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Irwin Altman Middle School 172 81-14 257th Street Floral Park, New York 11004 Phone: 718-831-4000 Fax: 718-831-4008 Mr. Jeffrey D. Slivko, Principal jslivko@schools.nyc.gov 917-720-8042 Mr. Myles Nash, Assistant Principal mnash2@schools.nyc.gov 631-392-6831 Ms. Maritza Soto, Assistant Principal msoto32@schools.nyc.gov 914-407-4189 Debbie Hochrad, Parent Coordinator dhochrad@schools.nyc.gov 914-295-0428 Guidance Counselors Ms. Lavalle klavall@schools.nyc.gov (929)282-0258 (Grade 7 and 821, 823, 825, 831,833,892) Ms. Grevstad cgrevstad@schools.nyc.gov (929)279-2691 (Grade 6 and 801,802,822,824,832,891) Social Worker Ms. Martinez lmartinez64@schools.nyc.gov (718) 831-4016 ext. 3175 (M, R, F) (929) 314-3125 (T, W) Ms. Danielle Giunta Community Superintendent District 26 District 26.org Mental Health Resources Coronavirus Parent Letters (Different Languages) infohub.nyced.org/in-our-schools/translations/letters/coronavirus iPad Update Additional 100,000 LTE-enabled iPads for Remote and Blended Learning As per the mayor’s press conference with Chancellor Carranza on October 6, the city is purchasing an additional 100,000 LTE-enabled iPads for the DOE to distribute to schools for remote and blended learning. Note that the estimated timeline for delivery of these devices is the next 8–10 weeks. Families who still need a device should fill out the Remote Learning Device (RLD) Request Form, if they have not yet done so. For anyone who has a DOE-loaned ipad, we have some important updates for you. It is essential that you take the actions below to ensure your child’s ipad is ready for use for return to school. The first day of school is only a few weeks away, and all students will be working remotely for at least a few days a week. Your child will need their ipad to be ready for learning for the fall. Please note that when we have other updates, we will send messages to you and your iPad on Thursdays, and we will let your schools know about the updates. 1. To prepare, you MUST: Turn on the ipad - some iPads have not been turned on all summer. We need you to charge and power up the ipad. Turn Airplane Mode on and off to reset your internet connection a. Go to Settings b. Find the Airplane Mode button c. Turn Airplane Mode on for ten seconds (button turns green) d. Turn Airplane Mode off and wait until the ipad reconnects to the internet e. You will see the connected icon at the top of the screen f. Go to schools.nyc.gov to make sure your ipad is connected to the internet - all DOE-loaned ipads have internet access. Return to the main screen and sign into Zscaler in order to ensure your child is using the internet with all the safety the DOE requires and protect your child. You will need your child’s @nycstudents.net account. Once you get that please follow these directions: a. On the main screen, click the Zscaler icon. After clicking the icon, you will be taken to the login page . b. Enter your child’s @nycstudent account (only use the student’s username and password, no need to include @nycstudents to log in), then click the “sign in” button. c. Click on the "allow" button and wait one minute for a connection to be established until you will see the Zscaler screen d. Once the connection is secure, close the app e. That is it. You can use the iPad normally now. Sign into the Learn at Home App To get ready for the first day of school, make connecting to learning and support much easier for your child (and you, too!), and allow you to get notifications on the iPad: a. Find the Learn at Home icon on the main screen on the iPad b. Log in the same way you did for Zscaler, using the same @nycstudents.net account (only use the student’s username and password, no need to include @nycstudents to log in) c. From the Learn at Home app your child can access TeachHub, Google Classroom and get help. Good news! Your child’s ipad is now a hotspot that allows you to connect other devices used for remote learning to the internet. It is easy a. Go to Settings b. Find Personal Hotspot and click to take you to the login screen c. Select Allow Others to Join d. Devices other students in your house are using for remote learning can be added to that connection e. As a reminder, as with the ipad itself, the hotspot connection is to be used only to access remote learning activities. Any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. . iPad Distribution Families are encouraged to request a remote learning device (IPad) if you need one. Please fill out the Remote Learning Device Request at the link below. Fill Out the Form(Open external link) The DOE is contracting with FedEx to deliver iPads directly to students. Your iPad will be shipped to the address you entered on the request form. If you have already filled out the request form, you will receive a text message or email making sure you have completed the Student Device Loan Agreement. Please complete the agreement when you request a device as your device cannot be shipped unless you have signed the agreement. Please make sure someone is at the address to accept the delivery, as FedEx will not leave packages unattended. Also, FedEx carriers will adhere to social distancing rules. Learn at Home App for DOE-Issued iPads A new app, called Learn at Home, is now available on all DOE-issued iPads. The Learn at Home app is helpful in supporting students’ remote-learning needs—giving parents, students, and staff the ability to stay connected and informed through quick access to student accounts, other learning apps and technical support. The app provides students with links to all the tools they need to attend class, complete assignments, and track their progress. The Learn at Home app features include: · Student apps in one place; · Easy access to schedules and homework; · Easy-to-find links to DOE tech support; · Additional learning resources by grade level; and · A notification system for DOE news and information. Note that the Learn at Home app is only available on DOE-issued iPads at this time. Please encourage your students to access the app on their DOE-issued iPads. Students who enabled app notifications on their devices can receive updates about DOE news and information. For questions, email LearnAtHome@schools.nyc.gov. Launch of Remote Learning Technical