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Principal's Letter
Dear Parents,
I know that many of the students are disappointed by the transition to full remote. I hope that this will be a temporary measure and that we will be back in the building before long.
Schedules
Schedules were emailed out through Jupiter to all parents and students. The vast majority of the students’ teachers remain the same as do their Zoom links and Google Classroom. If your child has a new class, they should check their Google Classroom and email for Zoom information. If your child has questions about the schedule, please have them email their homeroom teacher.
The schedules are definitely more robust. We used this fully-remote opportunity to increase the amount of instructional time where we could. We have also added Early Academy for all of the students. During Early Academy, your child’s teachers will be available for extra help and questions. Consider Early Academy as open office hours with teachers. Students can drop in on one or more teacher. Although we hope students will take the initiative and go to see the teachers where they need help, sometimes teachers will require students to come.
Attendance
Attendance is taken every day and in each period. The official attendance is noted as “O” if your child is not present in their Zoom class. If your child is going to be absent, please email absent@ms54.org.
Contacting “School”
Below you will find a chart with the contact information for administrative staff and their primary area of responsibility. During this period, please continue to follow the same ladder of referral as you would if we were on 108th Street.
Class issue? Grade issue? Work issue? Contact the Class teacher .
General issue? Homeroom teacher
Not sure? Email questions@ms54.org. Your email will be forwarded to the appropriate person. If you do not have access to email, call 212-678-2861 extension 1381 and leave a detailed message and contact number. Your message will be forwarded to the appropriate person. Both of these will be checked regularly.
Administrative Contact Information
See the Directory for the contact information for every member of the MS54 faculty and staff.
The Ryan Health Center
For the time being, the Ryan Health Center will be open. The schedule over the next week is more inconsistent than usual.
- Friday, Nov. 19th – telemedicine only, reach out to school@ryanhealth.org for appointments
- Monday, Nov. 23th – NP coverage in-person and telemedicine, normal contact information
- Tuesday, Nov. 24th – telemedicine only, reach out to school@ryanhealth.org for appointments.
- Wednesday, Nov. 25th – NP coverage in-person and telemedicine, normal contact information.
- Thursday, Nov. 26th – closed (School Holiday).
- Friday, Nov 27th – closed (School Holiday).
Needs
If you are in need of supplies, food, technology support, or mental health resources, please reach out to Anne Pejovich. We want to help your family, and we have resources available. Do not hesitate.
Meals
Breakfast and Lunch can be picked up at ANY New York City Public School on school days between 8AM and 12PM. Find sites and hours: schools.nyc.gov/freemeals
Report Cards
You can view your child’s first marking period report card in your NYC Schools Account. If you have questions about the grades, please consult the teacher.
We use a weighted average to calculate Honor Roll (GPA of 90-94.9 and no F’s, N’s, or U’s) and High Honor Roll (GPA of 95-100 and no F’s, N’s, or U’s.) Unfortunately, when your child’s report card uploads to the NYC Account, it will display a straight average.
The Booker T. Weighted Average is calculated based on how many periods each week a course meets. For this year, we have adjusted the weight of the classes because of the unique circumstances; there are, however, some inconsistencies.
Weights:
- Math: 1
- Science: 1
- Humanities: 2 (On report card as ELA and Social Studies)
- PE: .25
- Foreign Language:
- Seventh Grade Electives: .2
- Eighth Grade Music and Art Elective Classes: .4
- All Courses with an Excellent, Satisfactory, Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory, Pass or Fail Grades: 0
The 6th grade health/tech class grade has been factored into the Physical Education grade.
Please note that we will correct any report card issues and the corrections will be uploaded to your NYC account.
Elana Elster
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NEW!! HS Open House Calendar on MS54.ORG!
A NEW RESOURCE FOR EIGHTH GRADE FAMILIES!
There's so much that's unknown about the HS admission's process this year, but we can help each other by sharing what we know!
The PTA is helping eighth grade families by compiling HS open house dates, times, and links into a calendar on the HS Information page of MS54.org.
