October 25, 2011

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Monday, October 31, 2011 is Halloween. Traditionally, Halloween is a time of fun and excitement. However, we need to take precautions in order to have a safe Halloween experience.

Below, we have listed some helpful guidelines to consider, in the event that your children go out Trick or Treating.

1. Go Trick or Treating in a group with a responsible adult.
2. Wear a costume that is fireproof and can be seen when it is dark.
3. Do not eat any unwrapped candy or fruit.
4. Parents should inspect all treats before permitting children to eat them.
5. Only go Trick or Treating to friends and neighbors. Do not knock on
strangers' doors.
6. Do not go Trick or Treating late in the evening.
7. Do not play any tricks that can hurt anyone or that can damage property.

As a reminder, Halloween costumes are not permitted in school. However, children may wear a costume to the PTA-sponsored Fall Festival on October 27, 2011 at 6:00 PM.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Very truly yours,


Jennifer Ambert
Principal

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES

Dear Parents/Guardians:

You are cordially invited to our November Parent-Teacher Conferences. Both afternoon and evening conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Conferences are scheduled for 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM in the afternoon and 5:30 PM to 8:00PM in the evening. During these times, you will have the opportunity to confer with your child’s teacher about his/her academic and social progress. Please feel free to bring an English Language translator with you to the conference. We will also have translators available.

Elementary Families will receive scheduled appointment times. Please complete the tear-off form, which will be distributed on 10/21, to indicate your availability. The teachers will send you a reply. Middle School Families will meet with individual teachers through a sign-up sheet, which will be posted outside classrooms during conference hours. This will enable you to meet with the various teachers who instruct your child in a timely manner.

Reminder: Due to Parent-Teacher Conference on the afternoon of Tuesday, 11/15, students will be dismissed at 11:30 AM. Please make sure to make arrangements to have your child picked up at 11:30 AM that day. Pre-K and Kindergarten students will be dismissed at 11:15 AM. If your child rides a bus home from school, please arrange that there is a responsible adult at the bus stop. Please sign the tear-off and return it to your child’s teacher by October 26, 2011.

All PS/IS 178 After-School Programs will be cancelled on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. The Samuel Field Y and Kuei Luck Programs will also be cancelled.

• Elementary report cards (Grades 1-5 only) will be distributed on November 9, 2011 via backpack.
• Middle School report cards will be distributed on November 7, 2011 via backpack.

Thank you for your cooperation. I look forward to seeing you.

Holliswood in the News

Please view the article in the Queens Gazette:

http://www.qgazette.com/news/2011-10-19/Features/PS_178_Celebrates_Six_Decades_Of_Service.html

Thank you.

Parent Workshop on 10/7/11 Cancelled

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Please be advised that Ms. Corley's Parent Workshop, entitled "Respect for All" (First Friday Second Cup), has been cancelled. The workshop was originally scheduled for this Friday, October 7, 2011. Ms. Corley will re-schedule this meeting at a later date.

If you have any questions, please call Ms. Corley.

Thank you.

60th Anniversary

Our 60th anniversary assemblies and dance were a tremendous success! Special thanks to Ms. Guglietta, who coordinated all of the assemblies, along with Mrs. Corley, who assisted with the assembly and coordinated the dance with the parent volunteers. The 9:00 AM assembly featured speeches by Superintendent Saunders, Council Member Mark Weprin and Alumni Marilyn Gellar. Ms. Gellar was in the very first kindergarten class of 1951. All of our speeches referred to ‘then’ and ‘now,’ highlighting how school used to be, what games we would play, and how fortunate children are today because technology is at their fingertips. I encouraged our students to invent something new and use their imaginations. While I am a huge proponent of technology, reflecting about the nostalgia (life without all of the technology) makes me think that we have to continue to foster creativity. During the dance, we had a great turnout from our younger students and their families. Thank you to the staff members, who were able to come out and celebrate the 60th. Former Assistant Principal Patrick Klocek (who is now a Principal in Farmingdale) also stopped by and was greeted by all of our students. Thank you to all of the families who participated.

Earlier in the day, students in grades Pre-K to 4 planted their pinwheels for peace. Above are pictures taken on September 27th.