Family Pathfinder Week of 10/27/24

"You cannot control the behavior of others, but you can always choose how you respond to it." — Roy T. Bennett

"Mindfulness isn't difficult; we just need to remember to do it." — Sharon Salzberg

October 27, 2024,

Good afternoon I.S. 254 Families,,

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are ready for another great week! We’re kicking off the week with some festive celebrations—Halloween on Tuesday and Diwali on Friday! While we know Halloween isn’t celebrated by everyone, it’s still a fun opportunity to enjoy the colors of the season. Although costumes won’t be part of our day, students are welcome to dress in Halloween colors like black, green, orange, or purple—two of which are already in our uniform colors! 🙂

This week, we’re also continuing our journey with the Learning Design Collaborative (LDC) modules. It’s exciting to see how this initiative is becoming a part of our classrooms, creating more engaging learning experiences for our students each day.

Last week, I had the chance to chat with some of our students about mindfulness and self-control. We discussed how powerful it can be to take a pause before responding to others, helping them build inner strength and choose their responses with confidence and respect. This mindful approach not only helps with social skills but also boosts focus and engagement in the classroom.

When students practice self-regulation, it makes a difference everywhere—they’re more open to feedback, manage classroom dynamics with maturity, and contribute thoughtfully in discussions. As teachers, we love nurturing these skills because it creates a classroom atmosphere centered on respect, engagement, and a genuine love for learning. It’s a ripple effect that enhances both student outcomes and the teaching experience.

Viktor E. Frankl once said, “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” In that small pause, we—and our students—find the freedom to respond thoughtfully, rather than reacting impulsively. It’s an approach that helps us create a positive and intentional learning environment here at I.S. 254.

Looking forward to a week filled with mindfulness, growth, and a little bit of festive fun!

Sincerely,

Javier Ocampo, Principal

I want to shout out:

• A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the breast cancer walk on Sunday and wore pink on Friday in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Your commitment and spirit bring us together as a community, and it’s inspiring to see everyone rally around such an important cause.
• Thank you to Mr. Facey for taking our Volleyball students to meet the Fordham University Volleyball team on Saturday—it was a fantastic opportunity for our students to connect with collegiate athletes and see the possibilities ahead of them.
• A big shout-out to Ms. Trinidad, Ms. Castro, and everyone who contributed to the success of our Open House on Thursday. Your dedication to welcoming families and showing the best of I.S. 254 is invaluable.
• Thank you to Ms. Kanhai, Ms. Maldonado, and Ms. Tobin for joining me on the LDC Rigor Walk at Creston Academy. Your insights, intelligence, and thoughtful contributions truly made a difference, and your willingness to share was inspiring to all of us.
• Lastly, a special thank you to the math department for a productive and insightful discussion on student tasks and learning. It’s clear that our commitment to doing what’s best for our students is stronger than ever, and I’m excited to move forward together.

Ms. Dominguez wants to shout out:

• I will like to give a shout out to Melissa and Leena for joining me on the listening tour of our Superintendent

Ms. Rivera wants to shout out:

• Thank you to Kenneth for his dedication in ensuring copies are efficiently prepared and delivered to classrooms this week.
  
• Shoutout to the ENL team for their productive conversations focused on supporting our ELL students, particularly those in integrated classrooms. The team is preparing to implement a PDSA cycle to explore strategies for strengthening ELL support across content areas beyond ELA.
  
• Special thanks to Ms. Tobin for stepping in with lunch coverage and for her assistance during transitions.
  
• To Ms. S for her kind heart in supporting teachers with classroom management and LDC materials.
  
• To all teachers who took on additional coverages last week of high teacher absences, your support has been invaluable. Thank you for your flexibility and commitment.
  
• A big thank you to Mr. Garcia, whose ongoing efforts keep our building safe and operations running smoothly every day.
  
• Thank you to Mr. Santana for his endless help and support with technology. I appreciate you!

