June Family Newsletter
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MESSAGE FROM DR. REMY
HAPPY PRIDE AND CARIBBEAN NATIONS MONTH!!!
WELCOME TO JUNE 2024!!!
Happy June! We made it!!! There are only 14 days left of school! This month we celebrate our LGBTQIA+ communities as well as our Caribbean students and their families. We will be having various activities for our students so that they can continue to learn about various people. This month there are many student and parent celebrations, we will be having our Bedell Diaspora, where our students and teachers will turn grade wings into various countries. We hope to see you there on June 14th!!! Thank you to all of the families that supported parent engagement events such as Career Week, STEM First Fridays, the AttenDANCE celebrations, and Real Talk. Since we have started these initiatives, more families have come into the building, and we love having you! Thank you so much to our wonderful and supportive PTA!!! This past month they were at the Scholastic Book Fair, Student Government Icies Sales, and helping weekly and sometimes at the book fair. As always, please check out our calendar on the Homepage.
Safety. New safety is at PS 354Q! Our new doorbell camera has been installed! More information will be sent out as to what that means for our entire school community.
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
- On iReady Reading, we went from 18% in October to 42% in January. June results will be posted soon!
- On iReady Math, we went from 8% in October to 28% in January. June results will be posted soon!
- We are continuing to make strides on the southside.
Save the Date. Awards ceremonies are June 11th to June 13th. Please see Flyers on Homepage for times. Moving Up Ceremonies for Kindergarten will be on June 21st at 8:45 am. Moving Up Ceremonies for 3K and PreK will be on June 24th. Letters for moving up and graduation ceremonies have been sent out along with ticket information. If you did not receive it, please reach out to your child's teacher. As with last year, there will be three (3) tickets per Grade 5 student and three (3) tickets per Kindergarten student. Grade 5 families have a new message in Grade 5 Corner.
Saturday Academy. Please be advised that Saturday Academy will be ending on June 8th.
Uniforms. We are a uniform school. Please ensure that your child wears uniforms Mondays through Thursdays. 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. As the weather is getting nice, please be mindful as to what students are wearing to school on Fridays. Clothing can be fashionable, but modest at the same time. You will be receiving a call regarding your child's attire if it is too short or reveals lots of skin. Crop tops are not allowed and the cut outs in jeans should be minimal. 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 third AttenDANCE Party. This party recognizes and celebrates our students who have perfect attendance. Families are welcomed to come with their children.
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:
Brazil
PASSION Trait of the Month:
Never Give Up
Core Value of the Month:
Self Control
UPCOMING TRIPS
SCHOOL TRIPS
JUNE 5TH - FIELD DAY
GRADE 5 SENIORS CORNER
Dear Grade 5 Families,
Senior Week is over, but the biggest celebration is on the horizon! Here comes prom and graduation.
Graduation caps and gowns pick up is on June 7, 2024 from 9 am to 1 pm
Awards Ceremony is on June 11, 2024 at 9 am
National Elementary Honor Society Induction is on June 11, 2024 at 6 pm.
Senior Prom is on June 20, 2024
Graduation is on June 21, 2024 at 11 am. ALL graduates must be in the gym no later than 10:30 am.
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.
MAY & JUNE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
TO
NIKO C - GRADE K
TYESHA F - GRADE 4
ESSENCE J - GRADE 3
GENESIS G - GRADE 3
AMIR B - GRADE 2
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.
