P.S. 236
The Mill Basin School
November 2009 Newsletter
Parent Teacher Conferences
November 9th
5:30p.m. – 8:00p.m.
November 10th
1:00p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
By appointment
Report cards for children in grades 1-5 will be given out at the conference with the teacher. Parents of Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students will receive progress reports at the conferences. Appointment letters went home in mid October. If you still have not made an appointment to see your child’s teacher, please contact the teacher via note or phone call. We would like all parents/guardians to make appointments so that you may learn about your child’s performance and progress.
Children will be dismissed at noon on Tuesday November 10.
School lunch will be provided for those students who eat school lunch on a daily basis.
Smart Goals Workshop
Parent Workshop on Student Goals presented by Ms. LaBella
November 4, 2009
8:45 a.m.
Or
7:00 p.m.
On behalf of the staff of P.S. 236, we wish you and your family a very healthy and happy Thanksgiving.
H1N1 Influenza
We have received some additional information regarding the H1N1 vaccination program. As of this writing, round 1 vaccinations will take place on Wednesday November 18th here at P.S. 236. Consent forms went home already. Parents may not choose the type of vaccination (there are two forms-nasal or injectable.) The type administered is determined by your child’s medical condition as determined by the answers to the questionnaire. If you only want a particular type of vaccination, you then will have to take your child to his/her own pediatrician.
Only children who have signed consent forms will have vaccinations administered. If you have any questions, you may call Ms. LaBella (718) 444-6969 ext 1212 or alabella@schools.nyc.gov.
Dress Code
Students continue to look great in their school wear. You should continue to have students wear the items that are in our school’s dress code all year long. This is mandatory for all students. If you need information about the dress code, you may contact Ms. LaBella for a brochure or for further information.
Thank you for your cooperation in having students wear our school dress code every day.
Lost and Found
We have a number of clothing items belonging to students that are in the lost and found. Please remind your children to be careful of their things. You may also have them look in lost and found which is located in the student lunchroom. Kindly make certain that your child’s name is written in sweaters, sweat shirts, jackets and coats. You may write their first and last name using a Sharpie on the tag of the item.
Attendance
Please be reminded of the importance of daily attendance. If at all possible, you are asked to make medical appointments for children either after school or on the weekend. Schedule vacations during the school vacation periods. If children are absent, they miss out on valuable instruction and consistency in routines.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns, you may call your child’s teacher, Ms. Barton, Ms. Southard or Ms. LaBella. We are happy to assist you. If you wish to speak with Ms. Barton or Ms. Southard in person, please call for an appointment or you may leave a written request with school safety or send a note in with your child. We will get back to as soon as possible.
As a means to further inform parents, please take some time to look at our school website. The website is meant to inform parents of school policies as well as upcoming events. The P.S. 236 website address is www.millbasinschool.org. We update the website so there are always new things to see and read. In addition, Ms. LaBella has set-up an e-mail notification contact list.
If you wish to receive e-mail notification of happenings in the school as well as the monthly newsletter and reminders, please e-mail Ms. LaBella and ask to be added to the contact list. Please e-mail your child’s name and class number so that your information can be added in the appropriate grade level.
Ms. LaBella, Parent Coordinator
alabella@schools.nyc.gov
(718) 444-6969 ext 1212
(347) 563-4608
School Meals
Please note the following reminders and announcements for the month of November.
School meals for November –17 school days
Reduced Price Lunch--$4.25 Full Price Lunch--$ 25.50
If your child eats school lunch and is either classified as reduced or full price for school meals that you send in the payment for the new month no later than Monday November 2nd. You may pay by cash, check or money order made payable to P.S. 236.
There is a $35.00 bank fee if your check is returned by the bank for insufficient funds.
If your child is not classified as free lunch, school meals must be paid for. This includes Pre-K students. If your child owes money for lunch and/or has not submitted a school meal form, which was asked for in September, your child will not receive his/her report card in November. The request for payment for school meals is made in the monthly newsletter that goes home to parents. Kindly refer to the amounts in the monthly newsletter. The amounts are also listed in the Parent Handbook that was distributed in September.
