Weekly Newsletter

COMING UP

Feb 12 - School Leadership Team (SLT) Meeting, 4:30 pm
Feb 13 - PTA Meeting, 8:30 am
Feb 13 - 2nd - 5th Grade Armory Visit, Sign Up
Feb 14 - We Love PS 154 Day - Show your spirit by wearing pink or red!
Feb 16 - School Closed - Lunar New Year
Feb 19 - 23 - School Closed - MidWinter Recess
Feb 26 - Return to School
Feb 27 - 2nd - 5th Grade Armory Visit, Sign Up
Feb 27 - Mindfulness for Children: A Parenting Seminar, 6:30pm in the MMR, info below
Mar 1 - 2nd Grade City Worker Day
Mar 6 - Red Hawk Native American Assembly
Mar 9 - Movie Night

Look ahead to all events on our school calendar here.

THANK YOU READ-A-THON PARTICIPANTS!

We had about 240 students participate in the Read-A-Thon this year. We are so impressed with all the children who meticulously recorded their reading and met their ambitious goals. We are also so grateful to the many parents, friends, and extended family who donated to our PTA as part of this fundraiser. We’ve already raised more than $14,000 and we’re still tracking donations! You can still donate here. We will have a final tally in the March PTA budget report. We’ve gotten a few questions about online donations. If you would like to know who donated online in honor of your child, please reach out to us at PTA_Info@ps154.org and we can provide you with that information.

Read-a-Thon Prize Winners were announced by Mr. Buckley Thursday morning.

Class Winners:

K- Mrs. Witkowski’s class - 8563 minutes
1- Ms. Capua’s class - 16,440 minutes
2- Ms. Weitzman’s class - 11,540 minutes
3- Ms. Milledge’s class - 36,225 minutes
4- Mrs. Theodorakis’ class - 18,787 minutes
5- Ms. Fought & Ms. Marucci’s class - 41,655 minutes

Individual Winners

K- Joshua Gillman - 1,265 minutes
1- Lila Sivin - 2,437 minutes
2- Samantha Gavin - 2,666 minutes
3- Andrew Hernandez -  4,086 minutes
4- Calvin Zimmerman - 5,105 minutes
5- Liel Yakobian - 5,823 minutes

WE LOVE PS 154 WEAR RED OR PINK DAY!

FEB 14 DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

Show your school spirit and love of PS 154 by wearing Red or Pink.

Mindfulness for Children: A Parenting Seminar

Tues, Feb 27, 6:30-8 pm in the MMR

$5 Suggested Donation / DONATE HERE

In this parenting talk, co-presented by the Committee to Support Students with Special Needs and the Social and Emotional Experience Committee, our guest speaker will share her expertise on this topic: What is mindfulness training and how can it help my child?

By learning and practicing mindfulness, our children can calm down, reduce impulsiveness, identify their feelings, improve attention, improve body awareness and generally feel better.

Presenter Jane Weedon, P.T.M.S., BFA, MFA, will explain and demonstrate how her unique approach to mindfulness training can help your child and you be healthier and happier.

A Trip Around the World

Sat, March 3, 2-5 pm

Join us as the PS 154 PTA Diversity Committee hosts a fun and informative day in the MMR. We are currently looking for volunteers to host a table at which kids can stop and learn about a different country. Play a game, sing a song, build a craft — please join us and share something special associated with your heritage. Please email abbypalancapta@gmail.com and skellyfranci@hotmail.com to volunteer. 

RAFFLE MANIA!

THURS, MARCH 22, 7 pm
at Shepherd’s Hall behind Holy Name Church, 245 Prospect Park West

Coming up on March 22nd is  our biggest adults only fundraiser of the year: Raffle Mania! Raffle Mania is back for its 3rd consecutive year and bigger than ever. We’ll have more games, more raffles and our biggest fundraising goal yet: $50,000! Bring your friends and family, and help us meet that goal. Dinner and open bar are included.

Buy your ticket today!

Donate an item or experience!
 

Around the Community

Check out Prospect Park for Lunar New Year

Friday, February 16

Find out more here.
 

LOST & FOUND WILL BE DONATED WED, FEB 14!

Check for your child's lost water bottles, hats, mittens, jackets, etc!

Weekly Newsletter

RAFFLE MANIA IS COMING!

Check out our Raffle Mania video, and BUY TICKETS today! Big thanks to Eve Hartmann-Crep for putting this together! More details about the event below...

