Keep Yourself and Others Healthy

mask

Wear a mask

wash hands

Wash your hands

6 feet apart

Stay 6 feet apart

home

Stay home if you are sick

Before Coming to School

Before coming to school, do the below TWO things:

1. Use your thermometer:

Place under tongue, close mouth, and wait 1 minute to hear beep.

2. Complete the health screening by clicking here:

health-screening

The DOE has updated the questions on the daily health screening form.

Please review - especially  if you are planning on traveling for the holidays and need clarity on what to do when you return.

Based on continuing guidance from Governor Andrew Cuomo, the DOE has updated the questions on the daily health screening form, to reflect the latest COVID-19 precautions and New York State travel advisories. You can preview the updated questions on the attachment or click on this link. 

DOE_Health_Screening_Questionnaire_111720-1-1Download

Health Screenings must be shown to school staff before students will be admitted.

The DOE has partnered with NYC Health + Hospitals, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the NYC Test & Trace
Corps to arrange for testing of NYC DOE students and staff for COVID-19 infection.

Testing partners will test a randomly selected group of staff and students in schools.

Parents must give consent in order for their child to attend school in person. Click below to download the form.

 COVID Testing Consent Form 

Return to School 2020

Return to School 2020

Make sure your child is set up for Remote Learning with the  remote-learning-checklist-for-families 

Family Guide

The DOE Family Guide provides information on what teaching and learning will look like this school year, and universal expectations for how our schools support all students —whether they are attending fully remote or blended learning classes. The guide also provides information about who families can contact when they have questions or concerns, and resources that families can use to support learning at home.

  2020-2021 Family Guide is available online and in all 9 DOE languages.

Chancellor's Letters

Read the Chancellor's update letters for families below:

DOE Return to School Covid School Health Policy

Free take out meals for students and all New Yorkers

Students or their parents/guardians may pick up meals for students from 9 am to 12 pm on school days. You can find your nearest take-out location here.

Any New Yorker may pick up free meals available at more than 200 locations across the city.

 

Click below for the 2020 NYC DOE School Calendar

2020-21-school-calendar

 

Visit the DOE Return to School webpage regularly for the latest updates.

   stethoscope

Health + Safety

Covid Testing: The administration encourages students to get tested for Covid before the first day of in-person classes. Here is a map to find local testing centers near you and at-home testing options.  

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 Hamilton, 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. 

Ventilation Reports: Ventilation reports for PS 166 can be found here. A room requires at least one functioning method of ventilation to be cleared for occupancy. This could be a window that opens, a type of mechanical ventilation (exhaust fan, supply fan, unit ventilator) or a combination of both. 

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.

Daily COVID Case Map

This map shows all known cases of COVID-19 at New York City public schools. It is updated Sunday through Friday at 5:30 PM. This information was compiled by the DOE COVID Response Situation Room—a multi-agency partnership between the Department of Education, Department of Health and Mental Health, and the Test & Trace Corps—to facilitate a rapid response to positive COVID-19 cases in public schools.

COVID Alert NY

This is a voluntary, anonymous, exposure-notification smartphone app. You will get an alert if you are in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. You can download the free app to your smartphone to receive an alert if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

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. 

  

   Group of People 

Volunteers Needed

Roles needed:

  • Corporate Sponsorship Chair: Investigate and explore opportunities on donation programs from local and national business, and encourage parent participation.
  • Spiritwear Co-Chairs: Coordinating ordering and selling PS 166 t-shirts and gear 
  • Pie-sale Chair: Thanksgiving Pie sales and community food bank donations
  • 2020 Auction Sales Team: Help coordinating sales of Auction items
  • Book Fair Chair: Online book fair with Books of Wonder.
  • Community events: Online game nights, movie nights, fitness activities, or wellness lectures for families to engage in across grades and for the whole school. 

If you have an idea or would like to help, please email me directly at volunteers@ps166pta.org or fill out our survey.

 Group of People

Community Updates

Meetings and Workshops

Child Mind Institute Caregiver Support Workshops
This series provides proactive strategies families can use to support their child’s mental health and learning needs while virtually learning from home. These workshops are available at no cost to all NYC DOE parents and caregivers.   

