Dear PS 107 Families,
It’s June, and we’re entering one of the most joyful stretches of the school year — filled with celebration, community, and connection!
Spring Fling is tonight! This is our annual outdoor dance party in the Big Yard, and it’s such a fun way to come together as a school community and celebrate the fantastic year we’ve had. Thank you again to parent organizers Betsy Goldfarb and Erin Bestereich for bringing this beloved tradition to life. I hope to see many of you tonight — dancing under the stars!
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR PTA LEADERS
We are so fortunate to have such a deeply committed and talented group of parents leading our school’s PTA. Congratulations to our newly-elected PTA board members:
Christine Canedo-Pullan, Co-President
Lauren Struck, Recording Secretary
Stephanie Shaw, Co-Treasurer
Jennifer Compton, Communications Co-Chair
Betsy Goldfarb, VP of Development
Julie Mee Schmidt & Margaux Turchiano, Events Co-Chairs
Alma Lacour & Samantha Manchester, DEI Committee Co-Chairs
Tyghe Trimble, Community Outreach Co-Chair
And a warm welcome to our new School Leadership Team (SLT) parent representatives: Anais Casimir and Grace Edinger!
We also want to express deep gratitude to our outgoing board members for their countless hours of service:
Mike Lew (Outgoing Co-President)
Julie Mee Schmidt (Outgoing Recording Secretary + Community Outreach Chair)
Grace Edinger (Outgoing Co-Treasurer)
Betsy Goldfarb (Outgoing Communications Co-Chair)
Nisha Aoyama (Outgoing VP of Development)
Gemma Niblett & Audrey Stipanovich (Outgoing Events Co-Chairs)
Carolyn Vadino & Christine Canedo-Pullan (Outgoing DEI Committee Co-Chairs)
PS 107 is powered by its parent community, and this amazing group has gone above and beyond. Thank you!
CELEBRATING OUR RETIREES
This June, we bid a very fond farewell to two incredible staff members:
After over 25 years in education and at PS 107, Peg Galella will be retiring at the end of this school year. Peg has worn many hats — as our English as a New Language teacher, Academic Intervention teacher, and lower grades Library teacher — and has supported generations of students and staff. We are so grateful for her legacy.
In response to community feedback, and Peg’s retirement, we’ll be reimagining her Library cluster as a Science/STEM cluster for PreK–2nd grade, all the while continuing to maintain and grow our Library collection and having all of our students visit the Library and check out books regularly. We’re looking to hire a NYS-certified TESOL teacher who can engage our youngest learners with hands-on, inquiry-based science while also supporting our English Language Learners — much like Peg has done so masterfully for so long. We’re excited for what’s ahead!
We also say goodbye to Glenda Hoffman, one of our beloved paraprofessionals, who is also retiring this June. Glenda’s kind and steady presence has impacted so many students over the years, and her warmth will be greatly missed. We wish her all the best in this next chapter!
IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTARIES AT NITEHAWK
Class 3-208’s beautiful, student-produced documentaries on the immigrant experience will be screened at Nitehawk Cinemas on Tuesday, June 17th at 5 pm! Proceeds will benefit Make the Road NY (MTRNY), a nonprofit dedicated to building the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice.
Tickets went on sale yesterday and are already nearly sold out! If you’d like to purchase tickets, visit this link as soon as you can. And if you’re not able to attend, you can still support this important cause by donating through our PS 107 fundraiser page to MTRNY. All donations up to $2,000 will be matched by a generous PS 107 family. Let’s keep the momentum going!
PRIDE MONTH AT PS 107
We’re thrilled to celebrate Pride Month with activities and learning that reflect our school’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to allyship with our LGBTQ+ staff, families, and students.
Next week, all students will participate in our annual Rainbow Takeover during Art with Ms. Julie. Each class will collaboratively design large posters with messages of allyship and belonging, celebrating the beautiful diversity of our school community. These posters will be displayed on the school’s fences — and we’ll need volunteers to help hang them! Please keep an eye out for a PTA message on Konstella if you can lend a hand.
Our DEI Committee will also host a Pride Month community “chalk out” in June, decorating the sidewalks around PS 107 with affirming messages. Details to come!
And don’t forget — our student Rainbow Club will be marching in the Brooklyn Pride Twilight Parade on Saturday, June 14th. We’d love for you to come out and cheer them on!
REMINDER: DEVICES & SMARTWATCHES
As a reminder, all cell phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices must be off and stored in backpacks during the school day, as well as afterschool. You can read our updated policy here. Thank you for helping us reinforce this policy at home so that we can minimize distractions and support learning.
LOOKING AHEAD
The month of June is full of joyful traditions and community celebrations — Spring Fling, class parties, 5th grade graduation, our schoolwide photo (June 17!), and so much more. It’s a time to honor the growth, creativity, and resilience of our students and to soak up these final moments of the school year together.
Wishing you all a joyful June — and I hope to see many of you tonight at Spring Fling!
Warmly,
Ms. Joanna
FAMILY MORNING MOMENT
I wanted to share this image that I captured during our Family Morning event last Friday.
