PS 39

Family Handbook

2015 – 2016

Public School 39- The Henry Bristow Landmark School 417 6th Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11215

Anita de Paz, Principal, AdePaz2@schools.nyc.gov Cathleen McCarthy, Asst. Principal, cmccarthy@ps39.org

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September 2015 Dear Families, P.S. 39 encourages family involvement because we firmly believe that a strong home-school connection is at the heart of student success. This Family Handbook was created a few years ago after numerous meetings with our PTA Executive Board and School Leadership Team as an informational tool to assist you in becoming actively involved in the life of our school. Our handbook is a living document that will grow and change over time. We encourage you to forward your ideas and suggestions for future editions to Karen Herskowitz, our Parent Coordinator. I would like to express my deepest thanks to the members of our PTA Executive Board and our School Leadership Team for continuing to revise this invaluable resource. Sincerely, Anita de Paz Principal

PS 39 Mission Statement

Our mission is to create a school that cultivates a climate of continuous growth for all

members of its community. Through reflective and responsive practice we will set and clearly communicate high expectations for our students and ourselves and effectively plan to help

every child achieve success. We will teach and learn with passion and compassion, collaboratively creating a fully participatory learning environment that encourages

conversation and exploration and celebrates the gifts and talents of each individual.

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THE HOME/SCHOOL COMPACT Student I promise to…

Come to school on time and prepared everyday Always do my homework Treat my family, school staff and friends with respect and kindness Show pride in my work and appearance Take part in school-wide events and activities Be responsible for my own learning Always work hard and strive for success

Parent/Caregiver I promise to…

Make sure my child comes to school on time everyday with all needed materials Always check my child’s book bag when he/she comes home everyday I will read all notices, calendars, letters and slips Always make sure all homework is neat and complete Maintain open, respectful lines of communication with my child, school staff and

administration Attend school-wide events, including open school week, parent/teacher conferences and PTA

meetings, when possible Volunteer my time, when possible Be responsible for my own learning Always love, respect and encourage my child to strive for success

School Staff We promise to…

Come to school on time and prepared everyday Give homework that is meaningful and that supports units of study Backpack or email all notices, calendars, letters and permission slips Take part in school wide events and activities Be helpful, fair and compassionate Be responsible for our own learning Always respect and encourage our students and their families to work hard and strive for

success Administration We promise to…

Come to school on time and prepared everyday Uphold high educational standards Work hard everyday to make PS 39 a great learning institution Be responsible for our own learning Always respect and encourage our students, their families and our staff to strive for success

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PS 39 Family Handbook TABLE OF CONTENTS

Arrival & Dismissal (Page 5)

Arrival & line-up procedures Bell Schedule Dismissal procedures Half-day procedures School cancellations

Attendance & Lateness (Page 7)

If your child is absent If your child is late If you are late picking up your child

Communication (Page 8)

PS 39 email list PS 39 yahoo group PS39.org – school website Contacting your child’s teacher Getting a message to your child

Curriculum (Page 9)

Curriculum overview Promotion policy Student support services Testing and Assessment Calendar

Discipline/Behavior Policies (Page 12)

Caring School Community (CSC) Positive Behavior Intervention System

(PBIS) Cell Phone & Electronics Policy Lost & found School dress code Field trips Birthday celebrations

Health & Safety Issues (Page 13) Blue emergency cards CPR/AED Evacuation plan LiceXchange Nurse’s office & medication Security Agent & visitor procedures Outdoor Play in Cold Weather

Homework (Page 15)

Homework policy Responsibilities Time allotment Frequency

Parent Involvement (Page 17)

Parent Coordinator Family Fridays Open School Week Volunteer School Leadership Team (SLT) PTA

School Food (Page 18)

Breakfast Lunch

Reference Sheets/Forms (Page 20)

Staff List and Contact Information PTA Exec Board/SLT Contact List PTA Activities and Responsibilities Permission Forms (return to school)

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ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES School Hours: PS 39 School hours for the 2015­16 School Year will be from 8:20 am­ 2:40 pm every day, for all students. Bell Schedule AM Duty 8:10 – 8:20 Homeroom 8:20 – 8:30 Period 1 8:30 – 9:20 Period 2 9:22 – 10:12 Period 3 10:14 – 11:04 (Gr. K & 1 Lunch) Period 4 11:06 – 11: 56 (Gr.2 & 3 Lunch) Period 5 11:58 – 12:48 (Gr. 4 & 5 Lunch) Period 6 12:50 – 1:40 Period 7 1:42 – 2:32 Homeroom 2:34 – 2:40 Dismissal 2:40 ARRIVAL & LINE­UP PROCEDURES: Line­up begins at 8:10 am. Staff supervision begins at this time. Please do not leave

your child unsupervised without a staff member present. Pre­K families drop off in the classroom­ enter through the side door in the lower

playground at 8:20 am. NEW! All students Grades K­5 will line­up outside on the 8th Street side of the

building. In case of inclement weather, Kindergarten, grade 1 & 2 will line up in the cafeteria. Gr.

3, 4 and 5 will line up in room 103. Parents will drop their child(ren) at the main entrance.

CLASS TEACHER ARRIVAL LOCATION Pk­105 Bassil Lower playground

Pk­108 Cassens Lower playground

K­102 Flaherty 8Th St Tower­ 6th Ave side

K­104 Ginetto (Scerbo) 8Th St Tower – 6th Ave side

K­106 Calhoun 8Th St Tower – 6th Ave side

1­201 Polverino Lower Yard­ 6th Ave

1­202 Reyes/ Urban Lower Yard­ 6th Ave

1­204 Stark Lower Yard­ 6th Ave

2­206 Head Middle 8th St. Yard

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2­208 Ambrose/ Rafferty Middle 8th St. Yard

2­207 Pisino Middle 8th St. Yard

3­203 Chun Middle 8th St. Yard

3­304 Bernstein Upper 8th St. Yard

4­301 Racioppo/Weeks Upper 8th St. Yard

4­305 Ottavino Upper 8th St. Yard

5­306 Rausch/Caron Upper 8th St. Yard

5­307 Ulanowsky Upper 8th St. Yard

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DISMISSAL PROCEDURES:

P.S. 39 DISMISSAL CHART (Mondays ­ Fridays at 2:40 pm)

CLASS TEACHER DISMISSAL LOCATION Pk­105 Bassil In Classrooms­Lower playground exit

Pk­108 Cassens In Classrooms ­Lower playground exit

K­102 Flaherty 8Th St Tower to lower yard

K­104 Ginetto (Scerbo) 8Th St Tower to lower yard

K­106 Calhoun 8Th St Tower to lower yard

1­201 Polverino Front Left

1­202 Reyes/ Urban Front Right

1­204 Stark 8Th St Tower to lower yard

2­206 Head Rear Right door to upper 8th St yard

2­208 Ambrose/ Rafferty Rear Right door to upper 8th St yard

2­207 Pisino 7th St Tower to Driveway

3­203 Chun 7th St Tower to Driveway

3­304 Bernstein Rear Right to upper 8th St yard

4­301 Racioppo/Weeks Front Left

4­305 Ottavino Rear Right to upper 8th St yard

5­306 Rausch/Caron Rear Right to upper 8th St yard

5­307 Ulanowsky Rear Right to upper 8th St yard

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HALF­DAY PROCEDURES

The following procedures will be in effect on all half­days: Dismissal for all students will be at 11:50 am. All students will have an early lunch period on half days. School lunch will be available to

students that participate in the school lunch program. SCHOOL CANCELLATIONS

The Chancellor of the NYC Department of Education determines school closings and delayed openings by 6:00 am. An email will be sent to the school as early as possible. Parents can find updated information by checking the DOE website (http://schools.nyc.gov), by calling 311 or by listening to local news radio (1010 WINS), local TV stations or cable channel NY1. Any school closings will effectively cancel all field trips and after school programs.

