The Math State Exams will be held this week Tuesday and Wednesday! We are so proud of the hard work that our students have been putting in all year to strengthen their math skills, and this assessment is an opportunity for them to show what they know and can do. Our 8th Graders will be taking mock regents exams for Algebra and Biology in preparation for their exams in June.

In this Issue:

Choose Kindness - Celebrating Jahsaiah
Champions Dinner
LUMINOUS Choir Concert Friday
ELTs Continuing
Classroom Spotlight: Math State Exam and Mock Regents Strategies
Magnet School Survey
MS 50 Theatre Presents: Footloose: Youth Edition
El Puente Beacon Updates
Algebra I Regents Prep
PTA Updates
El Puente Beacon Saturday Arts Program
Senior Dues
MS 50 Lit Mag
Upcoming Events
From District 14 & NYCPS
Spanish Office Hours
Free Internet Hotspot

The MS 50 Community is celebrating the life of Jahsaiah Watson, an 8th grader who embodied and advocated for kindness every single day. Jahsaiah passed away after a battle with cancer on April 30, 2026.

MS 50 is hosting a memorial service for Jahsaiah on Tuesday, May 12th at MS 50 from 2:40-4PM. Students and families are invited to come and celebrate Jahsaiah's life and his legacy of kindness. There will be space for students to reflect, to help develop a mural on our third floor featuring Jahsaiah, and to share memories.

The MS 50 PTA is organizing support for Jahsaiah's family in this difficult time to help cover expenses. Any and all support is appreciated. You can donate at givebutter.com/jahsaiah.

Champions Dinner is this week Wednesday! This event is a chance for our school community to gather and break bread together while discussing what we can do to ensure our school community is thriving now and in the future. The event will kick off with a community resource fair at 3PM before moving indoors at 4:15PM performances in the auditorium, breakout discussions in our classrooms, and finally a meal in the cafeteria to close out the night. Please register at ms50.org/champions so we can plan for food and breakout rooms.

The last day for most ELTs was last week Friday, May 1st. ELTs that are performance or project-based will continue until their programs are complete, they are all listed below.

Athletics (will continue until their seasons complete):

Soccer
Baseball
Softball
Volleyball

Performance and Project-Based

Varsity Singers - Until May 8th
Jazz Band, Rock Band & 6th grade Beginner Band - Until May 28th
Dance- Until May 30th
Theatre and Theatre Tech - Until May 18th
Yearbook - through May 26th
Muralistas - through May 14th
Policy Debate - through June 16
SHSAT Prep - through June 2
Algebra Regents Prep - through June 11
Anime Club - through this week

Sixth and Seventh grade students will take the New York State Mathematics assessment this week on Tuesday, May 5th and Wednesday, May 6th. The exam measures students’ understanding of the math skills and concepts they have learned throughout the school year.

Grade 6 students will apply skills such as working with ratios, fractions, decimals, percentages, expressions, equations, and geometry. Grade 7 students will build on these concepts while also solving more complex problems involving proportional relationships, operations with rational numbers, algebraic expressions, equations, probability, and geometry.

As part of our continued preparation for the New York State Regents Exams in June, all 8th grade students enrolled in Algebra I and Biology will participate in full-length mock Regents examinations next week. The Mock Algebra I Regents will be administered on Tuesday, May 5, and the Mock Biology Regents will take place on Wednesday, May 6.These practice exams are designed to provide students with an authentic testing experience that mirrors the format, timing, and expectations of the actual June Regents. Participating in these mock assessments will help students become more comfortable with the testing environment, strengthen their time-management skills, and identify areas where they may need additional review before the official exams. Teachers will use the results to provide targeted feedback and focused instruction, ensuring that each student is well-prepared for success in June. We encourage all students to approach these practice opportunities seriously and to do their very best.

Families can help students prepare by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time each day. Encourage your child to take their time, read each question carefully, and check their work before submitting their answers. Most importantly, remind them to stay confident, do their best, and approach each problem with a positive mindset. We are proud of all the hard work our students have done this year and know they are ready to succeed!

Starting last week, Ms. Smith will be hosting Algebra 1 Regents prep sessions every Thursday from 2:40 PM - 4:00 PM leading up to the Regents Exam on June 17 (see flyer attached). These sessions are open to all 8th grade students and are a great opportunity for extra practice and support before the exam. To sign up, please return the paper slip to Ms. Smith/Ms. Herzog, send Ms. Smith/Ms. Herzog a message on Jupiter, or text Ms. Smith directly at 860-785-3336.

Safer Streets Campaign

Parents demand safer streets for our kids

Many of our students walk independently from the train or bus, but crossing the entrance of the Williamsburg bridge means navigating through dangerous traffic. School parents and El Puente are working together to demand that the city.make things safe for our kids. Please sign our petition here! Any parents interested in volunteering at school events should fill out this interest form.

June 3, 2026 - PROM

Princess Manor

5PM to 9PM

$80.00

June 12, 2026 - SENIOR TRIP

Great Adventure/Six Flags

Need to be in school by 7:30AM

(lunch is included)

$80.00

June 25, 2026 - GRADUATION (includes Cap n Gown, Yearbook, T-shirt)

Grand Street Campus

9:00AM to 10:30AM (Doors open at 8:00AM for scanning)

$50.00

TOTAL: $210.00

You can pay in cash, money order or check payable to MS 50. You can also make payment Installments and you will get a receipt. June 1, 2026 (Monday) is the last day to pay Senior Dues. Please see Ms. Sostre in room 217. If you have any questions you can call Ms. Sostre at 917-202-6257.

Upcoming Athletic Events

Baseball

Wednesday, May 6: vs. IS 71 at McCarren Park (Field 3) - 4PM
Thursday, May 7: vs. 126 at Prospect Park (Field 2) - 4PM
Friday, May 8: vs. MS 577 at Prospect Park (Field 2) - 4PM
Tuesday, May 12: vs. Liberty Ave at Parade Ground (BB-07) - 4PM
Wednesday, May 13: vs. Dewey MS at Parade Ground (BB-07) - 4PM

Softball

Tuesday, May 5: vs. IS 318 at Roberto Clemente Ballpark - 4PM
Thursday, May 7: vs. MS 582 at Sternberg (Lindsay) Park - 5PM
Wednesday, May 13: vs. MS 126 at Roberto Clemente Ballpark - 4PM

Volleyball

Thursday, May 14: Playoffs - Home vs. Urban Assembly Union - 4PM

Soccer

Thursday, May 7: vs. IS 318 at McCarren Park - 4PM
Friday, May 15: vs. MS 582 at Bushwick Inlet Park - 4PM

D14 Events

Family Institute for Sustainable Change

🗓 Monthly Workshops: Oct 15, Nov 19, Dec 17, Jan 21, Feb 25, Mar 18, Apr 15, May 20
🕘 9:00–11:00 AM
📍 P.S. 147, 325 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn, NY
A series of 8 interactive workshops for families of students in Grades K–2 (Grades 3–5 welcome!) focused on literacy, multilingual learners, special education, STEM, math support, and more.
RSVP Link: https://forms.gle/3kPrDFtxQppRDCAh8