A Message From Mrs. O'Shaughnessy
I hope everyone had a wonderful week. As we enter the last semester of the 2023-2024 school year, you can see how far your child has come. It truly is one of the best things about working in an elementary school, watching our students progress, mature and thrive. This week you had the opportunity to meet with your child's teachers. These last few months are so vital to each child's success.
For our third, fourth and fifth graders, they will also be taking the NYS ELA and NYS Math test. These tests are simply one measure, not every measure of their progress. Our teachers prepare our students all year to be successful, through authentic instruction, hands on learning, critical thinking skills, self regulation, executive functioning skills and time management. This is not something we "cram" the last few weeks before the test. I felt as a mother, as a teacher and as a leader, that quality instruction all year is the best preparation for assessments. Test anxiety is real, and mostly from the pressure that is put on students from external sources (families, schools). This is what we do not want.
Our students did amazing last year, as PS 88Q had the highest proficiency levels that they have ever had. This is due to our amazing teachers, who create learning environments where our children get what they need to succeed. They know their students.
Our students in grades 3, 4 and 5 did so well because of the solid foundation they receive from their Prek, K, 1 and 2 teachers. The Chancellors initiative "NYC Reads" emphasizes every third grader is a fluent reader. This is the work, and it is done in those early grades.
Testing dates are as follows:
NYS ELA: April 11 and April 12. (Grade 3 and 4 Paper Based/Grade 5 Computer Based)
NYS Math: May 7 and May 8 (Grade 3 and 4 Paper Based/Grade 5 Computer Based)
NYS Science: Grade 5 ONLY May 15
Have a great week!
Ya Gotta Read
Ms. Corniel is heading up an amazing initiative and wonderful opportunity! Our students have already began and are doing AMAZING!
The Mets launched “Ya Gotta Read!” in 2017 to foster a love of reading in students. The more children read, the more they succeed in school. It’s also linked to expanded knowledge and vocabulary, improved attention span and memory and increased curiosity and imagination.
Thanks to a partnership with the Amazin’ Mets Foundation and Delta Air Lines, the program has expanded to impact a total of approx. 50,000 students at 34 elementary schools in Queens and Brooklyn.
For the 2024 edition of Ya Gotta Read!, the Mets and Delta are challenging students to read for 20 minutes every school night for six weeks, coinciding with Mets Spring Training. The more minutes students read, the more Mets prizes they earn.
Students who read for 60 minutes hit a single, and win a Mets eraser set. Reading for 180 minutes is a double and gets students a color-in notebook. Reading for 300 minutes counts as a triple and earns students a jersey drawstring backpack. Finally, reading for 600 minutes means students hit a home run and win a pair of Mets tickets.
In addition, the student at each school who reads the most will win four Field Level tickets to a Mets game, be honored on the Jumbotron at Citi Field and receive a $100 Citi Field Gift Card!
The class at each school that reads the most will win special Mets bucket hats!
