Parent Bulletin

Preston has received its amended charter from the New York State Board of Regents, which allows us to continue operating as an independent school. We shared the news with our students at a school-wide assembly on October 2. Thank you to every family who stood with Preston along the way.

• 1st Quarter Interim Report grades will be sent out to all families this afternoon, October 9th.
• First Quarter ends November 5.
• Be sure to check our website (www.prestonhs.org) regularly for updates on events, breaking news, parent bulletins, school closing information, and information on how to contact specific teachers and administrators.

A reminder from the Student Handbook: hair must be a natural color. Dyed hair in an unnatural color is not permitted, and that includes temporary color and sprays. If your daughter has a salon visit coming up and you are not sure, please email Mr. Martinez first at emartinez@prestonhs.org. A quick question now is easier than a correction later.

Every class counts, so please schedule appointments outside the school day whenever possible. Academic credit is withheld when a student misses more than 16 instructional days in a class (8 for semester courses). The full policy is on pages 17-20 of the Student Handbook, in your daughter’s Planner.

If your daughter will be absent, call the Attendance Office at 718-863-9134 ext. 110 by 8:00 a.m., and send a handwritten, signed note on the day she returns.

For an early dismissal, a parent or guardian must call ext. 110 and send a written note 24 hours in advance, or at the latest that morning, with the departure time. An email is accepted only if it includes a photo of the handwritten note. A student who leaves early may not take part in practices, games, club meetings or evening events that day

All phones, smartwatches, AirPods and earbuds must be turned in each morning and are returned at dismissal. A student without a phone signs in at the main office, and we may call or email you to confirm, so please respond when we do. A device found during the day is confiscated: $10 cash the first time, then a one-day suspension and parent pick-up between 3:15 and 4:00 p.m. To reach your daughter during the day, call the main office at 718-863-9134.

Senior privileges began on Wednesday, October 7. Seniors may arrive in time for their first scheduled class, as long as they are in their homeroom, and on certain days they may sign out at the main office after their last class. Once a senior signs out, she may not return until dismissal.

Privileges do not excuse seniors from homeroom, class meetings, assemblies or liturgies. Seniors on academic, attendance or disciplinary probation may not leave early.

A strong partnership between school and home is best for our students, and the Parent Association is one of the best ways to have a voice. Please join our meetings and help with the programs and events we sponsor.

The next Parent Association meeting will be on Wednesday, October 14th at 6:30pm, via ZOOM.

Please join us in welcoming the newest members of the Preston community.

In our classrooms: Bogumila Filonik (Math), Peter Harsch (Theology), Rishi Ramachandruni (Science), Maria Sanahuja (Spanish) and Aaron Huntt (Physical Education). Christine Sullivan joins our Counseling team and works with our sophomores.

In our offices: Judy Harrison (Main Desk and Attendance), Theresa-Ann Holihan '97 (Development), Victoria Lococo '14 (Admissions), Michele Miraglia '01 (Finance), Nicole Capezuti (Assistant Athletic Director) and Elijah Lewis (Maintenance). We are glad they are here!

The Food Drive is officially on! On Friday October 2 the Preston community participated in the annual Food Drive Sing-a-long. For 18 full minutes, students joyously sang about donating food and feeding the hungry! They enjoyed singing some of the biggest hits from the past 20 years of Food Drive Sing-a-longs, and then poured their hearts into the two new songs of 2026. In a nod to Dolly Parton, they sang to "Donate nine to five, what a way to make a difference!" Also, to the melody of Zara Larsson's "Lush Life" students sang about how the food drive is "such a rush and we'll never ever bring enough!" Annually, the school sets a goal of 10,000 pounds or dollars. Many pantries count on our donations - please do donate to this very good cause.

P.S. Each week has a "hot ticket" item that earns extra points for your daughter's homeroom:

• October 19 to 23: stuffing and mashed potatoes

• October 26 to 30: canned soup with meat or vegetables

• November 2 to 6: canned meat

• November 9 to 13: peanut butter and jelly

• November 16 to 20: canned vegetables and fruit

Please send non-perishable items only, and skip cases of water and ramen noodles.

On Tuesday, October 6, we welcomed about 240 visitors from 95 families to our fall evening Open House. Thank you to the students, faculty and staff who gave their evening to show what makes Preston special. Our next Open House is Saturday, October 24. If you know a 7th or 8th grade family, please invite them!

College Information

Instant Decision Days at Preston

What Is Instant Decision Day?

• Instant Decision Days allow you to meet with admissions representatives, review your application, and receive an instant application decision.

• Applicants will meet with the admissions representatives one-on-one for 10-15 minutes to review their transcripts, letters of recommendation, essay(s), and applications.

• This is a non-binding commitment and a wonderful opportunity! Fee Waivers are provided for all students who wish to participate in Instant Decision Days.

• All students who meet the requirements are encouraged to apply. Please look out for each College/University requirement and complete the Google Form for each school once an announcement has been made.

Upcoming Instant Decision Days

1. Mercy University–Tuesday, November 17 at 10:00 AM

2. Dominican University–Wednesday, November 18th at 10:00 AM

3. Iona University–TBD: November 20th at TBD

4. St. John's University –Thursday, November 25th – 9:00 AM

5. University of New Haven–Tuesday, December 1st– 10:00 AM

6. University of Mount Saint Vincent –Wednesday, December 2nd–10:00 AM

7. Pace University –Thursday, December 3rd–10:00 AM

8. St. Thomas Aquinas College–December 15th –TBD

College Application Month

We are happy to announce that SUNY & CUNY institutions are again offering free applications for students later this month. We encourage all seniors to take advantage of these free applications. Please take the time to research the various campuses and programs of study by working with your senior to create a safety, target, and reach list of schools for both CUNY and SUNY. We have found this guide helpful for breaking down a college list and determining students' safety, target, and reach schools.

