Dear Families,
Happy Father’s Day to everyone in our community who is a father or who serves in a fathering role. This day is always a bit bittersweet for me personally, as I lost my own father 20 years ago. While he carried with him generational trauma that made him a complicated parent in many ways, he also instilled in me the importance of critical thinking, the value of continuous learning, and the necessity of standing up for what you believe in. For those of you who are missing someone today, or navigating complex feelings, I’m holding space for that too.
As we approach the final ten days of the school year, there is so much happening—and so much to be grateful for.
Class Placement Process for 2025–26
We are deep into the work of creating new classes for the 2025–26 school year. This process includes multiple rounds of review by classroom teachers, specialty staff, and the administrative team. As I’ve shared before, we do not take requests for specific teachers (nor can we honor requests to avoid particular teachers), and we can’t guarantee that your child will be placed with their closest friends. We do, however, work hard to ensure that every child is in a class where they will learn and grow.
In most cases, teachers are already aware of social dynamics that may need adjusting, but if there’s something you believe we may not know, please share it with your child’s current teacher or with me by Monday, June 23rd. After that point, teachers will no longer be in the building, and we rely heavily on their input during this process. As a reminder, we do not make class changes in August, as these shifts create a domino effect across the grade.
Annual Fund Success
I’m thrilled to share that the PTA’s Annual Fund has reached (and surpassed!) its fundraising goal. This would not have been possible without the tireless dedication and can-do spirit of parent Nisha Aoyama, and the generosity of all of you. Because of the way NYC public schools are funded, your contributions make it possible for our students to access not only essential resources but also the joyful extras that make PS 107 such a special place.
Big Yard Games
On Monday, Big Yard Games returned to the Big Yard! Our students had an absolute blast with parachute play, relay races, tug of war, and more. A huge thank you to parent organizer Daniel Fried and our phenomenal PE teacher Ali Annunziato for making it all happen—even with pesky rain showers!
Pride Celebrations
We are also in the midst of celebrating Pride. All of our students are creating posters expressing allyship with the LGBTQ+ community in Art with Ms Julie, which will be displayed around the school’s fence. We’ll be reaching out soon for volunteers to help hang them—once we’re confident the weather will cooperate!
A notice went out today via Konstella about the Rainbow Chalkout, organized by parents and taking place on Monday, June 16th, from 2:30 to 6:30 pm. Please join us with your children to help fill the sidewalks around PS 107 with joyful, affirming messages and art. Huge thanks to the parent team who is helping our community to celebrate Pride Month: Christine Canedo-Pullan, Nisha Aoyama, Erin Markman, Paul Ryan, Jessica Saunders, Carolyn Vadino, and Brice Canedo-Pullan.
Honoring Caribbean-American Heritage Month
For the first time, we are recognizing Caribbean-American Heritage Month, which has been federally celebrated since 2006. Our amazing DEI parent team created beautiful posters honoring both members of our school community and influential Americans of Caribbean descent. And this Friday at 4:00 pm, a Moko Jumbie group will visit our afterschool program to help us celebrate! Huge thanks to parents Anais Casimir and Samantha Jagessar for bringing this month to life for our community.
REMINDER: Schoolwide Photo, Tuesday, 6/17
As a reminder, next Tuesday, June 17th, we’ll be gathering as a full school community to take a schoolwide photo in the shape of “107” in our Big Yard! Each grade will wear a designated color noted below to form a rainbow. Please plan what your child will wear based on their grade level:
PreK & Kindergarten: Red
1st Grade: Orange
2nd Grade: Yellow
3rd Grade: Blue
4th Grade: Purple
5th Grade: Green (wear your graduation t-shirts!)
Thank You, SLT Parent Leaders
Finally, I want to take a moment to recognize two outstanding parent leaders who have completed their two-year terms on our School Leadership Team (SLT): Leah Holzer and Rika Wilcox. The SLT serves as our school’s “board of directors,” helping guide big-picture planning and policy. I am so grateful to Leah and Rika for their wisdom, commitment, and partnership.
What Are You Grateful For?
As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on how fortunate we are to be part of this community. I’d love to hear from you, too—what are you grateful for this school year? Please take a moment to complete this short survey, and I’ll share some of your responses (along with my own) in my final letter of the year.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!
Warmly,
Ms Joanna
SPRING PICTURE DAY PHOTO PROOFS!
Please check your child's backpack beginning tomorrow, June 12, for their photo proof sheet from Irvin Simon.
Orders can be placed online.
If you have any questions, please email : irvinsimon.com
RAINBOW CHALKOUT
In addition to Ms. Julie's Rainbow Takeover poster project happening during Art Class (which will be displayed on the outside fence), we will be continuing our tradition of the Rainbow Chalkout with the kids on Monday, June 16th, from 2:30-6:30pm.
