This Week @ PS 88Q

There is truly nothing like an elementary school between Halloween and Winter Break. The energy, traditions, excitement, and learning all swirl together into something magical. I honestly have no idea how our staff do it! They somehow balance what school must be—rich academic learning that prepares our children for the future—with what school should be: filled with experiences, enrichment, curiosity, and joy.

I am blessed to walk the hallways and open classroom doors every day. I get to witness the moments that make all of this come to life. This week in particular, that balance will be real! Classroom celebrations of gratitude remind us what this season is all about and makes being in school feel even more special.

When we return after Thanksgiving, December will be here—and it will fly, as it always does. The final days of 2025 will be filled with so many celebrations and experiences that honor our students, their hard work, and their cultures and traditions. Stay tuned for all that is to come!

One event I am thrilled to share is our Holiday Band and Chorus Concert on December 16th at 6:00 PM. Our students have been working so hard, and under the direction of Mr. Dumont and Mr. DeCastro, it will be absolutely fantastic!

In addition, our Social Justice Committee is honoring the many celebrations of the season. We would love to know how your family celebrates—Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and any other winter traditions.
📌 Please click below to share your celebration with us.

December Holiday Celebrations Survey – Fill out form

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

❤️ Upcoming Reminders

📸 November 25: Photo Retake Day
⭐ November 26: No PS 88Q after-school programs, except for Wednesday Band and Chorus

⭐ November 27th and November 28th: No School: Happy Thanksgiving
🕰️ December 4: Half-Day for Parent-Teacher Conferences — dismissal at 11:20 AM

Each week, I complete a similar newsletter for our staff, with all the information they need for the week. Part of the newsletter is a Shout Out section, which is always full! If you have a shout out for any of our staff, please click here, and I will be sure to share it in the Staff Newsletter!

Do you ever wonder what goes into meal preparation at PS 88Q? Well out kitchen staff prepares almost 700 breakfasts, 700 lunches, and snack for our GRYC program and our afterschool programs every day! And now lunch and snack for our Saturday students. And I complain about cooking dinner! Check out the video from the Eagles Lens Crew!

I want to take a moment to thank you for the incredible partnership, communication, and support you continue to show our school. The strength of our PS 88Q community comes from families like yours, who work closely with us to care for our students academically, socially, and emotionally.

Recently, some families received a letter regarding student attendance. I want to reassure you that our priority is, and always will be, to help and support our families—never to pressure or criticize. Life is complicated, and balancing school attendance with the responsibilities of caring for a child isn’t always easy. As a mom myself, I remember those days well, especially when my daughters were young. And with flu season here, we know the challenge becomes even greater.

I’m happy to share that our attendance rate has continued to increase, thanks to the many supportive measures we’ve put in place together. In order to help even more—and to avoid overlapping calls or confusion—please contact the main office directly anytime your child will be:

📌 Absent
📌 Late
📌 Picked up early

Our teachers are incredible partners, and Class Dojo is a wonderful way to communicate with them. However, for attendance-related updates, teachers may not see messages during the school day, so reaching out to the main office helps ensure we’re informed right away. Our amazing secretaries, Mrs. Jackie Pepe, Ms. Ann Marie Guardi, are always available, as well as our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Ivett. Just call us at 718-821-8121, and press 0. When we know in advance, you won’t receive a follow-up call from us, and we will always make sure teachers are notified.

To support you further, I’ve included the NYC Guidelines on illness in schools, which I hope you find helpful when making decisions during this busy season.

Thank you for being such amazing partners in this work. We are always here to support you and your child. Together, we will continue to help every student learn, grow, and feel safe and cared for.

We want to share our heartfelt gratitude for the beautiful Thanksgiving Gathering that took place on Saturday, November 22. It was a day filled with community, generosity, and joy—exactly what the season is all about.

More than 150 adults and children from our PS 88Q family (and our amazing Saturday School staff) joined together to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, dessert, and most importantly… lots of love! 🧡🍽️

This special event was made possible through the generosity of our partners:

🥣 Tasty’s of Ridgewood
🥘 Benny’s Cuban Café
🚚 The Hungry Monk Rescue Truck
🥗 ReThink Food

We are truly grateful for their commitment to serving our community.

