Dear PS 107 Families,
It was wonderful seeing so many of you at last Friday’s Family Morning! We are thrilled to be able to return to the pre-Covid tradition of having all families in classrooms at the same time to engage in projects and learning with your children. I visited nearly every classroom and saw so many terrific things happening, from art projects related to your children’s ELA units to math games to Halloween crafts. Please mark your calendars for our next Family Morning, which is Friday, December 6th!
ARRIVE ON TIME TO SCHOOL!
Please remember that school starts at 8:20 am daily and children who arrive after 8:25 am will be marked late. We will begin closing all of our entry gates at 8:25 am starting Monday, October 21st. Children who arrive after their entry gate is closed should enter through the main entrance on 8th Avenue. On-time arrival is very important – it helps children transition more easily to the school day, as well as be able to participate in important activities in their classrooms. Please make every effort to get your child to school on time!
LATE ARRIVALS MUST BE SIGNED IN
If your child arrives late after the gates and main entrance doors have been closed, please escort them into the school building and sign them in on our late arrival sheet, located just in front of Agent Sharon’s desk. For safety reasons, it is imperative that an adult accompany their child all the way into the building and sign them in. Thank you for your attention to this.
This same rule applies to children who are dropped off before school begins, for Early Bird. There is an Early Bird sign-in sheet that an adult must complete. Please help us keep your children safe by adhering to these important rules. Thank you!
BEFORE-SCHOOL CLUBS + PARENT SUPERVISION
On a related note, children who are attending before-school, parent-run activities such as Math Magic or book clubs, must be accompanied by an adult. This is also for safety and liability reasons. We do not have a staff member supervising these activities, therefore, children must remain under the care and supervision of an adult. This applies to all students, no matter what grade they are in. Thank you for your understanding.
PS 107’s FARMSTAND STARTS TODAY
Thanks to a partnership between PS 107 and Grow NYC, I am thrilled to announce that PS 107’s weekly farmstand begins today! Our farmstand will take place weekly on Wednesdays, from 2:40 to 4 pm, until Thanksgiving, on 8th Avenue, and will sell organic produce sourced from the Greenmarket, as well as from our very own garden. Our PE teacher, Ali Annunziato, will run the farmstand with assistance from our parent Garden Committee, but anyone can volunteer to help out! Sign up here to volunteer. Kids welcome after dismissal!
PARENT EVENT: DISCUSSING DIGITAL DILEMMAS
In honor of Digital Citizenship month, please join us at our first parent/caregiver discussion of the year, Discussing Digital Dilemmas. On Wednesday, October 23rd, from 8:45 to 10 am in the PS 107 Cafeteria, join 107 parent Tali Horowitz who works for Common Sense Media to facilitate an interactive session to discuss any digital dilemmas/scenarios/questions you might have as we help our kids navigate our evolving world!
This event will have more of a discussion format than our previous workshops on this topic and will be a chance to talk to other parents about how they handle issues like media balance, when to get their child a phone, and more! Feel free to submit questions/dilemmas in advance here. For more information and to RSVP, click here.
SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR NEXT PARENT EVENT: GENDER 101
Please also save the date for a parent/caregiver workshop called Gender 101, presented by the Ackerman Institute’s Gender and Family Project. This workshop will be held on Tuesday, November 12th, 5:30-7 pm, on a virtual platform. According to the Gender and Family Project, the purpose of training is to increase awareness of gender. This training provides basic information on gender including terminology, language, pronouns, and the impact of gender roles and expectations. More information, including an RSVP, will come soon!
CONSTRUCTION ON 8TH AVENUE
Finally, as many of you have noticed, there is major roadwork going on right in front of our building. This is because of a recent water main break that requires significant repairs. As you have been, please use extreme caution when crossing 8th Avenue and remind your children to do so as well. When classes cross to the Armory, we are being sure to avoid the construction.
Have a wonderful week!
Warmly,
Ms Joanna
FIFTH GRADE & MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
- NEW! Middle School Admissions Timeline
- October 15, 2024: Middle school application opened
- November 8, 2024: Deadline to register to test for Mark Twain I.S. 239 (21K239) and District 21 Talent Tests
- December 20, 2024: Middle school application closes
- April 9, 2025: Middle school offer release
- D15 Middle School List
- Click here to view the current middle school list for District 15. This year, you can apply to any middle school in the NYC area, however you receive priority here in the District 15.
