The Wednesday Weekly

Dear PS 107 Families,

Last Friday night, rattled by the shifts and changes that we are all feeling at this moment in time, an inflection point in the history of our nation, I decided to attend a religious service for the first time in many, many years. I was not seeking answers, nor was I seeking comfort in the familiar prayers of my childhood; rather, I was seeking the healing power of community. Over the course of those two hours, we would greet one another, lift our voices in song together, and join in quiet moments of meditation together. There is something about the harmony of hundreds of voices that can remind us of the mysteries and wonders of the universe that bind us together. What affects one of us, ultimately impacts all of us.

During his sermon, the Rabbi, whom I’ve long-admired and followed his teachings from afar, looked out at all of us and said, “We are being pitted against one another, and we must resist it with all of our might.” I nodded vigorously in agreement and pulled out a piece of paper from my bag to write this letter to all of you.

No matter your background or your personal experience, the Rabbi is right. And this has been happening for a long time. I feel it in the energy of our school, in the energy of my neighborhood, within my own family, and even, within myself. It is difficult to identify precisely who is responsible for this, though our leadership – in our community and beyond – plays a significant role. In those meditative moments, I reflected on what kind of leader I have wanted to be, and it is most certainly not one who seeks to sow division for personal gain. Instead, I seek to be a leader who does what’s right, who stands up and takes note of what divides us, who takes us – all of us – to a space that wraps our community in the arms of care, kindness, and compassion.

Coincidentally, this week is Respect for All week in the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS). A few weeks ago, I received a survey from NYCPS leadership asking what we had planned for this week. I stared at the survey for quite some time, unsure how to respond. I was unsure because, at PS 107, we don’t confine this work to just one week of the year. We work towards being respectful to all members of our community, standing up against bullying and identity-based bias, ensuring that every single one of our students and their families feel that they belong, in every moment of every day. Have we achieved our goals yet? No. It is ongoing work that we choose to engage in daily – and unfortunately, it is made more challenging by the forces in our larger society who seek to divide us.

In these weeks, months, and years ahead, as the United States is forced to reckon with who we are and who we want to be as a nation, I ask all of you to stand in community with us. Stand against hatred or bias or the marginalization of any of our students, staff members, and families. Stand for kindness, compassion, and caring. Choose your words and actions with thought. Remember that we, as a community, are all working towards the same thing – the well-being of our children, of our staff, of our families.

One way that you can directly contribute to PS 107 being the compassionate, curious community that we are striving for is by joining – if you haven’t already – a wonderful workshop series sponsored by our parent Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team, Shaping a Compassionate and Welcoming School Community – Together. While we have already had one session, all families are welcome to join the next two sessions, on Monday, March 3rd and Thursday, May 1st, 7-8:30 pm, on Zoom. You can sign up on Konstella here. If you are seeking your footing during an increasingly uncertain time, as I was last week, please join us. I assure you that it will feed your soul and help you to see that our fates are tangled up together – and standing with, instead of against, one another is the only way forward.

Have a restful and restorative mid-winter recess!

Warmly,

Ms Joanna

PS Speaking of the power of community, I am incredibly grateful to parent organizers Ligia Mathias, Katie Shima, Lindsay Robinson, and Jake Robinson, as well as to the inimitable PTA Events leads Audrey Stipanovich and Gemma Niblett, and to our own Nadia Benlarbi, for an incredible STEM Day last Saturday!

PS 107 PARENT WORKSHOP SERIES WITH DR. ERICA MILLER

Dr. Erica Miller is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in neuropsychological assessment, positive parenting practices and evidenced-based treatments.

Her primary goal is to help parents better understand their child and to empower parents to meet their child’s needs with connection and empathy.

Topics will include: frustration tolerance, working through power struggles, confidence building, and preparing for the tween/teen years.

Workshop Dates:

• February 27, 2025 @ 8:45 am
• During this workshop, we will focus on reframing and building confidence. As parents, we want our children to grow up to be confident. But what does that mean and how do we do it? We are hearing so many conflicting messages regarding praise, and reassurance. Participants will become equipped with a new framework confidence and explicit strategies to help kids build it from the inside out. *RSVP here

• March 27,2025
• During this conversation, we will focus on understanding our sensitive and big feeling kids. We will talk about child and parent regulation skills, the difference between feelings and behaviors, and strategies for helping everyone through these tough moments will be discussed.

