PTA Board

PTA Meeting
We plan to hold our first PTA meeting in the next couple of weeks. We will send out a meeting date as soon as we confirm a time that will not conflict with any other 166 meetings.

PTA Board Elections
Elections for all Executive Board positions will be held at our October PTA meeting (time and date TBA). Please contact Madelyn Storms or Erin Volkmar to nominate yourself for this or any other position on the board.
Find descriptions of Executive Board positions here.  You can find a description of SLT here. 

PTA Budget Vote
The PTA Executive Board is in talks with the administration regarding the most pressing needs for the school this year. As soon as a draft is finalized, we will present the 2020-21 budget to the PTA general membership and field questions. We will vote on the budget at the October PTA meeting (date/time TBA).

Visit the PTA Home Page for more information.

Health + Safety

Covid Testing: The administration encourages students to get tested for Covid before the first day of in-person classes, if possible. 

Face Shields: Students will only remove their masks during lunch in the classroom. The administration has requested that parents send in their children with face shields to wear during lunch to help mitigate the spread of germs. Here is a type of mask that should fit children’s heads

Health Forms / Flu Shot: Per Nurse Hamiltion, new Medication Administration Forms need to be submitted.  Also, she reminds parents and children to get a flu shot now.  This is highly important, especially this year, as getting FLU and COVID at the same time can be extremely dangerous. 

All New Yorkers should continue to practice general flu prevention measures including:

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or sleeve
• Wash your hands regularly
• Avoid touching your face
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Get your flu shot – it’s never too late
• Stay home if you’re feeling sick. Call your doctor and let them know your symptoms and travel history.

Please see the NYC Health Department’s Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions for more information, or visit nyc.gov/health(Open external link) at any time for important updates. 

Auction

There are still many items available for purchase, new items added!  Check them out now. 

Green Committee

Curbside Composting

While we sadly cannot currently collect food scraps from families for composting, we are happy to report that food scraps from student meals will still be collected by the city for composting. Families looking for places to take their food scraps for composting can search this list of current options: 

http://bit.ly/NYCdropofftracker

Textile Recycling

While our collection of clothing / textiles for recycling is also still on hold, clothing, shoes, and linens can be taken to the Farmer’s Market at Morningside Park, 110th and Manhattan Ave, on Saturdays from 9 am til 3 pm. In addition, Wearable Collections will pick up from your residence, although there is now a fee, and a large minimum amount: https://www.wearablecollections.com/homepickups 

Another option is Pick Up Please: https://pickupplease.org/

Be sure to check out the Green Committee Home Page for more info.

Community Updates

Learning Bridges Child Care Programs
The City has said they will be letting families know about Learning Bridges placements this week. If you have chosen blended learning and are interested in applying for a Learning Bridges seat for days of remote learning, you may do so online (NOTE: applying does not guarantee you will receive a seat)  

Register to Vote for the 2020 General Election
To vote in the 2020 General election, you must register to vote by October 9, 2020. Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 for the general election.

Where to Register to Vote:

• New York State Voter Registration Form (Spanish version).  
• County Board of Elections
• New York State Agency-Based Voter Registration Center.
• Department of Motor Vehicles, either in person or on their website.
• New York State Voter Registration form by mail.
• 1-800-FOR-VOTE

If you cannot go to the polls during early voting or on election day, you can apply for an absentee ballot online or picked up at your county Board of Elections.

Census 2020
The deadline for filling out the 2020 Census is September 30th, and fewer than 60% of New York City families have filled it out! This means we are in danger of losing funding and government representatives.  If you haven’t already, please fill out the census now! It takes less than 5 minutes!

Inclusion Committee

Questions about back to school for students with disabilities?
Advocates for Children has put together a Q&A factsheet for families of students with disabilities, updated for 2020. 

Free Tutoring for 3rd Graders behind in reading!
Everyone Reading is offering virtual once-a-week, small-group tutoring in basic phonics for struggling third-graders who were born in 2012. Contact Laura Guerrero for information and an application:

If you missed the CEC D3 Special Education Meeting on Monday, September 21, please contact CEC D3 for details of the meeting.

We are looking for new Inclusion Committee Co-Chairs. Please email the VP Volunteers if you are interested.

 NYC Accounts

Each student in a DOE school is assigned a NYC Schools Account, which provides parents with a new way of accessing key information about their child’s progress. With your NYC Schools account, you will be able to view your child's information (grades, test scores and attendance) in one of ten languages on a computer, phone or tablet.

For 4th and 5th grade students, the NYC Account is the only way for you to see your child's 3rd or 4th grade state test results.

In order to set up your account, you will need your child's student ID number and a Creation Code.Student IDs are 9 digit numbers beginning with the number 2 and can be found on your child's report card. Letters will be sent home with the Creation Codes over the next week. (Fourth grade parents received them earlier so they could access last year's test scores.) Letters are only sent to parents who have not yet set up an account.

Kindergarten parents who do not yet know their child's ID can ask their child's teacher or contact the main office after receiving their letters.

If you have more than one child attending a NYC public school, you will receive one letter containing an account creation code for each child. You will only need to enter the student ID and Account Creation Code for one of your children. Once you create an account, you can add your remaining children by entering their student IDs and Account Creation Codes on the “Manage My Account” page. Each Account Creation Code is unique to you and your child and should not be shared with others. 

Family Giving

If you have already made your contribution to Family Giving, thank you for your support! Family Giving makes up 80% of the PTA budget, which helps to provide our kids with an enhanced education - including classroom assistants, enhanced curriculum and staff development, the library, classroom residencies, science and technology, test prep, classroom supplies, music/dance/arts and green/wellness programs and garden.
 
If you haven’t had a chance to donate to Family Giving yet and would like to, please note that it is not too late to show your support!! And please don’t forget to check if your company will match your donation. You can provide a one time gift or break up your donation into monthly installments. If your family is not able to give the suggested amount, please donate any amount you can because every dollar counts. Visit Family Giving to make your gift today. Thank you.