The Wednesday Weekly
May 6, 2026
Dear PS 107 Families,
This week, as we celebrate Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, I want to take a moment to talk specifically about our teachers, and not just to thank them, but to truly see the incredibly meaningful work they do.
Teaching is one of those professions where the deepest work is mostly invisible. When a classroom feels warm and safe, when a child who struggled in September is thriving by spring, when a kid who said "I hate reading" is begging to finish one more chapter … that doesn't just happen. It is the result of hundreds of small decisions, quiet investments, and relationships built every single day.
What makes teaching so remarkable is that our teachers hold so much at once. They know the curriculum and they know each child's relationship to it. They notice when something is off. They repair things after hard days. They make space for the child who needs to move, the one who needs silence, the one who needs to be seen. They do all of this simultaneously, for a whole classroom full of kids, for 180 days a year.
And they rarely see the full result of their work. The love of reading sparked in second grade, the moment a child discovers they can do hard things, the sense of belonging built over a school year — those seeds take years to bloom. Our teachers plant them anyway.
At PS 107, our teachers are the heart and soul of this school, and this week, we get to say so out loud.
On that note, we would love to fill our school's Instagram account with public messages of appreciation from our students, and there is still time to participate! Here is how:
Record a short video (about 20 seconds) of your child sharing why they love their teachers and/or staff members at PS 107.
Please hold your phone vertically when recording, and email it to our social media team at social@ps107.org.
By sending the video, you consent to have it posted publicly on our school's Instagram account. We encourage videos to be broad and celebratory — but if your child wants to thank someone specific, that is wonderful too! Any questions? Reach out to me at jcohen72@schools.nyc.gov or to our social media team at social@ps107.org.
Celebrating Jewish American and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Months
May is a month of rich celebration at PS 107! We are honoring both Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with performances, schoolwide read-alouds, announcements, and posters throughout our halls. A heartfelt thank you to our Jewish Affinity Group leads Joni Kletter and Lindsay Robinson, and to our AAPI Affinity Group leads Nisha Aoyama, Neeta Menon, and Avon Khowong, for making this month so special for our students.
This Friday, May 8th, we are so excited to welcome a special performance in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month. Our students will enjoy an immersive gathering of live klezmer music and participatory Yiddish dance. This dynamic program blends traditional klezmer sounds, Yiddish song, and accessible folk dance, so that everyone, regardless of experience, can join in the fun. Expect a vibrant, joyful, community-centered experience that honors Ashkenazi Jewish music and dance traditions. Parents are warmly invited to attend! Performances will be held as follows:
PreK, 1st Grade, and 3rd Grade performances: 10:08–10:28 am
Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, and 5th Grade performances: 10:35–10:55 am
The performance will take place in the Big Yard, weather permitting, or on the 4th floor in the event of rain.
Then, on Monday, May 18th, in the afternoon, our students will be treated to a performance by a Japanese hip hop artist, organized by our AAPI Affinity Group! Parents will also be welcome to join — more details to come.
One Book, One School Community: Two Books This Month!
This month, in honor of both heritage month celebrations, we have TWO One Book, One School Community read-alouds. Thank you to our PS 107 Staff Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team for selecting these beautiful texts.
Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty by Linda Glaser tells the true story of Emma Lazarus, the young Jewish American poet whose words — "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" — are now engraved at the base of the Statue of Liberty. It is a story about empathy, identity, and the enduring promise of welcome. You can find the teacher letter, discussion questions, and an optional activity here.
Drawn Together by Minh Le, illustrated by Dan Santat, is a nearly wordless picture book about a boy and his grandfather who struggle to connect across language and culture — until drawing together opens a bridge between their worlds. It is a breathtaking book about love, family, and the ways we find each other even when words fall short. It is also a perfect companion to our upcoming Grandparents and Special Friends Day on May 15th! You can find the teacher letter, discussion questions, and an optional activity here. We encourage all families to read and discuss both books at home!
Movie Night: Thank You!
