College Awareness
College Awareness Day aims to promote the college conversation in all of our schools, and illustrates that it is critical for students to be thinking and dreaming about their futures as early as 3-K and pre-k. Wear college t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other college-related apparel tomorrow.
I LOVE Winter!!
The Principal's Corner
Wednesday, January 02, 2019
Dear families,
Happy New Year!!!!
We hope you had a restful and enjoyable break and welcome you all back to an exciting second half of the school year.
Time will begin to pass very quickly and before you know it, we will be bringing closure to the 2018-2019 school year and getting ready for the summer. Therefore, mid-year is the time when we reflect and take stock of where we are in relation to our instructional goals and shifts for the 2018-2019 school year and reflect on the direct impact they have had on your student’s achievement. Teachers will be engaged in monitoring student progress more closely in comparison to where students were at the beginning of the year, where they were a few weeks ago, and will continue to make adjustments to instruction as they work diligently to move all students along the learning continuum. Mid-year assessments closely target and monitor all of our struggling students.
Our goal is to meet every child where they are at, motivate, inspire, and grow them by providing them with the best learning experiences and actionable feedback to grow them as learners. We institute a “Growth Mindset” in which all children learn strategies to continuously challenge and grow themselves as life-long learners. In order to do this well, teachers must provide your children with actionable feedback in relation to their goals. This feedback notes and compliments what the child is doing well and provides students with next steps for learning in which teachers give and show the student how to use a strategy or two to improve their learning in the particular subject area. Teachers monitor how well students are applying the new strategies and intervene with guidance when needed. After a targeted amount of time the teachers check back in for mastery and provides students with new strategies. Students also learn to monitor their own learning through self and peer assessing as we foster and guide student independence.
Open lines of communication regarding student progress continue between teachers and families. Please note that Mid-year is also the time of the year when Potential Hold-Over (PHO) letters will be mailed home to families of those students still struggling and in danger of not meeting grade standard. This is a New York City DOE policy/protocol all schools engage in. The purpose of PHO letters are to inform parents that at this point in time their child is not meeting standard but there is still time to move them along the learning continuum before June. These letters should not come as a surprise to any family as teachers have engaged all families in continuous one to one family meetings on Family Engagement Tuesdays. Teachers have also made it a priority to find an agreeable time to meet with families who could not make a Tuesday. All concerns and celebrations of progress have been discussed to date and teachers continue to keep on-going open lines of communication with all families. Teachers share a variety of ways they are intervening to support your children and how you can also support their learning in partnership and will continue to do so.
Attendance/Lateness Policy: Our school day begins at 8:15. By 8:20 your child is late and missing instruction. Children must be in school in order to learn/grow and consistent patterns of absenteeism and lateness directly impact student achievement. Students consistently absent or late will receive a phone call from the attendance monitor to inquire why. If the pattern persists, it is reported to the district attendance liaison assigned to our school who follows up and if need be, visits the home. In severe cases that boarder educational neglect, The Agency for Child Services is called. Instruction begins at 8:15 am. Please note that class trips and special activities are privileges and any student who demonstrates little effort, consistently does no homework, or is excessively absent/late, will not be permitted to go. Letters will soon go home to families where children have fallen below the 90% for absence/lateness. Consistent patterns of lateness negatively impact student achievement. Students who walk in late daily miss out on important learning. When a child walks in late they feel like a fish out of water and it is very hard for them to catch up to the rest. They have missed what the teacher has modeled and they will no doubt flounder. Please ensure your children are on time daily. We want your children to be successful as they continue to do their personal best.
We have a number of support programs in place to provide students with academic intervention and enrichment. All AIS programs monitor student progress from beginning to end.