2025 NYC SCHOOL SURVEY!

The 2025 NYC School Survey administration window opened on Monday, February 10 and will close on Friday, April 4. We will continue to offer families both paper and online survey options this year.

Key Reminders for the 2025 NYC School Survey

• When will the survey launch? The survey will launch on Monday, February 10 and continue through Friday, April 4, 2025.
• How can you take the survey? Families can take the survey online OR by completing a paper survey. Families will use a lower case "f" followed by their child's OSIS number as an access code when taking the survey online.
• Where do you take the survey online? On February 10, everyone will be able to access the survey at nycschoolsurvey.org. You only need to click on the button that says, "Take the NYC School Survey." Then you can enter your access code.

SUMMER RISING 2025

#SummerRising is BACK and open to all NYC students from K-8!

🌟Full day, in-person programs

🤸‍♂️Fun and enriching activities

🚌Local field trips

🍎Free breakfast, lunch, and snacks

Families will be able to apply for Summer Rising seats in MySchools starting on Tuesday, March 4, and until Friday, March 28, 2025.

Learn more: schools.nyc.gov/SummerRising

THE SCIENCE OF READING WORKSHOPS

Join New York City Public Schools, Office of Family and Community Empowerment for a 7-week virtual workshop designed to help parents and caretakers to understand the science of reading and equip them with the knowledge and tools to support their children’s literacy at home.

Workshop Details:

📅 When: Thursday evening from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, February 13th – March 27th

💻 Where: Online – join from the comfort of your home!

👉 Register here: Click to Sign Up

🎯 What to Expect:

• 45-minute sessions covering key aspects of the science of reading
• Expert guidance from Braintrust Tutors on why reading can be challenging, especially in English
• Practical strategies to boost your child’s confidence in reading using free local resources
• A chance to connect with other parents and learn together

This is a fantastic and limited opportunity to gain new skills, ask questions, and make reading more enjoyable for your child!

To confirm your spot, please register here, find more details in the attached flyer. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Nisaa Jackson, Njackson29@schools.nyc.gov, or Rafael Dobles, Rdobles3@schools.nyc.gov.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

LOST & FOUND - Updated 2-11-25

We will donate more lost & found items before our mid-winter recess.

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

• 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

• NYCPS Guidelines on Gender

• NYCPS Guidelines to Support Transgender and Gender Expansive Students

• NYCPS LGBTQ+ Supports

• Respect for All: Preventing and Addressing Student-to-Student Discrimination, Sexual and Other Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying

NON-SPECIFIC RESOURCES

• Free and Low-Cost Internet Options

• Guidelines for Playing Outside in Cold Weather

• SAFETY DURING AFTERSCHOOL PICKUPS - Sent 1/20/25
• DEI COMMITTEE - KONSTELLA UPDATE & BLACK HISTORY MONTH NEWSLETTER - 2/4/25
• GREEN COMMITTEE - VALENTINE'S DAY KEEP IT GREEN! - 2/6/25
• DEI WORKSHOP # 2: How to Talk to Kids about Race, Gender, Class & Other Important Topics

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS - February 2025

Please see the attached Family Update that provides important information about Summer Rising 2025, the annual NYC School Survey, Education Council Elections, Respect for All Week, and key enrollment dates.

You can also view this message here : https://schools.nyc.gov/MessagesForFamilies

RESPECT FOR ALL WEEK

Please join us in our citywide commitment to foster kindness and respect in our schools during “Respect for All” Week on February 10–14, 2025

Please take a moment to read the attached letter for more information.

DISTRICT 15 ARTS SHOWCASE

VISUAL AND FINE ARTS - DANCE - DRAMA- INSTRUMENTAL - MUSICAL THEATRE - VOCAL

Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025

Time: Elementary Schools: 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM / Middle and High Schools: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Location: Brooklyn High School of the Arts - 345 Dean St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

PROJECT BASED LEARNING - DISTRICT 15 COMMUNITY EVENT

Join us to see how we make learning connected, authentic, and meaningful for our D15 students!