Find Help at findhelp.org
If you or your family need assistance of any kind, this new resource is a non-profit that connects people and programs — making it easy for people to find social services in their communities. Resource connections include food, housing, jobs, money, legal, etc.

ICYMI - Middle Schools Enrollment September 2021

  • All middle school screens will be paused for this year. This includes academic screens, school-based assessments, composite scores, and auditions. Students will be admitted through a lottery-based system. (find info on High School admissions here.)
  • District and geographic priorities, as well as Diversity in Admissions priorities, will still apply for those middle schools that have them.
  • The middle school application will open the week of January 11.

Teaching Reading for Families: What Everyone Should Know about Reading in English, Tue. Jan. 12, 7:30 PM
This session is designed to give parents the basic theory and practice of good reading instruction and to enable them to have a repertoire of research-based activities to move the reading process along. Many of these activities can be done while cooking, driving, cleaning, shopping and the myriad of other things parents have to do as they raise their children. This session focuses on integrating everyday reading and using oral language at home with your child.

Parent University is Here!

Parent University serves all families, from early childhood through adulthood, and seeks to educate and empower them as partners and advocates through free courses, resources, events, and activities.

Find additional information on the  DOE’s Family Empowerment site. 

CMI Parent Workshops

The Child Mind Institute’s School and Community Programs team would like to invite you to join us for our upcoming Caregiver Support Workshops. Our three workshop series are designed to provide families with proactive strategies they can use to support their child’s mental health and learning needs while virtually learning from home. These workshops are available at no cost to all NYC DOE parents and caregivers. Please see below for additional details.

Promoting Positive Behaviors for Your Child – Please click here to learn more and register.

  • Structuring a Home Learning Environment; Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm EST
  • Managing Kids' Screen Time; Tuesday, February 9th, 2021 | 9:00am – 10:00am EST
  • Motivating Your Child for Remote Learning – Part 1; Wednesday, February 17th, 2021 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm EST
  • Motivating Your Child for Remote Learning – Part 2; Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021 | 9:00am – 10:00am EST
  • Improving Your Relationship With Your Child; Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm EST
  • Parent Calming Techniques; Tuesday, March 9th, 2021 | 9:00am – 10:00am EST

Coping During COVID-19 – Please click here to learn more and register.

  • Mindful Parenting; Monday, January 18th, 2021 | 5:00pm – 6:00pm EST
  • Managing Intense Emotions; Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 | 5:00pm – 6:00pm EST
  • Will My Child be Okay?; Monday, January 25th, 2021 | 5:00pm – 6:00pm EST
  • Fostering Resilience Within Your Family; Thursday, January 28th, 2021 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm EST

Supporting Learning at Home – Please click here to learn more and register.

  • Supporting Your Child in Virtual Learning; Wednesday, January 13th, 2021 | 5:00pm – 6:00pm EST
  • Building and Supporting Executive Functioning Skills; Tuesday, February 9th, 2021 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm EST
  • Building a Foundation for Reading at Home; Wednesday, February 10th, 2021 | 5:00pm – 6:00pm EST

For additional resources, please visit us at: https://childmind.org/coping-during-covid-19-resources-for-parents/.

 

Free Meals for Students and Families

All families and students can continue to go to any school building between 9:00 a.m. - noon on weekdays to pick up three free grab-and-go meals. No identification or registration is necessary. Halal and kosher meals are available at some sites.

From 3-5 p.m., New Yorkers of all ages can pick up free meals at 260 Community Meals sites across the city. 

New NYPL App

Get the power of The New York Public Library, anytime, anywhere. With the new NYPL app, you can manage your account online, browse for books, and request materials for pickup at one of NYPL’s 50 grab-and-go locations. You can even use the app for contactless self-checkout while at the Library.

FLAG Award for Teacher Excellence Nominations Open Now

The FLAG Award recognizes and celebrates extraordinary public-school teachers who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment. One grand-prize winner from each of NYC’s five boroughs will receive a $25,000 cash prize and finalists will each receive $10,000. The winning teachers’ schools will each receive $10,000 and each finalist’s school will receive $2,000 for arts-based initiatives designed by the award recipient. Nominate a teacher now!

