In this Newsletter
A Note from Ms. Rached
General Reminders
School Pics Are Ready! Order by December 18th to help us reach our goal.
Upcoming Events 🗓️
Kindergarten Open House Tours - Thursday, December 14
Equity Meeting - Thursday, December 21, 9am, Zoom
🎉Spirit Day: Pajama Day - Friday, December 22nd 🎉
Winter Recess - Monday, December 26 - Monday, January 1
General PTA Meeting - Friday, January 5 at 8:30 in MMR
🎉Spirit Day: Silly Hair/Hat Day - Monday, January 8th 🎉
🎁 School Store - Gifts that Give Back
📚 Book Market - Call for Graphic Novels & Chapter Books
5th Grade Update
🎓 Class Shirt Design Opportunity! 🌟 (Submissions Due - Wednesday, December 20th)
Equity Committee Updates
December Newsletter - Join impactful cultural events including the community potluck
Join the Black History Planning Group
Holiday Market Highlights!
Lunch Form
A Note from Ms. Rached
Happy Hanukah to all who celebrate! Classes across the school have been learning about Hanukah, making paper menorahs, and playing dreidel.
Seeing our afterschool showcase at the Holiday Market on Saturday was the highlight of my week! Our students have been working so hard at learning new skills in after school as well as during the school day, and having the opportunity to see them perform was such a treat. Brava, student performers and afterschool instructors!
We are organizing a school-wide lice check for this Thursday, in partnership with the PTA and Lice Free Noggins. They will check every child’s hair. If your child’s hair is braided, please talk to child in the morning about whether they should tell the technician to leave the braid in or unbraid it to check. In accordance with DOE policy, and child with live lice will be sent home. Any child with nits (lice eggs) will not be sent home, but their family will be notified. Our PTA has put together a “Lice Advice” one-pager wth some helpful tips and resources. Any family that does not want their child’s head checked can reach out to me.
In addition, Lice-Free Noggins will be hosting a workshop over Zoom on Friday morning, at 10AM where they share tips for lice detection, treatment, and prevention. Zoom Link
Reminders
Dropping off items for students in the main office
As we work to minimize classroom disruptions during instructional time, we are asking for your help. If you are dropping off a lunchbox or water bottle, students who are missing these items can check for them in the main office on their way down to lunch.
Head lice
We have had reports of headlice over the past week. Please make sure that you notify the school if your child has lice so that we can follow up appropriately and work to minimize broader spread.
Arrival/Dismissal
Please try to keep an aisle between where the students line up for dismissal and the curb so that classes can pass through if needed.
We have received reports of dogs acting aggressively and students tripping over leashes at pick-up. We are kindly asking our families to not bring their dogs to pick-up.
Kindergarten Open House Tours
We are continuing to host Kindergarten Open House Tours in December! If you know any families who might be interested in joining our community, please encourage them to sign up for the tour. This is a great chance for prospective families to explore our classrooms, meet our dedicated teachers, and discover what makes PS154 a special place for learning and growth.
Last Chance to Support PS154 with your photo purchase! Submit your order by December 18th!
School photos are an important fundraiser for the PTA. We are currently 10 orders away from the low fundraising threshold, and 50 orders away from our fundraising goal. Can you help us get it over the line?
For your order to count towards our fundraising target, it has to be placed by December 18th. Anything ordered after this date won't be included in our target goal. Please help us get there by selecting one of those cute photos today. 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
December Spirit Day - Warmth and Unity: Pajama Day Edition - December 22
Join the comfort wave on Pajama Day, December 22! It's a student favorite, offering a break from the routine and a chance to showcase unique sleepwear styles. Encourage your child to strut their stuff in playful patterns, comfy materials, and endless options. Pajama Day celebrates individuality and togetherness, allowing each child to express themselves in their special way.
Families, mark your calendars! Pajama Day is our easiest, no-arguments spirit event. Let's make it a comfy, enjoyable celebration that highlights the diversity and warmth within our PS154 community. Your child’s participation ensures our school is filled with laughter, enthusiasm, and the joy of togetherness. Thank you for joining in the fun!
