September 28, 2020

Newsletter Table Of Contents

  • School Announcements

  • PTA Updates

  • SLT & SWC Updates

  • Community Information

  • Thought of the Week

School Announcements

Here We Go!!

Last week we were thrilled to have our Pre K babies in the building! The energy of having children back in the school building was tremendously invigorating for all of us in PS 11. This week we welcome the return of more of our scholars. Please visit ps11brooklyn.org for more reopening updates.

In Person Schedule (8:40 am - 2:10 pm)

  • Tuesday, September 29 Pods A & C

  • Wednesday, September 30 Pods A & C

  • Thursday, October 1 Pods B & C

  • Friday, October 2 Pods B & C

Daily Health Screenings

As always, the health and safety of our students, families, and school staff remain our top priority.  Staff and students will be required to complete a health screening every day prior to entering school buildings, and are encouraged to use the Online Health Screening Tool.  Please share these helpful videos created by our Queens North Exec. Sup. and the Office of MLLs:

Health Screening Video

Technology Support

If you have issues with technology for learning at home, visit our support pages: Click Here  If you still have issues, we are here for you. Fill out the Technical Support for Families form: Tech Support and we will get in touch.

Free and Low Cost Internet Options

There are several free or low-cost internet options available to New York City students and families. Visit the DOE website for more information Internet Options

Meal Service

Beginning on Tuesday, September 29, students learning in-person will receive both breakfast and lunch in school. For students who are learning remotely full-time or students who are at home during their remote days in blended learning, families can pick up free grab-and-go meals from whatever school is most convenient to them from 9am to Noon, Monday through Friday.  No signup or registration is necessary, and meals will be set up near entry points for easy access and pickup by students and families.

In addition, Grab & Go meals for NYC adults will also continue at approx. 200 sites across the city- including some dedicated kosher locations and those serving the halal protein options - and the info is available at GetFood or the DOE website. Meals will be available from 3pm to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

After School Options

The After School Enrichment Program Fall 2020 Cycle will begin on October 5th, 2020. Registration for the Fall 2020 cycle is taking place now and will continue until Friday, October 2nd, 2020. The course listing can be found on the school website, PS 11 BK ASE If you would like to register your child, simply click the registration link on the website. After School Enrichment is open to all students attending school in person and remote learning students who are able to come to PS11 for ASE. Early Morning Drop-off Program: We have instituted a new Early Morning Drop-off Program to accommodate parents’ work schedules. Parents can now drop their children off at 7:30am and they would remain with us from 7:30am-8:30am. The Washington Avenue entrance will be used for the program. 

Dodge YMCA @ PS 11 Monday - Friday dismissal at 5:30 pm no fee. They will be offering homework help, STEM Activities and Arts & Crafts. Apply online Here or contact LaToya Charles LCharles@ymcanyc.org for more information.

Ready, Set, Grow Student Support Services Located on St.James Pl. 2:30 - 6:00 pm They offer Homework Help, Tutoring and Enrichment, Spanish and Culinary classes. Contact Ms. Webb (917) 225-1153 or via email india2166@aol.com for more information

Jump In Enrichment Remote Learning Hub Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Supporting students during remote learning, whether enrolled in the Blended Learning or Fully Remote model. Visit JumpInEnrichment.com for more information.

PTA Updates

PTA Elections

The annual PTA Executive Board elections will take place on October 21, 2020 and will be conducted virtually. Please visit the Parents Engagement tab for elections details and email the Nominations Committee to nominate and complete the requested information. The PTA bylaws are available for review and provides a description of all of the Executive Board positions. Join us!

Building Walk Through

On September 14, 2020, the PTA along with the SLT and Administration participated in a walk through of the PS11 school classrooms and all common areas. We reviewed the new set up that is required to meet health and safety standards. The details of the walk through are available by follow this link.

PS11 Swag

We expect to reopen the PS11 online shop soon so you can purchase PS11 gear for the entire family! In the meantime, get used to your school routine and watch from an announcement from the PTA regarding the reopening of the shop.

