Dear PS 107 Families,
As we head into the final stretch of the school year, I want to share something exciting that’s been happening behind the scenes — and in classrooms — at PS 107: we’ve been deepening our work with project-based learning (PBL).
PBL is very different from traditional “projects.” Instead of culminating assignments tacked onto the end of a unit, project-based learning is driven by student curiosity and centers on real-world problems with no easy answers. For example, our 4th grade students in Science with Ms. Barnes recently explored the driving question: “What is the best form of clean energy for New York City?” They built models of solar, wind, and hydroelectric power adapted to NYC buildings, and used those models to research and determine the most efficient solution.
Earlier this year, I asked for help with another incredible PBL endeavor: our 3rd graders’ efforts to share family immigration stories with the wider community. That work has blossomed into something truly extraordinary. Class 3-208, with Teacher Kai, interviewed PS 107 families, their extended relatives, and staff members from organizations supporting immigrants in NYC. The result? Powerful, student-created documentaries capturing the immigration journeys of our community.
These films have only been shown privately — until now. I’m thrilled to announce that Nitehawk Cinemas will be screening the documentaries on Tuesday, June 17th at 5:00 pm (doors open at 4:30 pm). The screening will benefit Make the Road NY, an organization that advocates for immigrants’ rights. Ticketing info will be shared soon, but for now — please save the date! By amplifying our students’ work, we hope to build empathy, understanding, and action during a time when immigrant families need our support more than ever.
Looking ahead to next year, we’ll be expanding our investment in PBL. Each grade will engage in at least one project-based learning cycle, aligned with one of their ELA modules. We’re also planning additional professional learning for teachers and thinking about how to share student-created products with the broader community. It’s an exciting direction that strengthens our commitment to meaningful, relevant, and joyful learning.
SCHOOLWIDE PHOTO – TUESDAY, JUNE 17
Also on June 17th (a big day for us!), we’ll be gathering as a full school community to take a schoolwide photo in the shape of “107” in our Big Yard! Each grade will wear a designated color noted below to form a rainbow. Please start thinking about what your child will wear:
PreK & Kindergarten: Red
1st Grade: Orange
2nd Grade: Yellow
3rd Grade: Blue
4th Grade: Purple
5th Grade: Green (wear your graduation t-shirts!)
These photos will be available for purchase for our community, and all proceeds will benefit the PTA. We can’t wait to capture this special moment together!
SPRING FLING – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4
Get your dancing shoes ready — Spring Fling is coming up next Wednesday, June 4th from 6:30–9:00 pm in the Big Yard! This annual PS 107 tradition is one of the best nights of the year — music, dancing, food, and fun under the stars. Thank you to our amazing parent leads, Betsy Goldfarb and Erin Bestereich, for making the magic happen once again!
As another school year winds down, I find myself reflecting — as I do every spring — on the growth, resilience, and joy we’ve seen in our students over these past ten months. We’re not quite at the finish line yet, but I can already say with confidence: it’s been another truly great year at PS 107. I can’t wait to close it out together.
Warmly,
Ms. Joanna
529 DAY! GRADES K-3
PS 107 is a proud Save for College Program school, which means your child has a NYC Scholarship Account with an initial $100 (unless you chose not to participate in the Program and opted out)!
As part of the Save for College Program, schools across the city will be celebrating 529 Day throughout the month of May. 529 Day (May 29th) celebrates the ways we are building a financial foundation for our youngest students' college and career dreams, together. 529 Day is named after the 529 account, a type of investment account created to help families save for college and career training. Through the Save for College Program, funds in children's NYC Scholarship Accounts are invested by NYC Kids RISE in a 529 account.
If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to activate and view your child’s NYC Scholarship Account today! When you take this step, you will earn an additional $25 for your child’s educational future. This step-by-step guide and this demo video give directions on how you can activate and view your child’s NYC Scholarship Account. There are also opportunities to earn additional money for your child’s account!
