"The environment itself will teach the child if we create the right conditions."

— Maria Montessori

"Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope."

— Kofi Annan

December 8, 2024,

Good afternoon I.S. 254 Families,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend filled with rest and joy. As we dive into another exciting week at I.S. 254, I want to reflect on the amazing progress we’ve made together. Our classrooms have become hubs of purposeful learning, where students are thriving academically and socially. Your support and partnership are essential to this success, and we’re so grateful to have you as part of our school community.

Celebrating Our Students

We were thrilled to celebrate our students on Friday, December 6th, during the 1st Marking Period Awards Ceremony. It was a joyous occasion filled with applause and pride as students were recognized for their academic achievements, character, and growth. The room was alive with energy as students cheered each other on, creating an atmosphere of encouragement and support.

These moments remind us of the importance of celebrating our students’ successes and fostering a community where everyone feels valued. We look forward to more opportunities to highlight the hard work and accomplishments of our incredible students in the future!

Parent Association Meeting

Join us for our Parent Association Meeting on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 9:00 AM. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, share, and learn about upcoming events.

What to Expect:

• Raffle with exciting prizes!
• Food Pantry to support our families.
• Brain Power Workshop with helpful strategies for academic success.
• 8th Grade Updates: Ms. Rivera will provide details about upcoming 8th-grade events and answer your questions.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Upcoming Events

• December 18: ACDP Holiday Celebration – Dismissal at 4:30 PM

• December 19: 8th Grade Winter Dance

  • A festive evening for our 8th graders in the school gymnasium!

• December 19–20: No ACDP Program – Dismissal at 2:45 PM

Let’s Celebrate Literacy

At I.S. 254, literacy is at the heart of everything we do. From annotating prompts to engaging in purposeful writing, our students are developing critical skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Families, you can support literacy at home by encouraging your child to write about their day, draft a letter to a loved one, or even create a holiday-themed story. Let’s keep nurturing their creativity and growth together!

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to making I.S. 254 a place where every student feels valued and inspired. Let’s have another amazing week!

Warm regards,

Looking forward to another great week at I.S. 254!

With gratitude,

Javier Ocampo, Principal

At I.S. 254, we know it takes a dedicated team to make our school a thriving, supportive environment for students, families, and staff alike. Here are some well-deserved shout-outs to celebrate the incredible efforts of our team this week:

Leadership and Support

• Mr. Brezina and Ms. Rivera (Assistant Principals): Your thoughtfulness and unwavering support make I.S. 254 an inspiring place for students and staff. Thank you for your dedication and leadership!
• Ms. Dominguez (Parent Coordinator): In your short time here, you’ve shown incredible growth and passion. Your love and tenacity in supporting families and students are inspiring—thank you for going above and beyond!

Guidance and Counseling

• Ms. Castro, Ms. Liriano, Mr. Sang, Ms. Vilaseca, and our Intern: Your efforts, both seen and unseen, create a warm and safe environment for our students. Your dedication does not go unnoticed—thank you!

Main Office Team

• Ms. Montanez, Ms. Rosario, Ms. Dominguez, Ms. Trinidad, and Mr. Garcia: Your efficiency, positivity, and problem-solving skills are the heartbeat of our school. Thank you for making everything run smoothly with a smile!

Hallways, Cafeteria, and Arrival/Dismissal Support

• School Aides and Out-of-Classroom Support Staff (Mr. Batista, Mr. P. Silva, Ms. Paredes, Ms. Guillen, Ms. B. Maldonado, Ms. Silvestrini, Mr. W. Silva, Ms. Sanchez, and Mr. Penaloza): Your presence and care set the tone for the welcoming and supportive culture of I.S. 254. Thank you for being such an essential part of our community!

Special Recognitions

• Awards Ceremony Contributors: A huge thank you to everyone who made Friday’s Awards Ceremony a success! From recognizing student achievements to cheering each other on, the celebrations were a true reflection of the heart of our school. Special thanks to Ms. White for being an energetic and engaging MC, and to Ms. Montanez for preparing the beautiful awards.
• Ms. Trinidad: For making students with perfect attendance feel special at the awards and for organizing the much-anticipated Chat & Chew event—our students are thrilled!
• Mr. Santana: For ensuring all technology ran smoothly for events, professional learning, and parent meetings—your work behind the scenes is vital!

