City Schools Holiday Issue 2009-2010

Q. Talk about Notify NYC. How will this help parents? What’s an example of how and when the public school emergency alert system will be used? How is it connected to the City’s emergency alert system?

A. Notify NYCis a mayoral initiative that’s already been used throughout the City. Now, it’s exciting that the Department of Education will be a part of it. Parents who sign up for Notify NYC will get a notification about what’s happening at schools within the zip code that they have signed up for.

Let’s say, for example, that a school for some reason had a delayed opening or that there was an unforeseen event—like a water main break—and kids had to be evacuated. This would be a way for parents to be notified—either by e-mail, text message, or phone call—that their child or children had been temporarily relocated to another school and should be picked up there, or maybe that students would be back at schools for regular pick-up. Notify NYC is a way for us to stay even more connected to families in an emergency situation of relocation, or if a school is closed, or if something happens over the weekend that prevents a school from opening, like a broken boiler.

Shoppers in Sunset Park were treated to the music of students from PS 69 this holiday season, recorded by the Business Improvement District and pumped in through speakers set up along the local streets.

And at PS 169 in Brooklyn, students dedicated their holiday performance to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

“I was so proud to play Michael Jackson in Thriller,” said Brian Medina, a fourth-grader. “The show, to me, was amazing. I noticed the same things I did in dance could help me to speak up in many ways,” he said.

The winter recess is over, and students across the five boroughs are back in their classrooms and working hard.  Many students celebrated the holidays by giving back to their communities.

At Marine Park Intermediate School in Brooklyn, students donated more than $1,000 worth of new toys to the children of military personnel at the Fort Hamilton Army Base. Students also sent more than 70 stockings filled with treats to soldiers serving overseas.

“Many of the students donated their own money to help others this holiday season. This is typical of the type of student we have here at Marine Park Intermediate School,” said teacher Regina Kieran.

Students, staff, and parents at M.S. 45 in the Bronx also collected items for soldiers overseas. Students sent food, packaged snacks, magazines, toiletries, socks, shirts, and other items to help soldiers feel a little closer to home. Many students wrote letters or poems and drew pictures for the soldiers. They also put together a photo album with pictures of the school, students, staff, and community.