A message from you PS 34 Parent Coordinator
Dear Families,
My name is Deise Kowalski and I am the Parent Coordinator at PS34. As the Parent Coordinator, I am here to listen to your concerns, comments, and ideas. Whether you have questions about your child's academic progress, need information about school programs or resources, or simply want to talk about how you can support your child's learning at home, I am here to help.
If you would like to arrange a meeting with me, either virtually or in-person, please call me at 718-389-5842 or send me an email at dkowalski@schools.nyc.gov. I am available to meet with you during school hours, and I am committed to working with you to ensure that your child has a successful academic year.
Please note that we would like everyone to be able to access information in their language on this website. Text translation in various languages can be accessed by clicking on the “SELECT LANGUAGE” icon on the left-hand top of the page.
Ms. Deise Kowalski
PS 34 Parent Coordinator
Updates & Newsletters from Your Parent Coordinator
Updates for Parents from your Parent Coordinator
10-29-2024 Updates for Parents vol 4
Welcome Back PS 34 Newsletter Fall 2024 vol 1
Parents Make a Difference Monthly Newsletters:
Parents Make a Difference Monthly Newsletter
Whats for Lunch?
Make sure to check out the MENU.
What's on the Menu
Download the Feed Your Mind app for your IPhone in the Itunes or Android phone from the Playstore.
SchoolFood Feed Your Mind
New York City Dept of Education
School Calendar
SLT Meetings for School Year 2024-2025
All meetings are scheduled for 3:00-4:00 pm.
Location: Principal's Meeting Room
D14 Community Education Council
PBS Kids Cyberchase phone app.
Afterschool Programs
Local Afterschool Programs
Is your child being picked up by an afterschool program outside of PS34?
For your child’s safety, it is important that the school is notified of people and programs that can pick up your children at the end of the day.
Parents/guardians who are having their children picked up after school by outside programs will need to notify the school by printing and completing the attached release form. Please return the form to your child’s teacher, to the main office or Ms. Deise Kowalski, Parent Coordinator.
After School Release form 2024.pdf
Form can also be completed online https://forms.gle/LKSXQgq5QCq2ydw7A
For questions contact Ms. Deise Kowalski at Dkowalski@schools.nyc.gov.
PS 34 Grading Policy
Grading policy at PS 34 Oliver H. Perry Elementary School. PS 34 Grading Policy.pdf
We believe that a fair and transparent grading system is crucial in promoting academic excellence and providing students and families with valuable feedback on their progress. Our grading policy is designed to assess students' knowledge, skills, and overall performance in a comprehensive manner.
Our grading policy aims to foster a positive learning environment where students are motivated to excel academically. It provides a comprehensive assessment of their progress and offers valuable feedback for continuous improvement. We believe that this policy encourages a growth mindset, supports student success, and prepares them for future academic endeavors.
Multilingual and Immigrant Family Resource Guide
Establishing and sustaining a partnership with families is essential to their child’s success. Strong family engagement consists of thoughtful, culturally responsive, and equity-centered strategies. Here you will find resources for authentically engaging, educating, and supporting multilingual and immigrant families as active participants in their child’s educational journey.
Learning & Activities
Virtual Museums and Tours
Visit these amazing museums for some virtual tours.
Free Virtual Intrepid Adventure Programs for Families
Tuesdays and Thursdays I 3:00 PM-4:00 PM
Join an Intrepid Museum educator each week as we explore history, science, and ingenuity online together.
Virtual Intrepid Adventure Programs are family-friendly and engage all ages. We request that adults participate in the program with their children. Programs run between 45 minutes and one hour.
Advance registration for this drop-in online program is required to receive Zoom information and print-at-home materials when applicable.
Visit and register here: https://www.intrepidmuseum.org/education/intrepid-adventures
This award-winning series of six short videos invite viewers around the world to virtually visit The Met's art and architecture in a fresh, immersive way. Created using spherical 360° technology, it allows viewers to explore some of the Museum's iconic spaces as never before.