School Store - Gifts That Give Back: Elevate Your Holidays with Our School Store 🎁
🎁 Calling all parents! Searching for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts? Dive into our school's virtual treasure trove – the online store! Uncover delightful raccoon mascot stuffies, stylish t-shirts, enchanting keychains, and much more. Elevate this festive season for your dear ones while championing our school. Explore our online store now! 🛍️
Remember to complete your checkout by Sunday, December 18, for delivery before the Pre-Winter Recess break. Don't miss out on making this holiday season truly special while supporting our school!
Book Market - Call for Graphic Novels & Chapter Books! 📚 📢 📕
We are accepting graphic novel and chapter book donations (for all ages). 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 Shirt Design Opportunity - Unleash Creativity! 🌟 Submissions Due - Wednesday, December 20th
Exciting news! This month, our 5th-grade students can contribute to a special keepsake – the official class shirt of 2024! Your creative child has the chance to submit their original design, but don't forget, the deadline is December 20th, making this shirt a limited-edition treasure.
Our 5th-grade students will unite to select the final design in the upcoming weeks through a collective vote. Beyond being a piece of clothing, this class shirt symbolizes the memorable moments of our students' lives. It will be proudly worn during spring spirit events and the 5th-grade picnic, where classmates will officially sign each other's shirts.
Have you had the chance to hear about your child's design ideas? Take a moment to check in with them! Remember, all final designs must be submitted by Wednesday, December 20th. This opportunity allows your child to unleash their creativity and make a lasting mark on their 5th-grade experience. It's a fantastic chance for creative minds to contribute to creating a limited-edition keepsake!
Next month, families will have the opportunity to pre-order sizes and quantities of the final design. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Chino, your 5th Grade Chair. ✨
Equity Committee Updates:
Newsletter & Exciting Opportunities:
We're excited to involve you in our upcoming Equity events. We understand that life can be hectic, to make it easier for you to engage, we're offering various ways to participate.
Whether you want to contribute to our Community Potluck or join impactful cultural events with short-time commitments, your involvement is crucial. Explore this month's newsletter (December 2023) for additional details and don't miss the chance to sign up for the Community Potluck – because who can resist delicious food? Let's collectively make a meaningful impact - complete the interest form (Interest Form)!
Join the Black History Month Planning Group!
Be a vital part of the upcoming Black History Month celebrations by joining members of the Equity Team in planning sessions. If you're interested in contributing, please reach out to mbuckley@ps154.org. Planning sessions will be scheduled at a time that accommodates the availability of those who wish to participate. Your input is valuable, and we welcome your participation!"
❄️Holiday Market Highlights!❄️
Thank you to everyone that came out to support our Holiday Market this past weekend! We raised over $6,800 which exceeded our fundraising goal! Thanks to our amazing community, the event buzzed with festive cheer and showcased delightful crafts, tasty treats, and local vendors. It was a joy to the showcase the creative entrepreneurs within our very own PS 154 community. A massive shout-out to our dedicated volunteers and the PTA elves for their tireless efforts in making the day magical.
Than you to all parents, students, and school staff—who generously contributed their time. Your support ensures the success of our school's programs. The proceeds from the event will go a long way in enriching our school community. Thank you for being a vital part of this joyful celebration! If you are interested in the fundraising events committee, please reach out to the PTA.
Special Thanks to our Sponsors!
Thanks so much to Peter Seymour and Robin Tygar of The Corcoran Group for sponsoring our Holiday Market! If you need a local real estate professional, you can reach them at: peter.seymour@corcoran.com and robin.tygar@corcoran.com
More special thanks to sponsors Splatlabs and JCC, who set up wildly popular and fun crafts tables at the Market!
Lunch Form
As you may know, we ask families to fill out a Family Income Inquiry form each school year. The Family Income inquiry form is a key factor in determining whether our school receives funding.
If you have not yet done so, please complete your form today! This form is quicker and easier than before! Please complete this form at: https://www.myschoolapps.com/. This form should be completed for each family, if your child eats school lunch or not. If you need assistance please do not hesitate to contact the PS154 Parent Coordinator, Tanica Gordon.
