Thursday, January 12, 2012

Procedures on Days with Citywide Emergency Conditions or on Major Storm Days

Procedures on Days with Citywide Emergency Conditions or on Major Storm Days

Dear Parent/Guardian:

This letter explains the procedures we follow on a day with citywide emergency conditions or a major storm day. The Chancellor will make an announcement to all public schools in the city on whether to close schools or delay their opening. This announcement is made in consultation with other City officials. All authorized delayed openings will result in the regular starting time being two hours later (Please note that, in addition to this two hour delay, the morning or afternoon extra 37.5 minute session for small group instruction, tutoring or test preparation, will be cancelled, as well as all field trips, all adult and continuing education activities, and all after-school activities – see below.)

By 6:00 a.m., 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 (Fox Channel 5), WABC (Channel 7), Univision Channel 41, and "NY 1" (Channel 1 on Time Warner Cable television). Major radio news stations, such as WINS (1010 AM) and WCBS (880 AM), should be listened to on portable radios in the event of a major blackout.

The school telephone number is: ¬718-464-5763. The regular school hours (including the extra 37.5 minute sessions for small group instruction, tutoring or test preparation) are: 8:00 AM-2:57.5 PM. Without the extended day session (Thursdays and Fridays), school hours are 8:00 AM-2:20 PM. If there is an authorized delayed school opening, the school hours will be: 10:00 AM – 2:20 PM. Our Parent Coordinator can be reached at pcorley3@schools.nyc.gov or
347-563-4409.

When there is an authorized citywide school closing or delayed school opening, the following will be cancelled unless the Chancellor makes an announcement to the contrary: all field trips, all extra 37.5 minute sessions for small group instruction, tutoring or test preparation at the start or at the end of the regular school day, all after-school programs (including Community-Based Organization after-school programs on public school sites), all after-school program transportation (including transportation to after-school programs at Community-Based Organization sites), all Adult and Continuing Education classes, all Young Adult Borough Centers, and all evening GED programs.

When there is an authorized citywide delayed school opening, school buses will run, but their arrival times will be delayed by two hours. In addition, buses will not be available for any start or end of day extra 37.5 minute sessions for small group instruction, tutoring or test preparation (since these sessions will be cancelled). Morning prekindergarten programs within public schools will also be cancelled.

It is expected that when there is a delayed opening, all end of day extra sessions will be cancelled. As a result, all students will be dismissed at the regular time for students not attending the extra 37.5 minute session for small group instruction, tutoring or test preparation. However, if citywide emergency conditions or a storm worsen, the Chancellor may have to announce an early dismissal. The Chancellor will notify bus services of the earlier dismissal schedule.

You should have plans in place with a relative, friend or neighbor in case your child is released early and you will not be at home to care for him or her. Your child should know of your plans. Please note that you must have listed that relative, friend or neighbor on the school’s “BLUE EMERGENCY CONTACT CARD” because schools are not authorized to release pupils to persons not listed on that card. You may also identify on the card a person or persons who should not have access to your child, as well as indicate the actions you would like the school to take if none of your listed contacts can be reached. The school will follow your recommendations as much as possible. It is important that you make certain that the card is up-to-date. If your child takes a school bus, school staff will remain in school with the bused children until buses arrive for dismissal or until your child is picked up.

If you have a child with a disability, you should use your discretion in deciding whether to send him or her to school when there is a delayed opening. If your child has medical or other health issues requiring nursing or other services during the school day, including services requiring a nurse or paraprofessional to ride on the bus, you should consider not sending your child to school. Please be reminded that your child will not be picked up if a nurse or paraprofessional who is required to ride with him or her is not aboard the school bus.

Again, contact the 311 Information Line, access the NYCDOE website Home Page at http://schools.nyc.gov, and listen to the radio or television stations listed above for information.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Updates

Parent Involvement
• Thank you to all the parents for assisting with picture day re-take.

After School Programs Update
• Gr. 6-8: CHAMPS began on January 9th. We have volleyball (M/W 3:00-4:30 PM – Coach Efthimiades) and Rugby (Tues. 3:00-4:30 & Fridays 2:20-3:20 – Coach Sanchez).
• Debate Team began last Wednesday with Ms. Pipinias. It takes place every Wednesday.
• In lieu of a Saturday ELA Program, we will hold after school programs for preparation in math and ELA, beginning the week of March 5th. This program will be by invitation only.

Events Update
• The spelling bee took place last Thursday. George Stefanakis was our winner, and Andrew Ortiz was our runner up. Both students will proceed to the borough wide competition next week.
• Congratulations to Max Gallagher for winning the Council Member for a Day Essay Contest, sponsored by Council Member Mark Weprin. Max will spend the day with Mr. Weprin at City Hall next week.
• A student council swearing in ceremony took place today for the new student council. Senator Avella was our special guest.
• There will be a MS dance next month (Feb 16th). It’s our annual snowflake dance, sponsored by student council.

Academic Update
• In January, as you know, each student in grades PK-8 will take part in NYCDOE performance tasks. Each of these tasks measure a student’s readiness as part of the Common Core Learning Standards.
• We will no longer hold a staff development day on Wednesday, February 15, 2012. While parents voted positively for this day last month, teachers did not vote. All the grading and identification of learning goals will be done through grade and department conferences instead.

Testing Update
• The dates for the ELA and Math assessment have changed. The grades 3–8 ELA exams will be administered April 17–19 and the math exams will take place April 25–27.

About Parent Coordinator Phyllis Corley

My name is Phyllis Louise Lattimer-Corley. I am married and have one son.

I was the educational director of a day care center in Nassau County for sixteen years prior to the birth of my son. I planned to be a stay-at- home mom for five years until my son went to kindergarten. Well, that didn’t happen! I got involved in his elementary school, PS 178, first as a class parent, then in the library, and later became PTA president for three years.

When my son moved on to middle school at MS 74, I again took on the role of PTA president for two years. Gee, I guess I wasn’t really staying at home. My son, James is now a freshman at Binghamton University. I am fortunate to be writing this blog, as I enter my sixth year as parent coordinator of my son’s wonderful alma mater.

Welcome to our school family. I am looking forward to an exciting school year. There are so many fantastic activities that have been planned for both you and your child. I encourage all parents to be partners in your child’s school.
Ø Attend Parent Teacher Conferences
Ø Go to PTA Meetings
Ø Participate in Parent Workshops
Ø Volunteer to help at school events.

I am here to assist you in any way that I can. Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or just stop by for a cup of coffee.

Phyllis Corley,
Parent Coordinator

Corley's Corner

Corley's Corner
Parents and Staff turn out for Corley's Ladies' Night at Strike Long Island (November 2008)

Mrs. Corley gets ready to read at the Barnes and Noble Fundraiser Event

Parents and Staff participate in Corley's Cupcake Creations Parent Workshop


Our Student Council Gives Back!

Our Student Council Gives Back!
2009 Student Council President Chrysalis Terrado and her cabinet pose in front of dozens of toys donated by Holliswood families for our annual toy drive (December 2008)

Upcoming School Closings and Half Days


To view the official NYC Dept. of Education 2013-2014 School Calendar, visit


http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D45BBFC5-BB4E-4C6B-ACE7-F7E15D8AA1BE/0/20132014SchoolYearCalendar.pdf

It is also anticipated that we will add half days for professional development for our faculty during the 2013-2014 school year (subject to UFT and PTA approval). An announcement will be made.



In the event of an emergency closing or delayed opening due to weather, please call 311 or watch your local news channels. When NYC public schools are closed, our school will be closed.















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