PAUL J. PROSCIA- PRINCIPAL

RENEE MAZZA- ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

JUNE 2025

6/23 - 5th Grade Final Assembly

6/26 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL-NO LATCHKEY

Please see our June 2025 Calendar to stay up to date on all of our end of year events. Have a wonderful Summer!

Eagle Families:

As the school year comes to a close, we ask all families with plans to move/relocate over the Summer, please complete the below "Intent to Move" form.

Thank you as always for your anticipated cooperation in this matter and have a great evening
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pLqOD49PxoX3TggjqEJaNOw7poTBN73KEeJ85hp-Mj4/edit

June 18, 2025

Dear Families,

Our schools are simply better with your children present—and we're not done yet! School is in session through Thursday, June 26, 2025, and every day still holds meaningful learning, joyful celebrations, and unforgettable memories.

June is a special time of year. Students are wrapping up important learning, connecting with friends and teachers, and getting ready for exciting transitions. Our incredible staff is here each day to support, celebrate, and guide them through these final days. We want every student to finish strong!

Every day counts. Research shows that preschoolers who regularly attend early childhood education programs are five times less likely to be chronically absent by second grade. From Kindergarten on, strong attendance habits support reading at grade level, long-term academic success, and ultimately high school graduation. The habits we build now open doors for the future.

Even with summer heat on the way, our schools are keeping cool—literally and figuratively! Our schools are a great place to be!

• Our classrooms are ready for warmer weather with air conditioning to keep learning comfortable.
• Spirit Weeks are in full swing, bringing fun, energy, and community to our schools.
• There's still so much to experience—don’t miss these final days of learning and laughter!

Please visit our Emergency Readiness webpage (schools.nyc.gov/emergency-readiness) for more information on how to stay safe during extreme heat. The page also includes a link to the National Weather Service for up-to-date weather information in the coming days.

Let’s make every remaining day count. If you need support getting your child to school, we are here to help. Please reach out to your school’s principal, assistant principal, school counselor, or parent coordinator—we’ll work together to ensure your child has a strong finish to the school year.

Thank you for being a partner in your child’s education. Let’s finish this year with pride, purpose, and plenty of smiles.

In partnership,

Melissa Aviles-Ramos Chancellor

The NY Public Library offers free in-person English classes for adults at St. George, Dongan Hills and Great Kills Libraries. Our next classes start in August, with Information Sessions in July. Classes are offered at all levels, from Beginner to Advanced. Class sessions are available 1 or 2 days a week, either in the mornings, afternoons or evenings. We also offer online classes at various levels and times.

Interested students should come to an Information Session to register, take an assessment test, and select an appropriate class. The next information sessions are scheduled as follows:

ST. GEORGE LIBRARY CENTER
5 Central Avenue
Wednesday, July 9, 12 or 6 PM
Saturday, July 12, 11 AM
Thursday, July 17, 12 or 6 PM
Saturday, July 19, 11 AM

For more information on classes in Staten Island, please call 718-876-3557.

• June 2025 NYCPS Family Update available in:

  • June 2025 NYCPS Family Update -- English
    English(Open external link)
  • June 2025 NYCPS Family Update -- Spanish
    Spanish(Open external link)
  • June 2025 NYCPS Family Update -- Chinese
    Chinese(Open external link)
  • June 2025 NYCPS Family Update -- Bangla
    Bengali(Open external link)
  • June 2025 NYCPS Family Update -- Russian
    Russian(Open external link)
  • June 2025 NYCPS Family Update -- Urdu
    Urdu(Open external link)
  • June 2025 NYCPS Family Update -- Arabic
    Arabic(Open external link)
  • June 2025 NYCPS Family Update -- Haitian
    Haitian Creole(Open external link)
  • June 2025 NYCPS Family Update -- Korean
    Korean(Open external link)
  • June 2025 NYCPS Family Update -- French
    French(Open external link)

This Family Update provides important information about the end of the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) 2024-25 school year, Summer Rising, summer school, Summer Meals, Public Schools Athletics League (PSAL) summer programs, and resources to support summer reading.

