Principal’s Note

PS 212 Principal’s Message  - June 5th, 2020

Dear Families,

I hope this letter finds you well. Please read the letter from Chancellor Carranza that I have included. I have also linked several resources that you may find helpful to use with your children.

Regards,

Rina Horne

Principal

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZXnMS6r_h0

· Morningside Center Teachable Moment : Listening Circle for George Floyd · Facing History and Ourselves: Bearing witness the death of George Floyd and ( Reckoning-Amidst-Pandemic and Violence and Backlash) · Teaching Tolerance: Resources on Race and Ethnicity · Anti-Defamation League: Engaging Young People in Conversations about Race and Racism · NY Times The Learning Network : A conversation about growing up black · Death of George Floyd Sets Off Massive Protests ( Lessons by AFT)

https://www.thirteen.org/programs/lets-learn-nyc/lets-learn-nyc-series-promo-729nc7/

Mental Health Resources · School Counselor Race Relations Resources(Open external link)

· NYC Well For Staff, students and parents

o Call: 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355)

o Text: WELL to 65173 o Chat: at https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/(Open external link)

· Crisis Text Line

o Text “Got5” to 741-741 o visit: https://www.crisistextline.org/(Open external link)

· New YorkCity Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides education, information, counseling, and referrals to assist with personal/social problems.

· All EAP services are available Monday through Friday, 8AM – 11PM o Email eap@olr.nyc.gov

o Call (212-306-7660) o Visit nyc.gov/eap (Open external link) to schedule a phone/video/text appointment

Together for Justice

June 3, 2020 Letter From the Chancellor on Striving for Justice 

View and print this letter(Open external link) in 9 DOE languages.

Dear Families,

It is hard to recall another time as gut-wrenching and heartbreaking as these recent days have been. George Floyd’s murder at the hands of police officers last week was horrifying. I am sickened. But, like many of you, I am not surprised. We have seen this abominable disregard for Black lives so many times before, including multiple times in recent weeks. It is truly agonizing to witness; it is nothing short of another pandemic presenting itself on the streets of America.

The New York City Department of Education condemns police brutality and this brutal loss of life. My heart breaks to know that yet another Black family has lost a son, a father, a brother. I stand in solidarity with Black New Yorkers and Americans, and with everyone who is mourning yet another senseless loss. Pain ripples and resonates across communities all over the City. I am with all of you as we individually and collectively reckon with this tragic injustice. The demonstrations happening in the five boroughs and in nearly 140 cities across the country are a reflection of this anguish, and the desire for a better world.

It is incredibly difficult to be a parent or caregiver right now: grappling with emotions, seeking actions that both feel of service and of the magnitude needed in this moment, and thinking through ways to begin or deepen conversations with children and families about recent horrific incidents and the systemic racism from which they spring—all at the same time. The pain and struggle are very real.

For communities of color, nothing about this pain is new. It’s been in the bodies, minds, and hearts of millions of New Yorkers and Americans for generations—because racist violence has been perpetrated for that long.

Racism also causes new harm in other ways, every day, because it is systemic—woven deeply into the fabric of our institutions, our economy, and the systems that make up our shared community. That is true in New York City, as progressive and forward-thinking as we are, including in our public school system.

At the DOE we have said, and we will continue to say: no more.

We must answer the call to be actively anti-racist and work every day to undo these systems of injustice. We will continue in our resolve to advance equity now. We will honor the dignity and humanity of every student, parent, educator, employee and member of our community every day.

No matter the form teaching and learning takes—in brick-and-mortar classrooms or on a digital device—the goal remains the same: providing an excellent education to every single student. In doing so, we must also continually find ways to dismantle institutional racism and reverse its effects.

That work is underway. It includes implementing restorative practices, training all educators and employees on implicit bias, providing mental health supports to school communities, and more. This work creates a lifelong effect in children and has the potential to transform our society in ways that make that the world safer, more just, and better for everyone.

When, for example, children learn from books featuring protagonists and lessons featuring stories from people of different races, abilities, genders, ethnicities, languages, and more, they learn also to value difference and diversity. When students experiencing anger or resentment are taught healthy ways to communicate, it’s more likely they won’t react out of unfounded fear.