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ATTENDANCE AND LATENESS PROCEDURES Regular attendance is critical for a child’s self­esteem and academic success. Effective use of time is a priority at PS 39. All students are expected to consistently arrive at school by 8:20 am. It is important that parents help their children develop the habit of arriving to school on time. Students who are late miss important instruction and morning routines and disrupt these activities for others. City and State funding for our school are decreased when students are absent and late. Attendance and lateness information is also a criterion for Middle School acceptance. Parents can access their child’s attendance by inquiring with the classroom teacher or by logging on to www.arisparentlink.org. IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT….

All absences are recorded. Absences can be recorded as “excused” if a doctor’s note is submitted as well as a note for religious observances or death in the family; however the absence will still remain on your child’s attendance record.

In Grades 3­5, parents should call the school to report an absence. These students frequently come to school alone and we want to be certain parents are aware their child is not in school.

In Grades PK­2, please contact your classroom teacher if your child will be out for more than a day.

Students in all grades should return to school with a note from their parent. If your child has been out of school with a contagious disease (such as chicken pox, strep

throat, scarlet fever, pink eye, etc.), your child must return with a doctor’s note. IF YOUR CHILD IS LATE…

The school day begins at 8:20 each day. ANY STUDENT WHO IS NOT PRESENT AT LINE­UP WITH THEIR CLASS IS CONSIDERED LATE.

Students who are late should enter the school through the front door and receive a late pass at the security desk in the main office (after 8:50 am).

Students will be marked late on their attendance record. This information is part of the child’s permanent record, which follows the child throughout his/her public school career.

Students are to present this pass to their classroom teacher as they arrive. If a student comes to class late without a late pass, the teacher will ask the child to go downstairs to the security desk or main office to receive one. All children who are late MUST have a late pass. Teachers will keep these passes on file for the remainder of the year.

IF YOU ARE LATE PICKING YOUR CHILD UP AT DISMISSAL… Parents are expected to pick up their child on time at 2:40 pm each day. Children who have

not been picked up on time are brought to the Main Office. Parents who are late will be required to sign their child out in the “late book” in the main office

when they pick their child up. Please keep in mind that consistent lateness can be upsetting for the child and is disruptive to the staff.

If an emergency situation arises, please call the main office and explain your lateness and we will be happy to work with you and care for your child.

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COMMUNICATION HOMEWORK FOLDERS On occasion, a paper copy of information will need to be sent home from the school to all families. In order to conserve paper, only ONE copy per family will be sent home. The youngest sibling at the school will serve as the carrier for these types of communication. It is important that families check and empty their child’s folder on a daily basis.

PS 39 EMAIL LIST PS 39 shares a majority of information with the school community via an email list through Constant Contact. If you have not signed up for our email list, please contact our Parent Coordinator, Karen Herskowitz for assistance or visit www.ps39.org to sign up. Families unable to receive email will receive a paper version of all communications.

Weekly Bulletin (sent on Wednesdays): A joint newsletter created by the school and PTA to keep you up to date on special activities and announcements

Week at a Glance (sent on Sundays): A weekly calendar published with events/ activities for the coming week.

Family Calendar & Curriculum at a Glance (sent on the first of the month): A monthly calendar sent home on paper with upcoming events for the month (please note: these events are subject to change­ families are encouraged to visit the online calendar on ps39.org for the most up to date info).

PS 39 YAHOO GROUP The PS 39 Yahoo Discussion Group is a great forum to get your questions answered and stay

abreast of school issues and news. Please visit the link to the Yahoo group on ps39.org The group is lightly moderated, and is a great way to share information/ask questions of other

parents, everything from “Is the bowling party still happening tonight even though it was a snow day today?” to “When is Spring Break this year?” Members of the group include PS 39 parents, prospective parents, and teachers.

SCHOOL WEBSITE­ PS39.ORG Visit www.ps39.org for the most up to date information about our school and school events, including calendars and announcements. PARENT ENGAGEMENT TIME Our teachers will have dedicated time for parent engagement every Tuesday from 2:40­3:20 pm. During this time teachers will engage with parents in the following, but not limited to , ways: face to face meetings, phone calls, emails, creating newsletters and websites, and preparing student reports and for any parent engagement activities. MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER When there is something you wish discuss with your child’s teacher, please: Send an email or write a note to the teacher requesting a time to meet. If the teacher doesn’t respond to your note promptly, please leave a phone message for the

teacher in the main office. If you still need assistance reaching the teacher then contact the PS 39 Parent Coordinator

(718­330­9310 ext. 1003 or kherskowitz@ps39.org) who will help to arrange a mutually acceptable time for a meeting between you and your child’s teacher.

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You may also contact your child’s teacher via email about a non­urgent matter, using their DOE

address which can found in the resource section of this handbook. GETTING A MESSAGE TO YOUR CHILD DURING THE SCHOOL DAY In the event of an emergency, should you need to get a message to your child during the school day, please call the main office (718­330­9310) in a timely manner and leave a message for his/her teacher. The teacher will relay the message to your child.

CURRICULUM CURRICULUM OVERVIEW The curriculum at PS 39 utilizes a balanced literacy approach, with arts integration in the content areas. It is designed to help students become confident, competent readers and independent learners. Small group instruction and cooperative learning approaches allow for effective assessment and teaching. PS 39’s Curriculum Night will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2015 from 5 – 8pm. Parents are invited to hear a description of the school curriculum and have the opportunity to ask questions about teaching methods, classroom schedules, etc. In addition, parents will be able to meet and talk with our cluster teachers, Academic Intervention Specialists and other support staff. Parents will receive a specific schedule at the beginning of the year. A second Parent Evening will take place in the spring on May 12 from 5­ 8pm. Parents are invited to learn about the instructional shifts associated with their child’s next grade. The Arts: PS 39 students have art and music classes weekly. The arts are an integral part of the core curriculum at PS 39. We also follow the “Citywide Blueprint” curriculum written by the NYC Department of Education to provide every child with a quality arts education. For more on this, go to www.nycenet.edu/projectarts/PAGES/A­childFirst.htm. You may also want to look at www.nycenet.edu/projectarts/. Science: Grades Pre­K through 5 have weekly science classes where they engage in hands­on learning and are provided with opportunities for exploration. Literacy: PS 39 follows the workshop model for teaching literacy based on the balanced literacy approach. Teachers implement reading and writing workshops by collaboratively planning units of study. Instruction is differentiated to meet the needs of the diverse student population. Math: PS 39 follows the workshop model for teaching mathematics and uses TERC: Investigations in grades K­1 and Go Math in grades 2­5. Math Instruction is designed to provide students with numeracy skills and opportunities for children to apply them to multi­step problems. PROMOTION POLICY

