The Wednesday Weekly

Dear PS 107 Families,

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news about a major initiative coming to PS 107 next year: in the 2025–26 school year, we will be implementing a schoolwide curriculum focused on social-emotional learning, anti-bullying, executive functioning, and wellness strategies.

The curriculum is called PurposeFull People and is published by Character Strong. After reviewing several options, this one stood out for its comprehensive approach, ease of implementation, and affordability. Even more importantly, it aligns beautifully with our school’s values and needs.

The program is built around three core tenets:

• BE KIND – Developing social skills and resolving conflict

• BE STRONG – Strengthening executive functioning: focusing, organizing, and goal-setting

• BE WELL – Practicing wellness strategies and emotional regulation

One of the features I’m most excited about is the family communication component, which will help all of you stay informed about the skills we’re teaching at school and how you can reinforce them at home. This will give us a common language for talking about social-emotional learning, wellness, and bullying, and I truly believe it will be a game-changer for student behavior, our school culture, and our sense of community.

SAFETY DRILL UPDATE

In my last letter, I shared that we still had multiple emergency drills to complete. I want to correct that: we’ve actually completed all of our required evacuation (fire) drills for the year! 🎉

We have just one final drill to complete — a soft lockdown drill, which is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28th. We talk with students about this in clear, age-appropriate language. We explain that:

“The purpose of a soft lockdown is to keep students safe in the event that a stranger enters the building and we’re not sure if they should be here. It gives Agent Sharon and our Building Response Team time to make sure everyone is safe.”

We always remind students that this is just a drill, much like a fire drill. Fires in schools are extremely rare — and so are the kinds of situations that call for a lockdown — but we practice so that we’re always prepared.

MOVIE NIGHT MAGIC!

Finally, a big thank you to our wonderful Movie Night organizers, Matthew Schneider and Catharina Oerlemans, and to the many volunteers who helped pull it off! I’m so glad the rain cleared and the event was able to proceed — it was such a lovely evening for our community to come together. These moments of joy and connection are what make PS 107 such a special place.

FAMILY MORNING IS COMING!

Get ready for our final Family Morning of the school year, which will be next Friday, May 30th. Parents and caregivers are invited into their children’s classrooms for the first period of the day, 8:20-9:10 am. Please enter the school building with your child at their regular entry location so that we can match children to family members and ensure that unauthorized people are not entering the building. We also ask that you minimize the number of adults accompanying students to avoid overcrowding (we recommend one adult per child, but no more than two, please!) Finally, we ask that you leave younger siblings at home if at all possible. We are so glad that you’ll have the opportunity to see your children’s classrooms in action again next Friday!

Directly following Family Friday, at 9:30 am, we will be hosting a special parent workshop with Interactive Discovery called Supporting All Learners: A Workshop on Neuropsychological Assessments. We hope that you can join us for this workshop!

CONNECTION REQUEST

Finally, I’m sharing a request from one of our families who is interested in connecting with other families with trans, gender nonconforming, nonbinary, or otherwise gender expansive kids. They are inspired by the energy of our neighboring school, PS39's Parents Of Gender Expansive Kids (POGEK) group and would like to create a similar group here at PS 107. Parents can either email me at jcohen72@schools.nyc.gov or our social worker Ms Colleen at cdondero3@schools.nyc.gov in order to be connected with this family.

Wishing you all a great week ahead!

Warmly,

Ms. Joanna

As part of the Save for College Program, schools across the city will be celebrating 529 Day throughout the month of May. 529 Day (May 29th) celebrates the ways we are building a financial foundation for our youngest students' college and career dreams, together. 529 Day is named after the 529 account, a type of investment account created to help families save for college and career training. Through the Save for College Program, funds in children's NYC Scholarship Accounts are invested by NYC Kids RISE in a 529 account.

If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to activate and view your child’s NYC Scholarship Account today! When you take this step, you will earn an additional $25 for your child’s educational future. This step-by-step guide and this demo video give directions on how you can activate and view your child’s NYC Scholarship Account. There are also opportunities to earn additional money for your child’s account!