Support Ticket System for Families The DOE is launching a family-facing Remote Learning Technical Support ticket system. Families (or someone on their behalf) can submit requests for technical support for a broad range of issues, including application support, lost, stolen, or broken devices, and delivery status, though the Technical Support for Families page. Note that when families select a topic and issue in the ticket submission form, the form will automatically list common resolutions to technical support problems; if the suggested resolutions do not resolve the family’s issue, they can continue to submit a tech support ticket by completing the form. www.nycenet.edu/technicalsupportforfamily Google Classroom Instructions (translations) English 2020-Parents-Guide-to-Google-Classroom.pdf Bangla Bangla _2020-Parents-Guide-to-Google-Classroom.pdf Bangla_ 2020-Parents-Guide-to-Google-Classroom.pptx.pdf Chinese https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_jaYbURbLMlH0CwOVQDjzFNpFEZ2SNw3 Korean Korean_2020-Parents-Guide-to-Google-Classroom.pdf Spanish Spanish_2020-Parents-Guide-to-Google-Classroom.pdf Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS) Update NYC families: if your child has a persistent fever, rash, abdominal pain, vomiting or other symptoms, call your doctor immediately. If you don’t have a doctor, call 311. So far there have been 110 cases of multi-system inflammatory syndrome have been detected in children in NYC hospitals. Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Fact Sheet (PDF, May 11) Antibody Testing Update The City of New York will offer free antibody tests to 70,000 New Yorkers. 1,000 tests will be given at each site every day by appointment only. Five sites have been selected to perform these tests: Bronx: Morrisania- 4006 Third Avenue Brooklyn: East NY - 127 Pennsylvania Avenue Manhattan: Upper Manhattan - 21 Old Broadway Staten Island: Concord - St. John’s Villa 57 Cleveland Place Queens: Long Island City - 34-09 Queens Boulevard You can make an appointment through nyc.bioreference.com/antibodysurvey. If you DO NOT have internet access, please call 888-279-0967 Expanded COVID-19 Testing Visit nyc.gov/covidtest to find a community testing site near you. The City will double its testing capacity at NYC Health + Hospitals and will open 12 new testing sites by May 25. Beginning the week of May 18, 2 new COVID-19 testing sites will be open. All City MD sites to have tests 7 days a week · 123 sites across all 5 boroughs · Walk-ins welcome · No cost for the uninsured · Find locations at citymd.com Job Opportunity: NYC Health + Hospitals is Hiring Contact Tracers Job information can be viewed at nychealthandhospitals.org/careers Urgent: Blood Donations Needed There is a shortage of blood and blood donations are desperately needed. New Yorkers can help others during the COVID-19 crisis by donating blood. Make an appointment with New York Blood Center to donate your blood at nybc.org/donate-blood or call 800-933-2566 Funeral Rites and Burial Assistance In order to ensure that those we’ve lost are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, the City signed an emergency rule to expand the number of low-income people who can receive burial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The assistance is available to everyone, regardless of immigration status, with proof of low-income status. For more information, visit the Help Now NYC website, call 929-252-7731, or email BurialServices@hra.nyc.gov for application assistance. The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) has published important information for New Yorkers who have lost loved ones. Download DCWP’s Funeral Planning During COVID-19 Tips. On May 14, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Bitta Mostofi, Department of Social Services Commissioner Steve Banks, Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Marco Carrión, and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Executive held an Community and Ethnic Media virtual roundtable on funeral rites and burial assistance. · Watch and share the discussion on social media. Emergency Food Assistance All New Yorkers can access the food they need by picking up grab-and-go meals at NYC Schools, by visiting a food pantry, or by signing up for food delivery assistance Go to nyc.gov/getfood to sign up or to find an emergency food location near you. Visiting a food pantry, picking up a grab-and-go meal, or receiving food delivery assistance will not impact your ability to apply for a green card. If you have questions about how accessing certain public benefits may affect immigration status, call the free, confidential ActionNYC hotline at 1-800-354-0365 for information and connections to legal help. The GetFood Delivery Assistance Program is seeking nonprofit providers for meal preparation with a focus on culturally sensitive meals and ethnic foods, to staff and serve as distribution sites, and to facilitate home meal delivery. Go to nyc.gov/nonprofits for more information. NYC LGBTQ+ COVID-19 Guide On May 12, the NYC Unity Project in the NYC Mayor’s Office, in partnership with representatives from 15 city agencies and over 200 LGBTQ+ community partners across NYC, launched the NYC LGBTQ+ COVID-19 Guide: nyc.gov/lgbtqcovid New COVID-19 Resources by Neighborhood The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has created a comprehensive resource guide. The guide includes resources currently available in specific communities, listed by zip code. Some resources are available for in-person services, while others offer remote and delivery options. Visit the DOHMH COVID-19 Community and Business webpage to view the guides available by borough, neighborhood, and by language. More translations will be available soon. TLC Resource Center On May 12, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) launched its Driver Resource Center: portal.driverresourcecenter.tlc.nyc.gov All TLC-licensed drivers and medallion owner-drivers can access legal services, financial counseling, health and mental health referrals, driver protection services, and public benefits application support. DACA Renewal Assistance If the Supreme Court ends DACA, it would put approximately 29,000 healthcare practitioners nationwide—who are also DACA recipients—at risk of deportation, when hospital systems need them most. Need to renew your DACA in NYC? Call ActionNYC at 1-800-354-0365 for help renewing your application. What you need to know about COVID-19 105 PRECINCT Dear Our 105 Precinct Community Members, As we know, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency in New York as officials seek to combat the spreading coronavirus. We want our community members to know we are here to help get through these tough times. The Coronavirus is likely to spread from person to person, but it is currently unclear how easily it spreads. 