This Week @ PS 88Q

Although last week was a short week, it was filled with learning, laughter, and fun. Our students have adapted beautifully to the school day—they are learning new things, making new friends, and building strong routines.

We’re also excited to share that our before and afterschool program applications have been a great success! Students are already signed up for a wide variety of opportunities. Band begins this week, and permission slips for our additional clubs will be sent home soon, including the specific days of the week and meeting times. We wanted to make sure every child had the chance to participate in the clubs they are most excited about.

Arrival & New Lateness Protocol

To ensure smooth mornings for all students, please note:

• The schoolyard gate opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes promptly at 8:05 a.m.

• Students arriving through the yard during this window are not considered late.

• At 8:00 a.m., classes begin moving upstairs to their classrooms.

• When the yard gate closes at 8:05 a.m., arrival staff transition to the main lobby (this takes about 3–4 minutes).

• Students entering through the front doors are considered late, and must be escorted to their classrooms to ensure they arrive safely.

As part of our new protocol, lateness will be tracked by exact arrival time. All families will either use the QR code to record their child's arrival or enter on one of our IPADS.

Please use the 35-minute arrival window (7:30–8:05 a.m.) so students are present for core instruction, which begins immediately.

Upcoming Events & Reminders

📌 No School: Thursday, October 2 – Yom Kippur

☕ Coffee with Mrs. O’Shaughnessy: Friday, October 3 | 9:00 a.m. | Cafeteria
Join me for an informal conversation—questions, ideas, and feedback welcome!

📌 Afterschool Applications: Now open! Apply today for programs that interest your child.

🌟 Looking Ahead

• Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15–October 15

• Family Event – Little Bites: Pequeños Bocaditos
  Wednesday, October 9 | 5:15–7:00 p.m. | Cafeteria
  Join us for an evening of food, community, and culture

PS 88 Late Arrival Procedures Beginning Monday, September 29th

Every minute counts! Please help us make sure all students are in class on time.

Morning Arrival

• Back Gate Open: 7:30 – 8:05 a.m.
• Staff will welcome students at the gate.

After 8:05 a.m.

• The back gate closes.
• All late arrivals must enter through the front entrance.

Sign-In Required

• A parent/guardian must accompany their child into the lobby after 8:05 a.m.
• Families will complete a quick Late Arrival Sign-In Form.
• This ensures we track instructional minutes missed across the school year.

Frequent lateness adds up quickly! 5 minutes late each day = 25 minutes a week = over 15 hours of missed learning per year.

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in building strong attendance habits.

I am excited to kick off my monthly open meeting! Join me on Friday, October 3rd for coffee, breakfast and conversation! I will share what is going on at PS 88Q for the 2025-2026 School Year, and you bring your questions!

Every participant will receive a book to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and a No Homework Pass for their child (or children)

We are excited to share that our before and afterschool opportunities are here! 🎉 Please see the programs listed below. As interest grows, we will continue to expand and add more opportunities.

Families are encouraged to apply for the programs they would like their child to participate in. Once enrollment is confirmed, a permission slip will be sent home to all students who are selected.

We look forward to offering enriching and engaging experiences for our students beyond the school day!

In honor of Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month, the Social Justice Committee is proud to invite our families to a special event to celebrate their rich culture, history, and contributions of the Latino and Hispanic community. We are interested in our families bringing food from their country to share with families in our school community.

This event will be held in the cafeteria on Thursday, October 9th, 2025, from 5:15pm-6:30pm. The families can enjoy "Pequeño Bocados/Little Bites" and enjoy creating a poster with their child/children about their culture, food, and music.

Join us for an evening of cultural appreciation, music, and community dialogue. This is a wonderful opportunity to honor heritage, learn from one another, and uplift voices that have shaped our shared history.

We hope to see our family's there and celebrate together!

Have a great day.

Best,

Social Justice Committe

We are excited to share that our before and afterschool opportunities are here! 🎉 Please see the programs listed below. As interest grows, we will continue to expand and add more opportunities.

Families are encouraged to apply for the programs they would like their child to participate in. Once enrollment is confirmed, a permission slip will be sent home to all students who are selected.

We look forward to offering enriching and engaging experiences for our students beyond the school day!

NYC Public Schools Special Education: A Parent’s Guide

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

What we will talk about:

• Navigating Special Education: Learn how special education works, from referral and evaluation through IEP meetings and annual reviews.
• Exploring Related Services: Understand how occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), speech therapy, counseling, and assistive technology can support your child’s learning and development.
• Connecting with Key People and Resources: Get to know the people and resources in NYC Public Schools, including IEP parent members, and learn how they can work with you to ensure your voice is heard.