The Museum of Chinese in America
Online Exhibit: With a Single Step: Stories in the Making of America
The Museo Afro Brasil
Online Exhibit: Maracatu and the Alagoas Warrior: Afro-Brazilian festivities. Kings, queens, "caboclos", cowboys and "bois-bumbá." Get to know more about each tradition and the context behind its clothes.
Live Stream and Virtual Events
92Y at Home for Families
Live-streamed music performances, art activities, and other programming
92Y
Parks@home: You can enjoy NYC parks from home! Join us for live park tours, meditation, fitness, art classes, fun activities for kids, and more!
Just for fun: Harry Potter Virtual Escape Room Test your wizarding skills with the Harry Potter Virtual Escape Room. Created by Sydney Krawiec, a youth services librarian at Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, PA, this challenge can be completed as an individual or as a family.
Bedtime Math
Your kids won’t believe how cool math can be with Bedtime Math!
Enjoy a new story together every day in the free app.
Dip your toes into some surprising math with the Bedtime Math app! It delivers a new story for you to enjoy with your family daily. Get the app free
Math Parent Engagement Program
A Fun, free app for IPads, iPhones, or Android devices.
Quick, wacky family math.
Dinnertime. Bathtime. Any time.
A wacky new problem each day!
Three levels of math(ages 3-9)–Answers provided–No log-ins, no scores
1-Download app-Free
-iPhone/iPad or Android
2-Select language:
‐English
‐Spanish
3-Select Community Edition
4-Enter special code: NYC
5-Parents will select their District and School (District 14, PS 34 Oliver H. Perry)
6- You’re in!
NYC Read & Science of Reading Resources
What is the Goal of the NYC Reads Initiative?
The goal is all New York City students become strong readers, which is the single most important skill required for educational, career, and lifetime success. Phasing in over two years, NYC Reads will require all early childhood education classrooms to adopt a single, uniform curriculum called The Creative Curriculum, while K-5 schools will choose one of three pre-approved, phonics-based reading curricula that have proven to be effective. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every student we serve is a proficient and skilled reader.
NYC Reads & The Science of Reading (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FruGTU-Cyto
The Science of Reading
As part of NYC Reads, PS 34 is using a reading curriculum based in the science of reading. The Science of Reading is a broad collection of research focused teaching methods on instructing children to become better readers and writers.
Parent Resources: NYC reads Science of Ready 2024.pdf
Middle School Information for 5th Grade
Middle School Application & Information
In New York City, most students apply to middle school during their fifth-grade year.
- Start exploring program options in the (Middle School Directory.)
- Sign up for the middle school admissions email list. You will receive more information on how and when to apply as soon as it's available, as well as key date reminders and admissions event invitations.
Middle School Admissions
-
The updated Fall 2025 Middle School Admissions Timeline:
- October 15, 2024: Middle School Application Opens (after school hours)
- November 8, 2024:Deadline to register to test for Mark Twain I.S. 239 (21K239) and District 21 Talent Tests
- December 20, 2024:Middle School Application Closes
- April 9, 2025:Middle School Offer Release
MySchools tutorial videos—part of our Middle School Admissions Video Series—will walk you through how to set up your account.
Question? Contact:
Remote Learning & Electronic Communications
Access Google Classroom
How to Access Google Classroom
Please follow the instructions below to access Google Classroom using your NYCStudent net login.
Where to start
- Go to TeachHub
- Enter your DOE student account email (it ends in @nycstudents.net)
- Enter your password.
- Click Sign In.
- If the username and password entered are correct, you will be signed into the remote learning portal successfully.
- Click on the Google Classroom icon.
- Now you are in Google Classroom!
DOE Technology Links for Students and Parents
Support for your DOE Devices
Do you need technical support or to fix a broken device, or are dealing with a lost or stolen device? Call DOE’s IT Help desk at 718-935-5100 and press 5 to get assistance.
You can also get quick help online:
· File a tech support ticket HERE
· Request a device: Contact Ms. Kowalski, Parent Coordinator at dkowalski@schools.nyc.gov
· Get support with a DOE-issued iPad: schools.nyc.gov/ipadfixes
· Free & low cost internet options: schools.nyc.gov/internet
NYC Schools Account
NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) is a web-based application that lets you see your child’s academic and biographic information on any computer, phone, or tablet.
