Weekly Newsletter

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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

May 3–6 Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week

May 10 - Virtual Author Visit for 3rd - 5th grades, 10am

May 11 - Equity Meeting (virtual), 4:30pm

May 13 - Game Night & Potluck (info below)

May 15 - Annual PS 154 Chess Tournament! (Register here)

May 16–May 20 - Field Days! Check calendar for grade specific dates (calendar) See the flyer HERE.

May 18 - PTA General Meeting (virtual) - Election Meeting, 6:30pm

May 20 - PS 154 Brooklyn Cyclones Game - Run the Bases! 7pm (details and ticket link below)

May 22 - Science Fair!

May 30 - Memorial Day - School is Closed

May 31 - SLT Meeting (virtual), 4:30pm (check calendar for details)

June 2 - Spring Gala!


SCHOOL UPDATES

SUMMER RISING - ENROLLMENT IS OPEN

PS 154 is NOT a Summer Rising Site. You can still register for another site in our area. Registration is done online only and is first come, first served. Please find out more information here:

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/summer/grades-k-8

SCIENCE WEEK!

We are so excited about Science Week, May 22–27. This week full of science learning will include science projects in every classroom, a STEM career day (grades 3–5), an egg-drop challenge, and a rocket propulsion activity. We will be kicking off the week with a science fair for grades 3–5 on Sunday, May 22, 1–3PM, in the cafeteria. If your 3–5th grader is interested in doing a science fair project, please see this document for the timeline.

STEM CAREER DAY FOR 3RD–5TH GRADES, MAY 24

STEM Professionals - We need YOU!

Volunteer to share your STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) career! We would like to introduce PS154 kids to the wide variety of STEM careers available to them. If you work in Tech, Medicine, Research & Development, Engineering or any job you got with training or a degree in a STEM field, come share it with 3rd-5th grade students! You would attend a virtual event on Tuesday, May 24th, roughly 10am-12pm, but your actual time commitment would probably be shorter. Please email Christine Ponder (cponder@me.com) if interested and/or if you have any questions.

ARE YOU LEAVING PS 154?

If you are moving away or changing schools (and your child is not in 5th grade currently), please call the office to let them know so we can start planning for next year. Please call 718-768-0057 and press 0 for the main office any weekday before 2pm.

HIGH-FILTRATION MASK BANK

In January 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 school day between 8 and 8:30am.


NYC DOE UPDATES

DOE’S MESSAGE FOR FAMILIES

Letter from the Chancellor


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

BECOME A PTA BOARD CHAIR!

We need you! Yes, you! As you check out all the upcoming events below, take a moment to consider running for a role in the PTA. Without all the organization and planning by our board members and committees, these events and other valuable school programs would not be possible. Please add your voice and talents to our amazing team!

We'd love to answer your questions and help you figure out which role is best for you. Open roles include marketing & communications, fundraising, events, and president-elect.

These roles do not need to be a huge time commitment; many of us in parent leadership are full-time working parents, parents of multiple kids, or both! No experience is necessary—and we encourage diverse candidates. Please read this message from PTA President Cara Zwerling, for all the details. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to Cara at pta_info@ps154.org.

BOOK FAIR & MOVIE NIGHT RECAP!

Thanks to everyone who donated books and baked goods! It was such a great night!!

Many thanks to Michelle Kratchman Garcia, Francis Garcia, Charles Bissell, Sarah Gartenberg, Sara Murphy, Inna Kalin, and all the volunteers who sold concessions for your help in making movie night such a success!

A note of gratitude to Nicole Brier and Sabrina Baronberg for organizing the book fair, and to all our volunteers who helped with setup and cleanup!

POTLUCK & GAME NIGHT

Friday, May 13, 6–8 PM in the PS 154 Schoolyard

Join us for a night filled with delicious food and friendly competition!

BOARD GAME ENTHUSIASTS: Do you have board games to lend? If so, please sign up HERE to bring one! Please bring games to the security desk at school drop-off on 5/13. Be sure to label them with your name. 

TAKE A VOLUNTEER SHIFT: We will need several volunteers to set up, monitor game stations, serve food, and clean up. Please volunteer HERE for a 30-minute slot to ensure Game Night success! 