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Academic Intervention Support and Enrichment Programs:
· Casa Grant Afterschool Enrichment Program: Provides students with enrichment through the arts. Currently we have 3 programs running their first 10 week cycle: Smart Money Kids- students in grades 4 and 5 explore how to run and create their own business models. Visual Arts: 1st Graders express themselves creatively as they explore multi-mediums. Latin Dance: 3rd graders explore various dance forms such as merengue, salsa, and rumba as they choreograph their culminating performance. · VR Quest Enrichment Academy- 4th and 5th graders in the top tier explore the many nuances behind designing their own virtual reality video games. · BOKS-Building Our Kids Success is a physical education enrichment afterschool program which provides children with additional physical development. Kindergarten and first are currently enjoying the winter cycle. The spring cycle will be offered to another grade. · Title III afterschool program: Provides English Language Learners with additional language support through literacy enrichment. · Response to Intervention: Is provided to all students in need within their classrooms and is carefully planned and monitored for student improvement. · First in Math K-2: On-line technology based math program in the computer lab which meets students where they are at as mathematicians and moves them along the learning continuum.
Programs Beginning in January: · Early Grade Morning Reading AIS- will provide select targeted students in need with additional support in reading and literacy skills. · Saturday Test Prep Academy Grades 3-5: Provides students with test taking strategies and practice in ELA and Math. · I-Ready ELA K-5: On-line technology based language arts program which meets students where they are at as readers and moves them along the learning continuum. · BOKS Winter Cycle-Soccer
Programs Pending Funding: Morning Math AIS program K-2- based on Grant Award Spring Newspaper Club |
All of these programs are implemented to provide children with extra support in areas they are struggling in and to enrich their lives in the arts. These programs are VERY expensive and the expectation will remain that students maintain good attendance in order to participate. I also apply for and write grants in order to provide your children with exciting new opportunities. Grant writing is very difficult and time consuming and not all schools are awarded monies. I make an extra effort to do this in order to provide your children with additional programs that foster academic achievement and prepare them to be college/career bound.
Speaking of college/career bound, January is College Awareness month! It is important that children are exposed to college/career possibilities at an early age and so this month’s Parents as Learning Partner Day will focus on an abundance of interactive activities around “College Awareness.” This will also be a spirit day and we would like all children to get creative and dress up to represent various colleges! Staff will do the same and we encourage families to join us. PALP will take place on January 18, 2019 at 8:35 am. Get your college wear ready!
January 23, 2019 will also be “Future Day” and on this spirit day we encourage all students to dress up as the career path of their choice and be prepared to share something about why they want to be that when they grow up.
At PS 38 we teach your children that they should always do their best and that it is their educational responsibility to themselves to do so. Success comes with hard work and as a staff we will continue to instill good learning habits as we want all students to be high achievers. Parent engagement plays a critical role in student achievement and we must be on the same page or it sends a mixed message to the children about what is important. Therefore, we ask that all .parents please continue to support us in our endeavors.
~Thank you for entrusting your children to us.
“Partners with Families…Partners In Learning”
Believing In Children...
Inspiring Young Minds,
Nancy Murillo
Principal
DOE Notices
Discipline Code Letter Partners in conflict 18.docx.doc
DisciplineCodeK5FINALforPostingaddtledits4517.pdf
Testing Information for Parents- 2017-handout-for-parents-3-8-tests What Parents need to Know.pdf
Upcoming Events This Week
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School Spirit Day- College
PS38 George Cromwell School -
Martin Luther King Jr - NO SCHOOL
PS38 George Cromwell School -
Pretzel Day $1.25
PS38 George Cromwell School -
Movie Night
PS38 George Cromwell School -
Pretzel Day $1.25
PS38 George Cromwell School
Parent Volunteers Needed
We are in need of some parent volunteers to come and help with technology lessons in grades Kindergarten, first and second grade. We have tech week once a month. Any parents who can spare an hour or two, please come on Tuesday November 27 at 2:45 for a tech meeting. Ms. Regan will have a schedule to share with you to sign up.
Parents As Learning Partners
College Awareness Day-
January 18, 2019
School Spirit Day-Jan 18, 2019
College Awareness Day
SLT-School Leadership Team
Our School Leadership Meetings are open to the school community and the public.
Helpful and Informative Websites: Check out these websites for tips, strategies, and ways you can help your child at home.
