News and Announcements

DECEMBER NEWS

VERY IMPORTANT….

High School Applications are due to Ms. Castro on December 4th. NO LATER! Please stress this to your 8th grade classes.

Senior dues are $125.00 for activities. Money is to be brought to Ms. Neal in room 113 by December 16th. Please stress this to your 8th grade classes.

We would to continue the December gift giving tradition at Charles O. Dewey to celebrate all the holidays. Ms. Hervert is an avid Seinfeld fan and thought that we could call it “A Festivus for the rest-iv-us” like the show. This will be an anonymous, grab bag style, $15 limit for all staff that would like to participate. We will exchange gifts on Friday, December 18th. Please see Ms. Hervert if you are interested.

The Health Department has expanded its weekend H1N1 vaccination clinics to cover a broader range of New Yorkers. In addition to students, the vaccination centers now provide the H1N1 vaccine to anyone with underlying health conditions, including people with asthma, diabetes, chronic heart and lung conditions, kidney failure, or a weakened immune system. The centers also vaccinate pregnant women, anyone 4 to 24 years of age, and anyone who lives with or cares for children less than 6 months old. We encourage all staff members who fall into these categories to get the vaccine.

 Weekend vaccination clinics will continue through December 13 and will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. For schedules and locations, visit nyc.gov/flu or call 311.

Holidays:  New York City is a diverse multi-cultural community. It is our responsibility as educators to foster mutual understanding and respect for the many beliefs and customs stemming from our community’s religious, racial, ethnic, and cultural heritage. Therefore, we must be cognizant of and sensitive to the special significance of seasonal observances and religious holidays. At the same time, we must be mindful that the Constitution prohibits a school system from endorsing or promoting a particular religion or belief system.

 With that in mind, please remember these guidelines with respect to the display of cultural and holiday symbols:

  • The display of holiday symbol decorations with secular dimensions is permitted. Displays that depict images of deities, other religious figures, or religious texts are prohibited. Permitted symbols include, but are not limited to, Christmas trees, kinaras, dreidels, Menorahs, and the Star and Crescent.
  • Holiday displays must not appear to promote or celebrate any single religion or holiday. Therefore, any permitted symbol or decoration must be displayed simultaneously with other symbols or decorations reflecting different beliefs or customs.
  • All holiday displays should be temporary in nature.
  • The primary purpose of all displays should be to promote the goal of fostering understanding and respect for the rights of all individuals regarding their beliefs, values, and customs.
For issues concerning religious observance by students, please continue to refer to Chancellor’s Regulation A-630

Check out our events section for more information.