D15 NYC KIDS RISE WORKSHOP - GRADES K-3

Your Child Has a Free NYC Scholarship Account with Money for College and Career Training

Students automatically received an NYC Scholarship Account (unless you chose not to participate) with an initial $100 + opportunities to receive more rewards over time!

Please view this Presentation and Video Recording to learn more and activate your account!

GRADE PICNICS - SAVE THE DATE!

5/28/25 : Pre K and K - Bandshell North

5/29/25 : 1st Grade - Bandshell North

6/3/25 : 2nd Grade - Picnic House North

6/11/25 : 5th Grade - Picnic House North

6/12/25 : 4th Grade - Picnic House North

6/20/25 : 3rd Grade - Picnic House North

DID YOU KNOW?

If you click the Table of Contents panel to the left of this newsletter when you are in the browser, you can tab to all of the different sections of this newsletter?

While I recommend clicking on every section in the Table Of Contents, it is a nice easy way to get to all of the sections of the newsletter.

Didn't get to read it all in one go, but want to finish it later? Click in the Table of Contents to see to what you missed! 😁

MARBLE HEALTH WORKSHOP SERIES

Parenting comes with unique challenges - from managing stress and screen time to supporting academic success. Join us for free virtual workshops this May to learn effective strategies from Annie Graham, Stanford-trained clinician and researcher at Marble Health.

Upcoming May Sessions (Various Times to Accommodate Different Schedules):

• WED, MAY 28 | 7 PM ET | Supporting Children Through Grief and Transition

Secure your spot today by registering here!

SUMMER READING SKILLS PROGRAM

The Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies is offering grade level reading summer programs. These programs will be taught by instructors from the Institute of Reading Development.

and the classes will be offered in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, and Queens.

*Please see the attached flyer for more details regarding dates and times

LOST & FOUND

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

PREVENTING THE SUMMER SLIDE
Please join us at a family Workshop at PS24 on Preventing the Summer Slide.

This workshop will be conducted in Spanish.

Date: May 22, 2025

Time: 9:00am - 10:00am

Location: PS 24- 427 38th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232

FAMILY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

PARA TODOS and EAS Inc. invites you to save the dates and register now for the Family Leadership Institute! In partnership with PARA TODOS LTC Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch (ret.) invites you to six days of engaging virtual workshops.

The workshops will help you and your family learn how to communicate better with your children, school, and community. Come join us for our last session on May 27th at 9:30 am for action, motivation, and inspiration!

Register today by scanning the QR code or online at https://bit.ly/Todos2025

PARENTS OF GENDER EXPANSIVE KIDS (POGEK) with PS 39

PS 39 has an informal group of Parents of Gender Expansive Kids (POGEK) that meets monthly over coffee. The parents and caregivers of trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming kids share stories about their families' gender journeys, collect experiences to share with the school, share resources around the neighborhood, and develop projects that help protect and affirm all gender expansive youth.

PS 107 parents and caregivers are invited to join the next monthly meeting— Wednesday, June 4 at Variety Coffee -- 8th St and 7th Ave -- from 8:30-9:30. We gather from 8:30-9:30 am, but you're welcome to come for as little or as long as you like.

Anyone who wishes to visit the group and engage around respect for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming youth is welcome!

If you have questions, feel free to contact ps39pogek@gmail.com -- or come on by.

NEW ! SUMMER EBT BENEFITS

The Summer EBT benefit of $120 per eligible child is provided on a Summer EBT card and will be issued only once; benefits expire and are removed from the EBT card 122 days after they are issued.

For questions, please contact the Customer Service Contact Information or OTDA.NY.gov/SummerEBT and then call the Summer EBT Helpline (1-833-452-0096) if further assistance is needed.

• 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

• DEI Committee: CELEBRATING TWO AMAZING HERITAGE MONTHS IN MAY! - May 2, 2025
• Green Committee: EARTH MONTH WRAP UP - 5-7-25
• PSACC SAFETY DURING AFTERSCHOOL PICKUPS

PRIDE MARCHES

• Queens Pride
• Sunday June 1st
• Jackson Heights

• Brooklyn Pride
• Saturday June 14 (evening March)
• Park Slope

• NYC Pride
• Sunday June 29
• Lower Manhattan

*Keep looking out for more information and registration details from LGBTQ@schools.nyc.gov

Date: May 27th

Time: 6:30PM

Location: PS 896 - 736 48th St.

