February Family Newsletter
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MESSAGE FROM DR. REMY
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH! WELCOME TO FEBRUARY 2024!!!
Happy February! This month we celebrate Black History Month for this month. We will be exposing our students to various African American and other Blacks that have a great influence on the world that we live in. Knowing our history helps us guide our future in making better choices. We will be having a Black History Celebration on MARCH 6TH. During the week of February 12th, we will be having a Black Excellence Week in conjunction with Respect For All
Report cards were posted last month, and they are posted the NYSCA account. As mentioned last month, promotion in doubt letters will be coming home this month. You should expect to receive the letter before or during Mid-Winter Recess. These letters will be based on a holistic review of the student’s progress in English Language Arts and Math using multiple measures. These holistic reviews are based on performance on iReady, reading levels, attendance, and classroom performance.
Our school has been designated for Local Support and Improvement (LSI) by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) for the 2023-24 school year based on the performance of our students on New York State assessments in school year 2022-23. The designation “Local Support and Improvement (LSI),” recognizes that all schools, even higher performing schools like ours, are in a continuous improvement mode and can benefit from local support from their districts to meet students’ differentiated needs. LSI is the best accountability status currently available. The school’s designation is part of the state’s accountability system consistent with federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) requirements.
New York State Test Preparation. We have been preparing our students for the NYS ELA and Math exams taking place in April and May. Starting this month and until the state exams, we will be continuing that support through in school and afterschool test prep. Teachers in grades 3 to 5 will be hosting TWO test prep seminars for families. The first session will be on FEBRUARY 13TH at 6 pm and the other will be in March.
IREADY: K to 5 students sharpened their skills through iReady testing this past month for their middle of year performance. At current (02/01/2024), here are our results:
| Grade | Reading | Growth from October | Math | Growth from October |
| K | 54% | +39 points | 55% | +49 points |
| 1 | 34% | +19 points | 16% | +11 points |
| 2 | 49% | +25 points | 20% | +12 points |
| 3 | 54% | +18 points | 22% | +16 points |
| 4 | 35% | +15 points | 20% | +5 points |
| 5 | 30% | +14 points | 22% | +12 points |
| Overall | 42% | +23 points | 27% | +19 points |
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 southside.
STEAM After School Program. We are partnership with the Allen Youth STEAM Afterschool Program in Grades 1 to 5. So far the students are truly enjoying the program!
Banana Splits SEL Program. We started a program that addresses the students in our school that are in single parent households. We recognize that social emotional health and mental health get in the way of academics, and we want to support our students with this. This program is for students in Grade 2 and Grade 4.
Uniforms. We are a uniform school. Please ensure that your child wears uniforms Mondays through Thursdays. Beginning in January, there was a major focus on students wearing their uniform. Please reach out to Ms. Tomblin, our Parent Coordinator, to get uniforms if you are in need. Please know that failure to wear uniform is a violation in the NYC Discipline Code Book. More information is found below.
Attendance. It is very important that your child attends school on a daily. Attendance is connected to promotion as not being present causes learning loss. If your child has a doctor's appointment in the morning, they may still come to school after the appointment. They will be marked late, but they will not lose out on the whole day's instruction and be considered present. We just hosted our second AttenDANCE Party. This party recognizes and celebrates our students who have perfect attendance. Families are welcomed to come with their children. For the month of January, students got to enjoy popcorn and a movie.
Please be sure to know that the building opens at 7:30 am each weekday morning, and so whether they want breakfast or not, it is greatly advisable that students come inside rather than waiting in the schoolyard in frigid and/or inclement.
Birthday Celebrations. Please ensure that you are using the Birthday Celebrations Form so that teachers have notice of your child's birthday. Please contact our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Tomblin, for more information as well as visit our Birthday Policies on our website.
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, Payroll Secretary Ext. 1113
Ms. Yates-Matthews, Pupil Accounting Secretary 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. 1150
Country of the Month:
Greece
PASSION Trait of the Month:
Socially Responsible
Core Value of the Month:
Dedicated
UPCOMING TRIPS
SCHOOL TRIPS
FEBRUARY 6TH - GRADE K
FEBRUARY 8TH - GRADE 1
GRADE 5 SENIORS CORNER
Dear Grade 5 Families,
Thank you to those that came to our TWO Senior Parent Townhalls on December 12th and December 13th. A letter was shared with you on December 19th via ClassDojo regarding the Senior Dues and what was included in the Senior Dues. All senior dues are due by MARCH 1ST and are nonrefundable. Only CASH or MONEY ORDERS will be accepted as payment. Money orders are to be made payable to PS 354Q.
Please have your child give the money to their homeroom teacher in an envelope with their name on it. Your child will come home with a receipt as proof of payment.
Homeroom Teachers
Class 501– Ms. Toliver
Class 502 – Mr. Samaroo
Class 503 – Ms. Hardie-Canale and Mr. Filomio
Class 591 – Ms. Schwartz
The second page of the letter included important activity dates.
If you did not receive this letter, please contact our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Tomblin, or your child's teacher.
Thank you!
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.
JANUARY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
TO
LEO C - GRADE K
MATTHEW F - GRADE 3
ELIJAH H - 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.