- MySchools Middle School List (for all NYC schools)
- Middle School Virtual Admission Events
- Tuesday, October 15 - 5 to 6 pm
- Click this link to join event: Fall 2025 MS Admissions Virtual Event and enter the passcode 123456# - Click here to view interpretation options and instructions
- Tuesday, October 22 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
- Click this link to join event: Fall 2025 MS Admissions Virtual Event and enter the passcode 123456# - Click here to view interpretation options and instructions
- See attached flyer for details
- D15 Middle School Virtual Fair
- Wednesday, October 30, 2024 6:30 to 8:00 pm
- See photo and attached flyer for details
CAFETERIA SURVEY
Please provide your feedback regarding cafeteria offerings via this survey (available in all DOE languages).
Note: The survey takes approximately five minutes to complete and will be open until December 13.
The FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes and celebrates extraordinary public school teachers who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment.
One grand-prize winner from each of the five NYC boroughs will receive a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize, and their schools will receive a $10,000 grant designated for use in an arts-based initiative designed by each winner.
The nomination process is open until November 24, 2024.
Click here if you would like to nominate a teacher: https://flagaward.org/
LOST & FOUND - Updated 10/15/24
The lost and found will go out for DONATION at the end of the month! Please check this document for your child's items.
We ask families to please label your child's belongings with their first and last name.
Please be sure to check for your child's lost items in this virtual lost & found document: Did You Lose Me?
*If you see an item you now have in your possession, please just ignore the picture in the document
D15 FAMILY WORKSHOP : LUNCH & LEARN SERIES
This 7 part series will share ideas & strategies to positively support your child's behavior at home.
Join us Friday's at 12pm : 10/25, Nov 8 & 22 , Dec 6 & 20
Zoom link:
https://zoom.us/j/93903954056?pwd=GKhLyG6NlUSeb9gw0fvNlO1339A2X3.1#success
CLUBS AND MEETINGS
THURSDAY MORNING TRACK RUN (TMTR)
Every Thursday, rain or shine, students and guardians are invited to join the legendary PS 107 Track Team for a weekly morning run in Prospect Park.
TMTR will meet in front of PS 107 each Thursday at 7am, where participants will warm up before heading to Bartel-Pritchard Square for a 45 minute run/trot/jog.
No running experience required - we hope to see you there!
BOOK CLUBS
Everyone is a reader – some just haven’t found their favorite book yet! If your child is looking for literary inspiration or loves to talk about a good book with friends, please consider joining us for monthly book club meetings Tuesday mornings.
Meetings are underway for Grades K, 1, 3, and 5; registration information and meeting details for these grades have already been emailed.
Note: Participating students in all grades must remain with a parent or guardian throughout book club meetings.
Want to be a PS 107 Literacy Legend and lead a book club for grade 2 or 4? Sign up using the link here.
MATH MAGIC
On Wednesday mornings from 7:30-8:20am, join us in the 4th floor art room for games, puzzles, worksheets, coffee, doughnuts, and Pi. (Bring your own reusable mug, if possible.)
Sharpen your math skills with friends and mingle with kids and parents from other grades. All ages and proficiencies welcome.
Please note: Participating kiddos are asked to remain in the art room until 8:20am and parents or guardians of students in all grades are asked to stay for the duration. We hope to see you there!
PTA GENERAL MEETING
Please join us on Thursday, October 17th from 6:30-7:30pm for our second PTA General Meeting of the school year.
The agenda will be shared prior to the meeting; please use the zoom link here to join. We hope to see you there!
JEWISH AFFINITY GROUP MEET-UP
The brand new Jewish Affinity Group will have its kick-off get together this Sunday, October 20th at 10am in Prospect Park’s Harmony Playground. Meet-up is BYOC (bring your own coffee, croissants, cocktails... or whatever you want).
All family members welcome to attend! If you are interested in getting emails about the Jewish Affinity Group, please sign up here: Jewish Affinity Group.
ANNUAL FUND
Contribute to the Annual Fund, which directly supports essential school programs and resources.
From Monday, October 21st through Friday, October 25th, all donations will be MATCHED by an anonymous team of PS 107 families until we reach 10K! 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.
PTA FUN RUN
Join us on Saturday, October 26th for the Brooklyn PTA Fun Run!
The Fun Run is a family-friendly event where Brooklyn PTAs and community members of all ages come together to run/bike/scoot/walk around Prospect Park Loop Road to raise funds for Brooklyn schools with Title I status.
This year, PS 107’s Track Team and Community Outreach Committee are teaming up to raise funds for our sister school, PS 124.
Participants will meet in LeFrak Center at 9am for bib pick up; race starts at 10am.
Students raising the most money get a prize. Sign up here.
*Financial assistance is also available. Please reach out to Mary Pratt (mary.pratt@gmail.com) with questions.
OWN A LOCAL BUSINESS? LIST IT ON KONSTELLA
If you own a local business and want to advertise to the families of our 540+ students, consider listing on Konstella.
