WELCOME BACK AND CONGRATULATIONS!

Dear Families, Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year! This school year marks my fifth year as your principal. I am honored to be part of a community where parents, families, students, teachers and staff members are invested in the success and growth of the school. At the Holliswood School, students are enthusiastic about their learning and make strides to become critical thinkers and good citizens. The Holliswood School offers your child an excellent education. We work arduously to ensure that education is engaging and stimulating. Every student here has the opportunity to reach his/her full potential. The Holliswood School promotes an environment that encourages open communication among all constituents where every member is a proactive participant in moving the school forward. You are encouraged to take an active part in your child’s education. Great News: We are delighted that the construction in our playground has been completed. We have a completely renovated school yard, which the students will enjoy during recess, P.E. and during after school programs. We are also pleased to announce that our school has been recognized as a New York State Education Department Reward School. The Department identified 250 schools in 164 districts as Reward Schools. Only 55 NYC Public Schools received this reward, including 178. Reward Schools are either schools that have made the most progress or schools that have the highest achievement in the state and do not have significant gaps in student achievement that are not being closed. Schools will be awarded up to a maximum of $150,000 each year for two years and up to $300,000 for the entire grant period. Additionally, we received a new technology grant for $50,000 from Council Member Weprin, which we will use to purchase Smart Boards, laptops and iPads. We are so thrilled to have received these grants and awards, which are attributed to the focused work of our school community. Reminders: We would like to remind you of some informative websites for parents/guardians in order to view ongoing important information and to enhance communication: www.nyc.gov/schools [The NYCDOE website provides excellent resources for families, such as the Common Core Learning Standards, and information about state and city initiatives taking place in our school]. http://holliswoodschool.blogspot.com/ [This website is used as a forum to post important dates and upcoming school-wide events]. I welcome you to a brand new school year, envisioned with hope and in anticipation of endless possibilities. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or the school. I would like to remind you about our upcoming Meet the Teacher Night on Wednesday, September 12th from 5:30-7:00 PM. On that evening, a PTA meeting will immediately follow at 7:00 PM in our auditorium. I look forward to seeing you at this important event.

PS/IS 178Q will be closed during the summer. Staff members will not be here. Our first day of school will be Thursday, September 6, 2012. Please continue to check our school blog: http://holliswoodschool.blogspot.com and the NYCDOE website (www.nyc.gov/schools) for any updates about school. Our summer school information is PS 46Q (Elementary Site) and MS 172Q (Middle School Site). If you wish to find out about our partner community-based organizations, their contact information is as follows: Samuel Field Y in Little Neck, NY 718-225-6750 For direct/specific questions regarding the Y @ 178, the program will be held at the Queens High School of Teaching this summer. Program Director Dominick Menno can be reached at 646-772-3879 or via e-mail: DMenno@sfy.org. The Queens High School of Teaching is located at 74-20 Commonwealth Boulevard, Bellerose, NY 11426. Kuei Luck Educational Center 195-05 69th Ave, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 Tel 718-679-9908 x810 fax 718-736-8588 www.kueiluck.com Program Director of 178's program: Lily Kwok

Sam Field Y Summer Camp

The Y Summer Camp has been moved to Queens High School of Teaching this summer. This was decided by the NYCDOE /DYCD. Thanks.

April 23, 2012 Dear Parent or Guardian: HIV/AIDS is one of the most serious health problems Americans have ever faced. It has no cure, and education is the only way we can help our students protect themselves from the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Between now and June, your child’s teacher will conduct a few lessons about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The New York State Education Department and the New York City Department of Education have mandated that HIV/AIDS education be provided for all students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. This mandate states that HIV/AIDS instruction must be age-appropriate and address the nature of the disease, the methods of transmission, and methods of prevention. Lessons focus on developing an understanding of communicable diseases, ways to live a healthy life, and how to identify community resources that can help enhance the quality of life. State Regulations require that all students attend lessons on the nature of the disease and methods of transmission. However, parents or legal guardians have the right to ask that their child not participate in the lessons dealing with methods of prevention. These lessons are labeled “Prevention.” Parents or legal guardians must make a written request that their child not receive such instruction, and assure that the pupil will receive such instruction at home. [See tear-off below and please return]. An HIV/AIDS advisory council composed of Panel on Educational Policy members, community representatives, parents, teachers, and supervisors has thoroughly reviewed and approved the curriculum and related materials to be used. The curriculum has also been reviewed and approved by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Encourage your child to speak with you about HIV/AIDS. You might wish to point out newspaper or magazine articles about HIV/AIDS issues that you can discuss together. Doing so can help you reinforce your child's awareness of how HIV is transmitted, and present opportunities for you and your child to discuss how abstaining from sexual intercourse and alcohol and other drug use is the most appropriate and effective way for children to protect their health and their futures. We welcome your involvement at school. Speak to your child's teacher, parent coordinator, or me about how you can support HIV/AIDS lessons. If you have any questions regarding this program or would like to review HIV/AIDS curriculum materials, please visit the New York City Department of Education website for a comprehensive description of the curriculum: http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/FitnessandHealth/StandardsCurriculum/HIVAIDScurriculum and please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, Jennifer C. Ambert Principal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parents/Guardians, please check one and sign: _____ My child may participate in the HIV/AIDS lessons at 178. _____ My child may not participate in HIV/AIDS lessons at 178. My child will learn about HIV/AIDS at home. Parent/Guardian’s Signature_______________________________ Student’s Name __________________________ Class ___________ Please return the tear off to your child’s teacher by April 30, 2012. MS Teachers, return tear off to Mr. Sanchez. Thank you.