Donate or Volunteer to Rescue Food

Need food? If you or someone you know needs groceries for the holidays, sign up for the New York Academy of Medicine’s East Harlem holiday food distribution.

Tech Resources

Families who need technical support for their student's DOE iPad now have the option of contacting AppleCare Support for the NYCDOE. Call 1-800-919-2775, and when prompted, enter the PIN 692363. (Only call AppleCare to ask about setting up your iPad once you've received the device; don't call to check on the status of a device request.) Families whose iPads are not working can also call the DOE's Help Desk at 718-935-5100 or submit a ticket online. 

DOE Tech Support
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/learn-at-home/technical-tools-and-support/technical-support-for-families
Free or Low-Cost Internet Options

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/learn-at-home/technical-tools-and-support/free-and-low-cost-internet-options

To request a device from the DOE
https://coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevices

To switch to All-Remote Learning
https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference

 

Announcements

  • featured post

    Blended Schedules for December and January

    1/18-1/22: WEEK 2 (Monday off) ABBB
    1/25-1/29: WEEK 1 AAABB 
    2/1 - 2/5: WEEK 2 AABBB
    2/8-2/12:  WEEK 1 AAAB (Friday off) 
    2/22- 2/26: WEEK 2 AABBB

    PS 166

  • Upcoming Dates

    Thursday, January 21: PTA Meeting, Time TBD
    Friday, February 12- Friday, February 19: Mid-Winter recess (includes Lunar New Year and Presidents Day)

    PS 166

  • CEC3 Mulitilingual Committee Meeting

    When: Monday, January 11, 6:00 PM 

    Zoom Registration Link:
    https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrdOitpjwtH90idWDs_oJcCbfPrpoceWyP
     

    PS 166

  • District 3 Meet the Middle Schools

    COME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OF OUR DISTRICT 3 MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO FILL UP YOUR PREFERENCE SHEETS BY FEBRUARY 9TH!

    WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13TH FROM 5 PM TO 7 PM

    HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/D3MEETTHESCHOOLS

    PS 166

  • Middle School Update

    The chancellor announced today that there will be no screening process for middle school admissions this year. All admissions will be lottery based. Please read the chancellor's letter here. We are awaiting further information and will have a meeting for fifth grade parents in early December. 
     

    Timeline:

    ·       The middle school application will open during the week of January 11, 2021. Families and school staff will be notified when the application opens.

    ·       The deadline for families to submit their middle school application will be the week of February 8, 2021.

    ·       Middle school offers will be available to families and school staff in the spring.

    PS 166

  • Updated COVID-19 Testing Consent Forms Needed

    The DOE is requiring that all parents submit the updated Covid-19 Testing Consent Form, now that testing takes place very week instead of every month.  If you filled out your paper form before October 15th or your online form before October 23rd, please fill out the updated one before December 23rd. 

    Please visit this page for updated forms. If you use your NYCSA, it will be updated.

    PS 166

  • Parent University

    Parent University is a collaboration between the Office of Family and Community Empowerment (FACE) and the Division of Instructional and Information Technology (DIIT).

    Parent University seeks to educate and empower all families from early childhood through adulthood, with free courses, resources, events, and activities. Parents can register for free trainings on a wide range of topics, including adult education, student social-emotional learning, and special education.

    Visit Parent University at parent.schools.nyc! Click on the links below to download the Parent University flyer in English and translated versions.

    PS 166

  • Tech Information

    TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR REMOTE LEARNING DEVICES. 
    Families who need technical support for their student's DOE iPad now have the option of contacting AppleCare Support for the NYCDOE. Call 1-800-919-2775, and when prompted, enter the PIN 692363. (Only call AppleCare to ask about setting up your iPad once you've received the device; don't call to check on the status of a device request.) Families whose iPads are not working can also call the DOE's Help Desk at 718-935-5100 or submit a ticket online. 

