celebration @ 11-- Zoom for remote celebration will be in your child’s playlist.  All children are welcome to join the in-person celebration on the playground.  Bring your instruments and posters!

• 6/21:  Fifth Grade Final Assembly @ 9:00 (Rain date:  6/23)  (see schedule below for all 5th grade fun!)  Please note:  each fifth grader is limited to TWO guests.  There will be no exceptions.  Due to COVID we had to rent chairs and have a very complicated set up and must follow guidelines.

• 6/22:  ALL REMOTE LEARNING For ALL Students

• 6/22:  Prek Celebration on the Playground @ 9:00 (Rain date 9/24) All children are  limited to TWO guests.  There will be no exceptions except for PS 15 siblings since we are remote that day we understand this may present a challenge.

• 6/22:  K Celebration on the Playground @ 12:30 (Rain date 9/24) All children are  limited to TWO guests.  There will be no exceptions except for PS 15 siblings since we are remote that day we understand this may present a challenge.

• 6/25:  Last Day of School :  FULL DAY

Please  fill out the New York City School Environment Survey!  This is an important way to capture your voice and feedback regarding our school!  If you need assistance, contact Melissa.  The portal for the survey, with directions is HERE.   

Please find an overview of June Events Below!

• In Person Open House Opportunities:  June 18th at 11:00 am.  RSVP with the Parent Coordinator Ms. Campbell to RSVP at mcampbell50@schools.nyc.gov or call 917-669-0508 to ensure that you are added to our list!

• Remote students will be invited to all outdoor end of year celebrations and activities.  This will include ceremonies for 5th graders and K and Prek students.  In addition, all remote students will be invited for Field Day/Olympics on the playground the week of 6/14.  See flyers and invite information below.  Please Note:  We can only accommodate two guests for the fifth grade final assembly and K and prek celebrations.  Parents/guardians can drop off for field day and then return to pick up for remote students.   Parents/guardians cannot stay and participate in field days.   To maintain distancing and following the covid guidelines we must make these limitations.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

ALL STUDENTS PREK-5th

**UPDATES:   6/22 will be ALL remote due to Primary Day.  We will still have the K and prek celebrations on the playground at the designated times.

Juneteenth Celebration Live and Remote MOVED to 11:00 on 6/18

5th Grade Field Day/Olympics MOVED to 12:00 on 6/18 

*NOTE UPDATED TIMES for Fifth Grade Olympics (moved to 12:00 on 6/18) 

PREKINDERGARTEN:   Prek Moving up (moved to 9:00 on 6/22)*

PS 15 will celebrate Juneteenth on Friday, June 18th at 11:00!  We will have an in-person AND remote Juneteenth Jamboree!  The in-person celebration will happen on the playground, the remote celebration on zoom.  Remote learning folks are welcome to meet on the playground for the in person celebration if you would like (you will need to complete the health screening).  Zoom link and more details to follow.

June is PRIDE Month!  Consider these resources to support conversations at home!

• PRIDE booklist for kids:  https://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2019/06/childrens-books-that-celebrate-pride-lgbtq-book-list.html

• https://www.readbrightly.com/brightly-storytime-pride/  Harvey Milk and the Story of the Rainbow Flag 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZm1r8DvCbA  Sparkle Boy

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRv57QVem4U Heather Has Two Mommies

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYjky32H_lo A Tale of Two Daddies

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iqJOVpjEpE Love Makes a Family

• https://www.scarymommy.com/talk-to-kids-lgbtq-topics/  How to Talk to Kids About LGBTQ 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQN_Wuxm45E What Makes a Baby

• https://www.zaks-safari.com/english Zak’s Safari

• https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/welcoming-schools/documents/WS-Diverse-Picture-Books-Transgender-Non-Binary.pdf?mtime=20210501080020&focal=none Welcoming Schools Gender Expansive Characters Book List

• https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/welcoming-schools/documents/WS-LGBTQ-Inclusive-Picture-Books-Family.pdf?mtime=20210501080030&focal=none Welcoming Schools Book LGBTQ Inclusive Book List 

• https://www.apa.org/pubs/magination/441B273 All Ways Family 

• https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/21/style/lgbtq-gender-language.html The ABCS of L.G.B.T.Q.I.A +

• For adults: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/13/arts/5-pride-BLM-podcasts.html 5 Podcasts at the Intersection of Pride Month and the Black Lives Matter Movement

Vaccines every Thursday at RHI with Nate’s Pharmacy!  Walk-ins from 3-4!   

