NYC schools are invited to participate in First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+) Challenge. US Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius has challenged the NYC school district and the nation’s other top ten largest school districts to focus on students and families by encouraging them to eat healthier and move more. Organized into a six week challenge from May 7 to June 15, NYC schools can support, promote, and track daily physical activity goals and weekly healthy eating goals among students and families, with results to be compiled and shared for school-wide recognition. Sign up your school by emailing Kathleen Walker at wellness@schools.nyc.gov.
iLearnNYC will offer beginning and intermediate level trainings on the Desire2Learn platform, Collaborate webinar tool, Admin Console programming tool, Apex, Aventa, Compass, E2020, Florida Virtual, and K12 Powerspeak.
Please register online for any of these trainings, which are taking place from now to June 25.
The Math Place Online, hosted by Bank Street College math faculty member Barbara Dubitsky, invites teachers to a series of online tutoring sessions who feel they need extra help in K-8 math. There is no cost to participants and sessions are open to all. Participants will focus on topics such as fractions, decimals, percents, multiplication and division, and the basics of algebra. Using digital materials and games, each person will work at his or her own pace. Sessions began April 19 and are ongoing. Sessions take place every Thursday from 4-5pm. To RSVP, email themathplace@bankstreet.edu. All registrants will be contacted by the school with necessary details for logging onto the environment.
NYC science teachers are invited to the National Park Service’s seminars, “Natural Research in the Heart of NYC.” Researchers and master teachers will lead conversations about climate change, bird and turtle migration, bloom cycles, water quality, osprey, oysters, and the rise of sea levels at sites of the Gateway National Recreation Area.
Workshops will meet on the dates above from 8:30am– 2:30pm. The first three workshops will be at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center; the final workshop at the Ryan Visitor Center at Floyd Bennett Field. To RSVP, email Dan_Meharg@nps.gov with 'seminar' in the subject line.
The New-York Historical Society invites teachers to this workshop to use video, music, and lyrics, documents, and images to teach about New York’s role in World War II and the war’s impact on the nation’s cultural and political landscape.
This teacher workshop features lessons, activities, and curriculum guides from the American Musicals Project (AMP) unit on World War II. AMP is a history program that combines elements of musical theater with primary sources from the collection of the New-York Historical Society.
The workshop will take place on Tuesday, May 22 from 4:30-6:30pm at the New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West (at 77th Street), Manhattan. Admission is $15 per participant. Advanced registration is required.
NYC Department of Education (NYCDOE) parent coordinators and educators are invited to one of three remaing “Art of Reuse” workshops hosted by Materials for the Arts (MFTA). With guidance from an MFTA teaching artist, participants will develop their own art projects that creatively reuse items from the recycling bin and free supplies.
The workshops will take place on the Tuesday dates above from 10am–12:30pm at MFTA, 33-00 Northern Blvd. Long Island City, NY 11101. NYCDOE parent coordinators may attend any of the workshops for free; NYCDOE educators may attend for $18/workshop. Learn more and register.
K-12 NYC educators are invited to the Metropolitan Museum’s workshop to explore the shifting attitude toward the American landscape and natural world suggested by paintings and writing from the second half of the nineteenth century. This event is held in conjunction with the opening of the New American Wing Galleries for Paintings, Sculpture, and Decorative Arts.
The workshop will take place on Friday, May 25 from 4-6pm. The fee for this program is $20/participant. Please register online by May 24.
NYC principals and educators should encourage parents and guardians of English Language Learners (ELLs) to attend this year’s citywide parent conference, “College and Career Ready at ALL Grade Levels: What Do I Need to Know to Help My Child?” In collaboration with the Regional Bilingual and ESL Resource Networks at New York and Fordham Universities, the keynote speaker will be Julia Alvarez and participants will receive two of her books. The conference will feature panels, workshops, educational publishers, and community resources for parents to support their children.