D15 NYC KIDS RISE WORKSHOP - GRADES K-3
Your Child Has a Free NYC Scholarship Account with Money for College and Career Training
Students automatically received an NYC Scholarship Account (unless you chose not to participate) with an initial $100 + opportunities to receive more rewards over time!
Please view this Presentation and Video Recording to learn more and activate your account!
MARBLE HEALTH WORKSHOP SERIES
Parenting comes with unique challenges - from managing stress and screen time to supporting academic success. Join us for free virtual workshops this May to learn effective strategies from Annie Graham, Stanford-trained clinician and researcher at Marble Health.
Upcoming May Sessions (Various Times to Accommodate Different Schedules):
WED, MAY 28 | 7 PM ET | Supporting Children Through Grief and Transition
SUMMER READING SKILLS PROGRAM
The Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies is offering grade level reading summer programs. These programs will be taught by instructors from the Institute of Reading Development.
and the classes will be offered in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, and Queens.
*Please see the attached flyer for more details regarding dates and times
LOST & FOUND
Please check this document for some updated pictures : Did You Lose Me?
*If you see an item you now have in your possession, please just ignore the picture in the document
RESOURCES
NEW ! SUMMER EBT BENEFITS
The Summer EBT benefit of $120 per eligible child is provided on a Summer EBT card and will be issued only once; benefits expire and are removed from the EBT card 122 days after they are issued.
For questions, please contact the Customer Service Contact Information or OTDA.NY.gov/SummerEBT and then call the Summer EBT Helpline (1-833-452-0096) if further assistance is needed.
- DOE Protocols for Non-Local Law Enforcement
- Know Your Rights A Guide to Your Rights When Interacting with Law Enforcement-English
- Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs
- Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs - Know Your Rights
NON-SPECIFIC RESOURCES
PRIDE EVENTS 2025
PRIDE MARCHES
- Queens Pride
- Sunday June 1st
- Jackson Heights
- Brooklyn Pride
- Saturday June 14 (evening March)
- Park Slope
- NYC Pride
- Sunday June 29
- Lower Manhattan
*Keep looking out for more information and registration details from LGBTQ@schools.nyc.gov
CEC 15 BUSINESS MEETING
Date: June 10th
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: 131 Livingston St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
This meeting will be held in person with a livestream option via zoom, please register now using the following link:
https://nycdoe.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAvcO-tqTwuE9d0sHkVTq6w0H-tT9jM6iWQ
CEC 15 CALENDAR MEETING
Date: June 17th
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: PS 58 - 330 Smith St.
This meeting will be held in person with a livestream option via zoom, please register now using the following link: https://nycdoe.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0sdO6pqDMpEt20Z7Z9GBdtfVGY9Q_JMmMy
SUPPORTING ALL LEARNERS: A WORKSHOP ON NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS
This Friday, May 30th at 9:30am, following Family Friday, please join Dr. Kluger and the team at Interactive Discovery for a parent-focused workshop that explores the role of neuropsychological assessments in supporting a child's learning journey. In "Supporting All Learners," participants will learn what neuropsychological assessments are and how they can be of benefit, explore different learning profiles and how they impact education, and discover ways to interpret assessment results and collaborate with educators for effective support. This workshop offers insights and practical tips to empower you as a parent in navigating your child's educational path. It will be available both in-person in the cafeteria of PS 107 and live-streamed. Find out more on Konstella.
FUNDRAISERS
ANNUAL FUND
Please contribute to the Annual Fund, which directly supports essential school programs and resources. We are less than 8K away from reaching our fundraising goal for this year; please help get us over the finish line! Here’s how:
- Donate via Konstella here,
- Share this link with non-Konstella using friends and family, or
- Leave a check made out to PS 107 PTA with Ms. Nadia in the office.
- We also accept gifts of stock here - stock donations are tax-free!
YOUR GIFT MATTERS! Many thanks to our amazing school community for all of the ways you contribute.
