Arts and Athletics will be hosting a Chess Tournament on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The tournament will be held at P.S. 9, located on 100 West 84^th Street at Columbus Avenue. All are welcome! You can register for the tournament at http://artsandathletics.org/chess/tournaments/.

The New York State Education Department and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) require that HIV/AIDS education be provided for all students in kindergarten through grade 12, as part of comprehensive health education. The HIV/AIDS Curriculum that NYCDOE developed for NYC students is age and developmentally appropriate. For example, in kindergarten, students learn how people get sick and how to get better. In 7th grade, children learn how HIV affects the immune system, the risks of alcohol and drug use, and the importance of communicating with parents/guardians or caregivers. High school lessons teach students to avoid behaviors that put them at risk for HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy. 

As a parent or legal guardian, you have the right to excuse your child from certain HIV/AIDS lessons that teach about methods of HIV/sexually transmitted infection prevention. These “opt out” prevention lessons are identified in the HIV/AIDS Curriculum, which is online at https://www.weteachnyc.org/resources/resource/hivaids-curriculum-2012-edition/ 

If you would like your child to be excused, you must write a letter to me stating that:

 ∙ Your child should not be in the classroom during the “opt out” prevention lessons (listed below); and

 ∙ You will teach your child about prevention at home. 

Encourage your child to speak with you about HIV/AIDS. Doing so can help you reinforce your child's awareness of how HIV is transmitted, and present opportunities for you and your child to discuss how abstaining from sexual intercourse is the most important and effective way for children to protect their health and their future. 

Speak to your child's teacher, parent coordinator, or me about how you can support the lessons. If you have any questions regarding this program, please call me at 212-678-2829. 

Lessons Parents May Opt Out of:

Kindergarten, Lesson 4 - How Do People Get Sick? What Is HIV? What Is AIDS? 

Grade 1, Lesson 3 - What Are Viruses? How Do They Enter the Body to Cause Disease? 

Grade 2, Lesson 3 -  What Causes and Prevents the Spread of Illness? 

Grade 3, Lesson 4  -What Are Healthy Choices That People Can Make? 

Grade 4, Lesson 4 -  How Can We Help Each Other Make Healthy Choices? 

Grade 5, Lesson 3 - How Can We Reduce Our Risk Behaviors?

Please be reminded that all lessons except the one listed above for each grade, are mandatory. To opt out of the ONE lesson, send an email to Debra Mastriano (dmastriano@schools.nyc.gov) and copy your child's teacher and Deborah Markewich (dmarkewich@schools.nyc.gov) by Thursday May 5th. 

This is a reminder that registration opened on Monday, April 25th at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/summer/grades-k-8

Dates: July 5-August 19, Monday-Friday
All students currently in grades K-8 can enroll. The program is not open to incoming kindergartners.

Time: 8 AM to 6 PM

• There are 400 locations in the city. Parents can enroll in any location that has the right program for the child’s grade level and that is not already filled.
• PS 166 is not a site. It appears that the nearest site to us, PS 75, is at capacity. There is a list of locations with openings you may still choose from.  
• The program runs from 8AM to 6PM. It is a full day and there is no option to choose a half day. Monday-Thursday, academics will be taught by licensed teachers in the morning. M-TH afternoons and all day Friday, enrichment will be led by community-based organization staff. The last week, August 15-19 will also be led entirely by the CBO, with all enrichment.
• When you enroll, please have your child’s OSIS (student ID) handy as you will need it. You can find it on your NYCSA account or by contacting the school.
• This year there will be no waitlist. Parents can only enroll in one location and once enrolled, it is final. As each site will have a capacity limit, enrolling early is encouraged.
• The enrollment process is very easy (unlike last year) and should only take a few minutes.  Once you enroll you will immediately receive an email confirming enrollment. The site CBO will then reach out to you with more specific forms for the location you choose.

This is just an overview but more information can be found at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/summer/grades-k-8

More information can be found HERE. 

The Chancellor's Message in all languages can be found HERE.

It is that time of year where we ask the question: Do you plan for your child to return to PS 166 in the fall?

Please take this SURVEY and answer yes, no or maybe. Your answers are in no way binding! This is just a way to start planning for the number of classes we need for each grade. 

Please do not answer for your current fifth grade students. We know they won't be here in September. 

Just to clarify, as the DOE language can be confusing: Students currently in G&T classrooms DO NOT need to reapply. They continue in the program through grade 5. On rare occasions, parents and/or teachers may decide it is in the best interest of the child to switch programs, but otherwise students in  G&T classes are automatically placed in G&T classes for the following year. 

The G&T application will be open from May 31 - June 13, 2022. Offers will be made in July. Please keep in mind, schools are closed in July, so registration will likely not take place until the last week of August when we return.

There are two types of G&T programs:

• K-to-5 G&T programs
  • These existing programs serve children throughout elementary school, from kindergarten through grade 5. Please note, PS 166 will continue to have two G&T classes on every grade, including kindergarten.
  • Children can enter these programs in kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3.
• NEW - Top Performer ("Grade 3") G&T programs
  • These 32 programs––one in each NYC community school district––serve children from grade 3 to grade 5. Please note, PS 166 does not have this program. 
  • Children enter these invitation-only programs in grade 3. Top-performing grade 2 students (whose grades are in the top 10% at their school) are invited to apply. 