There are families who owe payments for the months of September and October. You are asked once again that you pay for what is owed and to pay for the new month by the deadline set in the monthly letter.
Remember that all children may eat school breakfast each morning at no cost to parents. Breakfast is available from 7:30-8:00 a.m. in the student lunchroom for those students who attend the Extended Day program (Monday through Thursday) and from 8:10-8:37 a.m. for all other students. We encourage all students to have a healthy breakfast each morning so that they may learn more effectively.
Dismissal Policy
Once again, I would like to clarify our dismissal policy here at 236. In September, families were notified as to the exit children are dismissed from. Each class/grade has a designated exit. There is no dismissal from the lobby. Even if you write a note to the teacher, there is no parent pick up from the lobby at 3:00 p.m. If you have more than one child, you should arrange to have your older child (ren) meet you at the youngest child’s designated exit. Write a note to the teacher to that effect. If school staff members ask you to move to the designated exit, kindly do so in a cooperative manner.
I again ask you to come in person to the designated exit to pick up your child. Do not call them to cross the street as there are a multitude of cars, vans and school buses that can hit your child. We do not want any accidents to take place. Be mindful of everyone’s safety and well being.
If you are late in picking up your child, children are then picked up from the lobby. You must come into the lobby or to the door so that staff may see that you, or your designee, are the correct parties children are dismissed to. We ask though that children are picked up from school on time.
ARIS PARENT LINK
All parents were given the information to log on to the ARIS parent link. Please make sure you log on to this valuable page to see your child’s school progress. We want our children to make at least a year’s progress academically each year. Working together, the home-school connection will make this happen! If you need further information to log on, please contact Ms. LaBella. Encourage your child to read nightly and to review his/her math facts. The more reading a child does, he/she will be a better thinker, will acquire more vocabulary and will build up much needed reading stamina. Math will come easier for children if they know their facts by heart. Continue to see that homework is done each night. It is a struggle now but all of this work will pay dividends in the future.
November’s Book of the Month
Building Manhattan
Written and Illustrated by Laura Vila
Right in time for Thanksgiving comes a picture book for city lovers everywhere. Vibrant illustrations and text come together in this striking picture book to tell the story of the building
of Manhattan. There was a time when the city was a little more than an undeveloped island. But as the small patch of land shifted from Native American to Dutch to English to American hands, it was built, layer on top of layer, into the bustling metropolis it is today. A time line provides further background, including dates, for each illustration. This is an effective visual presentation that introduces the history of Manhattan and also explores how places change over time.
Get to know Laura Vila by visiting the website listed below http://www.lauravila.com/
November Calendar of Events
Tuesday November 3 Election Day—school closed for students
Wednesday November 4 Student Council Election Assembly—
9:30 a.m.
Parents are invited to attend.
Friday November 6 - Friday November 13 Scholastic Book Fair in auditorium.
Classes will visit by schedule.
Think about holiday gifts!
Monday November 9 Parent Teacher Conferences 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Tuesday November 10 ½ day of school for students—dismissal 12
Parent Teacher Conferences 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Extended Day & Milleneum is cancelled on Nov. 10th.
Wednesday November 11 Veterans Day—school closed
Mon. November 16 and Tues. November 17 NYS Social Studies test—grade 5
Monday November 16 School Leadership Team meeting—3:30 p.m.
Tuesday November 17 PA meeting—7:30 p.m.
Wednesday November 25 Student of the Month assemblies.
Performance by Classes 4-332 &4-333 Assemblies at 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.
Parents are invited to attend.
Thurs. Nov. 26 and Fri. Nov. 27 Thanksgiving Recess—school closed.
Looking Ahead
Winter Recess
Thursday December 24, 2009 through Friday January 1, 2010.
Students return to school on Monday January 4, 2010.
October 2009 Newsletter
As September is ending, it seems like we have been back to school for months already!
