This Week @ PS 88Q

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful summer filled with rest, joy, and time with loved ones. This week, our teachers return on September 2nd and 3rd to prepare for another successful school year. As always, they are eager to welcome our students and families back into the building and to build upon the success we had in 2024-2025.

There is so much to celebrate from last year—our students’ growth, our teachers’ dedication, and our families’ support. But celebration does not mean slowing down. We are ready to take on new challenges and embrace new opportunities. This year, we have an exciting lineup of initiatives and programs that will enrich the experience of our students, families, and community. Together, we will continue to make PS 88Q a place where every child thrives.

By now, you should have received an email with your child’s classroom assignment. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

I also want to share a few important updates as we begin this school year:

Safety Reminder: Water Bottles

Please do not send stainless steel water bottles with your child. While refillable bottles are encouraged, stainless steel bottles are extremely heavy, and last year we had incidents where bottles were accidentally dropped, posing a serious safety risk. Lighter, refillable bottles are the best option.

New NYCPS Policy: Cell Phones and Digital Devices

As you may have heard, NYC Public Schools has adopted a “No Cellphone/Digital Device” policy from bell to bell. This includes cell phones, tablets, smart watches, and other personal digital devices. Please review the full policy below. Students will bring home an acknowledgment form this week that must be signed and returned.

We will be updating our school website throughout the week, so please check regularly for the latest information and resources.

Most importantly, I cannot wait to see you all on Thursday as we kick off another incredible year together. Our shared commitment to our students makes all the difference, and I am so grateful to begin this journey with each of you once again.

The first day is almost here! This week the staff return on Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for the first day. ALL STUDENTS BEGIN ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH.

Arrival

Grades K-Grades 5

Early Dropoff/Morning Drop-off: For our kindergarten through grade 5 families, early drop off is available every day at 7:30am. All students enter through the large school yard. This includes the first day of school. Students in grades K, 1 and 2 proceed to the cafeteria. Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 proceed to the auditorium.

The large school yard gate will be closed by 8:05am daily. Teachers pick up their classes at 8:00am and escort them to class. After 8:05am, students are considered late, and must enter through the main door on Catalpa Avenue. Please avoid being late, as students who arrive late must be escorted to class to ensure they are supervised and connected to their class.

For the first week, (September 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) the gate will remain open until 8:15am.

3K and Pre-K:

Morning Arrival: All students are escorted to their classroom by a family member. The door will open at 8:00am. Families enter through the door in the small schoolyard (with the slides). Feel free to arrive early and enjoy the time with your child in the playground. This is reserved for our 3k and Pre-K families. It is a great time to meet others. Families will exit through the same door when they leave. Carriages can be left in the small schoolyard. When you enter, the Pre-K classes are on the left, and the 3K classes are on the right. Staff will be there to greet you.

Dismissal

Grades K, 1 and 2:

KIndergarten, Grade 1 and 2 will be dismissed in the large school yard. For the first week, kindergarten will come out at 2:00pm, in order to provide a safe, hand to hand dismissal. It is important that every teacher dismisses to each guardian. Please do not call your child over, or take them from the line. All parents will be called over to their child's line when they exit the building. Once the class arrives at their designated spot on the field, teachers will dismiss, child by child.

Grades 3, 4 and 5:

Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 are dismissed on Catalpa Avenue (front of the building). Grade 3 is dismissed (if facing the building) on the right side (main entrance). Grades 4 and 5 are dismissed on the left side (yellow doors). Families remain behind the gate. It is imperative that teachers identify who the guardian is, and dismissed the student to the adult.

I am at the front of the building. I will call families to the entrance when their child's teacher exits the building. We cannot block the gate.

3K and Pre-K:

The small schoolyard door will be opened daily at 2:10pm. For the first two weeks, we will open at 2:00pm. Each teacher has a specific protocol for dismissal. Family members enter the classroom, and students are dismissed hand to hand.

Please note: Dismissal for the first two weeks can take some time. SAFETY IS OUR BIGGEST CONCERN. Additionally, GRYC, our afterschool program, does not begin until September 15th, so all students are being dismissed. As our afterschool programs, and GRYC begin, this limits the number of students being dismissed at 2:15pm.

There is no parking on the Catalpa Avenue side of the building. Our many school buses must pull in to pick up students.

Students will only be dismissed to an adult on your emergency contact form. Please update, and add as many people as you like to your emergency contact form on Operoo.

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!

We know how overwhelming supply drop off can be! You can:

• Send a little at a time with your child.
• Over the first two weeks, you can drop the supplies off with staff at the arrival gate. We will have a cart, and will deliver the supplies. Please mark the bag with your child's full name.
• Drop in the lobby, fully labeled, and we will get them to the classroom

Hello, Families!

