The Wednesday Weekly
September 17, 2025
Dear PS 107 Families,
It was wonderful to see so many of you last Saturday at our annual DEI Team-sponsored Welcome Back Potluck! Students pitched in on a community service project—cleaning our Imagination Playground blocks and Legos so they’re ready for recess—which was a beautiful example of our Core Value of Community. Thank you to everyone who joined us, to DEI Team Chairs Alma Lacour and Samantha Manchester for organizing, and to Green Committee lead Kajal Below for making sure our event was sustainable.
It’s also been another exciting week at school! On Monday, a film crew from Assemblymember Robert Carroll’s office visited PS 107 to capture footage for a series of short videos about the remarkable progress we’ve made in literacy. Since shifting our curriculum to research-aligned practices, our literacy proficiency rates have steadily climbed—from 75% in 2022 to 90% in 2025. The growth has been especially meaningful for our students with disabilities, whose proficiency has jumped from 40% in 2022 to 70% this year. Assemblymember Carroll’s support, including grant funding, has been critical to making this work possible. We look forward to sharing the finished videos with you once they’re ready!
On Monday, we also began our celebration of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, honoring the countless contributions Hispanic Americans have made to our nation—and especially to New York City—throughout history. Around the school, you’ll see posters highlighting trailblazing Hispanic Americans (with posters featuring our own students with Hispanic heritage coming soon!). Students are also sharing daily morning announcements about these trailblazers, and later this month every class will participate in a shared read-aloud of the same book.
Please also mark your calendars for Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 30th, from 4:30–7:30 pm, in person. The schedule is as follows:
Specialty Teachers (Art, Music, PE, STEM, and Science): Panel presentation, 4:30–5:25 pm (4th Floor Art Room); Meet + Greet in teaching spaces (PE and STEM in room 302; Art in Library), 5:30-6:30 pm
PreK, 3rd, and 4th Grades: Classroom presentations, 5:30–6:25 pm; Meet + Greet in classrooms, 4:30-5:30 pm
5th Grade Teachers: Panel presentation, 5:30–6:25 pm (4th Floor Art Room); Meet + Greet in classrooms, 4:30-5:30 pm
Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades: Classroom presentations, 6:30–7:25 pm; Meet + Greet in classrooms, 5:30-6:30 pm
Speech Teachers + School Counseling Team: Meet and greet, 4:30–6:30 pm (Cafeteria)
Administrators: Ms. Rinah and I will be in the main office and halls to say hello and get to know families.
In addition, all classroom teachers will hold open meet-and-greet sessions in their classrooms as listed above for families unable to attend their scheduled presentation. Please note: there will be no in-house afterschool with PSACC on September 30th due to space and staffing limitations; all students must be picked up at 2:35 pm. In addition, with apologies, PS 107 is unable to offer childcare for Curriculum Night this year due to staffing and space limitations.
I also want to share an important policy update related to cell phones, smartwatches, and other internet-enabled devices. Late last week, New York State lawmakers clarified that students may not store cell phones or other internet-enabled devices in their backpacks during the school day. Beginning immediately, our policy has been revised to read:
If students bring devices such as cell phones, smart watches, or iPads, they must be turned off and stored in locked classroom cabinets from 8:20 am until 2:40 pm.
At PS 107, students will store devices in the locked Chromebook carts already in use in classrooms. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about this update.
Finally, as required at the start of every school year, I’m sharing links to annual student privacy notices for your review:
2025–26 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Notification
2025–26 Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) Notification
These are available in multiple languages when you click on the links above. As always, please reach out to Parent Coordinator Nadia Benlarbi with any questions about these notices.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful week ahead!
Warmly,
Ms. Joanna
SCHOOL INFORMATION
2025-2026 ANNUAL FORMS
If you haven't done so already, please be sure to complete these forms by 9/12/25. Thank you
Emergency Blue Card (for grades 1-5)
Daily Dismissal form
Prospect Park and Neighborhood Walking Trip permission slip
Park Slope Armory YMCA consent form (for grades 1-5)
FIFTH GRADE MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION
Ms Sarah & Ms. Nadia will host a Middle School Information Session on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 7pm where they will go over the application and admissions process for the 25-26 school year. Please stay tuned for zoom link information for this virtual event :)
In November (date tbd), there will be a parent panel where former parents come and share information about their experiences with the D15 middle schools. This is a tradition of "giving back" that provides so much valuable information. We are immensely grateful to have their generous contributions 💙💛
Please see the information below regarding the Middle School admissions timeline.
