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Principal's Letter
Dear Parents:
TEACHER-ON-CALL. Did you know/remember that from Monday – Thursday, we have a teacher on-call during the school day? Periods 1, 2, 4, and 5 (3 is lunch,) there is a teacher available to help your child. The teacher may help your child problem solve, especially on days when their own teacher is in the school teaching or they may assign your child to work with a volunteer tutor who can assist them in completing the work. This is a great resource. If your child has questions, is confused, needs support, or cannot get on Zoom, please encourage them to go to the teacher-on-call. This is especially valuable for the students who are 100% remote and are completing work independently. The teacher-on-call link was sent out via Jupiter on Thursday.
JUPITER CHECK. I want to remind your to check Jupiter as we are mid-marking period. Please note that while we want you to have this information, not all assignments can be made up. Our make-up policy is as follows:
Policy for Make-Up and Late Work
It is the responsibility of every student to complete work in a timely manner.
- Absences: In the event that a student is absent, the student will have two days, for each day the student missed, to make up the missed work.
- Work Not Completed On Time: Homework assignments given to review the day’s work or to prepare students for the next day’s lesson may not be made up.* These could include, but are not limited to, math problems, questions based on the reading, or vocabulary assignments. *At the end of each marking period, the lowest homework assignment grade (only 1) will be dropped. Notes from parents will not waive this policy.
- When a long-term assignment is turned in late, point’s equivalent to one third of a grade (for example from A to A- or from a B+ to a B) will be reduced for each day the assignment is not turned in. After five days, the assignment will not be accepted.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held via Zoom and phone during the week of November 16th. More information will be forthcoming about scheduling meeting times.
Elana Elster
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Sign Up for the First Ever Booker Turkey Trot!
You don't want to miss Booker T's First Annual Virtual Turkey Trot! This fun outdoor event will help raise funds for programs, activities, staff, supplies, and technology for our school community.
Throughout the month of November, you can run or walk your distance of choice anywhere, any place on your own time: 1 mile, 5k (3.1 miles), or 10k (6.2 miles). So grab your friends and family and run or walk together! Please note that all participants should protect their health and safety and that of others by wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
The suggested fee is $20 for adults; participants under 18 are free! In order to encourage as many participants as possible, there is also a "Pay as You Wish" option.
After registering, visit the Turkey Trot Tech Gear store for limited edition 2020 Turkey Trot merch to show off during your run(s)! Be aware that the Turkey Trot store will only be open through November 4 so that we can deliver items before Thanksgiving. Be sure to get your gear early!!
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Parents Deserve Transparency from the DOE
At this week’s Community Education Council District 3 (CEC3) meeting, three board members proposed sending a letter to the DOE demanding more information about this year’s middle and high school admissions process, as well as the DOE’s plans for grading, attendance, and other student data. Unfortunately, despite the meeting being four hours long, the committee was unable to agree upon the format, contents, or intended recipients of such a letter.
Take Direct Action:
Your voice as a parent is powerful! Don’t wait for someone else to send a letter! Make your voice heard by going to the MS54 Education Advocacy page — there's a letter template you can send to DOE officials, politicians, and other community leaders. Email addresses for relevant leaders are at the top of the page. Start with the template, add your personal touches, and send it to everyone listed!
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Broadway Night Talent Needed!
Calling all performers!
We are recruiting talented parents + friends for Booker T's annual Broadway Night on Sunday, December 6. Please contact Anne McIntosh Pejovich at amcintosh6@schools.nyc.gov if you would like to perform or if you have a Broadway Baby friend who would record a song for us. :) This special annual event is going virtual this year — you and the family won't want to miss it!
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 Follow Booker T on Instagram!
Be a part of our Instagram community!
As we enter a school year like none other, Booker T. parents, teachers, and staff need new ways to stay connected. That’s why we're relaunching the PTA Instagram with fun new initiatives to share, inspire and, engage. Check it out at @btwms54pta!
Want to contribute? Email your images (and any relevant caption info you might want included) to Booker T's instagram maven, Lauren Parker, at insta@ms54pta.org.
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PTA Coffee November 6 @ 8:00 am
Friday, November 6 is our next PTA Coffee Chat! Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us to hear the latest school updates, meet other members of our community, and ask Dr. Elster any questions you may have. Hope to see you there!
Topic: MS54 PTA's November Coffee
Time: Nov 6, 2020 08:00 AM Eastern Time
https://zoom.us/j/95465198259?pwd=U1Q3UWxUcUlPa2pxRFN3Y2h0RW1Odz09
Meeting ID: 954 6519 8259 Passcode: 468906
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Please Help! Four Homerooms Still Need Class Parents :(
Enormous thanks to the 50 people who signed up to be class parents for our school's 36 homerooms! Booker T relies on its Class Parent network to build our school community. We are looking for each homeroom to have at least one class parent. If you are a parent or guardian in one of the homerooms listed below and can volunteer a few hours a month, please complete this Class Parent Interest Form.
