Letter from Christine Quinn and Robert Jackson

November 19, 2009

Dear New Yorker, 

The City Council, together with parents and other elected officials, has been calling on the Department of Education (DOE) to increase the number of seats in the City’s public school system in order to help relieve overcrowding and address the future needs of our growing communities.  We’re pleased to report that the proposed amendment to the Five-Year Capital Plan released last week increases the number of new classroom seats by a total of 5,123. 

Many of these seats will be located in School Districts 15, 24, 29 and 30, which are among those that have been particularly hard hit by overcrowding in recent years.  The seats will not require any new funding but instead will be paid for by re-estimating construction costs and through the reallocation of existing resources.  To view the proposed amendment in its entirety, click here.

The details of this proposal need to be carefully examined, including concerns that the funding used for these seats could delay the construction of other seats elsewhere in the system.  However, we believe that this amendment is a step in the right direction, and we look forward to working with parents and advocates to expand the number of classroom seats even further.

As a concerned New Yorker, you have a vital role to play in this process.  The proposed amendment has been sent to every district’s Community Education Council (CEC) for public comment and review, which will occur primarily at December meetings.  After evaluating all public feedback, the DOE is expected to release a final amendment in February, which will then go to the Panel for Education Policy and the City Council for review and approval in the spring.

We encourage you to attend your local CEC’s public meetings and to share your thoughts and views about this proposal.  To find your CEC’s event calendar, click here.

The Council’s Education Committee will also be holding a hearing on the draft amendment in the near future.  Information about the hearing will be posted on our website at http://www.council.nyc.gov/html/home/home.shtml as soon as it has been scheduled.

Thank you.

Sincerely, 

Christine C. Quinn

Speaker

New York City Council

Robert Jackson

Chair, Education Committee

New York City Council

PS 373R November 2009 Newsletter – in Color!

Please click on the link for the latest PS 373R Newsletter!

PS373RNovember2009Newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out poetry from Mr. K’s Class to inspire you to be part of The Great American Smokeout! See some great Halloween photos! Read the script from Ms. Caputo’s class film “Christopher Columbus – A Terrific Failure”, from the Columbus Day Film Festival. Learn the latest about the H1N1 Flu shots. And lots more!

Free H1N1 Vaccines For Select NYC Residents- Letter From Christine Quinn

Dear New Yorker:

I wanted to pass along some important news regarding the H1N1 vaccine.

Every weekend from November 14 (this Saturday) through December 13, the City’s Health Department will be offering FREE H1N1 vaccines at temporary clinics located in schools throughout the city.  Although these clinics were originally designed for middle and high school students, vaccines will be now available for anyone in the following groups:

• Pregnant women. 
• Anyone 4 to 24 years of age. (Note: Children younger than 4 are not eligible to be vaccinated at these clinics.  Please consult your child’s pediatrician, call 311 or go to www.nyc.gov/flu  to find a location that provides vaccines to this age group.)
• Persons 25 to 64 years of age who have underlying health conditions that increases risk of severe illness or complications.  Such conditions include asthma, diabetes, chronic heart and lung conditions, kidney failure, or a weakened immune system.
• Anyone who lives with or cares for children less than 6 months old 

The vaccination clinics will be open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  There are limits on the number of people that the clinics can accommodate, so there may be lines.  To prevent overcrowding, eligible New Yorkers are asked to attend the vaccination clinic nearest their home on the weekend that clinic is available.  All of the sites are listed below.

In addition to the temporary vaccination clinics in schools, there are several other locations where folks can receive an H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccination.  Please call 311 or log on to http://www.nyc.gov/flu to find the site nearest you. 

You can also find other helpful information about preventing and treating both H1N1 and the seasonal flu at www.nyc.gov/flu .

Vaccination is the best way to protect children and adults from the flu and prevent community-wide transmission, so please take a moment to share this important information with your family, friends and neighbors.

Thanks so much.  Be well. 

Sincerely,

Christine C. Quinn

Speaker - New York City Council

Staten Island, NY Locations:

Vaccine Site	Location	Dates and Hours of Operation	Priority Zip Codes
I.S. 51 Edwin Markham (R051)	20 Houston Street	Saturday, November 14, 9:00am-6:00pm Sunday, November 15, 9:00am-5:00pm	10302, 10303, 10311
P.S. 6 Corporal Allen Kivlehan (R006)	555 Page Avenue	Saturday, November 21, 9:00am-6:00pm Sunday, November 22, 9:00am-5:00pm	10307, 10309
P.S. 58 Space Shuttle Columbia School (R058)	77 Marsh Avenue	Saturday, December 5, 9:00am-6:00pm Sunday, December 6, 9:00am-5:00pm	10314
I.S. 24 Myra Barnes (R024)	225 Cleveland Avenue	Saturday, December 12, 9:00am-6:00pm Sunday, December 13, 9:00am-5:00pm	10306, 10308, 10312

CEC 31 Special Ed. Committee Invites You to a Special Education Parent Information Forum “Steps to Success”

“Steps to Success” Become informed, engaged and effective to meet the educational needs of your child. Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. P.S. 14, 100 Tompkins Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10304 Please join the Commmunity Education Council for an evening of valuable information from community resources on Staten Island. Work in partnership with school staff for positive outcomes for your child Understanding the various special education services and supports available for students from birth through age 21 and beyond Utilize community resources to answer your questions Prepare for transitions from pre-school to adult life Understand the educational services in the least restrictive environment for your child Find where to go to address your concerns and have your questions answered A panel of individuals representing resources for families will discuss how and where parents can receive guidance relevant to their needs. Following the panel discussion, parents will have the opportunity to meet in small groups with representatives from various organizations to address their particular questions and concerns. CALL 718-420-5746 for more information.