We also want to extend a huge thank you to Father Mike Lopez, whose hard work, dedication, and compassion brought this collaboration to life. His commitment to our PS 88Q families made this moment possible.

And of course, thank you to our amazing Parent Coordinator, Ms. Ivett, for making sure every detail was taken care of with heart and patience.

It was a beautiful day that reminded us that PS 88Q is more than a school—we are a family. 💛

Wishing you all a season filled with warmth, gratitude, and connection.

This past week, the staff at PS 88Q had a secret… a secret Spirit Week! 🎉
We went incognito, sipped from anything but a cup, dressed in our favorite decades, swapped jobs for “Dress as Another Role at PS 88Q,” and even spent a day “Dressed Like a Student!”

I’m still not sure who had more fun — our students trying to figure out what we were up to, or us sneaking around with silly smiles all week! 😄💙💛

In the spirit of kindness and community, we are once again hosting The Giving Tree at PS 88Q. Each year, this tradition helps us support our own families who may be in need during the holiday season. With your help, we hope to make this season a little brighter for everyone.

This year, we will be fulfilling holiday wishes and winter needs, including:

🧤 Winter clothing (coats, hats, gloves, scarves, boots)
🎁 Holiday gifts (toys, books, games, etc.)
🍎 Food items and other essentials

We invite you to participate in one of two ways:

✨ If your family needs support, please complete the link below.
💙 If you are able to help another family, please also complete the same link.

Together, we can lift each other up and make the holidays truly meaningful for our PS 88Q community.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and community spirit.
💙💛 We are PS 88Q.

Dear Families,

We want to remind you that our school day begins promptly at 8:00 AM. At that time, classes leave the auditorium and cafeteria and proceed to their classrooms. Instruction starts right at 8:00 AM, so it’s important that students arrive on time.

Currently, the school yard gate has remained open until 8:05 AM, but this creates a safety concern as students walking in after 8:00 AM are unescorted. To ensure everyone’s safety, beginning Monday, November 17, the gate will close at 8:00 AM.

Here are a few key points:

The gate opens daily at 7:30 AM.

Once the gate is closed at 8:00 AM, please do not open it. Staff who supervise arrival will have moved to the main lobby.

Please do not send students through the Pre-K entrance.

Safety is always our top priority, and we appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a secure environment for all students.

Thank you for your support!

It is hard to believe, but we are already planning for the 2026-2027 School Year! We are so proud of the many opportunities we have for 3K, Pre-K and Kindergarten.

Choosing a school for your child’s earliest years is a big decision, and we are so proud to share all that PS 88Q offers our youngest learners! From 3-K through Kindergarten, our students experience a warm, joyful, and developmentally rich early childhood program—right here in the heart of an elementary school community.

🌼 Our Early Childhood Programs (3-K & Pre-K)

At PS 88Q, our littlest learners have access to everything an elementary school provides while still enjoying an authentic early childhood experience. Students benefit from:

✔ Daily outdoor gross motor play in our schoolyard
✔ A sensory room designed to support emotional regulation and exploration
✔ A team of licensed providers, including Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Physical Therapy
✔ Specialized supports for students with IEPs
✔ After-school childcare through Supermoon
✔ Hands-on, play-based learning that nurtures curiosity and independence

🐣 Kindergarten at PS 88Q

Our kindergarteners take a big step forward with opportunities that build creativity, confidence, and strong academic foundations. We proudly offer:

🔹 ICT STEM Discovery Program
🔹 ICT NEST Program (NYU Affiliation) supporting students across all learning needs
🔹 ICT I-Read Program, specializing in early literacy with a focus on characteristics of dyslexia
🔹 Daily arts and enrichment, where students participate in Visual Arts, Theater, Music, STEM, or Coding

🎨🎭🎻🎶 A New Two-Year Arts & Performance Residency

We are thrilled to announce that both our Pre-K and Kindergarten students have begun a two-year arts residency with esteemed partners:

✨ Studio in a School (Visual Arts)
✨ 92nd Street Y Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) (Creative Movement & Dance)
✨ Third Street Music Settlement (Music Instruction)
✨ New Victory Theater (Theater & Creative Expression)

These partnerships bring expert educators into our classrooms, giving our students access to some of NYC’s most renowned arts organizations—right here at PS 88Q!

