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Principal's Corner
April 2011
Dear Parents and Guardians,
NOW THAT SPRING IS NEAR, the number of days for preparation for the high stakes tests is running fast. Now that we are returned from the Midwinter Break, we have but three instructional days before the English Language Arts exam is administered. It is crucial for your child’s success that they continue to read on a daily basis to advance in all their subjects.
Reading daily is the linchpin of their success.
The Math exams follow a week later, and the English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) follows the week after.
On all of these big tests, what is essential is that students have stamina: they must be able to sit and concentrate for an extended period of time. It is a definite skill to remain mindful and productive during the time span given for the test.
In all of our classrooms across the school, students and teachers will continue their work of test preparation, and this will increasingly involve the use of test prep books. While we limit the amount of “drill-and-kill” our students perform, we also know that students need practice e on the format and structure of the exams. As the tests draw near, you’ll be seeing more of this type of work, in addition to our on-going and daily demands that students read every single day. It is what you do in high school and college, and if you aren’t doing it you cannot be successful.
And success is what we are after.
Sincerely,
Patrick F. Kelly Principal
Parent Coordinator Update
April 2011
Dear Parents and Guardians:
By now, you are aware that the City is proposing to open a “Transitional Housing” center for 200 men across the street from the school at 3339 Park Avenue, with the back of the building on Clay Avenue. A Town Hall meeting held in our auditorium in mid-February made clear that a significant amount of money has been invested in this building to make it a shelter, and while they City and the manager, the Neighborhood Association for Intercultural Affairs (NAICA), both claim the contractor has not been signed, it appears that without significant community response, this 200 bed institution will be placed across the street from three middle schools with approximately 1200 children.
I encourage you to remain vigilant and keep aware of the progress of this organization. Many of our neighbors are demanding that the shelter not open under any circumstances. Others are taking the position that if in fact they do not open, only continuing and serious neighborhood attention can keep them attentive to the community’s legitimate concerns.
I will keep you posted as this advances.
Sincerely,
Mr. G
Mr. Gratereaux
Parent Coordinator