80% of people with COVID-19 will feel like they have a bad cold or flu like symptoms. People who are at a higher risk of severe illness are the elderly or have other underlying health conditions. What should New Yorkers do? 1 Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. 2 Use alcohol based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. 2 Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow/sleeve (not your hands). 3 Get the flu shot-it is not too late. Although the shot will not protect you from COVID-19, it can help prevent the flu which has similar symptoms to the coronavirus. 4 Refrain from touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. 5 If you feel sick, stay home and keep distance from others. 6 If you have a fever, cough and/or shortness of breath, and recently traveled to an area with ongoing spread of coronavirus, or have been in close contact with someone who recently has, go to your doctor immediately. 7 If you have these symptoms, but no travel history, still take it seriously. Stay home and call your doctor. 8If you need connection to a health care provider, call 311. 8 Hospital staff will not ask about immigration status. Receiving health care is not a public benefit identified by the public charge test. Please get the facts about COVID-19 in real-time & ignore the rumors. 9 Text ‘COVID’ to 692-692 (NYC-NYC) for accurate, real-time updates from @NotifyNYC & the NYC OEM. Please do not share unconfirmed information you might read. 10 Visit http://nyc.gov/coronavirus for more informatiion Please be reminded that all 6th grade students must have the Tdap vaccine by their 11th birthday and 7th grade students must have the Meningococcal Conjugate vaccine when they enter 7th grade (no age requirement.) Microsoft Software for Students and Families The DOE provides free Microsoft software to students and families. Much of this software has education-specific content that supports our students’ academic improvement. In addition, familiarity with these tools will help prepare students for college and careers. Students can go to https://portal.office.com(Open external link), sign in with their DOE credentials, and click on the Install Office button to install the software. If students need help logging in, they should go to the password reset tool(Open external link) for students where they’ll need to enter their OSIS number and Date of Birth (DOB) to reset their passwords. Statement on Accessibility: We are working to make this website easier to access for people with disabilities, and will follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. If you need assistance with a particular page or document on our current site, please contact hsohn@schools.nyc.gov to request assistance. |
Parents: Please fill out the Panorama Survey
The Fall 2020 School Experience Survey is Launching January 19, 2021 through February 5th, 2021 The DOE is launching the Fall 2020 School Experience Survey We are asking all families and staff, and students in grades 6 through 12, to share their experience during this year, which has been like no other. Knowing your experience will help us plan for the spring and beyond, and it will also help us quickly support schools to improve remote and in-person learning. The survey link will be sent to families next week and published on the DOE’s website. It will be available in 10 languages. The link to the survey is www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/learn-at-home/fall-2020-school-experience-survey Please note: Our school is listed as Irwin Altman Middle School 172 Please support the school by filling out this survey. Thank you Debbie Hochrad, Parent Coordinator MS 172 Student Covid Testing (1) - December 17, 2020 Student Covid Testing (2) - December 17, 2020 All students, previously registered for blended learning or new to blended learning must fill out this new consent for testing form and submit to Ms. Hochrad. Blue Emergency Card Link Dear Families, December 22, 2020 Before we part for Winter Recess, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for all you have done to keep the learning going during this unforgettable year. Our families and educators are the hearts and souls of our school communities, and everything we have gotten right this year, we owe to you. To the sacrifices you have made to ensure your children thrive in an era of blended and remote learning. To your trust in our public schools. To your personal feedback to me—whether positive or negative, it has helped me and everyone at the DOE better serve you and your children. Although the holidays will look very different this year, there is still much to celebrate. I hope you take time to rejoice, relax, connect with loved ones near and far—and reflect on the acts of kindness and compassion that have lifted your lives these past 12 months. As we look ahead to the rest of the school year, we are unwavering in our focus to deliver the highest-quality education possible to each of your children. We do this to prepare them for a successful, productive life, empowered with the skills they need to chase their dreams. To that end, last week we announced changes to the middle and high school admissions process, which will open in January. Beginning next year, our middle schools will not use academic records, auditions, or other screens or assessments to evaluate or admit students, and high schools will phase out geographic priorities. This will result in a fairer process for all New York City public school families. To learn more, please visit schools.nyc.gov/middle or schools.nyc.gov/high. We know there’s more to do, and we are united in our mission to make sure your child—and every one of their 1.1 million