Parents, the Chancellor’s latest letter dated August 6, 2020. HERE

Remember, we have to complete the SURVEY by August 7, 2020 to choose 100% remote online learning for our children.

The first day of school is September 10, 2020!

Dear MS 67Q School Community,

We hope this message finds all of our students and families safe and healthy.  Attached to this message are two important letters from Chancellor Carranza regarding reopening plans and preparations for September 2020.  Please also note it is best to view attachments through a laptop or desktop when utilizing PupilPath.  You can refer to information released about reopening at the following link as well:

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-year-20-21/return-to-school-2020

Tomorrow (Friday, August 7th) is the deadline for students and families to choose 100% remote learning.  If you intend to do so, please fill out the brief survey which can be found at the link below:

https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference

Lastly, we will be hosting two additional “Coffee and Conversation with Principal Annello” meetings from 9:00am-10:30am and 6:00pm-7:30pm this Wednesday, August 12.  RSVP information and links will be sent out in a separate message by tomorrow.  Both sessions will be held via Google Meet, and please note there is a capacity limit for the sessions.  Please sign up only for the one session that works best for you.  If you are able and available, please sign up for the 9:00am so that other parents can join us for the evening session.  Thank you, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. 

 
The MS 67Q Administrative Team

From the Office of Superintendent District 26:

Apple Parent Workshops
​Apple is hosting a series of virtual learning sessions from July 27th – August 22nd on topics ranging from how to set up an iPad and how to manage parental controls to a review of built-in apps and features.  These sessions are designed for parents and guardians of NYC school students. Learn more here.

UFT Workshops for Parents
​During the summer, UFT will be offering a host of workshops for parents on Thursdays from 5:00-6:00 PM.  The topics are below.  Register here »July 30—Dare to Lead, a Leadership Workshop for Parents August 6—Cleaning Your Home Safely  August 13—Social-Emotional Learning for Parents  August 20—Meeting Governance for Parent-Teacher Associations — Amending Bylaws and Creating Standing Rules  August 27—Leadership 2.0, a Second Leadership Workshop for Parents  September 2—Growing Up Cavity-Free, an Oral Health Workshop for Families 

LIVE Virtual Summer Field Trips for Families

In partnership with parent leaders, we have organized a series of LIVE virtual summer field trips with cultural institutions across NYC.  Here are the trips that families can log onto next week:

·  Summer Art Studioat the Whitney Museum for PreK-5 | July 28 | 11AM-11:40AM   

Participants will experiment, create, and learn together with at-home art materials.   

·  Star Stories at the Intrepid at the Intrepid for grades 3-12 | July 28 | 3PM-4PM  

Using images of the night sky, stories from different cultures and examples of simple navigation tools, an Intrepid Museum Educator will help participants view their sky in a whole new way.  

·  Meet Victoria at the Tenement Museumfor grades K-8 | July 29 | 11AM-12PM   

Journey back in time to 1916 and learn from an actor playing Victoria Confino, a real 14-year-old girl who immigrated to the United States in 1913. Victoria will show us her home, and share stories of her daily life and how her family keeps their culture alive through food, language, holidays and more. Throughout the program, participants will have a chance to ask Victoria their own questions.  

·  Summer Art Studio at the Whitney Museum for grades 6-8 | July 29 | 11AM-11:40AM   

Participants will experiment, create, and learn together with at-home art materials. Join us to create your own version of Experiments of Color inspired by Emma Amos.  

·  What Floats Your Boat at the Intrepid for grades 3-12 | July 30 | 3PM-4PM   

How exactly does a ship float? Join the Intrepid Museum as we learn about the steps engineers take as they carry out a project such as making a ship large as Intrepid float and create your own floating vessels. For kids and adults at home. Materials: A sheet of foil, large bowl, and 20 to 40 pennies.

Families can explore the DOE webpage Summer Enrichment Challenges and Activities for additional Virtual Field Trips and Virtual Museum Tours and Activities like those above.

Classes and Camps 

Virtual summer classes from Varsity Tutors: Check out free, online summer classes for students in kindergarten through college in subjects including art, computer science, languages and more. Find out more » 

Fresh Air Fund 

Virtual camp for children ages 7 to 13: Fresh Air Everywhere offers fun, small-group activities and interactive theme projects on topics like nature, art, time travel and more. Kids will be mailed an activity box full of goodies to help them participate. Learn more and register » 

Outdoor activities in New York City parks for children ages 5 to 13: The Fresh Air Summer Spaces program offers two-hour drop-in sessions at neighborhood-based locations with supervised outdoor activities such as arts and crafts, games and dance parties. Learn more and register » 

More resource lists 

·         45+ Virtual Summer Camps to Keep Kids Busy While Safely Social Distancing 

·         30 Best Virtual Summer Camp Ideas to Keep Kids Entertained This Summer 

·         22 Virtual Summer Camps to Keep the Kids Entertained (and You Sane) This Summer

Summer 2020 Tech Ambassador Program The DOE is partnering with New York Cares to launch the Summer 2020 Tech Ambassador Program. Through this program, volunteer staff can connect with families who need tech support with their DOE-issued iPads and help resolve other remote-learning inquires. FACE invites parent coordinators, family support coordinators and family leadership coordinators who may be interested to register for an upcoming training session, by July 29, to learn more about this opportunity. Family liaisons will also be notified via email from FACE@schools.nyc.gov.