A huge thank you to event leads Matthew Schneider and Catharina Oerlemans for organizing such a wonderful Movie Night! Movie watching is meant to be a communal experience, and you made it exactly that.
I also want to take a moment to give a special recognition to Matt Schneider, whose family will soon be moving out of Brooklyn and leaving our PS 107 community. In the five years since I became principal, Matt has shown up for this school with extraordinary generosity and a can-do spirit that has made such a difference. He and his family will be deeply missed, and we are so grateful for everything he has given to PS 107.
Help Care for Our Chickens!
Our Gardening Committee is looking to grow its team of volunteers who care for our school chickens on a daily basis. This is such a fun opportunity for parents and children to do together: a little urban farming, a lot of joy. (I let the chickens out almost every morning, and it is truly one of the highlights of my day!)
If you are interested, please join us for a chicken coop tour and care orientation with Garden leads Zoe Young and Carla Shaw at one of the following times on May 12th:
Thank you for considering this wonderful opportunity!
Upcoming Safety Drills
We have three drills remaining before the end of the school year: two evacuation drills (fire drills) and one soft lockdown drill. One evacuation drill is scheduled for the week of May 11th, and the second for the week of May 18th. We will share notice once our soft lockdown drill has been scheduled. As always, our teachers prepare students thoughtfully and age-appropriately for these drills.
Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead — it is going to be a beautiful one at PS 107!
Warmly,
Ms. Joanna
PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION WEEK
Last week was Principal Appreciation Week! The students all took a moment to celebrate Ms. Joanna with appreciation cards. Thank you, Ms. Joanna, for all of your hard work and dedication to the students and staff of PS 107. We appreciate you! 💙💛
NYC Kids Rise: Save for College Program
All students in Kindergarten through 4th grade are eligible to participate in the NYC Kids Rise Save for College Program, and we are working hard to get as many families as possible to activate their child's account. Their account starts with $100, and they will also receive a $25 reward just for activating it — no personal information required!
To activate your child's NYC Scholarship Account, follow these steps:
Go to nyckr.org/act-now
Enter your child's ZIP code, birthdate, and Student ID or OSIS number, then click Submit
Enter your name, email, and create a password
Read and accept the Terms of Use, then click Create User Profile
You can also watch a short video guide if you'd like a walkthrough.
If you are not interested in participating, please opt out through your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA): log in, click the "Postsecondary Planning" tile, then click "NYC Kids Rise Save for College Program" to review the program information and opt out – or print and complete this form and return it to your child’s teacher.
NYCPS MAY FAMILY UPDATE
This month’s letter features important information about the 2026–27 school year calendar, Summer Rising offers, admissions updates, Teacher Appreciation Week, Climate Action Day, and Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Please click here to access the May Update or open the attachment below.
NYCPS GUIDANCE ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
Click here to review the NYCPS guidance.
NYCPS is taking feedback and comments on this guidance through May 8, 2026.Share your thoughts, suggestions, and insights(Open external link)
LOST & FOUND:
Did you Lose Me? Please check this document to see if there are any missing items that we have found 😄
If you have already claimed an item included here, YAY!
Thank you!
SCHOOL NEWS
- Missed the April PTA Meeting? You can check out the minutes here.
- Five Day Week April Edition
CEC CALENDAR & BUSINESS MEETING
📆Tuesday May 12, 2026
⏰6:30 to 9:00 pm
📍PS 456 Elizabeth Jennings School, 489 State St, Brookly,n NY 11217
Register here: https://nycdoe.zoom.us/meeting/register/h3phx_93SLy9OFPquHbHgw#/registration
PARENT WORKSHOP: HOW TO TALK WITH YOUR KIDS ABOUT GENDER AND LGBTQ+ IDENTITIES
We're excited to invite all PS 107 families to a special parent session with History UnErased on May 13th — offered at two times so you can join whichever works best for you.