Fall 2026 Middle School Admissions Timeline
Wednesday, October 15, 2025: Middle School Application Opens
Monday, November 3, 2025: Deadline to register to test for Mark Twain I.S. 239 (21K239) and District 21 Talent Tests
Friday, December 12, 2025: Middle School Application Closes
Wednesday, April 15, 2026: Middle School Offer Release
These dates are subject to change. Any changes will be announced and communicated directly to families. You can sign up for enrollment updates here and please be sure to check the NYCPS website as well for enrollment information.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Sarah or Nadia!
SAVE FOR COLLEGE - NYC Kids RISE
The NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program provides families, schools, and communities
with a way to work together to save for and invest in their children’s futures.
It is a scholarship and savings program designed to make college and career training more accessible for public school students. NYC Kids RISE, a non-profit organization, manages the Save for College Program in partnership with NYC Public Schools and the City of New York.
As of school year 2025-2026, students in kindergarten through fourth grade at NYC public schools
(including participating charter schools) are eligible to participate in the Program, no matter what their family income or immigration status is.
Please click below to view additional information regarding this very important initiative in your preferred language. Thank you!
PLEASE JOIN KONSTELLA!
Schoolwide parent to parent communication at PS 107 -- including all communication directly from the PTA -- is sent out via the Konstella platform. This is also where the school calendar "lives". We spend time with our PTA communications team every summer and throughout the year updating this calendar for your reference.
If you are not already signed up for Konstella, please follow the directions here. If you have difficulty or have any questions, please reach out to Nadia Benlarbi, PS 107’s Parent Coordinator at nbenlarbi2@schools.nyc.gov.
*Note that parents cannot connect with PS 107 school staff on the Konstella platform, but you will receive communication from your class parents on this platform!
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION INFORMATION
NYC SCHOOLS ACCOUNT - NYCSA
This is a NYC DOE parent account for students grades K - 12 that enables parents/guardians to view all of their children’s records - grades, fitnessgrams, attendance, your child’s DOE email, etc. At least one parent/guardian will need to have access to this account. We strongly encourage all parents/guardians to have their own account. Any parent with children in grades 1-5 who does not have their own NYSCA , please contact nbenlarbi2@schools.nyc.gov for instructions and your unique account creation code.
PLEASE NOTE: Incoming PreK ,Kindergarten, and new to NYC Public School families will need to wait until the 2nd week of school when their child’s Student ID (aka OSIS number) will be generated. Once your child has been given their ID number, I will share directions along with unique account creation codes with you to set up your child’s NYSCA.
FAMILY INCOME FORMS
All families should complete the Family Income Inquiry Form, which helps schools receive money for their programs , whether or not they qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Completing this form each year ensures that the most accurate information is reflected. For our fifth grade families, family income plays a role in the offering of seats during the middle school process. It is truly in the best interest of our school community to complete these forms.
Please click the link above to access the form.
If you choose to opt out of completing the form and do not wish to provide your household information, please be sure to check the box as indicated in the displayed picture.
Thank you for your assistance! Nadia
HELPFUL TIPS
ABSENCES
Please email your child's teacher and cc the parent coordinator, Nadia Benlarbi, to notify them of any absences. Please be sure to include your child's full name and class in the subject line of the absence notification. This is to ensure that our staff who is responsible for attendance keeping can locate the children easily to record it appropriately.
LATE ARRIVAL
Children who arrive late must be escorted into the building by their parent. We have a late arrival sign in sheet on the table located just inside of the main entrance. Parents will sign their child in and then bring them to the main office so the staff can send them up to their classroom. If there is a staff person located by the main entrance table, they can advise the student on next steps at that time.
SCHOOL DAY DISMISSAL/PICK-UP CHANGES
If there is a change to your child’s school day dismissal, please be sure to note the change on the Daily Dismissal form in Operoo.
If it is a same day change, please email your child’s teacher and cc Nadia at nbenlarbi2@schools.nyc.gov in addition to making any changes on the Daily Dismissal form.
