Schools Closed Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Chancellor Klein Announces Schools Closure Tomorrow

Due to anticipated inclement weather conditions, all New York City public schools will be closed tomorrow, February 10, 2010. All after-school activities, PSAL events, and all other events taking place in school buildings will also be cancelled. While travel conditions to school in the morning may not be difficult, the weather is expected to worsen as the day progresses, complicating dismissal. We are making this decision today to give parents as much time as possible to make alternative plans for tomorrow.

Within the last hour, the Mayor’s Press Office announced that all NYC public schools will be CLOSED TOMORROW due to the impending snowstorm.  The Mayor will be holding a televised press conference at 1 pm today to discuss the plans for tomorrow’s storm.  The snow is not expected to be heavy in the morning, but by mid-day it is expected to reach blizzard conditions in NYC.  The schools are being closed because of worries that even if the students could get to schools in the morning, they would not be able to get safely home in the afternoon.  It is highly unusual for DoE to declare a “Snow Day” one day in advance. 

Please look on the DOE Web-site for this announcement, also call your child’s school to receive instructions and speak to the Principal and /or Parent Coordinator regarding the announcement and what steps to take regarding the closure. http://schools.nyc.gov/default.htm

Weather Alert? Emergency/Storm Info? 311 or 1010 WINS Radio Station!

How do you find out if schools are closed this Wednesday (or any day)?

By 6:00 AM. the decision is announced on the 311 information line, on the Department of Education website home page (which can be accessed at http://schools.nyc.gov )

and on the following radio stations in the city WINS (1010 AM), WCBS (880 AM), WABC (770 AM), WLIB (1190 AM), WADO (1280 AM) , WBLS (107.5 FM), WNYE (91.5 FM) ,

as well as the following television stations: WCBS (CHANNEL   2) WNBC (CHANNEL  4) , WNYW (CHANNEL 5) , WABC (CHANNEL 7) , WNYE (CHANNEL 25, UNISION cHANNEL 4, “NY 1” (CHANNEL 1 ON TIME WARNER CABLE OR CABLEVISION NOT ON FIOS OR SATELLITE).

If in the event of a blackout, battery operated portable radios should be tuned to either WINS (1010 AM) and /or WCBS (880 AM).

To find out the weather in your zip code, go to www.weather.com and enter your zip code. Look for the hour by hour information or the whole week!

Issued by The National Weather Service
New York City, NY
1:17 pm EST, Mon., Feb. 8, 2010

… WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD THE REGION FROM STARTING LATE TUESDAY EVENING. THE SNOW MAY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES ON WEDNESDAY… BEFORE SLOWLY TAPERING OFF WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

THE POTENTIAL FOR 6 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW EXISTS. AT THIS TIME THE HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA AND LONG ISLAND.

“What’s New?” Weekend Update – Art Link for PS 373R

Here’s what’s new this weekend (hope it doesn’t snow us in!):

• Start off with Target Free Fridays at Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Check out http://www.cmom.org
• The Museum of Chinese In America (MOCA) and Children’s Museum of the Arts (CMA) are teaming up to create a huge co-hosted weekend of fun family-friendly events, classes, art workshops and festivities. to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. Check out the events on http://www.mocanyc.org/visit/events/lunar_new_year_preview  and on http://cmany.org/pages.php?pn=specialevents_upcoming
  Also check out:
  Lunar New Year Festival
  February 6 at 3 pm
  P.S. 124 The Yung Wing School
  40 Division St. NY, NY 10002
  General Admission: $10
• Check out what is on tap for Black History Month at Brooklyn Museum where tomorrow is Target Free Saturday http://www.brooklynmuseum.org
• As always, the Museum of the City of New York continues to be free on Sundays before 12. If you have never checked it out – visit this wonderful museum: www.mcny.org
• Have a great weekend and for those football aficionados out there – enjoy the Superbowl! Remember to link to PS 373R’s Art Website “The Students’ Studio” http://art373r.wordpress.com/ 

Environmental Health and People with Developmental Disabilities

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE WWW.AUTISM-SOCIETY.ORG WEBSITE:

It was a busy day for the autism community on Capitol Hill today, with activity in two very important areas – Toxic Substances Control Act reform and restraints and seclusion in schools.

On the first front, the Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative (LDDI), a coalition of health and developmental disabilities organizations including the Autism Society, released the first-ever biomonitoring report identifying toxic chemical pollution in people from the learning and developmental disability community. A total of 61 chemicals (out of 89 tested) were found in the 12 participants – including Autism Society Vice President of Public Policy Jeff Sell.

