<2026 FEBRUARY FAMILY NEWSLETTER>

Wow! It is hard to believe we have already passed the halfway point of the school year! Our school-wide data reflects strong momentum-90% overall attendance and over 20% growth in both ELA and Math from the i-Ready Beginning-of-Year to Middle-of-Year diagnostics. We are proud of our scholars and grateful for the collective effort that continues to move us forward.

Each day, our scholars demonstrate consistency in routines and a commitment to meeting expectations, while our teachers design meaningful learning experiences that build on the brilliance our students bring into the classroom. At P.S. 219, our focus remains on fostering a positive school climate, delivering high-quality instruction, and ensuring a safe, nurturing environment for all. As we celebrate our Centennial Year—100 years rooted in legacy and rising in excellence—every decision we make is grounded in love for our community and a deep responsibility to serve our scholars well.

As partners in this work, we ask that all community members (staff, families and external partners) continue to model the same respect, empathy, and care for one another that we teach our children each day. Respect for All is not only a theme-it is a shared commitment to being mindful of our words, actions, and interactions, and to assuming positive intent. When families and staff lead with kindness and mutual respect, we strengthen our community and create the conditions our scholars need to thrive.

February brings opportunities to celebrate, reflect, and grow together. We will kick off Respect for All Week on February 9th, reinforcing inclusion, empathy, and belonging-the 219 way. We will also celebrate our 100th Day of School on February 23rd, highlighting scholars who are 100 days stronger, 100 days bolder, and 100 days smarter. Throughout the month, we will honor Black History Month, recognizing that Black history is American history and using this time to uplift stories of resilience, innovation, resistance, joy, and leadership that continue to shape our world. Our goal is for scholars to see themselves as powerful, capable, and active agents of change.

We are truly honored to partner with you in your children’s growth and development. Thank you for your continued trust, collaboration, and commitment to our school community as we move forward to educating the whole child together-rooted in legacy, rising in excellence, and leading with love.

Yours in partnership,
Mrs. Williams
Proud Principal, P.S. 219

It's a new year and we're still rocking our uniforms! Just a reminder we’re showing school pride through our uniforms all year long. REMINDER: NO HOODIES OR head coverings (unless there is a religious reason) are permitted at school. All other head covering must be removed.

Please find information listed below regrading what to wear, to have an amazing school year 😊

P.S 219 has a required school uniform for several very important reasons:

1. Uniforms keep us recognizable as a community and safe
2. Uniforms unite our community.
3. Uniforms reduce distractions any clothing competition.
4. Uniforms help uphold our scholarly atmosphere.

All students must come to school wearing a P.S 219-Kennedy King uniform with pride! The basic uniform items without a school logo can be purchased from Ideal uniform store, cookies, young world, old navy, etc. Uniform items purchased with the school logo can be purchased on line from https://www.milkuniforms.com/p-s-219

The unform is as follows:

Uniforms (3K-5th Grade) can be purchased as follows:

• Tops: Royal Purple and/or white solid polo shirt with/without the logo is required every school day.
• Bottoms: Navy, or black, slacks, joggers, dress, skirt, etc. (Families may purchase bottoms/skirts/dresses from any store of their choice)
• Shoes: A “safe shoe” that covers all or most of the foot, adequate for walking up and down stairs all day. A sneaker is preferred. Sneakers can be any color to celebrate the students' style and flair. Crocs, other foam shoes, and UGG slip-on shoes (any type of slipper) are not permitted.
• Belts: If needed, a solid color is preferred
• Tights: any color and pattern (no lace is preferred)
• Socks: any color and pattern
• Gym Uniform: Grey or navy jogger suit. Options can be found on the uniform website with the school logo or purchased without from any store of your choosing.

If students have an accident or soil their clothes, a clean uniform will be provided for students to change into. Students in 3K, Pre-K, and Kindergarten are required to always keep a change of clothes in school.

PURCHASING INFORMATION

Website: https://www.milkuniforms.com/p-s-219

• Online Purchasing
• Families can purchase uniforms online from the website above.
• Online purchases will be shipped to the families’ homes.
• Free shipping is offered for orders of $75 or more.
• Shipping time can be expedited but 10 business days is suggested for standard delivery.
• Pricing: see image

Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you soon. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or the main office at 929-397-9566 ext. 2161.

