Category Archives: All Students at PS 101

My Child Took a COVID Test, So Now What?

Greetings 101 Families-

As you know all schools have weekly COVID testing of students and staff. Tests are random so we don’t know when they will happen or who will get tested.

Today, for example, we had testing.

What happens next?

If a child or staff member tests positive, that staff member or student will be contacted directly within 48hrs by the NYCODOE or Department of Health with guidance and next steps. After the person is contacted, the Principal and Superintendent are contacted, and we will send information out to our school community as we did last week when we had a positive case.

Parents can check their child’s results by going to Bioreference.com and signing up for an account

If a student or staff member tests positive, that entire class will be quarantined for a minimum of 2 weeks- meaning, they are not permitted inside of PS 101 and will attend school via Remote Learning.

If we were to have more than one positive case in 2 separate classes, the school will be temporarily closed for a minimum of 24 hours and potentially up to two weeks while cleaning is done.

You can learn more about COVID testing and watch a video of a student being tested, here

GK

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Request to Change to Blended In-Person Learning: October 26-30 ONLY

Greetings PS 101 Families-

For students who are currently Remote ONLY,
from Monday October 26 to Friday, October 30, you will have the option to fill out the Learning Preference Survey to request to switch to Blended in-Person Learning.

***If you select to switch to In-Person Learning, your child will begin School the week of November 16 based on their cohort A,B or C****

You DO NOT need to fill out the survey if you are keeping what you already have, meaning your child is staying REMOTE ONLY or is Currently coming to school.
You need to fill it out if you are Remote and want to send your child into Blended in-person school.

More information about the future opportunities to switch to Blended in-person learning in January and after can be found here

IMPORTANT GUIDANCE:

  • Please be advised we do not take requests for Groups- they are solely based on the number of students we can accommodate based on social distancing.
  • Your child’s teacher will be changed if you switch to in-person learning.
  • If students who are currently Remote switch to Blended learning, there will be changes that may effect everyone’s current student groupings and the possibly change the teacher your child currently has.
  • You can switch to Remote Learning at any time.

GK

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Create your Own learning Path- Additional Resources

Greetings 101 Parents-

As discussed at our PTA and 5th Grade mtgs this week, students have access to other resources the NYCDOE is providing for free.
For Example:
Want your child to learn a language?
Stem activities?

While there aren’t as many resources as there were before August 31, there are still many apps you can access for free

To log on to to your Additional Resources:

  1. Go to https://teachhub.schools.nyc/
    *Google Classrooms may not be active until September 16, 2020
  2. Enter your user name (Ex: Johnny45 NOT Johnny45@nycstudents.net)
  3. Enter Your password

GK

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Character Dress Up Day on Friday, October 30th

Dear PS 101 Families:

Re: Fall Festival > Character Dress-Up Day on Friday, October 30th

In keeping up with traditions, we are permitting students on Friday, October 30th- GROUP C to report to school wearing their favorite character costumes. Families are welcome to send their child to school wearing a safe costume. Character masks are not allowed to be worn, as we need every child to wear a face mask/covering as per health and safety COVID precautions/mandates. Additionally, NO simulated weapons, knives, axes, guns or props are to be brought to school, as we must comply with Chancellor’s Regulations.

Students working remotely in GROUPS A-B-D are invited to dress-up wearing their favorite character costume while engaged in this experience during at home learning. Friday, October 30th will be a regular instructional day for students in-school and at-home

Please follow the guidelines below with in-person learning for GROUP C students:

*No specialty parties/celebrations are being held in the classrooms.                                                                                                   

*No candy/goody bags are to be sent in or distributed to the class.

In closing, our school staff of teachers will prepare and post a fall activity or fun learning task(s) (craft/word jumble/crossword/games) for students to engage in with extra-curricular work ONLY.

Thanks for your cooperation as we try to do our very best under the current COVID circumstances.

Sincerely,

Gregg Korrol

Principal

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November 2020 Calendar

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Please see important dates for the month of November. 

