April 3rd, 2020

Dear PS101 Families,

We hope you and your family are well and enjoying some time off this summer. September will be here before we know it, and we want to be sure that you stay informed on the 2020-21 school year. While the school will be sharing information directly with parents, we want to be sure you don't miss this very important information, which you may also find at the school's website at www.ps101q.org

We’ve listed below recent NYS school reopening developments and the progress made so far:

Mid-Summer Video Update, July 31st– Principal Paniagua Reopening of School: Click to video here.

NOTE YOUR CALENDAR - Wednesday, August 5th, 2020 @10:00AM EST!
PS101 Mid-Summer Update Meeting on Preliminary Plans for the Fall
Hosted by Principal Paniagua
Meeting Flyer here.
Zoom Link:
https://zoom.us/j/93821066301?pwd=SVN0dS9VNFQ2K2FNblE3YU02bkU0Zz09
Meeting ID: 938 2106 6301 Passcode: 395982

This fall, your child’s school will offer a combination of in-person and remote learning. You can choose from two options:
1. 100% Remote Learning: Opt in to have your child learn 100% remotely (all online, from home). To choose this option for your child, fill out and submit this form HERE by August 7th 2020. If you are having difficulties completing this form online, call 311.
OR
2. Combination of In-Person and Remote Learning: Your child can follow their school’s schedule, a mix of in-person days at school and remote learning days from home. Your school will be in touch about its schedule and programming plans in the coming weeks. Please visit the Return to School 2020 pages on the website for more information.
Changing Preferences
• If you chose 100% Remote Learning but want to change your child’s preference back to Blended Learning, complete this form again by August 7.
• After August 7, any family who chose 100% Remote Learning will have the option to change back to Blended Learning at a few specific times (quarterly) during the school year.
• If no form is submitted for a child, the default for that student will be Blended Learning.

NOTICES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DOE)
Chancellor Carranza's July 27th letter - Re-Opening School & Learning Model Comparison. Click Here. / Información actualizada para las familias sobre la reapertura de las escuelas proporcionada por el canciller Carranza / 教育總監卡蘭扎致各家庭有關學校重開的資訊更新

Health Measures
DOE have developed test and trace protocols for all schools at the start of the 2020-21 school year. Developed in partnership with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Health + Hospitals, the NYC Test + Trace Corps, and labor, these protocols will apply to all school communities and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

These protocols can be found on the DOE's website under Return to School 2020 in Health Measures. Also included is information about:

• Building Preparations Prior to Schools Reopening
• Food Services
• Building Safety Measures
• Maintaining Healthy Operations
• Personal Health Measures

Parent Information Sessions
Chancellor Carranza has been hosting Parent Information Sessions about return to School. You can find the recordings for the most recent one here and July 16th session here.

There will be two more sessions: August 12th and August 27, 6:30p to 8:30p. To sign up to those, you may register here.

STAYING INFORMED & CONNECTED
If you haven't signed up to our emails, register here.

If you were on our list serve, you must verify your account information to our email list serve every school year. It is very important that you do this as soon as possible as both the school and the Parents’ Association use this email list serve to communicate important information. Specifically, information will be forthcoming on plans for the coming school year and you will want to stay informed.
Here are the steps:
1. Go to: https://pa101.membershiptoolkit.com/
2. Login with your email address and password. (Since you are in our system, you or your partner should have an account. If you have forgotten your password (happens to me all the time) then just click the “I forgot my password” from the Login page and reset your password).
3. Verify and/or update your account information.
4. Your child’s grade should have already been changed to reflect their grade for the coming school year of 2020-21. For example, if you child was in 1st grade during the 2019-2020 school year, they should now be categorized in 2nd grade.
5. Your child’s actual class (i.e. 201, 202, 203, 204) will NOT have been updated. If you have this information, it is very helpful to the school and the PA if you update their class.
And that is all! Once you verify/update your account, you will be back on the active list serve for P.S. 101Q and in the know.

If you have any questions for the Parents' Association, please email us at [email protected]

Wishing you all a safe and healthy summer,

The Executive Board of the Parents' Association

COVID Resources

• Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Child Trends
• How to Talk to Your Child about the Coronavirus, Kids Health
• Multilingual Coronavirus Resources, Colorín Colorado
• Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource, National Association of School Psychologists
• Promoting Positive Mental Health for Teens Feeling Isolated, Erika’s Lighthouse
• Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Racism and Activism

CNN/Sesame Street town hall to learn about racism. (best for lower grades)

embracerace.org lists 31 children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance.

Bounceback parenting blog has a curated list of resources including books, activities, and media for talking to kids of all ages about race and racism.

The Brown Bookshelf promotes awareness of children’s books (picture, middle grade, and young adult) written and illustrated by people of color.

New York Family recently compiled a list called Resources and Books to Help Parents Educate Themselves on Racism.

A free e-book from Teaching Tolerance, Beyond the Golden Rule: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice has stories and conversation starters for ages 2-5, 6-12, and 13 and up.

A New Jersey teacher started this viral list of children's books about race on the popular website ScaryMommy.com.

Articles or blog posts

Commonsense Media’s “Explaining the News to Our Kids” breaks down how to have difficult conversations with kids of different ages.

The American Academy of Pediatrics shares advice for families on how to talk to their children about racism.

embracerace.org has articles, topic pages, and webinars to help parents talk about race with young children (best for elementary).

The Anti-Defamation League has tips for a table talk about racism for kids 11 and older (best for middle or high school).

Healthychildren.org offers advice for parents talking to children about racial bias.

“Talking to Kids About George Floyd” from Child Mind Institute takes a commonsense approach to a difficult topic.

The American Psychological Association initiative on Defining Race and Ethnic Socialization has parent resources on having discussions about race with children of all ages.