peers—receives the best education possible in the greatest city in the world. On behalf of all of us at the Department of Education, I wish you and your loved ones a beautiful holiday season and a happy new year. Please stay safe and well, and we look forward to seeing you in 2021! Sincerely, Richard A. Carranza Chancellor New York City Department of Education Report Cards IRWIN ALTMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL 172 81-14 257 Street Floral Park, New York 11004 718 831-4000 FAX: (718) 831-4008 Mr. Jeffrey D. Slivko, Principal Mr. Myles Nash, Assistant Principal Ms. Maritza Soto, Assistant Principal December 15, 2020 Dear Parents/Guardians: You are receiving your child’s /children’s first Marking Period Report card on Tuesday, December 15. Report cards will be accessible in Teachhub (Student Documents) at: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/learn-at-home/technical-tools-and-support/teachhub which you can access with your child’s /children’s @nycstudents.net account. Alternately, report cards will be available in your NYCSA (NYC Schools Account)and in Pupilpath. Please note that as per DOE Grading Policy for 2020-21
If you have a question about the NX grade or any of your child’s /children’s grades, please contact your child’s /children’s teacher(s.) Sincerely, Jeffrey D. Slivko Principal To our MS 172 Families Please note this information which can be found on the NYC Department of Education website at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/coronavirus-update: Threshold for Closing School Buildings School buildings will need to close if New York City meets the following criteria The percent of positive tests in New York City is equal to or greater than 3% using a 7-day rolling average. If we cross this threshold, school buildings will close, and all students will transition to full-time remote learning for a minimum of two weeks. As of November 19, 2020, all school buildings are closed until further notice, and all students are learning remotely 5 days a week 1. Remote students follow their regular remote schedule 2. Blended students follow their in school schedule on their day (A, B, or C) and their Remote schedules on the other days. 3. On an “A” Day- A Day students follow their in-school schedule; Band C students follow their A day Remote schedule 4. On a “B” Day- B Day students follow their in-school schedule ; A and C students follow their B day Remote schedule 5. On a “C” Day- C Day students follow their in-school schedule; A and B students follow their C day Remote schedule Update for Families December 2020 from the Chancellor Update 2 Update 3 Update 4 Update 5 November 18, 2020 Dear Families, I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. All of us at the Department of Education have been so proud to witness the joy of students and educators reuniting and learning together this year. We have been the only major school district in the nation to reopen our buildings. The benefit to hundreds of thousands of students is incredible, as school communities have reconnected in person for learning, growing, and supporting one another. All along, we have kept health and safety at the forefront of everything we do. That includes carefully monitoring COVID-19 transmission rates across the city and, when necessary in response to infections, temporarily closing our school buildings and transitioning students to fully remote learning. Given recent increases in transmission, we have reached a point in our City’s infection rate that requires all students to transition to remote learning. Beginning Thursday, November 19, all school buildings will be closed, and all learning will proceed remotely for all students, until further notice. You will hear from your principal shortly about next steps for you and your student. Please note that this is a temporary closure, and school buildings will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. I am sure you have many questions, and below you can find some important guidance to provide some answers. As always, we are committed to academic excellence, community-building, and social-emotional support for your child—no matter where they are learning. Devices for Remote Learning Do you need a device, need technical support or to fix a broken device, or are dealing with a lost or stolen device? Call DOE’s IT Help desk at 718-935-5100 and press 5 to get assistance. You can also get quick help online: Browse tech support topics: schools.nyc.gov/technicaltools File a tech support ticket: schools.nyc.gov/techsupport Request a device: schools.nyc.gov/devices Get support with a DOE-issued iPad: schools.nyc.gov/ipadfixes Issues with your Internet connection: schools.nyc.gov/internet We are committed to ensuring every student is learning 5 days a week. Your child’s school will support you in remote learning if you currently don’t have a device by providing paper-based work. Contact your school for more info. Free Meals for Students and Families All families and students can continue to go to any school building between 9:00 a.m. and noon on weekdays to pick up three free grab-and-go meals. No identification or registration is necessary. Halal and kosher meals are available at some sites, which are listed at schools.nyc.gov/freemeals. From 3-5 p.m., New Yorkers of all ages can pick up free meals at 260 Community Meals sites across the city. For a list of sites, please visit schools.nyc.gov/freemeals. Learning Bridges Learning Bridges, the City’s free childcare program for children in 3-K through 8th grade, will continue to serve families enrolled in blended learning. We will continue to give priority to children of essential workers, as well as students in temporary housing or residing in NYCHA developments, children in foster care or receiving child welfare services, and students with disabilities. Families can learn more and apply at schools.nyc.gov/learningbridges, and new offers will be made to families weekly as seats are available. Early Childhood Education 3-K and Pre-K classrooms in district schools and DOE Pre-K Centers will be closed. If your child attends a program in a community-based center that is not located in a public school, or attends a family childcare program that is part of a DOE network, it will remain open. If you are