Date: March 12, 2025

Time: 4:00 - 7:00 PM

Location: MS 51 - 350 5TH AVE, BROOKLYN, NY 11215

SCREEENING OF "COUNTED OUT"

The District 15 Math Team invites District 15 families and educators to a screening of "Counted Out", followed by a panel discussion with members of our team.

Date: March 14, 2025

Time: 5:30-7:00PM, Panel 7:00-7:30PM

Location: Brooklyn High School for the Arts 345 Dean St, Auditorium

About the Film

“Counted Out” investigates the biggest crises of our time — racism, political polarization, economic inequity, a global pandemic, climate change — through the unexpected lens of math. This striking documentary exposes systemic inequities that weaponize math as a gatekeeper and shines a light on math as the foundation of democracy and economic opportunity that allows everyone to fully participate in this fast-moving society.

CEC 15

2025 CCEC Elections

Want to learn more about the CEC? Attend the meeting below! You can attend in person or via live stream.

CEC 15 Calendar Meeting

Date: Tuesday February 25th

Time: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Location: 32 Hoyt 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/tJElfuCupjkqHNE3DRGIt7-p1sS6hv6Liqrf

CEC 15 Business Meeting

Date: Tuesday March 11th

Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 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/tJAkc-ysqjsiGtVujmy_cM3mBSP6Xn0OXDTT

CAREGIVER WORKSHOP SERIES - Hosted by: The Central Crisis Support Team

Explore new themes each month with our engaging weekly presentations. Enhance your skills to support your child's growth and connect with a community of parents and caregivers!

Time/Zoom information:

• Mon 5PM: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vc-Gsrj8sH9OMo9OXbIzisuI5n5fyT3s6
• Tues 7:30pm: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYvdO6orT4sEtJ0AHga6aG3yRVGFe1Tcl29
• Thurs 11AM: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIlcO2hpzsiGdNkKvZToV-RuTpg-0eBb4xq

*Please see the image or flyer for more information.

SPRING FOOD SERVICE MENU UPDATES

The DOE is committed to the health and well-being of every child, and continues to provide free, nutritious meals to all students every day. In an effort to inform families about spring school menus, please view the Menus page — please note that the menus will be updated at the beginning of each month to showcase new dining options.

Additionally, you may refer to the Menus page for updated information on how to learn more about the school food menus and use the spring survey link for students and parents to provide feedback on menu options, make suggestions for additions to the menu, and share your dining experience in school cafeterias.

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/menus

NYC SCHOOLS ACCOUNT - NYCSA

This is a NYC DOE parent account for students grades K - 12 that enables parents/guardians to view all of their children’s records - grades, fitnessgrams, attendance, your child’s DOE email, etc. At least one parent/guardian will need to have access to this account.

We strongly encourage all parents/guardians to have their own account. Any parent with children in grades k-5 who does not have their own NYSCA , please contact nbenlarbi2@schools.nyc.gov for instructions and your unique account creation code.

OPEROO

Please email Nadia if you would like to be added to Operoo for your child. When families apply in MySchools, only one parent is listed and that is the parent that rolls up to Operoo. If you send a request to be added to an account, it will usually be completed within a 24 hour timeframe on school days :)

EMERGENCY BLUE CARD AND DAILY DISMISSAL INFORMATION

In an effort to ensure we have the most accurate and up to date information, please be sure to check that your emergency blue cards and daily dismissal forms in Operoo are completely up to date and have the most accurate and current information. Thank you 😊

NEW POLICY ALERT: PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR PE

Parents who are volunteering for PE classes at the Armory must sign in with Agent Sharon at PS 107 before proceeding to the Armory. This is because the Armory is considered an annex of PS 107, and we must have an accurate accounting of who has entered the school to work with students. Please remember to sign in with Agent Sharon before you head over to the Armory.

LATE ARRIVAL POLICY

Please be reminded that the school day begins at 8:20 am. All exterior gates will continue to close at 8:25 am, and we will now close our main school door at 8:30 am. Parents who drop off their children after the main door is closed must sign in their children in the main entrance. This is very important so that we mark students late rather than absent!

