Para español, haga clic aquí.Please scroll down and read through the whole newsletter to find out all that is going on in and around our school. Also, you can find all of our newsletters here.
IMPORTANT DATES
March 29 - Virtual SLT Meeting, 4:30pm (check calendar for details)
March 29 - March 30 - ELA State Tests for 3rd-5th Grade
March 30 - Brooklyn Public Library “Understanding Your Child’s IEP” workshop
April 6 - Equity Meeting (Virtual), 4:30pm
April 6 - PTA Exec Meeting (Virtual), 6:30pm
April 13 - PTA General Meeting (Virtual) - Nominations, 6:30pm
April 15 - NYC School Survey is due!
April 15–April 22 - Spring Break, School is closed
April 25 - Back to School
SCHOOL UPDATES
SUMMER RISING UPDATE
We should have more details soon about Summer Rising. The DOE is hoping to open the enrollment period in early April.
NEW STUDENT BATHROOMS ON THE FIRST FLOOR: WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We’re thrilled to announce that first floor bathroom renovations will be on the Participatory Budgeting ballot. Voting will take place in-person at the Park Slope Armory on 15th Street from April 2–April 10, as well as online during this time period. We’d love it if you could help us make this happen for our students! Additionally, we’ll be presenting at the PB Expo at the Armory on April 3rd from 3–5pm. We’d love to have a few students attend and talk to voters about the state of the first floor bathrooms. What a great way for students to be involved in the democratic process! Please reach out to me (lrached@ps154.org) if your child would like to participate.
NYC SCHOOL SURVEY - DEADLINE EXTENDED - NOW DUE APRIL 15. BUT DON’T WAIT, COMPLETE YOURS TODAY!
All families can take the survey online – in any of the nine NYCDOE supported languages – using their student’s nine-digit identification (OSIS) number. You can find the OSIS number on the report card, your NYCSA account, or you can call the school at 718-768-0057 and press 0 for the main office. Families completing the survey online should go to the NYC School Survey website (NYCSchoolSurvey.org), enter the letter “f” (lowercase) followed by their student’s nine-digit OSIS number, and complete the survey (e.g f123456789).
If needed, you can choose to complete the paper survey that is going home in your child’s backpack.
Please note, a survey must be completed for each child you have in public school (even if they are in the same school).
BPL SPECIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOP
Brooklyn Public Library and INCLUDEnyc are hosting a workshop “Understanding Your Child’s IEP” 5:00-6:30 PM on March 30. You can read more about it here.
BASIC NEEDS SURVEY
From Parent Coordinator Debby Wattenbarger: We have been dealing with the pandemic for 2 years now and it has been difficult for all. However, we know some families may be having more difficulties than others. I created this form as a way for you to let me know how you are doing outside the academic needs of your student(s). It's completely optional, and will be kept PRIVATE, but I do hope to hear from you if you are in need. Our PTA is starting a fundraising drive to provide gift cards to make sure families have a little extra to help going into this spring. Please complete your contact information, and then answer the questions so we can work out the best way to provide support. This information will be kept PRIVATE unless you give me permission to share it with others who may be able to provide further assistance. If you have questions, or would rather just email me, you can reach me at dwattenbarger@ps154.org or call me at 718-768-0057.
Complete the form here: Basic Needs Survey
HIGH-FILTRATION MASK BANK
Last month the PTA organized a "mask bank" for families and staff to come pick up high-filtration masks to wear at school. Thank you to all who have donated. We have plenty of masks in the bank at this time, and you may pick up what you need for your student(s) from Debby (Sherman side of the building) any weekday between 8 and 8:30am.
SCHOOL-WIDE REMINDERS
All students/staff/visitors must complete their health screening at home every morning before they arrive in school. Click the link here: Online Health Screening. Paper copies will be made available at school if needed.
Please notify Debby Wattenbarger as soon as possible if your child tests positive for Covid-19 or is exposed to someone who has tested positive.
Please complete your Covid-19 Testing Consent Form and return it to the main office. Forms were sent home this week for students who are missing consent. You can also provide consent online - go to schoolsaccount.nyc. Log in with your own email at the screen that looks like the DOE student login, then select the blue "my student" button. The link to the Covid-19 Testing Consent is at the top of that page.
All families must complete the Family Income Inquiry Form, which helps schools receive money for their programs regardless of if they qualify for free or reduced lunch. No need to sign up for school breakfast or lunch.
Complete the Emergency Blue Card here: Emergency Blue Card. We still need you to complete the entire form even if you updated this in your NYCSA. Please return the form to the main office, or email to fancona@ps154.org
PTA UPDATES
SPRING GALA - CALL FOR AUCTION ITEMS!
PLUS, ENTER OUR SCHOOL STORE RAFFLE BY TAKING A SHORT SURVEY!
The PTA is super excited for the start of spring and all the opportunities we will have to celebrate together! Stay tuned for a calendar of spring events from the PTA, including our fun, adults-only fundraiser, SPRING GALA!
We are working tirelessly to find the best possible outdoor event space to host the Gala, so we can ALL enjoy a very special night out to benefit our school. We’d be so appreciative if you could please fill out this very brief survey by April 1 to let us know of donations you’d be willing to make to help us raise money for programs in the 2022–23 school year.
You could donate anything from concert tickets, camps, music lessons, a week at your vacation home, a gift certificate to your place of business—the sky's the limit! Could you connect us with local vendors or businesses that are looking to donate goods or services? We'd love to hear about it!
Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a raffle to win a $20 gift certificate at the PS 154 School Store!
GARDEN COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Whether you have a green thumb or are a novice interested in learning about gardening, we want you to join the Garden Committee. The purpose of our garden is to promote an interest in sustainable living and to help our children understand where food comes from. With the help of our awesome Garden Parent volunteers and our teachers, the children will plant, maintain and harvest vegetables and herbs, culminating in the Fall Harvest Tasting Festival.
We can't have a garden without parent volunteers. We need one or two Garden Parents per grade.
Responsibilities of the Garden Parents include:
Working with the Garden Committee to make decisions about what to plant
Scheduling class trips to the garden with the teachers/classrooms on your grade
Occasional garden maintenance and weeding including some summer slots (to be scheduled)
Attending 2 Garden Committee meetings (one now to get to know the garden and one in the Fall)
Plan & Help with the Fall Tasting Celebration (very low key)
If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here.
COMMUNITY GIVING AT PS 154
The PTA is collaborating with our parent coordinator, Debby Wattenbarger, to raise funds for PS 154 families in need. Please consider donating so we can give the gift of comfort and kindness to families in our school community that have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you, as always, for being such a supportive community! The deadline to contribute is Friday, April 1.
GET INVOLVED
The PTA is starting to plan upcoming events for Spring 2022. If you’ve ever thought about volunteering with the PTA, please email pta_info@ps154.org for meeting times and zoom info. We'd love to work with you!