- 7th Grade : Mr. Chilelli (7C25, 7C26), Mr. Dutton (7C24), Ms. Mersits (7A10, 7A11)
- 8th Grade: Mr. Guzman (8C27, 8C28, 8C31)
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Wellness Update
Want to get involved in the physical, mental, and social health of our community? The next monthly Wellness Meeting will be Friday, October 30 at 7:30 AM. Here is the Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94185483077?pwd=REd6RndPbytOVGhKSEtldUxvbE1Cdz09
Meeting ID: 941 8548 3077, Passcode: 881816
Your generosity is making the MS54 "Family to Family" Community Service Initiative a success! Between parents donating and students bringing non-perishable food items to school, Booker T. is pulling together to feed families in need. You can order from our MS54 PTA Food Drive Wish List or shop locally. THANK YOU and please keep on caring — the food drive is an ongoing initiative!
Questions? Ideas? Wellness Tips for the Daily In-School Announcement? Reach out anytime to wellness@ms54pta.org. Visit the Wellness page on our school website and join The Well at 54 on Facebook where you can see soothing, uplifting photos of the Booker T. courtyard during the rainy morning of October 20th.
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DOE Info & Community Updates
NYCDOE Daily COVID Case Map
The DOE website now features a map that shows all known cases of COVID-19 at New York City public schools. It is updated Sunday through Friday at 6:00pm, and shows information about classroom and school building closures.
NYC High School Admissions Update
The high school application is not yet open, and no longer closes on December 4, 2020. Registration for Specialized High Schools admissions is not yet open, and no longer closes on October 21, 2020. Dates and locations for the high school fairs, the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT), and LaGuardia High School auditions—as listed in the 2021 NYC High School and Specialized High Schools Admissions Guide—will also change. Sign up for DOE’s high school admissions email list to be notified when the high school application and Specialized High Schools registration opens. You will also get updates, key date reminders, and tips throughout the admissions process.
Dial a Teacher Program
UFT Dial a Teacher is up & running for the school year. K-12 students and their parents or caregivers are invited to call 212-777-3380 or visit the Dial-A-Teacher website Mondays through Thursdays between 4 and 7 pm. to get free homework help from a licensed teacher. Many of the teachers are bilingual, so Dial-A-Teacher can assist students and families in 10 languages, including Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Tagalog.
FLAG Award for Teacher Excellence Nominations Open Now
The FLAG Award recognizes and celebrates extraordinary public-school teachers who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment. One grand-prize winner from each of NYC’s five boroughs will receive a $25,000 cash prize and finalists will each receive $10,000. The winning teachers’ schools will each receive $10,000 and each finalist’s school will receive $2,000 for arts-based initiatives designed by the award recipient. For more information and to nominate a teacher, visit flagaward.org.
Talent Unlimited High School
Talent Unlimited High School will be holding virtual open house sessions on Monday through Friday, October 26 to 30, at 7:00 pm. Talent Unlimited High School is a Performing Arts High School that prides itself on its balance of strong Performing Arts and Liberal Arts programs. The admissions process includes a required audition to vie for a seat in one of our Performing Arts programs; Dance (M42L), Drama (M42N), Instrumental Music (M42P), Vocal Music (M42K), and Musical Theatre (M42J). Prospective students and families can find more information at http://tuhs.nyc/admissions/.
Every Vote Matters Message from MS54 "Community Service A" 8th Graders
Read the “Every Vote Matters” message from the Booker T. MS 54 “Community Service A” 8th grade students: Isabella Randall, Aaron Park, Madalee Weissman, Isabella Margolin, and Iris Mclellan. Every Vote Matters —Why, How and Where Can I Vote.
Inside Schools High School Admissions Course
Laura Zingmond, senior editor at Inside Schools, has developed an online course, NYC High Schools: Applying in a Pandemic that helps 8th graders and their families find and figure out which schools to apply to, with a special focus on how to do this when you can't visit schools. The course uses the very same tools and resources that Inside Schools uses to research and evaluate schools for their website. Join the class and complete it at your own pace. The course is part of a fundraiser to support InsideSchools, a non-profit organization. However, InsideSchools is committed to supporting all families and will provide free access to anyone who can't afford the $39 course fee (no questions asked).
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Events Calendar
Now through November 4: Turkey Trot Tech Gear store for limited edition 2020 Turkey Trot merchandise
October 30 at 7:30 am: Wellness Committee Meeting
Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/94185483077?pwd=REd6RndPbytOVGhKSEtldUxvbE1Cdz09
Meeting ID: 941 8548 3077, Passcode: 881816
November 1 through November 30: Participate in MS 54's First Annual Turkey Trot!
November 6 at 8:00 am: MS54 PTA's November Coffee
Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/95465198259?pwd=U1Q3UWxUcUlPa2pxRFN3Y2h0RW1Odz09
Meeting ID: 954 6519 8259 Passcode: 468906
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Parent Resources
While we endeavor to keep you well informed through this newsletter, inevitably topics and conversations come up throughout the week. Here are ways to stay in the know:
Social Media:
Our Facebook group is a private group of parents, teachers, and staff where information is shared and issues are discussed. Members can post and share articles and messages with our school community.
The btwms54pta Instagram is a place to get visual inspiration and motivation from images, recipes, quotes and more.
The MS54.org website is also an important resource. You'll find calendars, directories, meeting minutes, forms, and information on topics including equity and wellness.
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Amazon Reminder
Before you shop on Amazon, please use this link: http://tinyurl.com/ms54amazon or click on the Amazon logo on our website. As an Amazon Associate, MS54 earns from qualifying purchases which means that MS54 gets a percentage of every dollar you spend (at no cost to you!). Thanks, everyone!!
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