        Updates and Upcoming

• Please be sure you are keeping up to date with the Department of Education’s latest messages to families HERE, this includes an overview of the latest changes to the handling of positive covid cases and closure and safety procedures. 

• Reminder:   Please note a change to our Parent Coordinator, Melissa Campbell’s (formerly Johnson’s)  email address:  mcampbell50@schools.nyc.gov. 

•  Vaccine information can be found HERE and all people 16 years old or older are now eligible.  PS 15 is working with community partners to see how we can help ensure equitable access for Red Hook residents. 

• Please be sure to follow Travel Guidelines.  If you have traveled outside of the United States, you must quarantine.  Restrictions have been eased for domestic travel.

• 5th Grade Final Assembly:  6/21 and Rain Date 6/23

• K and Prek Moving Up:  6/22 and Rain Date 6/24

• PS 15 Grade Level Field Day/Olympics:  Week of 6/14

• Last Day of School: 6/25

• The DOE has released the school calendar for the 2021-2022 school year!  You can find the calendar for our (mostly) “back-to-normal-school-year”  HERE.  The first day of school for children will be September 13th. 

• Volunteers needed! Fill out our volunteer interest form HERE!  Please reach out to Ms. Cavanagh or Ms. Campbell if you are interested in volunteering!

• The Students’ Justice League has finished for this year.  Thank you to everyone who encouraged your children to participate!  This session was always the highlight of my week and I cannot wait to launch The League in-person in September!  Be sure to participate in their Spirit Month throughout June!

 I look forward to the smiles and joy these last two weeks will bring!  Please continue to be mindful of attendance, timeliness, and completing assignments.  Please let us know if we can help in any way!

My best, 

Ms. Julie Cavanagh, Interim Acting Principal

Important Information and Resources:

• You can share the following form with any families who are interested in enrolling their child/children at PS 15 for the 2021-2022 school year who are not already enrolled and who have not or may not fill out the K/Prek city-wide application:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjaHaLXk_Fp0ptWLAm_TsOunrpKRJmhls69HGqoXDOsh2C2w/viewform?usp=sf_link 

• Complete this housing questionnaire so that PS 15 has the latest address and housing information for all of our families on file:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfs_PGoH3Y7b5zUt60yb3tiHfPvDTKUeZ0YAn-rbE86VrcZtg/viewform?usp=sf_link 

• Learning Bridges Application, note families can now select choices,  Learning Lab @ The Miccio Cornerstone Community Center is in Red Hook.  Karl, who runs the site, said families can come to arrange in person as well.  There are still spots available for days your child is enrolled in remote learning. 

• https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/learn-at-home/lets-learn-nyc  The DOE, in partnership with the WNET Group, launched new episodes of the public television program  Let’s Learn, which features lessons for children in 3-K—grade 2, that will continue to serve as a supplemental resource for remote and blended learning.  

• PS 15 Family Assistance Form Request Families who need assistance with rent, bills, or food are encouraged to fill out this form.  PTA and our COVID committee are working to secure support for our families in need.  

• Please feel free to share this donor facing form with your networks (we will match donors w/ families who fill out the assistance request form.) You can share this form with anyone who might like to support a family in need.  

• Parent University (parentu.schools.nyc) is a course registration and management system where NYC families can find free trainings on a wide range of topics. Parent University serves all families, from early childhood through adulthood, and seeks to educate and empower them as partners and advocates through free courses, resources, events, and activities. They currently offer 200+ pre-recorded, on-demand, or live, web-based courses and they cover a wide range of topics including:  

·         Adult and Continuing Education

·         Early Childhood Education  

·         Enrollment  

·         Health and Wellness 

·         Multilingual Learners  

·         Parent Leadership   

·         Remote Learning and Technology   

·         School Buildings and Operations   

·         Special Education    Haven't joined us yet? Watch this short video tutorial to learn how to create an account. Then, go to parentu.schools.nyc to log in and enroll in one of their upcoming live, web-based courses!