Reminder: School Spirit Character Day

Dear PS 101 Families,

As we look forward to the excitement of October and the joy of seeing our youngsters dressed in their favorite costumes, smiling, laughing, and celebrating this special time of year, we invite you to join us in celebrating safely at the school level as well.

Friday, October 31st, is a school spirit day. All students are invited to come to school dressed for our annual Character Day as their favorite character or in a fun, festive costume.

Please note the following guidelines for PS 101’s School Spirit Character Day:

Costumes must be safe and school appropriate. Ensure no costumes drape on the floor and may be a tripping hazard.
Masks covering the face are not permitted, as we must be able to see every child for safety reasons.
No simulated weapons (knives, axes, swords, or toy guns) are allowed in accordance with Chancellor’s Regulations.

In addition to our school celebration, we encourage all families to review the following safety reminders before heading out for trick-or-treating on Halloween:

Young children should be accompanied by an adult and return home before dark, ideally before 5:00 p.m.
Only visit familiar homes and never enter apartment buildings or houses that are unknown.
Children should wait until returning home before eating any treats, so parents can inspect them first.
Older students should avoid pranks which can cause harm or property damage.
Please remind children to be considerate of our senior citizens, who may feel uneasy with loud noises or sudden scares.
If your child receives coins or small donations, please consider contributing them to those in need.

We hope everyone enjoys a safe and happy Halloween filled with laughter, creativity, and community spirit!

Sincerely,

Gregg Korrol

Principal

October 31, 2025PS101Brooklyn Leave a comment

Reminder: Schoolyard Closed for Pumpkin Patch Set-Up

Dear PS 101 Families:

As a reminder, our annual PTA Pumpkin Patch is scheduled for Friday, October 31st! Every student will get to pick and decorate their own pumpkin during the school day.

Please note: 1,200 pumpkins will be delivered after dismissal today. The schoolyard will be closed for outdoor play so the PTA can set up safely.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us make this fun fall tradition a success!

Sincerely,

Gregg Korrol

Principal

October 30, 2025PS101Brooklyn Leave a comment

Reminder: Saturday Test Prep/Academic Support Afterschool Starts November 1st

Greeting PS 101 Families of Students in Grades 2-5:

Please note, this reminder is for families with children who received a Welcome Letter regarding PS 101’s Saturday Afterschool Program. The program will begin this Saturday, November 1, 2025.

The program starts at 8:00 am and will conclude at 10:50 am. Students will be dismissed through the main entrance.

Please note the following program dates:

November 2025	Nov 1, 8, 15, and 22
December 2025	Dec 6 and 13
January 2026	Jan 10, 24, and 31
February 2026	Feb 7, 14, and 28
March 2026	Mar 7, 14, 21, and 28
April 2026	Apr 11, 18, and 25
May 2026	May 2, 9, and 16

Sincerely,

Gregg Korrol

Principal

October 29, 2025PS101Brooklyn Leave a comment

Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 6th

Greetings PS 101 Families:

We’d like to remind you that Thursday, November 6th is our fall Parent-Teacher Conferences and will be a half-day of school with student dismissal at 11:20 am. Students will eat lunch in school before leaving for the day. Please make necessary arrangements for your child ‘s early dismissal at 11:20 am.

You will have the opportunity to participate in a virtual or telephone Parent-Teacher Conference with your child’s teacher on Thursday, November 6th during the following times:

Afternoon Session: 12:20 pm. – 2:20 pm.
Evening Session: 4:30 pm. – 7:00 pm.

Please note:

If you have not yet scheduled an appointment, please contact your child’s teacher through Google Classroom or the Remind app to arrange a meeting.
If you are unable to connect with your child’s teacher(s) on this date, please know that teachers are available to schedule alternate appointments during Monday’s Parent Engagement time (after 2:20 pm), unless otherwise arranged.
The first marking period report cards will be available in your child’s NYC Schools Account beginning Monday, December 1st.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your child’s teacher or reach out to our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Bing Xing Lin, at 347-563-4680 or BLin9@schools.nyc.gov.

As always, thank you for your partnership and support in your child’s education.

Sincerely,

Gregg Korrol
Principal

October 29, 2025PS101Brooklyn Leave a comment

NYC Public Schools Closed on November 4th

Dear PS 101 Families,

This is a reminder that all NYCDOE public schools will be closed on Tuesday, November 4th in observance of Election Day.

Helpful Tip: Consider making this a meaningful family learning experience by discussing the importance of voting and civic participation. If possible, take your child with you to visit the polls and observe the voting process firsthand.

We look forward to welcoming our students back to school on Wednesday, November 5th.

For important dates and updates, please visit our school website at www.ps101k.com. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Bing Xing Lin, at (347) 563-4680 or by email at BLin9@schools.nyc.gov.

Sincerely,

Gregg Korrol
Principal

October 28, 2025PS101Brooklyn Leave a comment

Reminder: October is Socktober!

Dear PS 101 Families:

It is Socktober at PS 101, and we are asking for your help! As we are heading into the colder months, we have teamed up with The Kensington Family Shelter to help make a difference for families in need. One particular item that shelters are always in need of is socks. We are asking any families who would like to help and participate in Socktober, to donate brand new, packaged socks.