Please contribute any information you hear of! Thank you and we hope this helps!
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Final Weekend for the Holiday Shop!
THE MS54 HOLIDAY SHOP CLOSES SUNDAY NIGHT!
The seasonal Holiday Spirit Gear Shop is only open once a year!
There's an amazing assortment of hoodies, T's, hats, scarves, and even MS54 BLANKETS!!
There's also limited edition Class of 2021 Hoodies for your soon-to-be grads.
This specialty merchandise is only available through SUNDAY, November 22!
Because schools are now closed, we recommend choosing the ship to home option for a small fee, but for those who already shopped and selected "ship to school" we will arrange for a pick up day in mid-December.
Items take about two weeks to print and ship, so you can expect them to arrive around mid-December.
For any questions, please email Eve Epstein at Eveepstein@gmail.com.
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Classic MS54 Gear Available All Year
DOES YOUR KID PREFER CLASSIC GEAR?
No problem! We've opened our own School Store site that's open all year 'round to sell your favorite classics like hoodies, zippies, and T's. We've also got cozy PJ bottoms, sweatpants, and even MS54 beanie caps! Best of all, your items will be available in just a few days! We now offer shipping for a small fee, or you can pick up your items at the school on select dates and times. Email schoolstore@ms54pta.org with any questions.
Note: if you previously ordered MS54 classic gear and you received an email that your items were ready for pick up, you can pick up your items on Tuesday, Nov 24 from 9am to noon at the 108th St school entrance. Please contact Anne McIntosh Pejovich at AMcIntosh6@schools.nyc.gov with any questions about picking up items during this timeframe.
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Join Us for Broadway Night!
It's happening December 6th @ 6:30 PM!
Broadway Night is a spectacular, star-studded Booker T. tradition that regularly performs to a standing room only audience.
This year we're pivoting the show to Zoom...and with Broadway suspended since March, we’re thrilled to bring you an incredible lineup of acts ready to perform just for you in the comfort of your own home!
There are no tickets, but we hope that you will make a donation to support our school (perhaps what you might have spent on a night out during pre-Covid times). Any amount is appreciated!
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Charleston Wrap Holiday Fundraiser
We've partnered with Charleston Wrap to offer a great way to check off your holiday shopping lists, while raising money for Booker T! It's easy to get started:
- Register at Charleston Wrap using ID: 21508.
- Email your besties to invite them to shop.
- Shop to benefit Booker T!
You'll find a terrific assortment of over 2500 gift ideas, including gorgeous gift wrap, gourmet kitchen essentials, personalized gifts, holiday treats & lots more! This event runs through November 30.
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Are You Trotting on Turkey Day?
Almost 300 parents, students, and teachers have joined Booker T's First Annual Virtual Turkey Trot raising over $6,000 to help support programs, staffing, and supplies for our amazing school! There are 28 different teams that you can join when you sign up or you can create your own! Throughout the month of November, you can run or walk these distances: 1 mile, 5k (3.1 miles), or 10k (6.2 miles). You can even do it over several days. 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.
Need some encouragement? Sign up to join this Sunday's socially distanced Wellness Walk (10:00 am in Riverside Park @ 91st Street)!
Turkey Trot Reminders: show your MS54 spirit by printing out and wearing your super cool MS54 bib during your run/walk, make sure to bring some water, enter your results when you are done, and please post your finisher photos to the MS54 Turkey Trot Album.
IF YOU ORDERED TURKEY TROT GEAR AND DID NOT RECEIVE IT, YOU CAN PICK IT UP ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 FROM 9AM TO NOON.
