In this Newsletter
A Note from Ms. Rached
School Pics
Upcoming Events
📣 Family Mornings - Friday, November 10 - Friday, November 17*
🎉🧦 Spirit Day - Silly Sock Day - Friday, November 17th*
🎉 🥸 Spirit Day- Wacky Wednesday - Wednesday, November 22nd*
Thanksgiving Recess - Thursday, November 23 - Friday, November 24
General PTA Meeting - Wednesday, November 29 at 6:30 via Zoom
Equity Meeting - Thursday, November 30 at 9AM via Zoom
❄️ Winter Market
Book Market - Call for Graphic Novels & Chapter Books 📚
5th Grade Update
Community Corner
PS 154 Community Cares
Coat and Clothing Drive
A Note from Ms. Rached
Thank you for the coat-drive donations. We made our first drop-off to our partner school on Friday, and they were so grateful for the items, which are being distributed to families in temporary housing. We are continuing the coat drive this week - right now they are only accepting children’s new or gently used winter outerwear and layering items and brand-new socks and underwear (also children’s sizes only). Please reach out to Sheila Fedele if you are able to drive clothing to our partner school on Friday afternoon.
Head Lice Cases
We’ve been seeing an increase in numbers of head lice cases across the building, and we are working on putting preventative measure in place. Lice happens (especially in elementary schools!) and is not an indicator of personal hygiene or home cleanliness. One of the telltale signs of lice is head-itching. If you suspect your child might have lice, please check their hair and scalp. You can do this yourself at home with good lighting, you can take them to a lice-removal specialist for a check, or you can request that school staff checks for lice. Please report all cases of lice to your child’s teacher. Below is some information on stopping the spread of lice, published by the CDC:
Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school, and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp).
Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes.
Do not share combs, brushes, or towels. Disinfect combs and brushes used by an infested person by soaking them in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5–10 minutes.
Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with an infested person.
Machine wash and dry clothing, bed linens, and other items that an infested person wore or used during the 2 days before treatment using the hot water (130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry-cleaned OR sealed in a plastic bag and stored for 2 weeks.
Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay. However, spending much time and money on housecleaning activities is not necessary to avoid reinfestation by lice or nits that may have fallen off the head or crawled onto furniture or clothing.
Do not use fumigant sprays or fogs; they are not necessary to control head lice and can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
School Pics Are Ready!
Submit your order by December 18th!
School pictures are ready to view! Spoiler alert — they are AWESOME.🌟 Now, here's an opportunity to turn those fantastic moments into lasting memories. Order your favorite shots and consider adding a few to your cart as delightful gifts for family and friends. But here's the inside scoop – to support our school, make sure you place your orders by the deadline on December 18th. Anything ordered after this date won't be included in the school's fundraiser.
Don't miss out on preserving these special moments while contributing to our school's success! To place your order, simply visit our school's Picture Day page. Let's make this fundraiser a picture-perfect success!:
TO VIEW YOUR PHOTOS, CLICK ON "VIEW AND PURCHASE" AND ENTER ONLINE CODE:
PS154 + FIRST FOUR LETTERS OF CHILD'S FIRST NAME + FIRST FOUR LETTERS OF CHILD'S LAST NAME
e.g., Jane Smith = PS154JaneSmit
For first or last names that have less than 4 letters, use the # of letters in the name
(e.g. Jo Kay = PS154JoKay)
Upcoming Events
Family Mornings! Nov. 10-17
Mark you calendars! We are delighted to invite families for our first family mornings! We will be spreading our family morning across a week (+ a day) so that the number of building visitors is manageable. For our November Family Mornings, students will paint on a Diwali diya (oil lamp). Diwali originated as a Hindu celebration of light, and is celebrated culturally in Southern and Southeast Asia, and across the world. During Family Morning, we are inviting one parent per child to come into the classrooms during first period, to participate and help with the activity. On your family morning, please arrive at the front entrance a couple of minutes early to sign in, and then go to the MMR.
Please see below for the Family Morning Schedule:
Wednesday, November 15: 5th Grade 8:30-9:10
Thursday, November 16: 3rd Grade 8:30-9:10
Friday, November 17: 4th Grade 8:30-9:10
November Spirit Days!
We're gearing up for some exciting November Spirit Days, and we want you to join in the fun! Mark your calendars for two special days:
🧦 Spirit Day - Silly Sock Day - Friday, November 17th
On November 17, it's time to dig into your sock drawer and bring out your quirkiest, silliest, and most colorful socks! Whether they have crazy patterns, mismatched colors, or even a few funny surprises, we can't wait to see our students' feet stepping into school with their unique and fun sock styles
🎉 Spirit Day- Wacky Wednesday - Wednesday, November 22nd
Wacky Wednesday is the day to let your creativity run wild! We encourage our students to wear their zaniest outfits, mix and match patterns, wear their clothes inside out, or just go all-out wacky! It's a chance to show off their unique personalities and school spirit in the most fun way possible.