    DOE Tech Support
    https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/learn-at-home/technical-tools-and-support/technical-support-for-families
    Free or Low-Cost Internet Options

    https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/learn-at-home/technical-tools-and-support/free-and-low-cost-internet-options

    To request a device from the DOE
    https://coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevices

    To switch to All-Remote Learning
    https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference

    PS 166
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Calendar

  • Cohort A

    PS 166

  • Cohort B

    PS 166

  • Cohort B

    Cohort B

    PS 166

  • PTA Meeting - Time TBD

    PS 166

  • Cohort B

    PS 166
View Monthly Calendar

PTA Announcements

  • Green Tips for the Holidays:

    Wrapping
     
    Many of us are already deep into the holiday and gift-giving season, but you may still have some wrapping left to do.
    At the very least, consider buying wrapping paper made from recycled paper: If just 1%of the U.S. population used recycled paper to wrap just one gift, we’d save more than 2,000 trees and over 900,000 gallons of water.
    If you do purchase rolls of wrap, try to avoid the glossy kind -- even if it's made from recycled paper, in many cases that shine comes courtesy of chemicals that make the paper hard to recycle again..
    Best of all, consider reusing some of the materials your purchases may have come packed in:
    Tissue paper or kraft paper used as packing material, for example, can be easily turned into wrapping paper. The paper shopping bags offered by many stores also make fine wrapping material. You might even consider the plastic mailers your shipments arrive in -- they may have company logos on the outside, but they can be inverted to make a solid-color wrapper before you recycle it in the plastic-film bin at the drugstore after the holidays.
    Need another reuse idea? For your smaller gifts, take a look at that 2020 calendar you're about to throw away -- chances are the picture side of each month could provide some lovely wrapping material.
     
    Gifts
     
    If you haven't finished purchasing gifts, or just to consider for next time, some ideas for reducing waste when purchasing gifts: buy local, if possible (not only to support local businesses but also to reduce the environmental costs of transportation), avoid using express delivery (it has increased energy costs), purchase rechargeable batteries, when possible, for electronics, try to avoid plastic, and in general consider gifts that are experiences rather than things, or that can be consumed such as food, or that will last and can be passed down, rather than toys or gadgets that will soon be in the trash.
    PTA

  • Amazon Smile

    If you’re doing any holiday shopping on Amazon, please be sure to activate Amazon Smile by going to smile.amazon.com and selecting Friends of PS 166 Inc as the charity recipient. A percentage of each purchase will go support our school!

    PTA

  • Teacher Gift-Giving Policy

    We are especially grateful for everything our teachers have done for our kids during this challenging year. For various reasons, including DOE regulations on PTA gift-giving, we are unable to distribute holiday gifts as a PTA. However, we encourage parents to work with their classes and grades to thank teachers, TAs and staff for all they do. For any gesture of appreciation, please be aware of the chancellor’s regulations. The relevant information is in section IIE. 

    PTA

  • Support Parent-Owned Businesses

    Reminder: To support PS 166 parent-owned businesses, the PTA is creating a list that we will share with the community. Fill out this form if you own a business and would like to be considered for this list.   Email us to learn more.

    PTA

  • Auction - Bid Now

    Donate to school...win prizes! The December Mini-auction closes Saturday!

    BID NOW

    RAFFLE ITEMS (valued $200-$1000) make great gifts!  Many have sold NO tickets...
    there's a high chance of winning!Your purchase of $20 raffle tickets benefits the PTA general fund, which directly supports class assistants, technology, books and much more!Make it easy....buy the basket bonanza and you are automatically entered into all 16 raffles!

    PTA

  • PTA Meeting Survey

    Click here to fill out this short survey to let us know what time works best for you to attend PTA meetings, and what topics you would like to see covered. 

    PTA

  • Support Parent Owned Businesses

    So that we can support PS 166 parent-owned businesses, the PTA is creating a list to share with the community. If you own a business and would like to be considered for this list, please fill out this form.    Email us to learn more.

    PTA

  • Donate Last Year’s Test Prep Books

    Many of you may have barely used test prep books left over from last year. If anyone has test prep books in good condition (mostly unused), you can drop them off in the school lobby any day that school is in session. The administration will try to use these for this year’s test prep whenever possible.

    PTA

  • Volunteers Needed

    Have an idea for a fundraiser or community event? Want to lend a hand to our school? Please email Annalisa Petersen or fill out our survey.