This session is designed to help families feel more confident and equipped when talking with their children about gender expansiveness and LGBTQ+ identities. Facilitators will share approachable, practical tools for these conversations — grounded in the New York State Dignity for All Students Act — and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Session 1 — 10:00–10:40 am (with 20 minutes for Q&A) , register here: https://unerased-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/ha2Dbjr5TYu6xrMXFiwiwA
Session 2 — 7:00–7:40 pm (with 20 minutes for Q&A), register here: https://unerased-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/CG2gJFlBR8iepHgNGAsCQQ
MARBLE HEALTH PARENT/CAREGIVER WORKSHOPS
Demystifying Therapy: A Parent’s Guide to Mental Health Support
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 @ 8:00 PM EST
Prosperando juntos: Mejorando la comunicación familiar (En español)
MARTES, 12 DE MAYO A LAS 6:00 PM EST
Finding Calm in Chaos: Helping Students Navigate Political Anxiety
TUESDAY, MAY 19 @ 7:00 PM EST
Friendships, Cliques & Conflict: Helping Kids Navigate their Social World
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 @ 8:00 PM EST
SCHOOL RESOURCES
HELPFUL TIPS
Please click here for helpful tips regarding, absences, late arrivals, and more!
PARENT/CAREGIVER HANDBOOK & DEVICE/SCREEN USE POLICY
If you have questions about school operations, policies, or procedures, be sure to check our Parent Handbook first. Please click this link to view our Device Policy as well : PS 107 Cell Phone, Smart Watch, and Other Device Policy
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.
Please click here for student email account and google classroom tech support information.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Please see the attached important update from the NYCPS Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs.
Please feel free to reach out to Nadia if you have any concerns or questions.
ACADEMIC & SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES
NEW SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING CURRICULUM
Our school community has moved into a new and important chapter of our PurposeFull People character education curriculum: the value of Honesty.
For more on our Honesty module, please take a look at the PurposeFull People parent newsletter here, which includes activities that you can do at home as a family to reinforce this value. And feel free to reach out to your child's teacher to learn more about what their specific grade is exploring.
Previous Units:
- PurposeFull People’s Family Newsletter on Respect
- PurposeFull People Family Newsletter on Responsibility
- PurposeFull People Family Newsletter on Gratitude
- PurposeFull People Family Newsletter on Empathy
- PurposeFull People Family Newsletter on Perseverance
MATH MAGIC
Join us weekly in the PS 107 Art Room for Math Magic! Every Wednesday, from 7:30am until 8:20am, enjoy puzzles, games, coffee for the adults (bring your own reusable mug if possible), doughnuts, and Pi. All ages and skill levels welcome. Parents must stay with students—no drop-offs. Questions? Contact Elaine Mui at eemooey@gmail.com
THURSDAY MORNING TRACK RUN (TMTR)
Track is back!!! Every Thursday at 7am, from now to the end of the school year (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 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!
FUNDRAISERS
ANNUAL FUND
Contribute to the Annual Fund, which directly supports essential school programs and resources. We are nearing the end of the year but have not yet reached our goal. Please help us get over the finish line with your donation! Here’s how:
Make a one-time or monthly donation online via Konstella by clicking here.
Share this public link with non-Konstella users (e.g. extended family and friends).
Make a gift of stock here.
Find out if your employer offers a matching gift program - if so, taking the extra step to secure a corporate match makes a huge difference!
Why support the Annual Fund?
PS 107 relies on PTA support to supplement DOE funding, which consistently falls short of what's needed. This partnership between families and the school makes possible important programs such as Art and Science, as well as supplies, curriculum materials, extra classroom support, and so much more. THANK YOU in advance for your contribution! Please contact PS 107 parent Betsy Goldfarb with any questions about the Annual Fund: betsy@ps107.org.
AAPI SNACK BAG DONATIONS AND PACKING PARTY
Do your kids love AAPI Snack Bags? This is a great fundraiser for the PTA and also a lot of fun to put together. If you have any Asian snacks to donate or want to join the snack bag packing party with your kid on May 15th at 6:15pm, please email Elaine Mui at elaine@ps107.org.
