Dear Families,
It’s an honor to serve with Mayor Eric Adams as I become your new Schools Chancellor—and to welcome your children back to school after their much-deserved winter break. The health and safety of our children, families, and staff is our highest priority. I hope you received the recent letter outlining the new health and safety measures we have put in place to ensure that your children remain safe and that our schools remain open. We continue to encourage families to get tested, get vaccinated, and consent to in-school testing. If you missed the letter, you can read it at schools.nyc.gov/messagesforfamilies.
As a parent and life-long educator, I believe that every young person is filled with brilliance, promise, and gifts. I believe that all children deserve a strong academic foundation that prepares them to graduate with an employable skill set. Equally important, they deserve the tools and support needed to be physically and emotionally healthy.
And as a proud New Yorker, born in Brooklyn, I know the difference an excellent educator and school can make in a child’s life. I will never forget the teacher at P.S. 161 in Brooklyn who transformed my life: Mrs. Mildred Scott. She taught me about Black history and culture. She also taught me that I had a responsibility to my community, a value reinforced by my parents. I took those lessons with me to Queens, where I graduated from Hillcrest High School and then attended college. Now, I didn’t plan on becoming a teacher. In fact, I was a school safety officer for a year when I was bitten by the teaching bug. Wouldn’t you know it, I began my first teaching job at P.S. 167 in my old neighborhood on Eastern Parkway. From there, I became a founding principal at the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice, and later at the Eagle Academy for Young Men, where I proved that a high-quality college preparatory education for young men of color can be provided in a public-school setting.
In the more than 30 years I’ve been doing this work, I’ve learned a few things about education. I learned that the answers to how we improve the system exist in the hearts and minds of our teachers, principals, children, and families. I learned that you cannot create innovative and high-quality schools that serve all students without engaging the entire community.
And so, in my first week as your Chancellor, I welcome your input and partnership as we work together to ensure that the nation’s largest school system also becomes the nation’s best school system.
To achieve this goal, we will work on behalf of all our children–children from every neighborhood, and especially those who have been historically left behind. Children who are learning to speak English. Children with disabilities. Children who live in temporary housing. We will work day in and day out for all of our children, because they are all capable of thriving. This means giving every student the support, learning experiences, and resources to graduate from high school, attend college or learn a trade, get a great job, and become informed and engaged citizens.
You can count on me to always be honest. I won’t sugarcoat it: we face enormous challenges, and we can only change a system as large as ours with an all-hands-on-deck approach. This is particularly true as we enter our third year of a pandemic that has required us to adapt to new ways of teaching and learning.
This is where you, our families, come in. We want to reach every one of you and welcome you as partners in your children’s education. We want your input on the policies that affect your children. Over the coming months you will begin to see new and improved ways to communicate with our school system. We want to empower you to be advocates for your children, your schools, and your communities. We want to bring in our parents who are not typically engaged with the school system and elevate their crucial voices. I began this letter with my commitment to safety and I want to reassure you that we will do everything in our power to keep your children safe and our schools open, with as little disruption as possible.
We owe your children nothing less. Thank you for your warm wishes and for your support as we lift all our students higher.
Soaring high,
David C. Banks Chancellor
New York City Department of Education
1/18/2022 1:33 PM
Dear P.S. 008 Isaac Varian at 3010 BRIGGS AVENUE Community,
I am writing to notify you that a member or members of our school community have tested positive for COVID-19 and may have exposed others while at school.
Below you will find guidance on next steps that will help keep our school community healthy and safe. The information below reflects the expertise of the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Test & Trace Corp (T2), and the New York City Department of Education (DOE).
What Happens Now?
● Students and staff who shared classroom space with the individual who tested positive will receive at-home tests with guidance and directions.
● The Situation Room will monitor our school for any further interventions.
● Anyone with a positive COVID-19 test will not return to the school until they are no longer infectious.
● All areas visited by the person with COVID-19 will be deep cleaned and disinfected.
● If your child is feeling sick, keep them at home.
● If your child is in LYFE, 3-K or Pre-K, your child must quarantine for 10 days since their last exposure. Children who shared space with the individual who tested positive may test out of quarantine to return to their classrooms on the eighth day of quarantine. In order to do so, children should take a COVID-19 test on their fifth day of quarantine in order to re-enter class on the eighth day.
How do we stay healthy?
Vaccination is the most important tool we have to protect ourselves from COVID-19. All New Yorkers age 5 or older are eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19. People who are between 5 and 17 years old are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine only; all older ages are eligible for all three vaccines. We encourage all eligible students to get vaccinated. Find a vaccine site today at https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/. There is no cost to be vaccinated.
Vaccine booster shots are now available for all fully vaccinated people 16 and older. These shots boost your immunity from an initial vaccination series. A booster shot is recommended for any adult who received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least five months ago, the second dose of the Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, or the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.
Please remember to follow these important actions to prevent COVID-19 transmission:
1. Stay home if sick (except to get essential medical care, including COVID-19 testing).
2. Wear a face covering to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
3. Practice healthy hand hygiene: Wash your hands often or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; avoid touching your face; and cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hands.
How can I stay updated?
We will continue to closely follow directions from public health experts and proactively update you on any measures we are taking. To ensure we can reach you via text and email, please create a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) as soon as possible by visiting schools.nyc.gov/nycsa.
To help New Yorkers quarantine, the NYC Test + Trace Corps partners with community-based organizations to connect individuals to resources like food, medicine, and health care. To connect with resources, you can call 1-212-COVID19 (212-268-4319).
For additional information on COVID-19, visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus or call 311.
