This Week @ PS 88Q

What an incredible week it has been at our school! Walking through the hallways and visiting classrooms, I am constantly amazed by the rich learning taking place in every corner. From hands-on projects to thoughtful discussions, our students are truly engaged and growing each day. It’s inspiring to see how each child is part of this exciting journey—and how important it is for all of us to be involved in their learning.

As you talk with your child about their week, try asking questions that go beyond the usual “What did you do in school today?” (which often earns the classic “nothing” response!). One of my favorite ways to start a conversation is by asking about the rose, the thorn, and the bud—the best part of their day, the part that wasn’t so great, and one thing they’re looking forward to or working on. This simple question often leads to wonderful insights into your child’s school experiences.

Looking ahead, please remember that there will be no school on Tuesday in observance of Veterans Day. This important day gives us the opportunity to reflect on the bravery, dedication, and sacrifice of those who have served our country. I have many family members and friends who are Veterans, and I hold deep respect for their courage and commitment. This week, our students will be creating and sending cards to local Veterans as a way to show appreciation and gratitude.

Reminders for the Week:

• Scholastic Book Fair: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (with evening hours on Thursday)

• Tuesday: No school – Veterans Day

• Thursday: Breaking Bread Building Bonds Event

• Friday: Coffee with Ms. Ivett

And a quick note — Report Cards will be issued on December 4. We do not have a half day this week, but rather on December 4th for Parent Teacher Conferences

One of Mr. Canales’ amazing projects, the PS 88Q Podcast Channel, continues to shine as a platform that shares the voices and stories of our incredible school community. The latest episode features our student government candidates, who spoke passionately about leadership, school spirit, and their goals for the year. Be sure to check out the channel and give it a listen—you won’t want to miss it!

We’re also excited to share a big milestone: the PS 88Q Podcast Channel has just reached 1,000 downloads! Congratulations to Mr. Canales, our student contributors, and everyone who has tuned in to support this wonderful initiative.

What an exciting show of school spirit and civic engagement this week. Every student had the opportunity to cast their vote and help choose the representatives who will lead and serve throughout the year. Each candidate who threw their hat in the race demonstrated remarkable dedication, passion, and leadership—qualities that define what it means to be a true student leader. Whether elected or not, every participant showed the courage to stand up, share ideas, and work toward making our school an even better place.

This week our Kindergarten Dual Language class invited families in for Play With Me, and our 1st Grade Dual Language class welcomed families for Read With Me. It was such a joyful morning of learning together! The smiles, collaboration, and family engagement made our classrooms come alive.

Ms. Lobosco and her grade 3 G and T students leaned about what it means to build a city. Part of their STEM building project, and preparing them for project based learning, they put their ideas to work!

November 1, 2025

Hello Families!

The Social Justice Committee has organized a school-wide initiative in honor of Native American Heritage during the month of November.

On Thursday, November 13th, join us for our 3rd Annual Breaking Bread, Building Bonds family event from 5:15 pm to 6:30 pm. It will be a time to get to know one another and partake in something that all families share.

We are looking for families to share bread recipes from their cultures. This year’s bread recipe book will be on a Padlet. Use the QR code to upload your bread recipes. Please return the tear-off to let us know we can count on you!

Respectfully,

Mrs. L O’Shaughnessy & The Social Justice Committee

---------------------------------Return to your child’s teacher.-------------------------------

Student’s Name ________________________ Class ___________________

Caregiver’s Name _______________________________

___ I will contribute bread for the event on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025.

___ I will contribute butter for the event on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025.

___ My family will attend the event.

___ My family will not be able to attend the event.

District 24 is hosting a Middle School Fair On Monday November 10th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. This is a great opportunity to explore your child's options, and connect with our District Staff.

Dear Families,

The PS 88 Social Justice Committee has organized a food drive to benefit a local food pantry.

We will collect donations until November 14th, 2025. To ensure variety, each grade has been assigned an item. Donations can be dropped off at the main entrance or given to your child's classroom teacher.

3K, Pre K and Kindergarten: juice boxes

1st grade: canned goods

2nd grade: cereal

3rd grade : pasta

4th grade: soup (can or box)

5th grade: box or bag of rice

Thank you for your generosity.

PS 88 Social Justice Committee

The upcoming “5 Ready” Transition to Kindergarten session on Wednesday, November 19, 12:00–1:00 PM will focus on helping programs support families in understanding and navigating the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) process.