The Promotional Policy for students is set by the DOE. An overview of the process and timeline is available at :

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http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/64DAAB5A­BED4­4F9C­B9ED­396D6D87FC25/0/Acpolicypromoforfamilies.pdf

According to the DOE’s promotional policy, in grades 3 – 5, if a student does not demonstrate sufficient progress toward attaining Common Core Learning Standards, the school shall compile a promotion portfolio. If the principal determines that the student’s promotion portfolio demonstrates that the student has attained minimum promotion benchmarks, the student shall be promoted in June. Conversely, if the promotion portfolio demonstrates that the student has not achieved minimum promotion benchmarks as defined in DOE­issued guidance, the student shall not be promoted and shall be recommended for summer school. Student progress will be re­assessed in August and a final promotional decision will be made at that time. The principal shall share this decision with the parents.

Promotional decisions for students in grades K – 2 are made by the school. Students who are not meeting grade level standards may be held over.

Parents will receive multiple notifications from their teacher and have the opportunity to review the student’s work.

STUDENT SUPPORT PS 39 is dedicated to helping students achieve their best performance and meet New York State and City standards. Programs that address this commitment include:

English as a Second Language (ESL) – Our ESL teacher, Nina Fan, assists students who are learning English as a second language. Ms. Fan will be at PS 39 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Speech and Language – assists students with additional needs in speech and language development. Leslie Warren will be at PS 39 every day, Monday­Friday.

Guidance Counseling – Our Guidance Counselor’s office is located in Room 303. Kimley Desir is at PS 39 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She offers counseling to students, runs a variety of guidance groups, and mediates conflicts between students.

School Based Support Team (SBST)­PS 39 also has a Social Worker, Maria Lemos­Ramos who is here on Mondays & Fridays and a School Psychologist, SuGinia Jones who is here on Wednesdays & Fridays.

TESTING & ASSESSMENT CALENDAR

NAME OF TEST/ASSESSMENT DATES ADMINISTERED GRADES

LAB­R Beginning Sept. 9th and throughout the school year

Selected K students & New Entrants within 10 days of admission

Fountas & Pinnell Reading Assessment Sept. 15th – Oct. 10th K – 5

Fountas & Pinnell Reading Assessment January 6th – February 2nd K­5

NYSESLAT (Speaking) April 12th – May 13th ELL students in K­5

NYS ELA April 5th, 6th, 7th Grades 3­5

NYS Math April 13th, 14th, 15th Grades 3­5

NYSESLAT (Listening, Reading & Writing)

Listening , Reading ,Writing – May 2nd – 13th

ELL students in K­5

NYS Science Performance May­ Dated TBD Grade 4 only

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Fountas & Pinnell Reading Assessment May 4th – May 28th K­ 5

NYS Science Written Test June 6th Grade 4 only

Assessment Key Words & Purposes Fountas & Pinnell – helps teachers assess students’ independent reading levels &

comprehension LAB­R – Language Assessment Battery Revised – new entrants whose home language is

other than English – to identify students who are entitled to bilingual/ESL programs. NYSESLAT – New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test – to measure

student progress in developing English language proficiency.

DISCIPLINE POLICY/BEHAVIOR STANDARDS

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SUPPORT (PBIS)

Positive Behavior Intervention Support is a school­wide initiative to maximize academic achievement and behavioral competence. This program serves as a school­wide strategy for helping all students achieve important social and learning goals. We know that when good behavior and good teaching come together, our students will excel in their learning.

The school has established 4 guiding principles: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Prepared.

These expectations for all student behavior will be clear throughout our building and playground areas, cafeteria, gymnasium, and classrooms. We will provide a common language for everyone in our building, including students, teachers, and staff.

Our ultimate goal is for all students to enjoy a safer school environment and have more time for instruction.

In setting standards of behavior and discipline procedures, PS 39 follows the NYC Department of Education’s Citywide Standards of Discipline and Intervention Measures. This document is distributed to all parents and is also available online at:www.nycenet.edu/parents/PDFs/DisciplineCode.pdf

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CELL PHONES and OTHER ELECTRONICS

PS 39’s Policy Regarding the Use of Cell Phones, Computing Devices and Portable

Music and Entertainment Systems on School Property Students may bring cell phones, computing devices, and portable music and entertainment

systems to school, but they may not be turned on or used during school hours while on school property.

All cell phones, computing devices, and portable music and entertainment systems brought to

school must be turned off before entering school. They are not to be turned on until students have left school property.

Students who choose to bring cell phones, computing devices, and portable music and

entertainment systems to school are fully responsible for that device/system by storing the item in their book bag at all times during school hours. PS 39 is not liable for lost, stolen, or damaged cell phones, computing devices and portable music and entertainment systems.

Cell phones, computing devices and portable music and entertainment systems may not be

turned on or used during fire drills or other emergency preparedness exercises. In the event of an emergency the school will follow all existing School Safety Procedures and coordinate communication with families.

Computing devices may not be turned on or used during the administration of any school quiz,

test or examination, except as authorized by the school, or pursuant to an Individualized Education Plan or a Section 504 accommodation plan.

Students who use cell phones, computing devices or portable music and entertainment

systems in violation of the DOE’s Discipline Code, the school’s policy, Chancellor’s Regulation A­413, and/or the DOE’s Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy will be subject to discipline in accordance with the guidance interventions and disciplinary responses set forth in the Discipline Code.

If a school staff member confiscates a cell phone, computing device, or portable music or

entertainment system for violation of the DOE’s Discipline Code, the school’s policy, this regulation, and/or the Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy, the staff member must bring the device to the principal/designee to secure it. The principal/designee must then contact the student’s parent. The first time a school confiscates a cell phone, computing device, or portable music or entertainment system, the student’s parent will be contacted and it will be returned to the student at the end of the day. The second time a school staff member confiscates a cell phone, computing device, or portable music or entertainment system, the student’s parent will be contacted and required to come to school so that it can be returned to the parent.

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LOST AND FOUND Please label your child’s clothing and other belongings with first and last names. You may check the lost and found for missing items in the bin located at the school’s entrance

behind the safety agent. The lost and found bins are emptied on the first Friday of the month and contents are donated to

charity. SCHOOL DRESS CODE Appropriate school attire is a very important daily consideration. Clothing should be comfortable, easy to clean and hazard free. Sneakers are the safest footwear to be worn in school as they protect toes and feet from injury. Flip flops are not permitted. For their safety, students wearing flip­flops will not be permitted to

participate in recess or gym activities. Parents will be contacted to bring a change of shoes. Remember, all children go out to play for recess even in cold weather. Be sure to send your

child to school with the appropriate outerwear, including hats, gloves and winter coats. Please wear easy, comfortable and appropriate attire for gym days including sneakers. For their

safety, students who do not wear sneakers cannot participate in physical activity on gym days.

