P.S./I.S. 192- The Magnet School for Math and Science Inquiry

4715 18th Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11204

Telephone Number: 1-718-633-3061    Fax Number: 1-718-871-8721

Liset Isaac, Principal

Janine Kraljev and Catherine Campanella 

Assistant Principals

Yolanda Fioriello, Parent Coordinator

THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
JOSEPH O’BRIEN, Ed.D Community Superintendent (I.A.)
COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 20
415 - 89 STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11209

September 2020

Dear Families of District 20,

My name is Dr. Joseph O’Brien and it is my great honor and privilege to introduce myself as Interim Acting Community Superintendent of District 20. I look now to partner with you to foster participation between the District office, our schools and our amazing community of families.

I know many of us are feeling anxiety, however, our principals, assistant principals, teachers and school staff have worked tirelessly to make opening day on September 16, 2020 for remote students and September 21, 2020 for blended scheduled students, safe, meaningful and successful.

I look forward to working side-by-side with you in the days ahead and building new bridges of communication, so that we may work together for the betterment of all of our students.

Please note, we are forging the District 20 Equity Committee, which will meet on September 30, 2020 at 1 pm. I welcome you to join us in looking at ways that we may help all students, including those from underrepresented populations.

If you are interested in joining us, please email me at jobrien17@schools.nyc.gov with your name, your child(s) name and the D20 school in which they attend.

Further, I welcome you to join us at our Immigrant Parent Advisory Council and Community Education Council (CEC) meetings this year. The bond between the school house and our families is an essential one and I urge each and every one of you to join the talented teachers, assistant principals and principals of D20 to build a better tomorrow, today.

Thank you so very much and I look forward to continuing the conversation.

I can always be reached via email at jobrien17@schools.nyc.gov

Best wishes,

Joseph O’Brien, Ed.D.

District 20 Community Superintendent (IA)

T&I 31783 Family Letter (Spanish)
THENEWYORKCITYDEPARTMENT OFEDUCATION
JOSEPH O’BRIEN, Ed.D Community Superintendent (I.A.)
COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 20
415 - 89 STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11209

Septiembre de 2020

Estimadas familias del Distrito 20:

Soy el Dr. Joseph O’Brien y es un gran honor y privilegio presentarme como superintendente comunitario interino del Distrito 20. En este momento, espero poder trabajar en equipo junto a ustedes para fomentar la participación entre la oficina del distrito, nuestras escuelas y nuestra increíble comunidad de familias.

Sé que muchos de nosotros sentimos ansiedad, sin embargo, nuestros directores, subdirectores, maestros y personal escolar han trabajado incansablemente para hacer que el día de la apertura, el 16 de septiembre de 2020 para la modalidad a distancia, y el 21 de septiembre de 2020 para el modelo de aprendizaje semipresencial, sea seguro, significativo y exitoso.

Espero que trabajemos juntos en los próximos días y construyamos nuevos puentes de comunicación para que podamos colaborar en el progreso de todos nuestros estudiantes.

Tengan en cuenta que estamos formando el Comité de Equidad del Distrito 20, que se reunirá el 30 de septiembre de 2020 a la 1 p.m. Los invito a acompañarnos para buscar formas de ayudar a todos los estudiantes, incluyendo aquellos de poblaciones con poca representación.

Si están interesados en participar, deben enviarme un correo electrónico a jobrien17@schools.nyc.gov que indique su nombre, el nombre de su(s) hijo(s) y la escuela del Distrito 20 a la que asisten.

Además, quisiera invitarlos a las reuniones de este año del Consejo de Educación Comunitario (Community Education Council, CEC) y el Consejo de Padres Asesores sobre inmigración. El vínculo entre la escuela y nuestras familias es fundamental y les recomiendo a todos ustedes aliarse a los talentosos maestros, subdirectores y directores del Distrito 20 para construir un mejor mañana a partir de hoy.

Muchas gracias y espero que continuemos el diálogo.

Recuerden que siempre pueden contactarme por correo electrónico: jobrien17@schools.nyc.gov.

Saludos cordiales,

Joseph O’Brien, Ed.D.

Superintendente comunitario interino (IA) del Distrito 20

September 21, 2020

Dear Families,

It is my pleasure to welcome you and your children to the 2020–21 school year! We could not have achieved this
milestone without every one of you. I am grateful for your support and your faith in our public schools. So many
New Yorkers have worked around the clock to accomplish this shared goal: the safe return of our students,
teachers, and school staff to classroom and remote learning.