Mr. Brezina wants to shout out:

• All teachers who have emailed, attended afterschool sessions, or engaged with Jumprope. Your eagerness to master a new grading platform with accuracy and fidelity demonstrates your commitment to providing transparent and accessible assessment feedback to students and their families.
  
• Ms. Dominguez, Ms. Trinidad, and Ms. Castro for hosting our second open house for prospective 6th-grade families, offering them a warm welcome to I.S. 254.
  
• Mr. Rosario for designing an engaging introduction for students beginning to explore Jazz dance, inspiring curiosity and enthusiasm for the genre.
  
• Mr. Peña for encouraging higher-order thinking as students worked through a rigorous LDC task on rhetorical analysis, fostering deep engagement with complex texts.
  
• Ms. Maldonado for your sensitivity to students’ needs, skillfully navigating the nuances of middle school behavior and academics to support student growth.
  
• Ms. Bencosme for identifying students struggling with their transition to middle school and fostering positive social connections. Your advocacy and dedication will undoubtedly improve their school experience.
  
• Ms. Bridgemohan for your unwavering support and advocacy for colleagues, embodying the spirit of teacher leadership and ensuring teacher voices are heard and valued.
  
• Ms. Feliciano for eagerly stepping into the role of program facilitator in our partnership with Creative Art Works, bringing interdisciplinary, arts-based learning to your 6th-grade social studies students.

Ms. Tobin wants to shout out:

• Ms. Kanhai, Ms. Maldonado, and Mr. Ocampo, thank you for joining me on our first Rigor Walk visit at Creston Academy. It was a valuable opportunity to observe student work at another school. Together, we brainstormed next steps for our ILT, and I’m excited to see how we’ll apply these insights to continue strengthening our instructional work at I.S. 254.
  
• A big thank you to The Instructional Leadership Team for engaging so thoughtfully in the student work protocol this week.
  
• ELA, SS, and Science departments—your commitment to the LDC work is truly shining through! The feedback, collaboration, and behind-the-scenes effort are evident in your classrooms and the work your students have produced. I appreciate each of you for diving into this new challenge and embracing the learning curve.
  
• Ms. Maldonado, thank you for creating a helpful video for our staff with guidance on how to use Peardeck.
  
• Ms. Trinidad, Ms. Castro, Ms. Montanez, Ms. Yira and to all who helped thank you for hosting the 6th grade open house event this week. Your efforts in welcoming our future students are deeply appreciated.
  
• Ms. Sanchez and Mr. Miguel Batista, thank you for your urgency and dedication during transitions on the 2nd floor, ensuring our students are getting to class safely and on time.
  
• The 6th Grade Team, thank you for your active engagement and participation during our team meetings and for always being open to learning new things.
  
• Shoutout to all paraprofessionals—your work is instrumental to our students' success and your contributions don’t go unnoticed!
  
• Ms. Colon and Ms. Saragaglia, thank you for using your creativity to support students with the LDC mini-tasks this week. Your innovative approaches are making a difference.
  
• Ms. Romero and Ms. Aiken, thank you for your collaboration in planning LDC mini-tasks. Your role-playing and refining of lessons all week shows your dedication to making learning more effective for our students.
  
• Ms. Green, your passion and love for Social Studies always bring a smile to my face. Thank you for your contagious energy and good vibes!
  
• The ENL department, thank you for an amazing discussion during our team meeting as we selected our PDSA strategy for Cycle 1. I admire how we, as a team, can speak openly and respectfully while coming to a shared agreement. I am so proud of the work we have done and continue to do!

Ms. Bridgemohan wants to shout out:

• 7th grade team for our PLC work, you guys were awesome-you shared; engaged; responded, and made the best of PLC #8.
  
• Ms. Yira-you are AMAZING! Thank you so much for all that you do. I appreciate your responsiveness and support.
  
• Ms. Martinez & Ms. Cruz-your classroom altar of the Day of the Dead is truly a work of art!
  