Questions? Reach out to Laura Adams at: co-presidents@ms54pta.org
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Thanksgiving Pie Pickup
For those who have ordered Thanksgiving pies, these can be picked up on Tuesday, Nov 24 from 9am–noon at the 108th St entrance to the school. Please note that this is a new pickup time based on the school being closed and is the ONLY WINDOW to pick up the pies. All pies that are not picked up by noon on Tuesday, Nov 24 will be donated to the Ascension Church Food Pantry. Any questions, please email Wendy Schnierow at wschnierow@gmail.com or Amy Tuchman at Amymirertuchman@gmail.com. |
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West Side Campaign Against Hunger Turkey Challen ge
Make this a Thanksgiving for everyone! Help provide Thanksgiving and other holiday food for New Yorkers in need. Buy a Turkey or Text a Turkey (text TURKEY to 56512 using your smartphone); $54 supports 3 families! MS54 is a partner in this important campaign. Read WSCAH Turkey Challenge flyer for more info. |
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Wellness Update
Wellness Walk, Sunday 11/22 @ 10 am!
We'll meet at the Community Garden inside Riverside Park along the Promenade at 91st Street, between Hippo Playground and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument for a 5-mile walk inside the park to support the MS54 Turkey Trot! Feel free to peel off at any time. Children optional. Masks required. Water bottles suggested. Sign up HERE.
Our MS54 "Family to Family" Drive Celebrates Thanksgiving!
We've added Thanksgiving dinner items to our MS54 PTA Food Drive Wish List — everything but the turkey! We are feeding families in need through this ongoing initiative. Thanks so much for your support!
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DOE Info & Community Updates
New NYPL App
Get the power of The New York Public Library, anytime, anywhere. With the new NYPL app, you can manage your account online, browse for books, and request materials for pickup at one of NYPL’s 50 grab-and-go locations. You can even use the app for contactless self-checkout while at the Library. Learn more.
Virtual Comics Chat for Teens at the Riverside Library
Join three librarians from the Riverside Library who will talk about their favorite comics that they hope you'll check out. This month they will focus on comics, manga, and graphic novels for Native American Heritage Month and National Novel Writing Month.
DATE: Tuesday, November 24
TIME: 4 pm
RSVP here: on.nypl.org/3kQCaFd
District 3 Virtual Town Hall with Chancellor Carranza
The District 3 Community Education Council presents A Virtual Town Hall Event with Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. All District 3 parents are urged to attend. Issues and concerns for District 3 will be addressed.
DATE: Wednesday, December 2nd
TIME: 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Please register for this event: https://learndoe.org/cec/
National Green Girls Training Program
Applications are now open for the first session of the CityParks Green Girls Empowered by ING National Curriculum Training. Green Girls is designed to excite young women in 6th-8th grades about STEM learning by transforming local parklands, forests, and waterways into learning laboratories for hands-on experiments and service learning. With support from ING, the digital curriculum and training will be available free of charge. Applications are being accepted until December 18, 2020.
FLAG Award for Teacher Excellence Nominations Open Until December 15
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.
Nominate a Teacher for the Big Apple Awards by January 10
The Big Apple Awards is New York City’s educator recognition program that honors and celebrates educators who go above and beyond for their students and school communities. Nominating a teacher for the Big Apple Awards is a great way for students, families, teachers, administrators, school employees, and community members to show their appreciation for the City educators who have gone above and beyond for their students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Events Calendar
Now through November 22:
Visit the MS54 Holiday Store for an amazing assortment of hoodies, T's, hats, scarves and even MS54 BLANKETS for those chilly in-person days.
November 24, 9am –noon:
Pick up your holiday pies and classic school store items that you have ordered. If you haven't received your turkey trot gear, you can pick up these items as well during this timeframe.
Now through November 30:
Participate in MS 54's First Annual Turkey Trot!
December 6 at 6:30pm: Broadway Night
There are no tickets needed for the zoom performance, but we hope that you will make a donation to support our school.
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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 additional ways to stay in the loop:
The MS54.org website is where you'll find calendars, directories, meeting minutes, forms, and information on topics including equity and wellness.
The MS54 PTA 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 where to get visual inspiration and motivation from images, recipes, quotes and more.
The Well at 54 is our Facebook group devoted to sharing timely wellness tips, articles and solutions.
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