The conference will take place on Friday, May 25 from 9am-2pm at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan (11th Avenue between West 34th and 38th Streets). Translation services, breakfast and lunch, and MetroCards will be provided. Please distribute these flyers and registration forms (provided in multiple languages) to parents today.
The conference is being led by NYC Department of Education’s Division of Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners, Division of Family and Community Engagement, the Translation and Interpretation Unit, and Learning Leaders.
On Chancellor's Day, June 7, the Office of School and Youth Development (OSYD) will be hosting a professional development opportunity for K-12 school guidance counselors. The topic will be Professional School Counseling in NYC Public Schools: Keeping Up with the Trends. Participants will have the opportunity to review current promising practices in promoting digitally responsible citizenship and enhance their understanding and use of the Where Are They Now? Reports. This session will take place from 8:30am - 1:00pm at the Bronx UFT located at 2500 Halsey Street, Bronx NY. Given space limitation, pre-registration is required. Access registration information, and submit it to Catherine Galante no later than Friday, May 25, 2012.
NYC educators are invited to participate in this walking tour about East Harlem. Participants will learn vocabulary for describing architectural design, the form and function of buildings, and the land use and zoning issues of the neighborhood.
The tour will take place on Sunday, May 27 from 10am-12m and costs $15/participant. Reservations are required. Learn more and RSVP by May 25.
The NYC Leadership Academy invites principals to the "Programming and Scheduling to Meet Your Instructional Priorities" workshop, which is designed to help school leaders lead the development of a master program/schedule. Topics will include: identifying the priorities that will drive the programming/scheduling, accounting for the city/state/federal mandates and policies that impact students as well as the contractual guidelines and requirements (e.g. UFT, CSA), strategically addressing the school's priorities and accounts for considerations while aligning appropriate resources (budget, staff, etc.).
This workshop will be held on May 30 from 8:30am-12:30pm at the NYC Leadership Academy. To register, email Michael Kim at MKim10@leadershipacademynyc.org.
Common Cents invites NYC schools to be a part of its Full Pantry Project, which matches schools to their closest neighborhood food pantry. This program lets students directly support hunger issues, build stronger relationships within the community, and learn about hunger and the people affected by it.
The Full Pantry Project has helped many food pantries thrive. Learn more and get matched to a pantry today by May 30 (extended deadline).
For more school opportunities connected to community service, please visit NYC Department of Education’s Service in Schools web page.
NYC educators are invited to join Dr. Dan Czitrom, Mount Holyoke, as he uses the photographs of Jacob Riis to investigate poverty, mass immigration, urban housing, political corruption, and racial difference in NYC during the Gilded Age.
3GNY, a NYC nonprofit that brings together grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, invites middle and high schools to participate in its “We Educate” (WEDU) program, its education initiative to bring family stories and lessons of Holocaust survivors to school classrooms. As grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, Trained by Facing History and Ourselves, WEDU’s speakers are available to guest-lecture in pairs for 45 minutes (or the length of a classroom session) sharing family stories and answering students’ questions.
The Department of Youth and Community Development(DYCD) has extended the deadline for submitting the 2012 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Participant Application to Friday June 1st .
The Transition Coordination Center is a contracted intake site for SYEP, and can provide assistance with information and applications for students with disabilities. Participants are selected via a lottery system. Selected students will earn the State minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, and work a maximum of 25 hours per week. The program runs from July 5-August 17 (7 weeks). A total of 740 placement slots have been provided.
Schools are encouraged to designate a SYEP coordinator to collect applications, documents and liaison with this office. before sending applications to the Transition Coordination Center please contact James Zimmerman at jzimmer3@schools.nyc.gov first, as our intake requirements differ from other contracted sites. Students with disabilities can enroll online, or submit their applications to their school SYEP coordinator (Please note we are not an online submittal choice).