Donations will be accepted in the main lobby of our school between Tuesday, October 21st and Wednesday, November 5th. Students can stop and drop packaged socks into our Sock Monster on the way to breakfast!

Keep in mind when donating:

Socks, Socks, Socks–Children and adult sizes are needed.
Remember, all donated socks must be new and unopened socks.
Used socks will not be accepted.
Let’s come together as a school community to spread warmth, comfort, and care this season!

🧦 PS 101 Will Sock It to the Cold! 🧦

As winter winds begin to blow,
Let’s help our neighbors head to toe!
Bring new socks, warm, soft, and neat,
To help keep kindness on its feet!

Thank you for your generosity and support! Your donations make a big difference and help families stay warm.

We appreciate your generosity very much. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Bing Xing Lin at 347-563-4680 or via email at BLin9@schools.nyc.gov.

PS 101 Little Lighthouse Team

October 28, 2025PS101Brooklyn Leave a comment

Important Dates – November 2025

Dear PS 101 Families,

November is a time for reflection, gratitude, and connection. We’re thankful for your continued support and the strong home-school partnership that helps our students thrive. Below are the key dates and events for the month to help you stay informed.

Below, you’ll find a list of key dates and events to help you stay informed during November.

DATE	NOVEMBER EVENT DETAILS
Tuesday, November 4th	ELECTION DAY – NYC SCHOOLS CLOSED
Wednesday, November 5th	Pancakes with Assistant Principal Percaccio to Celebrate Leaders of the Month
Thursday, November 6th	HALF-DAY OF SCHOOL – Student Dismissal at 11:20am. PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES will be held virtually. The afternoon session will be held from 12:20 – 2:20 pm. The evening session will be held from 4:30pm – 7:00pm.
Friday, November 7th	SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY – ROCK N ROLL DAY! For our music fans … think about hair changes and style! Let’s have fun and celebrate music across the decades and genres! WEAR your favorite Rock n Roll singer or band (country, blues, pop, etc).
Tuesday, November 11th	VETERAN’S DAY – NYC SCHOOLS CLOSED
Friday, November 14th	SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY- HONORING OUR VETERANS! Wear RED-WHITE-BLUE in honor of our veterans who have served our country for Veteran’s Day.
Tuesday, November 18th	PTA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING VIA ZOOM at 10AM. The link will be shared prior to the meeting date/time.
Tuesday, November 18th-Friday, Friday, November 21st	TRAFFIC SAFETY CLASS LECTURE VISITS with guest speakers from the NYC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION to review traffic safety with Grades 4 and 5 ONLY.
Wednesday, November 26th	SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY! WEAR YOUR FAVORITE COZY/WARM FALL FLANNEL CLOTHING.
Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th	THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE – ALL NYC SCHOOLS CLOSED

At a Glance: Grade 5 families are encouraged to complete middle school applications timely: due December 12th. Kindly note, applications for a specific talent in middle schools have an earlier deadline of November 3rd.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Bing Xing Lin, at 347-563-4680 or BLin9@schools.nyc.gov.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership and support. We’re grateful for a memorable year and look forward to celebrating all that our students have achieved together!

Sincerely,

Gregg Korrol
Principal

October 28, 2025PS101Brooklyn Leave a comment

Character Dress Up Day October 31st!

Dear PS 101 Families:

In keeping up with traditions, we will be permitting students on Friday, October 31st to come to school wearing character costumes. Families will be advised to send their child to school wearing a safe costume as follows:

Character masks are not allowed to be worn, to ensure safety.
NO simulated weapons, knives, axes, guns in accordance with costumes are to be brought to school, as we must comply with Chancellor’s Regulations.
Try to avoid outfits that hinder movement–make sure the outfits are at a length where students can move freely.

As Halloween approaches, we know many children and families across the city are looking forward to celebrating. We are excited to share ways to safely have fun with your family, while still being mindful of key safety measures. To ensure safety, I offer you a few safety tips, which I hope you will follow:

Take the time to speak with your child to discuss safety as they trick-or-treat around the neighborhood.
Children should not be permitted to be on the streets after 5 pm alone, due to darkness.
Try going to a scavenger hunt in a park or walking around your neighborhood to see all the spooky decorations with your family.
Always remain with your child and spend the time together if trick-or-treating.
Young children traveling through the community should be accompanied by an adult. They should be cautioned not to go into apartment buildings or to houses that they are not familiar with.
Children should be instructed not to eat any goodies given to them until they return home so that you, the parents, may go through the candies and determine which are edible and which are not.
Older children should be encouraged not to take part in any type of inappropriate behavior or pranks that might cause harm to another.

We wish you a spooky, safe celebration!

Sincerely,

Gregg Korrol

Principal

October 27, 2025PS101Brooklyn Leave a comment

3rd Grade Coffee with Korrol (Replay)

Missed it? No worries! You can watch the 3rd Grade Coffee with Korrol where Principal Korrol talks to 3rd Grade parents about how to prepare their children for the state exams, Artificial Intelligence in education and how it can be used, creating a love for reading, and how to reduce screen time.
Please click the CC (closed captioning) to translate to additional languages