Principal's Letter

Dear Parents, 

As I started my 29th year at Booker T. this week, I felt as grateful to be a part of this community and this school as I did in 1993 when I began. Leading this school is a responsibility I take very seriously. 

It has been wonderful to welcome the students back to school. I know that they were excited, nervous, amazed, full of questions, but overall happy to be off the screen and in the classroom. Thank you for joining me at the orientation last week. 

SOME INFORMATION

Schedules & Class Assignments: All students have received their schedule and class assignments. We are not able to make any changes at this time to language and/or elective classes. We do not yet know if there is any room for changes. At the start of the year, the rosters have to be verified and “cleaned up”. Students travel with their homeroom class to all of their classes with the exception of their language and music elective. Each teacher distributed a syllabus/letter this week to their classes. If you have not seen them, talk to your children. 

Back-to-School Night: This is your opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and to hear about the year ahead. Save the date — September 23, 2021 at 6:30PM over Zoom. 

Snack: I know that there was concern about a snack for 6th and 7th graders since they have such a long wait until lunch. Many teachers are allowing the students to have a snack (during period 4). They are allowing the students to eat in shifts. Some teachers are not comfortable with this compromise and we are working on an alternative plan for their classes.

Lunch: Students are eating their lunches in the flagpole courtyard. Sandwiches and cold lunches are available for all students. Students can also bring their own lunch. After they finish eating, students can go to the schoolyard to play. We hope that the library will also be open beginning next week during lunch for a limited/safe number of students. 

Student MetroCards: Sixth graders’ MetroCards did not get delivered before school began. This is why there has been some delay in distributing them. Seventh and eighth graders received them earlier in the week. 

Early Academy: Open office hours and intervention with ALL teachers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 8 - 8:40AM. Early Academy begins on Tuesday, September 21st. Students enter through the flagpole courtyard. Students do not need to sign up in advance, but must arrive by 8:25AM.

Technology Survey: PLEASE complete the technology survey. This is how we will know if your child needs a device. The students will need a device at home. There will also be times (during the assessment period) when students will be asked to bring the device to school.  

Jupiter: If you have not uploaded your child’s picture into Jupiter, please do so as soon as possible. Masks are making it especially hard to learn the students’ names and this will help. To do this, after logging in, click “Settings”. You will see that there are two grey boxes saying “No Photo” and links to add a photo.

Forms: We need all forms returned — Blue Emergency Cards, Ryan Health Center, and the Income Verification Form. 

Water bottles: Students need a water bottle in school. Students only have access to the bottle filler part of the water fountains. 

Air Circulation: We have tested the air circulation in all the classrooms to provide guidance to the teachers. There are two air-purifiers in every classroom. 

Notebook & Folder Color System: Notebook organization/color-coded system is as follows: 

• Math: Black 
• Science: Green 
• Social Studies: Blue 
• ELA: Red 
• Language: Yellow 
• Elective: Purple 
• Other: White 

Health Education: This year, Justine Fonte, an experienced health educator will be working with our teachers and students. She will be speaking to students monthly and introducing a topic which the health teachers will then be expanding on during the course of the month. Our first assembly took place this week. Ms. Fonte spoke on the topic of mental health. Ask your sixth and seventh graders about it. Eighth graders were invited to a “drop-in lunch” with Ms. Fonte. She did a short presentation and then opened it up to students’ questions. 

ICT Classes: There are ICT (integrated co-teaching) classrooms on every grade level. There are two teachers in these classrooms. One teacher is the general education teacher and one is the special education teacher. There are also smaller special needs classes on every grade level. These have twelve students, one teacher, and one paraprofessional. 

COVID-19 Testing: Every other week, we will have random COVID-19 testing of the unvaccinated students.  

COVID-19 Response: In the event that your child is directly exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has tested positive themselves, please email absent@ms54.org. Your child should also contact the teachers for the assignments they are missing. We are working on getting a chart that will make determining the appropriate COVID-19-related action much easier. Stay tuned, but in the meantime, if you have questions, email dorcher@schools.nyc.gov. You can also review the information posted on the Planning for 2021-2022 page of the MS54 website.

Planner: Please take a look at the front pages of your student's planner. You and your children can find important school policies there. 

Elana Elster

Equity Team

The Equity Team welcomes you to the 2021-2022 school year! Learn more about our mission and access our resources. We encourage you to share your ideas, questions, and suggestions for creating an inclusive and equitable community at Booker T.

September 15th through October 15th marks Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month. This month, we will celebrate the culture and accomplishments of people of Hispanic and Latinx descent by highlighting stories, artists, and thinkers that will inspire you.  

From your favorite pop-stars to iconic civil rights heroes, athletes, writers, scientists, and visual artists, Hispanics/Latinx have shaped American history and culture from the beginning. (Hispanic refers to people who trace their heritage to a Spanish-speaking country. Latinos/Latinx refers to people who are from or are descendants of a Latin American country.) Although often left out of our historical and literary canons, the enduring contributions of Hispanics and Latinx to American society are easily uncovered.

Following are a few resources to get you started on this learning journey:

• Our Hispanic Roots on PBS
• National Hispanic Heritage Month: A collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
• The Latino Experience from the official guide of NYC & Co

• ms54.org
• MS54 PTA @ Facebook
• MS54 @ Instagram
• The Well at 54