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This Week @ PS 88Q
April 14, 2024
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A Message From Mrs. O'Shaughnessy
I hope everyone is enjoying this weekend.
Some times my message is informational, and sometimes it is like my blog! Either way, it always is my reflection of the week, or as some like to call, my overthinking 😂. Reflection does sound better.
This past week, we met with the PTA board for our monthly meeting. Ms. Desz, our PTA president, brought up something. She talked about how wonderful it would be to build community within the grades with the families. We also discussed this at the PTA meeting Thursday night. This is where my reflection begins....
Last weekend, I traveled to Florida for a wedding. Many people asked me if it was for family, and my initial response was "A friends son." By the third time I responded to that question, I did change my answer to "Yes, friends who became family." Here is the connection. My very best friends are mothers whom I met when my oldest began pre-k. She is now 25 years old, and her friends are still her best friends and their mothers are mine. We have traveled all over the world together, celebrated the births of many more of our children, we have also cried together and leaned on each other through many hard times. They are my family, all because of the randomness of our decision to place our children in the same school. I instantly understood Ms. Desz's words. 21 years later, that connection has made all the difference. Back then it was "Can you pick up from school; do you have the homework; do you need any clothes we outgrew". Now our friendship is more than a school connection. One of the things I value is the power a school has to support a community. I know how much I needed my people then, and how the phrase "It takes a village" still is something I believe in.
During the pandemic, we all leaned on each other, and we connected via video calls, zoom meetings, google classroom live lessons, and constant communication. The world became smaller. Let's connect like that again. Yes, many of us are working and don't get to see the other families, or our children go to afterschool, but you all are having the same experience, the same concerns, the same worries and the same questions.
I met with the grade 5 families on Saturday. It was nice to have an open conversation regarding their ideas, and cross connect. These connections can start with us, and continue with you.
How we do this is the question. I am hopeful that the schoolyard (which will be a park) will be that wonderful magnet to draw our families together, but until then lets go back to what we knew, good old in person gatherings and zoom meetings, cameras on, ready to connect.
Timing is always the issue. Mornings, Afternoons, evenings. You let me know. In the meantime, I will host a hybrid blend of meeting. This week, every morning after drop off (about 8:15am) families, come on in for some coffee and conversation. No agenda, just to connect. Also, please share any ideas you have that we can do to make more connections here https://forms.office.com/r/16h9zWkcEs
As for the details of the week:
- ELA make up testing will continue for any students who were absent for either Day 1 or Day 2.
- Please join our workshop in the library on April 17th at 9am and 1pm Topic: Understanding your child's IEP
- Our basketball team has a game Tuesday @ home vs. PS 71. Live link below.
- GRYC Theater Club will perform Matilda for our students on Wednesday, April 17th
- Friday is our last day before Spring/Passover Break. Students return on Wednesday May 1
Have a great week! And just for fun, I put a picture of us from way back, to just this winter!
Way Back When...
To just this past Winter.
Saturdays Are A Busy Day @ PS 88Q
Did you know that PS 88Q is open 6 days a week? We host our Saturday Academy for our English Language Learners, and their families. It is an amazing program with so many of your favorite PS 88Q stafff. The work they are doing is wonderful, and it is being recognized on a bigger level. Ms. Melecio, Ms. Cybura, Ms. Williford, Ms. Bawer, Ms. Kuqi, Ms. Hardart and Ms. Roldan support our students every week. Next month, our students have been invited to present their projects at NYCPS main office, Tweed Courthouse. Also, the Parent Academy, created by Ms. Torres, Ms. Tavella, Mr. Canales and Ms. Sharabi, with its English classes and Yoga, with the addition of the podcasts has been recognized as an amazing community asset.
But these past two Saturdays, we were chosen to host another amazing program. Ready, Set, Grow is a District 24 initiative that supports our students in the entire community, not just PS 88Q. Students in grades K to 8 were invited to join this program, with a mix of academics and fun! This program runs three Saturdays, and the week of Spring Break. We are blessed to welcome our extended family. This week both programs had a ball making Build A Bears!
Build A Bear
Students got to choose their bear
and even show their D24 Pride
PTA Meeting Fun
This past week we had our PTA meeting. PTA meetings are a great opportunity to meet other families, and be part of the decision making process at PS 88Q. We have the best staff ever who stay for the meetings to have fun with the kids! Check out the fun that Ms. Toni, Ms. Prima, Ms. Mendez, Ms. Lobosco and Mr. Seeger had this week! Come next month and bring the kids. They have a ball!