Zoom link to register(Open external link)

Hosted by: The Special Education Office

Parents have the right to translation and interpretation services if they require or request language assistance in order to communicate effectively with NYC Public School staff in accordance with Chancellor's Regulation A-663(Open external link). To learn more about parents' rights, visit Parents Bill of Rights(Open external link).

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-environment/hello

At PS 88Q, your voice matters! 💬 As we begin another exciting school year, I encourage all families to share your ideas, feedback, and hopes for what you’d like to see in our school community. Your partnership helps us grow stronger together, and every suggestion—big or small—makes a difference for our students. Let’s keep the conversation going!

https://forms.office.com/r/v5hTtXLwcm

Thursday, October 16, 2025
6:00-7:30pm

Safeguarding Youth with Autism from Cyberbullying: Practical Strategies for Families and Caregivers

This session will provide families and caregivers with practical, research-based strategies to help protect youth with autism from the risks of cyberbullying. Participants will learn how to recognize warning signs, support social and communication skill development, and foster positive relationships at home, in school, and online. Emphasis will be placed on tools that families can use immediately to build resilience, promote digital safety, and strengthen supportive connections for their children.

Following participation in the seminar, participants will be able to:
1. Identify common risk factors and warning signs of cyberbullying among youth with autism.
2. Apply practical strategies to strengthen social and communication skills that reduce vulnerability to online victimization.
3. Implement family- and school-based approaches for monitoring, responding to, and preventing cyberbullying incidents.

Presenter Bio:

Chad A. Rose, Ph.D., is a Professor at the University of South Carolina and a leading researcher on bullying prevention and the social experiences of students with disabilities, including youth with emotional and behavioral disorders and autism. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and previously directed the Mizzou Ed Bully Prevention Lab at the University of Missouri. A former special education teacher, Dr. Rose now works nationally and internationally to provide families, schools, and communities with practical, research-based strategies that promote safety, resilience, and positive relationships.

Registration Link

First Meeting: Thank You!
We had 40 parents and guardians who joined our first meeting of the year, an amazing start toward our goal of reaching around 10% of all PS88 families at every meeting. We need your help to get there! If you found the meeting valuable, please encourage another PS88 parent to come with you next time. Every voice counts! :)

This year brings a lot of new energy with our expanded Executive Board — thank you for your patience as we work through updated logistics and communication tools.

Meeting Recap & What's Next:

• General Membership Meeting dates for the rest of the year will be announced in the next few days.
• The winning classroom in the $50 gift card contest will be announced at the same time.
• The Executive Board is planning this year’s programming based on your feedback.
• There is an open seat on the School Leadership Team (SLT). Interested? Please reach out to Sam (pta88president@gmail.com) at any time.

• Fall/Winter Caring Closet + Halloween Costume Swap (date TBD)
• Fall School Pictures – Wed 10/22 & Thu 10/23 (Retakes Tue 11/25)
• General Membership Meeting (date TBD)

Anonymous Needs Form

If there’s something on your mind that you’d rather not raise at a meeting or directly with school staff, you can share it with us anytime through our anonymous form.

You can find the form here: https://bit.ly/ParentNeeds2025-26

PTA WhatsApp Group!

Want to stay connected? Join our new WhatsApp Announcements Channel to get quick updates, reminders, and event details right on your phone.

Join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/ILNl02KhJQb3mcy8C9Gb63

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Your PTA Executive Board
Samantha (President) • Sabita (Treasurer) • Abbey (Secretary) • Caitlin & Mariella (Events) • Arianna (Fundraising) • Marc & Carlos (Communications)

Dear Families and Colleagues,

So far, we’ve had 15 days of school this year. That means 15 days of discovery and new experiences, of connection and growth. When it comes to our children’s learning, the research shows that every day counts.

September is Attendance Awareness Month, and it's critical to start the year with strong attendance habits. When students are in school, they benefit from learning in all its forms—in the classroom, on the playground, during extracurricular activities, through field trips, and so much more. You can hear it directly from our students in this week’s Highlight Video; they want to show up and be part of the action!

So, let’s make that happen. We know that getting to school consistently can sometimes present challenges, and we are here to help. Our Parent Coordinators can assist any family that needs support with overcoming attendance barriers. Families can also access attendance-related policies and resources on our website.

Let’s make this year one full of learning and growth for our students. That starts with being present, every day.

In partnership,

Melissa Aviles-Ramos

Chancellor