Temi Fasoye, CPSE Chairperson, Committees on Special Education (CSE), will facilitate the discussion, offering guidance on what to expect as children transition to kindergarten, including key steps, timelines, and available supports. Participants will also explore ways to help families feel informed, confident, and prepared for this next stage in their child’s educational journey.

Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Time: 12:00–1:00 PM

Location: Join us virtually on Zoom

Registration: Please complete this form if you plan to join to ensure you receive reminders.

Our amazing school aides are very popular in the cafereria for many things, including Ice Cream! There are many choices for the students, and ice cream is available daily for $2.00.

Scholastic Book Fair!

Scholastic Book Fair is finally here! With the exception of Tuesday (no school), the Book Fair will be held in the PS88 Library, running from Monday November 10 through Friday November 14 during the school day—plus Family Shopping on Thursday 11/13 from 4pm-7pm.

We could also really use parent’s help volunteering for some of the available shifts. (More on that below.)

Kids can shop easy with eWallet

We strongly encourage using eWallet for your child to purchase items during Book Fair. No cash to lose, no worries! Plus, family members and friends can add money to your child's eWallet.

Get started funding your child's eWallet by heading to our PS88 Book Fair Website: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/pssenecaschool

Share The Fair!

Share The Fair helps ensure that every child gets to choose a book at the Book Fair. When you set up your child’s eWallet, you’ll have the option to add a contribution to Share the Fair, and you can specify a specific amount or choose one of the preselected options. Remember, every dollar makes a difference!

Contribute to PS88 Share The Fair here: https://shop.scholastic.com/stf/fund?orgUCN=600078863

Book Fair Volunteer Shifts Available!

The Book Fair quite literally cannot happen without parent volunteers. If you can, we would love your help, and there are multiple shifts available (morning, mid-day, afternoon).

Available Volunteer Shifts

Wednesday 12 November—Sign up for:

• 8:15a - 11:00a (2 slots left)
• 10:45a - 1:45p (2 slots left)

Thursday 13 November—Sign up for:

• 8:15a - 11:00a (1 slot left)
• 11:00a - 2:00p (2 slots left)
• 3:45p - 7:15p (3 slots left)

Friday 14 November—Sign up for:

• 8:15a - 11:00a (1 slot left)
• 11:00a - 2:00p (1 slot left)
• Clean-up 1:30p - 5:30p (3 slots left)

Sign up to volunteer here: bit.ly/BookFairFall25

Next PTA General Membership Meeting: November 20

Join us for our next PTA General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, November 20, from 6p–7p in the PS88 Auditorium. We’ll share updates on upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and how your support helps make our school even stronger.

Fun activities will be available for kids during the meeting, so bring the whole family! All parents and caregivers are welcome—come be part of the conversation!

RSVP + Add to your calendar: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ps88q-pta-november-general-meeting-nov-20-tickets-1966401780660?aff=oddtdtcreator

Keep in Touch!

Stay connected with the latest PTA news, events, and announcements—we’d love for you to be part of the conversation!

WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/ILNl02KhJQb3mcy8C9Gb63

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ps88q.pta

Link in Bio: linkin.bio/ps88pta

Dear Families and Colleagues,

Last week, I wrote about next steps for our soon-to-be graduates. This week, I want to shift our focus to middle and high school applications. At NYC Public Schools, we offer an enormous range of programs and opportunities for our young people, and it’s critical that families and students consider these options to find the experiences and settings that are right for them.

This exploration begins with MySchools, where families can access our directory for information about specific schools, a calendar of admissions events and open houses, and our support page for enrollment-related questions. Families can also use MySchools to submit their final applications.

Over the coming weeks, I strongly encourage families to use this resource, along with our Family Welcome Centers, to learn about the admissions process and find programs that provide both the support and opportunities to help your child thrive. We know each student is unique, which is why our schools offer a wide range of focus areas, from arts programs to career-connected learning opportunities that include paid work-based learning and college credits.

Remember, high school applications close December 3, and middle school applications close December 12. And it’s not too early to start thinking about enrollment for our younger students; 3-K and Pre-K applications open January 14, and Kindergarten applications open December 9.

As our students progress through their educational journeys, we are here to support them—and you—every step of the way.

In partnership,

Melissa Aviles-Ramos

Chancellor