I hope everyone is enjoying this holiday weekend. My apologies for the absence of last weeks newsletter. It was the only time the weekly newsletter was not released on a Sunday! My youngest daughter Casey, graduated from Caldwell University. It was a proud day for my family. It was a weekend of ceremonies and celebrating. Believe me, it goes fast. It feels like just yesterday I was celebrating her Kindergarten stepping up. My advice as a mom, cherish every moment. The time between these two milestones is everything! In my experience, it is the little moments that mean the most.

We are about to enter our last month of the 2022-2023 school year. If is filled with many of these moments, from Stepping Up, Graduations, theater and music performances, and the progression to the next grade. Your child we never be in a school as long as they are in elementary school (beginning from PreK to grade 5). All other school experiences are only four years (freshman-senior). This is an advantage in elementary school, where strong relationships and friendships are formed. June is wonderful, and yet hard sometimes. We all like to think that all the kids are happy for summer, but the daily school day does provide our students with that connection to their friends. Field Day showed us how much fun they have together. I work throughout the summer, and I will continue the newsletter with events within the community where our students can catch up with each other!

This weeks newsletter is jam packed with information, so enjoy catching up!

This Saturday, June 3, we are excited to be part of this District Wide Event! I will be there, with some of our PS 88Q All Stars with some giveaways, and information! See you at the Bandshell!

Our school embarked on a school wide project this past month. Our dedicated and passionate STEM team (Ms. Becker, Ms. Agostino, Ms. Marano, Mr. Nolan, Ms. Fogarty and Ms. Hartt) spend time last summer at the Hall of Science learning about innovative ways to incorporate STEM. They designed an amazing project, where students create, design and produce their own shoes! Classes spoke about the purpose, the dynamics and of course, the fashion. From sketches, to 3D printing of their designs, it is going to be amazing!! Join us June 6th from 4:30-6:30 to view the shoe exhibit and spend some time at PS88Q!

We are gearing up for kindergarten registration! Some of you are PS 88Q families already, and some of you are new to PS 88Q. We want to accomplish two things with registration:

• Support you in all of the paperwork that is required. We do most of this through our online portal, Operoo. Ms. Pepe is amazing at getting everyone on and uploaded. Ms. Ivett, our Parent Coordinator, will support you in getting connected to Operoo and to the NYC Schools Account. These two portals will get you through the next 6 years (and the NYC Schools account until high school). Some can be done remotely, but some must be done in person. Ms. Pepe will be releasing the next steps tomorrow (Thursday, May 25). The email will come from Operoo Administrator. Any questions, reach out to Ms. Pepe jpepe4@schools.nyc.gov or Ms. Ivett IPerezlopez@schools for Spanish.

  
  

• In person: Each incoming kindergarten student must have a complete home language survey. The survey can be done remotely, BUT IF LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH IS INDICATED (SPOKEN AT HOME), the student and their guardian has an in-person interview. This is to determine if the child is eligible for ENL instruction. Ms. Cybura and Ms. Melecio will be reaching out to you regarding an appointment time.

  
  

• We also want to give you all an opportunity to gather and meet the future class of 2029! Please join us June 6th @ 5:00pm for a Kindergarten only meet and greet. Our school is hosting a STEM Night from 4:30pm-6:30pm, so you will get a chance to see us in action!

• Opportunity for placement in our new NEST program. Please read the information below. If you are interested in having your child placed in the NEST program, please complete this link. https://forms.office.com/r/7U4QRs0zk4 I will go through the offer list in order of offers, and reach out to any interested families. There are only 8 seats!

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

We are so proud to have been given the opportunity to create a NEST class for our incoming kindergarten. Our NEST program will grow each year. I am adding links to what NEST is, but here is some vital information:

• The class consists of 4 students diagnosed with ASD and 8 general education students.
• The class has two teachers.
• The 4 students diagnosed with ASD must complete an application for the program, as it has specific guidelines. The general education students are selected by the school

Please see links below regarding this wonderful opportunity. It is affiliated with NYU as well.