not sure which type of program your child attends or have questions about your child’s services, please contact your program directly. Strong supports are in place to ensure that these sites can continue operating safely. Although we are temporarily shifting to fully remote teaching and learning for all students, if you have recently elected to enroll your child in blended learning, your child will be able to begin in-person learning after we reopen. I know that for many of you, this decision to temporarily close school buildings that we recently opened up will be disappointing, and I understand. But by confronting these challenges together, we can continue to fight back against COVID-19. And I am confident that before long, we will be able to safely reopen our school buildings again. Please remember the “Core Four”: wash your hands, wear a face covering, keep six feet of distance from others, and stay home if you’re feeling sick.These are critically important steps that all of us can take every day. We will continue to provide updates, supporting you and everyone in the DOE family as this public health crisis continues to evolve. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s school with any questions or concerns. We are grateful for your partnership and all you do for our city. Sincerely, Richard A. Carranza Chancellor New York City Department of Education To view a copy of this document in your language, visit schools.nyc.gov/messagesfo Dear MS 172 Families: In advance of wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, we want to provide you with information if you are planning to travel outside of NYC this holiday season. If you do travel, be prepared to quarantine and follow the instructions in the attached flyer from the NYC Department of Health. Below are some details contained in the attached flyer. Please read this carefully. What You Need to Know About NYS Travel Quarantine Returning travelers and visitors arriving from the following places must fill out the NYS Travel Health Form (click the link or scan the QR code on the attached flyer to access the form ) and quarantine upon arrival: • Another U.S. state except Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Vermont • A country or territory with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Level 2 or 3 health alert How long is travel quarantine? You must quarantine as soon as you arrive back in NYS. However, testing may shorten quarantine. Travel quarantine is for 14 days unless you receive two negative COVID-19 tests, as follows: • Test within 72 hours (3 days) prior to arrival to New York, and • Test 4 days after arrival. The tests must be diagnostic tests (tests that use saliva or nose or throat swab), and not a blood antibody test. To find a testing site near you, visit www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/get-tested/covid-19-testing.page Many sites offer no-cost testing. Travelers must quarantine prior to receiving their day 4 diagnostic test and while waiting for their test result. Travelers who choose not to get tested must quarantine for 14 days. If you were out of NYS for less than 24 hours, you do not need to get tested before arrival or quarantine upon arrival. However, you need to fill out the NYS Travel Health Form and get tested 4 days after arrival. How do I quarantine? Do not leave your home or place that you are staying; do not go in public. As best as possible, separate from others in your household and wear a face covering when in the same room with other people. Food and groceries must be delivered, or other arrangements made so that you do not have to leave home. You can only leave home for essential medical care, including COVID-19 testing, or to leave the State. If you cannot separate from others at home, you may be eligible to quarantine at an NYC COVID-19 hotel. Call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319) or visit here for more information. If you have any questions, please call MS 172 (718) 831 4000. Thank you for you responsible concern and care for our MS 172 community. Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Home Jeffrey D. Slivko Principal If your child is having trouble logging in to his/her nycstudents.net account, please note that the DOE has created an additional set of student name fields in ATS to ensure that all students’ identities are affirmed, their confidentiality is protected, and that the DOE can verify a student’s legal name for specific documentation purposes. As part of this release, when a student selects a chosen name, their DOE email ID is also automatically updated. However, DOE email IDs were not automatically updated for students whose name changed prior to June 30, 2020. To correct this, the DOE updated these students’ DOE email IDs on October 16 through 19. The DOE notified the impacted students via email multiple times during the week of October 12. The change in email ID will not alter the student’s access to your school’s LMS, and the student will still be able to access all emails received under the prior ID. This will also not affect student email IDs that are not provisioned under the DOE Central domain. Note that the DOE email ID is always derived from the student’s chosen name, if it is entered in ATS. Otherwise, the student’s DOE email will be derived from the student’s legal name. To obtain your new username, go to: Find User Name and Reset Password Tool. Covid Testing Letter IRWIN ALTMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL 172 81-14 257 Street Floral Park, New York 11004 718 831-4000 Fax: 718-831-4008 Mr. Jeffrey D. Slivko, Principal Mr. Myles Nash, Assistant Principal Ms. Maritza Soto, Assistant Principal October 22, 2020 Dear Families, As part of New York City’s ongoing effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, and ensure the health and safety of our community, COVID-19 testing of staff and students will be conducted in our school once a month from now through the end of the school year. We have been notified that the testing provider will be at our school within the next week. Please note that only New York City public school students from grades 1-12 are eligible to be tested. As the September 29, 2020 letter co-signed by NYC Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza, Executive