Applications and information for SYEP are available online at www.nyc.gov/dycd. SYEP Coordinators must send the student applications directly by mail to:
Transition Coordination Center145 Stanton Street, Room 253New York, New York 10002
The American Cancer Society invites schools to participate in the “Mini-Relay For Life” Program,
a school-based fundraising walk in honor or in memory of those who have been touched by cancer. Schools chose the date, time, duration, and location of the walk to best suit students’ needs and schedule. All funds raised through Mini-Relay walks will support American Cancer Society research, education, patient services, and advocacy.
Register your class and download program curriculum to plan a school walk for the 2011-12 school year.
Middle and high school educators are invited to join curator and professor Dr. Brian Murphy for a historical overview of New York’s financial history. Following the lecture, educators will participate in a curator led exhibition tour of Capital of Capital: New York City Banks and the Creation of a Global Economy, tracing the history of the city’s banks. Using information texts, materials and resources in the exhibition, educators will work with Museum staff during a Common Core aligned workshop.
Reservations Required. The workshop is $40.00 per participant. RSVP by June 4. The event will take place on Thursday, June 7 from 9:30 am - 2:30pm at the Museum of the City of New York, 1220 5th Avenue (at 103rd Street), New York, NY 10029.
NYC Collaborates invites NYC school leaders and staff members to participate in its upcoming events for its first School Study Tours. Participants will have an opportunity to hear directly from school leaders, observe classrooms, participate in a professional development session and debrief with their colleagues.
RSVP online for an upcoming session today. Sessions will take place on the dates above from 8:30am-12pm in various schools in the Bronx.
NYC Collaborates facilitates opportunities for district and charter schools to come together to dispel myths, share information and collaborate. This series of school study tours is an opportunity for educators to exchange ideas.
NYC Collaborates is an initiative of the City’s District-Charter Collaboration Compact. The Compact, a formal and public commitment signed by the NYC Department of Education and over 85 charter schools to date, is an effort to improve and expand the ways in which district and charter schools work together and influence each other for the benefit of all students. For questions or to sign-up, please email charterschools@schools.nyc.gov.
NYC educators are invited to join curator and professor Dr. Brian Murphy for a historical overview of New York’s financial history. Following the lecture, Dr. Murphy will lead an exhibition tour of “Capital of Capital: NYC Banks and the Creation of a Global Economy,” tracing the trajectory of the City’s banks from the founding of the Bank of New York by Alexander Hamilton in 1784 to their primacy in today’s nation and world. Participants will work with museum staff to use informational texts, materials, and resources in the exhibition that align with Common Core Learning Standards.
Learn to bring literacy to life using shadow puppetry during this hands-on workshop with Joy Suarez at Materials for the Arts. Using items from the recycling bin and free supplies from MFTA, participants will learn techniques to create a variety of shadow puppets and set pieces to enhance their students' comprehension of ELA texts and engage students in creative classroom projects. Participants will gain tools to bring performance assessment to their classroom as well as creative methods to integrate learning standards, including the Common Core for ELA, into their lessons. There is a $45 fee.This workshop for the Chancellor's Conference Day meets Thursday, June 7, 2012 from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm at Materials for the Arts, 33-00 Northern Boulevard, Long Island City, Queens, NY 11101. Learn more and register.
All Building Response Team (BRT) Leaders are invited to the NYC Department of Education’s Office of School and Youth Development’s professional development on General Response Protocols (GRP) for emergency preparedness. The agenda will include the new GRP that will be implemented in all schools at the start of the 2012-2013 school year. Full day sessions will be conducted in schools in all boroughs.
Participants should register for the session in the borough in which they work. BRT Leaders are required to register online for this June 7 (Chancellor’s Conference Day) training. For questions, please email your Borough Safety Director or Jay Findling at jfindli@schools.nyc.gov.
The NYC Department of Education (NYCDOE) provides professional development to schools and their networks to support inquiry work and implementation of the NYCDOE Citywide Instructional Expectations.
Register online to have a NYCDOE coach visit your school to provide support.
NYCDOE schools may also register online for a free, scheduled session or webinar and/or access online support materials. Please see below for some upcoming opportunities:
For questions, please email Kathryn Critchell at kcritchell@schools.nyc.gov or 212-374-5476.
