PS3 Newsletter #9

Charlie is a sweet and happy 2nd grader, who celebrated his 7th birthday yesterday! Charlie loves PS3, and proudly plans to attend for seven years. (Zoe, his sister and best friend, is quick to tell him that she’ll be at PS3 for eight years!) He appreciates being part of such a warm community, and does his part to contribute by bringing smiles and laughs to the faces of everyone who knows him.

His interests seem to change with the seasons, but several hobbies have staying power: climbing anything and everything, drawing, building with Legos, reading, skiing, and biking. He is a cautious risk-taker; he likes to challenge himself and push his limits, but only if he’s confident he can do so safely.

On weekends, Charlie loves having family dance parties and going to different parks and playgrounds, where he can climb, explore, and play baseball, basketball, or soccer.

Charlie is kind, caring, and adventurous, and is so grateful that he gets to make his mark at PS3!

Dear PS3 Families,

As we wrap up another fantastic week at PS 3, we have so many wonderful highlights to share!

A big thank you to our 3rd Grade, Kindergarten, 5th Grade, and 1st Grade families for joining us for our Family Mornings over the past week. We also want to share a special thank you to our teachers and paraprofessionals for opening their doors and designing engaging activities for students and parents to work on together. At the heart of our work are the students and building strong partnerships between school and families is essential as we work together for the success and well-being of every child.

SLT is another vital way we build genuine collaboration, shared purpose, and strong community connections for the benefit of our students. Our School Leadership Team (SLT) held its first meeting of the school year today. We extend a warm thank you to both our returning members and new members for their dedication and service to the PS 3 community! SLT Meetings are open to the public. Please see the upcoming SLT Meeting Dates below. The team meets from 7:15 to 8:15 AM in the library:

• Friday, November 20, 2026

• Friday, December 18, 2026

• Friday, January 22, 2027

• Friday, February 26, 2027

• Friday, March 19, 2027

• Friday, April 16, 2027

• Friday, May 28, 2027

• Friday, June 25, 2027

To ensure student voice is active in shaping our school environment, we are looking for 1–2 students to join our SLT. Student input is deeply valuable to our planning and discussions. Participating student members (and a parent/guardian) would join the meeting from 8:00 AM to 8:15 AM. If your child is interested in joining the SLT, please email hillary.susannah.rebecca@ps3charrettenyc.org.

Monday, 10/26 marks the kick-off of our WIN ("What I Need") periods! WIN is a dedicated block of time where students receive targeted intervention or enrichment tailored to their specific learning needs.

Student groups are thoughtfully formed using multiple assessments. This intentional structure is a core part of our school’s Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP) priority goals, ensuring that every child builds a strong foundation in reading through engaging, culturally responsive, and meaningful learning experiences that empower them to become confident readers.

Please remember that Tuesday, November 3rd is a remote learning half-day, with instruction ending at 11:30 AM. Our teachers will then conduct Parent-Teacher Conferences throughout the afternoon.

Your child's classroom teacher will share details regarding what remote learning will look like on November 3rd. Ahead of that morning, please take a moment to test logging into your child’s Google Classroom to ensure everything is set up smoothly.

You can find sign-up information for Parent-Teacher Conferences below in Cristina’s section of the newsletter.

• Monday, October 26

• Thursday, October 29

The countdown is on for one of PS 3's most beloved traditions: our annual Halloween Parade! On Friday, students will arrive in costume and parade through the neighborhood as families, friends, and community members gather to celebrate. We can't wait to see you there lining the streets and cheering on our students. Thank you for helping make this community tradition so special year after year!

With Gratitude,

Hillary Casado, Principal
Susannah Plunkett, Assistant Principal
Rebecca Boyd, Assistant Principal

hillary.susannah.rebecca@ps3charrettenyc.org

• The PS3 costume parade will begin at 8:45 AM on Friday October 30th.
• The Parade will follow the route below.
• Parents & Caregivers are encouraged to watch on the sidewalk outside of the school. Try to spread out along the entire route, so children get cheers the whole way!
• And please do not join the parade, no matter how cute they are.
• If your child will not be participating in the parade, please fill out THIS FORM so we can make other arrangements.

As you plan your child's costume, we have a few school-wide guidelines to help keep this event fun and safe:

• Costumes should be appropriate and comfortable, requiring no adjustment or work.
• Students should be able to maneuver around the building, including being able to use the bathroom, walk up and down stairs, participate in Dance and Physical Education, and play at recess, while wearing their costumes.
• NO PLAY WEAPONS in school. This includes “play” swords, guns, etc.
• Character masks that cover the whole child's face are allowed in the parade only, and at each teacher's discretion. Read your teacher’s weekly email for details.
• NO SCARY MASKS ARE ALLOWED.
• Do not send in any accessory that can be misplaced or taken by someone else.
• Also, please no costumes that are frightening or overly gory; the daytime Halloween celebration is for children and should be fun for them.
• No high heels.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are November 3rd from 1pm-3pm, then from 4:30pm - 7:30pm.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are approx 10 minutes each unless otherwise indicated. Please only sign up for 1 time slot per child. PS3 teachers, service providers & the school-based support team members will be happy to meet you and to discuss your child's progress!

If you cannot attend on either day, please contact your child's teachers to find an alternate time that works for you.

If you need help finding an email address, please email me at cfeith@ps3charrettenyc.org.

This is a friendly reminder that we require an updated Emergency Contact Form for every student at the start of each school year. Even if your contact information has not changed since last year, a new form must be submitted annually to ensure our records are completely accurate and legally up to date.