SPECIAL EVENTS
COMMUNITY HELP IN PARK SLOPE (CHiPS) FOOD DRIVE
Every Wednesday at morning drop-off, rain or shine, the Community Outreach Committee will be collecting food donations for CHiPS, a soup kitchen and food pantry which helps support neighbors currently experiencing food insecurity.
Find volunteers by the school’s main entrance where they will be collecting:
o Sandwiches, (please label w/ contents)
o Bread Packages
o Lunch Meat Packages
o Eggs
o Tortillas
o Individually Portioned Prepared Meals, (please label w/ contents)
o Microwavable meals
o Jars of Peanut Butter and/or Jelly
o Cereal/Instant Oatmeal
o Shelf Stable Milk and Juice
o Fruit Cups
o Fresh Fruit
o Individually Wrapped Snacks
o Ziplock and Grocery Bags, and
o Plastic cutlery
NY LIBERTY BASKETBALL GAME
This, Sunday, June 1st, at 3:00pm, almost 200 PS 107 basketball fans will be at the Barclays Center on Ellie the Elephant's birthday! It's not too late to buy tickets to see the NY Liberty face off against the Connecticut Sun; purchase online, with a proportion of proceeds going to the PTA.
Questions? Email Rebecca Cetta.
CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
If your student identifies as Caribbean and would like to see themselves up on the walls of PS 107 during Caribbean-American Heritage Month (June), please complete the attached template here and email it, along with a picture of your student to samanthajagessar@gmail.com by this Monday, June 2nd.
Any questions, please email samanthajagessar@gmail.com and anais.casimir@gmail.com
SPRING FLING
This year's Spring Fling will take place on Wednesday, June 4th, from 6:30-9:00pm. The PS 107 Spring Fling is a dance party for the entire school, where students and families come together to dance the night away. Tickets cost $10/person or $25/family. (Children three years old and younger may attend for free.) Tickets can be pre-purchased or purchased at the door, but we STRONGLY recommend you pre-purchase tickets in advance here.
In order for this event to run smoothly, we need your help! There are lots of opportunities to support this event here.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Erin Bestreich (erinbestreich@gmail.com) and Betsy Goldfarb (betsyolney@gmail.com).
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
BIG YARD GAMES
On Monday, June 9th, each grade will spend a whole period taking part in PS 107's version of 'Field Day', featuring fun games for all. Volunteers will be needed to help supervise and guide students from one activity to the next.
Please mark your calendar and be on the look out for a Konstella sign-up soon.
Questions? Email Danny Fried.
CHiPS NEEDS YOU!
Looking to get involved in the community but don't have a lot of time to give? Community Outreach and the CHiPS donation collection team are seeking volunteers for the 2025-26 school year to help handle the weekly morning collection of donations to CHiPS. We are looking for volunteers to rotate through the year, 30 minutes a week, 8:10AM-8:40AM on Wednesdays, and/or driving donations (car required, generally back to the neighborhood by 9:30AM).
Please reach out to Julie Fields Julie.a.fields@outlook.com if interested in learning more.
NYCPS CALENDAR
Please click here for the complete 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school year calendars.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS
May 29 - 1st Grade Picnic, Bandshell North
May 30
- Family Morning 8:20 am
- Interactive Discovery In Person Workshop 9:30 am
June 3
- 3rd grade & Alvin Ailey Final Culmination 10am
- 2nd Grade Picnic, Picnic House North
June 4 - Spring Fling 6:30 pm
June 9 - Big Yard Games
June 10 - Superintendent Town Hall - details tbd
June 12
- New Family Welcome Breakfast 9 am
- PTA meeting 6:30 pm (zoom)
June 17 - Schoolwide Photo Day!
June 20 - Fifth Grade Graduation @ PS 10
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS/CLOSURES
June 5 - Eid al-Adha (School Closed)
June 6th - Clerical Day (Non Attendance Day for Students)
June 19 - Juneteenth (Schools Closed)
June 26 - Last Day of School!