    PTA

  • Parent Directory

    PS 166 is updating our online family directory to make sure all families receive appropriate information from the administration, PTA announcements about important community events, and any grade, cohort or class-specific info. 

    • The directory is helpful for our administration and school nurse. 
    • This directory will ONLY be used by the PTA, Administration and School Nurse.
    • Class lists will be distributed by your Class Rep containing ONLY your name and email address. (If you do not wish to share your email address with the other parents in your class, please notify your Class Rep.)
    • If you are a two-household family, please put your child's primary address in the "Household 1-Parent 1/Parent 2" section and the other address in the "Household 2-Parent 3/Parent 4" section. 
    • Use the "additional information" section to include any additional contact information that might be helpful to the administration or school nurse in an emergency, i.e. a work number or contact information for a babysitter or grandparent. 

    Click here to update or add your family information.

    PTA
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Quick Links

Earth with Leaves Sprouting

Green Committee

This week’s Green Tip

 Eco-Friendly New Year’s Resolutions from the NYLCV.

Composting

Families looking for places to take their food scraps for composting can search this list of current options: 

  • Sunday 12:00-1:00PM - 90th btw Columbus/Amsterdam- Westside Community Garden (the garden across from PS166)
  • Sunday 9:00-3:00PM - 77th btw Columbus/CPW- 79th Street Greenmarket
  • Wednesday 4:00-6:00PM - 107th & Columbus- Reclaimed Organics (NOTE: there's a suggested monetary contribution based on volume deposited)
  • Friday 8:00-12.30PM - 97th St Greenmarket (between Columbus & Amsterdam)
  • Saturday 11:00-1:00PM (weather permitting) - W138th St & 12th Ave- Jenny's Garden

Want more information? Click here for more composting sites and information.

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.

 Green Committee Home Page 

 

 Two Kids 

Inclusion Committee

Upcoming Events

Chancellor's town hall, Thu. Jan. 14, 6:00 pm
A presentation by the Citywide Council on Special Education

The INCLUDEnyc Fair, Sat, Jan. 30, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Register for the INCLUDEnyc Fair and learn more about organizations and programs supporting young people with disabilities. 

ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN’S TURNING 5 WORKSHOPS: KINDERGARTEN ADMISSIONS.
These workshops will cover the process for applying to DOE public schools, including tips for researching schools, ways to submit an application, understanding how school offers are made, what to do when you get an offer, and more. See all webinar dates and register

Continued Special Education Services during Remote Learning
Your child continues to have the right to receive the special education supports listed on their IEP during remote learning. If you have questions or concerns, reach out to the Special Education office at specialeducation@schools.nyc.gov or call 311, or contact your child’s special education providers to confirm scheduling options for all-remote services.

Webinar: DOE’s Temporary Transition for Fully Remote Learning
Hosted by NYCDOE Division of Specialized Instruction and Student Support. Join DOE representatives to learn more about what the transition to fully-remote learning means for students with IEPs. 

Advocates for Children Education Helpline:
This Education Helpline provides individualized guidance and information for your education-related issues. Monday-Thursday, 10am -4pm. Translators available. (866) 427-6033

Food Allergy Support - Return to School

If you are a parent or a guardian of a child with food allergies, you can explore some useful recommendations from the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) group regarding return to school:

PS166 Family Guide to 504 Accommodations

Please visit the 504 Accommodations Page for information on whether your child is eligible to receive health services or accommodations in school under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

For additional information related to 504 accommodations, you can review the Department of Education’s Student and Family Guide here. 

Become a Certified Parent Member of the IEP Team!  

The Parent Member is a member of the IEP team that supports a parent of a child with a disability at their IEP meeting. In this state-approved FREE training, learn about procedures and regulations, as well as how to promote the parent's understanding and participation. For more information, please visit here.


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

Family

 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 logo

Family Giving

As PS166 continuers the blended model, class assistants continue to be essential in running the day to day for our children.   Due to the pandemic, we seek your support more than ever before.   You can learn more about suggested donations by grade and installment options here.  A donation of any amount is very much appreciated.  Thank you kindly to families who have already contributed to our 2020-2021 Family Giving fund. 

Donate Today

Trying to contact a teacher or administrator? Click here for the school directory.

School Directory