Click HERE to learn more about how and when to participate, as well as how G&T offers are made. It's different and more complicated than in past years so please read carefully if you are interested in applying to the G&T program. 

Please be reminded that dogs are not allowed in Playground 89. While the school has no jurisdiction over the playground after school hours, we have received complaints from parents about dogs being there after school. Remember, some children (and adults) are afraid or allergic to dogs and no matter how friendly or adorable dogs are, they are prohibited from the playground.

With all that is going on around us, children have a lot of questions. Ms. Mac has shared resources to help teachers in the classroom but also has gathered the ones below, that parents may find useful.

Resources on Ukraine

How to Talk to Kids About Ukraine (New York Times) 
Resources for Educators, Families to Discuss the Events in Ukraine with Students 

Resources to Support Students Considering the Recent Subway Tragedy 
Ways to talk about subway shootings: 

1. I wonder if anyone saw anything on the news that they are worried about, 

 2. Listen to what children say and know, confirm what is true and reframe what is not true or needs clarification. Write down questions they may have.  

3. Say what the city is doing to help the people who got hurt.  

4. Say what the city is doing to make the subway safer.  

5. Invite children to write in their journals at intervals throughout the day if they think of other things they want to say .  

6. Invite children to do something proactive, like make cards to comfort children who attend nearby Sunset Park Schools and might have happened to be riding that train and might still be scared. 

Additional Articles: 

How to talk to children about difficult news (APA) 

How to Talk to Children About Tragedies (NCFR) 

Terrorism and War: How to Talk to Children (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) 

Responding to Tragedy: Resources for Educators and Parents (Edutopia) 

Every student was provided with four covid tests to take home. Two should be used to test your child before returning after break and two can be given to family members. For more information, please read the April 14 
 Chancellor's Letter for families.

The letter is available in all languages HERE. 

If you missed the presentation on April 6, click HERE for slides

Each week the DOE conducts in-school covid testing in every school. The student testing threshold is equal to either 20% of students with unknown vaccination status or 10% of school enrollment (grades 1-12), whichever quantity is greater. In our school, they use the 10% of 1-5 enrollment, which translates to 48 students per week. The students appear in random order on a list that we must adhere to. If your child is tested, he/she will receive a letter to take home with instructions on how to receive results.

Please be reminded that if your child tests positive, whether it is from in-school testing, a lab test or a home test,  notify the school right away as every case has to be entered and tracked by the situation room. Send the email to the classroom teacher(s), attendance@ps166.org and dmarkewich@schools.nyc.gov. 

The New York City School Survey is your chance to provide feedback to the DOE about your child’s school. Paper surveys were sent home last week, but you can also fill out the survey online here* or through your NYC Schools Account (find link at the top of the screen). *Enter “f” (lowercase) followed by your student’s nine-digit OSIS number.

The survey is confidential and no one at your child’s school will see your individual responses. Combined responses provide information and help the school improve its learning environment. If you have more than one child, please complete a survey for each child. 

If you have a general question, issue, or concern please email the administration, your teacher, or email us directly. You can also add your question anonymously to our google sheet. If you have a question or concern, others may too, and we can all work together to resolve it!

The chess program at PS 166 is a crown jewel at our school and one of the premier elementary school chess programs in the United States? Now in its 22nd year, the Manhattan Knights Chess Team boasts consistent top honors in all levels of tournament play. If your child is interested in participating in tournaments as a member of the chess team, please contact us to learn more.

Show your pride with our exclusive selection of uniquely branded products. 100% of the profit goes towards the PS 166 PTA to help sustain the resources and programs that benefit every student at PS 166.

Items may be shipped or picked up locally at Big Frog Custom T-shirts on the Upper West Side (80th/Broadway).

SHOP NOW

Thanks to your generous support, we were able to purchase guitar carts for the music room. Previously the guitars were stored in cases in a closet and it was time consuming and challenging to get them out for students to use. Now they are safe and easy for children to get out and put away. We can’t wait until our kids can get back in the music room to use them!

Our school community relies on parents like you!  Please sign up here to learn more about volunteer opportunities, and to let us know what skills and services you may be able to share!

Find out more about the fun events we have planned for this year here, and learn about volunteer opportunities. Email our VP of Volunteers, Tiffany Boyer, with questions or ideas, or to volunteer for an event!

We'd love to hear! We really do want to take questions from our parent community and get answers for you. We will be meeting with the administration several times in the coming days, so let us know!

Questions for the school? Submit Questions here

Pick a topic for our parent workshop Hosted by CMI: Vote here

Minutes for the June PTA meeting can be found here and we will vote on their approval at our next PTA meeting on October 21st at 9:30 am.

Please also consider supporting our very own PS166 parent-owned businesses!  If you’d like to add your own business to the list, please email us.

If you’re 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!