Basketball Game
Our Grade 5 Basketball team has a game Tuesday at 10am! Tune in to watch!
Spring Break Chess Tournament
With Spring break coming up soon (April 22nd-30th). CIS will be hosting four Chesskid tournaments for students during this break. Please see the flyer below. The dates are:
Dates and Time
Saturday, April 20th at 10AM
Monday, April 22nd at 10AM
Wednesday, April 24th at 10AM
Friday, April 26th at 10AM
The tournament start time for each date would be 10AM with 9:30AM registration. The tournament is 5 rounds and each player will have 5 minutes on their clock for each game.
Students can join by:
1) Signing in and clicking the orange "Play vs Kid" button.
2) Click on "CIS Spring Chess Challenge"
3) Click the orange "Join" button.
The join button will appear orange at 9:30AM on the day of the event.
Last Chance for our 88 Swag!
We Are Fair...A District 24 Celebration
Last year, District 24 hosted a wonderful day at the bandshell in Forest Park. All school participated, performed and created a fun day for all. This year, it is being held on June 8th and it will be even better! Our band and our GRYC dancers will be performing again. Stay tuned for more details!
Grade 5 News
Grade 5 News
On Saturday, some of our grade 5 parents met to discuss the upcoming festivities around graduation from PS 88Q. Some families would like to add an additional grade 5 trip. We discussed some of the options. On Monday, our grade 5 teachers will be talking to the students about some of their ideas. Here are the existing dates:
Week of June17th: Senior Breakfast, Yearbook Distribution and T-Shirt distribution
June 20th: Graduation @ 9am
June 21st: Senior Dance @ 12pm
If you have any ideas or thoughts, please share here: https://forms.office.com/r/4h2s1zrxVV
Please complete your survey! We want your feedback!
Survey has been extended to April 19th. Currently, our parent response rate is only about 40%. Your voice matters! Please come in this week at 8:15am for coffee, conversation and survey support!
We Are Collecting Eclipse Glasses
Any families who have eclipse glasses, and would like to donate, please do so! You can bring in your eclipse glasses for donation to children in Latin America so they can safely watch the eclipse in August 2024.
There is a box on the counter in the office to drop them in. Teachers will bring them there.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
The Social Justice Committee
Check Out Our New T-Shirt
The PTA has partnered with Mama's Got Heart to create a limited edition T-Shirt showing our Seneca School Pride!
PTA News
PTA UPDATES
PS88 LIMITED EDITION MERCH! Available until 4/14!
The PTA is partnering with Mama’s Got Heart to raise funds for afterschool programs!
Go to mamasgotheart.com to order. Use passcode 088 to log in and to get free shipping. Everything will be shipped to PS88 for distribution in April.
OPEN POSITIONS FOR PARENTS at PS88
All of these positions will be up for election at the May PTA General Membership Meeting. These are all very exciting ways to get involved and make a difference at PS88! There are varying levels of commitment with each position, so please check out the links to learn more and feel free to get in touch with Ms. Ivett, Principal O’Shaughnessy, or Samantha Desz (PTA88President@gmail.com) with any questions.
PAC CHAIRPERSON Learn more about the Title 1 Parent Advisory Council here:
SLT PARENT MEMBER Learn more about the School Leadership Team here:
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/get-involved/families/school-leadership-team
PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD Learn more about the Parent/Teacher Association and the Executive Board here https://www.schools.nyc.gov/get-involved/families/parent-associations
Feel free to reach out to your PTA Executive Board with any questions, concerns, or ideas!
Sam (PTA88President@gmail.com), Sabita (PTA88Treasurer@gmail.com), and Camila (PTA88Secretary@gmail.com)
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CEC News
Please join the CEC members at the upcoming April 16th CEC24 Calendar and Business Meeting held at:
Location: IS 73
Frank Sansivieri School
70-02 54th Avenue
Maspeth, New York 11378
Time: 6:00 pm
*Please be aware, IS 73 is partially accessible - at the entrance of the school,
there are three-four steps inside the school.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Veronica Piedra Leon, CEC24 President
at 347-724-7109 and/or Vpiedraleon.cec24@gmail.com.
Thank you.