​ NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN
Please note that 257 Street is now one way going south from 81st Avenue to 83rd Avenue and 256 Street is one way north from 82nd to 81st Avenues.


 The Wizard of Oz
      Photographs from this incredible 2017 production

                                                                   
New York City Discipline Code                                                            
 
     
School starts promptly at 8:00am 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.


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October 2017

Dear Parents/Guardians:
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It's hard to believe that the first month of the 2017-2018 school year is over.  Even though the warm weather has lingered, autumn is in the air and as the leaves begin to change colors, students and teachers are all involved with their work in ELA, Math, Social Studies, Core, Science, and Spanish as well as in their GS and gym classes.   To better inform teachers about specific student strengths and needs, additional baseline assessments will be administered through October. (AIS support in ELA and Math will begin in mid-November.)

Even though 257th Street is now one-way, I must still strongly request parents' assistance as they drop-off and pick-up children during arrival in the morning and dismissal in the afternoon.  Parents may drop-off children in front of the school in the morning-only at the curb. DO NOT let your children out in the middle of the street-cars at the curb begin to move which then creates a hazardous situation.  Additionally, 257 Street must remain closed to traffic in the afternoon from 2:00 to 2:45 pm because of all the busses that are on the block.    Orange cones are placed in the street at 81st Ave. to REMIND parents not to drive on the block in front of the school. (If you arrive early before cones are placed-do not park in our neighbors' driveways and DO NOT move your vehicle while students are being dismissed unless directed to by school personnel.  Your cooperation is appreciated as the NYPD and NYC DOT have not provided the school with personnel to assist in this effort. REMEMBER - Every child's safety is EVERYONE'S responsibility.

As partners in your children's education, please establish the following routines:

• Check your child's MS 172 Student Planner nightly to assist you in reviewing daily assignments and following up on upcoming projects and events.  Ask your children about school every day (and ask your children to explain what they learned/are learning, ) and ask to see notices such as this one.  If your child has not purchased a planner - a most valuable organizational tool - with his/her S.O. membership ($8.00,) there are still planners available. 
• Set aside specific times during the evening for homework, television, telephone calls and computer use. Time management is an important element of successful learning and college and career readiness.
• Use praise and rewards (other than money) to acknowledge your children's efforts in school.
• Make reading a family activity with different members (parents included,) also reading aloud. 

Grade 8 parents; During the month of October, there are many high school events including the Borough HS Fairs (Francis Lewis HS and other locations,) on Saturday and Sunday, October 14 and 15 and many high school Open Houses.  Please take advantage of these events to obtain information to assist you in guiding your child's choices of high schools.

• The MS 172 guidance counselors are distributing HS materials and calendars of the HS articulation process and events to all grade 8 students.  HS applications will be distributed in early October.  Our first HS Articulation Meeting for parents will take place on Thursday, October 12 at 6:30pm (for parents and students,) and Friday, October 13 at 9:00am (parents only.)  We have also invited the principals from several NE Queens High Schools to speak about their  schools on Wednesday, October 18, at 6:30pm.  There will also be a HS Applications Workshop on Thursday, November 9 at 9:00am and 6:30pm to assist parents. 
• The Specialized High School Admissions Test will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 21 and 22, and Saturday, (at Hillcrest HS for D26 students,) and November 4 for students with testing accommodations.  Students have received information about this test and will receive their "tickets" from our counselors prior to the test.  (The deadline to register for the SHSAT and Laguardia HS auditions is Thursday, October 12) Parents interested in having their child take the test for Catholic HS admissions should contact our guidance counselors, Ms. Lavalle and Mrs. Grevstad at (718) 831-4000 ext 1341 and 1343.

Please support our Parent Teacher Association by becoming an active member, attending meetings and supporting fundraising activities.  The PTA fall fundraiser began on October 4.  Proceeds from this activity support our school programs and other school activities.  The October PTA General Membership Meeting will take place on Thursday, October 19 at 7:00 pm in the school auditorium and will feature a workshop on What Every 6th and 7th Grade Parent Wants to Know to Get Ready for High School.  The PTA is also requesting volunteers for the Halloween Dance, which will take place on Friday, October 27 from 6:30-8:30 pm.

Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences occur later this year: Wednesday, November 29, 5:00-8:00 pm and Thursday, November 30, 12:20-2:20 pm.  We will again be using the on-line scheduler for appointments for conferences.  (Additional Tuesday dates may be added.)  Please make arrangements to discuss your child's progress with her/his teachers on these days. 

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation.  We continue to look forward to a wonderful school year filled with high expectations and many opportunities for our students to achieve academic success.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey D. Slivko, Principal

PupilPath Invitation letters have been sent home to all grade 6 parents and unregistered parents in grades 7 & 8. If you need your registration code, or assistance, please call Ms. Hochrad at (718) 831-4000, x 1461.
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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.  You may be asked to revise an incomplete or incorrect application - please do so and return it to the school immediately. 

                                                                   
                                  


 

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.)
 

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81-14 257th Street               
Floral Park, New York 11004
Phone Number: (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

District 26
Danielle Giunta, Community Superintendent 
www.district26.org