COOKS AND BAKERS: We can't wait to try your favorite dishes—we'll need many participants to make the potluck a success! We welcome your appetizers, salads, main courses, fruits, and desserts. We will also need beverages, plates, napkins, and utensils. Please plan to drop off your items on 5/13 at 5:30 PM in the schoolyard, and include an ingredient list and a serving utensil. Sign up with your dish HERE.

ANNUAL PS 154 CHESS TOURNAMENT

Sunday, May 15, 12–4 PM in the PS 154 Schoolyard

$25.00 entry fee - DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 8 (A FEW SPOTS LEFT!)

Open to ALL students GRADES K-5 (PS 154 students and their siblings only)

4 sections: Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2+3, and 4+5

Online registration only (no day-of registration). One order per player. Contact dani.leeds.kim@gmail.com with any questions.

The tournament will last 4 hours. No eliminations - everyone plays 4 games. Trophies awarded to the top 3 players in each category, prizes for everyone!

Participants should plan to stay for the entire tournament. There will be snacks for sale between games.

We need volunteers to make the tournament a success! Sign up for a volunteer shift here

PS 154 BROOKLYN CYCLONES GAME

Friday, May 20 at 7pm

Come join your classmates, teachers, family and friends from PS 154 for the Brooklyn Cyclones game and raise money for the PTA!

Tickets are just $20 and after the game has concluded everyone in attendance will get a chance to RUN THE BASES! Each ticket comes with a free Brooklyn Cyclones hat.

Buy your tickets here: https://fevo.me/ps154wt

For additional information contact Sarah Gartenberg at (518) 424-8027 or email at Sarah.Gartenberg@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you at the game! LET'S GO CYCLONES!

SAVE THE DATE FOR SPRING GALA

Thursday, June 2nd from 6:30–9pm at Industry City

DID SOMEONE SAY ‘80s RETRO GAME NIGHT?! Get ready to blast into the past with your favorite ‘80s music, classic arcade games, and a fierce ping-pong tournament at the Industry City Frying Pan and Game Room while enjoying finger food and drinks. Hang out with fellow PS 154 parents in the outdoor courtyard and take part in raffles, a paddle raise, and our incredible silent auction to raise funds for the school! 

Visit ps154.org/spring-gala-2022 for tickets and information. Contact danielle.mendez@gmail.com with any questions.


COMMUNITY

FAMILY BOOK EVENT: Abby Hanlon, AUTHOR OF DORY FANTASMAGORY

Join Dory Fantasmagory series author-illustrator Abby Hanlon for a talk and book signing.

https://www.bklynlibrary.org/calendar/events-for-youth-and-central-library-dweck-20220514

BARTEL-PRITCHARD SQUARE GREENMARKET REOPENING

Spring has finally arrived in Brooklyn and your favorite Greenmarket is returning for the season! The Bartel-Pritchard Greenmarket is reopening on Sundays starting this weekend, May 8th. See our market flyer attached for more information. Any help spreading the word is greatly appreciated: English, Spanish

*We accept Cash, SNAP/EBT, Debit/Credit, Healthfirst OTC cards (LIP and CC members only), WIC & Senior FMNP coupons, and Greenmarket Bucks. Every $2 spent in SNAP/EBT/P-EBT, receive an extra $2 in Health Bucks, up to $10 per day.

Bartel-Pritchard Sq Greenmarket

Prospect Park West at 15th Street, Brooklyn
Open Sundays, May 8 - December 18, 9am-3pm

Open Wednesdays, Year Round, 8am-2pm

 

Producers Attending:

Bakers Bounty Bread and baked goods from Union County, NJ
Greentopia Farm Mushrooms from Delaware County, NY
Haywoods Fresh Beef, pork, chicken, and eggs from Columbia County, NY
Nolasco's Farm Vegetables, Mexican specialty produce, herbs, and cut flowers from Warren County, NJ
Pura Vida Fisheries Wild ocean fish and shellfish from Suffolk County, NY
Westmeadow Farm cow and goat milk cheeses and cows butter from Montgomery County, NY
Williams Fruit Farm Orchard fruit from Ulster County, NY