Middle school principals, assistant principals, and parent coordinators are invited to join students, teachers, and families at the 8th Annual Urban Advantage Citywide Science Expo, which will display over 300 science projects from students in grades 6-8.
A collaborative effort between the NYC Department of Education and eight NYC scientific and cultural institutions, Urban Advantage supports middle school science through professional development for teachers, resources for students and schools, and visits to participating institutions.
The Expo will take place on Saturday, June 9 from 1-4 pm at the American Museum of Natural History. To register or ask questions, email John Tom at JTom3@schools.nyc.gov.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educators are invited to the 34th Annual New York State Marine Education Association Annual Conference – “Resources, Exploration, Conservation and Education.” Participants will learn strategies engage students in direct conservation, field study activities of the local marine environment, and citizen science projects and data collection.
The conference will take place on Saturday, June 9 at SUNY Maritime College (under the Throgs Neck Bridge). Register online today.
The After School Professional Development Program’s Spring 2012 course catalogue will open for registration on Tuesday January 10 after 4:00 pm..
Teachers, secretaries, and other school-based personnel are invited to review and register the “P” courses available for this spring. The courses are designed to equip educators with the skills and abilities to increase student achievement. Course offerings are high-quality, low-cost alternatives to traditionally-offered college courses. Available across all content areas, courses may be applied toward salary differential requirements and/or to meet the state’s 175-hour professional development requirement.
Please click here to view and register for these opportunities.
School principals are invited to sign up for a PENCIL Partnership, in which they can receive assistance from local businesses at no cost. In nearly 400 schools, engineers are helping students re-design classrooms, executive coaches are helping principals develop their leadership skills, lawyers are helping students with college essays, and much more. There are so many ways that business skills are improving student achievement – and can help you and your students too. To learn more about how you can get a business partner through the PENCIL program, click here.
Coastal Classroom invites students and their teachers into the water along the East River in Queens and Coney Island Creek in Brooklyn for hands on study and research on aquatic habitats, ecology and water quality, urban waterfront restoration, and preservation. For more information or to register, please contact Miriam Heinonen at (212) 360-3327 or MHeinonen@CityParksFoundation.org.
Seeds to Trees helps students and teachers to connect with the environment that exists within city parks and natural areas. Available to 1st-4th grades and 6th-7th grades, the program provides students with in-class sessions and contrasting field experiences where students practice scientific investigation with professional tools. Professional development, lesson modeling, and technical assistance help build the capacity of educators to support dynamic science and inquiry-based lessons that are aligned with mandated standards. For more information on Seeds to Trees, please contact 212-360-3327 or via email at Education@CityParksFoundation.org.
The Lincoln Center Institute invites NYC PreK-12 arts educators and administrators (in theatre, dance, music, or visual arts) to one of two introductory-level professional development about Inquiry Based Learning through the Arts.
The one-week workshop will be offered on July 9-13 and July 16-20 from 8am-6pm at the Lincoln Center Institute and Campus. Each option costs $525/participant with a $25 registration fee. NYC teachers may earn three “P” (professional) credits and receive a tuition discount. Register by June 25.
Middle School Science teachers and Living Environment High School teachers are invited to attend a Professional Development workshop in Genetics and Biotechnology at the Harlem DNA Lab. For further information, please click here.
NYC students in grades 8-12 are invited to participate in Startalk, a free four-week Hindi language and culture for Summer 2012. Funded by the National Foreign Language Center, this program is open to all native and non-native students interested in learning Hindi. This program will also give students an opportunity to get foreign language college credits along with a high school foreign language credit. Students who successfully complete the program will each be awarded a gift certificate of $100 for instructional supplies.
Orientation and placement will take place on June 29, and then classes will be held Monday-Friday from July 2-27 from 8:30am-2:30pm at Thomas A. Edison High School, 165-65 84th Avenue, Jamaica, Queens.. Register online today.