MAKING SCHOOL DAY DISMISSAL PICK-UP CHANGES

If there is a change to your child’s dismissal, please be sure to note the change on the Daily Dismissal form in Operoo. If it is a same day change, please email your child’s teacher and cc Nadia at nbenlarbi2@schools.nyc.gov in addition to making any changes on the Daily Dismissal form. You can also contact the main office at 718-499-2054.

MAKING AFTERSCHOOL DISMISSAL CHANGES

If you need to add a new pick up person for your child in afterschool, please make sure to update this on 6Crickets (Click Here). Afterschool and PS 107 partner in many ways, but not with our information applications. They can't access Operoo and we can't access 6Crickets.

Thank you for your assistance in ensuring your child's safety 😊

LOWER GRADES

Please be sure to send your children to school with a full change of clothes. Accidents can happen easily when they are younger as they often get distracted and don’t check in with their bodies. Please be sure to return your child with a new set the next day if they need to be replaced.

LABEL!

Please parents, remember to label your student’s water bottles, lunch boxes, backpacks, and clothing with their full name (last names are essential!) and if there is space, please include their class number. We want to be able to return all fabulous items to their rightful owner!

IDENTIFICATION

When entering the school building you must present your ID to the safety agent when signing in.

One helpful tip is to take a picture of your id. Often, we will have our phone with us even if we don’t have our id. This way, you always have it handy :)

• Book Club Meetings – MONTHLY: Tuesdays, 7:30am

• Math Magic Meeting – WEEKLY: Wednesdays, 7:30am

• CHiPS Food Drive – WEEKLY: Wednesdays, 8:20am

• Annual Fund Matching Gift Campaign - NOW through Friday, February 14

• PSSE Meeting - Thursday, February 13, 12pm (Zoom)

• PTA General Meeting - Thursday, February 13, 6:30pm (Zoom)

• Read-A-Thon - Friday, February 28 through Tuesday, March 18

• Parent/Caregiver Workshop Series - Monday, March 3, 7pm (Zoom)

• Pies for Pi Day Fundraiser - Order NOW through Friday, March 7

• Live Band Karaoke - Wednesday, March 12, 7:30pm

• Spring Sports:

• Brooklyn FC Soccer Game - Saturday, March 29, 6pm - Tickets on sale NOW

• BrooklynCyclones Baseball Game - Sunday, May 4, 2pm - Tickets on sale NOW

• NY Liberty Basketball Game - Sunday, June 1, 3pm - Tickets on sale NOW

PTA MEETING MINUTES - January

Did you miss January's PTA meeting? You can find notes here.

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, 4, and 5. Please check Konstella for grade level messages with details about meetings. 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? 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

On Thursday, February 13th from 12pm to 1pm, Tamuira Reid, Public Advocate Appointee, Citywide Council of Special Education will join the Monthly PSSE meeting for a Q&A on navigating the NYC DOE special education system. She spoke with our committee last year and is a great resource. Please join us! Email Lisa and Julie (Julie.a.fields@outlook.com and uribe@ms.com) with any questions or areas of interest. Join Zoom Meeting here.

PTA GENERAL MEETING

February's PTA General Meeting will take place on Thursday, February 13th @ 6:30pm (on Zoom).

Meeting Agenda

• Parent Coordinator Update (Nadia Benlarbi)
• Principal’s Update (Joanna Cohen)
• After School Update
• Annual Fund Update (Nisha Aoyama)
• DEI (Christine Canedo-Pullen)
• PSSE (Julie Allen Fields)
• Green Committee (Kajal Below)
• Upcoming Events
• Auction
• Live Band Karaoke (Wed Mar 12)
• Read a Thon
• Cyclones/Liberty signups are active

PARENT/CAREGIVER WORKSHOP SERIES: BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY

Please join the DEI Committee for the second session of a three-part workshop series, led by teacher educator Kass Minor, a local D15 parent and author of Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools.

The PTA and PS 107 school leadership have invested to provide this workshop to our community because we want all students to feel that they belong.

All parents and caregivers are welcome, including those who missed the first workshop. We hope to see you there! *Please note that workshop dates have changed and will now take place on Monday, March 3rd from 7-8:30pm (on Zoom) and on Thursday, May 1st at the same time. RSVP here!