Hats, bandanas or any kind of head covering should be removed upon entering the building, unless there is a documented medical or religious exemption.

FIELD TRIP GUIDELINES Students must have written parental consent to participate in class trips. Students are expected to: Understand how the trip connects to what we are studying in class Behave in an appropriate and safe manner on the subway or bus and walking through the streets Stay with their partner and listen to directions from teachers, adult chaperones and trip

guides/escorts Adult Chaperones: Chaperones must be at least 21 years old and siblings may not participate in Set a good example­No candy or gum chewing, please Cell phones and other electronics need to be turned on vibrate. Chaperones are encouraged to

give their cell phone number to the teacher to facilitate communication. For the safety of our children, please do not make or take any personal calls while supervising students.

Chaperones are to help the students follow the trip guidelines and work with the whole class. Be consistent with students. Avoid bending the rules for any one child. All students should have

the same privileges, restrictions, snacks, etc. Remember you are present for the whole class. BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS We recognize that birthdays are important events in children’s lives. However, our school days and curriculum requirements are very full. Parents and teachers are asked to adhere to the following guidelines:

Parents of students in grades Pre­K­ 2 who would like to acknowledge their child’s birthday in school may do so only if they make arrangements with the classroom teacher in advance.

Birthday celebrations must be limited to the last 15 minutes of the day Cupcakes or individual cakes/cookies/donuts are permitted. No Cakes that need to be cut.

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Juice boxes or water bottles are permitted. No more than two (2) family members may come to school for the celebration. Siblings may

not be pulled from their class to attend the celebration. Goody bags, candy or treats, party favors, balloons, decorations, entertainment and candles

are not permitted Classroom teachers may have additional traditions and/or policies. Your child’s

classroom teacher must approve any birthday celebration in advance.

HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES EMERGENCY CONTACT CARDS Blue cards list emergency contact information and are required for all students New emergency cards must be completed for each child every school year. Please be certain that cards are filled out completely and accurately. In the event that the school has to contact you regarding your child, it is important to list

all the telephone numbers where you or your designated caregiver(s) can be reached during the school day.

Please provide at least two emergency release numbers. Children may not be released to anyone whose name does not appear on the Blue card.

If information changes at any time during the year, parents must come into the main office and update the Blue Card.

CPR & AED

The NYC Department of Education (DOE) has made a concerted effort to increase awareness of sudden cardiac arrest, and help schools be prepared to respond immediately to any incident of such with prompt defibrillation.

In accordance with DOE regulations, the following PS 39 staff members have been trained in the use of cardio­pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED): Suzann Bassil, Sarah Green, Anne Guido, Rose Dallara, Marie Skuza along with other members of the PS 39 staff.

The AED unit is located next to the security desk at the main entrance. In the event of a medical emergency, staff members are instructed to contact the main office or the principal’s office if no trained responders are in the vicinity.

EVACUATION PLAN The signal bells/gongs for an evacuation drill are the same for a fire drill­ 3 bells repeated 4 times. In the event that we must evacuate to another location, as per our School Safety Plan, our possible evacuations sites are: Primary Site: PS 118

211 – 8th Street – off 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11215 (718) 857­4810

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Secondary Site: John Jay Campus

237 Seventh Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 788 – 1514

Third Site: Middle School 51

350 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 369 – 7603

Out of Area Site: PS 172

825 – 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232 718­965­4200

Please note that the fire drill/evacuation drill, shelter drill and lockdown drill plans are available for review in the Parent Coordinator’s Office, room 100A. LICEXCHANGE

LiceXchange is a service paid for by each family ($10/child) that involves a group of trained professionals coming out to the school four times a year to inspect all PS 39 students’ heads for lice.

Head lice is caught before it spreads, so it can quickly be treated, resulting in as few absences for as few children as possible. The best results are achieved if EVERYONE participates

NURSES OFFICE AND MEDICATON

A full­time Department of Health nurse is located in room 300B. If a child is ill or injured during school hours, he or she will be sent to the nurse’s office.

Should your child require regular administration of medication, use of an inhaler or epi­pen for emergency use, a parent must complete and submit a Medical Administration Form 504 available from the school nurse. Neither teachers nor the school nurse may dispense any medications unless the student has a “504 form” on file.

If your child needs any medication, please speak with the school nurse. If your child has a medical problem such as asthma, please also inform the classroom teacher directly so that s/he will be aware of any medical needs your child might have during the day.

SECURITY OFFICER AND VISITOR PROCEDURES VISITOR PROCEDURES

Our School Safety Agent, Mr. Bruno, is our first ambassador to the public. All visitors, including parents, must stop at the security desk inside the main entrance,

present photo ID, sign the visitor log book and state their destination. Visitors will receive a pass for their destination from the School Safety Agent and

proceed to the Main Office. All visitors will be asked to exit via the main entrance in the basement. The school safety agent will log the time that each visitor exits the building.

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OUTDOOR PLAY IN COLD WEATHER The Department of Education has recently updated their guidelines for outdoor play in cold weather.

Guidelines for Outdoor Play in Cold Weather

Children benefit from vigorous exercise and should be given the opportunity to play outside whenever possible. Unless it is snowing, there is ice on the playground, or the wind chill factor creates an effective temperature below zero degrees Fahrenheit (­18 degrees Celsius), temperature alone should not be a barrier to outdoor play.

PS 39 will be following these guidelines for outdoor play. We ask that all families dress their children for outdoor play EVERY DAY. This includes winter coats and other items to keep children’s heads and extremities warm. We will be working to ensure that students cover exposed skin, wear warm clothing and use multiple layers of clothing to maintain warmth. For more information, see this guide to staying warm outdoors.

Please note: On days that we must have indoor recess, our recess coaches will play organized movement games with the children in our music room (room 103).

HOMEWORK HOMEWORK POLICY Homework is an important part of the student’s academic year. The purpose for assigning homework is to give children the opportunity to extend lessons, practice skills, engage in critical thinking and develop good work habits. Homework also serves as one form of communication and feedback between the teacher/family and the family/teacher. Students, families and teachers share the responsibilities for homework. Therefore, it is important that we all communicate with one another about our experiences with homework. Homework will be graded for completion and attention to detail MISSED HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS/REPORT CARD GRADES

In all grades homework is a component on your child’s report card as well as his/her cumulative record card. Teachers assign homework grades based upon the child’s ability to complete homework carefully and consistently in a timely manner. Students who have failed to complete 3 homework assignments in a marking period will receive a

3 on their report card for the marking period. Students who have failed to complete 4 homework assignments in a marking period will receive a

2 on their report card for the marking period.

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Students who have failed to complete 5 homework assignments in a marking period will receive a

1 on their report card for the marking period. HOMEWORK RESPONSIBILITIES Student’s Responsibilities

Bring your homework folder home and back to school everyday. Listen carefully to homework directions and ask questions if they are not clear. Gather all materials for homework before you leave your classroom. Complete your homework carefully and thoughtfully. Complete all assignments on time. Make up any missed homework that the teacher requires.