End of 2024-25 School Year

The last day of school is Thursday, June 26, 2025! See important dates in June, including when Regents Exams will take place and when schools are closed in observance of recognized holidays.

Summer Rising

Get ready for a summer of adventure in learning! Summer Rising begins for all participants on July 2, and runs Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Programming ends on August 15 for students in grades K-5 or August 8 for students in grades 6-8. Summer Rising will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2025, for Independence Day.

As you are fully aware, good attendance is essential to ensuring your child learns to their fullest potential. According to Chancellor's Regulation A-210, students whose attendance rate is less than 90% are considered chronically absent. Students with 8-11 days absent will be receiving a Chronic Absenteeism letter. If your child has been absent between 8-11 days, they are potentially chronically absent. If their attendance patterns continue in the same manner until the end of the school year, they will be classified as chronically absent according to DOE standards set forth in Chancellor's Regulation A-210.

We understand that children get ill, and if they are sick with the flu, COVID, or any respiratory illnesses, please do not send them to school. It is important to prioritize their health and the health of others. When your child is absent due to illness, please provide a doctor's note and keep the lines of communication open with your child's teacher, our parent coordinator, and the attendance office.

However, we are obligated by Chancellor's Regulation to address absenteeism and encourage families to limit unnecessary absences, such as family vacations during the school year. Regular attendance is crucial for your child's academic success and helps them develop a routine and sense of responsibility.

Dear Eagle Community,

We are excited to announce that all K-5 students will be using iReady to enhance their reading comprehension skills. iReady is a computer-adaptive program that adjusts to each student's level while appropriately challenging them. It provides personalized reading practice and engaging digital tools to help students improve. For students in grades 3-5, this is especially beneficial as they prepare for the NYS ELA exam next month. iReady will help sharpen their reading skills as we sprint towards the test.

This week, grades 3-5 are working on taking a diagnostic and completing one 45-minute period of practice. Grades K-2 are working on getting students and families their logins, and next week they will be completing their diagnostic. We appreciate your support in finding time, in addition to the carved-out time during the school day, to ensure every child works on iReady for a minimum of 45 minutes a week.

Thank you for your support!
Mr. Proscia & Ms. Mazza

Happy May! In this newsletter, we’re celebrating fish! And if you listen to our podcast, you’ll hear a great story about a very sweet relationship that was forged over a love of fish and fishing. Gail is a chef who loves to fish, and when she was cooking for a family with a bunch of kids, one of them, Luke, was intrigued. He asked her to take him fishing, and if you want to hear what happened next, you’ll have to listen to this month’s podcast.

In the meantime, don’t be nervous, like many people are, about cooking fish. Doctors recommend you eat it 2 or 3 times a week (see Nidhi’s column below), so it’s a really good skill to have. Like everything else in life, to get good at cooking fish, you are going to have to practice and you may have some flops. What scares people is the risk of ruining perfectly good food. Our advice is to start with inexpensive fish, like tilapia or skate. Be careful not to overcook it: Stop cooking before it’s fully finished as it will continue to cook when you remove it from the pan. Enjoy!

🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉

Summer Issue

Our summer issue is heading to the printer! This 40 page issue is a perfect way to inspire kids in the kitchen this summer. The summer issue includes why we love bananas, healthy meals and snacks, side dishes, no-cook salads, frozen yogurt, kitchen skills, puzzles and so much more! O

Banana "Ice-Cream" Sandwiches

This recipe calls for only two ingredients and some patience. It takes a while for the bananas to freeze. And then, once they’re frozen, it takes a while for them to get creamy in the food processor. And then it really is best to freeze the assembled sandwiches until they’re solid. But after that? Creamy, dreamy perfection. It’s totally worth the wait!

Prep Time: 30minutes mins

Total Time: 4hours hrs 30minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Kitchen Gear

• Cutting board

• Dinner knife

• Plate

• Food processor (adult needed)

• Wooden spoon or silicone spatula

• Wax paper or plastic wrap

Ingredients

• 2 very ripe bananas
• 1 1/2 tsp milk (only if you need it)
• 8 whole graham crackers

Instructions

• Peel the bananas and thinly slice them. Lay the slices on the plate and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.

