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

May 22 - Science Fair, 1–3pm in the cafeteria

May 30 - Memorial Day - School is Closed

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

June 2 - Field Day for 5th Grade

June 2 - Spring Gala, 6:30–9pm (tickets available HERE, and more info below)

June 7 - School is Closed for Students, Clerical Day

June 8 - Wagon Road Trip for 5th Grade Students

June 8 - Equity Meeting (virtual), 4:30pm

June 8 - PTA Executive Board (virtual), 6:30pm

June 9 - School is Closed for Students, Chancellor’s Day

June 10 - 3–5th Grade Media Arts Outdoor Film Festival

June 15 - 5th Grade Ballroom Performance, 6pm

June 16 - 5th Grade v. Teacher Kickball Game!, 9am

June 17 - 5th Grade Graduation, 9:30am

June 20 - School Closed - Juneteenth Observed

June 22 - Kindergarten Stepping Up


SCHOOL UPDATES

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.

PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING

Our first floor bathroom renovation project won the Participatory Budgeting vote! See results here. A huge thank-you to Alina Hurtado for helping write this grant, to Council Member Hanif, to our student representatives who came to the expo and talked to voters, and to everyone who voted! We look forward to sharing updates on this project once work has begun.

PRIDE MONTH

It’s almost Pride Month! Everyone is invited to an Equity Team meeting on May 25, at 6:30 PM, to help plan our school involvement in community Pride Month events. The meeting link will be posted in the PS 154 calendar.

OUTDOOR LEARNING GRANT

We are partnering with the National Wildlife Federation to plan and build an outdoor learning space in the Windsor-side front yard of the school. Our fourth and fifth grade classes will be surveying the yard and designing the space, which will be enjoyed by all of our students! If you would like to be involved with this project, please reach out to Leila Rached.

SCHOOL GARDEN

Our beloved school garden has been getting so much TLC these past couple of weeks. An enormous thank-you to Desiree Byker and the Garden Committee for weeding, clearing, planning, and planting! If you’d like to be involved, please reach out to Desiree

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.

MASK BANK: PLEASE DONATE MASKS IF YOU HAVE EXTRA

We are running low in our Mask Bank, so if you have any kid-size high-filtration masks to donate, we will gladly take them. If you need a mask, 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.

Mask donation: Weekdays before 2pm, in the main office

Mask pickup: Weekdays between 8 and 8:30am at Sherman entrance

BUY PS 154 GEAR AT THE SCHOOL STORE


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

ELECTION RESULTS

Congratulations to all the dedicated, enthusiastic parents who volunteered to serve on the PTA Executive Board for the 2022–23 school year! Here are the results:

  • President - Dani Kim

  • Secretary - Alina Hurtado

  • Co-Treasurers - Cara Zwerling and Jimmy Schementi

  • Co-Chairs of Fundraising - Sarah Gartenberg and Renanit Levy

  • Chair of Community Events - Heather Millen 

  • Chair of Programs - Christina Lowe

  • Chair of After School Programming - Claudia Freeman

  • School Store Manager (new position) - Stefanie Schiada

  • Chair of Fundraising Events - Bill Podurgiel

  • Chair of Technology - Walter Schweitzer

  • Member at Large (5th grade committee chair) - Danielle Mendez

  • Members at Large - Andrew Di Schino, Kate Lieberman, Sarah Shears

School Leadership Team (SLT) results:

  • Cindy Seigel

  • Jimmy Schementi

  • Anthony Matthews

  • Michelle Miller

  • Renanit Levy

  • Nicole Di Schino

We still have the following open roles on the PTA Executive Board:

  • Chair of Marketing and Communications

  • President-Elect

  • Chair of Auctions and Sponsorships

  • Chair of Volunteer Coordination (new position)

  • Chair of Events - Food

  • 3 Members at Large (these are specifically for new/incoming parents)

No experience is necessary for any of these roles, and we encourage diverse candidates. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to PTA President Cara Zwerling at pta_info@ps154.org.

PS 154 BROOKLYN CYCLONES GAME

Tonight 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!

SPRING GALA: TICKET SALES, AUCTION, AND TEACHER EXPERIENCES RAFFLE ARE LIVE!

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 wine pull, 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

BROOKLYN ARTS FOR KIDS - PARTY IN THE PARK THIS SATURDAY

Brooklyn Arts for Kids is happy to announce details for this Saturday’s pARTy in the Park! 

WHEN: Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 12:30pm to 2pm
WHERE: 16th St. & Prospect Park Southwest entrance to Prospect Park
 

Feel free to drop off and pick up your kid later and/or stay and play. Please email us HERE if you’re able to make it.  

 If you can’t make it, don’t fret, we will have another young artist meet-up in June. There is still room for the Summer Arts Experience 2022; please help spread the word. The more the merrier!

https://www.brooklynartsforkids.com

TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PRESENTS: FAMILY FUN BIKE RIDE IN PROSPECT PARK

June 4 - 10am to noon

Please join this free Family Bike Ride in Prospect Park co-organized by PS 154 parent Sal Garro and neighbor Lenny Sandlar.

Local families with children of all ages will meet at the Bartel-Pritchard Square entrance of Prospect Park, ride up the Prospect Park West bike lane, enter the park at 3rd St, bike the loop together at a leisurely pace, and then gather for snacks and activities on the lawn behind and near the Picnic House.

This event is hosted by Transportation Alternatives and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson and Rita Joseph, as well as a number of community groups.

To review the route and/or register for the free event, visit here: https://bit.ly/TAFamilyFunRide.

Contact Sal (salvatore.garro@gmail.com) or Lenny (lenny.sandlar@gmail.com) with any questions.