Family’s Responsibilities Provide a routine and environment that is conducive to doing homework. (a quiet and consistent place and time, necessary materials)

Offer guidance to the student, but do not do the actual homework for the child. Check that your child has fully completed the assignment according to the directions. Check that your child has edited their homework for spelling, punctuation, neatness using the attached grade level spelling/punctuation/neatness guidelines.

Notify the teacher when the homework presents a problem by writing a note on the HW assignment.

If a student is unable to complete the assignment in a reasonable amount of time, have the child stop working and write a note to the teacher. Individual student needs can always be discussed with the classroom teacher.

Read school notices and respond in a timely manner. Weekly backpack/homework folder cleanups can be useful in helping students organize materials

Teacher’s Responsibilities Provide purposeful homework. Include clear directions and instructions. Implement a system for routinely checking and returning homework. Communicate to the student and family what is expected for completing homework. Communicate with families when students are not consistently completing assignments.

TIME ALLOTMENT

There is no doubt that different children will take different amounts of time to complete homework. The following chart indicates what we believe is approximately the appropriate amount of time for children in each grade to be spending on homework.

If your child diligently does the homework for the maximum allotted time (without breaks and distractions) and does not complete it, you may write a note to the teacher explaining the situation and have your child stop doing the homework.

Parents should alert teachers to any difficulty a child might be having with homework assignments as well as to family circumstances that may be affecting the completion of homework. Parents are encouraged to send a note to their child’s teacher immediately if an assignment is taking longer than the recommended time or if the homework is causing stress to the child or the family. Teachers will work with parents to develop a timeline for children to complete incomplete assignments.

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HOMEWORK FREQUENCY

Weekly Homework: Homework will be assigned in all grades 1­5 Monday ­ Thursday

according to the guidelines outlined above. There will be some developmentally appropriate accommodations for Kindergarten. Students will be required to do weekend reading.

Holiday Homework: During school holidays students will be assigned daily reading to be logged as well as math assignments that encourage students to practice math skills and strategies with their families through game playing. These assignments are designed to reinforce our belief that reading should be a part of everyone’s daily life and that math skills should be practiced in order to be reinforced.

PTA Meetings and Family Evening Events: Only reading homework will be assigned on evenings when there is a general PTA meeting or a family event in order to encourage family participation at these events.

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PARENT INVOLVEMENT

PARENT COORDINATOR We encourage parents to meet with or contact the PS 39 Parent Coordinator: Karen Herskowitz. The Parent Coordinator’s role is to assist parents and guardians with school­related problems, and to enhance communication among parents, teachers and the school. The Parent Coordinator works closely with the PTA, the School Leadership Team (SLT) and the Class Parents. The PS 39 Parent Coordinator may be reached at her desk phone (718) 330­9310 ext. 1003, by cell phone at 571­426­0077 or by email at kherskowitz@ps39.org. or by visiting her office in room 100A FAMILY FRIDAYS Family Fridays will take place on the first Friday of every month (*note some fall on the second Friday due to vacations/school events) from September through May. Parents/caregivers are invited to visit their child’s classroom on these special days. These visits are eagerly anticipated by students and are extremely popular with parents. Below is the scheduled dates and a few special activities that are being planned for Family Fridays. The theme for each month’s event will be included on the Curriculum at a Glance calendar sent home at the beginning of the month. September 11* October 2 November 6 December 4 January 8 Family Social Grandparent/

VIP day

February 5 March 4 April 1 May 6 June

NO FAMILY FRIDAY

To make our Family Fridays as enjoyable as possible please follow these guidelines: Parents/caregivers should visit Camp Friendship after drop off to sign in and receive a Family

Friday Visitor Pass. Special Announcements will be made by our Parent Coordinator during the sign in period from 8:20­ 8:40.

Parents/Caregivers will be able to visit classrooms starting at 8:45. All visitors must have a Family Friday visitors pass to enter the building. Family Friday ends at 9:15.

Family Friday is a time dedicated to interacting with children, not reviewing student work. Therefore, we respectfully request that you do not pull out student folders, work boxes or book baggies to review while visiting on these occasions. If you would like to review any of your children’s work folders or other materials, simply contact your child’s teacher and make the request. They will be happy to oblige.

Because of our small classroom size only one adult per child may visit on each Family Friday. Underage siblings should not be brought to the classroom during Family Friday.

Students from other classrooms may not join siblings in other classrooms during Family Friday. There are 9 opportunities to visit on Family Friday, as well as Open School Week in November. Please consider splitting your visits between siblings.

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OPEN SCHOOL WEEK The week of November 16­20, all New York City schools host Open School Week. This is a time

when parents are invited to visit their child’s school and observe the classes in session. We encourage all parents to take advantage of Open School Week and come in to see our school in action!

During your visit, please be respectful of the teaching and ongoing classroom curriculum. Please do not bring younger siblings into the classroom, as small children can be disruptive to the classroom atmosphere.

VOLUNTEERS Parent and other adult volunteers are always needed and appreciated. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities at PS 39. If you would like to know more about these volunteer opportunities, please visit the “Giving” section of our website or contact our Parent Coordinator or a PTA representative.

Parent-Teacher Engagement Teams In order to increase the number of parents and teachers participating in shared decision making processes beyond the PTA Executive Board and SLT, PS 39 will be forming various parent/teacher teams this year. Each team will meet approximately once a month during Parent Engagement Time (2:40-3:20pm). The work of each team will be:

To create a mission statement and goals to guide their work. To create a year-long action plan. To create mechanisms to gather feedback on their work. To create structures to monitor the ongoing work of the team and their progress towards the

team goals.

C.A.R.E. Team (Creating a Respectful

Environment)

The work of this team centers around providing social emotional support to our students. Team responsibilities will include creating healthy classroom communities through Second Steps instruction and Caring School Community class meetings, creating a harmonious lunchroom and recess yard environment, supporting PBIS procedures in the lunchroom, and supporting and monitoring the progress of the Mission Be partnership

Wellness Team The work of this team centers around our students’ overall physical wellness. Team responsibilities will include creating and implementing physical activity ice breakers, planning auxiliary physical activity events, improving students’ understanding of nutrition, to select, train, and monitor the student Wellness Committee.

Gardening Team The work of this team is to plan, plant, maintain, and harvest the school gardens and to work collaboratively with the science teacher to incorporate the garden into science instruction where appropriate. The team may also collaborate with the Wellness Team to support their work around nutrition.

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Celebration/Special Events Team

The work of this team is to increase school spirit among staff and students through the creation of monthly school day celebrations/special events, planning school assemblies, and to select, train, and monitor the Student Ambassadors. Special events may include but are not limited to School Spirit Week, Read-a-thon, Character Day, Dr. Suess Day, Big Apple Crunch, School Gear Day, and Sports Team Day.

Team Meeting Dates: October 13, November 24, December 8, January 12, March 22, April 19, May 10, June 7

SLT (School Leadership Team) The SLT is an elected team of parents, administrators and staff who meet regularly and share ideas. Responsibilities include creating the Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP) for the school, making budget and policy decisions. In addition, they uphold current school policy and create new ones. See the resource section for a list of this year’s members. PARENT ASSOCIATION (AKA THE "PTA") The purpose of the PS 39 Parent Association (aka the PTA) is to support our school by creating

an environment that supports learning, diversity, community and family. The Parent Association is comprised of all parents and teachers (if your child goes to 39, you are

a member!). It is guided by an Executive Board which meets once a month in addition to the monthly General Meetings open to all. A contact list for this year’s executive board members can be found in the resource section.

