October Family Newsletter
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MESSAGE FROM DR. REMY
HAPPY OCTOBER 2025!!!
Fall is Here! Just as a new season brings changes in weather and scenery, so does a new school year. September was filled with many events such as Back to School Night, Dads Bring Your Child to School Day and Commitment Ceremonies,. Thank you for all of your support thus far. Thank you to our PTA that volunteered their time for these various events!
Students are continuing to take their diagnostic assessments. Parents will receive the assessment reports once completed.
Events to Look Out For
This month, we are starting the following programs in the school:
- STEM First Friday: This will take place on October 3rd. Schedule will be posted on ClassDojo.
- Awareness Fridays: Each Friday, we will celebrate/acknowledgement various issues such as Breast Cancer Awareness, Domestic Violence Awareness, and Down Syndrome Awareness.
- Clubs: This begins on October 6th.
- Safety Townhall Meeting: This will take place on October 15th.
- Student Government Primaries: This will take place on October 15th.
- Hispanic Heritage Month: The celebration will be held on October 17th.
- Fall Festival: This will take place on October 27th
- Word Parade: This will take place on October 30th
Progress Reports go home on October 16th. These reports will include how students performed on beginning of year assessments and current progress in school. Please see Grading Policy for more information.
Our Data Story:
In the 2024/2025 school year, our NYS ELA exams rose from 35% to 51.7% and our NYS Math exams rose from 53% to 66.1%.
Arrival and Dismissal
Please see our Arrival and Dismissal Policy in the Family Handbook. Any student that arrive after 8:05 am are considered late AND must sign in using the main entrance.
All students are dismissed to the schoolyard. Late students are brought into the gym at 2:25 pm and the back lobby doors are closed after that. After 2:25 pm, all families must go through the main entrance and sign the late sheets.
Thank you for your collaboration, and as always, stay safe!
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. 1400 or Wdavis@ps354.org
School Nurse: Ms. Nancy Ext.1150
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 | Ms. Shikarides | Ms. Shamash
ENL: Ms. Samuels and Ms. Aleko
Physical Education Department:
Mr. DeGioia & Ms. Washington
Bus Inquiry: Ms. Redd Ext. 1100
Core Value of the Month: Secure within self
PASSION Trait of the Month: Productive Learner
Country of the Month: Philippines
UPCOMING TRIPS
SCHOOL TRIPS
OCTOBER 9TH - GRADE 2 TRIP
OCTOBER 10TH - CLASSES 203 AND 232 TRIP
OCTOBER 23RD - MBSK TRIP
OCTOBER 24TH - CLASS 231 TRIP
OCTOBER 28TH - GRADE K TRIP
OCTOBER 31ST - GRADE 4 TRIP
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
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.
3K AND PREK
Eowyn | Yadayah | Kayden | Emanelys | Khalayah | Kamryn | Takari | Racquel
KINDERGARTEN
Anika | Shamar | Elias | Tiahra
FIRST GRADE
Christ | Asia | Noah | Kamiko | Rylah | Jaxon | Blayne
SECOND GRADE
Mikahilina | Adrain | Zaiden
THIRD GRADE
Salimata | Erick | Osiah | Sheldon | King | Nyala | Gianni | Mason
FOURTH GRADE
BJ | Thomas | Destiny
FIFTH GRADE
Elijah | Caden | Amiyah | Kendrick | Mason | Shane | Maribelle | Damier | Jhonathan | Joe | Ricarldy | Theo
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 | Gymnasium | 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 | Schoolyard at Assigned Spot |
All late students MUST enter through the Main Entrance beginning at 8:05 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. 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.
