FAQ

What are the school hours?

8:00 AM – 2:20 PM
Students will start arriving at 7:50 AM according to the posted schedule. 

What should I do when my child is absent?

​If your child is absent, please send an email of explanation to your child’s teacher.  You may call Theresa in the Main Office at 718-796-8966. All absences should be documented. If your child misses 3 days or more, please send in a doctor’s note of explanation to your child’s teachers upon his/her return to school. Lateness and absences must be permanently recorded by the NYC DOE.  Visit the NYC DOE Attendance Page for more information.

What if my child gets sick or has an accident during school?

If a child becomes ill or is injured during the school day, the nurse will contact the family or send home a note, depending on the circumstance.

It is extremely important to make sure that you fill out the BLUE and PINK emergency forms with correct and updated information. You should have received these forms the first week of school. If information changes throughout the school year, please let your child’s teacher know you need to update the EMERGENCY FORMS and additional forms will be sent home with your child.

 If you are asked to pick up your child early, you should call the main office at 718-796-8966 and your child will be brought out to you.

Should my child stay home from school?

Your child should not attend school if he/she has any of the following symptoms:
• Evidence of infection, sore throat and swollen, tender, painful neck glands
• Fever of 100 degrees or higher
• Vomiting
• Earaches
• Diarrhea
• Persistent Cough
• Body Rash
• Ring Worm

If your child has any ongoing medical issues, please notify the nurse as well as the teacher. If your child requires medication during the school day, a form must be submitted before the nurse can dispense medication.

I need to pick up my child early, where do I go?

Call the main office at 718-796-8966 and a staff member will call the classroom to have your child brought to you outside.

What is the best way to get in touch with the school?

Communicate with your child’s teacher by sending a note in the communication folder or through Class Dojo. Although teachers are not able to speak to parents during instructional time you can make an appointment to speak with them. Some teachers prefer e-mail and will let you know if that is a better way to communicate.

If you need to reach Nina Velazquez, the Parent Coordinator, email is best, nvelazquez@schools.nyc.gov . You can also call 718-796-8966, but due to the volume of messages, it may take a day or so to get a response.

How much does school lunch cost and how do I pay for it?

School lunch is free for all students. All families must complete a school lunch application each year regardless of whether your child plans to eat school lunch. The DOE uses the information from these applications to provide funding to our school.

Is there a breakfast program?

Breakfast is free and available to all children in their classroom when they arrive to school. 

What is the School Leadership Team (SLT)?

The School Leadership Team is a collaborative team of parents and teachers and the principal that is mandated by state law to play a significant role as an advisory panel in representing the school community. The SLT helps create structures for school-based decision-making, develops school-based educational policies and ensures resources are aligned to implement those policies. The SLT writes and reviews the school’s Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP).  Parents are elected for two year terms on a staggered basis. Visitors are welcome to all meetings. 

What is the CELL PHONE policy at P.S.81?

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.

What is the DRESS CODE policy at P.S.81?

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