Parents and students are invited to grab some chalk and participate in the festivities whenever they arrive for pick-up. (This event will be parent-led and will not be under the auspices of after-school, so please be sure to check your child out before joining in the celebration.)
For this event to move forward, we would like to enlist the help of parent volunteers to supervise for an hourly shift. If you are willing to lead for an hour, please sign up here, on Konstella.
SCHOOLWIDE PHOTO
On Tuesday, June 17th, we will be gathering as a community to take a schoolwide photo in the shape of “107” in our Big Yard! Each grade will wear a designated color, noted below, to form a rainbow.
Please start thinking about what your child will wear:
PreK & Kindergarten: Red
1st Grade: Orange
2nd Grade: Yellow
3rd Grade: Blue
4th Grade: Purple
5th Grade: Green (Wear your graduation t-shirts!)
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 June to learn effective strategies from Annie Graham, Stanford-trained clinician and researcher at Marble Health.
Upcoming June Sessions (Various Times to Accommodate Different Schedules):
MON, JUNE 16 | 8 PM ET | Summer Social Media Struggles
THUR, JUNE 26 | 8 PM ET | Managing Screen Time Over the Summer
SUMMER @ LIBRARY 2025
You can find a list of events at the Park Slope Branch at this link.
We have programs for kids ages 0-5, kids ages 5-12, teens, adults, and even some all ages programs. Please be advised that all children's programs require registration.
Please see the attached flyers for more information as well.
June children's calendar ages 0-12
Summer family movie flyer all ages
Parallel Exit event flyer -Friday July 11 ages 0-12
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
RESOURCES
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
NON-SPECIFIC RESOURCES
EXTRA! EXTRA!
- RAINBOW CHALKOUT 🌈 - 6/11/25
- JUNE IS CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH - 6/11/25
- COMMUNITY OUTREACH - LAST EVENT OF THE YEAR! - 6/3/25
- PS 107 AFTERSCHOOL OPEN CLASS, PERFORMANCE and SPECIAL EVENTS SCHEDULE - 6/2/25
- PTA & SLT ELECTION RESULTS - 5/23/25
PRIDE EVENTS 2025
PRIDE MARCHES
- 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
KIDS BOOK GIVEAWAY
Assemblymember Robert Carroll is sponsoring a free children's book giveaway with the Brooklyn Book Bodega at the Brooklyn Public Library Cortelyou Road branch on Tuesday, June 17th from 2:30pm -4:30pm. Families can pick up free children’s books to take home.
We are seeking donations of gently used/loved books for children of all ages and we are accepting books at Assemblymember Carroll’s district office on 7th Avenue between 13th and 14th streets until the event on June 17th M-F from 9:30-4:30.
Please find a flier for the event with more details attached.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SHAHANA HANIF LAPTOP DONATION DRIVE 6/1 through 6/20
In partnership with the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), Fifth Avenue Committee, and Big Reuse, my office is collecting gently-used, working laptops. These devices will be refurbished and distributed to students in local literacy programs—helping bridge the digital divide and fuel lifelong learning right here in our community.
Drop-off locations across District 39:
My District Office (197 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217)
Monday–Thursday, 10 AM–5 PM
Community Board 6 Office (250 Baltic Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201)
Monday–Friday, 10 AM–3 PM – Email info@bkcb6.org before drop-off
Principles GI Coffee House (139 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215)
Monday–Sunday, 8 AM–5 PM
Big Reuse (1- 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215)
Monday–Friday, 10 AM–6 PM
Old Stone House (336 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215)
Friday–Sunday, 12 PM–4 PM
CEC 15 CALENDAR MEETING
Date: June 17th
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: PS 58 - 330 Smith St.
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/tJ0sdO6pqDMpEt20Z7Z9GBdtfVGY9Q_JMmMy
PTA GENERAL MEETING
The last PTA general meeting of the year will be Thursday, June 12 at 6:30pm on Zoom.
We hope all parents and families will join us in bidding a fond farewell to the 2024-2025 school year and preparing for 2025-2026 with a preliminary PTA Budget approval.
We look forward to seeing you there!
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SUMMER: PSSE WORKSHOP
This Thursday, June 12th, from 12pm -1pm please join Parents Supporting Special Education (PSSE) and IEP and Inclusion Coordinator Jessica Saunders for a conversation on self-regulation strategies to support our neurodivergent students in the summer months.
Topics discussed in this workshop will include ideas to reduce anxiety around summer camp, new experiences, and schedule changes; as well as tips for traveling with neurodiverse kids. All are welcome, including families of students with or without an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), with or without a diagnosis, and anyone looking to connect and learn more.
