September Family Newsletter
Follow us on Instagram @ps354stem
MESSAGE FROM DR. REMY
HAPPY SEPTEMBER 2024!!!
Welcome to the 2024/2025 school year here at The Jermaine L. Green STEM Institute of Queens, PS 354Q! We are excited to have you join us for an exciting and successful school year. School begins on Thursday, September 5, 2024, and the school day is from 8:00 am to 2:20 pm. Hot breakfast will be served daily from 7:30 am and 7:55 am for K to 5 students only. Students in 3K and PreK have breakfast daily in their classrooms beginning at 8:15 am.
- ALL students have a regular school day beginning the first day of school, September 5, 2024.
- 3K and PreK Students ONLY
- Thursday, September 5, 2023: Students in 3K and PreK will participate in a 90-minute parent orientation breakfast from 8:15 am – 10:15 am. Families will be REQUIRED to stay with their child during the 90-minute session. Please note we can only accommodate one adult per child during this orientation
Please see the link below to see your child’s classroom number and teacher.
Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18CswgUh0pccA0wgiiKwSEdMqifRovHS17zu89BNC0YQ/edit?usp=sharing
Teachers will share your child’s official schedule during the first full week of school. Please be advised that if your child is in 3K, PreK, or Kindergarten, you are to provide a change of clothes for them in a ziplock bag in the event of a bladder accident. Please continue visit the Family Newsletter and School Calendar posted on our website at www.ps354q.org for important events throughout the school year.
Commitment Ceremonies for 2024/2025 School Year
This month we will be having our annual Commitment Ceremonies at each grade. On this day, students, families, and staff take a pledge to the education and success of our students for the school year. We highlight the partnership between families and the school. The dates are as follows:
- September 18th: Grades 3 to 5
- September 19th: Grades K to 2
- September 20th: Grades 3K and PreK
Times of the ceremonies are posted on the School Google Calendar. The dress code for these ceremonies are "Dress to Impress"
Emergency Blue Forms
As with every school year, we need to have up to date information for you in case of emergencies. Emergency Blue Forms will be sent home with students on the first day of school. If you have a child or children that will be in Grades 3 to 5 AND you would like him/her/them to walk home on their own, please complete the PS 354Q Walking Form.
Arrival and Dismissal
During the opening weeks of school all students in each grade will be greeted by their teachers in their designated spots. Please see our Arrival and Dismissal Policy in the Family Handbook
Any students that arrive after 8:10 am are considered late AND must sign in using the main entrance.
Please note that SQPA will TENTATIVELY begin on Monday, September 16, 2024 for K to 5 students.
(See Ms. Yanick and/or Ms. Shanelle for more information regarding SQPA)
There will be an opportunity to meet with the teacher and learn more about the school on Back to School Night on Thursday, September 12th from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. You will have a brief overview of school and class policies, routines, requirements, curricula, etc. Please feel free to check out the website (www.ps354q.org) for school supplies, school uniforms, school policies, and other information. We are a uniform school, and students are to be in full uniform Mondays through Thursdays. Please bring your child’s school supplies on our drop off days on SEPTEMBER 3RD AND SEPTEMBER 4TH from 9 am to 1 pm. Please ensure your child'es name and class are on the items so that they may be delivered to the correct classrooms.
We look forward to a productive school year!
HELPFUL CONTACTS
Phone: 718-276-1348/Fax: 718-276-2498
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. 1112 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
UPCOMING TRIPS
SCHOOL TRIPS
Coming Soon
GRADE NEWS FOR OCTOBER
| 3K NEWS | PRE-K NEWS |
| KINDERGARTEN NEWS | GRADE 1 NEWS | GRADE 2 NEWS |
| GRADE 3 NEWS | GRADE 4 NEWS | GRADE 5 NEWS |
BIRTHDAY POLICY AT A GLANCE
Celebrating your child's birthday is a momentous occasions. To celebrate your child’s birthday, parents are to reach out to their child's teacher 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 BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
TO
Names Coming Soon
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 | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot | 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. During the first two days, During the first two days of school (SEPTEMBER 5TH AND SEPTEMBER 6TH, Kindergarten students will arrive and be dismissed in the Gymnasium.
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. There is Freestyle Fridays, where students wear their own clothes. Hoodies/sweaters are not allowed unless they are school issued, solid black, solid navy, or solid grey.