Director Ted Long of New York City Test + Trace Corps, and Dr. Dave Chokshi, Commissioner of NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene stated, the test is easy, quick, and safe. A “short swab” (similar to a Q-tip) will be inserted into the front part of the nose for five to ten seconds. Later this school year, it is possible that tests will be administered by collecting a small amount of saliva (spit). Only students and school-based staff members with signed and submitted consent forms are eligible to be tested (schools.nyc.gov/covidtesting). Your child will not be tested if they are uncomfortable or become distressed at any point during the process. If that happens, we will work with you to address any potential concerns so that your child is comfortable participating in future testing. If your child is tested at school, information about the testing process, and when and how you will receive the results, will be sent home with your child. The majority of all testing results will be available within 48 hours. If your child tests positive for COVID-19, the testing provider will notify you via a telephone call, and NYC Test & Trace Corps will call to provide your family with resources and support. If any member of the school community tests positive during this testing process, our school community will continue to follow the guidelines outlined on the Health & Safety section of the website www.schools.nyc.gov/school-year-20-21/return-to-school-2020/health-and-safety We deeply appreciate your partnership and your commitment to keeping your school community safe and healthy. Sincerely, Jeffrey D. Slivko Principal IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS Please Create a New Username and Password NYC Student Account Go to Student Account Self Service https://idm.nycenet.edu/students/start.form Enter your 9-digit Student ID (OSIS) number. (You can find your Student ID number on a report card, your student ID card, or in your NYCSA account.) Enter your birthday. Click Continue. If the information you enter matches your student record, your username will be displayed. Your student ID is your username followed by @nycstudents.net. For example, if your username is JaneD, your student account ID is JaneD@nycstudents.net. If you haven't already set up a password, you will be asked to set one up. Pick a password that only you will know. Re-enter your password. Click Update Password This information and additional details can be found at our school reopening webpage at schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020 to help you prepare for the upcoming school year. How Will My Child Learn at Home? Whether learning remotely from home part of the week or every day, students will receive remote instruction in two different ways: live interaction (sometimes referred to as “synchronous instruction”) with teachers, and independent learning (sometimes referred to as “asynchronous instruction”), which includes assignments, projects, or recorded video lessons. Let us explain what that means: Live interaction means that your student will interact with their teacher on video, phone, live chat, virtual app, or another digital mode in real time. The teacher may be interacting with the whole class, small groups, or individual students. It can be done over Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or other DOE-approved video or phone conferencing or digital platforms. It includes: Class Lessons; Office Hours to connecting in real time with teachers to get individual or small group help with instruction or instructional activities; Social-emotional wellness activities such as sharing circles or mindfulness exercises; or Feedback discussions with students and families about their work and progress via video or phone. Other “live participation” activities, such as chat, offered by the digital platform used by educators during lessons. At the beginning of the school year, here are the target amounts we are asking all schools to engage their students in live interaction and instruction each day: Students in 3-K and Pre-K programs: up to 30 minutes Students in kindergarten through grade 2: 65 to 95 minutes Students in grades 3–5: 90 to 110 minutes Middle school students in grades 6–8: 80 to 100 minutes High school students in grades 9–12: 100 to 120 minutes The amount of time devoted to live instruction will increase each month for all grades as the school year progresses to allow students and teachers to gradually transition. Scheduled times will be posted so that students and staff alike can plan for engagement. Independent learning means your student will work on their own with assignments, projects, and materials provided by their teachers. This might include: Video lessons or presentations recorded previously Activities, assignments or tasks that build on lessons from previous days Collaborative projects and assignments with classmates Discussion boards and conversation, feedback, or guidance from teachers over email Who Will Be Teaching My Child? Your child will have a high-quality educator leading their education, no matter where they’re learning. Instruction may look a little bit different in every school, reflecting the specific needs of the school community, but here is what you can generally expect: For Students in Blended Learning Blended learning refers to a combination of on-site, in-person instruction at the school some days of the week, and remote instruction at home on remaining days. Your child may have different teachers for on-site and remote learning. Those teachers will work closely together in pairs or teams to create meaningful and connected learning experiences. For example, a student may begin a project in person and then continue to work on it while remote. During the remote portion of blended learning, your child will regularly be with the same group of students with whom they attend in person. For Students in Full-Time Remote Learning Where possible, students engaging in full-time remote learning will be taught by teachers from their own school. Teachers will regularly meet with the same group of students on specific days. How to Stay Informed on Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Your School Community It’s important that your school can reach you to share crucial