The meeting will be held via Zoom. We hope to see you there!
FUNDRAISERS
ANNUAL FUND
We've exceeded our 2024-25 Annual Fund goal of $210,000! THANK YOU for ALL of your support in this community-wide effort! We're thrilled to be able to partner with our school in this way, making possible so many facets of our children's educational experience. Looking ahead, we've raised next year's Annual Fund goal to $220,000 based on projected needs. The 2025-26 campaign begins on July 1, 2025.
On behalf of the PTA board and the entire PTA community (that includes all of you!), thank you so much for being a community that shows up for all of our kids! Please contact PS 107 parent Betsy Goldfarb (betsy@ps107.org), incoming director of the Annual Fund, with any questions about next year's fundraising, and, as always feel free to:
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!
Many thanks to our amazing school community for all of the ways you contribute.
SPECIAL EVENTS
COMMUNITY HELP IN PARK SLOPE (CHiPS) FOOD DRIVE
The final CHiPS collection of the year will take place next Wednesday, June 18th, at morning drop-off. At this time, 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:
- Sandwiches, (please label w/ contents)
- Bread Packages
- Lunch Meat Packages
- Eggs
- Tortillas
- Individually Portioned Prepared Meals, (please label w/ contents)
- Microwavable meals
- Jars of Peanut Butter and/or Jelly
- Cereal/Instant Oatmeal
- Shelf Stable Milk and Juice
- Fruit Cups
- Fresh Fruit
- Individually Wrapped Snacks
- Ziplock and Grocery Bags, and
- Plastic cutlery
MOKO JUMBIE PERFORMANCE IN AFTERSCHOOL
This Friday, June 13th, at 4pm, a Moko Jumbie group will be joining our afterschool program to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month with us.
The Moko Jumbie tradition originated centuries ago in west Africa, where towerings stilt walkers were believed to be spiritual protectors, and was brought to the Caribbean by enslaved Africans who adapted and preserved the practice as a symbol of cultural resilience and a vibrant part of celebrations like Carnival.
*This performance will be held in the Big Yard for students who normally attend afterschool on Friday and do not have a program at that time. For any families not in afterschool, please feel free to come check out the performance outside the big yard fence.
PS 124 CLOTHING SWAP
On Saturday, June 14th, from 10:30am-12:30pm, please join our friends at PS 124 for our next seasonal clothing and housewares swap! As a mutual aid group, we strongly believe that for these special events to continue we need the support of community members to “dig in” and share in the labor.
We are using this event to emphasize how important it is to create a space where people feel safe, welcome, and open to build community. If you would like to donate clothing and houseware, we hope you will also plan to stay and help sort for a portion of the event.
Please keep in mind: ONLY bring items that are in-season, high quality, and in great condition. We hope to see you there!
RAINBOW CHALKOUT
In addition to Ms. Julie's Rainbow Takeover poster project happening during Art Class (which will be displayed on the outside fence), we will be continuing our tradition of the Rainbow Chalkout with the kids on Monday, June 16th, from 2:30-6:30pm.
Parents and students are invited to grab some chalk and participate in the festivities whenever they arrive for pick-up. (This event will be parent-led and will not be under the auspices of after-school, so please be sure to check your child out before joining in the celebration.)
For this event to move forward, we would like to enlist the help of parent volunteers to supervise for an hourly shift. If you are willing to lead for an hour, please sign up here, on Konstella.
SCHOOLWIDE PHOTO
On Tuesday, June 17th, we will be gathering as a community to take a schoolwide photo in the shape of “107” in our Big Yard! Each grade will wear a designated color, noted below, to form a rainbow.
Please start thinking about what your child will wear:
PreK & Kindergarten: Red
1st Grade: Orange
2nd Grade: Yellow
3rd Grade: Blue
4th Grade: Purple
5th Grade: Green (Wear your graduation t-shirts!)
These photos will be available for purchase for $20, and all proceeds will benefit the PTA. You can pre-order your 107 photo here.
If you need financial assistance to purchase a photo, please contact Nadia (NBenlarbi@schools.nyc.gov).
NYCPS CALENDAR
Please click here for the complete 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school year calendars.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS
June 12
- New Family Welcome Breakfast 9am
- 4th Grade Picnic - Picnic House North
- PTA meeting 6:30 pm (zoom)
June 16 - Rainbow Chalkout 2:30 pm
June 17 - Schoolwide Photo Day! 8:45 am
June 20
- Fifth Grade Graduation @ PS 10
- Third Grade Picnic - Picnic House North
June 26
- Last Day of School!
- Fifth Grade Clap Out at Dismissal!
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS/CLOSURES
June 19 - Juneteenth (Schools Closed)