ANNUAL FUND

Contribute to the Annual Fund, which directly supports essential school programs and resources. NOW through Friday, February 14th all donations will be MATCHED by an anonymous team of PS 107 families until we reach 5K. Here’s how you can make your contribution:

• 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.

GARDENING HELP NEEDED

Our chicks are growing fast! If you would like to help support our growing chicks and our growing garden, please check out Ms. A's Amazon Wishlist and consider making a donation!

Thank you!

PIES FOR PI DAY

Celebrate International Pi day on 3.14 (Friday, March 14th) with a pie from Brooklyn's own 'Four and Twenty Blackbirds.' Ten inch pies are $40 each (retail price $45); $15 from each pie purchased will go to the PS 107 PTA. Please order by Friday, March 7th; pies can be collected outside school on Friday, March 14th from 2:35-5:45pm. Please use this link to purchase: Four & Twenty Pi Day Fundraiser.

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

LIVE BAND KARAOKE

Warm up those vocals, book the babysitter, and get ready for a fun night out to benefit the PS 107 PTA. On Wednesday, March 12th, join us at Littlefield (635 Sackett St) for live band karaoke with The Occasionalists. Doors open at 6:30pm, festivities begin at 7:30pm. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Admission is $20 in advance or $25 at the door, tickets are available here. [Half-priced tickets will be available for volunteers willing to take tickets at the door for an hour - contact Gemma or Audrey if interested.]

This event is open to everyone; if you have friends or family who would love a night out to support PS 107, please invite them along!

SPRING SPORTS

BROOKLYN FC

Cheer on the borough's brand new professional women's soccer team as they take on the Tampa Bay Sun on "Rep Your School Night," Saturday, March 29th at 6pm. Various fan experiences will be available if we buy 50 or more tickets. Tickets are $20 (endline) or $35 (sideline) plus processing fee, with $5 from each ticket going to the PTA. Purchase here; contact Gemma with questions.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

Watch the Cyclones play the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Sunday, May 4th at 2pm. If we buy 250 tickets one person from our group can throw out the first pitch and another announce for an inning (to be decided by lottery). Tickets are $20 with $7 from each ticket going to the PTA. Purchase here. Contact Rebecca with questions.

NY LIBERTY

Don't miss NY Liberty's game against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, June 1st at 3pm. The first 60 people to buy tickets and sign up will get to watch the players warm up from courtside. Tickets are $50 or $55, with $10 from each ticket going to the PTA. Purchase here. Contact Rebecca with questions.

*Tickets for all games are on sale NOW, see Konstella for additional details.

2024-2025 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

SPECIAL EVENT: SPRING AUCTION

Our Spring Auction in April is the single largest fundraising event of the year. We need these contributions to make it a success:

Help plan the event - signup on Konstella to lead or join the committee. Our growing team has already booked a venue, started soliciting donations and begun planning food, beverages and decor. Join them!

Donate an auction item - can you - or someone you know - donate a vacation home stay, tickets for a show or game, a hospitality or entertainment gift, or any other service/experience/item? Please use this Item Donation Link to make your gift!

For more information, please contact Audrey or Gemma.

SUPPORTING THE PTA = SUPPORTING PS 107

Thank you to everyone in our school community for all of the ways you show up!

2024-2025 NYCPS CALENDAR

For the complete 2024-2025 school year calendar, please click here.

*Please note that Parent Teacher Conference Day on 3/6 is a non-attendance days for students. This is not reflected in the DOE calendar but was a school based decision.

For the complete 2025-2026 school year calendar, please click here.

UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS

February 10 to February 14 - Respect for All Week

February 10 to April 4 - School Surveys Completion Period

February 13 - D15 Art Showcase

February 13 - PTA Meeting - zoom

February 27 - PS 107 Parent Workshop 8:45 am - in person

March 3 - Parent DEI Workshop: Shaping a Compassionate and Welcoming School Community – Together 7 - 8:30 pm - zoom

March 4 to March 28 - Summer Rising Enrollment Period

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

February 17 to February 21 - Mid Winter Recess (School Closed)

March 6 - Parent Teacher Conferences (School Closed for students)

March 31 - Eid Al-Fitr