Communication from Mrs. Kirrane & Our School Chancellor
Robert J. Christen School P.S. 81
IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE FROM MRS. KIRRANE...
Thank you so much for your incredible patience and understanding with the changes that occurred during drop-off this morning. Your adaptability and support helped us ensure the safety and well-being of all our students, which is our top priority. Thank you for being such a caring community. NYPD is currently working with the city to ensure Riverdale Ave is cleared for dismissal this afternoon.
We want to wish all those who celebrate a very happy and safe Halloween tomorrow. Below you will find reminders and important information.
There is no school on the following dates
Friday, 11/1 for Diwali
Tuesday, 11/5 for Election Day
Monday, 11/11, for Veteran’s Day
Thursday, 11/28 and Friday, 11/29 for Thanksgiving Recess
Next Thursday, November 7 is a half-day for ALL students for Parent Teacher Conferences. The dismissal times for this day are below. Please note there is no New Horizons after school on this day. If any dismissal patterns will change on this day, please inform your student’s teacher.
Dismissal times for 11/7:
Kindergarten - 11:05 am
1st & 2nd grade - 11:10 am
3rd, 4th and 5th grade - 11:15 am
- Teachers will be reaching out to families to schedule a conference time with you. On Monday, 11/4 Progress Reports will be sent home with students. Please use this to guide you in reinforcing the skills that have been taught, modeled and practiced in the classroom. This will help to support your child in making adequate progress for their report card, which will be released to families on their NYSCA accounts on December 18. If you do not have a NYSCA account, please reach out to our parent coordinator, Nina Velazquez at NVelazquez@schools.nyc.gov.
We hope you are enjoying this beautiful Autumn season. Below is a letter from Superintendent Robert Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez will be conducting a listening tour. Please see the details in the attached letter.
Reminder - Kindergarten and first grade families are invited to Coffee with the Principal tomorrow at 8:15 am. Please enter the school through the main entrance and remember to bring photo ID.
I would like to invite families and caregivers to join us for Coffee with the Principal meetings in October. We have arranged specific dates for each grade. During these meetings, we will discuss current events that are happening in those grades, answer any questions you may have, and visit the classrooms of those grades.
Thursday, 10/10 at 8:15 am - Second and third grade families
Thursday, 10/17 at 8:15 am - Kindergarten and first grade families
Monday, 10/28 at 8:15 am - Fourth and fifth grade families
Reminders
-There is no school on October 3rd, 4th, and 14th
We are excited to announce that we have a new superintendent for our District 10 schools. His name is Roberto Hernandez. Below is a letter to the community from Mr. Hernandez. We look forward to working with him as he continues to embrace the vision of District 10.
Please see the letter below from the NYC Public Schools about water testing that was conducted in our building. As a result, affected drinking or cooking outlets were immediately taken out of service and will remain out of service until remediation work is completed and future testing provides results below the action level.
In the meantime, it would be helpful if students brought in a full water bottle from home. Students can use one of the other school water fountains to refill their water bottles throughout the day. We appreciate your patience and support in this matter.
NYC Public Schools Letter
At PS 81 we want all students to be engaged and feel safe every day. Student cell phones and smart watches have led to social and academic distractions. For this reason, PS 81 teachers will begin to implement smart device policies school-wide.
Students will have personal smart devices collected by their classroom teacher each morning. These devices will be placed in a designated locked area in the classroom and returned to students at the end of the day. We understand that many families may need to communicate dismissal and other changes for their child during the day. Any communication should be done by calling the main office.
Family support is essential to the success of PS 81’s smart device policy. Be sure to review the policy as a family. Consider:
- Proactively talking with your student about after school plans, lunch planning, appointments, or activities in advance of arrival to school.
- Reminding your student that you can reach them in case of an emergency through the school office.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation in facilitating a safe and supportive learning environment.
Click Here to find your child's Supply List for the 2024-25 School Year
There is an APP for you to access your New York City Schools Account NYSCA
NYC DOE 2024-2025 School Calendar
NYC DOE 2025-2026 School Calendar
Lunch Menu
Mission
In partnership with our families and the community, we are committed to celebrating the diverse social emotional, linguistic and academic strengths and needs of our children through culturally responsive, tiered and rigorous instruction.
Vision
The vision of the PS 81 community, including students, families and staff, is to provide a safe, equitable and child-centered educational experience that prepares our children to be compassionate, civically-minded, productive members of society.
Instructional Focus
If we know each child well through Social and Emotional Learning and Culturally Responsive Teaching, while sustaining a collaborative learning environment, then we will see an increase in proficiency in Integration of Knowledge and Ideas in ELA and Numbers and Operations in Math.
