Dear PS 107 Families,
The weather seems to finally match the month that we are in – it’s chilly out there! Please remember to send your children to school in warm clothing, with hats, gloves, and scarves as needed. We go outside daily, unless it is raining heavily or bitterly cold. Please also remember to label all of your child’s warm-weather gear with their name and class. This will help us get items back to students who inevitably lose them over the course of the school day.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES + ACADEMIC SCREENERS
Thank you for your participation in Parent-Teacher Conferences last Thursday! We hope that you gained valuable insight into your child’s literacy and math performance, as well as their social-emotional skills in the school setting. Many of your children’s teachers may have shared with you the results of their academic screeners – Acadience Reading and Math in Kindergarten-2nd grade and MAP Growth Reading and Math in 3rd-5th grades. Along with all New York City public schools, PS 107 administers these academic screeners three times a year – at the beginning, middle, and end of the year. These screeners help teachers to flag students who may be in need of additional support with key foundational literacy and math skills.
On November 15th, academic screener results will be posted in your New York City Schools Account (NYCSA), on the Reading and Math Progress tab. These results will only be overall results and will indicate whether your child is above-, at-, below-, or well-below grade level. They will not provide any subtest scores, if subtests are administered in your child’s grade. A few words of caution when you review your child’s results on NYCSA:
These are but one measure of student skills. What your child’s teacher shared with you during Parent-Teacher Conferences last week, where they took into account multiple data points, is a much more accurate representation of their skill levels.
In Kindergarten through grade 2, foundational literacy and math skills are being assessed with Acadience Learning benchmark assessments. These are timed assessments, which can impact student performance.
In grades 3-5, reading and math skills are being assessed with MAP Growth. These assessments are long and labor-intensive, with some children taking a few hours to complete them. They are also computer-based and teachers have reported that children have not yet encountered some of the skills being assessed. In some cases, teachers did not feel that they were accurate reflections of children’s skills.
If you have any specific questions about the Acadience Learning Reading or Math screeners (K-2nd grade) or the MAP Growth tests (3rd-5th grades), please reach out to your child’s teacher.
STUDENT PETITION TO REPLACE ZSCALER
Currently, all New York City public schools use a product called Zscaler to protect student devices from cyberthreats and to secure their data. Unfortunately, we have found over the years that Zscaler is imperfect and has led to students (and their teachers) losing a great deal of precious instructional time to address the many issues caused by Z-Scaler on student devices. At times, because of Zscaler, many student devices are rendered completely nonfunctional.
These same issues are experienced by schools across New York City. Third grade students in 3-204, Mr Brian and Ms Sam’s class, are so frustrated with the challenges that Zscaler has created that they wrote this petition to ask the NYC Public Schools to consider other solutions to the very real problem of ensuring student data privacy and security when working on school-provided devices. They are asking all families to sign the petition – and share it with friends and family members – so that the NYCPS will consider a better security solution and so that students and teachers can gain back lost instructional time. Thank you!
UPCOMING EVACUATION DRILL
We will be holding our 4th Evacuation Drill (aka Fire Drill) during the week of November 18th. Please note that we are required to complete six evacuation drills and two soft lockdown drills by December 31st.
THANK YOU VETERANS!
Last but certainly not least, thank you to all of the veterans in our community who were honored earlier this week on Veterans Day. We are grateful for your service and the sacrifices that you’ve made for our freedom.
Have a wonderful week!
Warmly,
Ms Joanna
PS We’re still collecting individually-wrapped candy for our main office! Please feel free to send in extra Halloween candy or other treats that you pick up in your travels. Thank you so much for your generosity!
PICTURE RE-TAKE DAY - 11-19-24
Irvin Simon will be in the building to take pictures of students who missed having their picture taken on September 30. They will also re-take pictures if you would like them done. If this is the case, please notify your child's teacher and cc Nadia at nbenlarbi2@schools.nyc.gov . We need to make a schedule for the day and so advance notice is not only necessary, but appreciated :)
FIFTH GRADE & MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
- New! PS 107 PARENT PANEL w/Sarah Green
- Thursday, November 14, 2024 - 7 to 9 pm - Click here to register
- D15 Middle School Fair Presentation from 10-30-24
- Click here
- NEW! Middle School Admissions Timeline
- December 20, 2024: Middle school application closes
- April 9, 2025: Middle school offer release
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/
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.
LOST & FOUND - Updated 11-12-24
We still have many jackets here, so come and check them out!
Check this document for some updated pictures : Did You Lose Me?
*If you see an item you now have in your possession, please just ignore the picture in the document
NYCPS is hosting a citywide family and community resource fair at Murry Bergtraum High School (411 Pearl Street; New York, NY 10038) on November 16 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
If you are interested please register (https://bit.ly/FACEResourceFair ) by November 15.
The event will be a space for all school families to have fun and connect with NYCPS offices, community-based organizations, city agencies, cultural institutions, and more.