COMING UP

Feb 5 - Meet our School Based Support Team, 8:30 am
Feb 5 - 2nd - 3rd Grade Bio Bus visit
Feb 5 - 4th & 5th Grade Author Visit: Michael Buckley
Feb 8 - PTA Executive Board Meeting, 6:30pm
Feb 9 - American Heart Association Assembly (Jump-a-Thon Kick Off) - Wear RED
Feb 12 - School Leadership Team Meeting, 4:30 pm
Feb 13 - PTA Meeting, 8:30 am
Feb 13 - 2nd - 5th Grade Armory Visit, Sign Up
Feb 14 - We Love PS 154 Day - Show your spirit by wearing pink or red!
Feb 16 - School Closed - Lunar New Year
Feb 19 - 23 - School Closed - MidWinter Recess
Feb 26 - Return to School
Feb 27 - 2nd - 5th Grade Armory Visit, Sign Up
Feb 27 - Mindfulness for Children: A Parenting Seminar, 6:30 pm in the MMR
Mar 1 - 2nd Grade City Worker Day

Look ahead to all events on our school calendar here.
 

MEET YOUR SCHOOL BASED SUPPORT TEAM (SBST)

MON, FEB 5, 8:30 - 9:30 AM IN THE MMR

This information session is open to all PS 154 parents and guardians. Topics will include:

• timeline for interventions and family communication
• response to interventions
• evaluations and assessments
• explanation of support services available

We will also introduce the special education teachers in each of the 1st-5th grade Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) classrooms.

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A.
QUESTIONS? Contact PS 154 Parent Coordinator Debby Wattenbarger at 718.768.0057, EXT 1

JUMP-A-THON KICKOFF ASSEMBLY - NAT’L DOUBLE DUTCH LEAGUE

FEB 9 DURING THE SCHOOL DAY - Wear RED Day!

Our PE teacher, Ms. Moore, is using her PTA mini-grant to bring in an amazing group to perform for our children as a kick-off to the jump-a-thon season. The organization National Double Dutch League will bring a demonstration team to show off their skills to our kids.

We Love PS154 DAY - Wear RED or Pink!

FEB 14 DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

Show your school spirit and love of PS 154 by wearing Red or Pink.

Mindfulness for Children: A Parenting Seminar

Feb 27, 6:30-8 pm in the MMR

SAVE THE DATE!
$5 Suggested Donation / BUY TICKETS

In this parenting talk, co-presented by the Committee to Support Students with Special Needs and the Social and Emotional Experience Committee, our guest speaker will share her expertise on this topic: What is mindfulness training and how can it help my child?

By learning and practicing mindfulness, our children can calm down, reduce impulsiveness, identify their feelings, improve attention, improve body awareness and generally feel better.

Presenter Jane Weedon, P.T.M.S., BFA, MFA, will explain and demonstrate how her unique approach to mindfulness training can help your child and you be healthier and happier.

RAFFLE MANIA!

THURS, MARCH 22, 7 pm
at Shepherd’s Hall behind Holy Name Church, 245 Prospect Park West

Coming up on March 22nd is  our biggest adults only fundraiser of the year: Raffle Mania!  Raffle Mania is back for its 3rd consecutive year and bigger than ever. We’ll have more games, more raffles and our biggest fundraising goal yet: $50,000! Bring your friends and family, and help us meet that goal. Dinner and open bar are included.

Buy your ticket today!
Donate an item or experience!

Did you know you can volunteer in the lunchroom?

Volunteers help keep the lunch room organized and fun for our children as they have down time from their studies. The success of your child’s education can be found in the many aspects of their school day. This includes their lunch time. In order for our children to enjoy every part of their day at PS 154, we need dedicated people EACH DAY to help in the lunchroom. This is also a great opportunity to get to know the wonderful children and families in our school.

In order to volunteer, please read and sign the volunteer agreement. You are required to sign and return the Expectations for Volunteers form to Debby Wattenbarger before serving as a lunchroom volunteer. Hope to see you soon!

Apply to Pre-K

New York City families with children born in 2014 can now apply to pre-K. Please note, PS 154 does not have Pre K classes. Submit an application between February 5 and March 30, 2018:

• Online via our application site

• By phone at 718-935-2009

• In person at a Family Welcome Center

Interpretation services are available in more than 200 languages for over-the-phone and in-person application submissions. You can ask questions and request information about admissions in any language when you call or go to a Family Welcome Center.