This year, we wanted to make it easier than ever for you to shop for school supplies, so we've gone digital!

From our website, you'll be able to:

• Add your student's full supply list to your cart at major retailers including Amazon, Target, and Wal-Mart
• Edit the list to add or remove items you don't need
• Comparison shop by adding items to your cart at every retailer and choosing the least expensive option

Beat the crowds this year and shop for school supplies from the comfort of your own home!

Find your supply list here:
https://www.ps88q.com/apps/supplies

My Wish For My Children,

Over the years, I have had many wishes for my girls. Whether it be success in school, success in sports, success in friendships. When they were younger, it was dreams about what they would be when they grow up, but now that they are grown up (24 years old and 26 years old). It's simply a wish for health, happiness and finding joy. Some of these things we take for granted, and even feel that they are something guaranteed. We all know they are not, and that as they grow, we have less control over their choices. But my wish, it that they always feel confident in who they are, brave enough to follow their heart, and always know they are loved. If they have that, everything else we will figure out!

Please let us know your dreams in your native language!

Dear PS 88 3K and PreK families,

We are happy to announce that Supermoon Art Space will be offering an after school program this year for 3-5 year olds enrolled in our school.

This fee-based program will run Monday-Friday from 2:15-5:30pm in our PreK wing at PS 88. The cost of the program is $600/mo, with a handful of spaces available for sliding scale tuition and ACS vouchers. Part time enrollment is also available for $35/day. The program will start on Monday, September 15th.

Families that are interested in enrolling can fill out this form (there is space there for any questions or special requests), and someone from Supermoon will reach out with next steps.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeItWG_jc4lJm-9gz-Ral_jPim6qakVzuD5tlXm92MIAheDuQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

See you all soon!

-Team Supermoon and your PS 88 Administration

Welcome to PS 88Q! We are so excited to begin this amazing year of growth with your children. These early years are such a special time, and we are honored to share this journey with your family.

Your child’s teachers will be reaching out to you shortly, but I want to provide some important information about arrival, dismissal, and the first week of school:

• Arrival & Dismissal: Families will escort their child into the classroom every day and pick them up from the classroom at dismissal. This ensures a safe and emotionally supportive routine. Families will enter through the small playground door (Exit 11).

  • Drop-off: 8:00 AM

  • Dismissal: 2:10 PM

• In-Class Protocols: Each teacher has a clear routine for families when you enter the classroom, designed to keep all students safe and secure.

• First Day Schedule: In the past, 3K and Pre-K began the year with a staggered schedule. This year, all students will begin full-day programming from day one. For many of our Pre-K students, this will feel like a natural continuation of 3K. For our new 3K students, it may be a bigger transition, and that’s completely normal—we are here to support them (and you) every step of the way. You are all welcome to remain in the class on the first week for the first 30 minutes.

• What to Bring: Please send your child with a sheet and blanket on the first day, so they are prepared for nap time.

If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time. We are thrilled to welcome you and your child to PS 88Q, and we can’t wait for the year ahead.

Dear Kindergarten Families,

Welcome to PS 88Q! Kindergarten is such an exciting milestone, and we are so thrilled to share this amazing year of growth with your children. We know this first year in “big school” is a special time for both students and families, and we are committed to making the transition as smooth and joyful as possible.

Here is some important information about arrival, dismissal, and the first week of school:

• First Day Gathering: On the first day of school, Kindergarten families will gather at 8:15 AM in the large school yard. Families will join their children and their teachers for this special first morning together. Gathering in the yard gives students the space they need to feel comfortable, and it also gives families the opportunity to meet and connect with one another. From there, the teachers will escort students to their classrooms.

• Dismissal: Kindergarten dismissal will also take place in the large school yard. For the first week of school only, dismissal will begin at 2:00 PM. This earlier dismissal allows teachers time to meet you, ensure a safe hand-to-hand dismissal, and build strong connections between school and home. Regular dismissal times will begin the following week.

This is truly the beginning of a wonderful journey. We are so excited to welcome you and your child into our PS 88Q family. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at any time.

P.S. 88Q Cell Phone and Electronics Policy 2025–2026

To create an environment conducive to learning by minimizing distractions caused by cell phones and other personal internet-enabled electronic devices, ensure the safety and focus of all students during school the school day, and follow Education Law §2803, effective August 1, 2025, all New York State schools are required to adopt a policy that prohibits the use of personal internet-enabled devices during the school day on school grounds. An "internet-enabled electronic device" is defined as an electronic device capable of connecting to the internet and enabling the user to access content on the internet. Examples of such devices include cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, laptops, tablets, iPads, and portable music and entertainment systems.