Special Education Phase II

Dear Parents/Guardians:

During the Community District Education Council 26 (CDEC) Townhall Meeting in February, Chancellor Walcott discussed the Special Education Phase II reform, which will be implemented across all NYC public schools in September. Many community members requested follow-up. Therefore, the CDEC has invited Lauren Katzman, Executive Director of Special Education, to address the CDEC on April 16, 2012 at 7:00 PM, at MS 67.

We hope you will be able to attend this meeting. The invitation from CDEC was backpacked home today.

PLAYGROUND CONSTRUCTION/NEW DISMISSAL SITES FOR FIRST AND FOURTH GRADES

March 19, 2012

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Further to our September 2011 PTA meeting and our ongoing conversations about the upcoming playground renovation, we are pleased to inform you that the small raised playground (where the monkey bars are) will begin deconstruction later this week (Wednesday through Friday).

During this period, we will revise our first grade and fourth grade dismissal locations as follows:

-first grade students will be dismissed adjacent to the lower playground (currently, second and third grade students dismiss at this location). This dismissal site is right outside of the cafeteria.
-fourth grade students will dismiss at the Avon Road exit on Avon Road (currently, fifth graders dismiss at this location).

These dismissal sites will remain in effect beginning this Wednesday, March 21, 2012 until further notice.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you.

Principal's Update From PTA Meeting

Academic Update
• For the 2011-2012 school year, we have focused on strengthening students’ abilities in mathematical reasoning and constructing viable arguments, and in literacy, the focus is on improving students’ written analysis to informational texts. All of our professional development has focused on the Common Core Learning Standards and making our curriculum more rigorous. Please continue to reinforce skills at home. Mrs. Corley will hold monthly workshops focused on academic topics. Please also ask your child’s teacher about specific information that is pertinent to your child’s grade. For additional support, please do not hesitate to contact our school’s literacy coach, Julia Kucharski and our math coach, Janet Marmo.
• Every two months, you have been receiving a copy of our school’s curriculum calendar. In your child’s classroom, you should also receive notes and updates from your child’s teacher. Please do not wait until Parent Teacher Conferences to initiate contact with your child’s teachers. Thank you.

After School Programs Update
• In lieu of a Saturday ELA Program, after school math and ELA programs have been offered to grades 3-8 for five weeks, ending prior to the ELA and Math exams in April. Students who did not meet standards last year or who are in danger of not meeting standards for this year have been invited to the program.

Events Update
• Parent Teacher Conferences take place March 13th from 1-3 PM and 5:30-8 PM. That date is scheduled as a half day of school. Dismissal will be at 11:30 AM for grades 1-8 and 11:15 AM for PK and K.
• Middle School Career Day has been scheduled for the morning of March 21st. If any parent is interested in coming in as a presenter, please contact Ms. Peters.
• Our Arts Benefit Concert will take place on March 22nd at 6 PM
• The PreK program does not take place on Friday, March 23rd.
• Family volleyball night takes place on March 28th at 6 PM.

Testing Update
• Acuity exams will take place on March 5,6,and 8,9 for grades 3-8. These formative, periodic assessments are used to inform educators of the skills necessary to teach each student. The school reviews the item analysis reports to see students’ strengths and areas in need of improvement in ELA and math.
• The dates for the New York State 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.