Having accurate, current information on file is vital for your child's safety, allowing us to reach you immediately in the event of an emergency.

You can access and fill out the form in Operoo by clicking here. If you are having issues accessing Operoo, please reach out to cfeith@ps3charrettenyc.org

Our 5th graders are excited to lead this year’s Daily News Food Drive benefiting City Harvest! From October 27 through November 26, we invite every PS3 community member to help make a difference for New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity.

Our goal is for each class to fill at least one collection box with donations. With millions of New Yorkers, including one in four children, facing food insecurity, your contribution will help keep local food pantries and community programs stocked with nutritious food throughout the five boroughs.

Most-Needed Items

Please consider donating any of the following:

• Canned fruit
• Canned vegetables
• Canned proteins (such as tuna or beans)
• Canned soups
• Peanut butter (plastic jars only)
• Boxed macaroni and cheese
• Family-sized hot or cold cereal
• Juice boxes or juice packs

Thank you for helping our students put compassion and community service into action. Every donation, big or small, makes a meaningful difference.

👉 Learn more about the Daily News Food Drive: https://www.cityharvest.org/daily-news-food-drive/

💛 Prefer to make a monetary donation? You can support City Harvest directly here: https://secure.cityharvest.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6700&mfc_pref=T&6700.donation=form1

Together, we can help ensure that families across New York City have access to the food they need. Thank you for your generosity!

For more than 26 years, Terence has been a familiar and welcoming presence at PS 3. As our school aide overseeing arrival, dismissal, and recess, he helps keep our days running smoothly while ensuring students and families feel seen and supported. His journey at PS 3 began in the after-school program in 2000 before officially joining the DOE in 2008.

What Terence enjoys most about his work is simple: helping others. Whether supporting students on the playground, greeting families at arrival, or lending a hand wherever needed, he finds joy in making a difference. He credits his mother as one of the most influential people in his life, describing her as someone who always showed up early, stayed late, and never hesitated to help others. Her example of generosity and dedication continues to guide the way he approaches his work every day.

A talented photographer and active community volunteer, Terence loves documenting neighborhood events, supporting local causes, and giving back whenever he can. He says the best part of PS 3 is the community and the children, especially when former students return to visit and share memories of their time here. One day, he hopes to open his own photography studio.

Fun Facts About Terence

• Favorite PS 3 Tradition: Field Day

• Favorite Children's Book: The Cat in the Hat

• Favorite Snack: Doritos

• Favorite Food: Pizza

• Three words that describe him: Tall, welcoming, and happy

His advice to students: "Never be afraid to be yourself."

When asked what he hopes every student experiences at PS 3, Terence's answer was heartfelt: "Finding happy times." And when asked what brings him the most joy at PS 3, his response was immediate and unsurprising: the kids. ❤️

Rey L

Bennett R

Georgina H

Tali D

Iggy LD

Lauren H.

Maeve

Annie

Lisa

Jaime

J.B.

Catherine B.

The PS3 Fair Book Fair, in partnership with McNally Jackson, is back for another chapter! Join us Tuesday, November 17–Friday, November 20, for a celebration of books and the joy of reading.

Our Mission: One Kid, One Book

Every student gets credit to choose a book to take home because every child deserves a story of their own! We suggest a $20 donation per student (more or less is always welcome), but no child goes home empty-handed. Donate Here!

Earn Your Wings: Become a Book Fairy!

We're looking for volunteers—aka Book Fairies—to help sell books, tidy our shelves, and make every reader feel welcome. No wand required! Sign Up For a Shift Here!

Family Shopping Hours:

• Thursday, Nov. 19 | 2:30–8 PM — During after school and our Fair Book Fair Affair
• Friday, Nov. 20 | 8:30–9:30 AM — During Coffee Catch

Save the Date: The Fair Book Fair Affair!

Join us Thursday, November 19, from 6–8 PM in the auditorium for a fun night out! The Fair Book Fair Affair features an author talk and book signing, music, light bites, crafts, and fun with the NYPL.

Bookmark the dates and help us make this a novel experience for every reader!

Only 2 days until Trick or Trot, and there’s still time to register and fundraise! We’ve already blasted past our $10,000 goal, but let’s keep the momentum going and see how much more we can raise to support PS3’s recess program with Kids in the Game!

THIS Sunday, October 25 | Pier 46 Arrive at noon | First race at 1 PM

A little friendly grade-wide fun! The winning grade in our participation competition will receive a sweet treat at recess!

Fundraising closes Sunday at 11:59 PM, so there’s still time to make an impact!

Register & Fundraise Here!

Volunteers Still Needed, Please Sign Up Here!

Costumes are encouraged! Kids of all ages are welcome to run - and yes, caregivers, that means you, too! Come dressed up, join the fun, and let’s make it a fa-BOO-lous day for the whole PS3 community!

Arrival / Dismissal map

Attendance Form

PS3 2026-27 School Calendar

Staff Directory

DOE School Calendar

DOE Lunch Menu

PS3 Family Handbook

School Nurse Email

Love Us Back!

...By Helping Us Shine Online! 🌟
We’re proud of the vibrant, caring community we’ve built at PS3, and we’d love your help sharing that with others! If you’ve had a positive experience at our school, please consider writing a review online. Your voice helps reflect the heart of our school and supports future families in getting to know us.

Thank you for being part of what makes PS3 so special!