We will not relent in the work to intensify equity until, student by student and school by school, change comes. We all need this, because racism doesn’t just harm Black, Brown, or Asian families—it harms us all.

Everyone has a role to play. In addition to continuing our work centrally, we are supporting educators with resources to teach episodes from our history and our present, episodes where these same shudders of injustice and outrage, peaceful protest, and also violence and destruction have ripped through our city and society.

At the same time, many of you have already been doing this work at home or are otherwise putting personal resources into these efforts—your time, your energy, your heart, or your voice. We see you, and we are grateful for your powerful commitment. Children see and feel the world around them, and now is an important time to guide them in understanding and engaging with their experiences and those of their friends, families, and fellow New Yorkers.

Below you will find resources to help start, continue, or deepen conversations with children about racism and injustice. We are also sharing resources to help with stress, exhaustion, and self-care. As parents and caregivers, caring for yourself is essential in order to be able to care for others. We will continue to update resources as we move ahead.

I have been reminded of this quote by the writer James Baldwin that resonates so powerfully in this moment: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” These are difficult days of reckoning, but we have the opportunity—and a calling—to go farther in facing injustice.

You are our most important partners in the education of the children of New York City and the building of a better world. We are grateful for you today and every day. 

Resources for Families

How to Talk to Your Children About Race and Current Events

• Guidance for Family Conversations about George Floyd, Racism, and Law Enforcement(Open external link)(Anti-Defamation League)
• Talking to Kids About Racism, Early and Often(Open external link) (New York Times)
• 31 Children’s books(Open external link) to support conversations on race, racism and resistance (Embracerace)
• Black Lives Matter Still Matters(Open external link) (Teaching Tolerance)
• Talking about Race for Parents & Caregivers(Open external link) (National Museum of African American History & Culture)
• Coming Together, Standing Up to Racism(Open external link) (Sesame Street)

This is the new Schedule with all the Google Classroom Codes!

 Cluster Schedule with Codes

I-Ready Diagnostic Will Be Taking Place Later Next Week! Be sure to read and take a look at the dates and times! 

Iready Diagnostic 

Y After School Program at 212 will provide remote learning during after school hours! Click to learn More!

Remote Learning flier

Click To Read About P.S. 212 Virtual Science Fair! All Projects Due June 8th 2020!

Science Fair

The entries were all amazing and so creative!   I loved them all. These are the top 13 that really stood out!   

 Trashformer Contest Winners.docx 

• If you are in need of an electronic device please complete the survey on this web page https://coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevices
• PARENT COORDINATOR: If you require any assistance during remote learning please contact our Parent Coordinator Ilia Liff, Iliff@schools.nyc.gov
• REGISTRATION & BUSING: Pupil Accounting Secretary Margaret Desimone, MDesimone@schools.nyc.gov.
• MIDDLE SCHOOL: Any middle school questions for 5th grade families, please contact Ms Belkadi, mkouiad@schools.nyc.gov

You can also reach the administrative team or receive important notifications daily by joining our Family Remind App. The information can be found on this website under "Important Announcements."  

Principal, Rina Horne, rhorne@schools.nyc.gov

 Assistant Principal, Helen Stern, hstern3@schools.nyc.gov

Assistant Principal, Sharon Dror, sdror2@schools.nyc.gov

Hello Parents, Please open the PDF below to see a list of schools in your area

where your child can pick up 3 free meals every day!

Grab & Go District Sites 

Hope This Helps!

Setting up a basic account will allow you to get emergency notifications from the DOE.

You can create a basic account online from any computer, phone, or tablet. All you need to do is:

·        Go to https://mystudent.nyc/saa/signup 

·        Set up the account by:

o   Entering  your name and email address,

o   creating a password, and

o   answering a few brief security questions so you can reset the password if you forget it.

 

After you create your account, you will need to verify your identity and your relationship to that student. You can do that at the upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences on 3/5/2020. Once you do that you will be able to see your child’s grades, test scores, and attendance. 

 

 (Click the picture to visit our Donors Choose school page)