IMPORTANT DATES
Monday November 23 - All Remote Learning Continues
Saturday & Sunday November 20 & 21 - Book Swap, Details below
Thursday & Friday November 26 & 27 - Thanksgiving Break - No School
Saturday December 5 - Virtual Holiday Hangout, Information TBA
Tuesday December 8 - Virtual SLT Meeting, 4:15pm (contact: SLT_Info@ps154.org)
Wednesday December 9 - Virtual PTA Exec Meeting, 6:30pm
Wednesday December 16 - PTA Virtual Meeting, 6:30pm
December 24 - January 1 - Winter Break - No School
Please continue to check your Google Classrooms for information from your teacher. As a reminder, you should also check Mr. Foreman's Google Classroom for important updates: class code gk2k2sr
RECENT COMMUNICATIONS
LATEST MESSAGES FROM THE CHANCELLOR
Schools.nyc.gov/freemeals
All families can continue to go to any school building (9am-12pm on weekdays) to pick up three free grab-and-go meals. No identification or registration is necessary. Halal and kosher meals are available at some sites.
Big Apple Awards for Teachers & Staff
Students, families, educators, school staff, and community members can nominate teachers and counselors by visiting the Big Apple Awards website, today through January 10, 2021. Nominees must be current, full-time public school teachers or college counselors in a district school, charter school or early childhood education center in New York City who demonstrate exceptional success in the classroom.
DOE has teamed up with THIRTEEN to provide educational content for children, age 3-8.
SCHOOL-WIDE REMINDERS
All families must complete the Family Income Inquiry Form, which helps schools receive money for their programs. This is the lunch form, but even if you do not receive school lunch, you still need to complete the form.
Zoom difficulties? Please reach out to Ms. Rached (lrached@ps154.org) with any issues joining Zoom meetings. This is a much faster way to get support than posting to the class streams.
Complete the Emergency Blue Card here: Emergency Blue Card. Please email the completed form to dwattenbarger@ps154.org
PTA UPDATES
PTA GENERAL MEETINGS & SLT MEETINGS
Tuesday December 8 - SLT Meeting - 4:15 PM
Thursday December 16 - General PTA Meeting - 6:30 PM
Zoom details will be provided in the days ahead of the PTA General Meetings.
Minutes from SLT Meetings are posted on SLT’s webpage https://www.ps154.org/school-leadership-team-slt
Minutes from PTA General Meetings are posted on PTA’s webpage https://www.ps154.org/your-pta
AFTER SCHOOL
Unfortunately, the trigger for the DOE to temporarily close public schools, (the percentage of positive COVID tests in New York City currently being greater than 3% over a 7-day rolling average) also impacts our in-person After School program, and it is with regret that we must put it on hold for now as well.
Instrumental Band will continue to run online.
Cartooning and Chess will also continue to run online.
If you are able to pay for your Cohort Extended Day Package or all of your reserved Outdoor Play days for this month it would make a huge difference to our financial situation. Alternatively, if you can make a donation towards future After School programming we would really appreciate it too!
When the news of school closings came out, many of you shared your disappointment and sadness with kind, warm, and loving words. We want you to know how much we appreciate our After School community and your support. You have all been amazing with your enthusiasm and appreciation since the reopening of our program. Right now we don't know the extent or the duration of the closings.
If you would like to form some friendship pods to go to the park please let us know and we can come up with a plan. Please reach out to Barbara McGouran at bmcgouran@ps154.org.
PTA EVENTS
NEW TO YOU BOOK SWAP
NOV 21 & 22, SLOTS SCHEDULED BY GRADE
We look forward to welcoming you all to the New To You Book Swap this weekend, and hope to be able to keep the connection with our community going throughout the school year. To maintain social distancing while browsing, selecting and picking up books, please try to arrive at the PS 154 Schoolyard at the following staggered time slots by grade. Please make sure all participants wear a mask and gloves for handling books.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21
Kindergarten Remote Classes: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Kindergarten Hybrid Classes: 11:00 AM -12:00 PM
1st Grade Remote Classes: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
1st Grade Hybrid Classes: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
2nd Grade Remote Classes: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
2nd Grad Hybrid Classes: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 22
3rd Grade Remote Classes: 10:00 - 11:00 AM
3rd Grade Hybrid Classes: 11:00 AM - 12 PM
4th Grade Remote Classes: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
4th Grade Hybrid Classes - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
5th Grade Remote Classes: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
5th Grade Hybrid Classes: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Please note that if you have more than one child at the school, we will have a small selection of books from other grades available on both days for siblings. PLEASE try to come during the suggested time to reduce the number of people in the schoolyard, and handling books at any time. If you have difficulties making the time slot allocated, please reach out to our PTA President, Jaymie Kelly at pta_info@ps154.org.
Note: We will have disposable gloves available for people who forget to bring theirs, School Spirit Face Masks for sale and 5K medals for pick up.
VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH NEW TO YOU BOOK SWAP
We really need more volunteers this weekend - Saturday & Sunday November 21 & 22. With school currently fully remote, this is a great chance for our kids to connect in real life, and share the books that they have been recommending to each other in class. Please volunteer to help for a short time slot with the New To You Book Swap, and encourage our avid readers to explore new books to keep their imagination fired up through Fall and Winter!
This event is not sponsored or endorsed by the DOE or the city of New York
PS 154 HOLIDAY HANGOUT
SATURDAY DECEMBER 5, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
FOUR EXCITING VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES TO SHARE
In a year when we cannot all be together we don't want to lose the joy and spirit of PS 154's treasured Winter Fair. To raise funds for our PTA, and enjoy a night of shared experiences, we have created the first ever PS 154 Holiday Hangout, which will include the option to buy any of four experiences, each including supplies and a Zoom. We will soon be unveiling full details of how you can celebrate the holidays with your PS 154 community. Be ready for some festive fun to help keep us connected! Join us for all four of our exciting Holiday experiences, or mix and match with family and friends. There will activities just for the kids, adults only and of course merriment for all age groups to enjoy together. Save the date and stay tuned to hear more about how you can enjoy these unique Holiday experiences…
COMMUNITY CORNER
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!
We are grateful for our health, our families, our friends and our community!
Please consider giving support to the local food banks and housing shelters at this time including the neighboring Kensington Family Shelter run by CAMBA. Visit https://camba.org