Family Pathfinder Week of 11/03/24

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." — Michael Altshuler

"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean." — Ryunosuke Satoro

November 3, 2024,

Good evening, I.S. 254 Pathfinder families,

I hope you all enjoyed a refreshing, if chilly, weekend and that you made the most of that extra hour with the clocks turning back. Time is definitely on my mind as we enter November, and it feels like a reminder of just how precious each moment is.

This Tuesday is Election Day, and I encourage everyone to get out and vote. No matter your views, every vote counts, and it’s a powerful way to make your voice heard. This may be one of the most important elections of our time—a moment that will shape the future. My hope is that, once the votes are counted, we can start moving toward unity and healing, regardless of the outcome.

This past Saturday, I had the privilege of attending the CSA conference with Mr. Brezina, where we heard an inspiring talk by Steven Kotler on the concept of “flow.” Kotler spoke about how being “in the flow” can make time either fly by or slow down, depending on how deeply we’re engaged in the moment. He also shared the idea of collective flow—when groups experience a shared focus and sense of harmony. It reminded me of what we aim to create here at I.S. 254. When we’re in tune with one another and our students, we create those powerful moments where time feels meaningful and purposeful. That’s where the magic happens, when we work together to lift each other up and make every learning moment count.

As we start common interim assessments this week, let’s keep that sense of flow and togetherness in mind. These assessments are not just about checking progress; they’re an opportunity for us to understand how best to support our students and continue to grow as a team. In the words of Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” By building this collective flow, we’re creating an environment where everyone can shine.

Thank you for the energy and dedication you bring each day. Here’s to another week of teaching, learning, and growing together at I.S. 254!

Sincerely,

Javier Ocampo, Principal

I want to shout out:

• A big thank you to our Parent Association, who tirelessly advocate for what’s best for the students and families of I.S. 254. Your dedication and commitment make a tremendous impact on our school community, and we are so grateful for all that you do.
  
• Thank you as well to everyone who embraced the Halloween spirit! Whether you dressed up in costumes or Halloween colors, it added a fun and festive energy to the day—seeing everyone get into the spirit was a real treat!
  
• And finally, a heartfelt shoutout to our incredible teachers who shared their work with colleagues on Monday. Your collaboration and willingness to share ideas strengthen our team and enrich the learning experiences we offer our students. Thank you for going above and beyond!
  

Ms. Rivera wants to shout out:

• Mr. Facey for his work around student discipline. Your hard work and dedication to fostering a positive and supportive environment for our students. We truly appreciate everything you do!
  
• Math Team for the ongoing conversations and efforts to create engaging, meaningful tasks for our students.
  
• Yira for her tremendous growth as our Parent Coordinator. Your dedication and hard work in arranging parent-teacher meetings is truly appreciated.
  
• Mr. Western, Mr. Shapiro, and Mr. Facey for creating an unforgettable experience for our students and staff on Thursday.
  

Mr. Brezina wants to shout out:

• Mr. Garcia, Ms. Montanez, Mr. Sang, Mr. Leon, Ms. Beltre, Ms. Gonzalez, Ms. Payano & Mr. Valentino for all your support in prepping for and administering the SHSAT.
  

Events:

• November 5:
  

• Election Day, students do not attend school
• Staff - Remote Professional Learning Day
• November 6-8, 2024: Common Interim Assessments (NEW DATE): Common Interim Assessments (NEW DATE)
  
• 🚨📅 November 11: Veterans Day, schools closed
  
• November 14:
• Students not in attendance.
• Half-Day IN-PERSON Staff Professional Development.
• Afternoon & Evening, Remote Conferences
• November 19:
• Brainpower Class Visits
• School Leadership Team meeting in Person in the Library @ 3:00pm
• 🚨📅 November 28-29: Thanksgiving Recess, schools closed
• 🚨📅 December 24–January 1: Winter Recess, schools closed
  
• March 13, 2025:
• Students not in attendance.
  
• Half-Day IN-PERSON Staff Professional Development.
  
• Afternoon & Evening, Remote Conferences
  
• May 8, 2025: Evening, In-Person Parent Conference

Parent Conferences 2024-2025

• November 14, 2024: Afternoon & Evening, Remote Conferences; Morning, In-Person Professional Development
  

• March 13, 2025: Afternoon & Evening, Remote Conferences; Morning, In-Person Professional Development

• May 8, 2025: Evening, In-Person Parent Conference

Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 14th!
The first marking period ends on November 8th, and we encourage you to connect with your child's teachers to discuss their progress. Teachers are available for short meetings Monday through Friday from 8:00–8:20 am and on Mondays from 2:45–4:00 pm. You can reply to this email to schedule a time that works for you to meet with teachers in person.

Our first Parent-Teacher Conference of the year will be held on Tuesday, November 14th, with two sessions available: 12:45–2:45 pm and 4:45–7:45 pm. Meetings can take place over Zoom or by phone. If you would prefer a Zoom or phone meeting, please reply to this email with the following information:

• Your Name
• Student's Name
• Student's Class
• Preferred Meeting Type (Zoom or Phone)
• Preferred Time (Afternoon or Evening)

PS 205 Visit:
On Monday, November 4th, we’re looking forward to a visit to PS 205 from 9:00–10:30 am.

Safety Drill:
This week, we’ll conduct a “soft lockdown” drill to practice our safety procedures. During a soft lockdown, classrooms lock their doors, block windows, and keep students quiet and out of sight. These drills help us prepare to keep everyone safe in case of an emergency.

Testing:
This week, students will complete the D10 Common Interim Assessments through the Allinlearning Platform. Below is the testing schedule:

• Wednesday, November 6th: Math (Classes frozen for the first 3 periods)
• Thursday, November 7th: ELA (Classes frozen for the first 3 periods)
• Friday, November 8th: NYSESLAT (Students who are testing will be picked up from class)

Our Literacy Focus:
Based on school data, we’re focusing on a standard called Theme/Central Idea (R2) across all grades. This skill is essential for understanding and interpreting texts, and it’s a major component of our state exams:

• 6th Grade: This standard accounted for 6 points on the 2024 exam, with our students achieving 31% of possible points.
• 7th Grade: R2 accounted for 9 points, and our students scored 58% of possible points.
• 8th Grade: This skill was worth 12 points on the 2024 exam, and our scores dropped slightly from last year.

Strengthening this standard will help us engage all students in grade-level thinking and learning as we work to close the gap with city averages. We’re confident this focus will benefit students in all three grades as they grow in their literacy skills.

🎉🎂Staff Birthdays🎂🎉

This variation on the classic game, “Simon Says,” is chock full of brain-healthy elements: You use your sense of hearing to listen and take instruction from the activity leader, while at the same time moving your body to follow along.

What makes this challenging is that the activity leader will try to trick you by doingsomething different from what they’re saying!

But what do we always say here at BPW? That’s right: “My brain loves challenges!”

What’s more, the research is conclusive: Our brains GROW when learning new skills and facing new challenges! So go ahead: enjoy this fun and silly way to boost your brain’s neuroplasticity -- AND your mood!