• Ms. Bueti and Ms. Govia-thank you for opening your classroom to a visit, it was truly helpful and very much appreciated.
  
• Mr. Komarek for your thoughtful and reflective approach to your teaching.
  

Dear Parent/Guardian:

I am writing to remind you of the change in our school’s schedule on November 14, 2024.

This change was voted on by the Parent-Teacher Association on the date of October 18, 2024 and has been formally approved by DOE leadership and our school’s staff members.

The purpose of this change is to engage in teacher professional development.

Should you choose to send your child to school on this day for their regularly scheduled start and end times, we will ensure that they receive instructional activities with a certified teacher.

If you have questions about this change, please contact Ms. Dominguez.

Thank you for your support of our efforts!

Sincerely,

Javier Ocampo, Sr.

Principal

This week's fit

Events:

• October 21-30, 2024: LDC Module Implementation
  

• October 30, 2024: Specialized High School Admissions Test
• October 31, 2024: Wear Black, Green, Orange and/or Purple
• 🚨📅 November 1: Diwali, schools closed
  
• 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

Marking Period Dates 2024-2025

• November 18, 2024: Marking Period 1 ends

• January 30, 2025: Marking Period 2 ends

• April 14, 2025: Marking Period 3 ends

• June 26, 2025: Marking Period 4 ends

Our Literacy Problem of Practice

After reviewing our school data, we’ve identified Theme and Central Idea (R2) as a critical area of focus for our literacy instruction. This standard was one of the most tested in 2024, accounting for 6 points on the 6th-grade exam, 9 points on the 7th-grade exam, and 12 points on the 8th-grade exam.

The results show that students in 6th and 7th grades struggled with R2 on the 2024 exam. For instance, 6th graders scored only 31% of possible points on the NY-6.R.2 standard, while 7th graders earned 58%. This trend is consistent over recent years, with R2 showing up heavily on exams. Our 6th and 8th graders, in particular, scored lower in 2024 compared to the previous year, and all grades showed a notable gap compared to city averages.

We believe that focusing on R2 will help all students across grades 6, 7, and 8 to build a stronger foundation in identifying themes and central ideas. This approach will support our goal of engaging every student in meaningful, grade-level learning and critical thinking.

Safety Drill : As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and preparedness of all our students here at IS 254, we will be conducting a Soft Lockdown drill this week. These drills are an essential part of our safety protocols, providing our students and staff the opportunity to familiarize themselves with emergency procedures in the event of a real emergency. If you have any questions or concerns about the drill, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 718-220-8700. Thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation as we work together to maintain a safe and secure environment for our school community.

IS 254 Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 14: As we get closer to the end of our first marking period on November 8, we encourage you to connect with your child’s teachers. Teachers are available Monday to Friday from 8:00–8:20 a.m. and on Mondays from 2:45–4:00 p.m. You can reply to this email to set up a time to meet with your child’s teachers in person.

Our first Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on November 14. These will be on Zoom from 12:45–2:45 p.m. and from 4:45–7:45 p.m. If you’d prefer a Zoom meeting or a phone call, please reply to this email with:

• Your Name
• Your Child’s Name
• Child’s Class
• Meeting Preference: Zoom or Phone
• Time Preference: Afternoon or Evening

SHSAT- Students Testing 10.30.24:

This Wednesday, October 30th, the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) will be administered in the library. Students will be picked up Period 1 around 8:50am and will be testing until the end of 5th Period.

Check out Resources below:

🎉🎂Staff Birthdays🎂🎉

As we strive to be our best versions of earth citizens and stewards, we are constantly making choices and decisions that will affect not just our own lives, but also the lives of our families and communities, and the world at large. Sometimes those reflections, and subsequent actions, revolve around concern for physical health, the environment,

and/or animal welfare.

For this exercise, we can practice connecting with our peers, smiling and having fun together in order to stimulate our bodies to release “happy chemicals,” which not only improve our mood but are also good for our physical, emotional, and mental health!

To see the Sky-Earth-Friend activity video see below