There is no doubt this has been a challenging seven months, but we should feel proud of the outstanding job New
Yorkers have done to fight COVID-19. Our actions have led to weeks of very low infection rates citywide.
However, the virus is still active in our city, state, and country. We know that there will be cases of COVID-19
this fall. The good news is we are prepared to fight this virus while holding true to our mission—ensuring that all
our students continue to learn and thrive.

To carry this out, we have put in place strict health and safety protocols and created a COVID-19 Response
Situation Room for DOE principals, which serves as a “one-stop shop” for school leaders in handling all COVID19 cases in schools. When principals learn of a potential COVID-19 case in their school, they call the Situation Room to report it, and medical, public health, and education staff are on hand and readily available to support principals through responding to it. Principals or their designees call the Situation Room, which helps to handleeverything from there - including quickly communicating vital updates for principals to share with their schoolcommunities.

We are confident in our ability to provide your children with the healthy, safe, engaging, high-quality education
you expect. We will continue to be transparent and keep you informed. In this Update for Families, I am happy
to share the latest information on:
 How to complete daily health screenings for your child,
 Where to get tested for COVID-19,
 How to stay informed on COVID-19 cases in your school community, and
 What transportation to and from school looks like

In addition, to help you find key information I have shared in past updates, we have included quick links to DOE
resources on:
 Health and safety measures in our schools,
 What teaching and learning looks like this year, and
 School schedules for elementary, middle, and high schools

As always, all information regarding back to school can be found at schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020. If you
have additional questions, please contact your principal. You can find information about your child’s school,
including principal contact information, on our website using “Find a School” at schoolsearch.schools.nyc.

You have heard me say that September is my favorite month, and that is especially true this year. Return to School
2020 took a team effort, thousands of hours of work, and attention to countless details to get where we are today.
I could not be prouder of our families, students, educators, and everyone who works in and for our schools.

As we start the new school year together, I can assure you that the largest school system in the nation is well
prepared and up to the task. Please know that we are here for you. Your teachers and principals are here for
you. And, together, we will achieve a remarkable year of learning.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Carranza

Chancellor

New York City Department of Education

  September 8, 2020

Dear Families,
As we approach the start of the school year, everyone at the New York City Department of Education is laser-focused on delivering a high-quality education that puts your child’s health, safety, and emotional well being first this fall. An education that creates a new standard of excellence for learning from any location. An education that will prepare your children to thrive—today, tomorrow, next year, and for the rest of their lives.

I want to share with you that full-day learning for all students will begin on Monday, September 21. A few days before that, beginning on Wednesday, September 16 through Friday, September 18, all students and teachers will engage remotely for a partial-day instructional transition and orientation to help students reconnect to school. Taking this time will help ensure all children are ready to learn and succeed.

In this letter, we include updates on what that teaching and learning will look like. You will find additional information on how our schools will support every student every day—whether they are participating in fully remote or blended learning (in which they are learning in school buildings for part of the week, and remotely for the rest of the week).

Read the Reopening Update for Families below to find more information on:

 How your child will learn at home: Live interaction and lessons with teachers, and projects that students complete on their own
 Who will be teaching your child in blended or fully remote learning
 How to stay informed on confirmed COVID-19 cases in your school community

If you have questions regarding the information in this letter, please contact your principal. Principal information is on each school’s web page at schools.nyc.gov, in the “School Contacts and Information” section. You can find the page for your child’s school on our website using Find a School: schoolsearch.schools.nyc. And as always, all information regarding back to school can be found at schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020.

You have heard me say that New York City has the best, strongest, most committed students, staff, and families anywhere. Every day, you continue to prove that true beyond any shadow of a doubt. I want to reaffirm our pledge to take absolutely every precaution to keep your children healthy and safe. And to ensure they receive the high-quality education they deserve no matter how or where they are learning.

I am so excited to welcome all our children and educators back to their school communities soon!

Sincerely,
Richard A. Carranza
Chancellor
New York City Department of Education

Reopening Update for Families:

September 4, 2020

This information and additional details can be found at our school reopening webpage at schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020 to help you prepare for the upcoming school year.

How Will My Child Learn at Home?

