December Family Newsletter
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MESSAGE FROM DR. REMY
HAPPY DECEMBER 2023!!!
Happy December! Thank you to all the families that have joined us last month for our STEM First Friday, Fall Spirit Week, and Friendship Day Feast! Thank you for all of the wonderful food. We appreciate your continued support! We also thank you for coming to Parent Teacher Conferences earlier last month to discuss your child's progress thus far in the school year. At the conferences, your child's reading level should have been shared with you. Below you will find the reading chart indicates where your child should be. Kindergarten students are being assessed this month. Please know that with the NYC Reads initiative, the city will be moving towards Lexile Levels. We will update the chart below to reflect the changes and send home to you so that you can track your child's progress.
Progress reports. They will be sent out on December 15th with your child's current reading level. Our reading goal, like last year, is to have 65% of our K to 5 students on or above reading level by June. Families in Grades 3 to 5 will also receive results from the first mock test. Preliminary results show that we are target for the most part.
Our Data Story is as follows:
- On the New York State ELA exam, we went from 19% proficiency in the 21/22 school year to 33% proficiency in the 22/23 school year.
- On the New York State Math exam, we went from 15% proficiency in the 21/22 school year to 34% proficiency in the 22/23 school year
- We are continuing to make strides on the southiside.
NYC Pivot to Remote Practice Day: On December 5th, the district will be engaging in a practice place to support and improve school readiness in the event a transition to remote learning is necessary. Your child is report to school on this day as the teacher will engage students in a digital activity.
Uniforms. We are a uniform school. Please ensure that your child wears uniforms Mondays through Thursdays. More information is found below.
Attendance. There are 15 instructional days of school in the month of December. It is very important that your child attends school on a daily. Attendance is connected to promotion as not being present causes learning loss.
Communication. At this time, you should be signed up for ClassDojo. It is how we communicate schoolwide information.
HELPFUL CONTACTS
Phone: 718-276-1348/Fax: 718-276-2498
Email: info@ps354.org
Website: www.ps354q.org
Instagram: @ps354stem
Main Office:
Ms. Hamblin Ext. 1113
Ms. Yates-Matthews Ext. 1111
Security Desk: Agent Bostic Ext. 1601
Parent Coordinator: Ms. Tomblin
Ext. 1091 or jtomblin@ps354.org
Grades 3K to 2 Assistant Principal: Mr. Tabbita
Ext. 2180 or Ltabbita@ps354.org
Grades 3 to 5 Assistant Principal: Ms. Davis
Ext. 1470 or Wdavis@ps354.org
School Nurse: Ms. Rochford Ext.1150
PTA Office: Ext 1090
School Counselor: Ms. Coyle Ext. 3120
School Social Worker: Ms. Excellent Ext. 1140
School Based Support Team Ext. 1300
I.E.P. Coordinator: Ms. Jennings Ext. 2123
Speech Services:
Ms. Sharabi Ext. 3290
Ms. Shikarides Ext. 2220
ENL: Ms. Samuels Ext. 3000
Physical Education Department:
Mr. Degioia & Mr. Krantz Ext. 1009
Bus Inquiry: Ms. Redd Ext. 3120
Country of the Month: Ireland
PASSION Trait of the Month:
Avid Reader and Writer
Core Value of the Month: Resilient
UPCOMING TRIPS
SCHOOL TRIPS
DECEMBER 5TH - CLASS 331
DECEMBER 6TH - CLASS 431
DECEMBER 7TH - CLASS 301
DECEMBER 11TH - GRADE K
DECEMBER 12TH - CLASS 501
DECEMBER 13TH - CLASSES 531 AND 591
DECEMBER 19TH - GRADES 4 AND 5
DECEMBER 20TH - CLASSES 291 AND 491
DECEMBER 21ST - CLASS 401
GRADE 5 SENIORS CORNER
Dear Grade 5 Families,
Your child has reached elite status and will be graduating from Grade 5 in June! Congratulations to you and your Senior on this milestone! We have events and activities in the works for our Senior Bees to commemorate this milestone! We have been working diligently to ensure that senior dues are cost effective.