General Meetings are typically the third Tuesday of the month, from 7­8pm in Room 103 or from 8:30­9:15 am in the cafeteria, although sometimes this schedule may change due to holidays, etc. Free childcare for children aged 3 ­ 11 is provided during PTA meetings.

PS 39 Parent Association activities fall under three main categories: community­building, communication between home and school, and fundraising in support of both of these goals, as well as to support teachers and complement learning wherever possible.

The goal of the PS 39 Parent Association is 100% participation: we hope that every family finds some way to give back to the school which gives so much to our children. We urge you to think about your own talents and interests, and to find an event or committee that will be a rewarding experience for you.

Parent volunteers assist in numerous ways, including chairing, serving on, and /or simply showing up to help out with the events/committees. Please see the resource section for a list of the events and initiatives that are part of the PTA and to find out how you can get involved.

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SCHOOL FOOD BREAKFAST Breakfast is available for students, at no cost, in the cafeteria from 7:40­8:10 am. Students attending breakfast will be escorted by a staff member to their designated

line­up location. Please note: Students should not arrive for breakfast before 7:40 AM. Parents are not

permitted in the breakfast area. LUNCH

All families are required to complete a school lunch form whether your child will be eating school lunch or not. Information from these forms is utilized to determine federal funding.

Please send payment in a sealed envelope labeled with lunch payment and your child’s name to the main office, Attention: Anne Guido. Cash, check or money order are accepted, checks made payable to PS 39.

PS 39 Lunch Program FAQ’s Can my child eat lunch just on selected days? Can my child eat lunch just on selected weeks? Can I pay for my child to eat lunch for just a single day?

Unfortunately, NO – P.S. 39 is not an automated (scan card) lunch program. Our limited staff prevents us from being able to track individual lunch sales for individual students. Students may purchase lunch on a monthly or weekly basis only.

Can I purchase only milk for my child? Unfortunately, NO. This is not an option for students.

What if my child eats home lunch but forgets his/her lunch box?

If your child usually eats home lunch and comes to school without a lunch box, we try to contact the parent to see if the lunch can be dropped off prior to the child’s lunch period. If this is not possible, we will feed the child school lunch – no child will ever go without eating.

My child eats school lunch, is there a way to see what’s on the menu in advance?

YES. You can view the lunch calendar by clicking on the Lunch Menu quick link on ps39.org. You can also access the monthly menu on­line by going to www.opt­osfns.org Click on school food and then school food log­in. Enter our school (39). When our school name appears, go to “today’s menu” and click on “hot satellite lunch”. PLEASE NOTE THAT SCHOOL LUNCHES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

PS 39 is a satellite school lunch site. What does that mean?

This means that our school does not have the facilities to cook food on site. We do not have the ovens, refrigeration units and storage/prep areas to prepare meals here. Our school lunches are prepared and cooked outside of the

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school and delivered to us. Our kitchen staff heats and serves the food.

What if my child is vegetarian or doesn’t like the hot lunch choice?

Students are always offered a choice of the hot meal for the day as well as the choice of a cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Who do I contact if I have any further questions about our school lunch?

Please contact Anne Guido between 10:00 am ­3 pm (M,Th,F) and 11am – 4pm (T & W). You may also contact our Parent Coordinator, Karen Herskowitz.

Staff Emails Missing: music teacher, science teacher, ESL2, Guidance 2

NAME POSITION E­MAIL ADDRESS de Paz, Anita Principal ADEPAZ2@schools.nyc.gov Ambrose, Kate 2­208 kambrose@ps39.org

Baker, Donna Administrative Assistant DBaker@schools.nyc.gov Bassil, Suzann PK­105 SBassil@ps39.org

Bernstein, Lynn 3­304 LBernstein@ps39.org

Broyde, Chavy Art 101 CBroyde@ps39.org Bruno, Angel SSA Bryant, Gloria Para gbryant@ps39.org

Calhoun, Semara K­106 SCalhoun@ps39.org

Cammarata, Daniella ICT/ AIS dcammarata@ps39.org Caron, Cindy IEP/5­306 ccaron@ps39.org

Cassens, Vassilia Pre­K 108 VCassens@ps39.org

Chun,Elissa 3­203 echun@ps39.org Cordner, Arthur Head Custodian ck039@schools.nyc.gov Dallara, Rose School Aide Desir, Kimley Guidance Counselor/Rm 303 kdesir@ps39.org Fan, Nina ESL/ Rm 205 nfan@ps39.org

Feinman, Cynthia Music/ Rm 103 cfeinman@ps39.org

Flaherty, Elaine K – 102 EFlaherty@ps39.org Forrester, Chermin School Nurse Cherminwilliams44@msn.com

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Green, Sarah ICT/ AIS SGreen@ps39.org

Ginetto (Scerbo), Adriana K­104 aginetto@ps39.org Guido, Anne School Aide AGuido@ps39.org Head, Melissa 2­206 MHead@ps39.org

Hernandez, Helen AIS/Gr.4 & 5/Rm200A HHernandez@ps39.org Herskowitz, Karen Parent Coordinator KHerskowitz@ps39.org Jones, SuGinia School Psychologist SJones47@schools.nyc.gov McAree, Alyssa Physical Therapist amcaree@ps39.org

McCarthy, Cathleen Assistant Principal/Room 300A CMccarthy@ps39.org Nesbit, Susan Occupational Therapist snesbit@ps39.org

Ottavino, Eve 4 – 305 eottavino@ps39.org Pagan, Jose Physical Education jpagan@ps39.org

Pattinson, Joe PK­108 Para jpattinson@ps39.org

Pigott, Christine School Secretary CPigott@schools.nyc.gov Pisino, Amanda 2­207 APisino@ps39.org

Polverino, Phyllis 1 – 201 PPolverino@ps39.org Racioppo, Denise 4­301 DRacioppo@ps39.org Rafferty, Katie IEP/2­208 krafferty@ps39.org Rausch, Marion 5­306 MRausch@ps39.org Reyes, Stephanie IEP sreyes@ps39.org

Vine, Zach Science­ 304 zvine@ps39.org

Warren, Leslie Speech lwarren@ps39.org Santoro, Carol Para CSantoro@schools.nyc.gov

Skuza, Maria School Guard MSkuza@schools.nyc.gov Sleeper, Elizabeth Pre­K 105 Para ESleeper@ps39.org Stark, Hannah 1­204 HStark@ps39.org Stubbs, Julia Family Worker/SBST/200B JStubbs@schools.nyc.gov

Ulanowsky, Katherine 5­307 KUlanowsky@ps39.org Urban, Elizabeth IEP/1­202 EUrban@ps39.org Warren, Leslie Speech Provider/Room 205 LWarren@ps39.org Weeks, Matthew IEP/4­301 mweeks@ps39.org