Whether learning remotely from home part of the week or every day, students will receive remote instruction in two different ways: live interaction (sometimes referred to as “synchronous instruction”) with teachers, and independent learning (sometimes referred to as “asynchronous instruction”), which includes assignments, projects, or recorded video lessons. Let us explain what that means:

Live interaction means that your student will interact with their teacher on video, phone, live chat, virtual app, or another digital mode in real time. The teacher may be interacting with the whole class, small groups, or individual students. It can be done over Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or other DOE-approved video or phone conferencing or digital platforms. It includes:

 Class Lessons;
 Office Hours to connecting in real time with teachers to get individual or small group help with instruction or instructional activities;
 Social-emotional wellness activities such as sharing circles or mindfulness exercises; or
 Feedback discussions with students and families about their work and progress via video or phone.
 Other “live participation” activities, such as chat, offered by the digital platform used by educators during lessons.

At the beginning of the school year, here are the target amounts we are asking all schools to engage their students in live interaction and instruction each day:

 Students in 3-K and Pre-K programs: up to 30 minutes
 Students in kindergarten through grade 2: 65 to 95 minutes
 Students in grades 3–5: 90 to 110 minutes
 Middle school students in grades 6–8: 80 to 100 minutes
 High school students in grades 9–12: 100 to 120 minutes

The amount of time devoted to live instruction will increase each month for all grades as the school year progresses to allow students and teachers to gradually transition. Scheduled times will be posted so that students and staff alike can plan for engagement.

Independent learning means your student will work on their own with assignments, projects, and materials provided by their teachers. This might include:

 Video lessons or presentations recorded previously
 Activities, assignments or tasks that build on lessons from previous days
 Collaborative projects and assignments with classmates
 Discussion boards and conversation, feedback, or guidance from teachers over email

Who Will Be Teaching My Child?

Your child will have a high-quality educator leading their education, no matter where they’re learning. Instruction may look a little bit different in every school, reflecting the specific needs of the school community, but here is what you can generally expect:

For Students in Blended Learning

Blended learning refers to a combination of on-site, in-person instruction at the school some days of the week, and remote instruction at home on remaining days.

Your child may have different teachers for on-site and remote learning. Those teachers will work closely together in pairs or teams to create meaningful and connected learning experiences. For example, a student may begin a project in person and then continue to work on it while remote.
During the remote portion of blended learning, your child will regularly be with the same group of students with whom they attend in person.

For Students in Full-Time Remote Learning

Where possible, students engaging in full-time remote learning will be taught by teachers from their own school. Teachers will regularly meet with the same group of students on specific days.

How to Stay Informed on Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Your School Community

It’s important that your school can reach you to share crucial information quickly, including alerts about confirmed COVID-19 cases in your child’s school. Please sign up for a NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) so we can contact you via phone, email, or text message. With NYCSA, you can access your child’s grades, test scores, schedules, transportation information, and more—from anywhere, and in all nine standard DOE language translations. If you don’t have an account, sign up today at schools.nyc.gov/nycsa. It only takes five minutes!

Return to SCHOOL
2020 Learning Bridges Program
As the New York City Department of Education resumes in-person schooling this fall, most schools and early childhood programs will operate on a blended learning model. This means that each week, students will have some school days in person, and some school days remotely. Learning Bridges is a new program that will provide free child care options for children from 3-K through 8th grade on days when they are scheduled for remote learning. If you are interested in the Learning Bridges program, please complete the survey at schools.nyc.gov/learningbridges.
The Learning Bridges programs will:
• Be operated by community-based organizations and other partners
• Provide opportunities for children to connect to remote learning
• Include time for art, recreation, and other age-appropriate activities
• Follow all health and safety requirements and protocols
You can complete the survey even if you do not yet know your child’s school schedule. The survey is meant to assess interest; this is not a formal application. More information will be shared by the Department of Education (children in 3-K and pre-K) or the Department of Youth & Community Development (children in grades K–8) about a potential placement in the coming weeks. Programs will become available on a rolling basis beginning at the start of school.

NIA After School Online Registration is now open! Use the instructions on the link below to sign up for our NIA After School Program for the 2020-2021 school year! The expected start date is Monday, September 28,2020.

More information will be forthcoming !

NIA After School Online Registration Instructions

This year, all New York City schools plan to offer blended learning, a mix of in-person days at school and remote-learning days at home. The default for all students is to participate in their schools’ blended learning schedules.

If you wish to opt in to full-time remote learning, please fill out your learning preference survey as soon as possible by clicking here or calling 311.

  Student group information will be sent to your child's school e-mail (psis192.org). 

A calendar of student groups will be posted on the school website. 

DOE_BackToSchoolPledge_FINAL.pdf 

August 17, 2020

Dear Families,

In good times and in challenging times, I know that you want the best for your children. You want them to be safe, healthy, and happy. And you want them to always be learning, growing, and getting ready to take on the world. Our schools play such an important role in that, especially now, when the children of our city have been through so much.