We will be having Senior Parent Townhall on two separate days. One will be in the morning and in-person while the other will be in the evening and virtual. Be on the look for the Zoom link to join the meeting. A flyer will be sent home during the week of December 4th.
Townhall Dates
- December 12th at 8:30 am in the auditorium
- December 13th at 6 pm on Zoom
The townhall will inform families of the senior dues amount and what that amount includes. You will also learn of all the senior week activities.
See you at the meetings!
BIRTHDAY POLICY AT A GLANCE
To celebrate your child’s birthday, parents must fill out a Birthday Celebration form at least TWO WEEKS before the celebration date. Students are allowed to wear their own clothes on their birthday. More information about acceptable items to bring can be found under the Full Birthday Policy.
SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
TO
AARON A - GRADE 3K
MASON J. - GRADE 2
AVERY J. - GRADE 1
KAIRI M. - GRADE 1
ZOE C. - GRADE 3
MIA F. - GRADE 3
AVEERA B. - GRADE 1
ISAYA R. - GRADE 1
Names come from the Birthday Celebration Form.
BUSING POLICY
Quick Reminders About Riding the Bus
O.P.T. Phone number: 718-392-8855
- All children in grades K-5 must have a bus identification tag which identifies student name, school, class, AM/PM bus route#, location of the bus stop, emergency #’s and parent name. Parents must know the bus company, the bus route number and the bus driver’s name.
- If the bus is late, or you have an issue with the driver of the bus, you need to contact the bus company and ask to speak to a supervisor.
- All students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the NYC Department of Education’s code of discipline. Misbehavior will result in consequences such as verbal warnings, parent conference, and or bus suspension.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL POLICY AT A GLANCE
| GRADE | ARRIVAL ENTRANCE | DISMISSAL EXIT |
| 3K | Entrance/Exit 6 | Entrance/Exit 6 |
| PREK | Entrance/Exit 5 | Entrance/Exit 5 |
| KINDERGARTEN | Main Entrance to the Auditorium | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot |
| GRADE 1 | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot |
| GRADE 2 | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot |
| GRADE 3 | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot |
| GRADE 4 | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot |
| GRADE 5 | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot | Entrance/Exit 1 |
All late students MUST enter through the Main Entrance beginning at 8:10 am.
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
- Arrival: Grade 1 to 5 students report to the gymnasium
- Arrival: Grades 3K to Kindergarten report to the auditorium
- ALL students are dismissed to their designated spots for dismissal
- Grade K to 5 students are dismissed to the schoolyard. Kindergarten dismisses at 2:15 pm.
- 3K and PreK students get dismissed in the small schoolyard at 2:15 pm. Any student that is not picked up by 2:30 pm is brought to the auditorium for Parent Pick Up. Students must be signed/scanned out.
DISMISSAL TIMES:
Grades 3K to Kindergarten: 2:15 pm
Grades 1 to 5: 2:20 pm
Students taking the yellow bus are to go to their designated boarding area in the Main Lobby.
All changes in dismissal arrangements must be submitted in writing to the teacher and Main Office by 1:00 pm. To ensure student’s safety, verbal requests will not be honored. In addition, students will only be released to names listed on the blue emergency cards. Please note that there are no early pick ups after 1:45 pm.
LUNCH POLICY AND LOST ITEMS
If your child brings their own lunch to school, please be reminded that students have different food allergies, so speak to your child about not sharing their lunch or snacks with other children.
Lost Items can be found in the “Lost and Found” located in the cafeteria. Please label all of your child’s belongings (lunch bags, sweaters, coats, backpacks) so that in the event that they lose it, it can be found easily in the Lost and Found.
UNIFORM POLICY AT A GLANCE
Uniform is fully enforced. Please make sure that your child is in FULL uniform Mondays through Thursdays. Hoodies/sweaters are not allowed unless they are school issued, solid black, solid navy, or solid grey.