NEW YORK LIBERTY FUNDRAISER GAME
On Sunday, June 14th, come out to Barclays Center and watch the New York Liberty with the 107 community. Tickets purchased help raise funds for the PTA. Get your tickets here.
SPECIAL EVENTS
COMMUNITY HELP IN PARK SLOPE (CHiPS) FOOD DRIVE
Every Wednesday at morning drop-off, rain or shine, the Aid and Action 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 the items detailed above.
Please note: Students can now earn the Food Drive Merit Pin by volunteering at the CHiPS collection table on Wednesday mornings. Email Julie Mee Schmidt (juliem@ps107.org) if your child would like to volunteer for this service project.
ART DAY
The Art Committee is busy planning a day of creative fun for the annual PS 107 Art Day on Saturday, May 16 from 12-3pm, in the Big Yard! Art Day at PS 107 brings together our school community for an afternoon of creativity, discovery, and fun. Families can explore hands-on workshops led by our talented parents and local artists. Kids can make art, try new materials, and let their imaginations run wild. It is a joyful schoolwide event that highlights the vibrant artistic spirit of our school community. We are looking for workshop leaders who will guide kids in art and craft based activities in a variety of materials - drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, collage, textiles, wood, cardboard, and more! If you are interested in hosting a workshop, please sign up on konstella and the Art Committee will be in touch about planning and securing supplies for your workshop. For more information, please reach out to Art Committee Co-Chairs: Sarah Baratti sarahkwarner@yahoo.com, Jiaomin Ni jiaomin.ni@gmail.com, and
Kate Polevoy kgwilkes@gmail.com.
SPRING FLING
Save the Date: This year's Spring Fling will take place Wednesday, June 3 from 6:30 to 9:00pm in the Big Yard. DJ, dancing, pizza, snacks, drinks. The whole school community, together in the big yard. We can't wait to see you there!
COMMUNITY CLOTHING SWAP @ PS 124
Please join us in the PS 124 School Yard on on Saturday, June 13th from 10-12:30pmfor the Mutual Aid Clothing and Housewares Swap! You are welcome to donate clean, gently used summer clothing, "shop" for items your family needs, or both! There is no obligation to donate in order to take items home. Participate by volunteering with your child (sort and fold clothes for at least 20 minutes to earn a Clothing Drive Merit Pin) or dropping off donations pre-sorted by size and gender. (Please bring only clean, in-season, high-quality items.) We hope to see you there!
TEACHER & STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
We’re excited to celebrate PS107 Teachers & Staff Appreciation Week from NOW through May 8! This is a special opportunity to show our incredible teachers, staff, and administrators just how much they mean to our community—and we need your help to make it truly memorable. The week will culminate in a Thank You Potluck on Friday May 8th. Please sign up now to bring food, supplies, or to volunteer for this special day of appreciation.
**NEW 2026-2027 NYCPS CALENDAR - click here
2025-2026 NYCPS CALENDAR - click here
2025-2026 KONSTELLA/SCHOOL CALENDAR - click here
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 4-8 - Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week (Thank You!)
May 7 - Author Visit for 4th & 5th Grades
May 8 - Jewish American Heritage Month Performance, 3rd Period (10:08 to 10:55)
May 12 - Author Visit K & 1st Grades
May 13 - NYS Science Test — Grade 5 only
May 15
- Grandparents /Special Friend Day 8:20 to 10 am
- 5th Grade Bake Sale at Arrival and Dismissal
May 16 - Art Day
May 18 - AAPI Heritage Month Performance
June 2 - Kindergarten & Pre K Park Picnic ( more details from your child's teacher to follow)
June 3 - Spring Fling
HOLIDAYS / SCHOOL CLOSURES
May 25 - Memorial Day (school closed)
May 27 - Eid al Adha (school closed)
JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM!
Scan the QR code and follow our 107 IG account!