For us, health and safety always lead the way. Our vision for the fall is a safe, strong, and supportive learning environment and an excellent education for every one of our students. Schools will be in session and students will be learning five days per week—no matter where they are.

We know a lot more now about how the learning experience is going to work. In this week’s Reopening Update for Families, you will find:

 The latest health and safety information, including on ventilation, school nurses, and testing and tracing in schools

 How to stay informed on confirmed COVID-19 cases in your school community

 How families can change their children’s learning preference to/from fully remote learning

 What happens if students attend school in-person on a day they are not scheduled to attend

 Supports for students with Individualized Education Programs

 Supports for students in temporary housing and foster care

We know that planning for the new school year isn’t easy—for you, for our educators, for school staff, and for our communities. But I believe that by working together we can start the school year strong. I want to acknowledge the tireless work of your principals and school leaders, who have been hustling all summer to be ready for the first day of school.

I also want to thank you. Your partnership has made it possible for us to consider and plan for both in-person and remote learning. Your continued investment and engagement in your school communities is a vital part of ensuring our students’ success not just during this upcoming school year but for years to come. We are privileged to serve you and your children, the young people who not long from now will be the ones leading our city.

If you have questions regarding the information in this letter, please contact your principal. You can find principal contact information by searching for your child’s school on Find a School: schoolsearch.schools.nyc. Principal information is on each school’s web page at schools.nyc.gov, in the “School Contacts and Information” section. And as always, all information regarding back to school can be found at schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Carranza

Chancellor

New York City Department of Education 

Reopening Update for Families: August 17, 2020

The updates below are included on our school reopening webpage at schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020, available 24/7 to help you find information about the upcoming school year.

The Latest Health and Safety Information

For school buildings to open in September and remain open, the city must see fewer than 3 percent of all COVID19 tests come back positive on a weekly average. Since June, the city positive test rate has been between 1 and 2 percent. We have strict protocols for testing, tracing, and quarantining if there is a confirmed case in school, and we will use every effort to prevent the spread of infection in schools if a student or staff member is feeling sick or has a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Many families have questions about ventilation. Our commitment is simple: if a room does not have adequate ventilation, it will not be used by students or staff. We are assessing and performing maintenance in buildings to maximize ventilation with outdoor air to the greatest extent possible. We expect maintenance to be completed by the opening of school.

Finally, this fall, every school building in New York City and all early childhood programs across the city will have access to nurses. Through a partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals, in addition to our established nursing workforce, every student will have access to a qualified nurse every day as we reopen schools safely and continue to stop the spread of COVID-19. Nurses will be in-place by the first day of school. 

How to Stay Informed on Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Your School Community

When the school year begins, we want to make sure we can contact you quickly and effectively to share information, including about confirmed COVID-19 cases in your child’s school. Please sign up for a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) so we can contact you via phone, email, or text message.

Your NYCSA account can also help you find your child’s grades, test scores, schedules, transportation information, and more— from anywhere, and in all nine standard DOE language translations. I encourage you to keep your contact information up to date, so we can get in touch with you in the event of an emergency. If you don’t have an account, sign up today at schools.nyc.gov/nycsa. It only takes five minutes!

How to Change a Child’s Learning Preference to/from Fully Remote Learning

Your school principals, in partnership with district and central administrators, are continuing to develop school level plans for every public school in New York City. We are currently planning for around three-quarters of our students (over 700,000 students) to begin the school year in a blended learning mode.

This means that they’ll learn in-person in a school building part of the school week and continue learning remotely from home for the rest of the week. The remaining families in our DOE community will begin the year in fully remote learning mode. You can move your child into 100 percent remote learning at any time using the Learning Preference online form: nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference. Families who choose 100 percent remote learning can opt back into blended learning on a quarterly basis, beginning in November.

What Happens if Students Attend School In-Person on a Day They are Not Scheduled to Attend

Schools will work closely with families to clearly communicate which days their child will attend school in person. The DOE encourages you to make alternate childcare arrangements and to build a plan to help ensure that your child does not arrive at school on unscheduled days. If a student arrives at school on days when they are scheduled for remote learning, your child’s school will inform you. All children attending on an unscheduled day will need to be picked up or will be sent home, depending on age and other factors. For more information on policies for students who attend school on a mistaken day, visit schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020.