PS 373R PTA Minutes from the October, 2009 Meeting

Officers Present: John Scarso, Dawn Port, Laura Strohm, Jennifer Walsh, Perian Wise

October 20, 2009 Parents Present- 3

Time started: 5:45

•  Treasurer’s report- money to mini building for gardening.  Discussed money given for technology.
• Discussed funding for children for socks, sweat pants, and underwear for children who have accidents in school. PTA funded $50.
•  Blood Drive Thursday, October 29, 2009. Parent teacher conference main and mini building on Thursday, November 5, 2009. Petrides Parent teacher on Thursday, November 17, 2009. Other sites on Tuesday, November, 10, 2009. Half day dismissals for all sites on parent teacher conference days.
• Food drive for holiday fair on December 9, and 10^th, 2009.
• Picture day for Petrides on  November 16, 2009. Main and mini building on November 17, 2009.
• Cookie dough deadline on Wednesday, November 4, 2009.
• Discussed having desserts on teacher recognition day.
•  New business- Vaccine H1N1. Discussed children in school having vaccine at main site on Monday, November 9, 2009.
• American Idol dance at all sites.
• Emergency response team needed for each school. Training with staff at main site on November 3, 2009.
• Next PTA meeting is on November 18,2009 at 6:00 P.M.

Meeting adjourned at 6:40 P.M.

South Street Seaport Holiday Tree Lighting Event – November 27, 2009

South Street Seaport Holiday Tree Lighting Event

Friday, November 27, 2009

6 pm – 8 pm 

Princess Katie & Racer Steve perform at 6 pm – sharp!

Fulton Street – Pier 17 – Front Street, NYC

What a beautiful Holiday event this is!  Gordon from Sesame Street hosts, they’ll be train rides, a tree lighting, a chorus, a marching band, Santa, Princess Katie & Racer Steve…and more!  

This is a free, outdoor event, so dress the kids warm!

Info: www.southstreetseaport.comCONTACT: (212) SEA-PORT

Jazz for Young People at Lincoln Center November 2009 – Take Your Kids!

1:00pm & 3:00pm
Rose Theater
In this interactive family concert, host Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln
 Center Orchestra explore
the workings of jazz through the lens of pianist, composer and iconoclast Mary
Lou Williams. She became the “First Lady of Jazz,” a master of every
style from ragtime and stride to boogie-woogie, bebop and beyond.
Join us as the JLCO performs her deeply swinging music and invites us all into Mary’s
musical world.
Performing with the orchestra are two young piano stars, Alma Macbride (age 14 from
West Hartford,
CT) and Yasiel Sanchez (age 13 from New York City).
Free pre-concert workshop on Mary Lou and her music in the Atrium at 12:15pm and 2:15pm.
http://jalc.org/concerts/details309.asp?EventID=2044

ALSO Check out TimeOut NY

Free Seminar from the Sensory Learning Program

Free Seminar and Open House
Come find out more about the Sensory Learning Program
November 10th at 7pm
November 11th at 12pm
November 14th at 1pm

**Registration is REQUIRED for the free seminar.

++Leave your name and phone number at 718-285-0693  or email -jverdone@SensoryLearning.com

Children and adults with the following diagnosis have be helped by the Sensory Learning Program: ADD/ADHD, Asperger’s, Autism, PDD-NOS, Sensory Processing Disorder, Auditory Processing Disorder, PTSD, and others.

Website: www.sensorylearning-siny.com

Sensory Solutions is located at 1250 Hylan Blvd. Suite A-8 (First Floor)

Brothers Care, Inc. & Mama Teresa’s Pizza House 2009 Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway

 

BROTHERS CARE, INC . &  MAMA TERESA’S PIZZA HOUSE

PRESENT THEIR  1^ST ANNUAL

TURKEY GIVEAWAY

Brothers Care Inc and Mama Teresa’s Pizza House will be hosting our 1^st Annual Turkey Giveaway for needy families from Staten Island.  We would like to give special thanks to Teddy Atlas Foundation, Health Plus, Team Tsunami, There To Care, Pink Diamond Steppers, PS 373 Staff and all others that helped and supported this event.  For more info: Email: Brotherswhocare@aol.com

Website: www.brotherscareinc.com

DATE: Tuesday November 24, 2009

TIME: 6pm-9pm

LOCATION: Mama Teresa’s Pizza House at 1034 Castleton Avenue S.I. N.Y. 10310 

“Unity In The Community”

Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations Delegate Meeting – 11/19/09

Staten Island Federation of Parent Teacher Associations Delegate Meeting – Monday, November 19th – 9:30 am – Petrides Conference Center – Bldg C

They will be collecting items to ship to our soldiers.- Items needed include:  leftover candy from Halloween (please no chocolate)

* Travel-sized toiletries, including cotton swabs, sunscreen, shampoo/conditioner, pain relievers, lotions, baby powder, toothbrushes and toothpaste, hand sanitizers, insect repellent, lip balm, shaving cream, razors, mouthwash, womens sanitary items, deodorant.

* Food and snacks, including powdered drink mixes, small packets of sugar, fruit snacks, raisins, beef jerky, tuna/chicken packs, breakfast and power bars, pretzels, cookies, peanut butter, crackers, cans of Chef Boyardee, instant soups and oatmeal, instant macaroni and cheese, peanuts, trail mix, microwave popcorn, candy, mints, gum, throat lozenges, hot chocolate, tea/coffee.

* Clothing, including white, black or cotton socks, brown or green T-shirts, boxer shorts, flip-flops, hats, scarves, gloves

* Entertainment items, including DVDs and CDs, batteries, playing cards, disposable cameras, word search or crossword puzzles, board games, pens, pencils, notes of encouragement and drawings from children, and holiday decorations

* For the canine units, flea shampoo, dog brushes, bedding, toys and treats