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This Week @ PS 88Q
June 16, 2024
No School Monday June 17th (EID) and Wednesday June 19th (Juneteenth)
A Message From Mrs. O'Shaughnessy
Happy Fathers Day to all of our dads, stepdads, grandfathers, uncles, and godfathers! I hope you enjoy your day. As we enter the final 6 days of school (seriously, how fast did this year go), there is no shortage of events! The end seems to be a sprint for sure. But as we are preparing for the end of this school year, we are planning for the next school year. I received some AMAZING NEWS on Friday evening.
WE WILL BE OPENING OUR FIRST DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM IN SEPTEMBER! We are proud to open our first kindergarten dual language Spanish program. A few months ago, I wrote a proposal for this fabulous opportunity for our school community, and received notification late Friday that we were approved to begin this September. Families, stay tuned for more information.
As many of our families have noticed, our school proudly shares the colors of the rainbow outside our entrances. We are proud to support our LGBTQ community, in our school community, and outside of our community. This month I shared on Instagram an image that said "Be careful who you hate, it could be someone you love." I wanted to share with you something personal about my family and a conversation I had with our former Superintendent, Ms. Chan.
Superintendent Chan received her doctorate in 2021. Her thesis, "A Study of Principals' Perceptions on Professional Development Reflecting Culturally Responsive Practices in Support of LGBTQ Youth". During the pandemic, in 2021, we met to discuss what we were doing as a school to support the LGBTQ community at PS 88Q. We discussed DOE content, and mindsets. I shared that we held our Love is Love Day, and what positive feedback we received. She was very honest with me, sharing stories of students, in our district, who were struggling with this, and engaged in suicidal ideation, or even suicidal attempt, after talking to their families about their identity. The feeling of hopelessness, and even worse, being ostracized, can cause some of our students to resort to desperate measures.
During this time, specifically at the time of this meeting, my daughter was in school in Florida, quarantined in a remote part of campus, and positive for Covid. She was depressed and sick, and I couldn't help her. In true Dr. Chan fashion, she told me to go there, but with all of the restrictions, I couldn't even see her. But this was just part of the problem. My daughter, who was in her second year at school, on a basketball scholarship, was seemingly living her dream, but she was struggling with her mental health. I confided in Dr. Chan that I indeed did ask my daughter if she was struggling with her identity. She shared with me that she wasn't, but rather struggling with the separation and life on her own. Regardless, I assured her that she is loved, always. During her stay in Florida, two students took their life. No parent ever wants that for their child.
I proudly have family members and friends who knew they were supported and surrounded by love, from an early age. They knew this by how adults spoke, and treated others. But you may ask what elementary schools are "teaching". We are creating a culture where students understand the Respect For All mission.
It is the policy of the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) to maintain a safe and supportive school environment for all students free from harassment, intimidation, and/or bullying and free from discrimination on account of actual or perceived race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship/immigration status, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or weight.
Students do not use derogatory statements, say hurtful things, judge other families and their family structure. Our school, and our Social Justice Committee create amazing, authentic opportunities for our students to not only learn, but prepare them for life after PS 88Q.
Any questions, or concerns, as always, email me at loshaughnessy@schools.nyc.gov
Have a great week!
Have a wonderful week!
Love is Love @ PS 88Q: June 24th
PS 88Q is proud to celebrate Pride Month in many ways. Our goal, as always, is to create a culture of acceptance and understanding. The city provides schools with many resources to utilize in regard to Pride Month. As a school, including our Social Justice Committee, we discuss how PS 88Q will celebrate and recognize our LGBTQ school community. Love is Love day is on June 24th. Each grade will wear a specific color. We will take a picture of our students, representing the rainbow.
3K-PreK will wear yellow
Kindergarten will wear blue
1st grade will wear purple
2nd grade will wear red
3rd grade will wear orange
4th grade will wear green
5th grade will wear their Senior blue shirt.
Below see ALL of the DOE materials, which are published for all families. Also, here is the policy, as per the DOE
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/subjects/social-studies/pride-month
June is Pride Month! Join us in honoring LGBTQ+ pioneers who fought for equality through art, culture, civic action, community service, and more.
Grade 5 Parents
This is the week! If you haven't seen the newsletter specifically for all grade 5 students, check it out below!
All DOE devices must be returned by June 26
Return of DOE Devices
Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,
As we approach the end of the academic year, this is an important reminder that unless otherwise directed, students must return any NYCPS issued educational technology devices (iPads, Chromebooks, laptops, etc.) to PS 88Q.
We will collect devices and all supporting accessories including keyboards, cases, power cords, etc. that were distributed when you received the device as a Centrally funded loaned device.
Collecting these devices will allow us to assess device condition, address any necessary repairs and maintenance, update device software and operating systems, and prepare for distribution at the start of the new school year.