SLT & SWC Updates

SLT Elections

The annual School Leadership Team elections will take place in conjunction with the virtual PTA election on October 21, 2020. The SLT brings together an equal number of PS 11 teachers/staff and parents in order to make vital decisions about PS 11’s comprehensive education plan. For example PS 11’s development of four education PODS inclusive of a POD that attends school 5 days a week represents the SLT’s commitment to ensuring students with specials needs, students of essential workers, and students with limited connectivity during remote learning in the spring would not be subject to a system that does not work for them and their families. The SLT meets monthly but is subjective to more frequent meetings during critical periods. Three parent and three teacher/staff seats are available for the 2020-2021 school year so JOIN US ! If you would like to nominate a parent/ caregiver member to the SLT (self-nominations are accepted) then please click the following email link and complete the mandatory information listed in the body of the email elections@ps11bk.org. If you are a staff member of PS 11 and would like to nominate a fellow staff member (self-nominations accepted) please message Ms. Desirae Freeman, our UFT Representative for details. SLT meetings are open to all parents and staff thus join us on October 5th, 2020 from 5:00 - 6:30 PM. The meeting ID and password will be shared in next weeks newsletter or you can email slt@ps11bk.org.

SWC Garden Green Up

Check out highlights from this past weekends first Garden Green up event for the school year. Do you miss volunteering at PS 11? New to the PS 11 family and ready to dig in? The garden green up events are a great way to meet new families, connect with the school, and this year beautify an outdoor space that serves as a place for our students to lunch and learn. Join us on Saturday October 10th and /or October 24th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. RSVP to schoolwellness@ps11bk.org.

SWC Parent Champions

The school wellness council will be holding a brief zoom informational meeting on Thursday, October 1st @ 5 PM. Learn how to become a parent champion in areas that interest you no expertise needed. The council has five sub-groups: 1) Food service; 2) Nutrition and Health Education tied to the garden and hydronpics; 3) Physical Education; 4) School Environment and 5) Community Wellness. To learn more about the council and its activities over the past 2 years scroll down to the end of the page at https://ps11brooklyn.org/parents. For further questions feel free to email schoolwellness@ps11bk.org

Community Information

Tutoring Help. Families have been asking for tutoring help to support their children’s academic achievements during the pandemic and as the new school year starts. Please visit the Family Resources page and review the tutors recommended by other PS11 families. These services are not endorsed by the PTA.

Amazon Smile. When you shop online at Amazon consider using the following link http://smile.amazon.com or shop via the app, Amazon Smile. After logging into Amazon Smile with your regular account and password) elect “PS11 Brooklyn PTA” as your charity of choice, Amazon will donate 0.5% of all eligible purchases! It can’t be any easier!

Thoughts of the Week…

“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo- far more flexible than you'd ever believe at first glance.” Jodi Picoult

As I was putting my 2 year old to sleep the other night and she kept sucking on her toes.  I wasn’t horrified or anything.  I just found myself thinking, “Dang, why can’t I do that?”  Sure, I’ve been accused of putting my foot in my mouth plenty of times but…  In my 20’s and even going into my early 30’s I was considerably flexible.  Somewhat athletic, I could even do a full split at one point.  Now at 55, bending to tie my shoes is an ordeal.  So to watch Waverly so easily pull her leg up like that, did briefly and embarrassingly bring on a certain sense of envy.  However, as I took a bit more time to reflect on my lack of flexibility… my rigidity. It made me consider 2020 and all that it has brought upon us.  With all the challenges of COVID, the lockdown, social unrest, the loss of income, presumed liberties and mobility, and even the loss of loved ones, we were all forced to become much more flexible and resilient than we’d ever imagined. 

Yes, being flexible is something we’ve all had to do.  Life as we knew it has been changed dramatically.  The way we work, the way we socialize, the way we think, the way we live… We’ve finally developed an appreciation for so many of the little things that were for so long taken for granted.  Now as we attempt to resume some semblance of “normalcy”, we will still be required to adapt, adjust and be flexible.  I am confident that we will move forward stronger, more aware, more vigilant and much more enthusiastic than ever before.  We are definitely not at the end of this situation, however, pulling together we will indeed emerge victorious.  We are PS 11 Strong!

“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it's less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you've lost, or you can accept it and try to put together something that's good.” Elizabeth Edwards