News and Announcements
 

May's Newsletter  



     

    April 30, 2008

     

    Dear Parent/Guardian:

     

    May is fast approaching.  There are many events taking place this month.  Please keep this letter as a reference for yourself.

     

    1)                  School meals for May—21 school days

    Full price lunch--$31.50                 Reduced price lunch--$5.25

    Kindly remit the appropriate amount in an envelope with your child’s first and last name in an envelope.  If paying by check or money order, write your child’s name and class in the memo section.  The payment should be sent by Monday May 5th.  Please note that there is a $35.00 bank fee for checks returned for insufficient funds.

     

    Students who are not eligible for free school meals must pay for school meals.  If you wish for your child to eat school lunch on an occasional basis (like pizza day), we ask that you send him/her in with exact change, if possible.  Thank you.

     

    Breakfast is available daily for all students at no cost.  We encourage all students to eat a healthy breakfast.

     

    2)                  Calendar for May--June 2008

     

    May 2008—NYSESLAT testing for ELL students during the course of the month.

    Wednesday April 30—4th grade New York State Science test (written portion)

    Thursday May 1—5th grade trip to Medieval Times.

    Tuesday May 6 through Thursday May 8—Plant Sale sponsored by PA

    Friday May 9—Student of the Month—9:00 a.m. for grades 3, 4, 5; 9:45 a.m. for grades

    1 and 2.  Classes 3-225 and 3-231 perform at 9:00 and 10:00.  Parents are welcome to attend.

    Tuesday May 13--PA meeting—7:30 p.m.

    Th. May 15 and Fr. May 16--EPAL testing—grades 2 and 3

    Friday May 16—Grandparents’ Day at Bergen Beach John Malone Center.  Our Odyssey of the Mind teams will perform at this event.  Permission slips will go home shortly.

    Monday May 19—School Leadership Team meeting—3:15 p.m.

    Tuesday May 20—Father-Son Night at P.S. 236 for 5th gr. boys and significant male—7:00 p.m.

    Thursday May 22—Kindergarten Show—auditorium—details will be sent home.

     

    Thursday May 22— 3rd Annual Song and a Sundae.  Our Spring Concert features students in our grade 3 and 4th/5th grade chorus groups.  Ice cream sundaes in our lunchroom follow. More detailed information will follow. Our concert begins at 7:00 p.m.

    Monday May 26—Memorial Day—school closed.

     

    June 2008

    June---Field Days held at P.S. 236 for grades 2-5, dates TBA

    Monday June 2—clerical ½ day.  Dismissal for students is at 12:00 p.m.  No Extended Day Program. The school day begins at 8:37 a.m.

    Wednesday June 4—5th grade dance—details to come.

    Thursday June 5—Brooklyn-Queens Day—school closed for students.

    Friday June 6—Student of the Month—grades 3, 4, 5—9:00 a.m.;

                grades 1, 2—10:00 a.m.   Parents are welcome to attend.

    Monday June 9—School Leadership Team meeting—3:15 p.m.—room 118

    Tuesday June 10—Sports Picnic for grade 5 at Bergen Beach fields (no rain date)

    Wednesday June 11--Awards Assembly for 5th grade students—9:15 a.m. 

    Admission by ticket only.

    Thursday June 12—clerical ½ day.  Dismissal for students is at 12:00 p.m.  No Extended Day Program.  The school day begins at 8:37 a.m.

    Friday June 13—PA Disco Ball—evening.

    Thursday June 19—Pre-Kindergarten graduation –9:30 a.m. in auditorium

    Friday June 20—Promotion Assembly for 5th graders—9:30 a.m.—auditorium

                            Admission by ticket only.

    Thursday June 26—Cyclones game at Keyspan Park in Coney Island.  4th/5th grade chorus members will be performing the National Anthem prior to the 7:00 p.m. game. 

    We hope that as many members of the PS 236 community as possible will join us for a fun evening.

    Thursday June 26—Last day for students.  ½ day for students.  Dismissal at 12:00 p.m.

                No Extended Day program.  School day begins at 8:37 a.m.

