PS 253, The Magnet School of Multicultural Humanities

Announcements

• Weekly Covid 19 Testing for PS 253 Students (Grades 1-5) and Staff

  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.

  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). 

  Families can learn about Covid-19 Testing  and watch a video of a student being tested by clicking on the following link:

  https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-year-20-21/return-to-school-2020/health-and-safety/covid-19-testing

  PS 253

• PS 253 Re-opens on Monday, October 26th - Cohort C

  Parent Reminder: PS 253 will re-open on Monday, October 26, 2020 for in-person learning COHORT C. Please open the attached detailed letter from Mrs. Speroni. The November cohort calendar  is also attached below, as well, detailed on  our PS 253 calendar. 

  • PS 253 Cohort Calendar Oct_November 2020 Final 1.pdf
  • PS 253 Family Return 10-26 letter.pdf

  PS 253

• PS 253 Is Closed As Of 10/8/20 Due To The Uptick of Corona Virus Within Our Geographic Area

  • FINAL Update for Families - October 7 2020 2.pdf

  PS 253

• NYC DOE Consent Form for Covid-19 Testing - Chancellor Carranza Update September 29, 2020

  Dear Families,

  Please see the attached letter regarding Covid testing in schools below. You are being asked to sign the consent form and send it in to school with your child as soon as possible.

  From the letter below: “NYCDOE are writing to ask for your help with another important element of our health and safety work: testing our students and staff for COVID-19. Keeping school buildings open depends on helping us stay aware of and take immediate action to address COVID-19 concerns in our buildings. That’s why we have partnered with NYC Health + Hospitals, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the NYC Test & Trace Corps to arrange for testing of NYC DOE students and staff for COVID-19 infection. Our testing partners will test a randomly selected group of staff and students in schools once per month. The number of children and staff to be tested each month will depend on the size of the school population. In addition to the random monthly testing, we are also working hard to offer in-school testing later this year for students who are showing symptoms of COVID-19, or are a confirmed close contact of someone in the school who has tested positive. The test is easy, quick, and safe. Instead of the “long swab” that goes in the back of the nose, this test is a short, small swab (like a Q-Tip) that goes just in the front of the nose. Later this school year, it is possible that tests will be administered by collecting a small amount of saliva .

  Translated versions are available here:

  https://www.schools.nyc.gov/about-us/news/chancellor-s-message-for-families

  Translated NYC DOE Consent Forms can be found here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-year-20-21/return-to-school-2020/health-and-safety/covid-19-testing

  Warm regards,

  Lisa Speroni

  • student-covid-19-testing-consent-form---september-27-2020.pdf
  • update-for-families-on-covid-19-testing-september-29-2020.pdf

  PS 253

• Health Screening For All Students

  IMPORTANT FOR ALL PARENTS:
  Beginning on Tuesday, there are new protocols for all children who enter the school building. Upon arrival all students or the parent of the child must show their child's completed health screening digitally (Smartphone, IPad) or a paper copy (see below and attached). I have attached the link to the paper copy and the website where you can complete the survey. It must be presented before entering the school yard each day. Thank you!!
  
  https://healthscreening.schools.nyc/
  https://healthscreening.schools.nyc/docs/DOE_Health_Screening_Questionnaire_090420.pdf

  PS 253

• IMPORTANT Update for Families from Chancellor Carranza

  Please open the Chancellor's Update for Families dated 9/21/20 , which contains information about the health screening process, including the health screening survey and temperature checks, as well as other helpful information on how to stay healthy and safe while in and out of school. Translations will be available on the Messages for Families page of our family-facing website. 

   

  Oral thermometers will  backpacked home when students attend in person learning. We are also attaching a Home Screening flyer to remind everyone what to do before going to school each morning.

  • doe_home-temp-screening-flyer_v1.pdf
  • Update for Families_September 21 2020 1.pdf

  PS 253

• A Message from Mrs. Speroni

  Dear Families,

  As you are aware the Mayor, in consultation with the Chancellor has decided to delay in school learning for our blended students. To that end next week all students will be learning remotely Monday 9/21-9/25. The teachers will be posting all schedules onto your child's Google classroom and will be meeting with them live throughout the school day .

   

  On Tuesday 9/29 our Week #2 Cohort C Blended student's (in person at the school )will be coming to PS253.  As a reminder all students and parents/guardians are expected to wear a mask during arrival and dismissal as well as take their child's temperature prior to coming to school .

   

  We are so excited to see everyone !!!

  Below please find a letter from the Chancellor to all families.

   

  Warm Regards, Lisa Speroni

   

  • Update for Families_Staggered Start Reopening_September 18 2020.pdf

  PS 253

• Important Update on In-Person Learning Start Dates-- Updated 11:02 AM EDT, Thursday September 17, 2020

  FROM THE DOE:

  We made a pledge to you that we would put health and safety first. And we made plans to make rich, high-quality learning experiences available to all students, regardless of where they are learning from.

  We must continue living up to that pledge as we get closer to opening our buildings. To do that, we have some updates on this year’s in-person learning start dates:

  • Children who are enrolled in fully remote programs will still begin full-day instruction on Monday, September 21.
  • Children in blended learning will be learning remotely on Monday, September 21 until their in-person start date as outlined below. Students should report to school according to their specific blended learning schedules – check with your child’s school to see when they should report.

  Students in Grades 3K and Pre-K: in-Person Learning begins on Monday, September 21

  All grades in District 75 schools: In-Person Learning begins on Monday, September 21

  All Elementary Schools (K-5 and K-8) including students in Grades 6-8 in K-8 schools: In-Person Learning begins on Tuesday, September 29

  Middle Schools (Grades 6-8): In-Person Learning begins on Thursday, October 1

  High Schools (Grades 9-12): In-Person Learning begins on Thursday, October 1

  Secondary Schools (Grades 6-12): In-Person Learning begins on Thursday, October 1

  Transfer Schools, Adult Education, Evening Schools: In-Person Learning begins on Thursday, October 1

  K-2 and K-3 Schools: In-Person Learning begins on Tuesday, September 29

  K-12 Schools:

  • Grades K-8: In-Person Learning begins on Tuesday, September 29
  • Grades 9-12: In-Person Learning begins on Thursday, October 1 

  PS 253

• September 8, 2020-Updates for Families from Chancellor Carranza

  • update-for-families_september-8-2020.pdf

  PS 253

• WEDNESDAY EVENING JULY 15, 2020 INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

  WEDNESDAY EVENING JULY 15, 2020 INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

  This fall, your child’s school will offer a combination of in-person and remote learning. You can choose from two options:

  1. 100% Remote Learning: Opt in to have your child learn 100% remotely (all online, from home). To choose this option for your child, fill out and submit this form. https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference If you are having difficulties completing this form online, call 311.  Deadline to fill out the form is August 7. 

  OR

  2. Combination of In-Person and Remote Learning: Your child can follow their school’s schedule, a mix of in-person days at school and remote learning days from home. To choose this option, no action is needed: your school will be in touch about its schedule and programming plans in the coming weeks. Please visit the Return to School 2020 pages on the website for more information.

  INVITATIONS TO PS 253’S INFORMATION SESSION GIVEN BY MRS SPERONI WILL BE EMAILED IN THE COMING DAYS, AS WELL AS, POSTED VIA REMIND

  PS 253