Businesses that offer a promotion to our community typically pay $259 per year and Konstella donates 50% of the earnings to our school. Participating businesses are advertised on the Konstella app and website, appear on all school wide emails, and a dedicated email featuring sponsoring businesses is sent to all users four times per year.
To register, visit https://www.konstella.com/business/introduction/plans and select PS107.
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
PLASTIC BOTTLE COLLECTION
Please help the PSSE Committee collect 400 plastic Bottles by Friday, October 18th for the Fall Festival Mindfulness Activity. Drop-off clear, rinsed bottles with cap/lids (6-32oz) to the main lobby collection box during morning drop-off. Collection boxes will also be available outside on Wednesday mornings. Thank you for your support and contribution!
FALL FESTIVAL
Fall Festival is almost here! This Saturday, October 19th from 12-4pm we will be taking over 14th street for the event of the season!
TICKETS are now on sale! We recommend purchasing tickets in advance to avoid lines at the festival. Pre-purchased wristbands and tickets will be available for pick-up in front of the school on Friday from 8:20-9:00am, 2:40-3:30pm, and 5:00-5:50pm.
PIE & CHILI CONTEST signups are live. Does autumn bring out your competitive side? Register now for your chance to win bragging rights for the year.
VOLUNTEER SIGNUPS AND SUPPLIES DONATIONS are open. The event is 100% staffed by parent and alumni volunteers and MANY shifts are still available. Please lend a hand and help ensure all events are staffed and able to proceed on schedule; additional volunteers are necessary to keep activities open throughout the day and to minimize long lines and wait time for the kiddos!
CLOTHING DONATION: COSTUMES, COATS, HATS, & GLOVES
The Community Outreach Committee will be collecting gently used costumes for children (ages 3-11), winter coats for adults, and hats and gloves for kids at the Fall Festival on Saturday, October 19th. Please bring items in good condition only; no items with holes or stains. Donations will benefit our sister school, PS 124.
PS 107 GEAR SALE
AT PS 107, it is strongly encouraged that students wear school shirts for gym and trips. Get your PS 107 gear here: PS 107 Online Gear Shop (zeffy.com) and pick-up at the Fall Festival on Saturday, October 19th! Be sure to check out our new, reusable wine tumblers - a perfect accessory for the upcoming Stoop Crawl!
STOOP CRAWL
Friday, October 18th is the last day to purchase Stoop Crawl tickets. WE STILL NEED HOSTS. If you can open your home, stoop, garden, roof deck, courtyard, or even offer to pick up the tab at a local bar, please consider being a host and email Alyse Dosik (alyselaw@gmail.com) for information.
The Stoop Crawl will be held on Friday, October 25th from 6:30-11pm. Tickets are $75 per person but hosts attend free. Register and get your tickets here.
PARK SLOPE HALLOWEEN PARADE
Join Ms. Joanna and friends from PS 107 to march in the annual Park Slope Halloween Parade. This year's theme is "Park Slope, Back to Life" and we can't wait to see all the creative ways our community will represent!
On Thursday, October 31st at 5:30 pm, (after trick-or-treating!) participants can queue up for the parade at 14th Street and 7th Avenue. The Halloween Parade starts at 6:30pm; the route begins at 14th Street and 7th Avenue and ends at the Old Stone House on 3rd street and 7th Avenue. Register to march here; all students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in order to participate. We hope to see you there!
BROOKLYN NETS
Attention all basketball fans! On Sunday, November 3rd at 3:30pm, please join the PS 107 community in cheering on the Brooklyn Nets as they take on the Detroit Pistons at the Barclays Center. On top of enjoying an NBA game, you will also help raise funds for our school. Tickets can be purchased here; $10 from each ticket will support PS 107. If you need financial assistance to attend the game, please contact parent coordinator, Nadia Benlarbi (nbenlarbi@schools.nyc.gov). Reach out to Rebecca (rcetta@gmail.com) with questions.
2024-2025 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
PS 107 is a school like no other thanks in large part to the generous efforts of our school community. We are currently looking for leads/planners for the following school events; please consider donating your time to one of the events below:
Winter Craft Fair (Saturday, December 7th)
During the Winter Craft Fair, the big yard is transformed into a seasonal holiday marketplace where teachers, students, guardians, and members of the school community come together to buy and sell their home-made wares. If you want to help plan this charming, beloved event, please sign up on Konstella here.
STEM Day (Saturday, March 15th)
During STEM Day, PS107 will turn into an interactive Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics Extravaganza! If you have a background in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics and are willing to help organize this interdisciplinary event, please sign up on Konstella here.
Spring Auction
Our auction in the spring is the single largest fundraising event of the year. We will need leaders to make it a success, so if you are interested in getting involved in a high impact fundraiser for the school, this is the event for you! Please sign up on Konstella here.