​Irwin Altman Middle School 172

News & Announcements

• Supporting Our School's Cell Phone and Personal Device Policy

  Good Afternoon Irwin Altman Middle School 172 Families,

   

  On Behalf of our Principal, Dr. DeSimone:

   

  Dear MS 172 Families and Students,

   

  I hope you and your families had a safe, healthy, and enjoyable holiday season, and I wish you all a Happy New Year!

   

  I am writing to ask for your continued partnership in supporting our school’s cell phone and personal device policy, which has been in effect since September. As a reminder, all students are required to use their school-issued cell phone pouch every day. Each morning, students should place their cell phone (and any other personal internet-enabled devices) in the pouch upon arrival to school. The pouch must remain sealed and stored in the student’s backpack for the entire school day and may only be opened once the student exits the school building at dismissal. We are asking families to please check in with your child to ensure they still have their cell phone pouch and are using it daily. This protocol is in place in accordance with guidance from the Superintendent’s Office and New York State Law, and it is essential to maintaining a focused, safe, and distraction-free learning environment. Please note that during the month of January, the school will be conducting cell phone pouch checks to ensure that all students have their pouches and are following the established procedures. If a student has misplaced or lost their pouch, a replacement pouch may be purchased for $10 in the Main Office. Students who do not have a pouch will be required to obtain a replacement in order to bring a cell phone or personal device into school. For your reference, I have attached our Cell Phone and Device Policy from the Student Handbook, which outlines expectations, procedures, and consequences in detail.

   

  Thank you for your support and cooperation as we work together to provide the best possible learning environment for all students. Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you have any questions.

   

  Sincerely,

   

  Dr. Paul J. DeSimone

  Principal

  Irwin Altman Middle School 172

  81-14 257 Street

   

  Please refer to pages 20-21 of attached Student Handbook for further details on The Cell Phone Policy.

   

  MS172Q

• "We're raising dough!" The PTA is holding a fundraiser on  Monday, January 26, 2026 from 4pm-8pm at Panera Bread

  Good Morning Irwin Altman Middle School 172 Families,

  Happy New Year to Everyone!

   

  On Behalf of our PTA:

   

   "We're raising dough!" The PTA is holding a fundraiser on  Monday, January 26, 2026 from 4pm-8pm at Panera Bread. The location is 669 Hillside Ave, New Hyde Park, NY.

  20% of the net sales will be donated. Use code FUND4U at panerabread.com, in the Panera App, or at the kiosk in-cafe.

  Bring this flyer or show a digital copy to your cashier when ordering at the cafe to ensure your organization gets a portion of the net sales.

   

  Audrey Geliga

  Parent Coordinator, Irwin Altman Middle School 172

  MS172Q

• Checking Your Child’s Progress

  Good Morning Irwin Altman Middle School 172 Families,

   

  On Behalf of our Principal, Dr. DeSimone:

   

  REMINDER... 

  Hello MS 172 Families,

   

  We are now at the midpoint of the 2nd marking period, and we want to ensure that all families have the information needed to support their child’s academic progress.

  Checking Your Child’s Progress
  Teachers are updating all grades and assignments in Google Classroom by Friday, December 12th. We encourage you to log in and review your child’s progress. This is the best way to stay informed about current grades, completed work, and any areas where your child may need support.

  Progress Reports for At-Risk Students
  In addition to Google Classroom updates, we will be providing a paper progress report for students who are currently at risk of failing one or more classes.

  Here is what you can expect:

  • Only families of students who are at risk of failing will receive a paper progress report.
  • Copies of the completed reports will be placed in sealed envelopes and sent home with students on Thursday, December 18th.
  • Families are asked to review the report, sign it, and return it by Tuesday, December 23rd.
  • We hope this early notification allows students to complete any missing work over the Winter Break.

  If you have specific questions about your child’s grades, please reach out directly to the individual teachers. Teacher email addresses can be found on our school website at the following link: https://www.ms172.org/directory/faculty.

  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

  Thank you for your continued support!

  Dr. Paul J. DeSimone

  Principal

   

  Audrey Geliga

  Parent Coordinator, Irwin Altman Middle School 172

  MS172Q

• 6th Grade Broadway performance at no cost through the 2025–2026

  Good Morning Irwin Altman Middle School 172 6th Grade Families,

   

  On Behalf of our Principal Dr. DeSimone and our 6th Grade AP Mr. Nash:

   

  Dear 6th Grade Families,

  Irwin Altman Middle School 172 is excited to offer our 6th grade students the opportunity to attend a Broadway performance at no cost through the 2025–2026 Principal Fellowship with the NYC Public Schools Arts Office.

  We will be seeing Buena Vista Social Club, a hit Broadway musical that tells the story behind the iconic Grammy-winning album through the lives of its legendary Cuban musicians.

  The show blends 1950s Havana with the 1990s recording sessions and features incredible live Afro-Cuban music, dance, and a tale of resilience and second chances.

  Please see attached for further details.

   

  Audrey Geliga

  Parent Coordinator, Irwin Altman Middle School 172

  MS172Q

• Italy Trip Come - Learn about this Incredible Opportunity (and get to know the teacher leading your students abroad!).

