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 Ms. Mary Tully Alarcon, Assistant Principal Mr. Myles Nash, Assistant Principal Ms. Maritza Soto, Assistant Principal Ms. Danielle Giunta Community Superintendent District 26 District 26.org NYC Discipline Code Free Meals for All School starts promptly at 8:00 am every morning; the late bell rings at 8:05. Absence and lateness are reported on the high school application. Please remember, 90% attendance is a promotional criterion. All school information is on-line at MS 172.org November 2019 Dear Parents/Guardians: November is a Giving Month. Our annual S.O. City Harvest Food Drive begins on Monday, November 4 and continues through November 27. At this time of year when families gather together to celebrate on many occasions, we ask the members of our MS 172 community to think about and help others in need. We are proud of our many years of community support and ask that all families donate canned, boxed and other non-perishable food items to this effort. Thank you in advance. November is also a month filled with many activities for the students and staff of MS 172. In addition to ending the first marking period on November 1 and beginning the second marking period on November 4, first marking period report cards will be distributed to students Friday, November 8 (we will not be collecting signed report cards.) Grade 6 & 7 pictures will be taken on November 14 and Grade 8 pictures (with cap and gown) on November 15. Students must bring their picture order envelopes on the day of their scheduled pictures (given to the photographer.) Please note: Tuesday, November 6 is a Chancellor’s Conference Day (and Election Day-don’t forget to vote.) Students do NOT attend. We encourage parents to plan cultural activities for this day off from school. Parent /Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, November 6 (5:00-8:00pm,) and Thursday, November 7 (12:15-2:15pm- all students are dismissed at 11:15am.) ALL conferences on these two dates are by appointments (6 minute each,) which can be made using our Canyon Creek Online Scheduler. A separate letter about using this tool was sent home on Monday, October 4 and is also available, with the link to the scheduling tool, on our website, MS 172.org. If you need assistance in using the online scheduling tool, please contact Debbie Hochrad at (718) 831-4000, ext. 1461. As most appointment times are already filled, parents may also make appointments to meet with teachers on all other Tuesdays, during Parent Engagement time, 2:20-3:00pm, as well as at other times –please contact your child’s teacher(s.) As the weather turns cooler, students will be wearing warmer clothing to school. While heavy outerwear, such as coats and jackets, is not permitted to be worn during the day, students may wear sweaters and sweatshirts. I do need to remind all families that the school day begins at 8:00 am. Although there is a late bell at 8:05am, it is expected that all students will be in their homeroom seats by that time so that teachers can take attendance and students are ready for the daily announcements. Lateness (and absence,) is reported on the high school application. I also want to remind parents who drive their children to school that we must all be mindful of traffic safety. Although 257 Street is now one-way, please be cautious during arrival in the morning (drive slowly, be alert to other cars pulling in to and away from the curb and do not allow your children to exit the car in the middle of the street,) NO cars are allowed on 257 Street at dismissal in the afternoon for the safety of all students and due to school busses. The AIS (Academic Interventions and Support) afterschool and Saturday program will begin shortly. Notices for mandated students will be sent home the week of November 4. These 90-minute classes in ELA and Math are mandated for students who need additional support in these subjects based on their 2019 NYS Test scores. Students will be receiving their assignment letters on Wednesday, November 1- to be signed and returned to Ms. Alarcon. Parents may address questions about assignments to Ms. Alarcon at (718) 831-4000, extension 1332. For Grade 8 students and their parents: November is a month of looking at high schools and making choices to include on the online HS application which should be completed by Wednesday, November 27, so that the counselors can review the applications for completeness and accuracy. Our annual HS Applications Workshops take place on Thursday, November 14 at 9:00am and 6:30pm in room 115. Please try to attend one of these sessions for further clarification and assistance with completing the application. Guidance counselors will be available to assist parents in reviewing choices for appropriate eligibility and to optimize chances of matches to their priority schools. Please make an appointment if you need to see a guidance counselor: Ms. Lavalle at (718) 831-4000, ext. 1341 or Ms. Grevstad at (718) 831-4000, ext. 1343. Again, please don’t forget our S.O. City Harvest Food Drive. We will also again partner with Assemblyman David Weprin for a Holiday Toy Drive, which will begin on Monday, November 18. The November PTA meeting takes place on Tuesday, November 19 at 7:00pm. There will be a presentation on Cyber-Safety presented by the NYPD. Winter Recess will take place December 21-January 1. Please be reminded that it is important that your children are in attendance on all school days. Plan your holiday trips around the school calendar and please avoid extended vacations that cause your children to miss school. Sincerely, Jeffrey D. Slivko, Principal Even though lunch is free for all middle school students, every student must have a meal application on file. If you have not yet completed one, please do so immediately. (On-line is preferred.) You may be asked to revise an incomplete or incorrect application- please do so and return it to the school immediately. https://www.applyforlunch.com/Application.) PupilPath Invitation letters have been sent home to all grade 6 parents and are being sent to unregistered parents in grades 7 & 8. If you need your registration code, or assistance, please call Ms. Hochrad at (718) 831-4000, x 1461. Important Information on the Measles from the Department of Education May 7, 2019 Dear Families, The health and well-being of New York City students, families, and staff is a top priority for the Department of Education, and we would like to share important information about two recent measles cases in public school students. These students did not attend school while infectious, and students have not been at risk of contracting measles while at school. We are sharing this information out of an abundance of caution and to remind you of our vaccination policy. Vaccination is the best way to prevent measles. Anyone who has received two doses of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly unlikely to get this infection. At this time, the risk to students in public schools remains extremely low given the high rate of vaccination in students. As a reminder, New York State Public Health Law requires all students, except those with approved exemptions, to be vaccinated or show immunity to measles to attend public school. You can see the school immunization requirements at www.schools.nyc.gov/immunization, or visit www.nyc.gov and search “immunization requirements.” Measles is a viral infection that causes fever and a rash. Complications from this infection include pneumonia, brain swelling, hospitalization, and potentially death. It is highly contagious and anyone who is not vaccinated against the virus can get it at any age. On April 9, the Health Commissioner ordered every adult and child who lives or works in ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211, and 11249 and has not received the MMR vaccine to be vaccinated. We encourage you to make sure all family members are vaccinated against measles. If you are unsure about your child’s vaccination history, check with your child’s medical provider to confirm that they are appropriately vaccinated or immune to the measles. For information on where you or your child can be vaccinated, please call 311. Roger Platt, MD Chief Executive Officer Office of School Health NYC Department of Education NYC families can use MySchools to apply to public schools from 3-K to high school. Get started by creating an account. Then explore your children’s personalized school options and get guidance on the admissions process from start to finish. 2019-2020 Physical Education Clothing Requirements are as follows: * All students must wear sneakers. * Students are required to wear either sports shorts (no shorter than one inch above the knee), sweatpants, or track pants, and either a short-sleeve or long-sleeve t-shirt. These articles of clothing may be any color or brand. * In the interest of student safety, no article of clothing worn for physical education can have a collar, buttons, zippers, rips, or holes. * Denim and hoodies are prohibited. 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 Office for Free for Students! Parents and Guardians of students can download Microsoft Office software from https://studentoffice.net/, at no cost, on up to five of their family’s computers and five of their family’s tablets, smart phones, or other mobile devices. Please check out the FAQ and help section before reaching out for help with issues. Microsoft is the direct contact for issues: nycdoeO365@microsoft.com 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. |
|