We are excited to welcome new families and continue growing with those already part of our school community. PS 88Q is a place where children are seen, supported, and inspired every day.

If you have any questions or would like a tour, we are always happy to help!
We can’t wait to learn, play, and grow together. 🌟

We are planning our Open House Events, and want to hear from you! Please sign up for our specific mailing list, so that you are first to know when!

Open House Timing and Preferences Survey – Fill out form

Kindergarten Admissions

• Tuesday, December 9, 2025: Kindergarten Application Opens
• Friday, January 23, 2026: Kindergarten Application Closes
• Tuesday, March 31, 2026: Kindergarten Offer Release

3-K Admissions

• Wednesday, January 14, 2026: 3-K Application Opens
• Friday, February 27, 2026: 3-K Application Closes
• Tuesday, May 19, 2026: 3-K Offer Release

Pre-K Admissions

• Wednesday, January 14, 2026: Pre-K Application Opens
• Friday, February 27, 2026: Pre-K Application Closes
• Tuesday, May 12, 2026: Pre-K Offer Release

School Picture Retakes – This Tuesday!

Say cheese! School picture retakes will be held Tuesday, November 25 (during the school day)

Fundraiser: An Evening at il Gigante

Monday, December 8 | 4pm-7pm

Join us for a private evening for PS88 families (adults only). All proceeds support classroom micro-grants and our Spring Fling celebration. For more information, make sure you're signed up for our newsletter and/or our WhatsApp group!

RSVP: PTA General Membership Meeting—Thursday, December 18

Join us for our next PTA General Membership Meeting on Thursday, December 18, from 6p–7p in the PS88 Auditorium. We’ll share updates on upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and how your support helps make our school even stronger.

Fun activities will be available for kids during the meeting, so bring the whole family! All parents and caregivers are welcome—come be part of the conversation!

RSVP + Add to your calendar: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ps88q-pta-november-general-meeting-dec-18-tickets-1975217066417?aff=oddtdtcreator

Happy Thanksgiving!

From all of us on the PTA, we wish all PS88 students, parents, and families a happy, restful, and joyful Thanksgiving!

Keep in Touch!

Stay connected with the latest PTA news, events, and announcements—we’d love for you to be part of the conversation!

WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/ILNl02KhJQb3mcy8C9Gb63

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ps88q.pta

All Things PTA + Newsletter Signup: linkin.bio/ps88pta

Dear Families and Colleagues,

We are quickly approaching Thanksgiving, and I’ve been filled with a deep sense of gratitude for our NYC Public Schools community. As Chancellor, I have the privilege of engaging with that community every single day, from visiting schools and classrooms to meeting with our families. And while we are the largest district in the nation, we maintain a strong sense of care and warmth, because our community works tirelessly to ensure that every child is cherished, understood, and supported.

To our staff members: Your expertise and commitment are what make our system run. You serve in a vast array of roles across our city, but you are united in the goal we all share: delivering bold futures for our students. I believe this work is both a privilege and a responsibility, and I know you feel the same way. Thank you for all you do.

To our families: You are our true partners and our students’ first teachers. Whether you are signing up for a parent leadership position or reading with your child in the evenings, you play an essential role in the development and success of our young people. Thank you for trusting us with your children and for choosing NYC Public Schools.

To our students: You are the reason why we are here. You are learning and growing each day, and we are so proud of your progress. Thank you for giving your best effort in everything you do. We are here to cheer you on, both in and beyond the classroom.

And to all those in our communities who help our schools deliver equity and excellence, thank you. I’m honored to do this work alongside you. I hope you can spend this season with loved ones and get some well-deserved rest.

In partnership,

Melissa Aviles-Ramos

Chancellor