Youngsters are fully engaged and are learning daily! October is coming and this
letter will update you on upcoming events and reminders.
Dress Code
I wish to thank the overwhelming majority of families of our school who have complied
with our dress code policy. The children look great! They are wearing our school
colors proudly!
With regard to the policy, the children should be wearing the dress code items. There is still time to have your children participate in wearing the school dress code. We have provided a wide range of choice with regard to the pieces of clothing that you may choose from. If you have any questions or need assistance, you may contact Ms. LaBella, our Parent Coordinator at 347-563-4608 or 718-444-6969 x1212. She is available to speak with you if you need guidance or if you need brochures.
As the weather gets a little cooler, students have started wearing the blue sweaters and jackets.
I ask that you write your child’s name in his/her sweater or jacket so that if it should become lost we can get the item back to your child. You can use a Sharpie marker and write the name on the tag if you wish. It is important that your child’s name be on his/her jacket, sweaters as well as outer garments.
October School Meals
School Meals for October 2009—21 school days
Reduced Price Lunch—$0.25 per day=$5.25 Full Price Lunch--$1.50 per day==$31.50
If your child eats school lunch and is not eligible for free lunch, you must pay for your child’s meals for the new month as follows:
Kindly send in the appropriate payment with your child for the month no later than Monday October 5th. If you are paying by check, write your child’s name and class in the memo area.
If your check is returned for insufficient funds, you will be assessed a $35.00 bank fee. All payments should be sent in a sealed envelope with the child’s first and last name and class on the outside. All students must pay for lunch if they are not eligible for free lunch. This includes Pre-K students.
Remember that breakfast is available for all children, at no cost, from 7:30-8:00 a.m., Monday through Thursday for students attending the Extended Day program and from 8:10-8:37 a.m. for all other students and on Fridays for all students in the school lunchroom. We encourage all children to eat a healthy breakfast, whether at home or in school, so that all children have a good day and are ready to learn.
Important Information
If your child has not returned his/her lunch form to his/her teacher, the form is past due. All families, regardless of income and grade level, must submit a school meal form to the school.
If you have not yet returned the form, kindly complete the form and have your child return it to school tomorrow morning. Notification letters regarding school meal status will be going home shortly. Please read the letter carefully. If you have any questions, you may call Ms. LaBella, Parent Coordinator or Ms. Barton, Principal for clairification.
Kindly note that your child’s status from last school year is carried over into this year until the new status for 2009-10 is certified. For example, students who were designated as full price lunch in 2008-09 continue to be carried in 2009-10 as full price until notification letters go home which we expect to be in early October. Families are to pay for meals from day 1 of school under the old status until notified otherwise. New families to our school whose children atteneded private or parochial schools are full price until notification letters go home. Families of students who ate in September and owe payment will be billed for payment shortly.
Extended Day Program
Kindly remember that children attending the Extended Day program may enter the school on Avenue U and East 63rd Street for breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday. All other students may not enter the building until 8:10 a.m., Monday through Friday. We wish to ensure the safest conditions for your child. The guidelines for entrance into the building are designed to keep your child safe and monitored by school staff.
If your child received a letter in requesting that they attend the program (grades 1-5), please note that your child was invited so that he/she can make progress from last year’s standardized test grades and /or class work. We want all children to make progress no matter what score they received last year. We want our level 3’s to move up to level 4. The Extended Day program provides small group instruction for your child so that he/she will have additional tools for success. If your child was invited, your child should attend. If you do not want your child to attend, then I ask that you write to Ms. Southard regarding this.
Emergency Blue Cards
Each child needs to have a completed blue emergency contact card on file. If you have not sent in a completed card with your child, it is past due. Also, if you should move or change any of your contact numbers during the school year, you need to contact Ms. Mandell, Pupil Accounting Secretary and arrange to come in to see her with your new information.