Weekly Newsletter

COMING UP

TONIGHT! Jan 26 - Movie Night! The Lego Ninjago Movie - doors open 6 pm, movie begins 6:15 pm
Feb 1 - World Read-Aloud Day (details below)
Feb 2 - Family Friday, 8:35 - 9:15 am
Feb 5 - Meet our School Based Support Team, 8:30 am
Feb 5 - 2nd - 3rd Grade Bio Bus visit
Feb 5 - 4th & 5th Grade Author Visit: Michael Buckley
Feb 8 - PTA Executive Board, 6:30 pm
Feb 9 - American Heart Association Assembly (Jump-a-Thon Kick Off) - Wear RED
Feb 12 - School Leadership Team Meeting, 4:30 pm
Feb 13 - PTA Meeting, 8:30 am
Feb 13 - 2nd - 5th Grade Armory Visit, Sign Up
Feb 16 - School Closed - Lunar New Year
Feb 19 - 23 - School Closed - MidWinter Recess

READ-A-THON ENDS TODAY

Today, Friday, January 26, your young reader will record his or her last day's reading for the 2018 PS 154 Read-A-Thon. Congratulations to all for the effort and achievement!

What's next? Please add up the number of minutes that the student has read and mark it at the bottom of the reading log. Collect the money from sponsors and return it with the completed reading log and pledge form to your child's teacher in a sealed envelope clearly marked “READ-A-THON” with the student’s name, teacher and class number on the envelope by Thursday, February 1. Sponsors can also donate online.

Stay tuned for winners to be announced on Friday, February 9! Each child that reads the most in his or her grade will get a gift certificate to Terrace Books, and each grade's class that collectively read the most will get a special reading session with our own Principal Buckley.

Thank you to all PS 154 families for assisting your children with this wonderful fundraiser and community event.

WORLD READ-ALOUD DAY

FEB 1

This year, PS 154 will be participating in this global celebration of reading. The global nonprofit LitWorld organizes this event, in which schools, families, and communities across the world bring attention to the global issue of childhood literacy by reading aloud together, and posting pictures on social media using #WorldReadAloudDay. We hope your family will participate too! Stay tuned for an email update on Feb 1.

CLASS ART PROJECTS

FAMILY FRIDAY, FEB 2, 8:35am

Many classes will be doing the class art project next Friday, Feb 2, on Family Friday. Please ask your class parent how you can help. This is a beloved PS 154 tradition that the children enjoy, and we auction off the projects in March as a benefit for the PTA.

MEET YOUR SCHOOL BASED SUPPORT TEAM (SBST)

MON, FEB 5, 8:30 - 9:30 AM IN THE MMR

This information session is open to all PS 154 parents and guardians.

Topics will include:
timeline for interventions and family communication

• response to interventions
• evaluations and assessments
• explanation of support services available

We will also introduce the special education teachers in each of the 1st-5th grade Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) classrooms.

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A.

QUESTIONS?  Contact PS 154 Parent Coordinator Debby Wattenbarger at 718.768.0057, EXT 1

JUMP-A-THON KICKOFF ASSEMBLY - NAT’L DOUBLE DUTCH LEAGUE

FEB 9 DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

Our PE teacher, Ms. Moore, is using her PTA mini-grant to bring in an amazing group to perform for our children as a kick-off to the jump-a-thon season. The organization National Double Dutch League will bring a demonstration team to show off their skills to our kids.

RAFFLE MANIA!

THURS, MARCH 22, 7 pm
at Shepherd’s Hall behind Holy Name Church, 245 Prospect Park West

Coming up on March 22nd is  our biggest adults only fundraiser of the year: Raffle Mania!  Raffle Mania is back for its 3rd consecutive year and bigger than ever. We’ll have more games, more raffles and our biggest fundraising goal yet: $50,000! Bring your friends and family, and help us meet that goal. Dinner and open bar are included.

Buy your ticket today!

Donate an item or experience!

NY INT'L CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL

February 23 - March 18

This event showcases new films for ages 3-18. The festival is packed full of fantastic film programs for your family and, even better, our school earns $3 back for every ticket you purchase!