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PS 39 PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD CONTACT LIST

Name Title Email Students @ 39

Erica Ashe Co­President ericaashe@gmail.com Baila (4th ) & Gavin (1st)

Erin Kiernon Co­President erinkiernon@yahoo.com Savannah (1st)

Jennifer Norman Vice President jennifersnorman@gmail.com Samantha (3rd ) Jack (K)

Simone Hannah­Clark

Co­Secretary simonehannahclark@yahoo.com Gabriel (2nd) Sylvie (PK)

Jessica Hooberman Co­Secretary jhooberman@gmail.com Nat (2nd) Sebastian (PK)

Adam Becker Co­Treasurer adambecker@gmail.com Ben ( 2nd )

Kristen Robb Co­ Treasurer krobb@polyprep.org Billy (4th ) Ben (2nd )

Christiana Cobean Member­at­ Large ccobean@gmail.com Matthew (1st) Gillian (PK)

Fanny Gotschall Member­at­ Large fannychg@mac.com Elliot (1st )

Madge Koch Member­at­Large madge.forbes@gmail.com Jackson (1st)

Jennifer Kantor Member­at­Large jennkantor@yahoo.com Lila (2nd)

Matt Polacheck Member­at­Large matt@matt­ep.com Lillia (3rd ) Theo (1st)

JD Roberto Member­at­Large jd@travelgeek.com Enzo (4th ) Finn (1st )

Allison Sokoloff Member­at­ Large allisonsokoloff@gmail.com Paul (1st ) Ava (PK)

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School Leadership Team (SLT) 2015­2016 Anita de Paz Principal adepaz2@schools.nyc.gov

Erin Kiernon Parent and PTA President erinkiernon@yahoo.com

Erica Ashe Parent Representative ericaashe@gmail.com

Eileen Reilly Parent Representative ereilly129@yahoo.com

Vacancy Parent Representative

Sarah Finucane Parent Representative sfinucane@sljhs.org

Katie Rafferty Teacher Representative (ICT Gr. 2 ) krafferty@ps39.org

Vacancy Teacher Representative

Matthew Weeks Teacher Representative (ICT Gr. 4 ) mweeks@ps39.org

Suzann Bassil UFT Representative (PK Teacher) sbassil@ps39.org

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What Does the PTA Do? And How Can I Help?

Event/Date/Chair Description How to Help Back to School

Picnic (September 12)

Chair: Christine Bourgeois Volunteers needed!

Come say hello to your friends and meet new ones at the PS 39 annual back­to­school picnic in Prospect Park. Parents and kids gather at this bring­your­own picnic,informal event to ring in the new school year.

Set­up, clean up

Rocktoberfest (Adults­Only) Concert at Old Stone House (September 25)

Chair: David Miller Volunteers needed!

This adults­only event at the Old Stone House includes live music, food, and drink ­­ a fun way to get to know fellow PS 39 parents!

Set up, clean up Sell drinks

Halloween

Spooktacular (October 25)

Chair: Vacancy Volunteers needed!

A fun, dress­up event held in the evening at John Jay High School. Kids enjoy games, magic, a costume contest, and a parade. There are also raffles, dinner, and a bake sale!

Set­up, clean­up Bake a treat Sell raffle tickets and/or food Help put together raffle items in the weeks before the event

Book Fair & Bake Sale (October)

Chair: Kristen Robb Volunteers needed!

This two­part event takes place during the school day and again in the evening. Each family pre­pays $5. On the day of the sale, each class visits the book sale so every child can choose one or two books to bring home. Books are also sold to parents

Price books before sale help kids choose books the day of the sale,

Bake goodies Sell books or baked goods in the evening

VIP/Grandparents

Day (December 4)

Chairs: Madge Koch Volunteers needed!

A very special Family Friday! Grandparents and other VIPs are invited to read with their grandchildren in the classroom one morning.

Solicit and organize food donations and decorations

Greet guests/ coat check sell gear

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Barnes& Noble Book Fair/Art Show/PJ Party (December and Spring Date TBD)

Chair: Jennifer Norman & Co­Chair needed Volunteers needed!

This event has turned into one of our biggest fundraisers. Members of the PS 39 community distribute vouchers to potential book buyers. On the designated day, the 7th Avenue Barnes & Noble (at 6th Street) donates 10% of each purchase to PS 39 when the buyer presents our voucher. . B&N is also decorated with artwork by our students, and 5th graders wrap presents. Join the PJ party in the bookstore, where kids come in their pajamas, snack on cookies, and listen to stories read by PS 39 teachers.

Distribute vouchers to friends and family

supervise a shift of 5th graders wrapping presents

work a shift on a nearby corner handing out vouchers to prospective shoppers.

Ice Skating/Roller Skating Night

(January ) Chair: Julia Tauber Volunteers needed!

A special night for the whole family! Brave the cold and join the rest of the PS 39 community at Lakeside in Prospect Park

Process registration greet guests

Valentine’s Dance

Party (February )

Chair: Vanessa Hoffman & Stephanie Matthews Volunteers needed!

This special Valentine’s dance for the whole family will take place in the evening. Introduce your children to music from the 80s and join other PS 39 families for dancing, treats, and fun.

Set­up/clean up bake a treat create decorations sell desserts.

Auction

(January ­ April) Chairs: Christiania Cobean­Vitrano & Jennifer Norman Volunteers needed!

This adults­only auction is great fun and our second biggest fundraiser for the year. Work on this event begins in January/February. The online portion of the auction will begin in early April with the Live Event taking place mid­April when we’ll have hors d’oeuvres, drinks, entertainment and a wonderful selection of items to bid on at a local venue. Don't miss it!

January: ∙ Graphic design (Website & Print) February­April: ∙ Solicit auction items from neighborhood businesses

∙ Item Coordination ∙ Item data entry ∙ Event Planning

Live Event help needed: ∙ Audio/Visual/Technology asst.

∙ Guest registration ∙ ‘Wine Pull’ table ∙ Item Distribution ∙ Set­up/Clean­up

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PTA Fun Run (spring date TBD)

Chairs: Vacancy Volunteers needed!

Parents, teachers, and students from throughout Brooklyn meet in Prospect Park and run, walk, scoot, or bike to raise money for Brooklyn public schools.

Solicit donations organize teams take/process t­shirt orders participate in the Fun Run

Spring Plant Sale

(May) Chair: Fanny Gotschall Volunteers needed: 4 to set up & stay first 2 hrs 2 to sell PS39 gear 6­8 rest of the day & clean up

This is a wonderful, community­building event held the Saturday before Mother’s Day in the PS 39 schoolyard. We sell annuals, perennials, herbs, and vegetables. Great place to find gifts for Mother’s Day!

Set­up/clean up, sell plants for an hour or two

the day of the sale bake for the bake sale sell PS 39 gear.

Teacher

Appreciation (Ongoing)

Chairs: Lisa Gifford Volunteers needed!

This popular event honors the special teachers we have at PS 39. Show your appreciation by bringing in flowers, cards, and food for the staff to enjoy throughout the school year on designated days.

Set up, clean up organize events by class.

Family Science Night (March)

Chair: Lisa Bohen Volunteers needed!