Let's make these Spirit Days a huge success by marking your calendars and encouraging your children to participate. We look forward to seeing our school filled with laughter, enthusiasm, and the joy of togetherness.
❄️ PS154 Holiday Market! ❄️
Saturday, December 9th, from 1-5 p.m.
We all love a holiday market – the smell of hot mulled cider, festive music, and the sound of cheerful voices floating in the crisp winter air….and…shopping! This year, bring the family to PS154 to partake in our community’s spirit, have the kids partake in seasonal activities, delight in food and drink, and let everyone loose to browse the wares our partner vendors will have on display and do some holiday shopping. Let the little elves of your PTA do some of the work this year by bringing the shopping and festivities together and to you - including bringing the holiday magic with a magic show for kids of all ages!
Highlights include:
Magic Show by Brooklyn Magic Shop at 2:30 in MMR (free for all)
JCC-sponsored crafts tables for the kids!
Holiday market shopping at kiosks from local vendors
Food and Drink...of course!
Entrance is free, and all are welcome! Proceeds from activities will go towards enriching our school's programs and facilities, as will shopping with our partner vendors.
If you’d like to be a vendor at the market, here’s all the info you need!
Bring your friends and family, and let's make this Winter Market a beautiful celebration of our vibrant community.
Book Market - Call for Graphic Novels & Chapter Books! 📚 📢 📕
We are accepting graphic novel donations (for all ages) and chapter book donations (for 3rd grade+) . Please bring your gently used books and drop them into the blue bins labeled “Book Market Donation Bins” on the stage in the MMR. Do not donate other book types for the time being - other book genres will be donated externally immediately as we do not have capacity to take them. Feel free to send back any graphic novels or chapter books previously sourced from the Book Market as well (if your child is ready to part with them!).
5th Grade Update
Class Dues
Wow, 5th Grade Superstars and Supporters 🌟🏆!
We're excited to report that your dedication has helped us reach over 75% of families who've submitted their 5th Grade Dues! 🚀 Your unwavering commitment to an unforgettable year is truly remarkable.
We're on the cusp of reaching the 100% mark, and we're calling on all families who haven't yet submitted their child's dues to come on board. Your child’s thrilling 5th-grade adventure beckons, and we’ve got graduation gear, Yearbooks, T-shirts, and loads of fun ready and waiting. Let’s make this year epic submit your child’s dues TODAY! Click [5th Grade Dues — PS 154], and let’s cross that finish line together.
Thanks for being a vital part of the 5th-grade journey! 🌟🏆. We appreciate your amazing support!
Middle School Preparation
Join us in preparing your child for Middle School:
View PS154 - 5th Grade Website (Middle Schools applications open on October 11th)
View PS154 - Middle School Website (helpful videos are available)
MySchools Creation Codes were sent home via back-pack. View the Middle School Website to learn how to set up your account.
Community Corner
PS 154 Community Cares
The PTA is collaborating with our parent coordinator, Tanica Gordon, to raise funds for PS 154 families who are facing economic hardships. Through your generous donations, we can tangibly support our fellow families, ensuring they have adequate resources during the holiday season. Your donation will be converted into gift cards for families to buy the coats, hats, gloves, or supplies they need.
Your contribution will not only provide much-needed relief but also demonstrate the strength of our PS154 community. We thank you in advance for your generous donations. Together, we can create a nurturing environment where every member of our school community feels supported and cared for.
The deadline to contribute is Saturday, November 25th.
You can make online donations to the Community Cares Drive. While we prefer online donations, donations of cash/checks can be dropped off directly to Kelly Pearn in the main office on weekdays before 2 p.m. Checks should be made payable to The PTA of PS 154 (note on check: “Community Cares”).
If you are a PS 154 family that is struggling with providing basic needs for your family, please contact Tanica directly.
Coat and Clothing Drive
PS 154 is partnering up with another school in our district that has enrolled a large number of students in temporary housing. We are collecting coats and clothing to make sure these students can stay warm this winter.
Currently, we are accepting all donations but are especially in need of extra small and small children's winter gear. Jackets, hoodies, sweat suits, sweaters and any variety of layered winter clothing would also be greatly appreciated. Socks and underwear of all sizes are also needed but must be new—we are unable to accept used undergarments.
Drop Off starts this Friday, November 10th and ends Friday, December 1st. Please drop off donations during first period in the PS 154 administrative office.
*If anyone has trouble with dropping off items they can contact Sheila Fedele and she will help coordinate a pickup.