• Put the banana slices in the food processor and turn the machine on to blend them. At first they will want to spin around and stay icy, but keep at it, stopping the machine and using the wooden spoon to loosen the mixture if it stops moving. At some point, it will suddenly go creamy and custardy, like soft-serve ice cream—but if it doesn’t, add a tiny bit of milk and blend until it does. (Be patient! This takes a while.)

• Carefully break each graham cracker in half so you have 16 squares. Put 2 tablespoons of the banana ice cream on one square, use the knife to spread it out a bit, and top with another square. Wrap the sandwich in wax paper or plastic wrap and pop it in the freezer. Repeat for the rest of the graham crackers and banana ice cream.

• Freeze the sandwiches for 2 hours (or longer) before eating.

Notes- Get creative! Kid Recipe Tester Amine added cocoa powder and cinnamon to his ice cream and loved it. Try adding one or more of the following:

• 1 tablespoon nut butter
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

ENJOY!

🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤

Have you listened to our podcast yet? The ChopChop Family Podcast brings you more of the family-friendly, kid-focused cooking and kitchen info you love in our magazines, newsletters, and books!

Dear Eagle Community,

For the remainder of the school year, our school will continue to conduct emergency drills to prepare students for potential emergency situations. These drills will focus on the General Response Protocols (GRP) for a Soft Lockdown and an Evacuation. Please use the GRP Summary Guide to discuss these upcoming drills with your child in advance.

Please feel free to contact Parent Coordinator Sharon Fink at (719)351-1155 if you have any questions.

Click here or on the picture to the right to learn more our school's focus areas for the 2024-2025 school year.

In this month's book " The Remarkable Frankle McBride" , we are learning that we can all do amazing things when we work together! Frankle didn’t try to do everything alone—he cooperated with others and put first things first. That means he focused on what mattered most and helped his friends do the same.

So today, let’s help each other, take turns, and remember: teamwork makes our dreams work!

Here’s a quick refresher on the 7 Habits of Happy Kids (they have since added an 8th Habit):

1. Be Proactive: "You're in charge" – Pause and respond based on values, focus on what you can influence.
2. Begin With the End in Mind: "Have a Plan" – Define outcomes before acting, develop a personal mission statement.
3. Put First Things First: "Work First, Then Play" – Prioritize schoolwork and relationships, block out distractions.
4. Think Win-Win: "Everyone Can Win" – Build relationships, balance courage with consideration, and aim for mutual benefit.
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood: "Listen Before You Talk" – Value others' input, listen with empathy, and express yourself respectfully.
6. Synergize: "Together is Better" – Value differences and seek solutions that benefit everyone.
7. Sharpen the Saw: "Balance Feels Best" – Take care of your body, mind, and spirit to stay at your best.
8. Find Your Voice: "Inspire Others" – Use your gifts to encourage others to discover their own potential and contribute positively to the world.

Thank you to the Eagle Families who joined our Town Hall Safety Meeting on 10/17. The Brain Power presentation on stress management and self-regulation, along with Agnes McBeth’s talk on cyber safety, were both informative and relevant to our work at PS 23. Please take a moment to review the cyber safety resources and feel free to print a copy for yourself using this link.

Every New York City public school student has a DOE account. It is created automatically when you enroll in school. Your DOE account stays the same the entire time you are in school, and with it you can access all DOE technology platforms, like TeachHub & Google for Education.

Due to the volume of students and staff getting settled in for the new school year, there may be a delay in the system responding to password resets. To reset your child's password click here .

1. NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) - all parents need to sign up for this account

2. School Foods Forms

3. School Lunch

4. NYCDOE SupportHub

   
   

#wearetherichmondtowneagles

Email: sfink7@schools.nyc.gov
Website: https://www.ps23r.org/
Location: 30 Natick Street, Staten Island, NY, USA
Phone: (718)351-1155
Twitter: @23Richmondtown