Read.. Read... Read...
Leveled Book List
The following books are listed from easy to difficult by reading levels and can be found at www.amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.
Books that are “just right” for your child will be the ones on their level. To build fluency, have your child read books on an easier level. Books above your child’s level will be too difficult. However, a child’s listening level is usually 2-3 grade levels above their reading level. If your child is reading at a first grade level, they can listen and comprehend books at a third or fourth grade level.
Reading aloud to your child will help challenge students by introducing them to more sophisticated vocabulary and increasing their cognitive skills. In addition, reading together is a great time for parents to bond with their children and will provide opportunities for meaningful discussion. It will become a time you and your child look forward to each night!
Remember; don’t restrict your child’s reading material to only books. Provide the chance to read other types of materials (magazines, comics, newspapers, atlases, recipes, game instructions, etc.). This will allow them to discover several reading materials of interest.
For more leveled books, check out this website: http://orgs.bloomu.edu/americareads/leveledbooks/leveledbooks.html
Also, www.reallygoodstuffreading.com has a great set of Learn to Read Books for levels A-J.
For a list of leveled books, click here Leveled Book List _summer_.pdf
Notes from Mrs. Chow
Marsh Avenue Expeditionary Learning School
Carol DeAngelo, Principal
Tina Marie Marra, Assistant Principal
Courage, Tolerance, Compassion, Collaboration
100 Essex Drive
Staten Island, NY 10314
Telephone: 718.370.6850 Fax: 718.370.6860
INFORMATIONAL SESSION Prospective incoming 6th graders - 2019-2020 school year 6:00pm (MAELS Auditorium)
Doors will close promptly at 6:30pm. We will not accept entry after that time.
Please find below the date for your current school’s assigned Informational Session:
Please come with your child to your school’s assigned Informational Session date only.
If you cannot attend on the date to which you were assigned, please contact our
Parent Coordinator, Su Rolnick: srolnick@schools.nyc.gov or (718) 370-6850 extension #2.
All Informational Sessions will be the same.
If you come on a date other than assigned, there will not be a sign-in sheet for your school.
Wednesday: Tuesday: Tuesday:
October 3, 2018 October 16, 2018 October 30, 2018
PS 4 PS 18 PS 1
PS 5 PS 38 PS 3
PS 6 PS 42 PS 11
PS 8 PS 44 PS 19
PS 13 PS 46 PS 21
PS 16 PS 48 PS 22
PS 20 PS 52 PS 26
PS 23 PS 54 PS 29
PS 31 PS 55 PS 30
PS 32 PS 56 PS 45
PS 35 PS 60 PS 50
PS 36 PS 65 PS 53
PS 39 PS 69 PS 57
PS 41 PS 74 PS 78
PS 58 PS 861 PS 80
Our student-facilitated Informational Session will include a tour of our magnificent learning community and tons of information about our academically rigorous and engaging curriculum.
We look forward to seeing you then.
Sincerely,
Cara DeAngelo
Principal
Due to space restrictions, please limit participants to 2 per family
HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD AND YOURSELF
Enjoy the Holidays More With Mindfulness
Slow down and get more out of this busy season
Contrary to common belief, one effective way to cope with the holiday madness is to SLOW DOWN and take a little time each day to cultivate and practice mindfulness. Perhaps you’ve heard about this concept, which is rooted in Zen Buddhism, and has recently become more popular in Western society. Research has demonstrated that practicing mindfulness is associated with improvements in well-being, physical and mental health, relationship satisfaction, and attentional focus. In addition, the practice of mindfulness has been shown to help reduce stress and associated negative emotions such as anxiety and sadness.
You may be asking, “Okay, so on a practical level, how can I be mindful?” In reality, there are infinite opportunities to practice mindfulness during each day. Here are some suggestions to get started:
1. Find a quiet place for just a few minutes (e.g the bathroom, as for some people this is the only quiet spot!). Get yourself into a comfortable sitting position with your feet flat on the floor. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing only. Do this for a few minutes. Listen to the sound of your breath and notice how your body feels during this time. When thoughts of other moments come racing into your mind, acknowledge them and let them go by as if they are on a conveyor belt, and refocus your attention on your breath again. Do this over and over.