Zoom: https://nycdoe.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMkcOmgrz4oH9FDPG0-mhSASxGB2LSR02li

BROOKLYN COLLEGE PREPARATORY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS - FREE TRYOUT!

Saturday, May 24, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Join the Prep Center for a day of learning and fun at an all-day performing arts event on Saturday, May 24. Children and teens of all levels are invited to take private lessons in various instruments and join group dance and theater classes—all free of charge!

How can parents sign up?

Parents/students can use the QR code in the flyer, call/e-mail us, or simply click on the link below to reserve a private lesson or sign up for a space in a group dance class session today; space is limited!!

https://forms.office.com/r/TWQu7nkxdM

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.

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 😊

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 – Wednesday, 7:30am

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

• Thursday Morning Track Run - WEEKLY: Thursdays, 7am

• PTA General Meeting, Executive Board and SLT Election - Thursday, May 22, 9am (Zoom)

• Supporting All Learners: A Workshop on Neuropsychological Assessments - Friday, May 30, 9:30am

• NY Liberty Basketball Game - Sunday, June 1, 3pm

• Spring Fling - Wednesday, June 4, 6:30pm

Did you miss the April PTA meeting? You can find notes here!

SUPPORTING ALL LEARNERS: A WORKSHOP ON NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS

Join Dr. Kluger and the team at Interactive Discovery on Friday, May 30th at 9:30am, for a parent-focused workshop that explores the role of neuropsychological assessments in supporting a child's learning journey. In "Supporting All Learners," participants will learn what neuropsychological assessments are and how they can be of benefit, explore different learning profiles and how they impact education, and discover ways to interpret assessment results and collaborate with educators for effective support. This workshop offers insights and practical tips to empower you as a parent in navigating your child's educational path. It will be available both in-person in the cafeteria of PS 107 and live-streamed. Find out more on Konstella.

NY LIBERTY

Don't miss NY Liberty's game against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, June 1st at 3pm. Tickets are now $60 or $65, plus fees, with $10 from each ticket going to the PTA. Purchase here. Contact Rebecca with questions.

SPRING FLING

We hope by now you’ve marked your calendars for the PS 107 Spring Fling on Wednesday, June 4 from 6:30pm-9:00pm. Tickets cost $10/person or $25/family. Children three years old and younger may attend for free. Tickets can be pre-purchased or purchased at the door, but we STRONGLY recommend you pre-purchase tickets in advance here.

In order for this event to run smoothly, we need your help! There are opportunities to support this fun dance for the entire 107 community here.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Erin Bestreich (erinbestreich@gmail.com) and Betsy Goldfarb (betsyolney@gmail.com).

CHiPS Needs You!

Looking to get involved in the community but don't have a lot of time to give? Community Outreach and the CHiPS donation collection team are seeking volunteers for the 2025-26 school year to help handle the weekly morning collection of donations to CHiPS. We are looking for volunteers to rotate through the year, 30 minutes a week, 8:10AM-8:40AM on Wednesdays, and/or driving donations (car required, generally back to the neighborhood by 9:30AM). Please reach out to Julie Fields Julie.a.fields@outlook.com if interested in learning more.

SUPPORTING THE PTA = SUPPORTING PS 107

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

NYCPS CALENDAR

Please click here for the complete 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school year calendars.

UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS

May 22

• PTA Meeting : PTA & SLT elections held at this meeting 9am (zoom)
• Fifth Grade Talent Show 7pm

May 28 - Pre K and K Grade Picnic, Bandshell North

May 29 - 1st Grade Picnic, Bandshell North

May 30 - Family Morning 8:20 am

June 3

• 3rd grade & Alvin Ailey Final Culmination (details to follow)
• 2nd Grade Picnic, Picnic House North

June 4 - Spring Fling

June 9 - Big Yard Games

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS/CLOSURES

May 26 - Memorial Day (School Closed)

June 5 - Eid al-Adha (School Closed)

June 6th - Clerical Day (Non Attendance Day for Students)

June 19 - Juneteenth (Schools Closed)