Key tech ambassador responsibilities include:

• Using the phone bank platform to make and record calls;
• Calling families using a script (Mondays through Fridays, from 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., or from 1:30–4:00 p.m.);
• Helping to resolve technological issues with DOE-issued iPads; and
• Assisting families with navigating the DOE website.

Please note that interested staff must receive their supervisor’s approval to perform this work during their regular work hours in lieu of other assignments. Also note that time spent outside of work hours on this project can be done on a voluntary basis and will not be credited toward compensatory time or overtime; no additional compensation will be provided for participating.

For questions, email FACE@schools.nyc.gov.

Please see the latest update letter from Chancellor Carranza comparing each learning mode (blended or full remote). Families should speak with the child’s particular school to find out how the child can get back into blended learning if they choose the full time remote learning mode.

Click Return to School 2020 for more information and to fill out the return to school survey to let the school know which option you choose for your child.

From Committee Chair:

“Please be advised that a meeting of the Community Board 11 Education Committee has been scheduled for Monday, July 27, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.
⦁ To discuss the decision whether or not to open schools in September with each school opening differently and trying to adhere to social distancing guidelines.  
⦁ Concerns regarding safety, considering that many schools have overcrowded buildings and over-sized classes.  
⦁ To provide support for a percentage of teachers that would not be able to teach live classes because of medical conditions that could be further complicated by COVID-19.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will be held via teleconference using Zoom. The instructions to join the meeting can be found on the following page.

Family and Student Information Sessions
We encourage families to join FACE for their upcoming Student and Family Information Sessions where DOE leadership will share the latest updates as we plan for the return to schools in Fall 2020.  Registration for all upcoming sessions (see dates below) is now open here:

Tuesday, July 28, 2020; Wednesday, August 12, 2020; Thursday, August 27, 2020

All sessions are from 6:30-8:00PM on the above dates. You can access the registration page by using this link: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-year-20-21/return-to-school-2020 The recording for the first Family and Student Session on July 16, 2020 is now posted and you can access the recording at: https://learndoe.org/face/recordings/

See HERE for the flyer.

Learning Preference Form
As you know, last week the DOE announced preliminary guidance for principals to plan for the 2020-2021 school year.

This fall, NYC schools will offer a combination of in-person and remote learning.  

Parents can choose from two options: 

1. 100% Remote Learning (all online, from home). OR 

2. Combination of In-Person and Remote Learning: Students can follow their school’s schedule, a mix of in-person days at school and remote learning days from home. To choose this option, no action is needed: the school will be in touch about its schedule and programming plans in the coming weeks.  

Parents should make their choices by completing this form by August 7, 2020.  If you or a parent you know is having difficulties completing this survey, please call 311.

If you chose 100% Remote Learning but want to change your child’s preference back to Blended Learning, you should fill out the form again by August 7.  After August 7, any family who chose 100% Remote Learning will have the option to change back to Blended Learning at a few specific times during the school year. 

Parents, please take a look at the LETTER from Superintendent Giunta and the District 26 Team. There is so much uncertainty surrounding what our schools will look like come September but rest assured that the District 26 team is hard at work. Click HERE for the letter.

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT) Food Benefits

From https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/food-benefits

The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT) is a Federal program to provide food benefits to children who miss the opportunity to receive school meals due to pandemic-related school closures. These benefits will take the form of funds on electronic benefit transfer (EBT cards) which can be used in the same manner as SNAP (food stamp) cards.Children enrolled at schools provided breakfast and lunch service by the DOE’s food and nutrition program are eligible.

• Benefits will automatically be issued to all eligible students, program enrollment is not required.
• For students whose households receive SNAP, Temporary Assistance or Medicaid benefits, P-EBT benefits will be loaded to those household accounts.
• For all other students, new cards will be issued to each student specifically for P-EBT benefits and mailed directly to students’ home addresses.

Benefits will cover the period from March through June, 2020.

• The maximum total benefit per student is $420. 
• Benefits will be issued beginning in June.

Visit the Frequently Asked Questions for the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer Food Benefits(Open external link) for more information.For questions about this program:

• Email otda.sm.eisp.PEBT@otda.ny.gov 
• Call 833-452-0096

Our city is committed to keeping the parents and students informed about the Back to School procedure in September. A series of Family & Student Information Sessions are being scheduled to answer any questions or concerns that families may have. The first of these sessions will be held on July 16,2020 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm.

Other dates for the sessions will be:

• Tuesday, July 28, 2020
• Wednesday, August 12, 2020
• Thursday, August 27, 2020

Register HERE for the July 16th session.

Apply for SYEP Summer Bridge 2020. Application deadline is July 15, 2020.