Classroom and Instructional Leaders

• Grade Teams: Thank you for celebrating our students at the awards ceremonies and for your commitment to their growth. Your collaborative spirit shines in everything you do!
• Ms. Maldonado and Civics for All Team: For engaging students with participatory budgeting and creating authentic civic learning opportunities.
• Ms. Bridgemohan, Ms. Ramos, Ms. Bueti, and Instructional Leaders: Thank you for sharing your expertise during professional learning and for your ongoing dedication to improving student outcomes.

Community Projects and Spirit

• Ms. Ortiz and Ms. Cruz: For planning Spirit Week with creativity and teamwork—our students are excited to participate!
• Ms. Martinez: For your hands-on leadership in building our school garden, a project that will benefit the whole community.

At I.S. 254, we value the dedication and creativity of our staff. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to make our school a safe, supportive, and thriving environment for everyone. Your work truly makes a difference!

Upcoming Events

• December 10: After-School Programs Begin

  • Permission slips were sent home last week. Look out for an email from Ms. Rivera on Monday morning with additional details.

• December 13: Parent Association Meeting

  • Time: 9:00 AM

• December 17: 8th Grade Picture Day

• December 19:

  • 6th & 7th Grade Picture Day
  • 8th Grade Winter Dance
    • Permission slips will be sent home this week.

• December 18: ACDP Holiday Celebration – Dismissal at 4:30 PM

• December 19–20: No ACDP Program – Dismissal at 2:45 PM

• 🚨📅 December 23–January 1: Winter Recess, schools closed
  
• March 13, 2025:
• Students not in attendance.
• Half-Day IN-PERSON Staff Professional Development.
  
• 8:25 am - 12:00 pm
  
• Remote Parent-Teacher Conferences
  
• Afternoon (12:45 pm - 2:45 pm)
  
• Evening (4:45 pm - 7:45 pm)
• May 8, 2025: Evening, In-Person Parent Conference

Parent Conferences 2024-2025

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

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

Computer-Based State Exams

This year, our students will take the ELA and Math State Exams on computers. For more details about this process, please refer to the 2024-2025 CBT Family Letter:
2024-2025 CBT FAMILY LETTER

Please take the time to review this information. If you have questions, feel free to contact your child’s teacher or the main office.

Safety Reminder

Your child’s safety is our top priority. Please remember that all visitors must present a valid photo ID when entering the school building. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school safe and secure.

ACDP Updates

• Regular Dismissal Times:

  • Monday: 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday–Friday: 5:30 PM

• Holiday Celebration:

  • Date: Monday, December 18
  • Dismissal Time: 4:30 PM

• No ACDP Program:

  • Dates: December 19–20
  • Dismissal Time for All Students: 2:45 PM

Please ensure timely pickups on these dates.

Summer Arts Institute 2025 Applications Now Open

We are excited to announce that applications for the Summer Arts Institute 2025 are now open! This prestigious program allows students to explore dance, theater, music, film, or visual arts while working with professionals from renowned organizations such as the American Ballet Theatre and the New York Philharmonic.

Key Dates:

• Application Deadline: February 26, 2025, by 10:00 PM
• Audition Submission Deadline: March 2, 2025, by 10:00 PM

To apply, students must:

1. Complete an online application with a student essay.
2. Submit an audition video following the provided guidelines.

For more information, visit the Summer Arts Institute website. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity!

• Mission: We Teach. We Learn. We Love.
  

  Vision: Educating and Empowering individual thinkers to make an impact in the world.

  Instructional Focus: Creating an inclusive environment that empowers every student, offering a culturally responsive curriculum supported by data-driven strategies to address their unique learning needs and enhance literacy achievement.

  Literacy Problem of Practice: Standard of focus is Theme/Central Idea (R2)
  

MS. BRIDGEMOHAN (12/11)

MR. LEON (12/12)

MS. AIKEN-LLEWELLYN (12/13)

BPW Weekly Self-Care

and Q&A Sessions

Weekly on Wednesdays

@6:00 - 6:30pm EDT

Zoom Link HERE

Meeting ID: 885 4014 4085 Passcode: 274960