information quickly, including alerts about confirmed COVID-19 cases in your child’s school. Please sign up for a NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) so we can contact you via phone, email, or text message. With NYCSA, you can access your child’s grades, test scores, schedules, transportation information, and more—from anywhere, and in all nine standard DOE language translations. If you don’t have an account, sign up today at schools.nyc.gov/nycsa. It only takes five minutes! Return to School 2020 Pledge File 1 File 2 Updates for Families August 17, 2020 Updates for Families Page 2 Updates for Families Page 3 Learning Preferences for Parents 1 Learning Preferences for Parents 2 Learning Preferences for Parents 3 2020 School Requirements - Link for Immunizations Food Benefits for all New York City Public School Students Check out the Summer Reading on the Library and Media Services Page Letter and Survey for All Families on 2020-21 School Year Report Card Information Dear Parents: Report card grades will be posted in the NYC Schools accounts at https://mystudent.nyc. You will need a creation code and your child's osis ID number to set up an account. If you need the creation code email Ms. Hochrad at dhochrad@schools.nyc.gov or Ms. Palladino at mpalladino4@schools.nyc.gov. The osis number can be found in pupilpath Thank you Ms. Hochrad Student Online Learning Expectations Our classroom expectations are: Focus, Self-Management, Respect and Personal Responsibility That means: 1 Use the comment feature responsibly. Speak respectfully and kindly to one another, use appropriate language and allow for equity of voice during conversations. Students who don’t use the Comment feature properly will be “Muted,” and if many students abuse it, we will have to disable it. Incidents of bullying, slurs and other inappropriate language will be reported to school officials and parents. 2 You are responsible for your own success, so ask questions, check in often and respect all deadlines. Your work will be assessed and grades will be issued (the 3 rd Marking Period may be extended. Please be patient for forthcoming information.) Student Roles & Responsibilities 1 Establish daily routines for engaging in the learning experiences 2 Identify a space in your home where you can work effectively and successfully Students and Parents: Please be reminded that Google Classroom is not to be used for Social Media interaction; additionally inappropriate interaction on Social Media between students will also be reported to the DOE, as during the normal school year.) 3 Complete all assignments, participate in learning activities and meet all deadlines assigned to you by your teachers - Students should participate in check-ins, discussions, and other communication mechanisms as expected by the teacher 4 Regularly monitor online platforms Engage in all learning with academic honesty and integrity 5 Communicate proactively with your teachers if you cannot meet deadlines or require additional support 6 Comply with School Internet Safety policies including expectations for online etiquette 7 Students should review teacher feedback and complete any follow-up activities as assigned by the teacher; 8 Students and families should proactively notify their teacher or a school administrator school with any concerns about progress or additional support needed; 9 Communicate to Guidance or Admin if you need additional support; Phone numbers where Guidance Counselors and Assistant Principals can be reached are: Mr. Nash (Assistant Principal, Grade 6) - (631)392-6821 Ms. Soto: (Assistant Principal, Grade 7) - (914) 407-4189 Ms. Grevstad (929) 279-2691 [Grade 7, Classes 801,802,822, 824, 832, 891] Ms. LaValle- (929) 282-0258 [Grade 6,Classes 803, 821,823,831,833,892 ] Parent/Guardian Roles and Responsibilities Provide support for your children by: 1 Families should support students in being successful by establishing routines and habits that support their success. 2 Families should ensure that students are adhering to appropriate behavior on web-enabled devices. 3 Defining the physical space for your child to study 4 Monitoring communications from your child’s teachers 5 Beginning and ending each day with a check-in 6 Taking an active role in helping your child process his/her learning 7 Communicating directly to your child’s teacher if you need subject specific support 8 Review student assignments 9 Communicate to Administration/Guidance if you need additional support with anything 10 Establishing times for quiet and reflection Remaining mindful of your child’s stress or worry 11 Monitoring how much time your child is spending online 12 Keeping your child social, but set rules around their social media interactions As above, I want all of our students and families of the MS 172 community to know that we will stand together through all of this. Again, please heed all government directives and follow all precautions to stay safe and stay healthy. Sincerely, Jeffrey D. Slivko Principal Students and Parents: Please be reminded that Google Classroom is not to be used for Social Media interaction; additionally inappropriate interaction on Social Media between students will also be reported to the DOE, as during the normal school year Resources for Parents New York Public Library Resources NYPL Instructional Materials Now Available for Every DOE Teacher and Student The New York Public Library is offering an expanded array of resources for teachers, students, and their families to support learning at home including: 1 Daily homework help and personal online tutoring in both English and Spanish; 2 Access to expanded databases and e-resources for research; 3 Reading resources such as access to e-books for kids of all ages; and 4 Activities for home featuring arts and crafts, science experiments, and more fun activities. All resources can be accessed for free with a NYPL library card by navigating to nypl.org/communitylearning. Anyone without a library card can visit nypl.org/SimplyE to learn how to sign up for a NYPL Card using the SimplyE app. Optional Tutoring Resource Available through Public Libraries The City of New York’s three public library systems—Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library—are providing free access to Brainfuse, which is an