You can also contact the main office at 718-499-2054.
AFTERSCHOOL DISMISSAL/PICK-UP CHANGES
Please be sure to notify Pamela Rosenberg of any dismissal or pick-up changes that will happen during afterschool specifically. Her email address is director@psafterschool.org .
If you need to add a new pick up person for your child in afterschool, please make sure to update this on 6Crickets (Click Here).
Afterschool and PS 107 partner in many ways, but not with our information applications. They can't access Operoo and we can't access 6Crickets.
Thank you for your assistance in ensuring your child's safety 😊
BREAKFAST AT PS 107
As a reminder, if your child needs to eat breakfast at school, you may drop them off at the front entrance with Agent Sharon at 8 am, Monday through Friday, beginning on Monday, September 8th. Children will be served a hot breakfast and supervised in our Cafeteria.(Please see the PreK-8 Breakfast Menu here.) At 8:20 am, children will be dismissed from the Cafeteria to their classrooms. If your child arrives at school after 8:20 am and needs breakfast, we will have a limited supply of bagged breakfasts that they will eat in the classroom. While we know that it is sometimes difficult, we ask that you make every effort to get your child to school on time, by 8:20 am, as the morning transitional time is necessary to help children to get settled in their classrooms and ready to learn.
LUNCH AT PS 107
Lunch is also served daily at PS 107 and is free for all students. Please note that there can occasionally be last-minute changes to the School Food menus because of supply chain issues. Please prepare your child for this possibility. You can find the PreK-8 Lunch Menu here.
LOWER GRADES
Please be sure to send your children to school with a full change of clothes. Accidents can happen easily when they are younger as they often get distracted and don’t check in with their bodies. Please be sure to return your child with a new set the next day if they need to be replaced.
LABEL!
Please parents, remember to label your student’s water bottles, lunch boxes, backpacks, and clothing with their full name (last names are essential!) and if there is space, please include their class number. We want to be able to return all fabulous items to their rightful owner!
IDENTIFICATION
When entering the school building you must present your ID to the safety agent when signing in.
One helpful tip is to take a picture of your id. Often, we will have our phone with us even if we don’t have our id. This way, you always have it handy :)
RESOURCES
PARENT/CAREGIVER HANDBOOK
if you have questions about school operations, policies, or procedures, be sure to check our Parent Handbook first. If you don’t see the answer there, feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher if it is classroom-specific or Nadia Benlarbi, Parent Coordinator, if you have more of a school-wide question, at nbenlarbi2@schools.nyc.gov.
AFTERSCHOOL - Tips for Success
Click this Konstella link to view the latest information from afterschool.
I have attached the pdf here as well.
LOST & FOUND
Did you Lose Me? Please check this document to see if there are any missing items that we have found 😄
Thank you!
SCHOOL NEWS
MARBLE HEALTH WORKSHOPS
- THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 @ 8:15PM - Supporting Students with Academic and Test Anxiety
- Tuesday, September 23 @ 12pm - Managing Screen Time Developing Emotional Intelligence
- Tuesday, September 30 @ 7pm - Developing Emotional Intelligence
Register at marblehealth.com/parent-workshops or share with your parent community!
CURRICULUM NIGHT
Find out more about what your child will learn during the 2025-26 school year on Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 4:30-7:30 pm. Curriculum Night will be in your child’s classroom, and you will also have the opportunity to meet our speciality teachers and the administration in person!
WORKSHOP: PHONES, SOCIAL MEDIA, and YOUR KIDS
When: Tuesday Oct 7 6:30 -7:30 pm
Where: MS 51 Auditorium (350 5th Ave)
Join fellow parents for an illuminating presentation on phone use, social media, and how to set safe and smart boundaries for our kids.
Max Stossel from Social Awakening will illustrate some of the specific ways technology is designed to be addictive & distracting, highlight how that's impacting our kids’ minds, and give recommendations on how to address some of the challenges you and your family are facing.
This presentation concludes with open space to discuss what’s working and not working in our households. A former media strategist, Max Stossel ran social media for big brands and helped design a social media notification system for a tech company before he began talking with kids, parents, and educators about social media's impact on our lives and how to manage that impact.
