This Week @ PS 88Q

What a wonderful week! It was so great to see all of you walking the halls and visiting your child’s teachers on Wednesday evening. It is so important for you to not only see where your child spends their day, but also to meet the staff and other families who are on this same journey with you. The students were so excited to show you where they sit, what they do, and to share a little piece of their school day with you. There will be many opportunities this year for you to be in the building—we truly value your partnership.

I’m sure you noticed during your visits that our small class sizes are a game changer. With drastically reduced student-to-teacher ratios, every child benefits from more individual support and time. This is already making a meaningful impact on our classrooms and learning experiences.

This week is a short one, with school in session only on Monday, Thursday, and Friday, but as always, it will be busy and filled with learning. I also want to share that I have completed the before- and after-school program application. We are still finalizing some details and exploring additional opportunities, but we want to ensure that the programs reflect what our families truly want and need. Please let me know if there is something specific you would like to see included.

📅 Upcoming Events & Reminders

• No School: Tuesday, September 23rd & Wednesday, September 24th

• Afterschool Applications: Now open! Apply today for programs that interest your child.

• PTA Meeting: Thursday, September 25th 🗓️

  • A special activity will be provided for all students during the meeting.

🌟 Looking Ahead

• Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15–October 15

• Family Event – Little Bites: Pequeños Bocaditos
  Wednesday, October 9th | 5:15–6:30 PM | Cafeteria
  Join us as we celebrate with food, community, and culture. More details coming soon!

We are excited to share that our before and afterschool opportunities are here! 🎉 Please see the programs listed below. As interest grows, we will continue to expand and add more opportunities.

Families are encouraged to apply for the programs they would like their child to participate in. Once enrollment is confirmed, a permission slip will be sent home to all students who are selected.

We look forward to offering enriching and engaging experiences for our students beyond the school day!

We want your feedback. The Office of Food and Nutrition Services wants to provide you with the best food service program possible. You may also translate the survey by clicking on the dropdown in the top right corner of the page. Thank you in advance for wanting to make a difference and answering these questions.

We are now on Instagram! Follow us at @nycps.ofns for weekly menus, new items, recipes, nutrition education, and much more.

At PS 88Q, your voice matters! 💬 As we begin another exciting school year, I encourage all families to share your ideas, feedback, and hopes for what you’d like to see in our school community. Your partnership helps us grow stronger together, and every suggestion—big or small—makes a difference for our students. Let’s keep the conversation going!

https://forms.office.com/r/v5hTtXLwcm

Federal and state law, as well as revised Chancellor’s Regulation A-820, require the DOE and its schools to provide families with these annual notices around the protection of student rights and privacy.

• Annual FERPA Notice;

• Annual PPRA Notice; and

• Parent Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security.

PTA General Meeting – This Thursday!
Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 6:00–7:00 PM
PS88Q Auditorium (with Zoom option) | Supervised kids activities available

This is the first PTA General Membership Meeting of the year! Meet your PTA Executive Board, hear updates from Principal O’Shaughnessy, and you can help set priorities for events and family activities this school year.

Annual Parent Survey – By Friday, September 26
Required each year—even if you filled it out last year. Remember, the classroom with the most parent responses will receive a $50 gift card to spend as they choose!

Two quick things to do right now:
1. RSVP for the meeting → https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rsvp-ps88q-pta-kickoff-meeting-sept-25-tickets-1695851801389

2. Complete the Parent Survey → http://bit.ly/AnnualSurvey2025-26 (Which classroom will win the $50 gift card?)

Thank you! Every parent/guardian at PS88 is automatically a PTA member. Your voice and your vote matter. Please join us!

Your PTA Executive Board
Samantha (President) • Sabita (Treasurer) • Abbey (Secretary) • Caitlin & Mariella (Events) • Arianna (Fundraising) • Marc & Carlos (Communications)

Dear Families and Colleagues,

As both a lifelong educator and a New York City Public Schools parent, I know firsthand the importance of family empowerment. Parents and guardians must be welcomed, respected, and valued in our school communities. This is one of the three commitments I made when I first became Chancellor, along with student safety and educator support. So, as we start the year, here are a few ways we’re ensuring families are at the table:

• Family Connectors: As part of our NYCPS Cares initiative, these volunteers connect parents and guardians to city services and resources. I encourage you to learn more and express your interest in becoming a Family Connector!
• Language Access: This summer, we updated Chancellor’s Regulation A-663, so even more families can receive school materials in their preferred language. Visit our website to learn more about translation and interpretation services.
• Parent Leadership: Families strengthen our schools by bringing their voices to our parent leadership structures. I encourage families to learn more about our Community and Citywide Education Councils and consider applying for vacant seats to help shape our school system.
• Parent Coordinators: Parent Coordinators are school-based staff dedicated to ensuring families are included and involved in their school communities. Find a school’s parent coordinator using our “Find a School” tool.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences: The first round of parent-teacher conferences began this week and will continue for certain grade levels on September 25. Check out these conference tips for more information.
  
  

To our staff, thank you for your dedication and hard work on behalf of our students. To our parents and family members, thank you for your collaboration and for trusting us with your children. We are all partners in this work.

In partnership,

Melissa Aviles-Ramos

Chancellor