• Monday, February 2nd-iReady Parent Meeting (Virtual @6pm)
• Friday, February 6th- State Test Parent Meeting
• Monday, February 9th-Friday, February 13th: Respect For All Week
• Monday, February 23rd- 100th Day Of School
• Friday, February 13th: Love + Friendship Day
• Monday, February 16th-Friday, February 20th: NO SCHOOL

Attendance Matters!

Scholars that are in school every day have higher academic data, grow as readers and master mathematical concepts and strategies. We need you to partner with us in ensuring that scholars have the greatest opportunity to maximize instructional minutes by being in school and in class, learning. Our school-wide attendance goal is 95%-100% daily and we have a school-wide attendance average of 90% in January. You can help us continue maintaining a strong scholar attendance by continuing to make sure that your scholar(s) arrive on time, every day and communicating with your scholars classroom teacher or the main office for excused absences. Thank you for supporting our increased efforts for timeliness, so we can maximize learning time. On The Road To 95%! Our Friendship Day party also has attendance as a parameter for being invited!

i-Ready Personalized Instruction Guidance for Families

Experts from iReady will be presenting during an afternoon with admin to support families understanding their child's diagnostic results. Please come with questions as they will also be able to support with resources at home.

As a school community, we've grown so much as evidenced by the data from our middle of year assessments. Please click on the link below to support your scholar using i-Ready. At home you can access guidance for using i-Ready including login and technical support. Learn how you can support your student with i-Ready.

curriculumassociates.com

It’s a whole new reality of learning and living for our children. The reality is that we live in a world where tech is ever-present and there is an increase for the need to spend time teaching our children how to navigate online responsibly. With the rise of safety concerns, cyberbullying, easy access from strangers on online platforms, we are asking families to partner with us as new technology and new apps are being created daily, and online communication is becoming an increasingly common. It is crucial to help our children achieve and understand digital literacy and be consistent and vigilant in monitoring usage to prevent cyberbullying prevention, ensure online safety, digital responsibility, and digital health and wellness.

RAISING DIGITAL CITIZENS

1. Remain positively engaged

2. Support their good choices

3. Know the protection features on your devices and on websites

4. Review privacy settings

5. Teach critical thinking

6. Teach them to respect private information about themselves and others

7. Teach your children how to interact safely

8. Empower your children to handle issues around bullying, hurtful comments and unwanted contact & sharing

1. Emphasize that they have the power to end conversations and log off the Internet at any time, and to not let shyness or embarrassment prevent them from talking to a parent or family member if they get into an iffy or risky situation

9. Support positive and safe engagement

Information from: National Cybersecurity Alliance

IN THE KNOW - Apps our students are using:

• Tik Tok

• Instagram

• Snapchat

• Facebook

• Twitter

• Text free App (Call/text)

• Roblox

• Omegle

• Discord

• Gaming sites where there are live chats

HOW TO SET UP PARENTAL CONTROLS & OVERSIGHT

• Parental controls - "How To"

• Parental controls on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch / Youtube video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDwOeoc6LAw

• Parental controls on Android / Youtube video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b-0gbQWOmc

• Apps that set up online controls

• Bark

• Kaspersky Safe Kids

• Our Pact (Kids can be involved)

• Family Orbit- track messages

• Google family link- set a timer (automatically shuts off)

• Set up check ins regarding social media, device usage

• Regular conversations about being a digital citizen and safe online

• Writing up an actual contract with time limits/expectations/rules and consequences if those rules are broken

We are available to support should you need anything!

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/menus/school-lunch-meals?value=s8#menuDiv

We want to make sure that you are fully connected to us. Please make sure our main office has the correct email and most updated phone numbers for you. We want to make sure that you receive all the texts and memos throughout the month. For some of you, it may be that your email settings block our messages and for others, it may be that we do not have accurate information. If your phone number changes, please alert your child's classroom teacher, send an email to Ms. Jackson (ajackson18@schools.nyc.gov or call the main office 929-397-9566.

Scholars in Grades Kindergarten thru 5th grade, whose families have returned their device loan agreements have received new Chromebook. If a loan agreement has not been returned, please note, scholars will continue to use their old devices.

Students will need laptops at home for i-Ready lessons, Edulastic lessons and any other at-home projects and tasks. Students will need laptops in school for classroom assignments and for upcoming school assessments. Going forward, scholars are responsible for transporting laptops back and forth as teachers assigned digital work for home. Please be advised: there will be one piece of technology sent per student based on what families have identified. Please work with your student to ensure that laptops and headphones remain in good functioning shape as we have reached our maximum number of technology purchases. If you need support, please reach out to Mrs. Williams and Mr. GoldSmith