It is important to note that as per NYCPS policy, when a student transfers schools, including transferring from elementary to middle/intermediate school, transferring from middle/intermediate to high school, or if a student is discharged from the New York City Public Schools at any grade level, the device must be returned to the school the student is currently attending.
We want to assure you that if a student lacks a personal device at home and needs a school-issued device to complete their schoolwork, one will be assigned from the new school they attend.
If you have any questions, please contact Linda O’Shaughnessy Linda Oshaughnessy loshaughnessy@schools.nyc.gov
Respectfully,
Linda O’Shaughnessy
Principal
Disney Theater Club: Finding Nemo
What an amazing performance by our students this week. The students performed for their families and the community on Wednesday and Thursday, and for the students on Friday. The show was phenomenal. If you missed it, check out the links below for the live stream! Great job Ms. Bawer, Ms. Fogarty, and Mr. Nolan!
Final Concert for The Year
On Friday evening, the PS 88Q Concert Band performed their last concert for the 2023-2024 school year. Students chose their Greatest Hits! Check it out!
Staff-Student Basketball Game
What a time we had at the Staff/Parent-Student Basketball Game! On Monday, June 10th, our brave staff members and parents suited up to play our Grade 5 basketball team. No broken bones! Check out the game below.
Summer EBT Benefits
Beginning in 2024, New York State will launch Summer EBT, a new program that provides low-income families with food benefits to help buy groceries during the summer when kids might not have access to school meals. Most eligible children will receive Summer EBT food benefits automatically; however, some families may need to apply.
This website will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
Summer Meals
Even when school is out, you can still enjoy free breakfast and lunch(Open external link)! Our 2024 Free Summer Meals Program is here for you all across New York City, and it's totally free for anyone who's 18 years old or younger. You can find these meals at specific places like select NYC Public Schools, community pool centers, parks, and libraries. And guess what? You don't need to sign up, show any papers, or have an ID to get these meals. Just head to one of our spots and enjoy a delicious breakfast and lunch. Have a great summer filled with good food and fun!
As summer approaches more additional information will be available.
Service Information
- All dates, times, locations and menus are subject to change.
- Thursday, June 27, 2024 – Friday, August 30, 2024
- There is no service Thursday, July 4, 2024 (4th of July)
- There is service Friday, July 5, 2024 (Day after 4th of July)
- Breakfast Service Time: 8am - 9:15am
- Lunch Service Time: 11am - 1:15pm
- Text: NYCFood to 304-304 (standard text messaging rates may apply)
- Call 311
- Find A Free Breakfast & Lunch Location Near You(Open external link)
- Open Community Locations(Open external link)(Open external link)
- Open Community Halal Locations(Open external link)
Summer Reading
Summer Reading
Reading is like any skill: it takes practice! Over the summer, reading together can help your child continue to develop their literacy skills and avoid any learning loss that might occur over their time outside of the classroom.
Our Summer Reading Guide—available online at schools.nyc.gov/LiteracyResources—is a great first step on your family’s next reading adventure. It contains tips for reading at home, recommended titles for students in all grade levels, resources where you can find books, and more. In addition to the guide, our Literacy Resources webpage also features at-home activities and other recommended reading lists that will help foster a lifelong love of reading and learning.
This summer, we also encourage you to use our Citywide Digital Library, Sora. Sora is the quickest and easiest way for NYC students to access thousands of e-books and audiobooks in multiple languages. You can log in to Sora using your NYC Public School credentials at soraapp.com/library/nycschools.
From Our Chancellor
Mentoring Matters
Dear New Yorkers,
There's a saying that goes: a young person without a mentor is like an explorer without a map.
Last month, we held our inaugural Key Awards, which celebrated the mentors in our schools who provide roadmaps to our students, encouraging them to dream big and fulfill their potential. These mentors include educators, community members, business leaders, and employees from city agencies such as the Department of Youth and Community Development.
We also honored the students who have seized this opportunity and made impressive strides in their educational journeys under the guidance of their mentors. These students hail from 34 schools across the five boroughs, including many schools participating in Project PIVOT, one of our signature safety initiatives. Project PIVOT pairs schools with local organizations with deep roots in their communities to provide social-emotional support to students and lead violence prevention efforts.
At the event, I spoke to these mentors and mentees, along with approximately 1,400 guests, about the power of mentorship. I stressed that mentors open up new possibilities and life paths. After all, as Marian Wright Edelman once said, “You can't be what you can't see.”
Yet it doesn’t take a formal program or an award ceremony to be a mentor. Families and staff: you already serve as mentors to the young people in your lives. They look up to you and draw inspiration from you. As we prepare for summer break, I encourage you to think about the ways you can continue to show up as mentors for our students, especially when they’re not spending their days in school. Mentorship is a 24/7 role, and it’s a critical one. When we provide our students with a roadmap through the twists and turns of life, we set them up for bright starts and bold futures.
Soaring high,
David C. Banks
Chancellor