2. Spend a few minutes each day writing down five things you are thankful for that day.
3. When you are walking outside, focus on one of your senses. For example, for vision, notice the colors of objects around you or for hearing, listen to the sounds around you and label them nonjudgmentally (eg “That building is gray,” or “I hear a horn honking”).
4. Get the kids involved! One favorite thing I like to recommend is good old fashioned bubble blowing. Make a game out of it and instruct them (and yourself) to silently watch the bubbles float around the room. Resist the urge to pop the bubbles and see where they go.
By taking a few minutes each day to be mindful, perhaps even more than once a day, we can give ourselves the space to get in touch with ourselves, to fully experience the meaningful moments that often pass us by, and to take time to practice gratitude for what we have in our lives. Instead, we can experience gratitude daily, reduce our stress, and be more in touch with the little things that make all the difference. Sited from:childmind.org/Jill Emanuele, PhD
MH Campaign Dec 2018 Mindfulness.doc
depression in children-Dec 2017.docx.doc
Helping Children Deal With Grief.docx
How Trauma Affects Kids in School.docx
Why Do Kids Have Tantrums and Meltdowns.pdf
Fighting Caregiver Burnout.pdf
Three Common Parenting Traps.pdf
Accommodations for Anxious Kids.docx
Parents Information Links
- Click here for theParent Handbook Parent Handbook.pptx
- Click here for New York City Public Schools Information
- Click here for information on our SAFE school water. LetterForSchoolsThatTestNegative 1.docx
- Click here for the 2015-2016 New York City Public School calendar
- Click here for the school menu
Parent Notices-5th Grade Parents
Information for current 5th Grade students-
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Attached please find the 2019 Directory of NYC Middle School District 31. The Middle School Choice Application is forthcoming. Please read carefully.
On page 3 you will find Middle School Action Checklist. This timeline will be helpful to you throughout the school year.
District 31 Middle School Fair will be held on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at New Dorp High School located at 465 New Dorp Lane from 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm. Learn about the schools in District 31 and how to apply to middle school. There will be presentations on middle school admissions at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm. It is very important for you to attend this fair.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 718-351-1225.
Thank you,
Mercedes Chow, Parent Coordinator
Save the Date...
Important Dates:
January 16 virtue assemblies
January 17 NYC Chinese Cultural center Assembly 9:00
January 18-PALP-College awareness day
January 23 SLT- Future Day- Wear what you would wear in your chosen career
January 25 Movie Night K-5, 5th grade assembly on black history month
What are Google Apps and how are they useful?
Google Drive - cloud storage for all file types including images, videos and audio files. Students have unlimited storage and can access their files from any device, anywhere they have an internet connection.
Google Docs - Word processing tool to allow students to create and edit text and paragraphs. Students can collaborate on the same document and teachers can easily provide feedback while students are working. Like all Google Apps, Google Docs auto-saves within Google Drive.
Google Classroom - A blended learning platform that integrates Google Apps to allow teachers to assign and collect work from students. Classroom creates a paperless environment and saves time providing a way for teachers and students to easily communicate and stay organized.
GOOGLE CLASSROOM
Have you checked your GOOGLE today?
To access student accounts from anywhere:
Go to http://classroom.google.com and enter the full username/email, including the @ps38r.com
parent welcome to google classroom.doc Guardian E-Mail Summary letter.doc
How can Google Classroom help me, help my child in school?
September 5, 2018
Dear Families,
We are excited to let you know that Google Classroom has an additional feature for you, the parents. As a guardian, you can receive email summaries showing your student’s progress in Google Classroom.
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You can choose the frequency of the emails, such as daily or weekly.
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You can unsubscribe or remove yourself from Classroom at any time.