  On Behalf of our 7th Grade Assistant Principal, Ms. Soto:

   

  Dear MS 172 Families,

   

  I am following up on my previous email about the informational meeting for the Italy trip. I am excited to see how much interest there is in this trip already!

  
  See the meeting details and register for the meeting here: https://bit.ly/4oYXtWb 

   

  As a reminder for those with questions about this opportunity: all questions will be answered at the meeting. Registration for the meeting is mandatory, so do not wait.

   

  Looking forward to seeing you all there!

   

  Thank you,

   

  Ms. Soto

  7^th Grade Assistant Principal

   

  Audrey Geliga

  Parent Coordinator, Irwin Altman Middle School 172

  MS172Q

• Spaces Available in Our TAG After School Program 2:20-3:20

  Good Morning Irwin Altman Middle School 172 Families,

   

  On Behalf of of our 8th Grade Assistant Principal, Ms. Devine:

   

  Dear M.S. 172 Families, 

   

  Our TAG programs began this week.  As of today, we have space in the programs below. 

  If you would like to join, please see the attached catalog for more information. The Google Form is not accepting responses anymore. 

  However, you can email Ms. Devine at kdevine2@schools.nyc.gov with your child's first name, last name class, and the program you are interested in.  

  Space will be filled on a first come first serve basis. 

  The TAG fee will be waived if you are signing up for a second TAG program. 

   

  Grizzly Gazette School Newspaper	Tuesday
  Togetherhood: Digital Movie Making	Wednesday
  Digital Photography	Wednesday
  Reelworks: Filmmaking Basics	Tuesday
  Togetherhood: Art Club	Thursday
  Lacrosse	Friday
  Written Out Loud	Thursday
  Yearbook	Tuesday
  Science/STEM	Friday
  Dance Team	Wednesday
  Lego Club	Thursday

   

   

   

  Audrey Geliga

  Parent Coordinator, Irwin Altman Middle School 172

  MS172Q

• Join us virtually to learn about the enrichment programs we offer for students interested in careers in healthcare.

  Good Morning Irwin Altman Middle School 8th Grade Families,

   

  On Behalf of The PTA:

   

  An opportunity from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University about opportunities for Middle and High School students interested in careers in Healthcare.

  We are pleased to announce our health awareness series 'Health Hacks: 5 Weeks to level up'! Health Hacks is a 5-week program for students in grades 8-12, tailored around education on prevalent health issues. Each week students enjoy vibrant, engaging, virtual sessions led by current medical students. This is an amazing opportunity for students interested in health careers. Parents and Educators are welcome!

  Sessions are held every Thursday from January 8, 2026- February 5, 2026 via zoom at 5pm.

  Application Deadline: 11:59PM on Sunday January 4^th, 2026

   

  Health Hacks application link: https://qualtrics.downstate.edu/jfe/form/SV_bj6SnuFj9xDFZ3g

   

   

  Join us virtually to learn about the enrichment programs we offer for students interested in careers in healthcare. The information will be the same in both sessions.

   

  Registration is required to attend the information session. You can find the link in the attached flyer for dissemination to your network of students and parents.

   

  Session 1 Tuesday, December 9^th Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sYVVfdXQRTeoqTTOoccExQ

   

  Session 2 Wednesday, December 17^th Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Kbtj7Vs6Rf6kG_HFKmRzYA

   

  Link to our website: https://www.downstate.edu/about/our-administration/office-for-institutional-equity/high-school-students/index.html  

   

   

  Audrey Geliga

  Parent Coordinator, Irwin Altman Middle School

  MS172Q

• Do you enjoy reading? This is an opportunity for you!

  On Behalf of The PTA:

   

  Do you enjoy reading? This is an opportunity for you! The conversation is fun! Each month a book will be chosen to discuss.

  You can get the book at the library, buy it, or get it digitally. Join us for our amazing monthly discussions.

  The next book we will be reading is The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony. Our next book club meeting will be December 16th at 8:30am.

   

  If you are interested in participating in book club, please send an email to ageliga@schools.nyc.gov

   

  Audrey Geliga

  Parent Coordinator, Irwin Altman Middle School 172

  MS172Q

• MS 74 will be hosting a  Let It Snowglobe Family Craft Workshop.

  MS 74 will be hosting a  Let It Snowglobe Family Craft Workshop.

  Space is limited to 60 spots. It is first come first served. A waitlist will be provided as well.

   

   

  Please see attached for further details.

  Audrey Geliga

  Parent Coordinator, Irwin Altman Middle School 172

  • Let It Snowglobe_2025.pdf

  MS172Q

• 26Q435 Martin Van Buren High School's upcoming open houses

  On Behalf of The District Office:

   26Q435 Martin Van Buren High School's upcoming open houses:

      -Saturday, November 22, 2025, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM (in-person: 230-17 Hillside Avenue, Queens Village, NY 11427)

      -Monday, December 1, 2025, 5:00 PM-6:00 PM (virtual)

  • MVB Open House Flyer.pdf

  MS172Q