To buy tickets and raise money for our school simply:

1.      Go to www.nyicff.org/tickets/  
2.      Select our school from the “School Partner” Menu on the top of the page (IMPORTANT!!!!)
3.      Purchase tickets

Weekly Newsletter

COMING UP

Jan 23 - 2nd - 5th Grade Armory Visit, Sign Up
Jan 23 - Intro to Special Education, 6:30 pm, info below
Jan 25 - Sustainability Committee Meeting, 6:30 pm
Jan 26 - PS 154 Shares & Cares Pajama Day, info below
Jan 26 - Movie Night! The Lego Ninjago Movie, doors open 6 pm, movie begins 6:15 pm
Jan 27 - Self-Defense for Kids & Tweens - Buy Tix here
Feb 2 - Family Friday, 8:35am - 9:15am
Feb 5 - 4th & 5th Grade Author Visit: Michael Buckley
Feb 8 - Executive Board Meeting, 6:30pm
Feb 9 - American Heart Association Assembly (Jump-A-Thon Kick Off) - WEAR RED
Feb 12 - School Leadership Team Meeting, 4:30 pm
Feb 13 - PTA Meeting, 8:30 am
Feb 13 - 2nd - 5th Grade Armory Visit, Sign Up
 

CONGRATULATIONS BOOKMARK CONTEST WINNERS

We are happy to announce the winners of the 2018 Read-a-Thon Bookmark contest. Thank you to the many students who entered their bookmarks. The winners are:

Kindergarten: Jia-Li Lambert
1st grade: Beatrix Kiener
2nd grade: Louella Schwenzfeier
3rd grade: Violet Adler
4th grade: Bea Kotuk
5th grade: Naina Mukherjee

Congratulations to the winners, whose bookmarks have been given to every student in their grade. All of the bookmarks that were entered in the contest are on display on the wall over Agent White's desk this week. Please stop by and check out the many terrific designs!

 

THE READ-A-THON CONTINUES THROUGH JAN 26!

Please keep logging your minutes for the Read-a-thon, which ends a week from Friday, on January 26. Lost your child’s packet? All info here.
 

INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION

TUES, JAN 23, 6:30-8:30 PM

This event has been organized by the Committee for Students With Special Needs. Learn the New York City special education process, including timelines for referral, evaluation, services, placement, and parent rights and role.

Presentation by IncludeNYC. Please register (not required, but helpful!)

NEED TRANSLATION SERVICES AT THIS EVENT? Please email pta_info@ps154.org, and we will arrange.
 

PTA SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING

WED, JAN 25, 6:30-7:30pm

Please join this first meeting to learn about the Sustainability Committee and its mission to reduce PS 154’s carbon footprint. We’ll hear from school leadership, and brainstorm about how to support their efforts. As a new committee we have an opportunity to explore new ideas that will impact our kids and help make our school community as ‘green’ as possible.  We look forward to seeing you there!

SCHOOL SPIRIT: PS 154 Shares & Cares Pajama Day

Fri, Jan 26

Please have your child come to school on Friday, January 26 wearing their cozy pajamas. Let’s show we care and share by participating in our Pajama Drive. If you can, please send in brand new pajamas (for Adults and/or Children) with tabs and in the original packaging. There will be a collection box in the MMR.
 

PAJAMA MOVIE NIGHT - THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE

FRI, JAN 26, doors open at 6:00 pm / movie starts at 6:15 pm at PS 154

Join us in your nightgowns and PJs for this animated comedy. Kids of all ages will enjoy this wild caper filled with slapstick humor. Pizza, hot dogs, snacks, drinks, and treats for sale. Suggested donation at the door: $5 per person.
 

SELF DEFENSE FOR KIDS AND TWEENS

SAT, JAN 27 2-3pm

Sign up here! Learn how to:
• Remove someone's grip
• Use your voice more effectively
• Get someone off of you safely and effectively

Classes taught by a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt. Open to children in grades 1 through 5. All proceeds for this event benefit the PTA of PS 154! You do not need to be a PS 154 student to attend.

RAFFLE MANIA!

THURS, MARCH 22, 7 pm
at Shepherd’s Hall behind Holy Name Church, 245 Prospect Park West

Coming up on March 22nd is our biggest adults only fundraiser of the year: Raffle Mania!  Raffle Mania is back for its 3rd consecutive year and bigger than ever. We’ll have more games, more raffles and our biggest fundraising goal yet: $50,000! Bring your friends and family, and help us meet that goal. Dinner and open bar are included.

Buy your ticket today!

JOINT MEETING OF CITYWIDE COUNCIL ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS & CITYWIDE COUNCIL ON SPECIAL ED

TUES, FEB 13, 6:15 PM

Families are welcome at this meeting talking about students with IEPs who are also English Language Learners. See the flyer.