January Family Newsletter
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MESSAGE FROM DR. REMY
HAPPY NEW YEAR! WELCOME TO JANUARY 2025!!!
Happy January! I am going to start the 2025 year off with THANKS! Thank you to our wonderful parents that made the holiday season a special one for Busy Bees! They were all buzzing with excitement before the break!
On December 20th, you should have received a progress report for your child(ren) in Grades K to 5. Later this month and early in February, promotion in doubt letters will be going out. These letters will be based on a holistic review of the student's progress in English Language Arts and Math using multiple measures.
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. One will be before the Mid-Winter Recess and the other will be in March. Last school year, New York City and New York State began computer based testing. Last year, Grade 5 students were mandated to take the computer based test and now this year Grade 4 students will take it as well. We are preparing students with mock exams that are also computer based as well as through simulations. During the last week of January, Grade 4 and Grade 5 students will be taking computer based testing simulation exams in ELA, Math, and Science for Grade 5 students only.
IREADY and Acadience: K to 5 students will be sharpening their skills through iReady and Acadience testing this month for their middle of year performance. Once the scores are out, we will share with families as well as hold a parent seminar on what it all means to focus in on next steps. The workshop will also focus on what you can do with your child at home to support their next steps.
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.
Uniforms. We are a uniform school. Please ensure that your child wears uniforms Mondays through Thursdays. Beginning in January, there will be 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.
Clubs. This past fall, we started clubs. However, some club sections need to be closed to support students academics. The Garden Club is closed and sections of the Sports Club are closed as well. Families of affected students will be notified.
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. In December, we hosted our first ever AttenDANCE Party. This party recognizes and celebrates our students who have perfect attendance. Families are welcomed to come with their children. Its a fun time filled with food, drinks, music, and more.
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 following the birthday celebrations policy by giving your teachers notice of your child's birthday party. 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. 3120
Country of the Month:
Thailand
PASSION Trait of the Month:
Sophisticated Thinker and Doer
Core Value of the Month:
Inquisitive
UPCOMING TRIPS
SCHOOL TRIPS
None for this Month
GRADE 5 SENIORS CORNER
Dear Grade 5 Families,
Thank you to those that came to our Senior Parent Townhall last month. A letter was shared with you regarding the Senior Dues and what was included in the Senior Dues. All senior dues are due by FEBRUARY 27TH 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. Anthony
Class 503 – Mr. Samaroo and Ms. Schwartz
Class 591 – Mr. Filomio
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.
DECEMBER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
TO
KYIER S. - PREK. |. NONSO C - 3K. |. HANNAH S - 3K |. ZION C - GRADE 1 |.
AIDEN S - GRADE 1. |. ROKELLE - GRADE 1. |. AMIRAH - GRADE 1 | DASAN - GRADE 1.
LUNA V - GRADE 1 |. LINDEN D - GRADE 1. |. JOELFFREY E - GRADE 1 |. ZURI T - GRADE 1.
CARTER T - GRADE 1 |. NEVEAH W - GRADE 5 |. AUBREI L - GRADE 5. | KADIN J - GRADE 5
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.