online tutoring platform for families and students. This resource is available seven days a week, from 2:00–11:00 p.m., and provides support to all grade levels in the following areas:Homework Help: Interact with live tutors in math, science, reading/writing, social studies, PSAT/SAT, ACT, AP and state standardized tests. Skills-Building: Choose your topic to receive real-time help. Personalized eLearning Tools: My File Sharing, My Session Replay, My Tutoring Archive, My Tests Archive, and more. 24-Hour Writing Lab: Submit essays and other kinds of writing for constructive feedback. Homework Questions: Submit homework questions for expert guidance. Adult Learning Center: Access a library of rich, adult-learning content (GED), and live, professional assistance in resume/cover letter writing, U.S. citizenship prep, MS Office Essential Skills series, and more. Foreign Language Lab/Spanish-Speaking Support. To access Brainfuse, New York State residents must sign up for a free library card in one of the three library systems. See below for information about how school communities in all five boroughs can obtain library cards at any of the three public library systems: Brooklyn Public Library: To obtain a Brooklyn Public Library eCard, fill out this form. Families and students may access Brainfuse using their Brooklyn Public Library eCard. New York Public Library: To obtain a New York Public Library eCard, download and use the SimplyE app. Please note that this app has been uploaded to all iPads issued by the DOE. For instructions on how to apply using the SimplyE app, please visit NYPL.org. Families and students may access Brainfuse using their New York Public Library eCard. Queens Public Library: To obtain a Queen Public Library eCard, fill out this form. Families and students may access Brainfuse using their Queens Public Library eCard. Commonpoint Queens May 27, 2020 Greetings from Commonpoint Queens, We hope that this email finds you and your families safe and well and are writing to you to continue to keep you informed of the incredible work that our agency has done in our communities. Last week, the agency was featured by three different media outlets, the Queens Courier, Spectrum News NY1 and NBC News! We’d like to thank you for helping us to get the word out about our services to your school communities. We deeply appreciate our partnership with you and will continue to strive to support you and the school community in any way that we can, including continuing with our virtual programs and activities that allow us to maintain a seamless transition between the school day and after school programming. We also look forward to supporting you on SLT and School Safety, especially now when we know that numerous conversations are being had about how to start up the next school year. Some more exciting news - Through our Single Parent Initiative program, we helped more than 130 families celebrate Mother’s Day by delivering bagel breakfasts to celebrate the amazing mothers in our communities. The Beacon Program will be hosting a Wind Down Wednesday for all adults every Wednesday from 8 PM - 9 PM. Join our Outreach Coordinators every Wednesday night to vent, connect, and wind down. We will be answering any and all questions regarding summer camp, Regional Enrichment Center (REC) enrollment, financial assistance, virtual learning, and more! In its coverage of the agency’s meal delivery service, The Queens Courier has highlighted that we have delivered meals to over 60,000 people in need. NBC News has spoken to our Census Director about our efforts to get community members to fill out the census despite the coronavirus pandemic. While we look forward to getting back to some sense of normalcy and continuing our partnership with you in the upcoming year, we will continue our virtual programming, offering recreational activities, academic support, counseling services and one-on-one chats with students and their parents. The best part of our day is engaging with our kids and seeing their smiling faces. As always, we are grateful for your support and look forward to the day when we can see each other and our school communities again. If someone in your community needs assistance, please feel free to reach out, or have them call 929-255-6060. Please stay well and stay in touch. In partnership, Sarah Maniff Beacon MS 172 Program Director smaniff@commonpointqueens.org Julie Willams Senior Director jwilliams@commonpointqueens.org Convid-19 Resource Guide Beacon Presents "Wind Down Wednesdays" RESOURCES Commonpoint Queens is STILL accepting applications for our emergency cash assistance program! Please help us by circulating information about our program within our school community by sending out the application for awards up to $500 with documented employment loss due to COVID-19. The application is presented in both English and Spanish. Awards will be considered on a first come, first-served basis and will be considered until the funds are depleted. The Emergency Cash Assistance Program application can be found https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewgI95BcAIBXQDL1CYWBgWePrZ2wWF_4tv-VN-efOyH4vdLg/viewform Health & Wellness/Fitness Classes As a reminder, you can always circulate our website for FREE community health & wellness & fitness classes to offer to families: Commonpoint Queens at Home - Health and Wellness Unemployment & Workforce Assistance for Families Anglea Timmons, our Adult Employment Coordinator, remains the expert and a resource to families navigating the Unemployment process. Angela is available for individual appointments and can be reached through email at ATimmons@commonpointqueens.org. Please also feel free to share our last Facebook Live event discussing Unemployment. Emergency Assistance & Food Package Delivery People in need of assistance or who need to be added to our food delivery, can call Charlene on our hotline at (929) 255-6060 Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm or complete their online emergency assistance form at https://www.commonpointqueens.org/commonpoint-queens-emergency-assistance/ Emergency cash assistance providing financial support to people seeking to get themselves and their families back on their feet. In partnership, Sarah Maniff Director, MS 172 Beacon Program |