It was so incredibly touching to see one of our students showing her parent her image on our wall, as part of the AAPI Heritage Month poster mural.
Celebrating our diversity is not just about sharing our background and cultural identity, but also about our student's feeling as though they are represented in our school. 💗
FAMILY PRIDE PICNIC
This year's Family Pride Picnic will take place at the Alice Austen House on Friday, June 6th!
This is an opportunity to celebrate all families during Pride month! We are excited to host this event out on the beautiful museum lawn overlooking the water in Staten Island.
Activities for students and parents/caregivers will be conducted throughout the afternoon, and lunch will be served.
Where: Alice Austen House front lawn (2 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10305)
When: Friday, June 6th from 12pm - 3pm
Who: This event is open to all K-5 students and their parents/caregivers
Registration details on flyer. Registration for this event is required.
KIDS RISE SAVE for COLLEGE PROGRAM
PS 107 is a proud Save for College Program school, which means your child has a NYC Scholarship Account with an initial $100 (unless you chose not to participate in the Program and opted out)!
If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to activate and view your child’s NYC Scholarship Account today! When you take this step, you will earn an additional $25 for your child’s educational future. This step-by-step guide and this demo video give directions on how you can activate and view your child’s NYC Scholarship Account. There are also opportunities to earn additional money for your child’s account!
Please view this Presentation and Video Recording to learn more and activate your account!
MARBLE HEALTH WORKSHOP SERIES
Parenting comes with unique challenges - from managing stress and screen time to supporting academic success. Join us for free virtual workshops this June to learn effective strategies from Annie Graham, Stanford-trained clinician and researcher at Marble Health.
Upcoming June Sessions (Various Times to Accommodate Different Schedules):
MON, JUNE 9 | 5 PM ET | Helping Kids Succeed: Executive Function Strategies
MON, JUNE 16 | 8 PM ET | Summer Social Media Struggles
THUR, JUNE 26 | 8 PM ET | Managing Screen Time Over the Summer
SUMMER READING SKILLS PROGRAM
The Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies is offering grade level reading summer programs. These programs will be taught by instructors from the Institute of Reading Development.
and the classes will be offered in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, and Queens.
*Please see the attached flyer for more details regarding dates and times
LOST & FOUND
Please 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
RESOURCES
NEW ! SUMMER EBT BENEFITS
The Summer EBT benefit of $120 per eligible child is provided on a Summer EBT card and will be issued only once; benefits expire and are removed from the EBT card 122 days after they are issued.
For questions, please contact the Customer Service Contact Information or OTDA.NY.gov/SummerEBT and then call the Summer EBT Helpline (1-833-452-0096) if further assistance is needed.
- DOE Protocols for Non-Local Law Enforcement
- Know Your Rights A Guide to Your Rights When Interacting with Law Enforcement-English
- Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs
- Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs - Know Your Rights
NON-SPECIFIC RESOURCES
EXTRA! EXTRA!
PRIDE EVENTS 2025
PRIDE MARCHES
- Brooklyn Pride
- Saturday June 14 (evening March)
- Park Slope
- NYC Pride
- Sunday June 29
- Lower Manhattan
*Keep looking out for more information and registration details from LGBTQ@schools.nyc.gov
KEY TO THE CITY COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR
The New York Immigration Coalition is hosting a Key to the City Community Resource Fair NEXT Saturday, June 7, from 12 pm - 3 pm, on 44th St between 5th and 6th Avenue in Sunset Park.
- 20+ local community-based organizations will be sharing free resources and services! We will be distributing free food and family essentials.
- There will be a free produce grocery bag giveaway at 1 pm.
- Music and Dance by Salsa Salsa Dance Studio and Ballet Folklorico Juvenil De Brooklyn. This event is free and open to all New Yorkers regardless of status.
KIDS BOOK GIVEAWAY
Assemblymember Robert Carroll is sponsoring a free children's book giveaway with the Brooklyn Book Bodega at the Brooklyn Public Library Cortelyou Road branch on Tuesday, June 17th from 2:30pm -4:30pm. Families can pick up free children’s books to take home.
We are seeking donations of gently used/loved books for children of all ages and we are accepting books at Assemblymember Carroll’s district office on 7th Avenue between 13th and 14th streets until the event on June 17th M-F from 9:30-4:30.
Please find a flier for the event with more details attached.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SHAHANA HANIF LAPTOP DONATION DRIVE 6/1 through 6/20
In partnership with the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), Fifth Avenue Committee, and Big Reuse, my office is collecting gently-used, working laptops. These devices will be refurbished and distributed to students in local literacy programs—helping bridge the digital divide and fuel lifelong learning right here in our community.