Starting October 2nd and 5th, the Counseling Department assisted seniors with their SUNY and CUNY applications, and we will continue throughout the month. They received step-by-step guidance and a breakdown of how to apply. This information will also be shared on their Counseling Google Classroom for review. More detailed information about both free application opportunities and other resources is listed below.

CUNY (City Colleges of New York):

Seniors can apply to CUNY for FREE beginning Thursday, October 15- Monday, November 16, 2026. NO FEE WAIVER CODE IS NEEDED. CUNY advises students to apply to 6 campuses, 1 campus being a community college. The CUNY Application – The City University of New York

SUNY (State Colleges of New York):

Beginning Tuesday, October 20th, and ending Tuesday, November 3rd, students can apply to up to five SUNY campuses with no application fee! This includes all 64 SUNY campuses, no matter if the student is applying via the Common Application or the SUNY Application. Click the link here for more information.

SUNY EVENTS: Over the next two weeks, The State University of New York will be holding a variety of virtual events to help your students and their families prepare for Free Application Week. Some topics include:

Which SUNY Are You? | How to Apply to SUNY | Educational Opportunity Program

Senior Reminders

Students must submit a Counselor Review Form 10 school days before the institution's deadline. Students are responsible for turning in a Counselor Review Form for each of the SUNY campuses you apply to. When applying to CUNY, keep in mind you will only need to hand your counselor one Counselor Review Form, with the 6 campuses listed and your CUNYFirst ID, which will be sent to you directly via email (after you apply in class).

Scholarships

The Counseling Department works hard to update the Scholarship Database 2026-2027 Sheets Document on the Google Classroom. We ask that you and your student check it weekly since it is a live document. Please reach out to your student's counselor if you have any questions!

Discovery Day is Wednesday, October 21. Every Preston student goes on a field trip that day, and each grade has its own destination:

• 9th Grade: Bronx Zoo
• 10th Grade: Museum of Modern Art
• 11th Grade: 9/11 Memorial and Museum
• 12th Grade: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

It is a regular school day, so attendance is required and absences are counted. It is also a dress down day. Students should wear comfortable shoes, and a Preston shirt or sweatshirt if they have one. Students who did not order lunch should bring a bagged lunch. As a reminder, the trip fee is not refundable.

The Soccer Panthers are currently undefeated and looking to bring home a second championship in four years!

The Volleyball Panthers have seen some wins and losses against the toughest competition playing in the highest tier in the CHSAA.

Our Varsity Volleyball Panthers look to make a second consecutive visit to the championship, with hopes of winning it this year. With just a few weeks left, all three of our teams have their eyes on the ultimate prize, a championship.

To hear more about their successful seasons, be sure to visit @prestonpanthersbx on Instagram and see all the team instagrams too!

• PSAT / NMSQT Exam for grades 09, 10 and 11 - Students will be dismissed after the exam, around noonish.
• Senior College Visits

• Student Council Induction Ceremony
• Junior Parent Night: College Prep, 6:30pm, cafe

• $2 Breast Cancer Awareness Dress Down
• Holy Rosary Communal Prayer Service

• Photo ID Make-Ups (on the stage during the lunch blocks)

• Discovery Day

• Sophomore Retreat

• $2 NHS Dress Down
• 1:30pm Early Dismissal
• NHS Bake Sale
• Open House Set-up

• OPEN HOUSE - Doors Open at 11am - Final Tour at 1:00pm

• Senior Retreat
• 1st quarter service time cards due

• Free Costume Dress Down

• Happy Halloween

• All Saints Day

• All Souls Day Prayer Service, HR

• Election Day - School Closed to Students
• Faculty Conference Day

• First Quarter Ends

• Second Quarter Begins

• SAT Exam
• Basketball Tryout

• 1st Quarter Grades released to families at 5:00pm

• Father / Daughter Dance at the Marina del Rey, 7:00pm - 11:00pm

• Veterans Day - School Closed

• Parent / Teacher Conferences in the Gym:

Session II 5:30pm - 7:30pm

• 1:30pm Early Dismissal - Faculty meeting

PARKING PROHIBITIONS

Parking in the bus stop or double parking in front of the school is strictly prohibited! Please do not park in the bus stop or double park in front of the school. Park up the block or on a nearby side street. There have been too many close calls at dismissal, and we will involve Parking Enforcement if we have to.

SMOKING PROHIBITIONS

FYI: NYC/NYS Smoking Laws Affecting Schools

As part of its Smoke-Free Air Act, NYC Administrative Code:

• Section 17-503(d) prohibits smoking in “all indoor and outdoor areas of…all public and private pre-primary, primary and secondary schools providing instruction for students at or below the 12th grade level, and any vehicles owned, operated or leased by such schools which are used to transport such students or the personnel of such schools”
• NYC Board of Health’s administrative tribunal can impose penalties ranging from $200 to $2,000 for employer-type violations, and $100 to a person smoking in prohibited areas

NYS law:

• Prohibits smoking within 100 feet of school premises. Employees and visitors to PHS may not use any tobacco products within 100 feet of our campus, as defined by the gates and fences that surround our property.
• Another NYS law prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.

Preston High School

Asst. Principals: Mrs. Kelly Keane and Mr. Edgar Martinez

Main Office: Ms. Harrison and Mrs. Murphy

Email: amurphy@prestonhs.org
Website: www.Prestonhs.org
Location: 2780 Schurz Ave, Bronx, NY 10465 USA
Phone: (718) 863-9134

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrestonHS/

Twitter: @prestonpanthers