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/special-education/school-settings/specialized-programs

https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/metrocenter/asdnest

ASD Nest Support Project

The goal of the ASD Nest Support Project is to advance the development and implementation of educational solutions for children living with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

steinhardt.nyu.edu

I am so excited for this incoming kindergarten class! Any questions, reach out anytime!

We are getting ready to welcome our newest PS 88Q students! 3k, PreK and Kindergarten offers have all been sent out. Ms. Pepe has shared the online link for registration, and our families are completing registration. Most of this can be done through Operoo, our online records database. Please join us for all the events happening this month (Disney Performance, Band, STEM). We are excited about our Class of 2029, 2030 and 2031! As always, reach out anytime if you have any questions. Ms.Pepe is amazing! jpepe4@schools.nyc.gov

May 2023

Dear Grade 5 Parents,

It is almost time for the Class of 2023 to begin their next chapter, but not before we celebrate their commencement. Please see the below information regarding graduation.

• Guests: Each graduate may have two guests for the ceremony. Graduates will sit together, and their guests will be assigned seats. Each graduate is limited to two tickets each for the ceremony. available for the graduates and their two guests) Please complete the form below so that we have all of the information to make this day as seamless as possible.

• https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=tyxJGEXvYUWFcQxC5fesB_lsBqF8jPxIrNLt52zw_PpUNE83M0lJQ1AxNUpTTFFHUDcwUzlSVDI1TC4u

Graduation Day Procedure:

• Parents will begin to line up along 68th Road (outside the small school yard, and the large school yard)

• Families will enter through the auditorium entrances in the large schoolyard.

• Guests will present their tickets and check in at the table at the entrance to the large schoolyard. Staff will have the spreadsheet with the graduate’s name and guests. All guests must check in and present a ticket.

• Student volunteers will escort families to their seats. Upon reaching their seats, they will receive a program for the commencement.

• Students may attend school that day,or will choose to come with their families.

• Students will be called, row by row, in order by school staff to walk across the stage. and have their name called as they walk. A staff member will take the graduates picture as they cross the stage and all pictures will be shared the next day on an exclusive Grade 5 site.

• When the ceremony is over, families may take pictures with each other in our small schoolyard. Photo props and decorations will be set up.

Any questions, please feel free to reach out to me anytime!

The NYCSA platform has everything regarding your child. It is also how I will be sending out messages all summer. If you are not on the NYCSA, please reach out to Ms. Ivett and Ms. Pepe so that we can get you on.

Your NYC Schools Account is your gateway to family-facing technology to support and track your children's progress through public school education at the NYC Department of Education. Open an account today to apply to schools, track your children's progress from Pre-K through high school graduation, and get access to other digital content for New York City families exclusively available to NYC Schools Account holders!

Opening a NYC Schools Account is the first step towards becoming more involved in your student's education. Receive updates via text messages or email about school closures, emergencies, and upcoming events. Link your students and start monitoring things like grades, test scores, attendance.

https://www.schoolsaccount.nyc/

Our scholars are also Chess players! All of our students in grades 3-5 have access to not only Chesskids online, but play chess in the class. Don't forget to find time to play! Here is a video with some tips! If you forgot your child's password, reach out to their teacher.

https://www.chesskid.com/

We all already know we are a GREAT school! Now it’s time to let others know!

The PTA has an aim to help raise our schools score on https://Greatschools.org to 5 ’s (where it really should be!) and we need your help!

Visit our school’s profile https://www.greatschools.org/.../2308-Ps-88-Seneca/... and leave a review! When you’re done, send us a direct message with your child’s name and class or email me PTA88.Monica@gmail.com . We will reward your child with an ice cream voucher to be redeemed during their lunch period.

Some of our Eagle Scholars have already enjoyed their cold treat! Join us!

It was such a successful PTA Meeting this evening! We have a new board for the 2023-2024 School Year!

President: Samantha

Treasurer: Sabita

Secretary: Camila

It has been a pleasure being your PTA Board this year! We will finish off this school year strong, while we start getting your new team up to speed and getting ready for a really fun new school year!

I will still be around supporting our PTA board as the 5th grade Committee leader!

Thank you all for a great year!

Monica