The report was released in conjunction with today’s Senate Hearing before the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health to examine current science on public exposures to toxic chemicals. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is the primary federal law governing chemical safety, and has never been significantly amended since its adoption in 1976. Learn more about the study, and find out more about environmental health and autism.

Nutrition Fair at PS 37R – Tuesday, February 9, 2010

OPEN TO ALL DISTRICT 75 FAMILIES

ARE YOU THINKING OF TRYING THE GLUTEN FREE DIET FOR YOUR CHILD? ARE YOU LOOKING TO TRY HOMEOPATHIC PRODUCTS?

IF SO, PLEASE JOIN THE PS37R PTA FOR THEIR NUTRITION FAIR –

DATE & TIME: FEBRUARY 9, 2010 AT 9:30 AM

LOCATION: PS 37R, 15 FAIRFIELD ST., STATEN ISLAND, NY

GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE: THREE CLINICIANS FROM THE PATH CENTER.  VARIOUS VENDORS WILL BE ATTENDING.  YOU MAY SAMPLE SOME OF THE FOODS/PRODUCTS AS WELL AS RECEIVE DISCOUNTS. 

LIST OF VENDORS: Tuttoriso Café *  Seans Food * Laura Hines – RDI THERAPIST - www.extraordinaryminds.org * Nico’s Cafe & Trattoria * Family Health Foods * Fresh Grill Café * The Secret Garden – The secret garden will be donating a gift certificate to be used as a door prize * Delco Drugs * DeRosa Pasta* Purple Dragon Food Company * PATH Family Center * National Autism Association  * Yanbo (Amber) Yang, Licensed Acupuncturist, certified NAET  practitioner (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique) * Carabba’s Italian Grill – literature only * Taste Buds Natural Foods – literature only

For more information please contact: ps37rpta@aol.com

Advocates for Children Action Alert: Oppose Early Intervention Parent Fee Proposal

Advocates for Children Action Alert:

Oppose Early Intervention Parent Fee Proposal

Background:

Brain research demonstrates that the stimulation and interaction a child receives during the first 5 years of life are critical to permanent brain development.  Early intervention services can reverse a trajectory of poor development and help prepare children to succeed in school and life, ultimately saving taxpayers money.

New York’s Early Intervention (EI) program provides free services to 0-3-year-old children who have developmental delays or disabilities.  However, Governor Paterson’s 2010-2011 state budget proposal would require families to pay for EI, jeopardizing children’s access to needed services.  Families earning more than 250% of the federal poverty level ($46,000 for a family of three) would have to make quarterly payments for each eligible child.  If a family missed even one payment, the child would lose EI services and become ineligible for EI.  Families who are unable to provide proof of income would have to pay the highest amount with no exceptions, impeding the eligibility of children in foster care, children whose families are homeless, and children of undocumented immigrants.

This proposal would burden families and force many children to lose services that help them develop during the important early years.

Take Action:

Call or write to your state legislators and urge them to oppose Governor Paterson’s budget proposal to require parents to pay for Early Intervention, included in the Health and Mental Hygiene budget legislation (S. 6608/ A. 9708), because it would burden families and force children to lose EI services.  To find your NY State Senator, go to http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm and to find your NY Assembly Member, go to http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

For more information, contact Randi Levine at Advocates for Children of New York at (212) 822-9532 or rlevine@advocatesforchildren.org.

Truth Be Told: I Have A Child With Special Needs

Truth Be Told: I Have A Child With Special Needs – Airs on the Discovery Channel on February 7, 2010 at noon and then again at 4 p.m.

Three different families reveal their innermost thoughts and moments, as they let the cameras witness daily life coping with Autism, Down’s Syndrome and Epidermolysis Bullosa (a terminal disease that causes skin to blister and detach).

Two Announcements from the Special Education News Pages

There are 2 new announcements on the Special Education News page.  

* New York State*s Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) and the State Education Department (SED) have announced the launch of the New York ACTS Web site. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families now have a single comprehensive resource to go to for important information and the State services available to address the needs of these individuals and their families. http://www.nyacts.org/  

 * NYSED has developed a model Prior Written Notice form which will be required for use by all local and State educational agencies for all prior written notices issued during the school year.

http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/formsnotices/PWN/memo-jan10.htm

“Mom, I’m Bored!” – Fun Things to Do on Staten Island, Sat. & Sun., February 6 & 7, 2010

From www.SIParent.com the following is a list of things to do on Staten Island this weekend:

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Buffalo Soldiers-Bicycle Corps. Black History Month Programs. 1-3pm. Ft. Wadsworth Visitor Ctr., 718 354-4500

Kids Workshop: Car Display. Do-it-yourself skills & tool safety. Ages 5-12. 9am- 12pm. Free. Home Depot.