Mathematics teachers who have moved into leadership positions are invited to apply for the 2012 cohort of the Math for America School Leader Fellowship, a two-year program that offers NYC Department of Education school administrators with professional and enrichment support in math instruction. Participants may earn up to $10,000 in stipends over two years and an annual school grant to improve mathematics instruction.
Apply online by July 16. There is no fee to apply.
All middle schools are invited to apply to participate in the Urban Advantage Initiative for the 2012-13 school year. Urban Advantage is an integrated program for middle school science that includes professional development for teachers, resources for students and schools, and visits to the eight participating scientific and cultural institutions. Participating schools can also receive materials to assist with long-term science investigations and the required 8th grade science exit projects. If your school wishes to participate or is currently in Urban Advantage, please complete the 2012-13 Urban Advantage school application, which is available here.
TD Bank’s Summer Reading Program assists teachers in a very tangible way by rewarding students $10 when they ready 10 books. This program is meant to promote the value of reading on a regular basis and to provide a goal for them to learn the importance of saving.
TD Bank will provide a book log for each child as well as tips for parents to make summer reading more enjoyable for their child, and fun ways to teach their child to save. Once they have read 10 books, children and their families can take their completed book log form to any TD Bank, where each participating child will get their $10 bonus deposited in a new or existing account Young Saver account.
To participate in this program please download the book log for your class/school here.
All NYC public schools are invited to take advance of the NYC Center for Space Science Education, a NYC Department of Education experiential space and aviation resource center located in downtown Manhattan. Students can take a simulated mission into space in our Challenger Learning Center or learn about how airplanes fly in our NASA Aerospace Education Lab. Programs are aligned with the NYC Scope and Sequence and High School Core Curriculum. There is a $200 per class fee.
New programs include Astronaut Adventures for 2nd and 3rd graders and 5th grade variables program. Highlights of our programs include: Rendezvous with a Comet for 4th-12th grade, Mission to Mars for 7th-12th grade, Aeronautics Variables for 5th grade, Aeronautics Weather for 6th-12th grade, Aeronautics Forces and Motion for 6th-12th grade, Toys in Space - Microgravity Training for 3rd-12th grade, and Astronaut Adventures for 2nd-3rd grade.
Teachers can find more information and register online.
School leadership teams (SLT) are invited to listen to NYC Department of Education’s Two Webinar Recordings for SLT.
The Division of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) has provided the “School Leadership Teams” recording, which provides an overview of the history and purpose of SLT, and the “Supporting Title I Programs” recording, which focuses on Title 1 requirements for SLT. SLT members should view the latter recording as a team or individually to fulfill annual training requirements as outlined in Chancellor Regulation A-655.
Supporting documents are provided with each recording.
The Division of Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners hosted a series of optional Special Education Reform webinars for school-based staff working in general education as well as special education. The topics include: Universal Design for Learning, Developing High-Quality IEPs, and Behavioral Supports. All webinars and materials are archived at the website linked above.
The Office of the Mayor and the NYC Commission on Women’s Issues invites principals of students in grades 6 through 8 to take part in this year’s presentation of the Junior High School Leadership Awards. Since 1987, New York City junior high schools have recognized female students in their graduating classes who have demonstrated leadership through school and community activities while also achieving academic excellence.
If you would like to award a female student in grades 6 through 8 with a JHS Leadership Award, please email edlevine@cityhall.nyc.gov with the following information:
• The name(s) to be printed on the 2012 certificate
• Contact information for the student recipient(s) [email preferred]
• The date the certificate(s) will be presented
• The name of your school
• An address and contact person to whom the certificate(s) can be mailed
The New York City Commission on Women’s Issues was established by Mayoral Executive Order in 1975 as an advisory body to the Mayor on matters impacting the lives of New York City women. Currently, the Commission serves as a vehicle through which women and families can connect with City services that support and address their needs. To learn more about the Commission, visit www.nyc.gov/women.