     

    3. It is important that students continue to attend school regularly and are on time each day.  Remember that regular attendance is a part of the Chancellor’s criteria for promotion to the next grade.  Students must be in attendance no less than 90% of the school year.  This is through the month of June.

     

    4.         The Extended Day program for those children who are in attendance continues through the end of the school year.  We ask that you continue to send your children for valuable assistance that will only help them.  The program does not meet on Fridays and half days.

     

    5.         If you have changed your telephone number or address, you must call Ms. Mandell with any updates and come in with new documentation/information to make the change.  It is imperative that current information be on your child’s blue emergency contact card in case we need to reach you.

     

    6.         With the advent of warm weather, please be reminded of appropriate dress for students at P.S. 236:

                Shorts:  Knee length or lower shorts may be worn.  No short shorts.

                Shirts:  No tank tops; no t-shirts with inappropriate sayings or advertising for

    cigarettes or alcohol.   No shirts that cause the stomach to show.  No strapless tops.

                Shoes/sandals :  Children should wear closed shoes (buckle, tie or slip on). 

                            Backless shoes are not permitted as they are dangerous while walking or

                            moving.  High heels are not permitted for the same reasons.  Open toed

    shoes should be worn with caution.  Flip flops and Chinese slippers are not permitted as they fall off feet easily and do not provide adequate support.

                            No heelies are permitted to be worn for safety reasons.

    Jewelry—Please don’t send your child in wearing good jewelry.  It is heartbreaking for them if they lose a piece.

     

    Please note that many of our classrooms are air conditioned.  Please provide your child with a sweater or sweat shirt to wear.

     

    If your child is not dressed appropriately, you will be called to bring a change of clothing and/or shoes/sneakers for your child.  Thank you for your cooperation.

     

    7.         Please be reminded that electronic devices such as Game Boy,  PSPs and Nintendo items as well as Pokemon cards or WWE items are not permitted in school.  If your child has such items in school, they will be confiscated and you will have to come to school to retrieve the items.  Toys are also not permitted to be brought to school.

     

    8.         Registration Information/Updates on Middle School Process

    • Kindergarten and grade 1 registration continues throughout this month.  Please share the word with your family and friends who reside in our school zone.  If parents have any questions or would like to make an appointment to register their child, they may call Ms. Mandell at 718-444-6969. Proper documentation is required.
    • If you have applied to have your child attend our Pre-K classes for Fall 2008, letters will be sent out by the OSEPO office sometime in mid-May.  You are to follow the directions of the letter regarding registration.  Just receiving the letter does not mean your child is registered.  You must call for an appointment with Ms.Mandell and register your child bringing the proper documentation required.
    • Letters will be mailed home to 5th grade parents in mid May by the OSEPO office regarding acceptance to middle school programs.  Parents must follow the directions in the letter for responding to placement offers and respond by the deadline set.
    • Letters have been sent out already to parents who had children tested for the Gifted and Talented programs as to whether the child qualified or not.  Parents must complete the application that was enclosed (if child qualified) and follow the directions of the application with regard to getting it back to OSEPO.  Applications must be returned by the deadline.

     

    9.         For current Pre-K parents, please be reminded that your child needs to have the second Measles vaccination.  If he/she doesn’t have the vaccination required, the child will be excluded from school in September.

                Parents of 5th grade students should make certain that your child has the varicella vaccination (Chicken Pox).  It is required for entry into junior high school.

     

    10.       Please be reminded that if you or someone you designate comes to school to pick up your child during the course of the school day that person must bring photo id and sign in with school safety, be listed on the blue emergency card and be at least 18 years of age to pick up any child.  This is enforced for the safety of your child.

                If you are changing the normal pick up plan for your child on a particular day, you must send in a note to your child’s teacher notify her of such.  Your child should give the note to the teacher that morning and not wait until the end of the school day.  Calling at the very end of the school day is not acceptable notice.  If we do not have a letter and your child usually rides the school bus, your child will be placed on the school bus.

     

    Have a good month!

     

    Sincerely,

     Mary Barton

    Principal