Homework Policy When Children Are Absent
If your child is absent for a day or two, your child (age appropriate) should contact a classmate for the homework. Homework will not be left in the main office for children. The child should make up homework upon his/her returning to school. If your child will be out for a prolonged period of time, kindly contact the teacher for the particulars of any work that is missed. Parents should provide an absence note as well upon a child’s return to school from an absence.
If your child forgets a book in school after school is dismissed, you may not return for the book. Remind children that it is their responsibility to make sure to have all books and materials needed for homework prior to leaving school. This is a part of children learning about responsibility for their actions and to learn organizational skills.
Information on School Entry and Dismissal
There is more and more congestion on the streets due to the number of cars around the school at entry and dismissal times. I would like to remind you of the following:
· If you are driving your child to school in the morning and let him/her off at either the East 63rd Street or the Avenue U door, we ask that you allow your child to exit your car quickly and that you move on. Say your goodbyes prior to drop off. School buses must be able to pull in to the space outside the perimeter of the school and must be able to pull next to the curb to have students exit the school bus. Most parents are cooperative but there are a few who are not. Please be considerate of the several hundred children who should be able to enter the building safely each day.
· Consider walking your child to and from school, if possible. Most of our families live within walking distance of the school. This is a great way to get some exercise, bond with your child and to save on gas and money. It would also help in easing the congestion around the building.
· In picking up your child, we ask that you do not double and triple park on the blocks surrounding the school. Again, school buses must have access to the curbs on each side of the school in order to have children safely board school buses. Please drive carefully around the area of the school. Watch for children who might try to cross the street at the wrong place or who might dart out to meet a parent who is beckoning a child to a car, actions that can cause an accident. Parents should walk to the place of dismissal so that children are not put in a potentially dangerous situation.
· Please be mindful of children swinging car or van doors open to enter or exit vehicles. We have had several cars belonging to staff members of both P.S. 236 and P.S. 771 dinged and scratched because of these actions in the past. Instruct children to be very careful.
· There have been instances of parents driving their cars up on to the sidewalk in front of the school. This is an extremely dangerous practice and will not be tolerated. The police will be called if this behavior is repeated by any parent or care giver.
· Children are not dismissed from the lobby unless they ride a van service. Parents should walk to their child’s exit to pick up students. Instruct your older children to walk to the younger child’s exit. Make sure you send a note to the teacher to that effect.
· If you are late in picking up your child, and you pick your child up from the lobby because you are late, you must get out of your car and walk to the door to get your child. Staff members are charged with dismissing students to the correct person. We cannot let your child run to the sidewalk to meet you at your car. This is for your child’s safety. We do ask you to be on time, however, to pick up your child. Children are disappointed if you are late consistently in picking them up.
October Schedule of Events
Thursday October 1 CDEC meeting—P.S .361, 7:00pm
Monday October 5 Pre-Kindergarten Non-Attendan
Friday October 9 Student of the Month Assembly
9:00 a.m. for grades 3, 4, 5
10 a.m. for grades 1 and 2
Classes 4-331 and 4-334 will perform.
Parents/Guardians are cordially invited to attend.
Monday October 12 Columbus Day—school closed
Monday October 19 School Leadership Team meeting—3:30 p.m.
Wednesday October 28 School Picture Day. Flier will be sent home with
details.
Friday October 30 Regular day of school.
For those who celebrate Halloween, students
may wear costumes. No masks, make up or
costume accessories are permitted in school on
that day. Students must be able to adjust
costumes for bathrooming.
Classes 3-229 and 3-234 will perform in the
auditorium at 9:00 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Parents/Guardians are cordially invited to attend.
November Schedule of Events
Sunday November 1 Daylight Savings Time ends. Clocks move back
one hour.
Tuesday November 3 Election Day—school closed for students.
Monday November 9 Parent Teacher Conferences—5:30-8:00 p.m.
Conferences are held by appointment.
The Scholastic Book Fair will be open during
the conference time in the auditorium.
Tuesday November 10 1/2 day of school for all students. Dismissal at
12 noon.