An evening of family fun and hands on science activities.

Organize theme for the event

gather resources set up, clean up help run science stations

Spring Carnival

(June 7)

Chairs: Vacancy Approx 40 volunteers needed!

Come one, come all to the 7th Annual Spring Carnival! This family fun event features bounce houses, live music, great food, games, prizes, crafts and face painting. It’s a wonderful way to end the year and celebrate our amazing PS39 community.

Set­up, clean up get items for the auction/raffle solicit food donation make/ serve food sell PS 39 gear, paint faces sell game tickets/ run games work the prize table volunteer your musical talents

to perform

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create original art pieces to be sold.

5th Grade Graduation

Week (June 15­19)

Chair: Vacancy Volunteers needed!

These events celebrate the graduating 5th graders. This committee helps plan the events for the week leading up to 5th grade graduation, as well as the graduation day festivities.

Plan events set­up and clean up at events answer questions from 5th

grade parents about the events.

Ongoing Committees PS 39 T­Shirts and

Other Gear

Chairs: Erica Ashe & Matt Polachek

PS 39 gear is sold at most PTA events, as well as at Family Fridays. Show your school spirit by purchasing some PS 39 gear!

Sell T­shirts at a single Family Friday (which occurs the first Friday of every month) from 8:15­9:00AM

Sell at a PTA event

Wrapping Paper & Candy Sale

Chair: Jenn Kantor

This annual sale is an important fundraiser for PS 39. Committee members help organize the sale, gather orders, and distribute to students.

Help organize sale Gather orders Distribute orders

Fundraising

Chair: Jenn Kantor

Committee members work to solicit support from foundations, businesses, and individuals to fund many in­school and after­school activities and programs

identify and approach community members and/or businesses who might donate money

assist with phone calls and data entry during the “Mighty Fine Drive for 39” in the winter

send thank­you letters for donations Wednesday Bulletin

& Social Media

Chair: Stefanie Wood

This committee is in charge of weekly email communications from the parent association to the PS 39 community, as well as sharing news and updates through the PS 39 PTA social media channels.

Write/post social media content

Write newsletter updates

Advocacy

Chair: Paul Weil Volunteers needed!

This committee takes action any time advocacy is needed for school­related issues. School­related issues could be directly related to PS39, or could be larger city­ or state­wide educational issues. There will be few (if any) actual meetings.

Assist with a letter­writing campaign attend a rally or meeting, collect signatures for a petition

help organize students and parents to participate in advocacy as appropriate.

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Most communication will be via email.

School Supplies

Chair: Marie Bache

This committee enables parents to purchase supplies for class supply lists directly from the PTA. It also helps organize and order supplies for the school throughout the year.

Help organize the supply room as supply shipments arrive during the school year

help make bundles of supplies for teachers when the supplies come in (September)

find deals on certain items and help make bulk purchases as needed.

Chess Club

Chair: Susan Moesker & Carlos Tovar Volunteers needed!

This committee organizes the Brooklyn Rooks chess team and club, which regularly places in the top spots at student chess tournaments around the country.

Help sell T­shirts and coffee brainstorm other fundraisers organize a chess night for the PTA organize and chaperone trips for the club

Bake Sales

Chair: Yvonne Cortes Volunteers needed!

Q: What is one easy way to make a good amount of $ for our school AND boost the fun quote at our events? A: Sell treats! Sweet and savory goods ALWAYS welcome, and need not be home­baked

Promote bake sales bake and sell treats set up and/or clean up. Volunteer for the occasional Costco run to replenish our stores of napkins and paper plates

Get/make/sell coffee.

After School Advisory

Chair: Jennifer Norman Volunteers needed!

A small committee is being formed to help advise decisions regarding our new after school program run by CBE Kids.

Members should have a child attending the after school program

Attend meetings and share ideas and concerns related to the program

Grant Writing

Chair: Jessica Hooberman Volunteers needed!

There are many opportunities for our school to benefit from grant money available to public schools for special programs etc. This committee will be responsible for identifying possible grant funding for our school.

Identify possible grants for ps 39 Write and submit grant proposals for projects

Class Parent Coordinator

Class parents serve a link between the PTA and the families in your child’s class. They help support the school and

Create and maintain a class contact list

Organize class parties & staff gifts

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Chair: Allison Sokoloff

classroom by helping with organizing class events and communicating important information to the parents

Help coordinate teacher/staff appreciation events

Garden Chair: Frieda Lim Volunteers needed!

PS 39’s community garden integrates with our science curriculum and green team. Students will learn about planting and harvesting throughout the school year.

Help organize gardening activities during the school day for specific grade levels

Help maintain the community garden

PTA Events The PTA plans many community events during the school year. Please consult the calendar on PS39.org for more information about dates. Please note that although the PS 39 Parent Association is organizing these events, it is not responsible or liable for any personal injury, property damage, lost or stolen item. All attendees waive any claim against PS 39and its Parents Association relating to the event, unless such claim is due to PS 39’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

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The PS 39 School Song Written by Alma Sliter

Kindergarten Teacher, PS 39

We have come to a might fine school, It’s the one that we love best. Many friends we have made,

And we’re glad that we stayed, Thirty-nine is a mighty fine school.

So to you – Thirty-nine,

We’ll sing a song of praise, For the many happy hours, And the many happy days,

We have spent at Thirty-nine. Thirty-nine, Thirty-nine, The BEST of luck to you!

Thirty-nine is a century school; It’s a building mighty strong. Boys and girls come to learn, Teachers know every one,

Thirty-nine is a century school.

So to you – Thirty-nine, Here’s on hundred years of praise.

We’ll remember all the fun, And the things that we have done,

When we went to Thirty-nine. Thirty-nine, Thirty-nine, The BEST of luck to you!

(Miss Sliter added the last two verses of the song on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the founding of PS 39, in 1977.)

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P. S. 39

417 Sixth Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11215

(718) 330 – 9310 Anita de Paz, Principal

September 2014 Dear P. S. 39 Families, Your child’s safety is our most important concern. With that in mind, we have submitted our School Safety Plan to the School Safety Division of the NYC Department of Education. In order to keep you fully informed as to the safety of your child, I felt it was important to share the portion of our Safety Plan that deals specifically with evacuating the building. In the event that it should become necessary for us to evacuate the building and relocate to another site, please note the following evacuation sites: Primary Site: PS 118

211 – 8th Street – off 4th Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11215 (718) 857­4810

Secondary Site: John Jay Campus

237 Seventh Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 788 – 1514

Third Site: Middle School 51

350 Fifth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 369 – 7603

Out of Area Site: PS 172

825 – 4th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11232 718­965­4200

The entire school population can be accommodated at each site. We would go to the secondary site only if the primary site were to be unavailable and to the out of area site only if we had to vacate the area entirely. You will be notified in the event of an emergency as to our exact location. Please keep this information in a safe and accessible location in your home. Please be aware that we have emergency procedures in place and that the entire staff is knowledgeable of these procedures. We have also put precautions in place to inform substitute teachers of these procedures and locations. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, please feel free to contact the school. Respectfully, Anita de Paz, Principal

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