Drop-off locations across District 39:
My District Office (197 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217)
Monday–Thursday, 10 AM–5 PM
Community Board 6 Office (250 Baltic Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201)
Monday–Friday, 10 AM–3 PM – Email info@bkcb6.org before drop-off
Principles GI Coffee House (139 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215)
Monday–Sunday, 8 AM–5 PM
Big Reuse (1- 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215)
Monday–Friday, 10 AM–6 PM
Old Stone House (336 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215)
Friday–Sunday, 12 PM–4 PM
CEC 15 BUSINESS MEETING
Date: June 10th
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: 131 Livingston St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
This meeting will be held in person with a livestream option via zoom, please register now using the following link:
https://nycdoe.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAvcO-tqTwuE9d0sHkVTq6w0H-tT9jM6iWQ
CEC 15 CALENDAR MEETING
Date: June 17th
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: PS 58 - 330 Smith St.
This meeting will be held in person with a livestream option via zoom, please register now using the following link: https://nycdoe.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0sdO6pqDMpEt20Z7Z9GBdtfVGY9Q_JMmMy
PTA GENERAL MEETING
The last PTA general meeting of the year will be Thursday, June 12 at 6:30pm on Zoom.
We hope all parents and families will join us in bidding a fond farewell to the 2024-2025 school year and in preparing for 2025-2026 with the preliminary PTA Budget approval.
We look forward to seeing you there!
FUNDRAISERS
ANNUAL FUND
We've exceeded our 2024-25 Annual Fund goal of $210,000! THANK YOU for ALL of your support in this community-wide effort! We're thrilled to be able to partner with our school in this way, making possible so many facets of our childrens' educational experience. Looking ahead, we've raised next year's Annual Fund goal to $220,000 based on projected needs. The 2025-26 campaign begins on July 1, 2025.
On behalf of the PTA board and the entire PTA community (that includes all of you!), thank you so much for being a community that shows up for all of our kids! Please contact PS 107 parent Betsy Goldfarb (betsy@ps107.org), incoming director of the Annual Fund, with any questions about next year's fundraising, and, as always feel free to:
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!
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:
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
SPRING FLING
Tonight is the Spring Fling! Join us from 6:30-9:00pm for the PS 107 dance party of the year, where students and families come together to bust-a-move. Tickets cost $10/person or $25/family. (Children three years old and younger may attend for free.) Tickets can be pre-purchased or purchased at the door, but if you have not already done so, we STRONGLY recommend you pre-purchase tickets here.
In order for this event to run smoothly, we need your help! There are still opportunities to support this fun dance for the entire 107 community here.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Erin Bestreich (erinbestreich@gmail.com) and Betsy Goldfarb (betsyolney@gmail.com).
BIG YARD GAMES
On Monday, June 9th, each grade will spend a whole period taking part in PS 107's version of 'Field Day', featuring fun games for all. Volunteers will be needed to help supervise and guide students from one activity to the next. Find additional information on the class participation schedule and volunteer to sign-up here, on Konstella. E-mail Danny Fried with questions.
PS 124 CLOTHING SWAP
On Saturday, June 14th, from 10:30am-12:30pm, please join our friends at PS 124 for our next seasonal clothing and housewares swap! As a mutual aid group, we strongly believe that for these special events to continue we need the support of community members to “dig in” and share in the labor. We are using this event to emphasize how important it is to create a space where people feel safe, welcome, and open to build community. If you would like to donate clothing and houseware, we hope you will also plan to stay and help sort for a portion of the event. Please keep in mind: ONLY bring items that are in-season, high quality, and in great condition. We hope to see you there!
SCHOOLWIDE PHOTO
On Tuesday, June 17th, we will be gathering as a community to take a schoolwide photo in the shape of “107” in our Big Yard! Each grade will wear a designated color, noted below, to form a rainbow.
Please start thinking about what your child will wear:
PreK & Kindergarten: Red
1st Grade: Orange
2nd Grade: Yellow
3rd Grade: Blue
4th Grade: Purple
5th Grade: Green (Wear your graduation t-shirts!)
These photos will be available for purchase for $20, and all proceeds will benefit the PTA. You can pre-order your 107 photo here.
If you need financial assistance to purchase a photo, please contact Nadia (NBenlarbi@schools.nyc.gov).
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
CHiPS NEEDS YOU!
Looking to get involved in the community but don't have a lot of time to give? Community Outreach and the CHiPS donation collection team are seeking volunteers for the 2025-26 school year to help handle the weekly morning collection of donations to CHiPS. We are looking for volunteers to rotate through the year, 30 minutes a week, 8:10AM-8:40AM on Wednesdays, and/or driving donations (car required, generally back to the neighborhood by 9:30AM).
Please reach out to Julie Fields Julie.a.fields@outlook.com if interested in learning more.
NYCPS CALENDAR
Please click here for the complete 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school year calendars.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS
June 4 - Spring Fling 6:30 pm
June 6 - D15 Learning Together Field Day 10am to 2pm
June 9 - Big Yard Games
June 12
- New Family Welcome Breakfast 9am
- PTA meeting 6:30 pm (zoom)
June 17 - Schoolwide Photo Day!
June 20 - Fifth Grade Graduation @ PS 10
June 26 - Last Day of School!
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS/CLOSURES
June 5 - Eid al-Adha (School Closed)
June 6 - Clerical Day (Non Attendance Day for Students)
June 19 - Juneteenth (Schools Closed)