DATEREASON
Tuesday, November 3Election Day – All students will work remotely
Wednesday, November 4Report Card Accessibility via NYC Schools Account (Paper Report Cards will not be distributed)-
Parents will be able to access report cards using the NYC
Schools Account (NYCSA) here: https://mystudent.nyc.
Families in need of assistance with requests for translating report card grades:
1) Go to: schools.nyc.gov
2) Scroll to: My Student and Click on the blue icon/box
3) Select: Student Records and Transcripts (right side) and Click
4) Select: Report Cards on the right side and Click
Thursday, November 5In-person GROUP B students:
Dismissal 11am for Grades 2-5 and Pre-K
Dismissal at 10:50am for Kindergarten and Grade 1
via regular dismissal exits.  
Parent -Teacher Conferences: half-day for ALL student Groups
Thursday, November 5 ~
PTC Afternoon: 12:20pm – 2:20 pm
PTC Evening: 4:00pm – 6:30 pm
*by appointment- check Google Classroom
Friday, November 6“Coffee with Korrol” Grade 4 parents only @ 9:00am via zoom. Zoom information may be found on the website or on Google Classroom.
Wednesday, November 11NO SCHOOL – Veterans Day
Thursday, November 26-Friday, November 27NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Day Recess

We hope this information will be helpful to you in planning for the month of November.

Sincerely,

Gregg Korrol, Principal

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Trauma Referrals for Families in Need

Dear PS 101 Parents and Guardians:

PS 101 is working with The Child Mind Institute to host the Student Success Program: Trauma Student Groups. If you have a child in grades 3-5 (ages 8+) that has experienced trauma and would benefit from this group, please reach out to our school counselor by email at kkipriadis2@schools.nyc.gov. The program is free and will be held remotely once per week after school hours for approximately 45 minutes. See more info below. It is a great option to offer to students who are struggling emotionally due to a traumatic event. They can accept up to 5 students.

Trauma Student Groups: A 12-session small group treatment for students ages 8-16 who demonstrate a range of coping difficulties following their exposure to one or more traumatic events. Through a combination of group skills training and individual sessions, students will learn healthy coping strategies to enhance their resilience and share about their experiences in a supportive environment.

More information about this organization and program can be found in the attached flyer and online here: https://childmind.org/our-impact/school-and-community/student-success-program/

Please feel free to call the school to speak with Guidance Counselor Kipriadis at 718-372-0221 for any additional information or inquiries regarding this learning opportunity.

Thank you,

Ms. Kipriadis

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Weekly COVID Testing is Mandatory for PS 101 students and staff

Dear Families,

I hope your family is keeping safe and healthy. I’m writing today with an update on an important precaution we are taking to keep you, your child, and your child’s educators safe: COVID-19 random testing for staff and students, here in school. . Translations will be available on October 23 at https://infohub.nyced.org/nyc-doe-topics/print-only-documents/covid-19-in-school-weekly-testing

You recently received a letter from the New York City Department of Education (DOE), NYC Department of Health (DOH), and NYC Test & Trace Corps describing a joint effort to conduct COVID-19 testing in our public schools. This letter can be found at schools.nyc.gov/messagesforfamilies. The State of New York has determined that our school is located in a geographic zone, the “yellow zone,” that requires weekly testing due to elevated rates of transmission in the area.  Weekly testing of students and staff is mandatory for schools in the yellow zone, and will continue until the State modifies or lifts the zone requirements. You can find a map of the City’s zones at nyc.gov/covidzone.

Mandatory in-school testing will be conducted for school staff and students in grades 1-12. The test is easy, quick, and safe. Thousands of students have already been tested across the city. A “short swab” (similar to a Q-tip) will be inserted into the front part of the nose for five to ten seconds. Later this school year, it is possible that tests will be administered by collecting a small amount of saliva (spit).

In order to test your child, we need your consent. There are two easy ways to provide consent. Please note that even if you previously provided consent, as a parent at a state-designated Yellow Zone school, we ask you to resubmit the consent form for your child, as the consent form accounts for the newly-established mandate from the State requiring weekly testing in our school. Whether you have filled out a form previously, or if you have not yet filled out a form, please use these easy methods to provide consent:  

  1. Online: Fill out the form online using a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA). Go to mystudent.nyc. 
    1. If you already have a NYCSA account linked to your student(s): Log in, click your student’s name, click “Manage Account,” and then when a dropdown menu appears, click “Consent Forms.” Read the page, and then choose the consent option at the end for your student. 
    1. If you do not already have a NYCSA account: You can create one right away! If you have an account creation code from your school, you can create a full account in approximately five minutes, and then provide consent as described above. If you do not have an account creation code from your school, you can still provide your consent right away by clicking “Manage Consent” under “COVID-19 Testing” and filling out your and your child’s information to provide consent.
  • Paper Form: Fill out and return the paper form to school. We have included the updated consent form with this letter. Your school can print and provide this form to you, or you can print it at home and send in with your child on their next in-person blended learning day. A printable PDF file is available in ten languages at schools.nyc.gov/covidtesting.   