Sincerely,
CLAUDIA TAHIRAJ-SADRIJA
2021-2022 PA Association Intro Spanish.pdf
Mandarin copy of 2021-2022 PA Association Intro Survey.pdf
Bengali of 2021-2022 PA Association Intro Survey.pdf
Arabic copy of 2021-2022 PA Association Intro Survey.pdf
P.S. 8 Parent Association
3010 Briggs Avenue ✤ Bronx, New York 10458 ✤ 10x008PA@schools.nyc.gov
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the 2021- 2022 school year.
My name is Samantha Souvatzis and I am your new Parent Association President. I would also like to introduce Lateisha McCleary, and Soledad Price. Our children are in Kindergarten and 1st grade.
I have a master’s in education and presently working in the Banking industry. I have 15 years’ experience as an educator and also as a parent of a child being taught in the public school system.
Our expectations for this year, where the pandemic has forced us to be more innovative and creative, are to serve you and your children based on your needs and concerns. In addition, it is proven that the more you are involved in your child’s education the more academically successful your child will be. I want to bring my experiences to you by giving you the necessary resources to ensure that you are being supported educationally, emotionally as well as your well-being.
We as the Parent Association have a vast amount of experience, in the professional and education world, that we want to share with you.
We are attaching a parent survey. Please fill out and either return it to your child’s teacher or send it back electronically no later than January 3, 2022.
Please do not hesitate to contact me via text at 856-209-4834.
We look forward to a great year and working with you. Again, we can not stress how your involvement is one of the most important things you can do for your child’s success.
Kind Regards,
P.S. 8 Parent Association
Parents!
Let your voice be heard. The following survey was created by the P.S.8 Parent Association.
Click the link below to help them learn and plan for our school community. The survey is due no later than January 3rd.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WGqQQHWyQudt6anIVY6IblGzOB_Tl-WhwlKf_Ko9KfU/edit
NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program Website
The NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program is a universal scholarship and savings platform designed to make college and career training more accessible and achievable for all NYC public school students.
We’re now sharing a series of written briefs and the corresponding stories below to document lessons from our founding years, to provide context, and to serve as a resource for others who may wish to bring the Save for College Program to their neighborhoods.
NYC Kids RISE will create an account in each student’s name if and when they receive information from the DOE about each participating student and their parent/guardian(s).
The DOE will only share what is known as “Directory Information” about students and their parents/guardians.
Dear Parents / Queridos padres y madres:
We are excited to partner with NYU CariedAway to provide dental care to your child.
Es un placer para nosotros poder colaborar con NYU CariedAway para ofrecer cuidado dental a su hijo(a). We don’t want your child to miss out on receiving important dental care.
No queremos que su hijo(a) se quede sin recibir un cuidado dental tan importante.
Complete a consent form below to help your child have healthy teeth.
Rellene el formulario de consentimiento que sigue para ayudar a que su hijo(a) conserve sanos los dientes.
P S 008 NYU Dental Informed Consent Form English 10 2021.pdf
P S 008 NYU Dental Informed Consent Form Spanish 10 2021.pdf
DISTRICT 10 DLT MEETING- Thursday January 20th
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
FOR INTERPRETATION IN SPANISH
PLEASE DIAL: 347-966-4114 & ENTER CONFERENCE ID:
960 521 111#
MEETING ID: 811 2204 3293
PASSCODE: 012022
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR FAMILY LEADERSHIP COORDINATOR, MARIA C. CORREA, AT: MCORREA@SCHOOLS.NYC.GOV OR 718-741-5852
February Family Night
February 8th, 2002
Krafting for Kindess- 5:30 PM- 7:00 PM
Google Meets Link to be posted the night of event.
The Bronx has experienced one of the worst fires in over 20 years. There are many families displaced and have lost love ones. They need your help. Any form of donation will be helpful. Please refer to to the flyer attached if you chose to donate.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/relief-for-families-at-333-e-183rd-st
P.S. 8 PAC Elections
Date: January 18, 2022
Time: 5p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82254077197?pwd=RDFNVFljZ3c0cUptV0dzTjNpc2lzZz09
Meeting ID: 822 5407 7197
Passcode: 181481
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,82254077197#,,,,*181481# US (New York)
January PA Meeting - January 18th -
When- 6:30 PM
Where: Zoom Platform
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82254077197?pwd=RDFNVFljZ3c0cUptV0dzTjNpc2lzZz09
Meeting ID: 822 5407 7197
Passcode: 181481
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,82254077197#,,,,*181481# US (New York)
Bronx Executive Superintendent's Parent Master Classes
Take a look at the flyers attached. There are several workshops throughout the month of January.
NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF REGENTS GRADUATION MEASURES REVIEW
DATE: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
TIME: 6:00–8:30 P.M.
LOCATION: Regional meetings will be held virtually.
Once registered, you will receive instructions on how to join the virtual meeting.
The Board of Regents will create a Blue Ribbon Commission to review the State’s high school graduation measures, reaffirm what it means to obtain a diploma and what that diploma should signify, and ensure educational excellence and equity for all students in New York State. The Board of Regents and State Education Department are holding regional meetings to help inform the work of the Blue Ribbon Commission.
Meeting attendees will have the opportunity to break into smaller groups to discuss and provide feedback to the Department. Please attend and share your input!
Pre-registration is required. To register: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BronxMeeting
For more information, visit: nysed.gov/grad-measures
Mrs. Mercado, Guidance Counselor & Ms. Capo, Parent Coordinator is inviting you to a Scheduled Zoom meeting.
COME JOIN US FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL WORKSHOP
ATIENDA NUESTRO TALLER DE ESCUELA INTERMEDIA
When: January 12 & 26, 2022
Time: 9a.m. & 7p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83330378971?pwd=b1VoUXBLMzMvaEwzMTFFemppZ1V4dz09
Meeting ID: 833 3037 8971
Passcode: 519281
January's Pillar of the month is Respect
(Citizenship & How to Overcome Prejudice).