FREE to Parents and Caregivers for PS 39 and PS 107 and open to the community with a suggested donation of $10.
CLUBS AND MEETINGS:
THURSDAY MORNING TRACK RUN (TMTR)
Thursday Morning Runs begin this Thursday, September 18th. Every Thursday, weather permitting, students in grades K-5 and their 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 30 minute run/trot/jog. No running experience required - we hope to see you there!
PTA GENERAL MEETING
Please join us for our first PTA Meeting for the 2025-2026 School year on Thursday, September 18th from 8:45-9:45am. (Doors open at 8:45am, meeting begins at 9am.) This meeting will take place in person, in the PS 107 Cafeteria, but if you cannot make it please feel free to join us on Zoom.
*Free coffee for all in-person attendees - bring your reusable cup and fill up while it lasts!
FUNDRAISERS
ANNUAL FUND
Contribute to the Annual Fund, which directly supports essential school programs and resources. 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:
Sandwiches, (please label w/ contents)
Bread Packages
Lunch Meat Packages
Eggs
Tortillas
Individually Portioned Prepared Meals, (please label w/ contents)
Microwavable meals
Jars of Peanut Butter and/or Jelly
Cereal/Instant Oatmeal
Shelf Stable Milk and Juice
Fruit Cups
Fresh Fruit
Individually Wrapped Snacks
Ziplock and Grocery Bags, and
Plastic cutlery
FALL MOVIE NIGHT
On Friday, September 26th at 7pm, bring your blankets or chairs and get ready to watch an outdoor movie with PS 107 friends and families in the Big Yard! Volunteers will be selling pizza, popcorn, candy, and drinks at the event; all proceeds go to the PTA. The first wave of tickets will go on sale TODAY at 8:30pm! For more information, see Konstella.
FALL PICTURE DAY
Picture Day is around the corner: Ask your children to practice their smiles and dress to impress on Tuesday, September 30th.
Parent volunteers are welcome to help wrangle the talent; please stay tuned for sign-up information in the coming week.
BROOKLYN FC
Join PS 107 in supporting the city's only professional women's soccer team on Saturday, October 4th at 6pm.
Tickets start at $24 and $7 from each ticket sold goes directly to the PTA! Get your tickets here.
STOOP CRAWL
What is the Stoop Crawl? Think progressive dinner party… Brooklyn-style! The Stoop Crawl, taking place this year on Friday, October 17that 7pm, is a moving celebration where several PS 107 families open their homes as party hosts. Registered attendees are assigned to three different houses over the course of the evening, so the party literally comes alive as you go.
How it works:
Start small with an intimate gathering.
Mingle with parents from your child’s grade (we do our best to match you!).
End big — the third stop is one giant party with about 50 people.
Hosts travel, too! Depending on which round you host, you’ll be assigned to other homes for the rest of the night.
The Stoop Crawl has become a PS 107 tradition — the place where parents meet their people, spark friendships, and walk away saying: “Oh, we met at the Stoop Crawl!”
Questions? or want to host Email alyselaw@gmail.com
THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW.
FALL FESTIVAL
Save the Date for the unbe-leaf-able PS 107 Fall Festival! Join us on October 25th, from 12-4pm, as we take over 14th Street and the Big Yard with food, music, games, inflatables, pumpkin painting, and more! We can't wait to celebrate fall and community with our school families, friends, and neighbors!
In addition to celebrating the season, the Fall Festival is an important fundraiser for the PS 107 PTA, and we are actively looking for sponsors.
JOIN THE PLANNING COMMITTEE to help with sponsor outreach and onsite activities - email Lisa Esterhuizen at lisa.k.esterhuizen@gmail.com for more information.
2025-2026 NYCPS CALENDAR - click here
2025-2026 KONSTELLA/SCHOOL CALENDAR - click here
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 26 - Family Movie Night
September 30
- School Picture Day
- Curriculum Night @ PS 107 4:30 to 7:30 pm
October 3 - Family Friday
October 9 - Middle School Information Session 7pm
HOLIDAYS / SCHOOL CLOSURES
September 23 & 24 - Rosh Hashana - School closed
October 2 - Yom Kippur - School closed
October 13 - Indigenous People's/Italian Heritage Day - School Closed
JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM!
Scan the QR code and follow our 107 IG account!