Students will not be permitted to use or access their personal internet-enabled electronic devices upon arrival at school until the end of the school day. The school day is defined as the period from the moment students enter the school building until the last class of the day ends, including during lunch. The school day starts at 8:00am and ends at 2:20pm. Students will be able to use school/NYCPS-issued devices during the school day.

1. COLLECTION/STORAGE

• Upon arrival, students must power off their devices.

• Students will place their devices in their Yondr pouch and secure it in front of school staff.

• Students will store their locked pouches in their bookbags for the day.

• At the end of the school day, students will unlock their pouch after dismissal.

• They will remove their device(s) and lock their pouches before leaving the school.

• Students with approved early dismissal (when picked up by a guardian) will be able to unlock their pouch in the main office.

• In the event that a storage device, such as a pouch, is lost or damaged, the school will require a nominal fee for a replacement.

1. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

• In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, parents or guardians can call Ms. Pepe Ms. Guardi, or Ms. Perez-Lopez at 718-821-8121 to reach their child.

• In case of emergency or exigent circumstances, the school will use the GAMA app and email to communicate information to parents or guardians.

• Here is how parents/guardians can access the automated messaging system:

• If you do not have access to your NYCSA, please set up by following this link Click Here

• If having trouble, contact Ms. Perez-Lopez @ Iperezlopez@schools.nyc.gov

• Once in your account, click messages.

1. EXCEPTIONS

• Students are allowed to use their device if they have an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 Plan that includes use of an internet-enabled device and do not have a DOE-issued device for such purpose.

• Parents/guardians must contact Linda O’Shaughnessy at 718-821-8121 or loshaughnessy@schools.nyc.gov if a student requires an exception for reasons such as: medical monitoring/treatment s (for example to monitor blood sugar or other similar circumstances), if student is a caregiver, for approved language purposes (such as translation or interpretation services if no other means are available), or where otherwise required by law.

• The principal/designee may authorize use for an educational purpose.

• Exceptions will be processed and approved within two weeks of submission.

1. DISCIPLINE

• Students who use electronic devices in violation of the NYCPS Discipline Code, the school's policy, Chancellor's Regulation A-413, and/or the NYCPS Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy ("IAUSP") will be subject to progressive discipline. This means that the disciplinary responses will escalate based on the nature and frequency of the violation. As provided in the State law, a student may not be suspended solely on the grounds that the student accessed a personal internet-enabled device in violation of school policy​.​ ​ Repeated incidents of insubordination (i.e. refusal to surrender or store device) may result in a suspension if approved by the Office of Safety and Youth Development.

1. OTHER: If lost or stolen

• In the unlikely event that an electronic device is stolen or damaged at school, parents can submit a claim to the Comptroller’s Office. More information on submitting a claim is available on the Comptroller’s webpage.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a focused and productive learning environment. If you have any questions or need further clarification regarding these policies, please do not hesitate to contact Linda O’Shaughnessy at 718-821-8121 or loshaughnessy@schools.nyc.gov

Preparing for the 2025-2026 School Year

Dear Families and Colleagues,

It’s that time of year again! We wrapped up our phenomenal Summer Rising programming, teachers will soon set up their classrooms, and on September 4, our schools will be filled with students ready to learn.

They’ll be building on some incredible progress—on the 2025 New York state exams, proficiency rates increased by 3.5 percentage points in math and 7.2 percentage points in reading! I’m immensely proud of the entire NYCPS community—educators, families, and students—who implemented NYC Reads, NYC Solves, and all our academic initiatives that led to these results.

As the new school year begins, we are poised for another year of learning, growth, and discovery. Families, here are some important reminders as we prepare to return to school on September 4:

• The state’s new cell phone law goes into effect this school year. To learn more, visit schools.nyc.gov/DevicePolicy.
• Make sure your child's school can reach you—log in to your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) to update your contact information.
• Understand your child’s transportation options and eligibility. Visit schools.nyc.gov/Transportation for details.
• Make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations. If your child is starting school or childcare for the first time, they’ll also need a physical exam from a healthcare provider.
• Review the full 2025-2026 calendar to mark key dates and events.

For more information and a back-to-school checklist, visit schools.nyc.gov/BackToSchool. You can also reach out to your school’s Parent Coordinator with any questions or concerns; you can locate their contact information with our “Find a School” tool.

I can’t wait to see you all very soon and to celebrate the first of many amazing days in the 2025-2026 school year!

In partnership,

Melissa Aviles-Ramos

Chancellor