2026 JANUARY FAMILY NEWSLETTER

Happy New Year, P.S. 219 Family!

As we step into 2026, we proudly celebrate 100 years of P.S. 219 – The Kennedy King School. For a century, this school has been a place of learning, leadership, and community and today, we honor that legacy by how we show up for children every single day.

P.S. 219 | 100 Years Strong. Rooted in Legacy. Rising in Excellence. Leading with Love.

We are entering this year focused, grounded, and moving forward with purpose. Using student data, our teachers are strengthening small-group instruction (MTSS) and preparing scholars for continued academic growth. Our core programs, Wit & Wisdom and Eureka Math², remain the foundation of daily instruction, and we are on pace with District 18 expectations.

We also want families to know: learning is happening. While schooling has changed since the pandemic, our scholars are growing, building skills, and progressing every day. Our focus is on what students can do and how we personalize instruction to meet individual needs through targeted supports, collaboration, and strong home-school partnership.

Next week, we begin mid-year i-Ready and Acadience assessments, alongside daily literacy and math instruction that begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. On-time attendance, every day, is essential to maximizing learning and ensuring continued success. Please ensure that scholars are prepared to do their very best, have charged technology and ready to show their growth!

As we honor 100 years of history, we remain committed to shaping a future filled with high expectations, strong instruction, school pride, and community care.

Thank you for your partnership—then, now, and always.

With pride,
Mrs. Williams
Principal, P.S. 219 – The Kennedy King School 💜

Student Government held their January meeting with school administration and advocated for fun Fridays. Every Friday a "Fun Friday Focus" based on our school wide expectations will be selected to celebrate the scholars who: Wore their uniforms all week, Submitted Homework & Classwork, Were on time and present all week, & Followed directions in all school spaces.

To launch this incentive, this week, all scholars who wore their school uniforms today received outside play time in the yard right before dismissal.

It's a new year and we're still rocking our uniforms! Just a reminder we’re showing school pride through our uniforms all year long. Please find information listed below regrading what to wear, to have an amazing school year 😊

P.S 219 has a required school uniform for several very important reasons:

1. Uniforms unite our community.
2. Uniforms reduce distractions any clothing competition.
3. Uniforms help uphold our scholarly atmosphere.

All students must come to school wearing a P.S 219-Kennedy King uniform with pride! The basic uniform items without a school logo can be purchased from Ideal uniform store, cookies, young world, old navy, etc. Uniform items purchased with the school logo can be purchased on line from https://www.milkuniforms.com/p-s-219

The unform is as follows:

Uniforms (3K-5th Grade) can be purchased as follows:

• Tops: Royal Purple and/or white solid polo shirt with/without the logo is required every school day.
• Bottoms: Navy, or black, slacks, joggers, dress, skirt, etc. (Families may purchase bottoms/skirts/dresses from any store of their choice)
• Shoes: A “safe shoe” that covers all or most of the foot, adequate for walking up and down stairs all day. A sneaker is preferred. Sneakers can be any color to celebrate the students' style and flair. Crocs, other foam shoes, and UGG slip-on shoes (any type of slipper) are not permitted.
• Belts: If needed, a solid color is preferred
• Tights: any color and pattern (no lace is preferred)
• Socks: any color and pattern
• Gym Uniform: Grey or navy jogger suit. Options can be found on the uniform website with the school logo or purchased without from any store of your choosing.

If students have an accident or soil their clothes, a clean uniform will be provided for students to change into. Students in 3K, Pre-K, and Kindergarten are required to always keep a change of clothes in school.

PURCHASING INFORMATION

Website: https://www.milkuniforms.com/p-s-219

• Online Purchasing
• Families can purchase uniforms online from the website above.
• Online purchases will be shipped to the families’ homes.
• Free shipping is offered for orders of $75 or more.
• Shipping time can be expedited but 10 business days is suggested for standard delivery.
• Pricing: see image

Please note that head coverings are only permitted for religious reasons. All other head covering must be removed.

Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you soon. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or the main office at 929-397-9566 ext. 2161.

Understanding Chronic Absenteeism:

Chronic absenteeism means a student misses 10% or more of the school year for any reason, including excused or unexcused absences. In elementary school, these missed days add up quickly and can create significant gaps in learning.

For young scholars, consistent attendance is essential. Daily instruction builds foundational skills in reading, writing, and math, and frequent absences interrupt that progression. Students who are chronically absent often struggle to keep up with new content, miss opportunities for targeted small-group support, and lose valuable time practicing routines that build confidence and independence. Regular attendance also strengthens peer relationships, supports social-emotional growth, and helps children feel connected to their school community.

When scholars are present every day, they are more likely to meet grade-level expectations, develop strong learning habits, and experience success throughout their school journey. Families play a vital role in making this possible, and we thank you for partnering with us to support strong attendance at P.S. 219.

i-Ready Personalized Instruction Guidance for Families

In preparation for i-Ready Middle of year diagnostics, please click on the link below to support your scholar using i-Ready. At home you can access guidance for using i-Ready including login and technical support. Learn how you can support your student with i-Ready.

curriculumassociates.com

It’s a whole new reality of learning and living for our children. The reality is that we live in a world where tech is ever-present and there is an increase for the need to spend time teaching our children how to navigate online responsibly. With the rise of safety concerns, cyberbullying, easy access from strangers on online platforms, we are asking families to partner with us as new technology and new apps are being created daily, and online communication is becoming an increasingly common. It is crucial to help our children achieve and understand digital literacy and be consistent and vigilant in monitoring usage to prevent cyberbullying prevention, ensure online safety, digital responsibility, and digital health and wellness.

RAISING DIGITAL CITIZENS

1. Remain positively engaged

2. Support their good choices

3. Know the protection features on your devices and on websites

4. Review privacy settings

5. Teach critical thinking

6. Teach them to respect private information about themselves and others

7. Teach your children how to interact safely

8. Empower your children to handle issues around bullying, hurtful comments and unwanted contact & sharing

1. Emphasize that they have the power to end conversations and log off the Internet at any time, and to not let shyness or embarrassment prevent them from talking to a parent or family member if they get into an iffy or risky situation

9. Support positive and safe engagement

Information from: National Cybersecurity Alliance

IN THE KNOW - Apps our students are using:

• Tik Tok

• Instagram

• Snapchat

• Facebook

• Twitter

• Text free App (Call/text)

• Roblox

• Omegle

• Discord

• Gaming sites where there are live chats

HOW TO SET UP PARENTAL CONTROLS & OVERSIGHT

• Parental controls - "How To"

• Parental controls on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch / Youtube video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDwOeoc6LAw

• Parental controls on Android / Youtube video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b-0gbQWOmc

• Apps that set up online controls

• Bark

• Kaspersky Safe Kids

• Our Pact (Kids can be involved)

• Family Orbit- track messages

• Google family link- set a timer (automatically shuts off)

• Set up check ins regarding social media, device usage

• Regular conversations about being a digital citizen and safe online

• Writing up an actual contract with time limits/expectations/rules and consequences if those rules are broken

We are available to support should you need anything!

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/menus/school-lunch-meals?value=s8#menuDiv

We want to make sure that you are fully connected to us. Please make sure our main office has the correct email and most updated phone numbers for you. We want to make sure that you receive all the texts and memos throughout the month. For some of you, it may be that your email settings block our messages and for others, it may be that we do not have accurate information. If your phone number changes, please alert your child's classroom teacher, send an email to myself/AP Basnight or call the main office.