Please fill out LUNCH FORMS!
Even if your child doesn't eat lunch in school, we still need a lunch form filled out for EVERY Student!
Please fill out the LUNCH FORM HERE!
THANK YOU!
P.S.81 Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy
We recognize today there may be a need for students to carry a cell phone. Therefore, students are allowed to bring their cell phones to school, with guardian’s permission. This will enable you to communicate with your child before and after school. However, once in the school building, all cell phones must be turned off and kept in the students’ backpack. In addition, students may give it to the teacher to be kept in a secure location for the school day. Cell phones may not be used during lunch and recess. In case of emergency you may call the main office to leave a message for your child (718-796-8965). This policy is also in place for the use of iPods, iPads, tablets and all other devices capable of recording or playing back audio, photographic, or video content, or sending/receiving text, audio, or video messages.
If a student is found to be in violation of the cell phone/electronic devices policy the following protocol will be followed:
1st Violation: The phone/device will be taken from the student and returned at the end of the day.
2nd Violation: The phone/device will be taken from the student and the parent/guardian is contacted to pick up the cell phone.
3rd Violation: Use of cell phones is suspended for the remainder of the school year. The cell phone must be checked in at the main office at arrival every school day.
Please note the school is not responsible for the theft, loss or damage to student’s technology devices. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the school. The safety of our students is a schoolwide community responsibility. Together we can increase safety and promote responsible “Digital Citizenship” among our students.
School Leadership Team SLT
School Leadership Team
SLT Meetings are open to all parents, even if you are not an SLT member.
Here is a description of what the SLT is: https://tinyurl.com/2rvjbbvn
The link is the same for all meetings.
The meetings begin at 2:30 pm.
You can attend either IN PERSON or via ZOOM!
2023-2024 Schedule
Wednesday, Sept 27, 2023
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Tuesday, February 13, 2024Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Click Here to join the ZOOM MEETING
https://tinyurl.com/SLTPS81Meeting ID: 981 8267 4420
Passcode: 081123
P.S.81 Dress Code Policy
All students should dress appropriately for school. Students may not wear revealing clothing such as shirts, skirts, shorts or other clothing items that reveal private areas of the body. Students may not wear clothing displaying foul language or slurs against any race, color, creed, religion, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability or weight. In addition, appropriate footwear for physical education and outdoor recess/structured play should be worn on a daily basis. Flip flops are not allowed due to injuries in the schoolyard when children are running. Please see the following link for additional information regarding the NYC DOE Dress Code Guidelines. https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-environment/dress-code-guidelines
EduMate NYC
A group of college students seeking to support New York City public school students in this time of need by connecting them with free, virtual tutoring. If you are interested in getting paired with a tutor, click above!
Coronavirus Update
All New Yorkers should continue to practice general flu prevention measures including:
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or sleeve
- Wash your hands regularly
- Avoid touching your face
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Get your flu shot – it’s never too late
- Stay home if you’re feeling sick. Call your doctor and let them know your symptoms and travel history.
Please see the NYC Health Department’s Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions for more information, or visit nyc.gov/health at any time for important updates.
Click Here for information about Covid-19 NYS testing from the New York State Department of Health.
Brainfuse HelpNow!
On demand, anytime, anywhere eLearning. See how easy, intuitive and engaging Brainfuse HelpNow eLearning is for all ages and levels.
Live online tutoring is available from every day 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM EST.
Use your NYC Library Barcode to get started!
HelpNow's features include:
- 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 forms of writing for constructive feedback.
- Homework Send Question 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
Learning Platforms
At P.S. 81 we are using multiple platforms to communicate with families & students.
Every class has a Class Dojo where teachers & staff can communicate directly with families. Please be sure to check your Class Dojo daily for Important Information and Updates from your classroom teacher, other staff and the administration.
Teachers are posting required student assignments on Google Classroom for Blended and Remote students. Students should log onto Google Classroom using their unique @nycstudents.net username and password.
For help using any of these platforms, please see the resources below.
Classroom Dojo Help for Parents
Google Classroom
Parent Guide to Google Classroom PDF
Parent Guide to Google Classroom Slideshow
Feel free to email DKnecht@schools.nyc.gov or JCapurro@schools.nyc.gov for help with any of our online resources!
UFT DIal a Teacher
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What: Homework help line for students, run by classroom teachers
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Where: Call 212-777-3380
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Who: Students in kindergarten through 12th grade
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Hours: Monday through Thursday, 4 to 7 p.m. when school is in session
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Languages spoken: Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Tagalog
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Subjects available: English, math, science and social studies