NYSCA - ENG 1, Polish, Spanish.
The application is translated into nine languages other than English. In the account, you can see a child’s:
- Attendance • Grades (SCHOOL REPORT CARD) • Assessments (test scores) • Health information (Fitness-gram) • Schedule • Guardians • Enrollment history • Promotion Tracker • Graduation Tracker • Reading Level • Transportation
How to Create an Account:
You can create your NYC Schools Account online at mystudent.nyc . You will need the Account Creation Code that was sent home with your child in a letter with your report card during Parent-Teacher conferences. In addition to this code, you will need the child’s 9-digit student ID number (found on your child’s report card) to create an NYC Schools Account or to add additional children to an existing account.
Parent NYCSA Sign-Up Guide - The guide provides a visual step-by-step on setting up your account. Also, take a look at the video for the setup process https://vimeo.com/497731682
You can request your child’s account creation code and student ID by contacting me, Ms. Deise Kowalski, Parent Coordinator at DKowalski@schools. nyc. gov
Emergency Alerts
If you are a parent who lives with your child, or a custodial or non-custodial guardian, you can update your own cell phone number and email address in your NYC Schools Account, using the Emergency Contact page found under My Account. The cell phone number you provide will be used by the DOE to contact you directly in the event of an emergency. We recommend reaching out to your child’s school to confirm that their records reflect your updated contact information and preferences.
You can now invite other adults who are associated with your child's school record to have their own account.
You can invite relatives, the babysitter, a neighbor, or tutor, or a parent who lives in a different place, or anyone
else who you feel is important to share your child’s information with. However, as some of this information is
kept private by schools, we ask you to consider carefully whom you will invite. You control how much or how
little information you want to share with them. For more information: NYCSAParentFlyer_2017.pdf
Connect with NYC DOE
Connect with the New York City Department of Education and get up to the minute announcements on social media.
Subscribe to NYC DOE Email Newsletters and to receive information:
Updates for Parents and Families
Pre-Kindergarten Admission
Kindergarten Admissions
Gifted and Talented Admissions
Middle School Admissions
High School Admissions
Specialized High Schools Admissions
Summer in the City
Sign up.
Health & Wellness
Mental Health Support
If you need mental health support for you or your child, don't hesitate to reach out for help. There are many resources available.
Here are a few:
- NYC Well provides free, confidential mental health help from licensed counselors to New Yorkers in crisis. Talk to someone on the phone, via chat or via text. Call 888-NYC-WELL (888-692-9355), Text "WELL" to 65173, Chat at NYC.gov/nycwell
- The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) has a free, confidential NYC helpline in English and in Spanish and a nice list of youth resources.
- INCLUDEnyc has a list of counseling and mental health services available across the city.
- The Child Mind Institute offers lots of guides and information for families and educators. They also post info and video tips from expert clinicians on their Facebook page.
- ThriveNYC offers a roadmap to mental health issues, protections, and support in New York City.
Emergency Food Assistance
Hunger Free America - Food Pantry/Soup Kitchen Listing
Use the link below to access a listing of food pantries and soup kitchens nearest you by address
https://findfood.hungerfreeamerica.org/
If you need emergency food assistance, call the Emergency Food Hotline at 866-888-8777 or 311 to find a local pantry or kitchen. There's no income limit for emergency food.
You can also visit the NYC Food Bank.
Telehealth Tips Website
The NYC Administration for Children’s Services, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity, and the Public Policy Lab have collaborated to create a Telehealth Tips website to support families, providers, and advocates in using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. All information on the website is available in New York City’s 11 official languages.
Families can use the Telehealth Tips for Families page to find answers to common questions about setting up their technology and preparing for a virtual session. If you have any questions, please contact info@publicpolicylab.org. Go to https://www.familypathways.nyc/telehealth-tips.
Adult Education
Parents' Bill of Rights
Each child's maximum potential can best be achieved through a partnership between parents and the education community. To foster active engagement between parents and schools, parents have certain rights and responsibilities:
Parent's Bill of Rights is available in Polish English Spanish
Notify NYC is the City's emergency alert system. Get notified about school closings and other emergency-related items in several different categories.