Parent Teacher Conferences—1:00-3:00 p.m.
Conferences by appointment.
The Scholastic Book Fair will be open during the
conference time in the auditorium
Wednesday November 11 Veterans Day—school closed
Monday November 16 School Leadership Team meeting—3:30 p.m.
Mon. and Tues. Nov.16 and 17 5th grade Social Studies test for grade 5 students
Thurs. and Fri. Nov. 26 and 27 Thanksgiving Recess—school closed
September's Newsletter
Principal’s Welcome Letter
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Welcome to another new school year at P.S. 236—The Mill Basin School! Again this school year, in place of the many parent letters that are sent home with your child on the first day of school, we are publishing this parent handbook. In it, you will find information on our school’s policies and procedures. I ask you to take time to read the parent handbook carefully so that you are informed and familiar with our school. All of the policies and procedures set forth are for your child’s benefit and safety. I ask for your cooperation and assistance in following our school’s policies and procedures as we work together to provide your child with the best education and school experience possible.
After reading the handbook, I ask that you complete the tear off in the center of the book and send it back to your child’s teacher no later than Friday September 11th. You are asked to return the two emergency blue cards that went home with your child, fully completed, along with the completed and signed school meal form by Friday September 11th. If you do not wish to apply for school lunch, you must complete part 1 of the form and sign at the bottom. All students are required to have a signed school meal form on file. In addition, kindly read the letter on consent for videotaping, photography, and internet, as well as the letter concerning neighborhood walks. I ask that you fill out the tear offs and return them to your child’s teacher as well.
We know the beginning of the school year is a very busy time of year. I thank you for your time and efforts on behalf of your child. He/she will reap the benefits of your involvement in his/her education. On behalf of the faculty and staff of our school, I wish you and your child a very happy, healthy and successful school year.
Sincerely,
Mary Barton
Principal
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P.S. 236
The Mill Basin School
Assistant Principal’s Welcome Letter
Parent/Guardian/Student:
Welcome to PS 236 and another exciting school year. I am looking forward to meeting you on your first day of school. Your year will be filled with many new adventures, friends, and the best education possible. The top priority at this school is safety. Please review the materials enclosed and become familiar with our rules, regulations and school procedures so that we can all have a safe and productive school year. These practices are in place so that we can ensure the well-being of all students. Please follow these guidelines as they will be strictly adhered to.
Throughout the year, you may have questions about testing, school work and other expectations. I am available to meet with you regarding these matters. Kindly call the school, or leave a note in the office, and I will schedule an appointment to meet with you. Let’s all have a wonderful year!!
Ms. J. Southard
Assistant Principal
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P.S. 236
The Mill Basin School
Parent Coordinator Welcome Letter
WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Welcome back to a new school year. As I start my seventh year as your Parent Coordinator, I am excited to get the year going. I look forward to greeting familiar faces and welcoming new faces.
My job as Parent Coordinator is to help guide you through the Department of Education and the policies and procedures of P.S. 236. I hope this parent handbook will give you a point of reference for many activities and events planned for the school year as well as the policies and procedures.
I look forward to inviting you to the many academic and non-academic parent workshops throughout the year. For your convenience, workshops are offered in the morning and the evening. For students in testing grades, an in-depth look at the State testing is offered at parent workshops. Please plan on attending.
I have an e-mail notification network set-up and urge all of you to sign up. The application to apply is included in your child’s first day of school package. Please print clearly so I can add you to the network. You will then be on your way to receiving the monthly P.S. 236 newsletter via e-mail along with grade appropriate flyers and school-wide notifications. Please fill out a separate sheet for each of your children.
If you have any questions or concerns I can be reached at (718) 444-6969 ext 1212 or (347) 563-4608 by email @ alabella@schools.nyc.gov. I also will be greeting you at the main entrance at 8:00am everyday and again at 3:00pm, feel free to introduce yourself.
Have a great start to the new school year!
Antoinette LaBella
P.S.236 Parent Coordinator
Please review Policies & Regulations