Story Museum. Ages 3-6. 2-3pm. Historic Richmondtown, 718 351-1611

Valentine Card Making Workshop. Make Victorian valentines for local nursing home residents. 1-3pm. Free. Historic Richmond Town, 718 351-1611

Happy Hibernators. Learn where all the wildlife has been camping out until warm weather arrives. 11am. Blue Heron Park. Urban Park Rangers, 718 967-3542

Winter Water Fowl. Get a glimpse of NY’s winter water birds. 2pm. Clove Lakes Park. Urban Park Rangers, 718 967-3542

Music Performance. Great performances by Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys. 8pm. Center for the Arts at CSI, 718 982-ARTS

Kids and Kritters: Valentines for the Birds. Animals that represent love; make a valentine to share. Ages 5-7 w/parent. 11am. Blue Heron Park, 917 751-0071

Krafty Kids. Decorate a heart with natural items. Ages 4-10 w/caregiver. 1-2pm. Prereg. Blue Heron Park, 917 751-0071

Target First Saturdays: Black History Month. An evening of art & entertainment. Free. 5-11pm. Brooklyn Museum, 718 638-5000

Musical Salute: “I’ll Be Seeing You.” Honoring our American heroes. Sat at 8pm, Sun at 3pm. Proceeds to benefit local charities. Veteran’s Hall at Snug Harbor. South Shore Rotary, 718 815-5632

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Musical Salute: “I’ll Be Seeing You.” Honoring our American heroes. Sat at 8pm, Sun at 3pm. Proceeds to benefit local charities. Veteran’s Hall at Snug Harbor. South Shore Rotary, 718 815-5632

Local History Club. Theme is about the role of S.I.’s most prominent African Americans. 11am. Blue Heron Park. Urban Park Rangers, 718 967-3542

Valentine Card Making. Create cards for those close to your heart. All ages. Prereg. 1-2:30pm. Blue Heron Park, 718 227-8839

Sea Arts & Shell Crafts. Craft a necklace, key chain or picture frame using natural treasures from the sea. All ages. Prereg. GNRA. Miller Field Ranger Station, 718 351-6970 

Winter Survival. Learn to build a shelter, find food & water & stay warm. 2pm. Blue Heron Park, UPR, 718 967-3542

Mt. Loretto Harbor Seal Watch. 11am-1pm. Protectors, 718 967-1037

Hockey Clinic. Free ice hockey & ice skating instruction to the youth of S.I. boys & girls ages 4-17 from 7-8am (except 2/14). S.I. Ice Hockey Association at the S.I. Skating Pavillion. For more info call 718-966-8708

Tai Chi. 10-11:30am. Bring your own mat. Tai-Chi. Greenbelt Nature Center, 718-351-3450

Walking Tour of Fort Wadsworth. Ranger-led tours of the fortications. 2-3:30pm. GNRA. Ft. Wadsworth, 718 354-4500

Special Meeting of the Panel for Educational Policy

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PANEL FOR EDUCATIONAL POLICY

Murry Bergtraum High School for Business Careers

411 Pearl Street

Manhattan, NY 10038

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

7:15 PM

AGENDA

Special Meeting

A.     Chancellor’s Update

B.     Approval of Chancellor’s Regulations

The Panel will vote on the following list of Chancellor’s Regulations. Public comment on the Regulations being considered by the Panel will take place before the Panel votes.  Click on the Regulation to view the full text of the Regulation.

1.      Regulation D-140: Process for the Nomination and Selection of Members of the Community Education Councils Including Filling Vacancies

2.      Regulation D-150: Process for the Nomination and Selection of Members of the Citywide Council on Special Education Including Filling Vacancies

3.      Regulation D-160: Process for the Nomination and Selection of Members of the Citywide Council on High Schools Including Filling Vacancies

4.      Regulation D-170: Process for the Nomination and Selection of Members of the Citywide Council on English Language Learners including Filling Vacancies

5.      Regulation D-180: Extended Use of School Buildings

6.      Regulation A-414: Safety Plans

7.      Regulation A-415: Department of Education Emergency Notification System

8.      Regulation A-655: School and District Leadership Teams

9.      Regulation B-801: School-Based Budgeting

Translation services will be provided in Spanish or American Sign Language through reservation only: (212) 374-2437 or NBaldassano@schools.nyc.gov.

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Contact for agenda items: Natalie Baldassano: (212) 374-2437, 52 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007, panel@schools.nyc.gov.