DISTRICT 15 FAMILY WORKSHOP
Special Education Process Overview
- Referral and Evaluation:The student is evaluated to determine if they need special education services
- IEP Creation: If eligible, an Individual Education Program (IEP) is developed with input from parents and staff
- Service Implementation: The student receives services based on their IEP, such as special education support or therapies
- Monitoring and Review: Progress is regularly checked, and the IEP is reviewed annually to ensure continued support
When: December 10, 2024 at 10 am
Where: Zoom Link Here
- Meeting ID: 726 885 3826
- Password: 251368
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 : Nov 22 , Dec 6 & 20
- Click here for Zoom
- Click for Lunch & Learn Flyer
CEC15
CEC15 VACANCY
CEC15 currently has a vacant seat on the council for the parent of a Multi Lingual Learner student and is accepting applications. Please apply to the DOE directly at CCECinfo@schools.nyc.gov. Do not submit the application to CEC15. Eligible candidates will be invited to attend a candidate forum (date to be determined). Do not delay your application.
*Applications in nine languages and all information about eligibility to CECs can be found here. Please also visit CECd15.org to learn more about our organization.
Basic eligibility rules require that the applicant be a parent of a student in grades Kindergarten through 8th, or in a Pre-K program, who currently attends a non-charter public school or Pre-K program in the district where the applicant wishes to serve on the CEC. Please follow the links for more requirements.
** See attachment below for translated flyers
FAIR FARES NYC
Fair Fares NYC is a City program created to help New Yorkers with low incomes manage their transportation costs. For more information, please visit the FAIR FARES NYC website.
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!
PSSE MEETING
The Parents Supporting Special Education November meeting is Thursday, November 14th, from 12-1pm on Zoom. Please join us for a general neurodiversity Q&A with PS 107 parent Dr Erica Miller, licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in neuropsychological assessments and evidence-based treatments, as well as updates on the new sensory area and upcoming PSSE projects and events.
AAPI AFFINITY GROUP MEET-UP
Please join us for the AAPI Affinity Group coffee meet-up on Friday, November 15th at 8:30am at Pasta Louise (1114 8th Avenue at 12th Street). We would love to meet parents and guardians of any PS 107 students who identify as AAPI. If you have any questions or would like to reach out, please email the group co-lead Yumi Kobayashi (kobayashi.y@gmail.com). Looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones; we hope to see you there!
PTA GENERAL MEETING
Please join us on Thursday, November 21st from 9am to 10am for our November PTA General Meeting. Meeting will take place on Zoom, please use the link here to join.
FUNDRAISERS
ANNUAL FUND
Contribute to the Annual Fund, which directly supports essential school programs and resources.
From Monday, November 18th through Friday, November 22nd, all donations will be MATCHED by an anonymous team of PS 107 families until we reach 8K! 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
TERRACYCLE WASTE DAY COLLECTION
Terracycle accepts hard-to recycle packaging and other trash in exchange for points to trade in for cash for our school, planting trees for deforestation, and more. Bring hard-to-recycle items of trash to school on Wednesday, November 20th at morning drop-off, outside the main entrance. Items being collected for recycling include oral care items and deodorant containers, squeezy pouches (rinsed with caps on), Brita filters and pitchers, and torn/stained (non-donatable) kids clothing.
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 Plastic cutlery
FALL PARK CLEAN-UP
The PTA's Green Committee and the Prospect Park Alliance have organized volunteering opportunities for PS 107 students this fall. This Sunday, November 17th from 1-2:30pm, rain or shine, students can help clear leaves in the park to keep the grass healthy. (All necessary tools will be provided.) Students ages 4 and up are invited to participate, all students must be accompanied by an adult. To volunteer, please sign up here. If you have any questions, please contact kajalpatelbelow@gmail.com or gemma@ps107.org.
SENSORY TOY DRIVE
On Wednesday, November 20th, at morning drop-off, the PSSE is collecting gently used sensory tools for PS 107 ICT classrooms and related service providers. Items being collected include: weighted toys/blankets, wobble stools, wiggle cushions, lap pads, noise cancelling headphones, fidgets, and tents. Thanks to all for your continued support and generosity.
POWERHOUSE BOOK FAIR
From Monday, December 2nd through Friday, December 6th PS 107 students have been invited to attend the annual Powerhouse Book Fair! We are still hard at work scheduling the date and time for each class to visit Powerhouse; please be on the lookout for additional trip details from your child's teacher in the upcoming weeks. Two parent chaperones are requested to escort each class, stay tuned for sign-up information and details.
DISNEY ON ICE
Step inside the magical adventures of Disney's Frozen and Encanto as they are brought to life like never before at Disney On Ice. Over 140 tickets have already been purchased by PS 107 families; join in the fun on Saturday, January 18th at 7pm at the Barlcays Center. Tickets can be purchased through Zeffy for $45 each, with $11 per ticket going to the PTA.
If you would like to attend but need financial assistance, please contact Parent Coordinator, Nadia Benlarbi.
CLASS PARENTS
Class parents are still needed for the following classes: 4-307, 5-301, and 5-305.
If you are the parent of a child in one of the above classes, please consider volunteering as a class parent using the link here.
SPECIAL EVENT LEADS
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 using the links below:
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.
If you are unable to lead the event but want to help out, consider signing up to help get some great items for auction! This is a flexible volunteer role that can be done around your schedule. Sign up to be an auction donations volunteer on Konstella here.