Supports for Students with Individualized Education Programs

The DOE will provide students with disabilities access to in-person instruction during blended learning. If your child's IEP recommends related services, you will soon receive a survey where you will be asked to express your preference for in-person or remote therapy. Upon school opening, your child's school will contact you to discuss your child's specific schedule and make every effort to align your request to available services. The DOE will release additional guidance and information for families of students with disabilities shortly.

Supports for Students in Temporary Housing and Foster Care Students in temporary housing and foster care face unique challenges as a result of COVID-19, including the shift to remote learning. We have been providing additional supports to these students, including ensuring their early receipt of remote learning devices. Any remote learning devices given to students in shelter have cellular capabilities. As possible and appropriate, students in temporary housing and foster care may also receive additional in-person instruction, depending on a school’s programming model, overall student needs, and capacity.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

IN PERSON REGISTRATION:  If you would like register your child in person, please contact Ms. Bova by email at: ABova@schools.nyc.gov and she will set up an appointment with you. Please bring two proofs of address (Con Edison, National Grid, lease, phone or cable bill, etc.), your child’s birth certificate or visa or passport and updated immunizations at the time of your appointment. 

 REGISTRATION BY EMAIL:   If you are unable to make an appointment in person, please contact Ms. Bova by email at ABova@schools.nyc.gov and she will send you all the necessary paperwork that needs to be filled out.  Please email or scan two proofs of address (Con Edison, National Grid, lease, phone or cable bill, etc.) and your child’s birth certificate or visa or passport and updated immunizations. 

 We will do our best to assist you during this time.  Thank you for your cooperation!

 National and local NYC hotlines for resources, emotional support, and guidance for parents in crisis and in need of a knowledgeable and helpful listening ear.

• NY Foundling
  • 888-435-7553
  • Support by providing resources over the phone. The crisis nursery is closed.
• Parents Helping Parents Stress Line
  • 1-800-632-8188
  • Support for parents feeling overwhelmed, stressed, etc.
• Child Help National Child Abuse Hotline
  • 1-800-4-A-CHILD/1-800-422-4453
  • Parents can call to talk to a counselor about the stress they are under or young people can call to ask for help for themselves and talk to a counselor
• Su Familia: The National Hispanic Family Health Helpline
  • 1-866-783-2645
  • Spanish helpline for families that need support and information
  • https://www.healthyamericas.org/help-line
• National Parent Helpline
  • 1-855- 4A PARENT / 1-855-427-2736
  • Emotional support, resources, advice and more from a peer advocate
• NYC Well
  • 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355), Text WELL to 65173
  • Chat at https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/
  • Free, confidential, 24/7 mental health support by speaking to a local counselor via phone, text, or chat in more than 200 languages.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  • 1−800−799−7233
  • Support for people with experiences of domestic violence. Resources for those quarantined with their abuser.
  • https://www.thehotline.org/
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  • 1-800-273-8255
  • Free, confidential, 24/7 support for people in mental health or suicide crises. Can call for yourself or on behalf of someone else.
  • https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Starting March 23, NYC students can pick up 3 free meals daily from 7:30AM - 1:30PM, Monday to Friday, at 400 NYC sites. The sites closest to our school are:

• P.S./ I.S. 192 4715 18th Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11204
• The SEEALL Academy, located at 5601 16 Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11204
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School, located at 5800 20 Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11204
• P.S. 48, located at 6015 18 Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11204
• P.S. 164, located at 4211 14 Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219
• P.S. 179 Kensington, located at 202 Avenue C Brooklyn, NY 11218
• P.S. 217, located at 1100 Newkirk Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11230
• J.H.S. 062 Ditmas, located at 700 Cortelyou Road Brooklyn, NY 11218
• P.S. 099, located at 1120 East 10 Street Brooklyn, NY 11230
• J.H.S. 227 Edward B. Shallow, located at 6500 16 Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11204
• P.S. 131 Brooklyn, located at 4305 Ft Hamilton Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11219

To learn the location of the nearest meal hub, you can text FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877. You can also visit the website: https://www.opt-osfns.org/schoolfoodny/meals/default.aspx

Statement on Accessibility: We are working to make this website easier to access for people with disabilities, and will follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. If you need assistance with a 8 particular page or document on our current site, please contact the Parent Coordinator, Yolanda Fioriello to request assistance.

We would like to inform you of a wonderful tool you can use with your child’s en Vision math homework, and it is FREE!  Currently available in Spanish and English.

 On your phone or iPad  go to the App Store . or Google play   Type in bounce pages by Pearson . Download.

 Once the app is downloaded you can scan your child’s homework page and a short video will play with an overview of the lesson the homework is assigned from.

 Any questions please contact your child’s Teacher.