Guardian email summaries include:
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Missing work—Work that’s late at the time the email was sent
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Upcoming work—Work that’s due today and tomorrow (for daily emails) or work that’s due in the upcoming week (for weekly emails)
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Class activity—Announcements, assignments, and questions recently posted by teachers
Your student’s teacher will send you an email invitation. After you accept the invitation, you’ll receive regular email summaries of your student’s work. You can use your current email address to receive an invitation. When you click Accept in the email invitation, you receive weekly summaries to that email address. However, with a free Google account, you can make changes to your email summaries—for example, how often you receive them.
This is a wonderful way for you to stay up to date with what’s happening in your child’s classroom. If you are interested please return the slip with your email clearly printed to your child’s teacher.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Frisz & Ms. Regan
Social Media
Where can I find....?
General- All subject, All grades
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/
Reading Sites:
http://www.storylineonline.net/
Math Sites:
https://www-k6.thinkcentral.com
http://www.mathplayground.com/
Science Sites:
https://kids.usa.gov/science/index.shtml
http://ngexplorer.cengage.com/ngyoungexplorer/index.html
Parent Tips
7 Bullying Intervention Tips for Families-October 2018.doc
7 Bullying Intervention Tips for Families
- Increase Communication
Begin discussion that has to do with the social and online lives of your children as often as possible. Ask specific questions that can create important discussions (e.g., instead of “How was school?,” try “What was lunchtime like at your school—who do you sit with, what do you do and what do you talk about?”). You have to ensure your conduct shows how genuinely interested and open minded you are, and must not in any way see you as trying to control or invade privacy.
- Monitor Behavior
You can get to see your children under different situations by being watchful during social gatherings, volunteering at school and participating in extracurricular activities. If in any case you realize that your children are overly aggressive, vulnerable to peer pressure or show other behavior that gives you cause for concern, talk to them about your concerns and correct the behavior. Keep watch on the warning signs associated with bullying behavior (e.g., fear of attending school, social withdrawal, avoidance of or preoccupation with technology) and you can always believe that your instinct will intervene when you feel like your children are deviating.
- Facilitate Positive Social Experiences
Assist your children in selecting hobbies and friends that will make them have a good feeling about themselves. Whenever you realize that certain activities or relationships are capable of causing bad feelings or unhealthy conflicts, talk about how things can be improved and keep away from negative scenarios. Be a guide to your children in helping them make friends in different settings, by doing so they would not have to depend on only one place as their social outlet. Help your children to stay close to at least one friend— the feeling of being socially attached can help to reduce the effects of bullying.
- Promote Responsible Online Behavior
Speak with your children about behaving decently online, as well as showing respect for other people’s privacy including the negative effect of belittling others. They should also make sure that they understand how to protect their own privacy online (e.g., keep personal information, passwords and PINs confidential) and what their reaction should be when confronted with negative online behavior. Ensure to actively monitor your children activities online and assist them to set healthy limits as regards the time they spend online. When monitoring and filtering software, do not hide it and then feel you can depend on these kinds of tools as a means to directly involve yourself in your child’s online lives.
- Talk about Bullying
Feel free to discuss bullying with your children. Explain what bullying means to them in detail; let them know what it looks like and what to do when such a thing happens. Let them understand your expectations and values as far as offline and online societal behaviors is concerned, help them to understand what their own values should be as well as how they are to show it in the face of aggression and peer pressure. Talk and practice different ways in which they are to react to social cruelty, and make your children know that they are to come to you for help when they witness or happen to be involved in bullying situations.
- Be a Role Model
Have you ever thought about what kind of message you pass to your children whenever you gossip, make judgmental comments or act in an aggressive manner toward family members, friends, and the way you interact with staff in stores or drivers on the road. Make good use of technology and keep away from sending mean or biased posts and jokes. Show an example of what is takes to be an ally and to kick against both online and offline cruelty and prejudice.
- Be Involved at School
Always be in support of practices, policies and programs that encourage positive social behavior and always speak up when adults/institutions no longer sustains their duty of protecting children and maintaining a safe environment. Don’t wait until your child is the target to get involved and speak up.