Here are some important notes for your awareness. You can find additional information under Frequently Asked Questions at schools.nyc.gov/covidtesting.

  • A random selection of students and staff will be tested each week, so if your child is selected one week, they may or may not also be tested the following week.
  • If your child is tested at school, information about the testing process, and when and how you will receive the results, will be sent home with your child. Most testing results will be available within 48 hours.
  • Please be assured that, even after we receive your consent, your child will not be tested if they are uncomfortable or become distressed at any point during the process. If that happens, we will work with you to address any potential concerns so that your child is comfortable participating in future testing.
  • If your child tests positive for COVID-19, you will receive two phone calls. The testing provider will notify you via a telephone call, and NYC Test & Trace Corps will call to provide your family with resources and support.
  • If a parent does not consent to testing, the student may have to switch to remote only instruction.

If any member of the school community tests positive during this testing process, our school community will continue to follow the guidelines outlined on the Health & Safety section of the DOE website (schools.nyc.gov/RTShealthsafety). 

We deeply appreciate your partnership and your commitment to keeping our school community safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

G. Korrol
Principal

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Dogs are not permitted around arrival or Dismissal areas

As per the safety of the students, staff and parents, we are asking that you keep dogs away from all dismissal areas. Remember, while we all love our dogs, you cannot always predict their behavior and additionally, some children are frightened of dogs, thus we must ensure safety and well-being of all of our students first.

Please be sure to have your dog on a leash at all times and away from all dismissal areas. We appreciate your cooperation regarding this matter in providing our students with safe dismissal procedures. 

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

GK

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Please be advised of a Positive Case in PS101

Dear P.S. 101 The Verrazano at 8696 24 Avenue Community:

The health and safety of our students and staff and everyone in the DOE family across the city, is our top priority. We are committed to ensuring you have the information you need on COVID-19 as we continue to navigate this public health emergency together.  

Today we are writing to inform you that one member of our school community has tested positive for COVID-19. At this time, this is the only confirmed case at the school. We are quickly taking all appropriate action and following rigorous protocols developed by the NYC Test + Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health), and the New York City Department of Education (DOE).

Out of an abundance of caution, here is what will happen next to safeguard the health of our school community: 

  • All students and teachers in the affected class(es) with the individual who tested positive are considered “close contacts,” and have been notified of the need to quarantine for 14 days since the last contact with the person who tested positive.
    • These students and teachers will transition to fully remote teaching and learning for this period.
  • The NYC Test + Trace Corps and NYC Health will complete their investigation to identify and notify any other close contacts in the building, who will also need to quarantine for 14 days.
  • Anyone with a positive COVID-19 test will not return to the school and will be safely separated, until they are no longer infectious. In order to protect the privacy of the individual who has tested positive, we cannot share additional details about the case.
  • We will share physical and mental health and wellness resources for you and your child. COVID-19 can be stressful for you and your loved ones. It is natural to feel overwhelmed, sad, anxious and afraid. We want to ensure you can access helpful resources for coping and reducing stress.

While New Yorkers have done an outstanding job fighting the virus, leading to extremely low infection rates citywide, COVID-19 is still active in our city, state and our country. There will be cases of COVID-19 this school year; we know this, and all of our protocols have been in service of fighting this virus. Our job is to swiftly and effectively handle any cases that appear and be transparent every step of the way. That is what we are doing today.

We know a lot more than we did in March about how to protect each other from the virus and it’s critical that we continue to act to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our schools. All of us must remember to follow these important “Core Four” actions to prevent COVID-19 transmission: 

  • Stay home if sick: Monitor your and your child’s health and stay home if you are sick or keep them home if they are sick, except for getting essential medical care (including COVID-19 testing) and other essential needs.
  • Physical distancing: Stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not members of your household.
  • Wear a face covering: Protect those around you. Wearing a face covering helps reduce the spread of COVID-19, especially if you are sick and don’t have symptoms. For more information about face coverings, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus and look for “FAQ About Face Coverings.”
  • Practice healthy hand hygiene: Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available; clean frequently touched surfaces regularly; avoid touching your face with unwashed hands; and cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hands.

We will continue to closely follow directions from public health experts and proactively update you on any measures we are taking.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. For additional information on COVID-19, visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus or call 311. Finally, to ensure we can rapidly reach you via text and email, please set up a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) as soon as possible by visiting schools.nyc.gov/nycsa.

Thank you for your cooperation. Health and safety will always come first in New York City public schools, no matter what.

Sincerely,

GREGG KORROL

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